Chapter 259 – Was It Because of That?
“It’s not different, it’s to ask for your opinion.”
When the host of the gathering let go of the rhyme, everyone’s eyes focused on one place.
All of the people Alicia invites to her luncheon are women who are familiar with her in some way. However, everyone must have guessed to some extent that this place will not end with simple small talk and friendship.
Especially, if the situation is like the eve of a storm like these days.
Even the trivial act of an imperial princess bowing her head as she passes by is bound to be interpreted politically. It was inevitable that this would happen regardless of her own will. Because of her noble lineage and the overwhelming influence that comes from it, she can cause trouble throughout her empire.
Moreover, what about the faces of those gathered here?
“Knocking…”
A knight commander who commands the most elite troops that can be put into action immediately.
Originally, after Wolfgang was promoted to a higher position, a new person who had no ties to him should have been appointed commander. It was an implicit rule to prevent the regular army from being enlisted.
However, Wolfgang, the former knight commander, nominated Agnes, his lover and closest aide, as his successor.
As a result, Agnes, who had served in the Knights of the Black Lion for more than 10 years since her seed days, was appointed as the commander of the same unit as her hometown, and her subordinates, who were like her brothers and sisters, did not know what to do. Even if I do, I will follow her orders.
It goes beyond a simple superior-subordinate relationship.
“Hoo?”
And, the great general, the guardian deity of the empire and the head of the military.
Of course, Arien’s position is treated as close to an honorary title awarded in honor of her dedication to the Empire for a thousand years, but unlike general honorary titles awarded just to feel good, the Empire’s Grand General can hold the title whenever he wants. You can actually wield the right authority.
The only thing that binds her is her oath with her first emperor.
Even the emperor, standing at the top of the heads of hundreds of millions of people, dare not do anything about Arien. Inside her empire, the freest being she was, not her emperor or royalty.
Of course, she doesn’t get involved in the affairs of the people unless there is a crisis in the whole empire, and she acts only according to her own interests, but that’s not because the covenant binds her free will.
She was a transcendental being who could do anything she wanted.
“Yes, sister! Ask me anything!”
Lastly, the saint of the Celestial Church.
To put it bluntly, the pope, the general manager of the church, could have chosen any of the able cardinals to sit in, but the saintess was never like that.
Literally, God’s representative can only exist on this earth with God’s grace.
On one of the representative holidays of the empire, the festival of the Celestial Church, even the imperial family must kneel down and bow their heads in front of her to receive the blessing of her saint. Of course, it is only a religious procedure, but often people bring the case when they want to express the authority of her saintess.
Of course, as there are various strict rules, it is not that the saintess herself can control the church by herself, but the symbolism is truly enormous.
There are countless people in the empire who pray for a whole month to purify her body and pay huge donations to kiss the hem of her saint’s robe.
And, there are countless things that can be achieved by using that symbolism.
‘It’s interesting, really fun.’
Such beings were brought together in one place by the will of a single person.
Arien, sitting in her chair and crossing her legs, smiled as if she had an interesting idea for her. If you set your mind to it, it won’t be a problem to overturn the entire empire. No, he could replace the emperor right away.
She could easily imagine Alicia usurping her throne in a coup d’état.
If you combine the power of the three people here and Wolfgang, you will be able to defeat it in just three days.
First of all, by mobilizing the armed forces of one of the elite knights led by Agnes, appropriate chaos is caused, and then Wolfgang single-handedly infiltrates the Palace of Dawn and the Palace of Dusk in turn and assassinates the 1st and 2nd princes.
It might be a bit difficult, but it was feasible enough.
And after capturing the current emperor, whose mind had already begun to wander, confined him to an appropriate island.
‘Now, I’ll stand in the sky!’
Alicia, the only member of the immediate imperial family left alone, sits on her throne and declares her martial law.
