Artizea did not answer Cedric. She had no intention of hiding it. However, there was nothing appropriate to be talking about in front of the lieutenant and Ansgar.

“I’m going.”

Cedric said so, and reached out to Artizea.

Artizea grabbed his hand and stood up.

When they came out of the nursery, Alice was waiting.

“What’s going on?”

“I have received news from Grand Duke Roygar’s residence.”

Alice lowered her voice and whispered in Artizea’s ear.

“I heard that Grand Duchess Roygar has decided to accompany him to the South.”

“Who makes the preparation?”

“It’s Viscountess Weave.”

Alice gave the name of another lady-in-waiting to Grand Duchess Roygar. Artizea nodded her head.

“I see. If you have any other news, please let me know.”

“Yes.”

As Alice retreated, Cedric asked.

“Any other important news?”

“It looks like Grand Duchess Roygar will follow the fact-finding team.”

Cedric made a thoughtful look on his face for a moment.

It was no surprise that Grand Duchess Roygar went with him. Although it is called a fact-finding team, it is actually for diplomatic negotiations.

Going with the spouse would greatly help to soften the mood.

Cedric entered the study, closed the door, and sat Artizea on the sofa. And he asked.

“Is that what you did, too?”

“I was going to, but before that, there was good news.”

In order to send Grand Duchess Roygar to the South, Artizea had devised various ways.

It had something to do with when she told Skyla to convince Grand Duchess Roygar that she would become the next Empress.

Grand Duchess Roygar feels inferior to her position.

To cherish and love is still an affection, but the way the affection was is not much different from treating a child.

Grand Duke Roygar used to laugh at drinking parties at times and joked that she was his eldest daughter.

In fact, Artizea also thought it was effective.

Grand Duchess Roygar is an ordinary person. And she was thoroughly brought up as a flower in the greenhouse.

The token of alliance who do not have their own will are more reliable.

Marquis Luden did not want his little daughter to have her own will and betray her parents by holding hands with her husband.

On the contrary, Grand Duke Roygar did not want his wife to master the skill to lie and act as a spy for her in-laws.

Grand Duchess Roygar grew up naively according to their wishes.

But she didn’t turn out like a tool in the pocket, since she was, unfortunately, smart enough to be aware of the world revolving around her.

Artizea intended to touch her inferiority complex.

She intended to continue to inform her of her political role as the future Empress and her role as the companion of Grand Duke Roygar.

Inferiority is a fairly powerful driver that drives people’s behavior.

And the more Grand Duchess Roygar tries to get involved in a political career, the more variables that Grand Duke Roygar can’t handle.

It would be even better if it could separate Marquis Luden and Grand Duke Roygar.

‘I haven’t done anything yet. Is it because of Terry’s sister?’

It was unexpected.

Artizea knew of Grand Duchess Roygar’s inferiority complex, but she did not know before what triggered the inferiority complex.

She just thought she was influenced by the environment around her.

After meeting Terry, she could guess that Lady Ford was entangled in it.

Since Marchioness Camellia stepped up to take care of it, it would not have been a small blow to Grand Duchess Roygar’s heart.

However, it seems that the wound was deeper than expected.

As a result, she owed another debt to Terry.

At Cedric’s words, Artizea escaped from that thought.

“Are you the one who made the Marquisate Camellia inheritance lawsuit?”

“Yes. I found the eldest grandson of the predecessor Marquis and helped him with the expenses.”

“Is the purpose to remove Marchioness Camellia from Grand Duchess Roygar?”

“Yes.”

Cedric’s question was only made for the sake of fact-checking.

He sighed a little inside. It is not that he is particularly opposed to what Artizea has done.

He just thought she was going to be tired of work again. He hopes she could rest at least until she gives birth and she prepares her body.

But there are some things that should not be missed. Cedric knew that too.

“Tell me what pact you made with Prince Cadriol.”

It must have been since then that Artizea began to use her hands on the southern side.

Cedric could barely guess.

Cadriol has memories. If so, he would have come to Artizea right away.

He had previously killed Grand Duke Roygar with Artizea.

He knew Marquis Rosan. If he had no memory, he would have obtained her through kidnapping, or would have tried to kill her to eliminate a menacing enemy.

But something was negotiated.

Cedric reflected on the conversation that had taken place earlier that morning between Artizea and Cadriol.

“I will keep my promise. If you do not believe me, I will swear in the name of the Empress.”

Artizea said so.

That promise has been fulfilled in the present state.

Artizea sighed lightly. She wasn’t trying to hide it, but because she had so much to say that she had to clear her mind.

“I have decided to assassinate Queen Eimmel. The price was letting me go.”

“Whoa.”

Cedric rubbed his forehead with his hand.

“Then you must be behind Terry Ford.”

“Yes. She came to me to get revenge on Grand Duke Roygar and Marchioness Camellia.”

Artizea briefly described the assassination process.

