I Became the Master of the Empress

21 – Episode 21

As the sun begins to set.

Teodora called me to her room.

A spacious room.

A splendidly decorated study with gold and silver ornaments.

A beautiful lady sits across from me.

Bright gray long hair. Beautiful ruby-like red eyes and a cold gaze.

Gray eyebrows.

A sturdy nose and small, adorable plum-red lips.

And a beauty that seems to embody the cold northern wind.

The woman in front of me, as if proclaiming her own presence, as if she is the most beautiful princess rumored in the empire.

A noble and aloof woman, there is no one as noble as her in the empire.

The imperial princess and the sole legitimate successor to the imperial throne, Theodora Augusta.

And after the coronation ceremony, she will be the mistress of this empire.

A mere facade of a mistress…

“Release Ipha. Duke.”

She says in a cold voice while holding a teacup.

But ignoring her words, I deliver only my message.

“Unfortunately, that’s a matter for later.”

Theodora looks at me with cold eyes.

“How will you release Ipha?”

Ignoring her questioning words, I speak what I had in mind.

“The coronation ceremony will be soon. Probably next month.”

Before executing the Emperor Valoran, Theodora had already prepared for her coronation and wedding.

Well… the preparations stopped after I killed Valoran.

So, resuming the preparations won’t take much time.

However, there will be many guests coming from afar.

There will be the Imperial Faction, and Mary as well… Octavia, my sister, will also come.

We have generously set aside about a month for preparations.

“Our wedding will take place right after the coronation ceremony.”

The wedding is scheduled for the day after the coronation ceremony.

The reason for such a tight schedule is… thinking about the things to come, it seems busy, so it’s better to do everything at once.

But she seems displeased with my words, as if wrinkling her gentle forehead.

“If you can give up your greed even now, it will end well.”

She’s making a feeble threat to me.

But now, all situations are unfavorable to her.

The Imperial Faction, which formally supported her, has turned towards me, and the capital of the empire is already occupied by the soldiers of our Grand Duchy.

And…

Most of the members of the Imperial Council, the core of the empire, support me.

Of course, they are following me only because of the current circumstances.

Anyway, my allies firmly support me.

In other words, all the important political forces of the empire support me.

The only class currently following her is the Imperial citizens.

However, the Imperial citizens are infinitely weak in front of my army.

Therefore, at this moment.

Unfortunately, there is no one on her side.

Perhaps she, too, vaguely knows about this situation.

Representative Alexander must have briefed her on what happened yesterday in the morning.

She can no longer refuse.

“There won’t be such a thing.”

-Thud.

Even if she weakly threatens me, she would know it’s a meaningless gesture.

So, it just goes on like this.

Right now, Theodora can’t do anything either.

Honestly, I can’t either.

I don’t want to get married like this.

I’m not marrying her in love.

I don’t particularly like anyone, but… this… it will make both of us unhappy.

It’s a necessary sacrifice for the empire and its people…

No, for all beings living and breathing in this world.

“You’ll regret it.”

She stares at me.

Actually, she scares me.

Considering her actions in the original work, wouldn’t she be frightening? If I show any vulnerability later on, she will try to eliminate me somehow. Right now, she’s just waiting for the moment.

The moment my power weakens…

To crush me and retaliate against those on my side.

But I have no intention of taking a weak stance.

My life is important, and there’s no one else who can prepare for the coming of the demon king but me.

It’s right for me to seize power.

Anyway, even if I were to speak of what I know, they would only think that I am plotting a political conspiracy.

That’s why I’m going to tighten the noose around her neck right now.

“Here, this is the contract endorsed by the Imperial Council yesterday and signed by Vice Chairman Alexander. Please review and sign it.”

She takes the contract I offer and starts reading it slowly.

And…

Theodora’s expression twists.

-Thunk!

As Theodora rises from her seat, hitting the table forcefully with her hand, she speaks as if she’s angry.

“Huh…? Are you telling me to give up my veto power, the imperial territory, and the command of the capital’s army?!”

I nod at her words.

“Yes, and if you look at the next section, it includes the appointment and dismissal rights, as well as the establishment of the Grand Council, my direct administrative, judicial, and political bodies.”

She blushes and trembles as she speaks in response to my calm tone.

It’s as if she’s trembling in great disgrace.

