I Became the Master of the Empress

318

That lunchtime, while Terra was having a meeting with Joy and my mother-in-law, Karl came to my office.

“It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”

“Didn’t we see each other at the last cabinet meeting?”

We occasionally crossed paths at the regular cabinet meetings held once a week or every two weeks.

But…

“I used to see you every day, and now it’s nice to see you occasionally.”

At my words, Karl shrugs his shoulders.

The kid… still feels guilty, I see.

He can’t help but feel that way.

From Karl’s perspective, he betrayed me and sided with Terra, yet Terra is now actively supporting me.

“By the way… I heard from Terra that the Babylonian Empire is in a precarious situation. Can you give me a briefing on that?”

Karl nods and pulls a stack of documents from his bag.

“Here it is.”

“What’s this? Is there really this much intelligence on Babylon?”

I had expected about 3 to 4 pages of reports daily, but I was taken aback by the sheer volume of documents.

“These are the reports that have piled up until now. The situation regarding the Babylonian Empire is at the very end of the report.”

“Alright, sit on the sofa and wait a moment.”

Saying that, I search for the last part of the report.

“Is this it?”

Flipping through roughly ten pages, I could catch a glimpse of the situation in the Babylonian Empire.

Babylon, having gained abundant resources from the Eastern Expedition, is now beginning to stabilize its agricultural development. The pro-currency faction has taken power, but the sudden reversal of the ruling order has led the pro-gold faction to express discontent.

And… that discontent has sparked a civil war, resulting in the emperor being overthrown.

“Does the intelligence department have no way to handle this?”

As far as I know, they have planted quite a few people in Babylon.

“First, our agents tried to bribe the pro-gold faction to change their minds, but given the orc’s inherent war-worshipping ideology, it doesn’t seem like it will be easy.”

“Is that so…? There haven’t been any significant military movements yet?”

Currently, no major changes have been detected in the enemy forces stationed at the border.

“Yes, but Emperor Sargon has been making dangerous statements towards the empire. If you turn to the next page, there’s a summary of conversations he had with his close aides.”

-Flap.

I turned the page without much thought.

“This is….”

—

To conquer Nicaea and acquire the empire’s magical technology?

Certainly, Babylon has several times our population.

In reality, the physically strong orcs take the front lines in battle.

Before magic developed, our continent was always at a disadvantage.

Only with the establishment of the empire and the magical knowledge introduced by the first empress did we begin to match Babylon.

Just in case, we should prepare.

“How many soldiers are currently available in Babylon?”

“If war breaks out, it’s estimated to be between 600,000 to 1,000,000.”

One million… That’s not easy.

With the orcs’ overwhelming numbers, it’s an unimaginable figure.

Orc women give birth to two or three children at a time once they become pregnant.

They also have a stronger libido than humans, leading to larger families.

“Well, for now, I’ll think about this a bit more. Let’s have our agents dispatched to Babylon gather as much information as possible. Oh, and what happened to the Ju-hwa faction and the former emperor?”

“The former emperor was deposed and shortly thereafter poisoned. Most families belonging to the Ju-hwa faction have also been confirmed as exterminated.”

“That’s brutal….”

Given Babylon’s continued use of collective punishment, it’s a bitter thought.

Then reviving the Ju-hwa faction to seize power is impossible.

I guess we’ll have to gather forces from Agrippa and the Grand Duchy.

Honestly, I desperately hope that war doesn’t break out.

But… if it does, it must be thoroughly crushed.

So they can never rise again.

***

Theodora, Eurydice, and Joy are all gathered in one room.

Theodora calls the two of them over.

She takes a sip of tea with a calm expression.

‘How? You’re going to get in huge trouble with your sister….’

‘Ah… I shouldn’t have made that promise back then.’

Eurydice knows that if she opposes recklessly, Joy will get angry, so she deliberately assigned an impossible task.

However, Lucius was elected as an imperial councilor, and Eurydice finds herself in a position where she must keep her promise.

Honestly, Joy feels just as wronged.

If I had become a doctor as promised, wouldn’t I have to send myself away?

But if I’m not angry with my mom, who keeps putting it off, that’s strange too.

“Chi… I promised.”

If I had kept my promise from the start, this wouldn’t have happened, and I’d be even angrier with my mom.

