Chapter 39
Chapter 39. How to Eliminate an Enemy
Emperor Orban’s sigh echoed through the dining room in the Veshnu Imperial Palace, a place reserved only for the imperial family. After hurriedly receiving some news from a servant who had rushed in, he let out a sigh while pressing his forehead.
“What’s the matter?” asked Pelga, the Empress of Veshnu, who was cutting her food across from him. She raised her head, her clear blue eyes, showing no sign of illness, focused on her husband.
“They say Vante has disappeared. It seems he secretly joined the delegation.”
At these words, Pelga let out a small sigh and resumed cutting with her knife, which she had paused. Her demeanor was far too calm for someone who had just heard news of her son’s disappearance.
“I suppose I should immediately send troops to bring Vante back,” Orban said.
“Leave him be. You know what kind of son Vante is. He’s always lived and breathed his sister’s words. What did Vinea tell Vante before she left the palace?”
“To become an excellent emperor.”
“That’s right. He’s barely slept properly for two months, studying kingship, something he’s never learned before, just to keep that one promise. Do you think such a child would leave the palace without any thought?”
While that was true, even his beloved daughter hadn’t contacted them since going to Tessibania. Orban couldn’t let go of his worry.
Seeing his dark expression, Pelga continued, “Stop worrying and continue your meal. I gave him a protective artifact kept in the imperial palace, just in case.”
Orban, who had been sighing deeply, raised his head with a surprised look. “An artifact? Did you already know Vante would leave the palace?”
“I didn’t know in advance. I gave him the artifact right after he entered the palace.”
“That’s fortunate, but to think an imperial treasure is now outside Veshnu…”
Pelga frowned at Orban’s words. Sensing the sharp atmosphere, Orban clamped his mouth shut, realizing his mistake.
“You seem to have forgotten what position you’re in now. Is this the Grand Duchy of Aktavil?”
“No…”
“You are the Emperor of this country, and your son Vante is the heir who will succeed you. Whether we break or discard artifacts, no one has the right to say anything.”
“You’re right. Yes, that’s true.”
Pelga put down her cutlery and wiped her mouth with a napkin.
“Since we’re on the topic, as soon as your brother returns, send him back to the Grand Duchy.”
“My brother? But it’s still too early. There’s still much to learn from him, and he’s very helpful.”
“Even Vante is adapting on his own without Nexior’s help.”
“But…”
“I suddenly became Empress because of your family history, which was bewildering enough. Now you’re making me mind your in-laws too?”
“I’m truly sorry about that. I never imagined things would turn out this way…”
“It’s more than a little awkward dealing with your brother because of our changed status. And because he’s staying in the auxiliary palace, I, as Empress, have more things to worry about.”
Indeed, Orban had heard that Pelga’s health had deteriorated recently due to increased duties.
Emperor or not, what could be more important than loving family? Orban nodded.
“I understand. I’ll speak to my brother about it when he returns.”
* * *
The hands of the servants trying to tie up Vinea’s hair into a single bun hesitated. A fresh red mark was clearly visible on her white neck. It was obvious who had done it. Who else in this empire could leave such a mark on the Empress’s body?
Lineue, standing behind, swallowed a sigh and dismissed the servants, helping with Vinea’s grooming herself.
“Your Majesty, shall I tie a scarf for you?”
“No need. It’s not like it would hide anything anyway.”
Vinea, who had been staring at the clear red mark on the left side of her neck, shifted her gaze to a velvet box on the dressing table. Emerald earrings, necklace, and bracelet – all gifts from different places, but they matched perfectly as a set.
“Is there anything you’d like to change, perhaps?”
“Dispose of the necklace. I can’t stand the sight of it.”
“By dispose, you mean…”
“Throw it away.”
Seemingly tireless, her uncle kept sending steady gifts in the name of the Aktavil Grand Duchy. Even though she hadn’t replied to a single letter in this regression, as if to flaunt their supposedly close family ties.
Lineue nodded, though surprised, and took the necklace.
“Dispose of all boxes engraved with the Aktavil Grand Duchy’s crest. There’s no need to report it.”
“Understood.”
Lineue mentally tallied the jewelry she would have to process. Just how many pieces were there? It would surely fill at least three chests.
At that moment, a loud trumpet sound came from outside the window. It seemed the events marking the first day of the Founding Festival were about to begin.
Salvare, the tyrant who ruled the Kingdom of Orbanatheon hundreds of years ago. It was the day when Abraltan, his knight, executed his lord and established Tessibania.
The Founding Festival lasts for five days in total.
On the first and second days, delegations from various countries are welcomed, and the main celebratory banquet is held at the imperial palace on the third day.
The fourth and fifth days are essentially events for the common people, with festivals held in the capital’s streets.
It was a tedious event where she could recite what would happen where and when with her eyes closed, but unlike previous regressions, this time she had to be on her toes from the start due to the things she had set in motion.
The difficulty in predicting the future meant that she could die and regress in ways she had never experienced before.
Lineue, who had briefly left the room, returned.
“The nobles who will accompany you on the procession have arrived.”
The first item on the agenda today, the first day of the Founding Festival, was to greet the delegation that had come to the empire.
Today, they would be welcoming the delegation from Veshnu.
It was the first official friendly exchange since the end of the war. The number of troops guarding the palace had been doubled to prepare for any possible incidents, and high-ranking nobles were also mobilized to welcome them.
