The Emperor, Cabelius III (2)
…….
Jerome offered no reply.
Seeing his expression, the Emperor continued in a tone of absolute certainty.
“The only legitimate successor is Adrian. I will place that child on the throne without fail.”
At the mention of First Prince Adrian’s name, Jerome swallowed a low groan.
The Emperor caught the reaction instantly and asked with sharp precision.
“Do you truly believe I don’t know the real reason you refuse to support the First Prince?”
“…Your Majesty is well aware that His Highness Adrian possesses a frail constitution.”
When Jerome answered with a shadowed face, the Emperor let out a derisive snort.
“His life will be short, so he won’t do? Isn’t the same true of me?”
“Your Majesty!”
“Go on, then. Tell me I lack the qualifications to be Emperor as well.”
“That was never my meaning!”
The Emperor openly mocked the empire’s strongest knight standing before him.
“Hmph. In the end, you’re nothing but a petty man who values blood over the empire itself.”
“…I will not deny it.”
Jerome’s swift admission left the Emperor momentarily speechless.
Yet it was the Emperor who broke the silence once more.
“I cannot comprehend it. In any case, he is not even your blood relative, is he?”
The words struck directly at the heart of the Duke’s past—something only the Emperor could say.
Even so, Jerome simply lowered his head without the slightest disturbance.
“Yes… you have always been a man with too much affection.”
Clicking his tongue at the sight, the Emperor added, “Unlike me.”
He tapped his fingers against the railing.
“I know full well that Adrian is not perfectly suited to wear the crown.”
The First Prince was clever but not cunning, benevolent but not ruthless.
Most critically, his inborn constitution was hopelessly weak.
No matter how many precious herbs or nourishing tonics they fed him, the Prince’s frailty refused to change.
Even so, Adrian had to become Emperor.
“The only house capable of checking the Redcliffe Marquisate is the ducal house. And the only prince carrying the blood of the ducal house is that boy Adrian.”
For decades the Redcliffe Marquis family had threatened the imperial authority. Their sole rival was the Crown ducal house.
Jerome knew this all too well.
“The countless nobles who follow the ducal house are also supporting Adrian. He is the only one who can command their loyalty without conditions.”
At the Emperor’s words, Jerome pictured the face of his sole nephew.
A calm, refined countenance that resembled his sister.
A kind and gentle nature that resembled neither parent.
The memory of that frail smile sent a dull ache through his chest.
“Yet the reason you continue to shield the boy is simply because you are too soft-hearted.”
The Emperor’s voice grew steadily more menacing.
“Jerome, do you remember the promise you made to me?”
He stepped slowly toward Jerome.
“I helped you rise to your current position. And I have not forgotten the price I am owed.”
“…Nor have I, Your Majesty.”
Jerome kept his gaze fixed on the tip of his own nose as he continued.
“Even if it costs me my life, I will never allow the Redcliffe Marquisate to become the true power of this nation.”
“Good. And we must also ensure that a powerless child never ascends the throne.”
The Emperor laid a hand on his shoulder.
“Only one capable of bearing the crown’s weight may sit upon it. You know this better than anyone.”
Jerome bowed his head deeply at the Emperor’s words.
“The only one who can protect the empire is Adrian. And the only one who can protect Adrian is you.”
“How can Your Majesty speak such words when you yourself are here?”
“I have little time left. You know that as well as I.”
The Emperor muttered in a self-mocking tone.
Jerome’s face drained of all color in an instant.
“Your Majesty!”
“Enough of the dramatics. It is a fact everyone who matters already knows.”
The Emperor waved his hand in irritation.
“Just keep your promise. In this imperial palace, you are the only one I can trust.”
“…I will engrave it upon my heart.”
Jerome recalled the oath he had sworn long ago with Cabelius III.
When no one would acknowledge his right to inherit the ducal title, the Emperor had used his authority to seat him as head of the Crown family.
From now on, I shall be your will. You will become my sword.
That was the day their bond of old friendship had become one of lord and servant.
The Emperor had handed him the long-honed blade of vengeance.
At times Jerome resented the man for burdening him with such a weight.
Yet it is my own doing.
After all, he had been the one to accept that oath.
Even if he could return to that moment, he would make the same choice.
Because there were things he had to protect.
“So keep your defiance within reasonable bounds. With that, I shall take my leave.”