The next step is one-and-a-half. Arien, the general of the empire, should follow it and implement it. According to her oath, she couldn’t directly rebel or kill the imperial family, but if she followed the orders of Alicia, who had become emperor in accordance with ‘legitimate’ procedures, there would be no problem.
‘All of this is the will of the heavenly gods.’
Lastly, the people’s confusion is over when the saintess steps in and puts it to rest. Since long ago, the recognition of the pope, saint, or saintess of the Catholic Church has been the surest means to secure legitimacy.
“Hmm… I’m a little embarrassed to say it… But who would I ask about this?”
“Sister, what the hell are you doing?”
“It’s okay, Princess. Please feel free to tell me. I won’t even open my mouth anywhere.”
Then this huge empire would be completely occupied by that soft little thing.
Of course, there is a very high probability that later generations will be given the ugly nickname ‘Alicia, the usurper of blood’, but what do you know?
In fact, there is one emperor who ascended to the throne according to a scenario similar to the one Arien came up with about 470 years ago, so there is no reason why what has been done once cannot be done twice.
‘Of course, that maniac guy didn’t end well.’
Arien suddenly recalled the old memories and smiled bitterly.
At the time, what I was doing was so much fun that I just let it go wherever it went.
However, if that happens again, she will be the first to stop it. This time, she was involved with her beloved disciple.
Arien’s pale purple eyes turned to Alicia, who hesitated with her face blushing.
Looking at the unique soft and dumb face, it seems that he would not even dream of doing such a heinous thing, but you don’t know until you dig into the inside of a person. In particular, there are so many different types of royal bloodlines.
It wouldn’t be strange if that docile child suddenly turned around and announced that he would become emperor.
‘I hope it’s not something I’m concerned about in my spare time.’
Arien did not attend events hosted by the imperial family in order to prevent useless troubles from occurring, but the reason she came to this place was to prepare for any unforeseen incidents.
Alicia’s recent actions can only be interpreted as an attempt to seize her throne.
Arienne was determined to punish Alicia for making her tears fall, if she ever asked her for an unreasonable favor or expressed her support using her friendship.
In many ways, she is a child who is good enough to become the daughter-in-law of a beloved student, but if Alicia’s desire makes Wolfgang difficult, that is something that can never be tolerated.
After all, husband and wife love each other, and the wife should give happiness to her husband. This classic idea of family has never changed in Arien’s mind in the past thousand years.
‘Hmm.’
Arien looked at Alicia, who was struggling to get to the point, with rather stern eyes. Her arien’s long ears pricked up above her.
“Well, I think everyone knows some of the stories floating around in town these days.”
“Ah… That’s the one that appears in the newspaper every day, right? The cardinal’s grandfathers said I shouldn’t see that kind of story, but since it’s about my sister, I’m secretly watching it.”
“Yes, I am well aware of it, but as a soldier I have to remain politically neutral…”
Arien calmly crosses her arms and observes Agnes and Ophelia’s reactions.
It seems that both of them know each other well. These days, the Empire is so noisy because of the successor competition, so unless you are blind or deaf, you must have seen and heard it yourself.
“You know, you’re talking fast. I’m in trouble for that right now, and that’s why I need your help. I hope Lien’s sister hears this too.”
“Okay. Let’s talk coolly. I was really curious about what you wanted to talk about and why you hesitated so much.”
— Knock-knock!
‘Look at this?’
Arien’s ears rose menacingly.
Could it be that this child really made an outrageous request? Her Arienne’s fingers began to twitch to pinch Alicia’s soft cheeks at any moment.
And Alicia’s worry-filled words that continued with difficulty.
“I think she got into a big accident and earned his hatred properly. It’s already been three full days since he returned to the capital, but she hasn’t contacted me even once. How can this be good?”
It was the kind of thing no one expected.
“Ah. Come to think of it, I’m still…”
“Huh? That’s strange… My brother said that as soon as she gets back to the islands, she’ll get some rest…”
— Flinch!
For a moment, a high elf’s ears drooped downward like a lie.
It was a corner where there was something stabbed.
