Chapter 230: 230

The Lombardy's carriage my Grandfather and I rode made its way quickly toward the Imperial Palace.

Hearing the news that the Emperor was in critical condition, although we are on our way, my Grandfather didn't look so impatient.

"You have a long day."

I'm tired but I already had enough time to relax myself earlier.

"True." I replied with a shrug as if I couldn't help it.

"But you didn't ask me why I'm taking you with me."

"I thought you must have something to show me."

"Yes, you're right." Grandfather smiled and nodded. Soon he asked me in a subtle voice.

"What kind of relationship do you think Emperor Durelli and Lombardy have, Tia?"

"Isn't it some kind of a partnership?"

"Partnership?"

"Yes, since the establishment of the Lambrew Empire, both families have been moving together. We've been through a lot together for a very long time whether we like it or not."

The answer comes from how the Emperors treated Lombardy for generations.

Even though they hated and couldn't tolerate Lombardy's existence, no Emperor tried to destroy Lombardy. They've only tried to hold the family's flag.

"You've been watching properly." My Grandfather smiled satisfactorily at my answer.

"When the Emperor dies, Lombardy goes to the palace for one reason. To confirm the Emperor's death with both eyes."

This is a little unexpected.

I took my back off the chair and asked.

"Why do we confirm the death?"

"The Durelli family has been placed in Lombardy's custody, in addition to the assets that have been attributed to the Crown."

"It's kind of like a slush fund."

"Yes, only the Emperor knows and can use the assets. And when the Emperor dies, the ownership of the money is temporarily transferred to the Head of Lombardy."

"Oh, so it's like that..."

That's a tremendous trust.

I can't believe that the money the Emperor had been collecting over the years will be handed over to the Lombardy's Head.

"And Lombardy is supposed to announce the existence of the asset and hand it over again when the legitimate heir inherits the throne after the Great Emperor."

"Legitimate..."

The weight of that word was considerable. As I quietly thought it over, my grandfather explained further.

"I'm referring to the Crown Prince with the approval of the representatives from each region, especially Lombardy. Of course, there were exceptions." My grandfather said as he sighed briefly mixed with dissatisfaction.

"It's been a pain in the neck."

The sound of my Grandfather rubbing his bearded chin stretched inside the carriage.

"Are you referring to the absence of a 'legitimate heir'?"

"Yes. Jovanes usually doesn't even want to talk about succession, so no one can guess what's going on inside his head."

"If the Emperor is truly dead." I asked, holding back the desire to swear.

"Then the next monarch that has the authority to decide who inherits the throne..."

"... is the Empress."

Damn it.

After all the trouble of managing to turn the West representative from Angenas to Braun, you're telling me that she has the authority to decide on who sits on the throne!

"He can collapse anytime he wants, but to collapse at a time like this. Jovanes, you fool." Grandfather said as he clicked his tongue.

"By the way, Grandpa."

"What is it, Tia?"

"How come you're not surprised?"

Grandfather tilted his head. My question itself seemed incomprehensible.

"When you received the news that His Majesty was in critical condition. You're not surprised at all."

My grandfather simply informed his family of the letter's content and stood up to prepare for departure with a calm face.

"His Majesty was always healthy. But the message that he is critical is too sudden."

"Hmm."

Grandfather seemed to be lost in thought for a moment. And after a short silence, a deep voice called me.

"Tia."

"Yes, Grandpa."

"As I reached this age, there is one thing I've realized."

"What is it?"

"That it is true how 'people reap what they sow'."

I also agreed.

If you do something good, you will be rewarded; if you do something bad, you'll get punished.

Everyone heard that as they were growing up.

"Do you know that Jovanes poisoned his father, the previous Emperor?"

"Poisoned..?"

Today, I am learning a lot of things I didn't know. I was a little surprised.

The death of the Emperor is very confidential. Ordinary people don't even know what the Emperor's health was like.

Then one day, you will suddenly hear the Emperor's obituary.

"Jovanes, who poisoned his father, knew this day would come."

"But when you say, 'You reap what you sow,' Does Grandpa think someone poisoned His Majesty?"

"...I told him to be careful about what he eats and drink."

Instead of answering, Grandpa clicked his tongue lightly and muttered. Soon after, he looked at me.

"Between the Second Prince and the Empress. Who do you think did it, Tia?"

Grandfather's brown eyes shone coldly in the moonlight from outside.

At the same time, though my head was a little confused, I'm calmly composed.

"You're saying that that's the only thing we, Lombardy, have to worry about, right?"

Grandfather grinned.

I looked at him for a moment before looking out the window.

It seemed that my Grandfather wasn't expecting an immediate answer from me.

I recalled a few days ago returning to Lombardy after handing Bellesac over to Serral.

"Estira told me to deliver it."

I held out a small box to Perez.

"One bottle of Tithi Spider venom and one bottle of antidote that you asked for."

"Thank you." Perez replied, closing the lid of the box again.

"I'll use it well."

I didn't ask Perez how he was going to use it. Perez didn't explain to me either.

