ALL NOVEL chapter 17
17 – Episode 17
Early in the morning, soldiers block Epaphus as he tries to wake the Princess.
“Epaphus! You are under arrest for espionage.”
“Wha… espionage?”
Epaphus freezes at the sudden appearance of the soldiers.
“You’ll know”You’ll know when youll know when you see something you’ll know when you see it!”
“Eek!”
Courtiers muttering while watching soldiers drag the slender Yifa by her arms.
w when you see it!”
“Eek!”
Courtiers muttering while watching soldiers drag the slender Yifa by her arms.
“Howen you see it!”
“Eek!”
Courtiers muttering while watching soldiers drag the slender Yifa by her arms.
“How…ek!”
ee it!”
“Eek!”
Courtiers muttering while watching soldiers drag the slender Yifa by her arms.
“How… It seems Yifa has escaped the eyesants draggingCourtiers muttering while watching soldiers drag the slender Yifa by her arms.
“How… It seems Yifa has escaped the eyes of the Grand Duke…”
“pha, holding onto her slender arms, and court ladieslender Yifa by her arms.
“How… It seems Yifa has escaped the eyes of the Grand Duke…”
“Quicker Yifa by her arms.
“How… It seems Yifa has escaped the eyes of the Grand Duke…”
“Quicklyfa by her arms.
“How… It seems Yifa has escaped the eyes of the Grand Duke…”
“Quickly inform Princessby her arms.
“How… It seems Yifa has escaped the eyes of the Grand Duke…”
“Quickly inform Princess Hr arms.
“How… It seems Yifa has escaped the eyes of the Grand Duke…”
“Quickly inform Princess Hwang.
“How… It seems Yifa has escaped the eyes of the Grand Duke…”
“Quickly inform Princess Hwangtaw… It seems Yifa has escaped the eyes of the Grand Duke…”
“Quickly inform Princess Hwangtaeeems Yifa has escaped the eyes of the Grand Duke…”
“Quickly inform Princess Hwangtae…”
s Yifa has escaped the eyes of the Grand Duke…”
“Quickly inform Princess Hwangtae…”
Yfa has escaped the eyes of the Grand Duke…”
“Quickly inform Princess Hwangtae…”
Yifahas escaped the eyes of the Grand Duke…”
“Quickly inform Princess Hwangtae…”
Yifa’s seems I the eyes of the Grand Duke…”
“Quickly inform Princess Hwangtae…”
Yifa’s eyes has escaped the eyesuke…”
“Quickly inform Princess Hwangtae…”
Yifa’s eyes go life…”
“Quickly inform Princess Hwangtae…”
Yifa’s eyes go lifeless Grand Duke…”
“Princess Hwangtae…”
Yifa’s eyes go lifeless as she watchesess Hwangtae…”
Yifa’s eyes go lifeless as she watches the inform PrincessYifa’s eyes go lifeless as she watches the mutfa’s eyes go lifeless as she watches the muttering eyes go lifeless as she watches the muttering courtyes go lifeless as she watches the muttering courtierses go lifeless as she watches the muttering courtiers.
lifeless as she watches the muttering courtiers.
Yphaless as she watches the muttering courtiers.
Yifass as she watches the muttering courtiers.
Yifa, she watches the muttering courtiers.
Yifa, bounde watches the muttering courtiers.
Yifa, bound gracefullyches the muttering courtiers.
Yifa, bound gracefully, the muttering courtiers.
Yifa, bound gracefully, beinge muttering courtiers.
Yifa, bound gracefully, being ledttering courtiers.
Yifa, bound gracefully, being led awaycourtiers.
Yifa, bound gracefully, being led away bytiers.
Yifa, bound gracefully, being led away by guardsblingifa, bound gracefully, being led away by guards.
ladies.
fully, being led away by guards.
The sight is likephay, being led away by guards.
The sight is like a, being led away by guards.
The sight is like a cuteng led away by guards.
The sight is like a cute calfled away by guards.
The sight is like a cute calf being guards.
The sight is like a cute calf being ledguards.
The sight is like a cute calf being led to.
