Chapter 223 (1/2)

Chapter 223: Chapter 223

“Well, I was hurt a bit while testing for fencing skills…”

When I hesitated, Carsein stepped forward and said, “As the blade of her sword was broken during the match and her right arm was cut. Though she bled a lot, they stopped the bleeding at the infirmary. She is fine now.”

“… Oh I see. Thank you for taking care of my daughter, Sir Carsein. ”

“You’re welcome, sir. I just did what I was supposed to do. Then, let me leave as I have some other things to do.” He turned after bowing to my father politely.

I told my father not to worry too much and walked into an empty room with him.

When everyone walked in, Duke Verita, who sat down in a soft chair, said in a weary voice, “Whew! I ‘m sorry. It’s all my fault. ”

“What the heck…”

“I think it was leaked out given the way things worked out like this. We all did our best to keep it secret, but I don’t know what the problem was. We’re in a difficult situation,” said Marquis Enesil, who took off his glasses and stared at the duke, who was pressing his temple.

“It is true that we are in a difficult position, but how can we blame you? Don’t worry too much.

Shouldn’t we solve the immediate task immediately? ”

“Yes, that’s right, but…”

“What do you mean by the immediate task?”

When I asked, tilting my head, Marquis Enesil said with a perplexed smile, “Well.. .let me tell you about the matter in detail. At the meeting today, I tried to deal with various issues, including that of Earl Lanier, after discussing the reorganization of the knights division briefly. But the noble faction first brought up the empress issue, as I wrote it down in my note to Lady Monique. They cited the end of the grace period given by the late emperor as the reason. As you know, solving the empress issue was delayed until Lady Monique came of age.”

“…I see.”

“Like Duke Verita said, it seems that our plan was leaked out to them. If their corruption scandal broke out, it would deal a heavy blow to their position. I felt they were trying their best to shut our mouths by all means. That’s why they offered such a big bait. It seems there is a big confusion within their faction. Even those supporting the Whir family are wavering in their position now.”

The blonde young man who lightly moistened his lips continued, “The agenda was delayed because the emperor asked to discuss it again after he was done with reorganizing the knights divisions. Anyway, we gained more time until then. In some respects they might have intended it from the beginning. By the way, let me ask you once again as things worked out like this. Do you have any intention to be the empress?”

“…No. Why are you asking me that? Was it because I said that recently?”

“Oh, it seems you have not heard the details yet. It seems you have some misunderstanding. ”

“Pardon? Misunderstanding? ”

When I asked, tilting my head, my father said, gently holding my hands on behalf of Marquis Enesil who was hesitating with an embarrassed expression.

“Listen to me, Tia. They didn’t support you as the empress’s concubine.”

“Pardon? Then … ”

“Tia, actually the noble faction unanimously…

“… ”

“Tia, all of them asked the emperor to accept you as the empress.”

I felt goosebumps at that.

I wondered, but why would they support me as the empress, not his concubine. Was I taken in by them?

I broke into a hollow smile. I thought I could knock them down completely because I discovered their biggest weakness such as tax evasions, but they outwitted me. I didn’t know who in the noble faction first came up with that idea. If they had not been our rival faction, I would certainly have praised his perfect counterattack like this.

“Supporting me as the empress… Well, in that case, I assume there is an internal division going on inside our faction.”

Duke Verita nodded with a bitter smile and said, “Yes, that’s right. Those supporting the Whir family are opposed to it, but others like it. As most of them don’t know the exact situation, it’s understandable they like it. For confidentiality reasons, I didn’t tell anyone except for key figures of our faction.”