n

n

nChapter 165

nProofreader: somnium

nIt was the third day from the day Artizea received the first message, when Duke Riagan’s appeal, Cadriol’s march, and Gayan’s envoy arrived.

nOn the night of the third day, Skyla received a call from Artizea.

nThe general news was also conveyed to Grand Duke Roygar.

nOf course, he didn’t know the details. This is because Grand Duke Roygar’s connections in the South were not at a level that could even respond to military issues.

nSome of the businesses belonging to his enterprise also had large and small businesses in the South.

nIn addition, a family proud of history and tradition among the southern nobles supported Grand Duke Roygar. The Duke of Riagan was already an existence that could not be their focal point.

nEven so, he did not have a special information network like Artizea. He couldn’t get the news at the same speed as the envoys in the military.

nSo the information received was still at a simple level.

nQueen Eimmel was assassinated at the hands of a merchant introduced by the Duchess of Riagan. The merchant was from Iantz, and is now an imperial noble.

nThe Prince of Eimmel, enraged at this, raised his army, captured two southern port towns and besieged the Duchy of Riagan.

nCadriol’s national letter said that he only wanted to punish the Duke of Riagan for assassination of the Queen, and he had no intention of invading on the Empire’s territory, asking for their understanding.

nOf course, from the point of view of the Empire, it was impossible to let the army of another country into its own territory.

nEven more nominally, it is the homeland of the family of the Empress’ parents. Moreover, he was the one entrusted with a heavy duty by the Emperor.

nWhatever the cause, they couldn’t let a small country like Eimmel threaten them. It was also a matter of the face of the Empire.

nIt was so sudden and unexpected. Grand Duke Roygar was confused as to how to deal with this.

nCould this be a good opportunity or not? It was very complicated.

nSkyla was not in a position to directly participate in the discussion of the countermeasures. However, it was possible to make a rough guess from the story that came out.

nAnd Skyla’s worries went one step further than the others.

n‘Isn’t this also the work of Her Grace Grand Duchess Evron?’

nWhen she thought of it with common sense, it was difficult to think that Artizea had even used her hands up to that point.

nEven if she had her hand in the assassination, how could she have used her hand on Prince Cadriol of Eimmel? It’s not about anything else, but war.

nMarchioness Camellia speculated, with a high probability, that it was a conspiracy perpetrated by Prince Cadriol herself.

nThe rationale was that he raised an army as if he had been waiting and moved like a lightning bolt.

nThere was a good reason for that.

nAfter King Eimmel remarried to an ambitious young woman, Eimmel’s royal family was in turmoil.

nIt was no secret that there was a bad relationship between the Queen and the First Prince, an age difference closer to brother and sister rather than parents.

nTherefore, it was reasonable to think that Cadriol himself might have planned a conspiracy designed to shift the blame for the assassination of the Queen to another country. It was a more reasonable explanation than that it was originally aimed at the Duke of Riagan.

nPerhaps, the original intention was to hold the Iantz accountable. The Duke of Riagan tried to intervene in the midst of it, but failed and things got messed up.

nWithout knowing the true identity of Mrs. Lexen, they had no choice but to judge that way.

nBut Skyla thought only about the results.

nThe Duke of Riagan was in a very embarrassing situation. Otherwise, he will be destroyed by the Eimmel Kingdom before help arrives. Even if he doesn’t, he’s definitely out of the Emperor’s favor.

nBecause the fact that he secretly tried to create his own power does not go away. Even if the Emperor saved Riagan right now, the Emperor would keep that fact in his heart.

nCould it be that Artizea designed it for the Empress?

nArtizea opened the door to the Empress’ palace. Skyla did not believe in the slightest bit that Artizea had touched the Empress’ heart.

nIt is easy to understand that Artizea promised this from the beginning.

nBut she could not tell Marchioness Camellia of her opinion. It wasn’t that her mother wouldn’t believe her, but she was worried that Artizea wouldn’t accept her.

nShe was so nervous that she had received a note from her maid saying that Artizea was looking for her.

nSkyla put on a black cloak and sneaked out of the house alone without anyone knowing.

nAn uncharacteristic carriage was standing near Camellia’s mansion.

nSkyla tried to catch and ride it, but at this time she realized it was strange to stand still near the Marquisate.

n“Ah.”

nShe exclaimed briefly. The coachman came down and opened the door.

nSkyla got into the carriage. The carriage had a passenger. She was a woman in a black veil and mourning robe.

n“Your Grace.”

nShe was not surprised.

nThe door is closed. The carriage departed. There was no destination. It was just running in the middle of the street like this to have a conversation without approaching anyone’s residence.

nThere was only the noise of the wheels rolling in the carriage for a moment.

n“Have you thought enough?”

nArtizea said.

nSkyla came to her senses in surprise and responded reflexively.

n“Yes.”

nBut she wasn’t sure what she was thinking was enough. She did a lot, but is it enough?

nBut it didn’t seem like it would be good enough for her to ponder more.

nArtizea lifted the veil.