The sight is like a cute calf being led to thesight is like a cute calf being led to the slaughterht is like a cute calf being led to the slaughterhouses like a cute calf being led to the slaughterhouse,a cute calf being led to the slaughterhouse, elicitingHer calf being led to the slaughterhouse, eliciting sigh led to the slaughterhouse, eliciting sighsd to the slaughterhouse, eliciting sighs fromthe slaughterhouse, eliciting sighs from thelaughterhouse, eliciting sighs from the onlookghterhouse, eliciting sighs from the onlookers cuteuse, eliciting sighs from the onlookers.
-eliciting sighs from the onlookers.
-Whating sighs from the onlookers.
-What happeneds from the onlookers.
-What happened…
rom the onlookers.
-What happened…
– slaughterers.
-What happened…
-How
-What happened…
-How…
-What happened…
-How…
Beingt happened…
-How…
Being led sigh.
-How…
Being led by-How…
Being led by guards…
Being led by guards toeing led by guards to theg led by guards to the underground led by guards to the underground prison by guards to the underground prison ofguards to the underground prison of thes to the underground prison of the He underground prison of the Hwangerground prison of the Hwang Palacerground prison of the Hwang Palace,nd prison of the Hwang Palace, hands elegantly boundison of the Hwang Palace, hands elegantly bound.
The guards lead her through a tunnel where not a pinch of guards leadng Palace, hands elegantly bound.
The guards lead her through a tunnel where not a pinch of lightalace, hands elegantly bound.
The guards lead her through a tunnel where not a pinch of light entersce, hands elegantly bound.
The guards lead her through a tunnel where not a pinch of light enters.
Andhands elegantly bound.
The guards lead her through a tunnel where not a pinch of light enters.
And soontly bound.
The guards lead her through a tunnel where not a pinch of light enters.
And soon afternd.
The guards lead her through a tunnel where not a pinch of light enters.
And soon after…
The guards lead her through a tunnel where not a pinch of light enters.
And soon after… standinge guards lead her through a tunnel where not a pinch of light enters.
And soon after… standing ins lead her through a tunnel where not a pinch of light enters.
And soon after… standing in front lead her through a tunnel where not a pinch of light enters.
And soon after… standing in front ofd her through a tunnel where not a pinch of light enters.
And soon after… standing in front of athrough a tunnel where not a pinch of light enters.
And soon after… standing in front of a prison door…
-Kantly bound where not a pinch of light enters.
And soon after… standing in front of a prison door…
-Kkiere not a pinch of light enters.
And soon after… standing in front of a prison door…
-Kkiika pinch of light enters.
And soon after… standing in front of a prison door…
-Kkiik!
nch of light enters.
And soon after… standing in front of a prison door…
-Kkiik!
“Eight enters.
And soon after… standing in front of a prison door…
-Kkiik!
“Eek!”
They tunnel wherend soon after… standing in front of a prison door…
-Kkiik!
“Eek!”
They tossoon after… standing in front of a prison door…
-Kkiik!
“Eek!”
They toss then after… standing in front of a prison door…
-Kkiik!
“Eek!”
They toss the slender… standing in front of a prison door…
-Kkiik!
“Eek!”
They toss the slender Ytanding in front of a prison door…
-Kkiik!
“Eek!”
They toss the slender Yifading in front of a prison door…
-Kkiik!
“Eek!”
They toss the slender Yifa inton front of a prison door…
-Kkiik!
“Eek!”
They toss the slender Yifa into the prison of a prison door…
-Kkiik!
“Eek!”
They toss the slender Yifa into the prison.
a prison door…
-Kkiik!
“Eek!”
They toss the slender Yifa into the prison.
-Kprison door…
-Kkiik!
“Eek!”
They toss the slender Yifa into the prison.
-Kwa after…
-Kkiik!
“Eek!”
They toss the slender Yifa into the prison.
-Kwaang! Cl
“Eek!”
They toss the slender Yifa into the prison.
-Kwaang! ClangEek!”
They toss the slender Yifa into the prison.
-Kwaang! Clang!
They toss the slender Yifa into the prison.
-Kwaang! Clang!
Yey toss the slender Yifa into the prison.
-Kwaang! Clang!
Yifa toss the slender Yifa into the prison.
-Kwaang! Clang!
Yifa despairshe slender Yifa into the prison.
-Kwaang! Clang!
