— Your Majesty, Chancellor Ardelio has arrived.
When the servant's voice was heard, the magnificently decorated door opened. Chancellor Ardelio entered the Emperor's room, bowed his head slightly, and said a polite hello.
— ...You are here, ' The Emperor, who was sitting on his bed, raised his eyes to the First Minister of the Empire and addressed him.
'Has His Majesty's condition deteriorated again...?' — Gregory Ardelio unconsciously thought the first thing he thought as soon as he saw the luminous sovereign.
Over the past few years, the Emperor's health had been greatly deteriorating.
At first, the Imperial healers were certain that it was due to the man's 'idle' lifestyle. After all, it was no secret that the Emperor often did not mind abusing alcohol and doing other things not too befitting his health.
Everyone assumed that it was just a consequence of this lifestyle, which would pass when the emperor began to lead a healthier lifestyle. However, as time went on, the symptoms gradually got worse rather than better.
Eventually, the situation reached the point where the Emperor had been coughing heavily since last winter. For a while, his condition was able to be maintained through medication.
However, lately, Alexis Cesia Ashelot hadn't stopped coughing even after taking the medicine. This could not but cause alarm among the subjects close to the sovereign. Since no one could foresee in advance when things would get worse, and eventually the irreversible would not happen.
Finding the emperor in a state that was definitely even worse than when he had last seen him, the chancellor, after hesitating, slowly approached the sovereign.
— Your Majesty, for what reason did you wish to see me?
The Emperor was silent for a moment. Despite this, the official had already guessed that something was bothering the Emperor. Was it really about the princess of the north again?
— I think... it's time to talk to Aveline, ' the ruler said in a hoarse voice.
Gregory Ardelio's facial expression changed after saying that.
— Your Majesty, what do you... mean by that?
The emperor looked as if he wanted to answer, but instead he remained silent. Soon, he began to have a dry cough. The emperor made a pained expression, and the sound of loud, harsh coughing filled the quiet room.
— Your majesty, are you ill! I'll get a doctor!
— No... There is no need...
The Emperor waved his hand, still coughing.
Chancellor Ardelio's face was grim. Since he was the Emperor's right hand man and was very often at his side, he also knew that the Emperor's health was not what it used to be. He also knew that that painful cough that had started back in last winter could not be called frivolous. But still...
— Chancellor... Ardelio.
The emperor, who had finally stopped coughing, looked at the minister with a slightly tired face.
— You can see it yourself. In fact, I don't think I'll will get any better.
- ...
— So you should talk to Aveline about the seal as soon as possible...
The Imperial Seal was traditionally to be given to the person declared the next crowned Emperor. And Gregory Ardelio was the one trusted person to whom the ruler could entrust this matter and the subsequent coronation of the princess.
After the arrival at the palace of his eldest daughter, whom he had seen for more than a dozen years, the Emperor had weakened even more. Fearing an assassination attempt on him by the Lord of the North, Alexis Caesia Ashelot could not sleep well at night. And even if he managed to do so, he was still constantly awakened by the nightmares that haunted him.
The close servants knew that the emperor had in fact always been a weak-willed man. And in recent years, this had only become even more pronounced. This was partly due to his aging body, but the Emperor's anxiety was also exacerbated due to his mind weakened by illness.
— Your Majesty, it's too early to talk about this... — the official struggled to find the words, - It is possible that you may still get better, and you should not give up yet...
— Chancellor Ardelio, ' the Emperor interrupted him at that moment.
— Yes, Your Majesty.
The First Minister obediently resigned himself and covered his eyes, waiting for his further speech.
— When Aveline finally ascends to the throne... Only then will I be able to breathe easy, ' the man continued in a hoarse voice.
As the emperor spoke about the coronation of his youngest daughter, Chancellor Ardelio couldn't help but think at that moment, was the emperor really so sure of it himself?
The thought of a princess blessed by the Orkenina star flashed through his mind. Gregory Ardelio had watched the girl constantly over the past few years, and he wasn't really quite sure if the Crown Princess was really ready for the role. Although Aveline Nevita Ashelot had been blessed with a lucky star at birth, but the girl's temperament did not match the temperament of the ruler to say the least.
But should the official really tell this to His Majesty...?
Gregory Ardelio agonised. In fact, even if he suggested that the sovereign think about it again and delay the crown princess' coronation, but it would actually make little difference. Moreover, if he brought it up now, wouldn't it make things even worse? These thoughts struggled in the First Minister's gaze, who was still looking at the weak Emperor.
— I... worried.
- ...
— It's not just about the press. That girl... She only came here to bring trouble to the Imperial Palace. She wants me dead.
The emperor spoke of his deepest worries while avoiding mentioning the name of his cursed daughter. It seems he was more frightened than the official thought. Consequently, Chancellor Ardelio again tried to speak in a softened but insistent tone:
— In any case... please don't worry. Everyone in the imperial palace knows their ruler and will definitely stand in your defence. I will also protect Your Majesty and Princess Aveline. Rest assured that nothing like this will happen.
Gregory Ardelio couldn't say anything else.
The emperor looked at him with a hazy look and then closed his eyes heavily. Before he fell into a heavy sleep, in his mind he involuntarily recalled the face of Princess Asil.
Silver hair like mist. Golden eyes that shimmered like shards of sunshine. It was an appearance that was completely inconsistent with the horrible devilish beast from the legend. And yet...
— Brother, I beg you. Take care of my daughter if anything happens to me.
