I Became the Master of the Empress

320

“I don’t want that.”

Seeing Lucius’s eyes shine brightly as he spoke, I continued.

“It won’t be easy. I wanted to help, but my mother-in-law’s opposition is quite strong. We might have to leave Roman after getting married.”

“Cough… If that’s what needs to be done, then I will.”

I sighed as I looked at Lucius, who frowned.

“Ha, how about resigning from the council and leaving politics altogether? I’m saying you should go into the private sector, away from the palace and the assembly.”

Going into the private sector essentially means giving up on politics.

After all, there would be plenty of job opportunities for someone who has worked as the Grand Duke’s secretary and the Emperor’s aide.

“I’ll… consider that as well. By the way, Your Highness the Grand Duke, if I were to no longer be involved in politics, would it be acceptable for me to stay in Roman?”

At that, I paused for a moment in thought.

“Well, I haven’t mentioned it to my mother-in-law, so I’m considering it as a backup plan. Terra and my mother-in-law both hope that Joy won’t leave Roman.”

In reality, the royal family displays a strong affection for one another.

If Joy were to leave Roman to marry the person she loves, both my mother-in-law and Terra would be greatly heartbroken.

“If… she could stay in Roman after the marriage… I would do anything.”

I frowned at Lucius, who wore a solemn expression.

“If that’s the case, why not just not get married?”

At my words, Lucius smiled bitterly.

“That seems difficult. I love her deeply. If she has to leave this place she loves because of our marriage… I would regret it too much.”

“Hmm…”

Somehow, I understood that feeling.

“Well, if you leave Roman, you might end up becoming a proper noble or an imperial governor. Isn’t that quite a significant rise in status?”

Becoming a proper noble means being granted a fief, and an imperial governor is a tremendous high-ranking position that manages the nobles of a large region.

No matter how high-ranking a noble one is, they are obliged to follow the legitimate orders issued by the governor.

It’s the optimal position for accepting bribes from high nobles.

“That’s true, but… I want to do what Joy desires.”

As our conversation stretched on, the food arrived.

“First, let’s eat and continue our discussion afterward.”

Various meat dishes and dark beer were placed in front of Lucius.

After a while, the meal concluded, and for dessert, there was ice cream…

“Wait? Ice cream?”

“Ah? Your Highness the Grand Duke doesn’t know? There’s an ice cream craze happening in Roman these days!”

I had no idea that a food typically enjoyed in winter could be eaten now.

“Maximilian has so many freezers that they’ve been commercialized this quickly?”

At my words, Lucius smiled and replied.

“Yes, they’re promoting that ice cream can be enjoyed anytime, so restaurants are purchasing a lot. I heard they’re also preparing to make machines for ice cream production?”

As I put a spoonful of strawberry ice cream in my mouth, I said, “Mmm~ it’s delicious.”

How should I put it? The fruitiness in the ice cream was palpable, and the texture and taste were quite nice.

It’s fascinating; the public seems to embrace new products better than I expected.

“Right? That’s why various ice creams are popular these days.”

I nodded at his words.

“Ahem… Well, the meal is coming to an end. Let’s get back to the main topic. So, you want to stay in Roman with Joy, right?”

Lucius nodded slightly.

“Hmm… I see. Then I’ll try to persuade my mother-in-law well with Terra. You’re in agreement about resigning from your council position, right?”

—

He nodded reluctantly at my words and said.

“But… I won’t be beaten to death by the Roman citizens, right?”

– A sly grin.

“Do you really think I would let my sister-in-law and you die? Anyway, I’m doing well, and if you change your mind in the meantime, write me a letter.”

“Yes, please take care.”

***

In a mansion in Byzantion, the capital that has remained unchanged throughout Nicaea’s long history.

Andronikos Angelos is a figure under the Empire’s relentless surveillance.

“Damn it… I can’t stay like this forever.”

Since Nicaea surrendered to the Empire two years ago, he has been thoroughly monitored in all his activities here.

Of course, it’s not that his freedom has been completely suppressed.

Rather, it would be more accurate to say that they secretly listen to every conversation he has with anyone.

After all, he is the head of the Angelos family, which holds absolute influence over the Nicaeans.

For the Empire, it is also a matter of pride to treat him with a degree of favor without killing him, preserving the dignity of the proud Nicaeans.

Instead, they spare his life and allow him to go out, but he cannot leave Byzantion.

For fear that he might rebel against the Empire.

While the central government’s power is strong now, no one can guarantee it will be the same a hundred years from now.