“Why don’t you just kill me? Instead of doing this cowardly thing behind my back, just kill me and ascend to the throne as the emperor with dignity.”

I shake my head at her words.

“The people of the empire do not wish for anyone other than the Augustus family to ascend to the throne as the emperor.”

It’s the law of the empire that only the family of the former emperor can become the emperor.

The fate of those who break the law and commit theft is not so great.

I’m not particularly afraid of that. But I have no intention of committing acts that the Imperial citizens cannot tolerate.

The whole plan will be completely ruined if the citizens start to object.

Theodora speaks with a cold expression.

“Well, what will you do to me if I don’t sign?”

I sigh at her words.

“Sigh… “

As if she knows that she cannot be harmed, she makes a triumphant expression.

Pathetic.

Honestly, I don’t want to resort to unnecessary threats. But I’ll have to when necessary.

However, I won’t make her feel uneasy because I know what kind of person she is.

-Thunk.

I open the small box next to me and show it to Theodora.

And in the most emotionless tone possible, I say,

“Do you know what this is?”

Perhaps sensing something, Theodora trembles.

Her face gradually turns pale.

“S-Surely… Is it… the contract?”

And soon, a single tear flows from her red eyes.

Theodora grabs her long hair with trembling hands.

With a look as if the whole world is collapsing, she delicately adjusts the cute sparrow-shaped hairpin on her neatly tied hair.

“No… No, it can’t be…”

“She was a loyal… maid.”

“Shut up!”

Teodora, glaring at me as if she could kill me, shouts while pointing her finger at me.

“You too! You’re just like that devilish Valrand! Both of you are rebels trying to steal the empire!”

She vents her anger like that.

“Me… Me! Do you think I would submit to someone like you?! You trash!”

And then she grabs a piece of paper and crumples it roughly in her hand.

“Rather kill me! Kill me! If you’re going to sacrifice the empire for yourself, I’ll just die by my own hands!”

It’s possible for her to do that.

Despite her beautiful and delicate appearance, she’s a strong woman inside.

That’s why… I speak calmly.

“Don’t forget that there is the Empress and the Second Princess in the palace. I can’t guarantee their safety if something happens to Her Highness.”

A subtle threat.

Unfortunately for Teodora, it’s true.

If Teodora were to die now, the hard-earned peace…

The peace that was so difficult to achieve would crumble, and we would plunge back into war.

I can’t just stand by and watch while Joie and Johannes’s son marries in the absence of Teodora.

So, I subtly hint at the possibility of what might happen to them if you were to die, causing Teodora to tightly clench her lips.

If she’s the only one left alive, there’s no reason to touch Joy or the Empress.

Because once they are touched, everything goes back to square one.

The princess of the Augustus family, essential to drive out the Empress and the imperial faction, who have the support of the nobles and the people with their compassionate nature.

Well… Theodora, who saw the hair of this faction, would find it difficult to analyze the situation calmly.

She has already lost her composure, captured by anger.

That’s why I told her to cut the hair of this faction.

To make her sway and falter.

And as I expected… Theodora glares at me, tears welling up in her eyes and giving strength to her red gaze.

She barely opens her trembling lips.

“You coward…”

I won’t deny it. Even I think the words “cowardly and despicable” suit me well now.

I shrug my shoulders at her glare.

“So, what will you do?”

If she doesn’t sign and withstand… my plans will be in disarray.

Leaving the imperial throne vacant for too long is too burdensome.

And there’s a world of difference between the Duke occupying the empire’s rule without permission and ruling with the legitimate authority of the empire’s emperor.

Even those who oppose me will pretend to obey my orders, as they are formally the emperor’s subjects.

But I can’t just leave Theodora, who holds dangerous powers, to become the emperor.

The authority of the emperor is too mighty.

It’s also too burdensome to establish Joy as the emperor through other means, especially when there is a legitimate successor to the empire.

In the original work, Joy had a delicate personality.

In the original story, there is also the fact that she does not want to be dragged back into this political arena, having lived a miserable life, forced to marry Balorant in place of the escaped Theodora.

Do you know how terrible a life she lived?

Of course, she agreed to the engagement with the Emperor’s faction, but it was just to avoid the worst possible situation for now.

There is no intention at all to marry Joy to the son of Ioannes.

So, if Theodora and I sacrifice ourselves, everyone around us can be happy.