Remembering that voice and the words he had once heard, the emperor instantly woke up from his sleep, covered in cold sweat.
***
This day was not much different from the previous ones, except that the Empress of the Nadal Empire looked overjoyed.
It had been a long time since the last time she had sincerely been in such good spirits. And the reason for this was that Chancellor Ardelio had paid an unscheduled visit to the Empress this morning.
And after the news she received from him, the woman could not remain indifferent. After all, it was about the fact that the Emperor was finally ready to hand over the throne to their daughter. This was the most pleasant news Julia had ever expected to hear from the lips of the First Minister.
According to the Emperor's orders, preparations for the inauguration ceremony were to begin immediately. Normally, this was a very grand and noisy celebration.
However, for fear of sudden interference from 'ill-wishers', the preparations for the event had to take place in secret. Only a select circle of high-ranking persons were informed. And with the best of luck, Princess Aveline would be able to ascend to the throne as early as next month.
Even though it was just about to happen, the Empress' face already seemed intoxicated with victory. After all, this was something she had been waiting for for so long. Thus, the rest of this day passed for Julia in the best possible way.
After meeting with the Chancellor, the Empress had a late breakfast and went to meet with the nobles who came to her daily for an audience on a variety of matters. Then Julia spent a merry time in the company of the same noble ladies of high society, having a small tea-party in the garden. And up to this point everything was going as well as it could.
Having finished with the main business for the day, the empress was also going to pay a visit to the palace of the Crown Princess to discuss the upcoming coronation ceremony with her. No matter what one said, it was a very important event that was going to go off without a hitch.
At the very least, it was Julia Ravelia Ashelot's duty to oversee the process and make sure that this useless lowlife could prepare for it in the best possible way and not cause any problems. Even if the woman had already stopped setting particularly high expectations for her only daughter, but in this situation, the empress was sticking to the principle of 'a sheep's wool'.
The front courtyard of the empress' palace was spacious and elegant. From the neatly arranged trees to the flowers planted here and there that exuded fragrance. Compared to other palaces, it had a wider area and the entire area was maintained by dozens of servants on a daily basis. In a word, it was nothing short of luxurious.
However, the highest-ranking woman of the Nadal Empire passed by without hesitation, not even paying attention to this beautiful sight. The procession of an empress leaving her palace was impressive.
At least until something unexpected happened. The thing was that a man suddenly appeared out of nowhere and blocked the empress' path, standing in her way.
The man had red hair and an unshaven face, and the clothes he was wearing looked shabby and dirty. There was a strong smell of horses and fresh herbs coming from this man. From any point of view, he didn't look like someone who could be an acquaintance or guest of the empress at all. To be precise, it was none other than a simple servant.
— Your majesty, ' the man called out to her softly.
'What impudence...!!!'
The servants who were accompanying Julia could not contain themselves at the sight of this outrageous sight.
In fact, this man deserved to be immediately executed on the spot. He was a mere servant, and this was the empress' territory. People outside the central palace had to go through complicated procedures to enter this place, and they could not pay a visit to the royal family at all without prior notice. And yet... This insolent stable boy dared to so directly approach and stand in Her Majesty's way!
At this moment, the empress' facial expression also became distorted. The woman seemed even more cold than usual. This frightening aura made the servants feel uneasy.
Concluding that the empress must be furious, the servants were about to immediately call the guards to deal with this rascal. But Julia suddenly made a gesture with her hand, ordering them to stay where they were.
— What do you want? — The woman asked coldly.
Although the empress was clearly angry right now, but the stableboy remained calm.
— I have the honour to greet Her Majesty, ' the man bowed his head slightly, 'I beg your pardon, but this unworthy servant dares to hope that you will agree to listen to him. There is a matter I must discuss with your majesty.
After saying these words, the man with the dishevelled red hair looked up at her. The maids behind the empress continued to pant indignantly. That some servant dared to ask the empress for a private conversation was simply unfathomable to the mind. This insolent man deserved to lose his head dozens of times already!
However, there were still no orders from the empress, so the servants had to obediently remain in their seats.
'.....'
Julia stared at him intently while making a grinding sound. It was obvious that she was nervous right now.
Finally, a cool voice broke the silence that had descended here:
— Leave us alone for a while.
— But...! — The servants were stunned and unknowingly even tried to protest this.
— If this person really has something to say to me, then I should listen to him, shouldn't I? It's possible that it's something important. He is a subject of our empire just like everyone else,'' With her usual mask of virtue, the empress condescendingly said this.
After saying that, the stable boy smiled satisfactorily.
— Thank you, your majesty.
The empress was accompanied by a pair of maidservants, but they kept their distance. At that moment, the woman gestured for them to leave. And despite the contradictory nature of the situation, the maids had to follow the Empress' order.
And after a while.
— What the hell are you doing!!! — Julia immediately hissed venomously once she made sure that no one could hear them. The woman looked around nervously.
Fred Harper, looking straight into the empress's face, grimly grinned.
— Your majesty, you have become even more beautiful since then.
— ...
The woman bit her lip irritably, as if trying to understand what he was trying to achieve.
— ...But unfortunately, other than that, I have nothing else good to say to you.
However, the empress had no intention of listening to his distant remarks now. She looked at the man with a sullen expression, urging him to respond.
— Speak. What did you set all this up for? — Julia muttered.
At that moment, after her words, the stableman's expression became serious in an instant. Fred Harper also looked at her intently.
— Julia,' he said the Empress' name slowly, 'you know exactly what I want to talk to you about.