Chapter 64
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Chapter 64
I answered as though the question were obvious.
"It concerns the Royal Family, does it not?"
"Hmm?"
"I determined that security must be maintained, so I handled the remaining work alone."
"When?"
"After sending the Secretary, during overtime."
Naturally, I had worked alone after dismissing Kibon.
Though I had judged Kibon to be trustworthy, I had no intention of sharing anything related to the Royal Family with him.
"Above all else, the safety of the Royal Family took precedence."
As I answered, the Empress laughed heartily.
"Remarkable! Namia Loapi, your loyalty is truly exceptional!"
"You are too kind. I merely followed protocol, Your Majesty."
"Ahahaha! So what is this method you speak of? It's not in the report, so I must hear it directly!"
"That is...."
I opened my mouth carefully, offering a cautious smile.
* * *
The following morning.
"Sigh."
Riedan and the Minister of Education stared at a single document that had been distributed that morning, suppressing their smirks.
"The Scroll Department Director has finally lost her mind."
The contents of the official notice that Namia Loapi had circulated to all departments were as follows:
She wished to use special effect scrolls at the upcoming Saint Kairo Banquet.
The problem came after that.
Saint Kairo is a holy figure who blesses the affection between parents and children.
Therefore, we are planning a ceremony in which Her Majesty the Empress and His Highness the Young Prince will personally inscribe scrolls.
The Scroll Department will conduct the relevant instruction at a separately scheduled time.
The instruction was scheduled for the next day.
It was only natural, given that the Saint Kairo Banquet was fast approaching.
"Or perhaps her mind is completely addled."
However, once the Scroll Department announced plans for such an event, there was no way to stop it.
The Minister of Education muttered with a hollow laugh.
"Who does she think she is, making such a spectacle at her first banquet?"
The Scroll Management Department had never before made such a show of prominence.
"Actually, this works in our favor."
Riedan spoke with a wry smile.
"If the Scroll Department's first planned event fails spectacularly, they'll lose all confidence going forward. In fact, this is fortunate."
"Hmm."
"We were planning to crush them anyway, but first we should break their spirit before anything else."
He gathered several books and stood.
And I greeted the Minister of Education.
"Then I'll be on my way."
Riedan carried himself with unprecedented confidence.
The Minister of Education sank into his chair and nodded ambiguously.
"Go on."
It was much like any other day.
The Minister of Education was a man who knew how to cover his tracks.
He never engaged in conversations that might later become a liability. He issued no direct orders whatsoever.
Riedan simply acted of his own accord, and the Minister of Education conveniently gave him excellent evaluations.
'No matter what happens, I won't be implicated. I'm simply giving him good marks because he seems competent at his work.'
The Minister of Education genuinely believed that commoners should never occupy positions of prestige.
He had noticed Riedan's methods but never once mentioned them.
He rather approved of how Riedan drove a wedge between the Young Prince and the Empress.
'Young Prince Jayden must grow with the dignity befitting royalty. It's unfortunate his mother is of lowborn stock—such inferior elements keep trying to attach themselves to him.'
It was no accident that he obsessed over bloodline and upbringing.
The Empress's crude manner of speech and bearing only diminished the authority of the Imperial Family.
The Scroll Department was no different.
There was no way Namia Loapi, raised in such a disreputable household, could accomplish anything of substance.
'This is all for the good of the Empire, after all.'
Every person has their proper station.
Those who exceed their station only make matters worse.
'The nation is in shambles. There are far too many people who don't know their place.'
The Minister of Education tightened his lips with conviction.
And such values held by the superior naturally influenced the members under him, whether they realized it or not.
"Did you see those Scroll Department officials in the Dining Hall? They got some budget and suddenly they're acting high and mighty. It's ridiculous."
"The whole department has fewer than ten people... doesn't that mean there's barely any work?"
"But their office space is the same as before. What a waste of space. Useless deadweight."
The group of Ministry of Education officials who had once mocked Anastasia snickered among themselves.
The Minister of Education made no particular objection and turned his attention back to his documents.
* * *
"Riedan?"