“Joy, I know you’re angry. But you can’t talk to your brother-in-law like that.”

“Mm… sorry, sis. I’m actually feeling uncomfortable about it too….”

-Zzzt.

Theodore thought that her perfect husband, Debiang, had only one flaw.

That he was the son of the traitor, Balorong.

But Debiang was different from his father, not cruel or brutal like him.

And… Debiang was a hero who had sacrificed his body and reputation to take on the villainous role and save humanity, and had even tried to hand over everything to the emperor.

How could someone who loved her sister like that badmouth her husband?

Theodore wanted to grab Joy’s hair and scold her, but she knew that if the emperor did that, he would be called a tyrant, so she tried to hold back.

-Buddle… buddle….

“Uh… sorry, sis! I was wrong!”

When Theodore got angry, Joy knew that she was in trouble, so she quickly got up from the sofa and knelt down.

Joy remembered when she had bitten Anthony’s arm so hard that it bled when he broke her favorite doll. This time, she thought that if she didn’t apologize first, her own arm might bleed, so she apologized quickly.

“Joy… my cute little sister Joy.”

“Hm?”

Joy trembled at Theodore’s cold tone.

“If you say something like that again, I’ll take away all your privileges as a princess. Remember my words.”

Joy, who knew that Theodore wasn’t someone to be trifled with, nodded her head vigorously.

“And, Mother, Joy’s marriage can’t be delayed any longer. After all, it’s something you promised.”

“But…”

Euridice’s expression wasn’t very good as she spoke reluctantly.

She tried to think well of Lucius, but it was hard.

For a noblewoman like her, sending her daughter to marry someone like Lucius, who had nothing, wasn’t an easy choice.

Moreover, she knew that Lucius had been accused of embezzlement and had been acquitted thanks to the efforts of Mueller, the emperor’s trusted aide, whom she also knew well.

—

Though her personality is somewhat flawed, her abilities are undeniable, and she maintains a clear distinction between public and private matters, earning the support of the nobility.

“This is unavoidable, Mother.”

Theodora can no longer overlook her mother’s situation.

Now, as the head of the Augustus family, she is prepared to accept Joy’s marriage.

And Eurydice, who understands well what that implies, gently closes her eyes.

Yet, her eyelids tremble, and her shoulders shake.

She makes a firm resolution within herself and struggles to speak.

“Ah… I know this is unavoidable. If the two of you were to marry… I would prefer that you both leave Roman.”

“Mother?!”

“Mother?!”

Theodora and Joy could never have imagined that Eurydice would suggest they marry and be cast out of Roman.

Knowing how much Eurydice cherishes and loves Joy, her words come as a complete shock.

“I do not trust Lucius. If he covets a throne that does not suit him… I fear he may bring about the empire’s tragedy. Rather than risk the death of you and Devian, and perhaps even Ian, it seems better to… send Joy away.”

Eurydice’s voice trembles as she speaks at length.

It is a choice she does not want to make…

But as the empress and matriarch of the Augustus family, she must fulfill her duty.

For the sake of the empire’s peace.

Thus, with tears in her eyes, Eurydice prepares to cast away her beloved daughter.

But Theodora cannot accept this and struggles to find her words.

“Mother? No matter what… how could you send Joy away…?”

“Exactly! And Lucius is absolutely not that kind of person! I know him well.”

Yet, Eurydice shakes her head firmly at their words.

“Your father also trusted his vassals. Though he despised Valoran, he made a point to distinguish between public and private matters, showing considerable consideration. But you both know well what the outcome was.”

Theodora and Joy listen silently to Eurydice’s words.

“Though Lucius was elevated as an ordinary student because he was your son-in-law, he betrayed that very son-in-law. That is an undeniable truth. Therefore, I feel Lucius is akin to Valoran.”

Joy, wanting to deny this, struggles to speak.

“Ah… but.”

She knows too. Just as Eurydice said, Lucius betrayed Devian.

No matter what Joy says, that will not change.

Thus, she bites her lip in frustration.

—

—

‘Well… if this makes Mom and my sister more comfortable…’

She made up her mind and put on a sorrowful expression.

“Alright, I’ll leave with… Brother Lucius. If that’s what it takes for Mom to feel at ease…”

Tears welled up in Joy’s red eyes as she spoke, swallowing her emotions.

“We’ll leave.”