Thus, Andronikos lives with the humiliating resolve to endure for the time being.

His father was horrifically killed by mercenaries, and all his vassals have sided with the Emperor and the Grand Duke, leaving him without hope, yet he persevered.

His family is older than the Augustus family.

He could not bear to see the Angelos family crumble in his generation.

“I will reclaim my country… my homeland… my rights, I swear it. Grand Duke!”

Andronikos knows that his clever father was killed by the Grand Duke.

Just like his serpentine cunning and words laced with sweet poison.

“And I cannot forgive the traitors.”

As soon as the country fell, the eastern nobles of Nicaea surrendered to the Empire.

The vassals who once vowed to serve the royal family now hold key positions in the Empire, and Andronikos felt his blood boil.

His father had suffered the humiliation of dying at the hands of mercenaries.

Yet he has no power.

The Empire merely provides him with a suitable maintenance fee, not wanting to bear the stigma of persecuting him.

—

Rather, the intelligence agency is secretly monitoring him.

Whenever he returns from outside, there’s a slight change in the corners of his desk.

At first, he felt it was simply his overreaction.

But one day, Andronikos carefully applied some black ink that doesn’t dry well under the handle inside the room and went out.

And when he checked the handle that day… seeing the smudged ink marks, Andronikos became convinced that the intelligence agency was tracking his every move.

From that day on, he became cautious in everything.

He feared that an agent of the intelligence agency might overhear him, or come to assassinate him.

“I can’t live like this forever. Once I become useless… they will kill me in the Empire.”

While the possibility is high, Deviant and Theodor have little thought of that.

To be honest, both of them have long forgotten about Andronikos.

Thus, Andronikos lives with this fear in his heart.

While walking in the garden, the two appeared before him.

Two people dressed as gardeners.

One of them held garden shears, while the other had a ladder tucked under one arm… they might look like ordinary gardeners, but what they said was anything but ordinary.

“How long will you live under this surveillance?”

Andronikos frowned, feeling offended by the casual tone of the two.

“Who are you?”

“Does it matter who I am? If it does, let me tell you. I’m the one who will take you out of this splendid prison.”

“What?”

As Andronikos asked back, they handed him a piece of paper.

“If you feel certain after reading this, do as the letter instructs, and we will help you.”

Saying this, they turned and slipped out of the mansion.

“What is this?”

Once the two disappeared, Andronikos quietly opened the letter.

[You must burn this letter after reading it.]

[This is to ensure your safety, whether you accept or refuse the proposal.]

[We want you to know that we are very interested in restoring your rights.]

[If you wish to escape, you must hang a Nicaea flag from your window tomorrow evening.]

[Babylon Intelligence Agency.]

“What is this?”

—

‘Babylon Intelligence Agency?’

Andronicus felt a sense of bewilderment at the unfamiliar words, but…

He thought it seemed worth a try.

***

The next morning.

Andronicus raised the flag of his homeland, Nicaea, in his room.

As he looked at the Nicaean flag fluttering in the wind, he felt a warmth swell in his chest.

He had lost his father and his homeland, and the life he had endured until now felt unjust.

Andronicus’s family had scattered.

His two daughters from his first marriage… and his siblings.

Even his mother.

He felt anxious, not knowing the fate of his family.

Though he found it hard to trust the Babylonian Intelligence Agency, he didn’t want to face a fate of sitting idly by and dying when he was no longer useful.

With a trembling heart, he finished his tasks.

As the sun slowly set.

Andronicus fell into thought.

‘How do they plan to save me?’

This mansion was guarded by the Empire’s soldiers.

And given the circumstances, it would be reasonable to assume that intelligence agents were also stationed here.

‘Surely, they won’t catch on, will they?’

The thought that his attempt to escape might be discovered made Andronicus’s heart race with fear that the Empire might truly kill him.

He lay face down on his bed, praying to calm his mind.

‘Oh, Lord. Save me. Help me find what I must seek.’

For generations, his ancestors had been at odds with Babylon.

He knew the history of fierce wars waged against Babylon even before the Empire was established…

But Andronicus realized this was not the time to be picky.

With the noose tightening around him, he was in a situation where the ground could give way at any moment.

Thus, for generations, he had no choice but to reach out to Babylon.

He believed that, rather than the cunning viper of the Empire, Babylon was more trustworthy at this moment.

‘Oh, Elysius. Save me.’

—

The moment the prayer ended.

-Bang!

The glass window of the room shattered as two people entered.

“What are you doing? Andronikos, there’s no time to pray right now. We need to escape from here quickly!”