Chapter 119
It wasn’t out of love for Cleo that Brian had stepped forward.
He probably did it because he thought insulting Cleo was the same as insulting himself.
He was young, naïve, and hadn’t yet learned how the world worked…
And since there were hardly any elders left in the imperial family, Cleo hadn’t had time to warn him how to behave toward someone like Valentina.
Or maybe… he truly had no sense at all?
Valentina did not raise her voice. She merely gazed at her great-nephew, who had just shouted at her, with calm, quiet eyes. The entire hall fell silent.
Even the Emperor’s lips opened and closed soundlessly; he could not speak.
Brian, who had been panting angrily, finally noticed—when every gaze in the room pierced him like a blade—that something was terribly wrong. His face changed color.
“…It seems this old woman has become the disgrace of the Imperial House.”
Only after a long moment did Valentina sigh out those words.
Now it was the Emperor’s face that went pale.
“Th–That’s not true, Aunt! He—he’s just young and foolish—!”
“No matter how much the late Emperor favored me, saying I could live freely as Lady Armelin… that grace, too, faded like a breeze over a grave, did it not?
In the Armelin province bloom golden flowers with sharp leaves. Their name is Armelin—‘precious one, my daughter, you resemble them, so this land shall be yours,’ said the Emperor before last.
And now I alone remember his words. So, I am no longer a member of the Imperial family, but a withered blade of grass destined to disappear.”
The Emperor looked as if he might faint.
For no matter how powerful he was, not even an Emperor could disregard the Emperors before him—especially his own grandfather, the one who had granted Valentina the entire Armelin province.
Brian, however, had foolishly thought: She married into House LeSenne; she’s just another noblewoman now—less important than my mother, who bore the Emperor a son.
In other words, he had insulted the aunt who had received her title and lands from the Emperor before last.
Taken broadly, Valentina’s words meant that Brian had just disrespected both the previous and the pre-previous Emperor.
–Contractor, everyone’s faces are changing so fast ( ͡•. •͡)
What exactly did that old lady mean by that?
‘She meant: I was once the cherished sister of an Emperor and the beloved daughter of another. They were Emperors, and now they’re gone—and yet you dare treat me like this? Are you greater than those who ruled before you?’
–Huh? Can humans even compare the living to the dead accurately? (｡_｡)
I thought they didn’t have that kind of technology yet!
‘They don’t. That’s why when someone brings up the dead, the living automatically lose.
It’s a kind of cheat code.’
Now, for the sake of his own dignity, the Emperor could not forgive Brian.
I watched the unfolding drama with the feeling that I should have brought popcorn.
When I glanced at Adrian, even he—normally the picture of composure—was twitching at the corners of his mouth.
The Empress, meanwhile, had her fan half-raised to conceal a smile.
As for Consort Elaine, she sat quietly, watching the scene unfold without any intention of interfering.
Our eyes met. Elaine’s narrowed slightly; I responded with a sweet smile.
“That’s impossible! Aunt, you were born a full member of the Imperial family!”
The Emperor spoke hastily, sweat beading on his brow.
His son had just insulted his great-aunt—meaning people would soon whisper: What kind of father raises a child who disgraces even the former Emperors?
If he didn’t handle this properly, his own reputation would crumble.
“You insolent boy, Brian! Apologize to your great-aunt this instant! What shameless behavior is this!”
“B–But…”
Brian faltered, still looking wronged—still thinking, I’m the first prince! Isn’t that higher than some princess who married into a noble family?
Idiot.
If they were the same generation, perhaps.
But she was a senior of the bloodline. You fool…
“It’s my fault!”
Cleo suddenly dropped to her knees before Valentina.
“The prince only spoke out of concern for me! So much has happened today—he feared I might somehow be harmed—”
“Cleo, you are blessed indeed,” Valentina said with a gentle smile that could have frozen molten iron.
“I was not so fortunate as to have a child who would speak up for me as you did. Even the two who nearly lost their mother today weren’t as quick to protect her as Prince Brian was.
Truly, a filial son. Your Majesty is most fortunate.
Now that I think of it—three women who serve Your Majesty are here, yet thanks to your devoted son, only one of them has escaped harm.”
Every word Valentina spoke was a dagger, sharp and deliberate.
Cleo’s face went white as if she’d swallowed those daggers whole.
The Emperor’s face flushed scarlet.
“Brian.”
The Emperor’s voice was eerily calm—calmer even than during the demonic attack on the palace.
At last, Brian seemed to sense danger.
“Leave the palace.”
“Y–Your Majesty!”
Cleo sprang up, throwing herself toward him.
“Brian is still underage! He’s done wrong, yes, but perhaps if he stays in the palace—”
“Stays in the palace? A boy not even of age yet dares to speak so rudely to his great-aunt? To call her just a member of House LeSenne?”
The Emperor’s voice rose until, in fury, he hurled the silver cup before him.
Brian flinched and ducked; the cup clattered across the marble floor with a deafening crash.
Veins bulged on the Emperor’s neck.
“You worthless brat! She is my aunt! The daughter of Emperor Titus and sister to Emperor Decius!
Who do you think you are, to question the status of the rightful daughter of Their Imperial Majesties?
Yes, you are my firstborn—but that’s all you are! Are you the Crown Prince? The Empress’s son?
What makes you so grand that you dare insult one whom even I must treat with reverence!”
The Emperor was truly enraged.
His own legitimacy was unassailable—he was like King Sukjong of old: the sole son of an Emperor and an Empress, the very picture of imperial purity.
Perhaps that very perfection had made him complacent, thinking he could name any son Crown Prince if he wished. But his pride in his bloodline ran deep.
He could overlook differences between Adrian and Brian since both were beneath him in rank—but for Brian to insult another royal of pure imperial descent?
That crossed the line.
Valentina was the legitimate daughter of the Emperor and Empress before last. By blood, she stood equal to the current Emperor.
For the Emperor to speak down to her was one thing—he was Emperor.
But for a boy like Brian, a half-blood at best, to do so? Unforgivable.
“As long as Aunt Valentina remains in the palace, you shall not set foot here again!
If she chooses to stay here all her life, then you will never return!”
“Y–Your Majesty! I have sinned! G–Great Aunt, I was wrong! Where am I to go if I leave the palace…?”
Brian trembled now, finally realizing his peril.
“You have those hunting friends you adore so much, don’t you? Or go to your mother’s family!
Half your blood is theirs anyway—go beg them for shelter, the noble House of Land! Go to your common mother’s lineage!”
“F–Father…!”
“Take him out! Drag that fool away!”
“Y–Your Majesty, Great Aunt, I was wrong! Mother! Your Majes—!”
The Royal Guard, obeying the Emperor’s command, seized Brian and hauled him from the hall.
Cleo stood frozen, pale as wax, trembling as she watched her son being taken away.
Her instincts, at least, were good.
The Emperor’s rage stemmed from the fact that Brian—born of a lesser mother—had dared to insult a pureblood Imperial.
If Cleo had begged too much for mercy now, she might have shared in his punishment.
The Emperor turned to Valentina and offered his hand.
Valentina, without hesitation, placed her own hand atop his.