“Are there any changes to the list of attending nobles?”
“It’s the same as what I reported earlier.”
“I see…”
She had thought that Eurene, who should be quite agitated by now, would make some move during the Founding Festival, but seeing that she wasn’t attending this time, it seemed the Duchess was behaving herself.
Vinea could only rise from her seat after placing a crown adorned with pale amber-colored topaz on her head.
The red mark was fully exposed due to her hair being tied up, revealing her neck, but thanks to the elaborate necklace covering it, it wasn’t noticeable unless one looked closely.
As she left the palace, Tetar was standing in front. Behind him, she could see the nobles participating in this procession. There were notably many young, unmarried ladies who had dressed up lavishly.
She made a light gesture towards them as they bowed deeply. The eyes of the young ladies who straightened up were uniformly intense.
The focus of those gazes was, of course, Tetar.
Such blatant looks.
Was it because he wore all white and plain clothes when he went to the temple to find Sefitiana? The dark red uniform embroidered with gold thread, the white cape, the clearly exposed forehead, and distinct features immediately drew attention.
However, Vinea, who had been facing this face throughout seventy-seven regressions, stood in front of him with an expression devoid of any particular impression.
“You look beautiful. Anyone who sees you might think the fairy who helped Abraltan is the Empress.”
He was referring to the folk tale that the founding Emperor Abraltan had received help from a fairy in establishing the empire.
He must have been quite satisfied with how he tormented her in the bathroom two days ago, as a faint sense of contentment still lingered on his face.
Tetar hooked his fingertip on Vinea’s necklace that covered the mark.
“Though I’m not particularly fond of the necklace.”
Given his obvious intention in leaving the mark, it was natural that he didn’t like the necklace covering it.
“We probably won’t meet Balak Utar until the third day.”
“If it disappears, we can just make another.”
Blue eyes glanced at his shameless face.
Soon, the two began walking towards the arriving delegation in the distance. This much effort had to be shown so that the delegation wouldn’t spread unnecessary rumors when they returned.
The disappointed gazes of the young ladies hoping for even a word from him could be felt on their backs.
“Why don’t you at least greet them once? They must have been preparing since dawn, hoping to make a good impression.”
“The clowning is enough in the capital’s streets.”
He clicked his tongue briefly and frowned slightly. Despite his well-maintained face, an unavoidable weariness was deeply etched.
“So, when are you going to tell me?”
“Tell you what?”
“The reason why the Empress lured me out two days ago.”
“…There isn’t one. I just felt like it.”
Tetar, who had tilted his head back, lowered it and stared directly at Vinea. His gray eyes took in Vinea’s calm face.
“It seemed as if you were being chased by something.”
“Are you worried I might have seen illusions like Your Majesty?”
“That might be the case.”
“Don’t worry. If that happens, you’ll be the first to receive a report.”
“I sincerely hope so. So I can end this regression peacefully and start anew.”
Seeing Tetar’s eyes shine dangerously as they faced each other, Vinea narrowed her eyes.
“I thought I told you not to interfere.”
“Interfere? If anything, I’m playing the role of the ‘sane emperor’ that the Empress wished for quite well, aren’t I?”
“You beheaded innocent knights just yesterday.”
“They were fools who didn’t even know that an assassin had infiltrated the Empress’s room.”
“They were caught off guard by the sleeping poison.”
It was because the assassin had disguised themselves as a servant who frequently entered and exited the Empress’s quarters.
Even so, the knights were not entirely blameless, but because he had mercilessly beheaded those who were kneeling and apologizing, rumors about him were once again circulating in the palace that had just barely calmed down.
“Was it your uncle’s doing again?”
“Isn’t it obvious?”
“Tch.”
At the sound full of irritation, Tetar let out a short, low laugh.
“Anyway, we’ll soon see the face of that snake, Gartan Aktavil.”
It’s tiresome indeed. Like Eurene, he was truly an annoying person.
Vinea spoke in a lowered voice.
“Don’t kill him as soon as you meet. It was I who was troubled when Your Majesty stabbed that uncle in the heart during the fortieth regression.”
Even now, it was an undeniably irritating situation to think about.
The Emperor of Tessibania killing the Grand Duke of Veshnu who came as part of the delegation on the Founding Festival day. Conspiracy theories spread that the Empress was behind all of it, and of course, Eurene was at the center of it all.
Tetar left for the battlefield, saying he would kill all the people who had been bothering him all this time, and meanwhile, Vinea was accused of being a witch who had seduced the Emperor and was burned at the stake.
Having never died by fire before, she quietly submitted out of curiosity, but it was a very unpleasant regression that ended with nothing gained and only terrible pain experienced.
“Then are we just going to leave him be?”
“No. We can’t do that.”
If Eurene started to become a nuisance from the middle of the regression, he tried to interfere with them in all sorts of ways from the beginning of the regression.
From experience, it was better to deal with him from the start.
“Poison, or assassination?”
“That’s the cleanest and fastest method, but I’m still considering. How to kill him with the least aftermath.”
With each step, the delegation grows closer. As blurry faces become clearer, some familiar faces come into view.
Nobles from Veshnu, servants from the imperial palace.
And finally, Gartan Aktavil, the former Emperor of Veshnu and current head of the Aktavil Grand Duchy.
He was her uncle, who was plotting her niece’s death to reclaim the throne.