Yifa despairs atender Yifa into the prison.
-Kwaang! Clang!
Yifa despairs at the Yifa into the prison.
-Kwaang! Clang!
Yifa despairs at the sightYifa into the prison.
-Kwaang! Clang!
Yifa despairs at the sight offa into the prison.
-Kwaang! Clang!
Yifa despairs at the sight of soldiers into the prison.
-Kwaang! Clang!
Yifa despairs at the sight of soldiers roughlynto the prison.
-Kwaang! Clang!
Yifa despairs at the sight of soldiers roughly locking the prison.
-Kwaang! Clang!
Yifa despairs at the sight of soldiers roughly locking thehehe prison.
-Kwaang! Clang!
Yifa despairs at the sight of soldiers roughly locking the door prison.
-Kwaang! Clang!
Yifa despairs at the sight of soldiers roughly locking the door.
son.
-Kwaang! Clang!
Yifa despairs at the sight of soldiers roughly locking the door.
‘
-Kwaang! Clang!
Yifa despairs at the sight of soldiers roughly locking the door.
‘Is it the Clang!
Yifa despairs at the sight of soldiers roughly locking the door.
‘Is it… over Ipha intoairs at the sight of soldiers roughly locking the door.
‘Is it… over?’
prison.
– K of soldiers roughly locking the door.
‘Is it… over?’
Sheang! Clang!
ughly locking the door.
‘Is it… over?’
She hadly locking the door.
‘Is it… over?’
She had been fills Ipha asr.
‘Is it… over?’
She had been close’Is it… over?’
She had been close to… over?’
She had been close to Theodora since childhood,over?’
She had been close to Theodora since childhood, living
She had been close to Theodora since childhood, living likehad been close to Theodora since childhood, living like sisters been close to Theodora since childhood, living like sisters.n close to Theodora since childhood, living like sisters. locking the door.
‘Is it… over?’
She had been close to Theodora like a sister since they were young.
Theodora, who cared for her like a friend, like family, despite being an orphan.
And always the kind and gentle empress.
Princess Joy, who always treated herself with warmth, though she was just a maid.
“To His Highness, the Second Prince…”
To repay the overwhelming love they received.
To fulfill this, Ifa monitored Devian’s every move through the maids she knew and conveyed it to Theodora.
Therefore, in this dim prison, Ifa feels.
Perhaps, she won’t be able to escape this place alive.
No longer… despairing at the thought of not seeing the bright sunlight.
“Princess… Your Highness… What will become of me?”
In the dark prison, she reflects on the future while watching the burning torch.
“Maybe… I’ll be tortured?”
She had heard stories of the former Grand Duke imprisoning those who opposed him in an underground dungeon and torturing them.
Incredibly, even the Emperor and the Princes…
“If only I came alone. In that case, I would be fortunate.”
Ifa worries that her other colleagues might have been brought here as well.
***
Chairman Charles leaves his house.
Today is the day when the Imperial Council holds its main session.
A crucial day where representatives from all over the empire gather to discuss legislation and national affairs.
Therefore, diligent Charles rides a carriage to the council hall early in the morning.
Charles, smoothly starting his morning like that.
He believes, without a doubt, that today will be an ordinary day just like yesterday.
However, his expectation goes awry.
Because there are burly men blocking the procession of the Imperial Council Chairman.
They block the carriage and say,
[Stop!]
[Who the hell are you guys?! Do you know who is riding in this carriage?!]
[We know. We received a message from His Grace, the Grand Duke, that he wants to meet Chairman Charles, and we’ve come to deliver it.]
‘Grand Duke’s message?’
Upon hearing that, Chairman Charles looks out the window and sees several men in shabby attire surrounding the carriage.
‘If they were the Grand Duke’s soldiers… they would be wearing armor…’
Feeling puzzled by the sight, Charles lowers the window and says,
“If His Grace wishes to see me, tell him to come to the council hall. I’m busy with council affairs right now, so please leave.”
Saying that to the men in shabby clothes…
“His Grace has requested to meet you?”
They say so, opening the carriage door and getting on, speaking while forcing Charles into the carriage.
“What… What is this all about?!”
They grab Charles’ arms and forcefully make him sit in the carriage.