I was lost in thought like my Grandfather.

Perez and the Empress. Which one of them poisoned Jovanes?

"We've arrived at the Imperial Palace."

At the voice of the coachman, both my Grandfather and I woke up from our thoughts. Looking out of the carriage door, we frowned at the same time.

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"It seems like something happened in the Imperial Palace, Grandpa?"

The surroundings of the Imperial Palace were chaotic.

There were troops moving in groups and Imperial Knights were rushing into the Palace.

"...Let's go to Jovanes' bedroom." Grandfather hurried and told me. As soon as we reached the corridor where the Emperor's bedroom was located, I could see in a sense what was going on.

"Get out of the way, Second Prince!" The Empress's shouting echoed throughout the corridor filled with Knights.

"It's worth seeing this spectacle." Grandfather spoke in a low voice.

"It appears in front of the Emperor's bedroom Knights are standing in a row carrying swords."

Amid these armed Knights are the Empress and Perez staring at each other.

***

"What did you just say?" The Empress asked the palace doctor in a trembling voice.

"You said... that His Majesty crossed the hurdle?"

"Yes, that's right." The Imperial Doctor shrunk his shoulders with the sudden unusual pressure.

Then, the tightly closed bedroom door opened and Perez appeared.

"Second Prince?"

"...It seems that news has already been delivered to the Empress's Palace." There was a sign of disapproval in Perez's words.

"....So the Prince was already here?"

"I found the Emperor collapsed on the floor." Perez said in a calm voice.

"How..."

Empress Ravini was opening her mouth wanting to find out the situation.

Again, the door to the bedroom opened and the Knights took one person out.

It was Maid Otua.

"Take her to the Knight's Building...Don't let anyone approach her until I say so."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Maid Otua, who had her arms seized and half dragged by the Knights, looked at the Empress.

'You stupid thing!'

The Empress chewed her lips.

Maid Otua must have made a fool of herself.

Tithi spider venom was a deadly poison that few people knew, and the symptoms were similar to those of a normal sudden illness, so there was little risk of getting found out.

But something was strange.

Empress Ravini thought she would be dragged right away, but Perez was just staring at her.

The moment she realized it, the Empress laughed unwittingly.

'There is no evidence!'

And there was one more idea that strikes her.

"Step aside, Prince."

Perez stood unmoving, guarding by the door of the bedroom.

"I have to check His Majesty's condition myself." The Empress said, clenching her fists with joy.

"...You can't."

'The Emperor is dead!'

'The Second Prince is now trying to somehow conceal the Emperor's death!'

"I am the Empress of this Empire!"

Maid Otua was dragged away, but she didn't open her mouth easily. As long as her dreadful family was in the hands of Angenas, Maid Otua couldn't betray the Empress.

So Ravini's voice grew louder and harsher.

"His Majesty is safe and sound. It's His Majesty's order to not let anyone in."

"Ha!" 

What are you talking about? There's no way a dead emperor can speak!

The Empress snorted unconsciously.

"His Majesty is resting now."

"I have the right to see how he's faring!"

Eventually, a screaming high voice rattled through the whole corridor.

Perez stared at the screaming Ravini before asking.

"Why are you doing this?"

"...?"

"His Majesty is not well and said that he will not meet anyone, so why are you being so forceful?"

"Forceful...?!"

"Did you not believe my words that His Majesty is safe, or are you convinced that it will not be possible?" Perez's red eyes stared coldly at the Empress.

"I think it's the latter, I wonder why."

"...Get out of the way." Instead of answering the Prince, the Empress took a step closer.

"No." Perez stepped forward and blocked the Empress.

"Step aside."

The moment he grabbed the Empress by the shoulder.

"You dare touch me with your filthy hand!"

Slap!

The Empress slapped Perez on the cheek.

"Do you think I'm going to step down because you're blocking me?!" The Empress shouted before calling her attendant.

"Go and let them know!"

After hesitating for a while at the behest of the Empress, the servant quickly ran down the hall.

And after a while.

"Get out of the way, Your Highness!"

"How dare you disobey the Empress?!"

Different groups of Knights, each following to the call of the Empress and Perez, were in a yelling match against each other.

Those who were contacted belatedly joined their respective forces, and the corridor of the bedroom was gradually filled with no time to step up.

"Shame on you as an Imperial Knight!"

"Who's going to tell who!"

Tension flowed between the knights, which had been divided into two forces, looking like they would draw their swords at any moment.

"Get out of the way, Second Prince!" The Empress cried out loud once more. However, there was a faint smile on her face.

Despite such a big uproar, there was no reaction in the bedroom. This could never have happened if the Emperor was alive.

The Empress was convinced of her victory.

The Emperor's absolute power was right in front of her eyes, and she seemed to be able to hold it if she reached out.

It was then.

"What are you doing right now!"

With a roar, the Knights split like water.

"Empress! Prince! Both of you stop this instant!"

At the end of the hallway, Rulhac Lombardy with his hands behind him, stood with angry eyes.

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