“Your Majesty.”
Just as the Emperor turned to exit the office, Jerome stopped him once more.
“What is it?”
“May I make a single request?”
“Speak.”
“…Nevertheless, for the next three months I will have His Highness Edwin join the training. It is a promise I made.”
Jerome Crown was not a man who added unnecessary words.
When the Duke elaborated, the Emperor studied him in silence.
An inscrutable resolve flickered deep within the Duke’s eyes.
It seemed the Emperor had already guessed his thoughts.
“…I cannot understand. Why go to such lengths?”
The Emperor, now gazing out the window, furrowed his brow.
The Third Prince Edwin was gradually falling behind the knights.
Though he appeared as a mere speck, it was clear the boy was struggling.
“Surely you don’t believe that child could serve as a replacement for Adrian?”
The Emperor added with a deepened frown.
“If so, I am rather disappointed. I never imagined your discernment was so poor.”
There had been a time when the Emperor, too, had placed some hope in the Third Prince.
But that hope had been shattered long ago.
To him, the Third Prince was nothing more than a timid, incompetent, and frail twelve-year-old boy.
“At the very least, he could become an ally to His Highness Adrian.”
The Emperor’s scowl deepened at Jerome’s reply.
“…Stubborn to the end with your pointless pride.”
“Isn’t it better to have more cards in hand?”
“Too many useless cards only bring headaches.”
“I will turn them into useful ones.”
He truly never yielded a single word.
The Emperor glared at the Duke with clear displeasure before abruptly turning away.
“Very well. Do as you please. This time I mean it sincerely.”
“Safe travels, Your Majesty.”
Jerome offered a silent bow to the Emperor’s retreating back as he left without a backward glance.
The door closed. Only then did Jerome raise his head.
A firm resolve had settled across his face.
I had slipped into Jerome’s office using stealth, hoping to find any useful information.
That had been my mistake. Not only had I learned something I would rather not have known, but I now found myself standing face-to-face with the Emperor himself.
“Stop.”
I had unintentionally overheard the conversation between the Emperor and the Knight Commander outside the door and was hurrying down the stairs.
But the Emperor was a man of boundless curiosity.
Damn it. I should never have dropped the stealth technique.
He deliberately called out to me as I descended.
“Why do you not answer?”
At his prompting I had no choice but to turn around.
“You are…”
The Emperor frowned.
“The Third Prince’s nanny.”
I offered the most polite and respectful greeting I could manage.
“I greet Your Imperial Majesty. My name is Rachel Brown, nanny to His Highness the Third Prince.”
The Emperor narrowed his eyes at my self-introduction.
A distinctly unfriendly gaze traveled over me from head to toe.
“I hear you made an unnecessary request of Duke Crown.”
“…With all due respect, I have never made any unnecessary request of His Grace.”
“What?”
My tone must have sounded rather insolent.
The Emperor’s frown deepened as he looked at me.
“I simply believed it was my duty to help His Highness Edwin achieve what he desires.”
The Emperor stood in silence for a long time after hearing my answer.
Then he let out a short, disbelieving laugh.
“Achieve what he desires? You are helping him do so?”
Clear mockery curved his lips.
“For a mere nanny, your ambition is quite impressive.”
Yet strangely, his expression did not seem entirely displeased.
“So you’re telling me that Edwin asked you to let him join the knights’ training? Don’t make me laugh…”
“Yes, he did.”
Of course, I had been the one to suggest it, and the boy had only accepted under a kind of half-coercion.
Still, I dared to meet the Emperor’s eyes directly.
“His Highness Edwin clearly told me he wants to become stronger.”
“…Stronger?”
What a remarkable expression.
I kept my gaze locked on the Emperor and answered firmly.
“Yes. Those were his exact words.”
Once again he stood silent for a long while.
His gaze bore down on me from the top of the stairs.
“…That, too, is unexpected.”
A short, ambiguous reply.
The Emperor’s expression was just as difficult to read.
I could no longer hold back.
“Your Majesty, there is one request I would like to—”
“Enough.”
A frigid voice pierced the crown of my head.
The Emperor glared at me with one hand raised.
“A mere nanny dares to utter the word ‘request’ twice before the Emperor himself. Just because I granted your plea in the garden, do you now take me lightly?”