Chapter 153

Proofreader: somnium

The Empress answered Cedric’s words.

“I never closed the door when you said you’d come.”

“I plan to visit more often in the future. I have no other adult to take care of, so please Your Majesty the Empress be considerate of me.”

“So, you’re here to talk about it after all.”

The Empress smirked.

“Don’t worry. There is no one else I can lean on, so you have to take good care of me while I am around.”

Cedric reached out to Artizea. The Empress asked, tilting her head.

“Aren’t you going to drink some tea?”

“I have a doctor’s appointment so I have to go home now. It was only three weeks ago that I collapsed.”

“Yes. It is still time to be careful.”

said the Empress.

Artizea grabbed Cedric’s hand and stood up. And she bowed politely to the Empress.

“I’ll send you the news.”

“I’m sure you’re doing a good job even if you don’t give me any news. And it’s late, but congratulations.”

“Thank you. You’ve already sent a congratulatory gift.”

Artizea answered. She felt awkward.

The Empress beckoned for her to leave. Artizea bowed once more and left.

Cedric asked.

“Are you feeling well?”

“I’m okay.”

“If you are not tired, why don’t we walk a little bit? At home these days, even if you move, it’s hard to walk around because it’s so loud.”

“The Empress Palace is quiet.”

Artizea said so.

The gardens of the Empress Palace were quiet. In the meantime, it was spring and the days were getting hotter.

Countess Martha’s salon was also now closed. After all, there was no reason to open it while it was politically dizzy, as friendship was the main focus.

The purpose of opening a salon was also accomplished.

The two walked slowly, arm in arm.

Artizea was the first to open her mouth.

“How was it?”

“How was what?”

“You came from the Imperial Palace. His Majesty must have said something.”

Cedric smiled bitterly.

He didn’t mean to talk about a story like that.

There were so many stories to discuss. About the child, about her, and about Cedric himself.

But Cedric did not rush. Because Artizea did not think herself to be ready.

Her demeanor returned to her usual calmness, and the traces of tears disappeared.

Grand Duchy Evron’s vassals now took Artizea with joy without hesitation. On the surface, even Artizea didn’t seem to have any objection to her child.

But still Artizea woke up every dawn. When Cedric woke up in the middle of the night realizing that the place next to him was empty, she would have the curtains open and endlessly staring out of the dark window.

Cedric couldn’t figure out whether she had made up her mind or not.

The only thing to keep the calm during the day is to be patient. Just as she had endured wailing in the past.

Cedric’s heart ached when he thought about it. He still had the thought that he couldn’t have been the person to whom she really opened her heart.

Artizea asked again.

“Is it difficult to say?”

“No. I was sorting out my thoughts for a moment.”

I can’t say I was thinking about you, so Cedric just said so.

“He offered me the position of Secretary of State.”

The Secretary of State was not a position included in the official bureaucracy. It was a post given to people who directly received the Imperial decree and performed government affairs on the Emperor’s behalf.

Except in special cases, it was also the official post usually granted when the imperial family member was involved in national affairs.

It was not an honorary post, and in terms of his rank, it was the same as the Chancellor. All bureaucrats had to accept the orders from the Secretary of State as orders.

Cedric was surprised.

This was the first time he had been offered the position of a political minister.

Even when he was ordered to rebuild the Western Army and subdue the Monster Wave, he was simply deployed from the military with the title of Emperor’s Special Envoy.

So he was very surprised that the Emperor made such a proposal to him. He was accustomed to being those who were kept in check and excluded.

But Artizea had a calm face.

“You are not surprised.”

“Yes. I thought you might have something to say about the position. Lord Cedric has done too much.”

He made too many promises to the protesters.

As much as he promises to uproot the human trafficking organization, it may all be temporarily directed under the command of Grand Duke Evron.

However, remedies for victims and the protection of children were different. This is not going to be over in the short term. It also meant that he had to be actively involved in the internal affairs.

If he wants to take on a heavy role, he has to be given the right position to commensurate with it; even to show it to other subjects.

“It’s very risky to give authority without being included in the right organization.”

“That’s right.”

“Above all, His Majesty will not want Grand Duke Evron to communicate with the citizens outside of your jurisdiction.”

“I know what you mean. By emphasizing the fact that I acted under the decree from the Emperor, it means that he intends to ultimately make the support of the people His Majesty’s.”

Artizea nodded her head.

