“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.”

“I see.”

Who could be so hostile to the Monique family? Who is the man who persistently tries to disconnect the family lineage of my mother, me and my father?

The purpose of the noble faction was too obvious. Perhaps they wanted to have several results at the same time. They might have calculated to split the pro-emperor faction into the supporters of the Whir family and those supporting the Monique family. They might have also let me, who they called an infertile woman, take the position of the empress while promoting Jiun as the emperor’s concubine, so she could give birth to the emperor’s baby.

Besides, they must be trying to take back my father’s title.

As for other noble families, they could adopt a son to succeed their family, but my family was different. According to the established rules of the Monique family, only those who can swear on the covenant with the imperial family, namely, an oath of blood, can succeed the family. Under the first covenant 1,000 years ago, the sign showing the qualifications of the successor was his silvery hair. That’s why all the heads of the Monique family had silver hair.

Currently, the only people who have silver hair in the empire are my father and I.

Since my father dedicated his love to my mother only, there was no chance that he would remarry. Unless I give birth to a baby, it’s certain that the lineage of my family will end.

If I became the empress instead of the successor of my family, it was clear that my father’s title would be taken back upon his death.

“So, everyone supported the noble faction’s proposal?”

“… Unfortunately, yes. Lady Monique, except for the two dukes, your father and several nobles supporting the Whir family, all others supported it.”

I could not help but break into laughter.

I guessed so. Anyway, nobody would care even if the Monique family would disappear, so it would be the best option for our faction to secure the position of the empress by supporting me and try to keep Jiun at bay.

Was it because I was shocked by the sudden news or was it because I bled a lot?

When I touched my forehead because of dizziness, my father, who was patting my left hand, raised me and said, “Let’s stop here. As we still have time, let’s talk about it later.”

“Oh, you said that she was hurt. Sorry, Kairan. Let’s discuss the matter again later.”

“Well, let me leave first. Let’s go, Tia. ”

“Yes, Daddy. See you all next time. ”

I politely said goodbye to them and headed home with my father.

As soon as he arrived home, my father, who looked at me with a worried expression, called a doctor.

The doctor, who rushed to my house, reassured my father that although the cut was deep, I would have no problem using my right arm. Nevertheless, my father gave me a stern warning that I should not even think about wielding a sword for the time being.

I went up to my room, feeling woozy. I approached Luna to play with her for a long time, but the silver cat ran away after smelling the medicine on me.

After trying to find her for a long time, I eventually gave up playing with Luna and lay down on the bed. All kinds of thoughts passed through my mind.

The noble faction supported me as the empress?

Does Jiun know about this? Did she also agree with them or was she unaware of it?

I broke into a bitter smile. What a nasty fate? In the past, I became the emperor’s concubine at the pressure of the pro-emperor faction, but this time Jiun has to go through the same fate as mine?

My fate was revolving along this thread over and over again.

When can I cut this tangled knot?

I closed my eyes, feeling bitter. I fell asleep in no time as the medicine worked.

When I was drinking tea leisurely in my house office, I heard a knock on the door.

In no time the butler came in. As usual, he had an expressionless face, but he looked greatly annoyed. So, I asked curiously, “What’s wrong, butler? What’s going on? ”