She bribed the servants of Eimmel’s Palace to buy poison, and Terry used it to poison the Queen.

The plan was simple, as there was no intention of hiding the identity of the assassin in the first place.

“Then, Prince Cadriol decided to use that as an excuse to attack the Duchy of Riagan.”

“Since the monopoly of salt is involved, you have calculated that Uncle Roygar will be interested?”

“Yes.”

Queen Eimmel is connected with the Duchy of Riagan and the organization of the South Sea Salt.

It is burdensome to distribute coarse salt directly from the Duchy of Riagan.

For this reason, Queen Eimmel’s organization received a large amount of coarse salt and transported it to ports in the eastern region.

And from there, they supply it to the coarse salt merchants who have their own network.

For the profit that came from it, Queen Eimmel was running it with the Royal Guard.

“The Royal Guard is actually meant to keep Prince Cadriol in check.”

“Did King Eimmel know what his Queen was doing?”

“King Eimmel has degenerated into a petty person. He’s burdened by his grown son, but that doesn’t mean he’s not confident enough to face him directly. He has a vague idea of where the Queen’s money source is coming from, but he won’t find out the details. Because he doesn’t want to do anything responsible.”

In the end, he handed over the task of confronting his eldest son to the Queen.

Queen Eimmel also married the King because of her lust for power, so they were not a bad match.

Cedric thought for a moment.

“There was a question as to why Uncle Roygar came to this point. If Lawrence were to be surely overthrown, the succession position would naturally be in the hands of my uncle.”

“Yes. But an appeal came from the Duchy of Riagan.”

“The salt of the South Sea is at stake, so he has no choice but to touch it.”

Of course, Grand Duke Roygar does not know that the reason Queen Eimmel and the Duchy of Riagan joined hands was because of the salt.

Coarse salt is the holy grail of poison.

He gained huge financial gains and the cooperation of the Duchy of Riagan. In addition, it is easier to accuse Prince Cadriol of the assassination by covering up the fact that Queen Eimmel was involved in the smuggling.

This is because if he reveals that fact, he will inevitably have to investigate the guilt of the Duchy of Riagan and Queen Eimmel.

Then it becomes a matter of relevance to politics within the Empire.

Soon, Lawrence will be brought back.

This was a checkmate. He should not go south at all if he didn’t want to get caught.

Exposing the salt organization goes against the Emperor’s will to wipe out Lawrence’s sins.

Lawrence himself is not the problem. Living with the Emperor’s displeasure was the problem.

However, if he hides and takes over the coarse salt issue, he takes a great risk.

Cedric looked at Artizea with a complicated face.

Perhaps Grand Duke Roygar would choose the latter.

Artizea must also have a plan for that.

“Now, Lord Cedric must protect His Majesty.”

Artizea waited for Cedric’s thoughts to finish and said so. There was no emotion on her face.

Cedric looked at her without a word. And nodded his head.

When Grand Duke Roygar found himself in danger, he will surely consider assassination as a last resort.

“Get His Majesty’s trust. Even if you are mentally reluctant, you have to be patient. You don’t have to be flattering, but if you do this, you need to be faithful enough for His Majesty to feel that you are worthy of entrusting as his heir.”

“Even if it was, it felt like an impossible task to stop an assasination.”

“Now, it will be possible. If brother Lawrence is dismissed, His Majesty will have to hoist someone up to match Grand Duke Roygar.”

Cedric flinched.

“Are you sure Lawrence will be dismissed?”

“Yes.”

Lawrence was still under probation in his home.

There were no visiting attempts from the outside. Perhaps, it was because the Emperor had prevented it in advance.

“His Majesty was greatly disappointed in my brother. Since my brother doesn’t even earn the trust from the bureaucrats, he won’t be able to push the succession issue as he pleases.”

“I see.”

“Probably when he’s sure there won’t be any more stories about my brother, he’ll quietly send him somewhere.”

Perhaps, he had set aside land somewhere in the East.

And after he has sent Lawrence there, he will quietly send Miraila that way.

“There are very few people who have the status to confront Grand Duke Roygar. There is no one better than Lord Cedric. It would be even better for His Majesty, if he was certain that Lord Cedric wouldn’t engage in deception or betrayal.”

“Betrayal…….”

Cedric laughed bitterly.

He has already closed his eyes to the deception. And he intends to betray.

When he tried to earn trust, he couldn’t get it, and when he thought that he would get it now, he couldn’t help but think it was strange.

Cedric closed his eyes for a moment and let out a long sigh. And he said,

“Even if we don’t give the names of the dead right away, let’s go to the temple to light candles sooner or later.”

“Lord Cedric…….”

“It’s a good thing to remember.”

Artizea hesitated. But she answered in a low voice.

“……Yes…….”

Even if it was hypocrisy, Cedric had no excuses.

But there was nothing he could do but remember the names and save his honor in the future.

So he closed his eyes for a moment and offered silence for the dead.