When Riedan appeared at the Separate Palace, Young Prince Jayden hastily rose from his book.
"What brings you here? There's no class today, is there?"
His puzzled voice carried an unmistakable note of delight.
It was only natural. Young Prince Jayden adored Riedan.
Riedan had overseen his education since childhood.
He possessed such vast knowledge across all disciplines that he could manage a prodigy prince who grasped ten concepts from a single lesson.
"A supplementary lesson, Your Highness."
Riedan adjusted his monocle and spoke warmly.
"I had originally planned to schedule it for tomorrow, but I noticed from the official documents that the Scroll Department has an engagement."
"Ah, that's right. I received word of it too."
Young Prince Jayden nodded. Then he let out a soft chuckle and murmured.
"Honestly, the Director of the Scroll Department seems to lack perception. Assigning such a task to us mother and son."
Even as he spoke, he couldn't quite meet Riedan's gaze. Despite his attempt at cynicism, his emotions leaked through.
Riedan instantly detected a glimmer of anticipation on the child's face.
He clasped his hands behind his back and spoke calmly.
"You do know who the Director of the Scroll Department is, don't you?"
"Ah... Namia Loapi?"
Young Prince Jayden blinked as he answered.
"I don't know the details. I heard she's the woman who rejected my brother. Does she have a separate lover?"
"That doesn't seem to be the case... but one thing is certain."
Riedan spoke while stroking Young Prince Jayden's head.
"How dare she reject the Crown Prince himself. She is presumptuous, ignorant of her place, and utterly shameless. She has dragged the dignity of the Imperial Family through the mud."
"...But..."
"But what..."
Riedan sighed as he spoke.
"I hope you listen carefully to what I'm about to say, Your Highness."
Then he retrieved a soundproof scroll from a drawer in the Separate Palace and activated it.
It was routine for Riedan to use soundproof scrolls. Therefore, Young Prince Jayden said nothing.
Once Riedan had activated all the scrolls and returned, he continued.
"The Imperial Family is the most precious existence in this world. And yet she dares to reject such a being. It's truly absurd, isn't it? Remember this, Your Highness. Commoners must obey the Imperial Family."
"W-well, that's true, but..."
"That's why."
Riedan added, stroking Young Prince Jayden as if pitying him.
"Your mother also couldn't refuse the Imperial Family's command and had no choice but to ascend to the position of Empress, and was forced to bear you, wasn't she?"
"..."
"And in the end, because of your existence, she lost favor and remains trapped in this prison of an Imperial Palace, unable to do anything. How pitiful."
Young Prince Jayden's face hardened in an instant.
"But that is how humans must be."
Riedan continued, selecting books from Young Prince Jayden's shelf.
"They must obey whatever the Imperial Family commands. No matter how miserable their own lives become, no matter how dreadful the children they've borne are, even if seeing them causes unbearable pain."
Young Prince Jayden slowly lowered his gaze. Intelligent though he was, he was still only eight years old.
His relationship with his father, the Emperor, was not poor.
[Jayden? My precious son. You've grown so much every time I see you. How wonderful.]
But the Emperor had rarely visited the Imperial Palace in recent years.
He got along well with Crown Prince Kiaros. But...
[I enjoyed reading this book when I was young too. Especially the third volume—I must have read it so many times... Oh, it's already gotten this late. I'll visit again next time.]
He was far too busy. Even while spending time with him, his Aide would urgently bring various documents.
So it was natural that he wanted to rely on Fron, the Empress... but...
At some point, the distance between them had grown.
'Mother clearly loved me dearly when I was young... or so I thought.'
Was it from when I turned five? Or six?
At some point, Fron became deeply uncomfortable conversing with Jayden.
[Mother, I read "Understanding Eastern Empire History" today. I discovered something fascinating—the etymology of an ancient word called Autrakitus. What are your thoughts on that anecdote...?]
[Ah, I see? Hmm. Yes. I must be going now.]
Noticing the conversation growing hollow, Jayden sought counsel from his tutor, Riedan.
It was then that Riedan revealed what no one else had ever told him.
[There's nothing to be done about it. Allow me to teach you the truth.]
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