She couldn’t smile easily, but her expression softened slightly. Cedric’s answer seemed to be satisfactory.

“Will you accept it?”

“Do you think it would be better not to do that?”

“You are not in a position to fight with His Majesty right now. Maybe it’s better to stop at this point and go back North.”

“…….”

“You stopped what you were doing in Evron and came in haste. Worst of all, standing out is like raising a flag on the battlefield, so you’ll be heavily attacked. It’s not yet the time. There is too little preparation.”

Artizea said seriously.

Cedric paused for a moment and pondered his thoughts. The reason Artizea was talking about that was well known to him.

If he went back to the North, he almost inadvertently asked if she would come with him.

If he had to stop everything and lie down for a while, it would be better for Artizea to do the same.

They can go to the North together and take a break for a year or two and think about the future.

Life is long. The future is even longer.

The Emperor would not suddenly collapse and die within two years. The political landscape of the Empire has changed significantly over the past year, but that’s what Artizea did.

So they don’t have to rush.

What can be done in the North will have an impact long into the distant future.

But Artizea didn’t think so, and Cedric let out a small sigh.

“I will not leave your side, Tia.”

“Lord Cedric…….”

“I know you don’t want me to get involved in what you’re trying to do.”

“…….”

“I don’t intend to do that. But I have no intention of leaving you alone now.”

Artizea bit her mouth. Instead, she grabbed Cedric’s arm.

Cedric lightly stroked the back of her hand. It was to relieve tension.

“I told you we had to go together, didn’t I?”

“…… .”

“And I have already made a promise to the citizens. If I break that promise, I will not be able to properly reign even if I gain power in the future. Who will believe and follow those who break even such a small promise?”

“Yes…….”

Artizea couldn’t help but nod her head.

“I don’t think you did anything wrong. However, I think it is a bit early.”

“Chancellor Lin once told me that imperial politics of the Empire is about using His Majesty’s will as a weight to escape the will of the people.”

Cedric said. Artizea answered, not understanding what he was trying to say.

“That’s a great expression.”

“Yes. I didn’t understand exactly what that meant before…….”

Cedric continued.

“I am not thinking of changing anything in the face of His Majesty in a hurry. For the time being, I will remain bowed down and faithfully fulfill the role that His Majesty desires.”

“Yes.”

“I’m trying to approach it with the idea of grasping the situation for the future.”

“You have made up your mind to accept the post of Secretary of State.”

“Unless you give me another reason to go to Evron. Of course, if there is a reason, I will listen. So I didn’t say I would accept it, I just replied that I would think about it.”

Artizea hesitated for a moment.

Artizea wanted him to be in the North. But it’s not because Cedric has a reason to be there.

It was because she still wanted to stay in central politics and not let Cedric get caught up in a whirlwind of muddy conspiracies.

Cedric was right. Trust is Cedric’s greatest asset. To break a promise made while kneeling in front of a citizen is to throw it away on his own.

He pushed his head into the realm of politics. He had to achieve meaningful results.

“Lord Cedric is right. I mean, I can’t stop you.”

“Thank you for understanding.”

Cedric spoke softly and took Artizea’s arm again, leading her back to his arms.

“And I want you to rest, too.”

“…….”

“It’s been a while since you’ve done a big job. Not only do you need a rest, but any more exposure is dangerous.”

“Yes.”

Artizea replied that way.

It was meant to be that way anyway. She can’t move while the Emperor’s eyes are watching.

The same was true for Grand Duke Roygar. It was necessary to calm the situation in several ways.

For the time being, she was going to say that she was not only weak physically but mentally as a result of pregnancy.

Still, the paving stones that had already been placed would move freely and proceed with the plan.

Artizea raised her lowered eyes and looked up at the sky.

The conspiracies, the flattery, the calculations are all so obvious.

There is nothing easy to say.

She knew Cedric was waiting for her words.

He wanted to tell her to raise the child happily because she would give birth. But the words never came out of her throat.

Because it felt like she was asking him to do that.

＊＊＊

It was Lawrence who was meeting the Emperor at that time.

“It’s been a long time, Father.”

Lawrence knelt down on one of his knees and bowed politely.

For more than three weeks he did not see the Emperor.

It was the same on the day of Miraila’s trial.

The letter he sent did not arrive either. Lawrence knew the Emperor had it removed without even reading it.

For Lawrence, it was embarrassing.

The Emperor was not always a friendly father. After he became an adult, he was often scolded.

But it was his first time being rejected.