Stepmothers Are Not Always Evil

Chapter 115 Grand Duchess Crawford’s expression hardened for a moment.It is true that the Duchy did not send congratulations. But it was not without reason.It was accurate to say that the Empire did not send an official letter announcing the accession of Prince Frederick, the coronation ceremony was not held, and the Duke of Eaton’s work was known even to the Duchy, so he could not move hastily.Furthermore, the kingdom had not yet sent congratulatory envoys, so the emperor’s words were nothing more than a staged tirade.“It was because there was no official announcement, so we waited.”“I’m sure there are duchy informants infiltrating the palace, but don’t you know?”“How can we deal with matters between countries only through rumors?”Grand Duchess Crawford let out a small sigh to appease the Emperor.She had known her brother to be suspicious and unreasonable since he was a child, but it was frustrating to see that he hadn’t changed even as Emperor.She held back her temper and opened her mouth.“I will tell them about it and make it right.”“…….”“Isn’t it the imperial aspect of generously forgiving and embracing even if the Duchy affairs are insufficient?”“I don’t know about that, and it’s difficult to send volunteers anyway.”The Emperor cut her with a single word.Grand Duchess Crawford bit her lip at the unusually stern tone.‘So Count Grenier’s complaints were true.’Since the Emperor appointed Marquis Melks as administrator, he has not listened to others.I felt as though I’d been vindicated when I argued that the Emperor was not so clouded.“If that’s the case, please inform the nobles so that even voluntary dispatch is possible.”“Hah, sister.”The Emperor said with an annoyed expression.“My head is going to explode just from the Empire alone. What should I do if you ask me to resolve the matter in another estate?”“I know Your Majesty’s plight. However, since the Duchy situation is urgent, if you can speak at a political meeting…”“Who would give their life and go there to help?”“…….”“If you are so sad about the situation in the Duchy, will sister go directly?”The Grand Duchess stood up at the insulting remark.“If Your Majesty’s will is like that, you can’t do it. I’ll have to ask the Duke of Anthemion myself.”“Who are you going to ask for?”“Aren’t the Knights of the Duke of Anthemion the strongest in the Empire? Your Majesty has given the Duke the surname of Hastings, and the countryside will also be established.”“Sister!”The Emperor slammed down the armrests of the sofa and caught the Grand Duchess as she turned.“……”“Be still while I say something nice, this is a warning.”“Are you threatening your sister?”“Sister made me do this.”“…….”“Please leave. If there is anything, I will contact you.”“……”Grand Duchess Crawford looked at the Emperor with deep eyes and then left the office.“Ha…”The Emperor left alone rubbed his dry face.To bring up the issue of the Duchy when you are too busy with work within the Empire. Still, the complicated brain became more complicated.‘She’s not the kind of sister who will stand still like this.’As a woman who ruled the Duchy on behalf of her deceased husband, she is sure to try to help the duchy somehow without his knowledge.Through the Duke of Anthemion, who is close with her.‘It’s not like that.’Allowing Helios, who is already a formidable force, to help the Duchy is to expand his influence.‘There is no one more dangerous than him, if he will not stand by your side.’As Marquis Melks said, the Emperor rang the bell, having decided that it would be better to call it the island.“Did you call me, Your Majesty?”“Tell the knights commander to send 30 escort knights to my sister’s mansion by the end of today.”“All right.”“Tell Marquis Melks that I’m looking for him.”“Yes.”  ***** Escal, who had been counting the numbers with his fingers folded, tilted his head over and over again.Mary asked, putting down the refreshments.“What are you doing, master?”“Mary, haven’t we been here a hundred nights?”“A hundred nights? It’s a hundred nights ago… Well, it was a long time ago.”“Ehm?”At my glare, Mary caught her rush of words.“Well, it’s not a night when the day changes, it’s a night when there’s a full moon, so it’s almost your fourth night!”It was a pretty good fix. I shook my head vigorously and gave Escal a cookie.“Mary is right, Escal. We still have to wait a long time for a hundred nights to pass.”