-Slap!, Slap!
“Help! S-Someone, help me!”
The sound of someone being pounded outside the carriage can be heard.
“You scoundrels! Is this the Duke’s will?!” Charles shouts in anger.
*Thud!*
“Shut up! He’s just an old man! If you had listened from the beginning, we would have been on good terms, you know?”
*Thump.*
As the carriage door opens…
“Smith!”
Charles’s coachman, Smith, is thrown into the carriage unconscious.
“W-What is this?!”
“Help, someone! Is nobody here?!”
“G-Guards!”
Amidst the commotion, someone says, “Hey! Hurry up and drive the carriage to a quiet place!”
Charles senses someone starting to drive the carriage.
“You scoundrel! Do you think you can get away with this after doing such a thing to me, the chairman of the Imperial Council, in the heart of Rome?”
One of the men who seems to be the leader among the men, unfazed by Charles’s words, says, “Hmm? It’s all by the Duke’s orders, you see? And don’t worry, His Grace said he’ll release you in a few days.”
Charles feels a sense of gravity as he looks at the man grinning sardonically.
The moment I stepped out of the palace.
“Your Highness…”
A handsome blond man approaches me and whispers softly.
“The abduction was successful.”
I nod in response and step into the carriage.
-Thunk!
As the carriage door closes, I gaze blankly out the window.
Is this the right thing to do?
Even though I know it’s for the future, I’m not sure if what I’m doing is right.
They say it’s for the sake of peace, but doesn’t it make me look like someone obsessed with power?
-Sigh.
I ponder.
Isn’t politics about needing strong power to achieve something and oppressing people for that power?
Am I turning into a monster like this, or… no, I won’t become a monster.
Let’s not be swayed by power, but wield it to save the world…
And when the world is saved… let’s relinquish the power.
I make that vow.
If I don’t want to become a monster, there’s no other way.
As I feel the carriage slowly starting to move, exhaustion rushes over me.
“Sigh…”
Come to think of it… I stayed up all night as soon as I arrived in Roman.
The day before, I slept on the streets, and yesterday, I stayed up all night catching up on reports and preparing for today’s tasks with Agrippa…
I’m going to stay up all night again today.
I can’t remember the last time I slept soundly since Valeran’s death.
I mean… I’m doing my best to hold the empire together, but… except for Agrippa and Mary, does anyone really know?
To everyone else, I must seem like a madman obsessed with power.
With that thought, I head to the Council Chamber.
***
Visiting the Imperial Council.
Normally, it’s not my place to visit for voting as I have a delegate from the Grand Duchy, but… today is a special day, so I came in person.
[“The Chairman hasn’t arrived yet?”]
[“I hope everything is alright.”]
[“I wonder…”]
[“Wait… aren’t you the Grand Duke of Francesco?”]
[“What’s going to happen today…”]
The murmurs that filled the entrance of the council chamber suddenly quiet down.
Their suspicions are not unfounded. From today, the political structure of the empire will completely turn upside down.
At the thought of such things.
“Your… Your Highness, what brings you to the council today?”
An old man rushes over and speaks.
“Representative Victor, how have you been?”
This person is none other than Victor, a representative sent to represent our Grand Duchy of Francesco.
“Thanks to you, I’ve been well. But… without any prior notice…”
I smile brightly at the perplexed Victor and say, “I’ve come to observe how the Imperial Council is operating after a long time.”
With that, I head to the office with Victor.
“hahahaha, if you had given me a heads-up, I would have gone to welcome you.”
“It was an urgent matter, so I couldn’t inform you in advance.”
Victor nods at my words.
*Creak!*
As Victor opens the door to his office, I step inside.
A splendidly patterned carpet, a sofa, and an exquisite desk.
“Well, please take a seat for now.”
I sit down and say, “The reason I’m here is to make a major announcement at the council today.”
At my words, Victor nods solemnly and asks, “W-what… What is it that you’re going to announce?”
“That…”
***
After the conversation with Victor, he heads towards the Assembly Hall.
It seems all the attending members have already arrived.
And there, a noticeable spot.
A vacant seat on the elevated platform in the Assembly Hall.
-Well then, since Chairman Charles couldn’t make it on time, I will reluctantly take charge as the Vice Chairman.
