I Became the Master of the Empress

315

Somehow, Tera got used to using the breast pump, and her resistance disappeared.

Now that Ian was born and a month had passed, he was growing rapidly.

“I don’t want to work anymore.”

As she put down the documents and furrowed her brow, I could understand her feelings.

I also didn’t want to go back to work when I had to.

After the eye surgery, I was so happy, but seeing that pile of documents felt utterly horrific.

“Huh?! The Emperor doesn’t want to work? What will the people below learn from that?”

I’m speaking the truth a hundred, a thousand times over.

This isn’t a comment made out of spite for Terra, who’s preventing my retirement.

Maybe…?

But perhaps she didn’t want to hear me, as she puffed out one cheek.

She gently turned her head away.

“Tch, it’s been a while since I returned, so it’s understandable that I might not want to work. Should I just hand over the regency to you and take care of Ian instead?”

I gently tugged at Terra’s lips, which were unhesitatingly uttering words that could ruin the country.

“Is this mouth the one that will bring down the nation?”

“Let’s lie down!”

With her lips caught, her pronunciation became so distorted that I couldn’t understand what she was saying, so I let go, and she crossed her arms, giving me a sidelong glance.

“Tch! Honestly, tell me. Last time, when I stopped your retirement, was that revenge?”

“Hmm…? No, not at all?”

In that moment, I felt a pang of embarrassment at my true feelings being exposed, but I shook my head vigorously, insisting it wasn’t true, and she replied with a look of disbelief.

“Oh my, were you serious about that joke?”

“Isn’t it? Don’t you know me at all?”

I decided to brazenly act as if I wouldn’t get caught up in more work or be appointed regent again, like before.

It’s fine. Despite appearances, I’m a master of the poker face, aren’t I?

I pride myself on there being no one who can match me in the politics and diplomacy of the Empire.

So Terra will never know my true feelings.

But with a tone full of conviction, Terra said,

“Liar! I can see you’re lying!”

“Eh?! You can see that?”

At my words, she snorted.

“Of course. How can I believe you when you’re speaking with such a tense expression?”

How did she catch me? A tense expression?

I, who never showed tension even when negotiating with Joannes for my life, am showing tension now?

Even Joannes didn’t notice!

“Seriously, you used to always show such a cool side, but why have you become so clumsy lately? My heart’s racing.”

I’m feeling bewildered by her words whispered with a slightly flushed face.

“Ahem… Anyway, I have no intention of taking revenge.”

“Tch, liar. By the way, what about Joy’s marriage? These days, Joy is fighting with her mother all the time.”

“Huh? Why? Didn’t Lucius get permission?”

Surely my mother-in-law promised that, so I thought she would keep it.

“Well, it seems like… she’s not pleased.”

“Hmm? Why? Lucius isn’t bad, is he?”

Tera makes a slightly bitter expression.

“I’m not sure… Maybe she’s not happy about him betraying you.”

Lucius, who had previously forged my orders for personal use.

At that time, I had him transferred to another department, and Tera ended up being promoted to the emperor’s personal secretary instead.

“Well, that’s true, but it all worked out, right?”

In reality, I knew that Lucius had assisted in platinum smuggling, and I had actually been the one smuggling it.

And now that the mine development is complete, there’s no need to smuggle platinum anymore, so it ended in a happy ending for me, and I hold no grudges…

“True, but it seems like my mother dislikes him even more because of Balorant’s betrayal.”

“Ah?”

Only then did I directly grasp why my mother-in-law opposed Lucius.

Having lost her beloved husband and son due to Balorant’s betrayal, it’s only natural for her feelings to be uncomfortable.

Is that why she told me to become a councilor?

To make an impossible demand so that Lucius would give up on his own?

The situation is more complicated than I thought.

“So, could you please talk to her nicely?”

“Me?”

She nodded as if confirming I was right.

“Yes, you. If you were her son-in-law, she would be totally taken in, right?”

“Uh… is that so?”

After all, she was the one who took care of everything, even giving me a unicorn horn when she saw me working late during the early days of my marriage.

“But what if I get hated for stepping in unnecessarily?”

She spoke in a tone that suggested I was overthinking it.

“My mother? Oh, come on. Do you really think so? How much does she like you? She’s always thinking about you and Ian, day and night!”

—

Is that so?

Well, even after Terra and I got married, she did treat me warmly.

“I got it! I’ll just have a quick chat with my mother-in-law.”

With that, I left the Emperor’s office and headed towards my mother-in-law’s room.

A quaint, vintage door that looked familiar.

Just as I was about to announce my arrival to my mother-in-law…

– Why can’t it be done?!

– I’m sick of traitors! I don’t want someone like that as my son-in-law! Have you forgotten how your father and brothers died?