But if she resists that much, I have no choice but to apply a little more pressure.

“Either sign it now, or the Empress and the Second Princess will be tortured like Theodora…”

-Sheunggrang.

Theodora throws the teacup.

She, with a face contorted in anger, sheds a single tear.

Her eyes glare at me sharply.

As if she wants to kill me with her gaze.

Sigh… I feel uneasy.

She’s still… only 20 years old.

I think she can’t easily accept this situation because she has lived a life unrelated to such political strife.

She is not someone who has had past lives and experiences like me, nor has she grown up under the cruel Balorant.

She is far from a harsh life…

Or maybe she was close to Theodora as well.

To me, who has seen the original work, her current appearance feels a bit unfamiliar.

The ruthless empress didn’t know she would cry like that over the death of one maid and the hostage situation of her family.

She was a ruthless empress in the original work, after all…

She feels a slight sense of guilt at her own weakness.

But if there’s a need for justification…

The truth is, Ifa didn’t die.

According to today’s report, I heard she’s doing well in the safe house I arranged for her.

She even takes walks late at night.

If I were to defend myself, I never said Ifa was dead or alive.

I simply led myself to believe that.

Theodora, who couldn’t bear the anger, shed tears.

The ice princess, always wearing a cold expression, now trembles with anger, sadness, and shame.

Her trembling shoulders gradually calm down. And with bloodshot eyes, she stares at the table.

Soon, holding the fountain pen in front of her…

– Swoosh, swoosh!

She signs in a glamorous and feminine handwriting and says to me.

“You… will definitely regret today’s actions, or rather, I will make you regret.”

Her red eyes burn intensely.

“Without fail… I will make you miserable… utterly miserable, and throw your body to the wolves as their prey.”

With that, she rises from her seat…

– Bang!

I slam the door shut and leave.

“Sigh…”

I watch her storm out in anger, then glance at the contract laid out in front of me.

Looks good.

I confirm that there are no issues with the contract and tidy up.

This… can be submitted to the council later…

Overwhelmed by fatigue and a headache, I lie down on the sofa for a moment.

My head is spinning.

I’ve been struggling to sleep well lately, trying to handle the rebellion sparked by the former emperor…

I’m a bit exhausted.

“Whew… I haven’t even… started yet.”

Three years later.

When Valoran didn’t die in the original work. The time it took for the Demon King to descend.

Since I killed Valoran, I might be able to buy some time.

In the meantime… I have to block the demon worshippers as much as possible.

And within two years, I’ll have to deal with the Imperial Faction.

Time is running out.

That’s the only way… for me, the empire… and many people to survive…

It’s a bit funny to be exhausted before even starting, but at this moment, my head hurts too much.

-Knock, knock!

Someone knocks on the door, and I respond.

“Who is it?”

“Grand Duke Jeha, someone from the council is here.”

In a familiar male voice,

I rise from my seat and say,

“Ah… Agripa, I’ll be out soon.”

“Yes.”

As I say that and leave the room, a handsome blond man comes into view…

Along with him, thoughts arise as I head towards the office.

“Oh…”

Theodora seemed uneasy. Should I prepare for assassination, just in case?

“Is there something wrong?”

Agripa asks me with a worried tone.

“Well, it’s nothing much. Just in case Hwang Taenyeo tries to assassinate me, keep a close watch until the wedding, and make thorough preparations for poisoning.”

Because she’s not an ordinary poisoner.

Agripa nods in agreement to my words.

“I’ll do that for now, but Lady Hwang Taenyeo is no fool. Would she really do such a thing?”

Well… if I die now, the empire will be engulfed in the flames of civil war once again.

In my absence… our army generals won’t just stand idly by.

They will fight each other tooth and nail to seize my position.

However… if she is consumed by revenge…

I’m a little afraid to see what will happen once she falls into vengeance.

And… the situation is not pleasant at all.

But… if we don’t do it this way… neither I… nor the empire… nor she herself.

There is no way for everyone to survive…

-Sigh.

“Why are you suddenly smiling?”

As I smiled unconsciously, Agrippa speaks as if curious.

“Just because I resent the gods.”

Why did the god of this place summon me here?

Suddenly, I become curious about his thoughts.

“You can ponder about that later, the council members are waiting for you.”

“Alright.”

And so, I head to my office.