Ch#147
The Imperial Palace's regular meeting was held after a long time.
Many had been away on vacation during the midsummer, and the meeting right before the Autumn Seasonal Festival had been canceled as well.
After that, it hadn't been held due to Clois's health.
In fact, regular meetings were rarely fully attended, as only essential participants were required, with others attending at their discretion.
But today was different.
"Could you please sit a bit closer together?"
"If there's no seat, I'll stand!"
The fixed-seat ministers frowned at the noisy back rows, reminiscent of a market floor.
There was only one reason so many people were here today.
It was the appearance of the new imperial, Eve.
Thanks to being recognized as imperial, she was staying in the inner palace, but Eve still hadn't been officially registered in the imperial family registry.
By rights, she should have the full name Evebien Shel Harkia, combining her original name, her mother's surname, and the imperial surname Harkia.
But the emperor still hadn't given that name to the child.
Thus, she continued to be called by the ambiguous title of Lady Eve.
In the midst of the noisy back rows, Count Aradman leisurely surveyed those seated around him.
Today, the back rows without fixed seats likely held more high-ranking nobles than the ministers up front.
'I've gathered them so desperately.'
Count Aradman recalled the past few days when he had run around like mad.
The news of a new imperial—clearly Clois's daughter—had been enough to move even the sedentary old nobles.
They had hurried to the capital, and Count Aradman had met them alongside the other nobles attached to him.
For one reason.
"Finally, a pillar has appeared to firmly support this empire without an heir! We only wish for Lady Eve to reclaim her name soon and become His Majesty's joy and rest, and the bright future of the empire."
His words flowed smoothly, as if oiled.
The old nobles nodded at his words.
In truth, their greatest concern after long withdrawing from state affairs had been the empire's heir.
That was why they had persistently written letters urging Clois to remarry.
But after Clois nearly exterminated one house as an example and then spared them, no one dared suggest a new empress to him.
'And even if they have imperial blood from a few generations back, it's troubling if one of the sons from the Kailun or Ragselb families becomes the next emperor.'
It was a sentiment rooted in loyalty.
No matter how disinterested the current heads were in power, the future was unpredictable.
Their relatives were the same.
Thus, they had been greatly anxious upon rumors that the emperor would soon decide on an heir.
And into that appeared the emperor's daughter.
It was natural for the old nobles to urgently demand he recognize her as princess and proclaim it to the empire.
No, failing to do so would itself be treason.
Unlike the resolute old nobles, the group gathered in one corner of the back rows felt differently.
They were those who had stayed neutral during the war of succession, watching the winds.
After Clois became emperor, they had trembled fearing punishment.
But Clois had left them be.
"Exterminate everyone just for not taking sides? Do you want to make me the empire's greatest butcher?"
No matter how blinded by revenge, he wasn't mad enough to kill them all.
Thanks to that, they survived. But their chances to participate in state affairs dwindled.
They had beaten their chests in regret, but it was too late.
And now Count Aradman had extended a hand to them.
There was no reason to refuse. This time, they wouldn't miss the opportunity.
It wasn't a vain dream. Count Aradman was proof.
He had once been practically ostracized from the capital's social circles due to his daughter's scandal.
But now, that incident had been erased from all records.
As commendation for finding and protecting an imperial, the emperor had cleared all dishonor from his house along with their debts.
At the same time, though the exact amount was unknown, Count Aradman had received an enormous reward.
Rumors said he had already inquired about purchasing a luxury mansion near the Terins family in the capital's center.
Even before full recognition as princess, Count Aradman had gained immensely.
Thus, he would surely gain even greater wealth and honor unimaginable before.
If the girl he brought became emperor someday, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say his house would become the empire's most prestigious.
So they rubbed their hands eagerly beside the count, wagging their tails.
And they had to lend him all their strength to elevate him higher.
Now, he was the helm steering their fates.
The nobles centered on the count awaited the emperor's entrance impatiently.
Today's meeting would be overwhelmed by their fervent voices from start to finish.
They were that confident.
Yet.
"There are many people today."
As Clois entered the meeting room, swept his cold gaze over the murmuring crowd, and sat, their earlier resolve vanished in an instant.
They knew without words.
Today's emperor wouldn't yield to their pressure; he seemed ready to excommunicate one as an example for even the slightest displeasure.
Those about to raise their voices bowed their heads, and Count Aradman was no different.
'Why on earth is he like this?'
The count couldn't understand the emperor.
Hadn't he grieved his dead wife and daughter so deeply that governing grew harder?
That was why he'd played father with that pitiful orphan child.
Yet with his real daughter returned, why the cold attitude instead of embracing her all day?
As Clois sat, he spoke loudly enough to be heard.
"It's pleasing to see everyone like this. I hope to see you all often henceforth."
No one took his words at face value, given his expression that seemed ready to interrogate anyone whose eyes met his.
Thus, when the meeting began, Count Aradman and his allies fell silent, but the old nobles from afar pleaded with Clois one after another.
"Your Majesty, please proclaim Lady Eve as princess soon and share the joy with the empire's people."
"Indeed. Thus, we must show the imperial house will endure another millennium. So those lurking in corners abandon their vain dreams."
The old nobles' words held no fault.
That was what a father who regained his daughter should do.
"I understand your intentions well."
Clois raised his hand to stem the pouring opinions.
"The delay in proclaiming the princess has no other reason. Since all believed her deceased, we're ensuring everything is confirmed without issue. As the one most anxious in this matter is I, refrain from further urging."
It was a command to shut up and wait since he'd handle it himself.
Moreover, framed as for the princess, they had no retort.
With the emperor like this, no one had more to say.
Instead, the one growing anxious was Count Aradman.
'I can't let today's meeting end like this.'
Then at least grant the request his daughter and Eve had asked for.
"Your Majesty, I have one plea regarding Lady Eve."
"Speak."
"Lady Eve is lonely in an unfamiliar place without peers her age. Moreover, for her future as princess, how about enrolling her in the Genius Academy?"
* * *
"Ah, damn it. Who decided that?"
Seraphina was furious upon receiving the news.
Already swamped with work and driven mad by petty demands, now to host an imperial too?
"Even bringing back the expelled kid—what is this?!"
Moreover, as now imperial awaiting princess recognition, unlike the quiet Clois, she'd surely bring a train of escorts.
"Tell them it disrupts the study atmosphere—absolutely not!"
At her words, the staff exchanged glances.
How are we supposed to do that? You have to, Dean... their looks conveyed.
Seraphina, who had been sighing deeply with head bowed, suddenly lifted it.
"No helping it. Handle annoyances quickly."
"Pardon? What will you do?"
"What else."
Seraphina flashed a smile that was surely feigned.
"I must properly show them what the Genius Academy is."
Make her cry and swear never to return to this scary place.
Swallowing her true thoughts, Seraphina began sketching a Genius Academy tour plan for the imperial in her mind.
'I'll send her back to the Main Palace within two hours.'