– Then what about your brother-in-law? Have you forgotten he’s the son of Balor?!

– What?!

– Did I say something wrong? You married the son of our enemy, didn’t you? But Rookie oppa is our family’s enemy…

– Snap!

A moment of silence hung in the air.

Things are escalating more violently than I expected.

I never thought my usually lively sister-in-law would say something like that in front of me.

– You… dare to bring that up to me?!

– Ugh… that was bad!

– Click.

Joy stepped out, her expression a mix of confusion and surprise as she saw me.

“Ah? Brother-in-law?”

One side of Joy’s cheek flushed red as she awkwardly spoke.

“Did you hear the conversation?”

– Nodding.

“I’m… I’m sorry!”

As I watched Joy disappear from my sight…

“Have you arrived? I’m sorry for showing you something you shouldn’t have seen. Please, come in. Let’s talk inside.”

Following my mother-in-law’s words, I stepped inside.

“I apologize. It wasn’t intentional, but I overheard the conversation.”

As I offered my apology first, my mother-in-law waved her hand and spoke.

—

“Not at all. The problem is that Joy and I have caused too much commotion.”

As he spoke with a face that looked ten years older, I felt a sense of discomfort.

Did I really need to intervene?

Just as I was contemplating whether to turn back right now.

“Do you think I’m being stubborn, Debiane?”

Seeing him speak in an ordinary tone, not his usual commanding manner, I decided to respond more comfortably.

“I’m not sure… I understand your mother-in-law’s feelings of rejection, and I can empathize with my sister-in-law’s sentiments as well.”

With a deep sigh, my mother-in-law exhaled, her expression one of someone who has lived a full life.

“Ha… What do you think I should do? Should I try to stop my daughter’s marriage? Or should I accept the ugly traitor into our family?”

To be honest… I don’t know.

“Well… I’ve never really thought about it, so I’m not sure? But we can’t leave things as they are forever, can we?”

In reality, my sister-in-law is considered a spinster by local standards, so she needs to be married off quickly.

“Debiane… I’m afraid. The sound of that Valoran’s vile laughter and the scene of his execution still haunt my mind.”

Gripping her trembling hands, my mother-in-law continued.

“There have been countless nights when I’ve woken up crying after dreaming of that scene! But is it truly right to accept a man who reminds me of Valoran as my son-in-law? What if that guy marries Joy and plots something within the Empire?”

I wonder if that thought is a bit excessive.

Of course, as my mother-in-law said, if both Terra and I were to die suddenly, young Ian would ascend as the next emperor.

After that, they would have to eliminate Ian to ensure that Lucius and Joy’s child becomes the next heir to the throne.

From the moment Terra and I die, the Golden Knights would be glaring fiercely, protecting Ian, making it nearly impossible to target him as well.

Alternatively, one might think they could deal with Ian after becoming regent…

But the regency of the Empire cannot simply be maintained by strength alone.

A backing is necessary.

If both Terra and I were to die, a regent would be needed to govern in Ian’s stead.

I think my mother-in-law, as the elder of the royal family, would be a strong candidate.

Well… even if Lucius were to oust her with the support of the noble factions, I doubt he would actually be entrusted with the regency.

Who would nominate a commoner like Lucius as regent for their own benefit?

It was clear that negotiations among the nobles would begin behind the scenes for the regency.

Ugh… just imagining it makes my stomach churn.

Right now, I’ve been working all night to establish this system.

Thinking about how everything would be turned upside down if Terra and I were to die already makes me feel queasy.

“Surely not. There are too many hurdles to overcome for that, aren’t there?”

But my mother-in-law shook her head and said,

“Balorang entered Roman under the pretext of receiving supplies to defend the eastern border. And you know well what happened after that, don’t you?”

“That’s….”

What Balorang did is an act that would be hard to accept in the Empire, or any country for that matter.

Perhaps it has happened in this place’s history, but that was something the barbarian chieftains did once or twice….

It’s unprecedented in a structured nation.

That’s why there were aspects the late emperor couldn’t handle.

“What if Lucius has ulterior motives? That frightens me greatly.”

“But as you know, the Empire is not Augustus….”

“I’ve heard that you received a Supreme Court ruling to marry Terra, haven’t you?”

Moreover, when the Ryan-Augustus family was established last time, a ruling was made that if he had a blood relation, he could become emperor.

In other words, if Joy’s son is recognized, the succession to the throne is still alive.

“That’s true. But you’ve already made a promise, haven’t you? If you refuse, who knows what Joy might do….”

She’s an unpredictable sister-in-law with an unnecessarily strong resolve, so I worry about what kind of trouble she might cause.

“Ugh… So, could you persuade Joy for me?”

“Pardon?”