n“Have you made up your mind?”

n“I thought that the decision of my mind would be made by Your Grace, not me, but…….”

n“If you put your money on a bet, you cannot collect it till the result is out. It’s a big bet on who will be the next Emperor.”

nArtizea smiled.

n“One side’s merit is the other’s vice. I’m sure you know.”

nAnd Skyla already had a good understanding of which side she should bet on.

nShe gripped the hem of her cloak with both her hands.

n“What can I do?”

n“Be the lady-in-waiting of Grand Duchess Roygar.”

nArtizea said.

nWhen it comes to betrayal, do not start with difficult tasks. If there was a lot of room to betray again like Skyla, it was even more so.

nBut this was not a direct threat.

nConfirming that Skyla nodded her head, Artizea spoke again.

n“And firmly believe in the victory of Grand Duke Roygar, instill in the Grand Duchess the idea that she will soon become the Empress.”

n“To do that, I’ll have to get my mother off my aunt first. Is that Grand Duchess’ purpose?”

n“Yes.”

nWithout the help of Marchioness Camellia, Grand Duke Roygar would make fatal mistakes over and over again.

nEven Skyla understood it.

n“Being a lady-in-waiting is something my aunt has always wanted, so it will happen right away, but taking mother off isn’t going to be possible any time soon.”

n“Don’t worry. There are things we are preparing here.”

n“Are you planning to use Ian?”

n“If Marchioness Camellia suffers great loss to her face, she will not be able to remain attached to the Grand Duke Roygar. For the time being, Marchioness Camellia will be dizzy.”

nThat was the purpose of bringing in Ian from the beginning.

nMarchioness Camellia herself is not the target. The purpose was to distract Marchioness Camellia from assisting Grand Duke Roygar.

nSkyla was easily convinced.

nIf Artizea tries to plot against Grand Duchess Roygar, it’s safer for Marchioness Camellia to stay away from her.

nThis was a mutual wish.

nIt will be what happened when Artizea won.

nThere is no way of keeping the enemy’s tactician alive. Marchioness Camellia had even tried to assassinate Artizea.

nIn order to keep her alive, it was also necessary for Skyla to not only fulfill her feats, but also to keep Artizea’s plans from being thwarted.

n“I would like to ask you one more thing. How are you going to dispose of Ian?”

n“It is not my business.”

nArtizea didn’t say for Skyla to not care about it, she said the other way around.

nSkyla was feeling embarrassed.

nIf she does something big enough to break Marchioness Camellia’s heart, it could be a fatal blow to Marquisate Camellia.

n“I knew that Your Grace would understand my hope that Marquisate Camellia be solely based on the Marquisate Camellia.”

n“The Marquisate Camellia isn’t already completed. To protect the family, the first priority is to reclaim all the legitimacy protected by custom and the law.”

nSkyla knew what that meant.

nTo regain legitimacy, she must either kill all their enemies or bring them back into her family.

nThe former was impossible because Artizea secured Ian.

nSo what Artizea was saying was that by marrying Ian, doing the latter, she would be able to give full legitimacy to the next heir.

nMarried to Ian Camellia. She had never thought about it.

nBut it wasn’t wrong. That way, her parents’ complex of legitimacy is resolved.

nIn a way, it was also the simplest way to get rid of disputes. Cousin marriage is not forbidden.

nAlthough not common these days, in the past, there were many cases of arranged marriages within the family to maintain bloodlines and prevent inheritance disputes.

n“I accept your advice with gratefulness. If Her Grace offers it as a condition, I will gladly welcome him as a husband.”

n“It’s not something I’m betting on. I was just advising you, unless you do that, there will be problems with the inheritance of the Marquisate Camellia anyway.”

nArtizea just said so.

n“Lady and I are holding hands because the benefits are the same. Lady is not my vassal, and we are not blood ties, so I have no intention of getting involved in the marriage.”

nThat was a bit of a disappointment for Skyla.

nSometimes arranging marriages was also important. If Ian had any value as Artizea’s subordinate, it could also function as a kind of marriage alliance.

nBut to her, Ian didn’t seem to have any value.

nShe couldn’t help it.

nShe was the Camellia Heir Apparent, and was to be Marquis Camellia.

nShe couldn’t move the entire Marquisate Camellia, to ally with Grand Duchy Evron. She, on the contrary, could not kneel down to Artizea, excluding her family and be as a complete individual .

nSo she’s just making a breakthrough within the limits of what she can do.

nThe carriage turned around and again stopped in an alley near the Marquisate Camellia.

nSkyla asked as she put on her cloak.

n“Perhaps the conversation I had here won’t go anywhere…… I can only ask one thing.”

n“Yes.”

n“Is Queen Eimmel’s assassination a plan by Her Grace?”

nArtizea smiled bitterly.

nSkyla never knew, but that was the reason Artizea came to see Skyla again now.

nArtizea didn’t answer, but Skyla read the answer on her face.

nSkyla got off. The carriage left on the dark night street.

n