Chapter 198

 

“What on earth is this…?”

 

Amaia looked up at Iona, holding her breath.

 

Her expression was filled with the intent to discern Iona’s motives.

 

For the confused Amaia, Iona briefly laid out the situation.

 

“You have two choices. Betray your master, or quietly meet a dog’s death.”

 

When issuing such threats, one must avoid giving the other party too much time to think.

 

Iona spoke decisively, cutting through the air.

 

“There is no compromise. And if you choose the latter, my offer to assist the Viscountess in her escape will also be rescinded. Naturally, secrets will no longer remain secrets.”

 

Having finished her explanation, Iona glanced briefly toward Carmen.

 

In truth, Carmen had no real alternatives.

 

Even if she ignored Iona’s proposal and stayed in this territory, the fact that she had conspired in her husband’s murder would soon be revealed. At that point, continuing to act as the Viscountess would be impossible.

 

The vassals who had served under Viscount Ida would hardly protect her. Instead, they would see this as an opportunity.

 

With Viscount Ida’s heir, Dieter, being a prime suspect in the murder and his inheritance now uncertain, removing the Viscountess from the equation would allow those involved to divide the wealth among themselves. Who would pass up such a golden opportunity?

 

Perhaps thinking along the same lines, Amaia twisted her lips uncomfortably.

 

“This is blackmail.”

 

“Roughly speaking, yes.”

 

“So, you provoked me to show that I wouldn’t stand a chance?”

 

“No, I wanted to confirm whether you’re someone who’d give their life for their master.”

 

If Amaia had been utterly devoted to the Empress, the flippant answer of the poison is elsewhere would never have come out of her mouth.

 

Instead of carrying poison to silence herself, she had brought only a sword to defend herself.

 

Whatever she had sought to protect—whether her own safety or something else—there was something she valued more than the Empress’ orders.

 

Thus, she had planned to defy her master’s will and kill the person she had been tasked to monitor.

 

‘In other words, it means she’s open to persuasion.’

 

Iona looked down at Amaia with eyes full of certainty.

 

The fact that they were even engaging in such a lengthy conversation was evidence that the negotiation was tilting in Iona’s favor.

 

“If you betray your master and follow me, I’ll ensure you won’t be eliminated by that master.”

 

“And if I refuse…?”

 

“Then I’ll kill you. Even if I let you go, once the truth comes out, your master will deal with you anyway. The result will be the same.”

 

If she didn’t take this hand extended toward her, the only outcome was death.

 

That’s what Iona was saying.

 

Amaia, who had been silently watching Carmen’s pale face for a moment, turned her gaze back to Iona.

 

Perhaps thanks to Iona’s careful persuasion, Amaia didn’t take long to decide.

 

It wasn’t a question that required much deliberation to begin with.

 

Amaia asked.

 

“What would you have me do?”

 

A satisfied smile appeared on Iona’s lips.

 

Then, with clarity, Iona replied.

 

“You’ll serve as the Viscountess’ personal maid.”

 

The right person in the right place.

 

It was a phrase Iona cherished above all.

 

***

 

“This is why the powerless are always such trouble,”

 

The Empress let out a weary sigh.

 

Her delicate brows furrowed, and the air around her grew icy with tension.

 

It was due to a particularly troubling detail in the report she had just received.

 

The Empress murmured in exasperation,

 

“Whenever I extend a hand to help someone in a dire situation, they always end up betraying their benefactor so blatantly. Isn’t that so?”

 

“You must be greatly disappointed,” her attendant replied.

 

“I suspected he wasn’t destined for greatness, but I never imagined he’d cause financial trouble…”

 

She added with a scoff, as if mocking her own optimism.

 

Her irritated gaze dropped to the document in front of her, detailing the embezzled funds Viscount Ida had siphoned off under the pretense of carrying out her orders.

 

Fortunately, the spy she had planted to keep an eye on him had discovered the treachery and promptly dealt with the traitor.

 

Though she felt a flicker of irritation toward her subordinate for acting on such a significant decision without her approval, her fury soon redirected entirely toward the viscount once she saw the double ledger he had been hiding.

 

“So, is his wife now in a position to inherit the estate?”

 

“Yes. Since the viscount was eliminated with the help of his son, his wife is now the sole inheritor of his wealth.”

 

“The viscountess is one of ours, isn’t she?”

 

“Not directly tied to us, but she should be manageable. From what I’ve heard, she’s timid and docile, having always been compliant with her husband’s wishes.”

 

“Then get in contact with her. Send the recovered funds with our next envoy.”

 

The Empress tossed the ledger onto her desk, as if discarding her lingering frustration along with it.

 

Though the issue seemed to be resolving faster than expected, the solution hadn’t entirely lifted her foul mood.

 

Gazing out the window, the Empress murmured,

 

“That land has always been a headache.”

 

Since becoming the Empress of the Leman Empire, Rosalia had consistently funneled illegal support to her homeland.

 

Of course, the methods she used to gather these funds were far from honorable.

 

Most of the money came from public funds intended for the nation’s operations.

 

Rosalia used these slush funds to support her brother in Bardem, solidifying her influence and connections.

 

Making her homeland prosperous bolstered her own position, and the leverage allowed her to demand unsavory favors in return.

 

Thanks to this arrangement, Rosalia maintained a closer relationship with her brother than ever before, even more so than when she had lived back home.

 

What she found especially satisfying was the fact that she was now the one giving orders and assistance.

 

“But the distribution process keeps running into complications,” she thought grimly.

 

This was precisely why Count Schmidt had been eliminated.

 

Back then, Rosalia had avoided involving him, continuing her support in secret.

 

Knowing the count’s upright nature, she had avoided unnecessary conflict.

 

The problem arose when Count Schmidt, suspicious of the origins of the goods being transported, investigated and uncovered her trail.

 

Rosalia tried to bribe him belatedly, but it was futile.

 

The count, brimming with a sense of justice, refused to overlook the issue and declined the secret proposal she offered.

 

It was a foolish decision.

 

In the end, his entire family met a miserable end because of it.

 

“Though the damage on our side wasn’t small either.”

 

The aftermath of eliminating Count Schmidt’s household, and even taking down a ducal family, had left Rosalia with considerable losses.

 

Had there been another way to handle the situation, Rosalia wouldn’t have resorted to such drastic measures.

 

She still lamented the rigidity of Count Schmidt’s character.

 

Even now, the grudge borne by the ducal family gnawed at her nerves, unresolved and ever-present.

 

To prevent a repeat of such issues, the Empress had installed Viscount Ida as a puppet lord, overseeing the region directly.

 

Not having to operate in secrecy anymore was one small satisfaction she could savor.

 

As long as no more petty problems cropped up.

 

Rosalia closed her eyes, attempting to quell the unease roiling in her chest.

 

It was then that the sound of firm footsteps echoed down the hallway, growing louder as they approached.

 

Predicting the identity of the visitor, the Empress slowly opened her eyes.

 

There were few people permitted to enter her palace unannounced.

 

As expected, her son Richard entered the room, guided by the maids.

 

In a warm voice, she called his name.

 

“Richard.”

 

His visit was sudden, but its purpose was obvious.

 

Rosalia’s eyes narrowed.

 

No matter how she looked at him, her son wore the expression of a man who had found an excuse to reunite with someone he had long missed.

--- End Of The Chapter ----

 

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