~Chapter 46~
I’ll Take Care of It
“If you move to the Empress’s palace, I won’t be able to see you as often.”
Right now, since Regina was staying in Conrad’s bedroom, there weren’t many visitors. But if she moved to the Empress’s palace, things would be completely different.
Nobles curious about Regina would visit, some with real matters to discuss, and others just wanting to flatter her and get close.
Conrad imagined Regina surrounded by so many people.
Even now, when she was hidden away, her presence attracted everyone. If she appeared in public, it would be even stronger.
‘What am I thinking…?’
Conrad stopped his wandering thoughts and spoke to Regina.
“If you enter the Empress’s palace before it’s organized, people will talk.”
“I already took care of that.”
Regina’s confident look made Conrad’s eyes curve upward. Seeing his curiosity, Regina answered right away:
“The Grand Empress will take care of it.”
After the government meeting, Chloe felt satisfied that she’d managed to delay giving the financial power to Regina.
‘Now I just need to fix the books.’
She had four to six months, so Regina wouldn’t be able to track where the money went.
‘That’s good enough.’
Chloe sat back in her soft chair to rest, but frowned at the noisy sounds coming from outside.
She was already tired from the meeting, and now the noise was ruining her rest.
“What’s going on?”
“Her Majesty the Empress has sent someone.”
“…Let them in.”
Chloe sat up and twisted her lips into a smile.
If Regina was coming to demand the financial rights now, Chloe planned to accuse her of ignoring the law.
But soon, Chloe’s face twisted even more.
“What is it?”
“Her Majesty the Empress says she will enter the Empress’s palace tomorrow.”
“The things to replace aren’t even ready yet…!”
“The Grand Empress will hold a tea party for the noble ladies to show them the Empress’s palace she prepared.”
“What?!”
It was like lightning from a clear sky.
She had to fix the financial records and put the money back, but now she also had to decorate the Empress’s palace, which meant spending even more.
But she couldn’t get the stolen money back—it was already gone.
‘How could this happen?’
Just a moment ago, she had been proud of her actions in the meeting. Now, Chloe felt dizzy.
The maids hurried to her side as she stumbled.
“Grand Empress!”
“I’ll be leaving now.”
The Empress’s maid calmly left, while Chloe glared—and then fainted on the spot.
It was anger.
The news that Chloe had fallen ill spread quickly through the palace. It made everyone think that she couldn’t handle dealing with the new Empress, and the noble ladies grew curious.
“Did you hear? The Grand Empress collapsed!”
“They say she was really, really angry.”
“Oh my…”
Even if only two ladies gathered, talk of Regina and Chloe would naturally come up. It was interesting for the noble ladies—a little-known Empress from a humble family boldly going against the Grand Empress.
In a society where family background was everything, Regina seemed like a strange miracle.
“His Majesty picked a good person for Empress.”
“Is it really a good thing? It means the order between nobles might break down.”
“If someone is capable, they should be recognized. That’s the tradition of our Fredericks Empire.”
Because this was a kingdom of knights, sometimes a skilled person could rise up even if their status was low.
So, the Fredericks Empire had special systems for such people.
“Her Majesty the Empress is one of those ‘special’ people.”
That’s why, one lady said, Regina could sit next to the Emperor.
“But the Madarin baron’s family? It’s almost ruined.”
“I know a bit about the Madarin family.”
The other ladies gathered close, whispering and nodding not to spread what was said—but everyone knew gossip would soon get out.
“There’s a rumor the Madarin family has a few magical tools left. They could really help our Empire.”
“Really?”
“Yes! Isn’t that wonderful news?”
Countess Ulysses said this happily, remembering something her husband had mentioned before.
She thought everyone should know and spoke again.
“Isn’t it amazing? Since the magic barrier appeared, magical tools became so rare, but they say the Madarin family still has some in their storeroom, because it’s a family of mages…”
“If that’s true—!”
One lady said their children might finally be safer.
Having a child as a knight was a great honor, but parents always worried. Knights could die for the Empire at any time.
But if powerful mages and magical tools protected them, maybe their risks would be less.
“I’d really like to meet her.”
“Me too.”
A small hope began to grow in their hearts.
They pretended to be friendly to Chloe, but secretly wondered if Regina might be better.
“Until now, we only went to tea parties hosted by the Grand Empress, but if the Empress sends an invitation, we should go.”
“I’ll go too.”
A little hope shone in their eyes. The social world was often filled with sadness after monster hunts, with people losing sons and husbands.
Now, maybe things could change. The noble ladies’ faces brightened.
The anticipation for the new Empress grew stronger and stronger.
After hearing all the social gossip from Remutan, Regina let out a short laugh.
“Magic isn’t perfect.”
“Your Majesty…”
“Anyone can die—me too.”
Remutan fell silent at Regina’s cold tone.
He had only meant to say that mages were amazing, and so was the Empress, but Regina’s sharp answer made him shrink back.
“It’s nothing to exaggerate over—looks like the Grand Empress started all this.”
“Pardon?”
“If I don’t meet their expectations, their complaints will only grow.”
Magic isn’t perfect. It can’t give everyone what they want.
Monster hunts would keep happening, and there would always be people dying.
She could try to prevent as many deaths as possible, but not protect everyone.
‘If that was possible, no one in the Magic Division would have died.’
She remembered all the people she’d lost.
She’d suggested to the Emperor that he give enough rewards to those who died, but the promise was never kept.
‘Those bastards…!’
She’d worked for the Permang Empire but got nothing in return.
She’d only wanted to protect the people, not the royal family, so they wouldn’t lose loved ones anymore.
But she realized too late that she had been used.
Would things be any different in the Fredericks Empire?
‘And now, magical tools?’
It had been a secret that the Madarin family had a storeroom of magical tools, but now the rumor was everywhere.