“Huh, yes….”I gently stroked Escal’s hair.After a hundred full moons, Escal will grow bigger. Until then, I hope Tiaris is doing well somewhere.While holding a teacup in a bitter mood, a servant knocked on the tea room.“Madam, the letter has arrived.”The envelope that the servant held out had a familiar name written on it.‘Sirius Winter Night.’“Uh?”Sirius’ letter.For some reason, I had a feeling that it was not something I should see alone.“Escal, I will go to your father. You can hang out with Mary for a while.”“Yes.”I left Escal to Mary and ran to Helios.“Helios.”I knocked on the half-open door of his office and stuck my head out quickly, and Helios, who was talking to Dustin, looked up.“Can I come in?”“Yes.”Helios answered briefly.Seeing that his expression was not good, he seemed to be having a serious conversation, so I put down Sirius’s letter.“This is a letter from Sir Peterson, and I thought it would be nice to see it with you. I’ll leave it here. Call me when the conversation is over.”“No, sit down.”He pulled me back, sat me on the sofa, and opened the letter.As expected, the content of the letter was not light.“It looks like the situation on the western border is very bad.”It was information that the western border area was completely occupied by monsters and the damage was immeasurable.He informed the Emperor of the situation several times and asked for help, but there was no reply, so he sent a letter to me and requested to inform the imperial palace of this fact as soon as possible.“Did Your Majesty not receive the letter?”Helios grabbed the letter and shook his head resolutely.“Even if the letter was missing, he should have heard the rumors.”So you’re saying he’s deliberately ignoring it.The western border isn’t an imperial stronghold or an active commercial map, so it can be left alone.As I gathered myself, Helios glared at Dustin.“Let’s finish what we were talking about earlier.”“Yes. The nobles are also agitated at the news that Your Majesty is blocking the access of Her Majesty the Grand Duchess.”The Emperor blocking the outside access of Grand Duchess Crawford?I looked at Helios, not understanding what he was saying, and he smiled bitterly and continued.“He has imprisoned the Grand Duchess and ignored all the petitions I have posted?”“It seems that’s not all. He said that he would reduce the government affairs meeting held three times a week to one and not attend the regular meetings of the aristocrats.”“……”Helios pressed his temples together, grimacing as if a headache was coming on. Dustin opened his mouth cautiously. “There are also rumors that the Marquis Hallstein was stripped of his position as an officer while he’s away on the estate.”“Isn’t the Marquis of Hallstein estate also suffering a lot of damage from the monster?”“Yes. It seems that the monster in the Magic Crystal Mine came out and destroyed the Duchy of Eaton and went to the Marquis of Hallstein. So, I heard that he had gone down to the estate after receiving an urgent call.”“But he was stripped of his position in the meantime?”A fishy smile appeared on Helios’ lips.To strip him from his position, even though he cannot help, means to cast out the Marquis of Hallstein.“I don’t know if the Marquis can handle it.”“Can’t we help?”I owed something to the Marquis of Hallstein, so I wanted to help if possible. But Helios was not willing to open his mouth.Dustin carefully explained to me.“It is very burdensome to move the Knights without His Majesty’s permission.”“Still, it is an urgent situation, so I can’t imagine ….”He’s not going to do it.The Emperor who regards Helios as a thorn in his eyes, will try to catch and reprimand him if he moves the knights at his will.… I thought the Emperor had a political sense even if he was indecisive.Someone must have been playing tricks on him.“Your Majesty wasn’t such a fussy person. Isn’t there anyone else?”“… It is said that Marquis Melks lives in the Imperial Palace these days.”Yes, I thought so.Even after taking custody from the Marquis Melks, if he and I are still not here, Escal’s primary guardian is the Marquis.That fact alone must be enough to attract the Emperor’s appetite.“He still hasn’t given up on Escal.”Helios nodded.“We’ll be safe in the estate, but I’m worried about other places.”I looked down at the letter Sirius had sent.His prediction that the entire Empire would become a den of monsters did not appear in vain if action was not taken as soon as possible.“Dustin, first get as much dragon blood as you can, and send someone to the capital. Not the Imperial Palace, but Count Turner.”“Yes.”