Alexander, the assembly member, says so while taking a seat in the chairman’s position.
-Today, we will review the urgent bill proposed by His Majesty Johannes, the king of Nikea, in the Imperial Council.
-An urgent bill from His Majesty Johannes?
-It’s the first time I’m hearing about it. Have any of you heard?
-I’m hearing about it for the first time as well, Representative Tiberius.
The members become noisy with discussions.
However, disregarding such an atmosphere, Alexander nods to the people around him and starts distributing papers to the seated members.
And… soon after…
I skim through the paper handed to me.
[Greetings, esteemed members of the Imperial Council.
I am Johannes Angelos, the king of Nikea, leading the Imperial faction to the best of my ability.
Today, I am honored to inform you about the strengthened alliance between the Imperial faction and the Anti-Imperial faction.
This decision, born out of the earnest desire to avoid a war that would leave only harm to everyone, is a result of the resolute determination of Duke Francesco, who, despite his youth, possesses a remarkable podium, and all of us in the Imperial faction coming together.
I hope the members striving for the Empire will understand this decision made for the sake of the Empire.]
Furthermore, meeting the young Devian Lion in person made me feel that he is a precious presence who will reveal the future of the empire.
The agenda I bring to you is the urgent request for legislative review, as it is the only way to rescue the empire from the whirlwind of internal strife.
Skipping through the lengthy preamble hastily, I turn to the next page.
This is where it gets crucial.
From the next pages, it contains the details of the alliance between me and Johannes, a declaration of support for me, and an appeal for linking me and Theodora.
Smiling as I flip through the pages, the main content is now revealed.
Before I could finish reading the main content…
-Wh… What is this? Is this a joke?! How can the Imperial Faction…
-This is outrageous! This is treason!
-We cannot pass this bill! It’s invalid!
The hall becomes chaotic.
Well… that’s to be expected.
The bill aims to change the existing imperial-centric structure to one centered around me.
Thinking so, I flip to the next page and read the content.
The existing imperial system involves the emperor appointing representatives for each region to govern.
It is the content of the Imperial Charter guaranteeing the emperor’s rule over the entire administration.
Although changing the Imperial Charter is not the task at hand once the parliament is in control, choosing to change it brings unnecessary notoriety and a time-consuming review process.
Changing the foundation of imperial law will likely face opposition.
It could provoke the resentment of the imperial citizens, and the only choice is either to break ties with the neutral factions or to sever connections completely.
For someone like me, who desires long-term stable governance, this is not a favorable choice.
Therefore, I decided to leave the Imperial Constitution and add a new law to the Imperial Law.
– Are you saying that you are going to establish a new bureau that no one has ever heard of before?
That’s right…
It’s just a matter of creating new bureaus like the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and establishing a superior institution above all bureaus.
And formally, by placing the Emperor on top of it, I gain the right to intervene in all policies without changing the Imperial Constitution.
Well, if the Emperor interferes, I can just ignore it; it’s just a formality.
Anyway, I plan to take away the authority to appoint and dismiss all bureau heads from Theodora, so they will have no choice but to follow my orders rather than the Emperor’s.
Well… if they don’t follow, I can just threaten them a little.
After all, I am the only one in Rome who has an army.
But I can’t directly propose such a bill myself.
The more someone who seems to have a bad relationship with me proposes it, the more dramatic effect it can have.
For example… the leader of the Emperor’s faction…
The bill was already deliberated and created by Agrippa and me, along with the Chief Justices, and we requested Johannes to lend his name at the last council meeting.
Of course, instead of the Emperor’s faction, I decided to directly appoint Johannes in the Emperor’s name and confer him with the Epirus and Aetia.
Then, the nobles of the Emperor’s faction will surely tremble with betrayal, but what can they do?
They are supposed to be the Emperor’s faction. If the Emperor gives it, they can’t openly oppose the Emperor.
They will slowly strategize against Johannes with various excuses.
Well, that’s just a side issue, and the most important thing is…
It’s important that Johannes, who is famously hostile to me, proposed a bill for my sake.
Men who were hostile to each other acknowledging and helping each other…
The painting is quite impressive.
It’s a magnificent painting where people who were known to have a hostile relationship acknowledge each other.