During the break, everyone is busy attending their own businesses. Adelaide is only seating on her seat, busy with her reading materials. Not until Fabian rose up from his seat and walked to her. But he eventually walked away and approached the Noble Council's head.
Adelaide thought that it must be about the Viscount's replacement. Having this chance, she stood up and gracefully walked to Beatrice's direction who is busy scribbling through the documents.
"Your Majesty. May I have a word with you before the break ends?"
Beatrice stopped from writing and stopped to think about her decision. She gazed at her husband's back who is currently talking to the Noble Council and gazed at her carefully.
"Don't worry, he already knows I am going to talk to you and he agreed."
"It's funny how he quickly agrees to everything you say while it took me a weeks of persuasion to make him agree to sign the arrest warrant to arrest Viscount Perry." Beatrice quickly retorts back with sharp stare.
Adelaide didn't backed down on this and decided to do the same, until Beatrice gave up and sighed. "Alright, what is the thing that you want to talk about?"
"I know his majesty already said this to you… about my son becoming the Crown Prince but there is certainly more to it that you still doesn't know so please—"
"If that is the thing that you want to talk with me to, then I don't want to hear it. Please go back to your seat this instant Lady Adelaide, the break is almost over." She cuts her before she could finish her sentence.
She tries her best to not lose her cool or else this would become a misunderstanding. Or worse, it may become an exaggerated and twisted rumor.
Out of desperation, Adelaide aggressively grabbed her hand to capture her attention. "Please listen to me Your Majesty! I am saying the truth in the name of Lord Ureus!"
Beatrice was stunned at what she heard. 'What's with people suddenly swearing to Lord Ureus in front me these days?'
Adelaide let go of her hand and let her massaged her temples to ease her stress and confusion. When she completely calmed down, she asked her again. "You said that there is more to it that I doesn't know. What is it?"
Adelaide's face is evidently hesitant and conflicted. She sighed heavily before approaching her left ear to whisper something.
"The truth is, I did not know that Fariel would be crowned as the heir. Not until he personally said it to you. I don't want my child to be in a cage full of thorns and blades but I cannot do anything because of his power and position, and I think you know who exactly that person is."
Adelaide distanced herself from Beatrice's ears and saw her horrified expression.
"What are you standing there for Adel? Come back to your seat and let us continue the meeting."
The said lady only nodded her head before eyeing Beatrice for the last time. Beatrice reciprocated her stare as well before taking it back to her front.
'Is she really telling me the truth? What if it's just a trap? But, isn't this trap to obvious and poorly thought?' Her mind is full of questions that outnumbers her answers. She cannot think rationally as she was too occupied at this unexpected revelation.
William continued his agenda from earlier, and he was able to express them clearly as he was able to obtain the agreement of both the Nobles' Council and the Emperor to increase the Farmer's Association's budget due to the recent typhoon.
This is just one of the many agendas of both councils are brought here today. Everything went smoothly – just as they wanted. They don't want their tyrant Emperor to be angered which can lead to their deaths.
Everything is alright as usual not until Fabian spoke. He stood up from his seat and his announcement echoed to the room's every corner through his voice. "Before I end this meeting, I would like to discuss this important matter to you all."
Both the Councils are in deep whispers, discussing what kind of matter it is. They are getting more nervous every second. Is he planning for another land occupation? Or is he planning to wage another war against the neighboring Empires? Or is he finally stepping down from his throne?
"Pardon me your highness, but what is the matter you wish to discuss with us all?"
"It is actually about the Empire's heir to the throne. Empress Consort Adelaide has successfully given me a male heir."
All of the people in the room are in deep bewilderment. To think that she already given birth to his son will make it this Empire's hope to break free from him will be much lower than before.
Beatrice gave Fabian a glare that could pierce his skull, he saw it and also glared at her. He shifted his gaze back to the whispering crowd and cleared his throat to capture their attention.
With a piece of paper in his right hand, he raised it in his head's level so that everyone can see it. Beatrice's face became more horrified when she realized the contents of the said paper.
"What I have here is a bill that announces my son's succession to the throne that i requested to the parliament to be drafted. Adalaide and i signed this already and now I only need both the council head's signature in order to become legitimate."
The people within the room were speechless, their mouths being wide-opened. They were all loss for words to say as they see him smiling curtly showing his supposed innocence. The fact that he only spoked of this matter just right this moment makes it more clear that he is this Empire's tyrant that nobody can disobey.
"So you are saying your majesty that you only need our signatures to make it final and absolute?" Marquess Widsmith, a supporter of the Emperor and a person on the Emperialist faction asked Fabian.
The Emperor nodded his head and walked towards him to give the paper. Marquess Widsmith is the council head of the Nobles' Council so of course, it makes easier for Fabian to gain approval from one of the council heads – that which is his supporter.
The council head of the Commoners' Council, William Aurelius is terribly conflicted in the inside as to whether sign the bill of not. He took a look at the Emperor and to the Marquess, the both of them sharing such a suspicious grin. He couldn't say a word to them as it may lead to his untimely death. He gulped heavily as he noticed the Emperor already towards him.
Slowly, gently, carefully. With a smile plastered on his face.
This is when he realized that he doesn't have a choice in the first place.
'I am going to sign it whether I like it or not.'
When he received the piece of paper with a shaky hand, the Emperor didn't commented and just waited him to finish still with a smile, but a dry one. Along with his sharp stare of his eyes. Although nervous the whole process, William successfully signed the bill. But the lingering feeling of uneasiness did not pass him.
Meanwhile, Beatrice who saw the whole ordeal, is full of nervousness and panic. She tried to remain and calculated to not to embarrass herself in front of them during his sudden announcement from earlier.
Through her careful observation, what Fabian is doing is to William Aurelius is simple yet hidden pressuring. Knowing that Marquess Widsmith is one of his strongest allies, pressuring him will be much easier in order to force him to sign the bill.
'He isn't asking for request, he is ordering him to sign the bill.'
Oh how the Emperor loves the expression of someone being cornered to a wall, no other way to escape through.