In the meantime, the Emperor’s chief chamberlain, Pavlek, came out and bowed his head.
“I have received the report. Is this the young lady……?”
“Hello.”
When she pulled back her hood and removed her veil, the chamberlain’s eyes widened before returning to normal.
“Welcome, Lady Ingrave. I have already informed His Majesty. I will escort you inside with the Duke.”
Following the chamberlain, who turned around, Rachel entered the eastern side of the Sun Palace for the first time. Until then, Nathan Valencia remained slightly behind them, silent.
Rachel wondered. If she asked the chamberlain about the progress of the meeting, would he tell her?
It was when she was fiddling with the bundle of evidence stuffed so full in her pocket that he asked the chamberlain.
“What was the result of the meeting?”
“First, everyone agreed to send an envoy to the Borza Kingdom to condemn what happened today and declare war.”
“I see. As expected.”
“…….”
It seemed it really had been the right decision to visit Marquis Tauren’s residence that night.
‘The northern nobles, including Marquis Tauren, probably put a lot of effort into it.’
And once she presented this evidence, the situation would be reversed. By then, they were already right in front of the Grand Assembly Hall.
The Imperial Knights, who spotted the chamberlain, opened the enormous marble doors.
Grrrr—
As the Imperial emblem engraved in the center split apart, the Grand Assembly Hall was revealed. The first thing Rachel saw was the Emperor.
Seated on the lofty imperial throne, his violet eyes, filled with a strange light, looked down at them with apparent interest. Rachel walked toward the place where the ministers were seated and knelt on one knee.
“I greet His Majesty the Emperor.”
“Welcome, Lady Ingrave. Were you with Duke Valencia?”
“I was searching for something when the Duke offered me his assistance.”
“A joint effort between you and the Duke. I’m curious what you managed to find.”
At the Emperor’s gesture, Rachel rose and handed the bundle of evidence to the chamberlain. Gazes poured in from every direction.
Among them were her father, Marquis Ingrave, and Marquis Tauren, whose expression was slightly anxious. While Nathan Valencia moved to the central seat of honor among the seven ministerial seats, the Emperor examined the evidence the chamberlain had presented.
The Emperor’s expression gradually hardened.
“Where did you find this, Lady?”
“At Marquis Tauren’s residence. It was inside a hidden safe in his study. After looking through it, I realized many things had been happening in the north. So I thought this was the best time to act, while the Marquis was unprepared, and I was able to obtain the evidence.”
A shocked Marquis Tauren pointed at Rachel.
“You, you searched my residence……!”
Bang!
The Emperor slammed his fist down hard on the throne. As the Grand Assembly Hall froze in an instant, the Emperor’s furious voice rang out.
“Marquis Tauren, is all of this true? How dare you use My name to make excessive profits from trade with the Borza Kingdom? How dare you embezzle the funds I sent for aid together with other northern nobles, and abuse your position as Minister of Intelligence to deliberately filter information?”
“Y-Your Majesty!”
“And that wasn’t enough. How dare you become involved in the attempt on My life, you traitor!”
“……!”
The Emperor rose from his throne. At the same time, the Imperial Guards moved and subdued Marquis Tauren, binding the other northern nobles as well. The northern nobles, shocked nearly to the point of fainting, cried out in protest.
“Y-Your Majesty, this is clearly a false accusation! It is true that we embezzled gold together with Marquis Tauren, but we never attempted to assassinate Your Majesty!”
“That’s right! How could we—”
The Emperor gave a cold laugh.
“That will be determined in due time. Whether you knew and simply stood by, or knowingly went along with it while pretending not to know. An investigation will reveal everything. Take them away.”
“Your Majesty! Please spare me, Your Majesty!”
“Marquis Tauren, what is the meaning of this……!”
If they were dragged away like this, they would never survive.
The northern nobles, realizing too late that something had gone wrong, cried out, but it was already over. As proof, Marquis Tauren was already being dragged away with a look of resignation.
The Emperor ordered Duke Cardier, the Minister of Military Affairs,
“Send troops to the north immediately. Arrest everyone involved and restore order in the north. Send an envoy to the Borza Kingdom, explain the situation, and tell them to decide what they intend to do. Things have turned out this way, but it is clear that they attempted to assassinate Me. If they wish to go to war, I will accept. If they wish to clear up this misunderstanding peacefully, I will accept that as well.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“And Lady Ingrave.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Rachel immediately bowed respectfully. The Emperor looked down at her quietly, then gave a faint smile.
“You have done well, Lady. Thanks to you, we have caught those who dared to deceive Me and the Empire. Your contribution is great.”
“You honor me too much.”
It was the official praise she had wanted. Once the situation was settled and the ceremony honoring those who had contributed began, her name would surely be called either first or last.
Rachel lowered her gaze deeply, hiding her eyes filled with anticipation. The Emperor added an unexpected proposal.
“Those who hold a grudge against you may attack you, so remain in the Imperial Palace for the time being until this matter is settled. Judging by your clothes, it seems you have been through quite a lot as well.”
“I am deeply honored, Your Majesty.”
It seemed she would not have to return to the Ingrave residence for a while. Rachel smiled without letting it show.
“And Duke Valencia.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The man who had been watching Rachel all this time looked up at the Emperor. The Emperor gave his order.
“I will grant the Duke full authority. As Minister of Inspections, investigate the Intelligence Department and uncover everyone involved. Trace the flow of events connected to this evidence as well. Work together with the Ministry of Military Affairs to inspect the entire north.”
“Understood.”
“And you have done well too, Duke. Lady Ingrave surely would have had difficulty entering Marquis Tauren’s residence alone, so I imagine you helped her considerably. I wondered why you suddenly rushed out earlier, haha.”
Nathan glanced at her for a moment before shaking his head.
“I believe there has been a misunderstanding. Lady Ingrave had already prepared the magic tools herself, so I merely assisted her a little, Your Majesty.”
“Oh, really?”
“…….”
Rachel quietly kept her head bowed. But her heart was pounding as she wondered at the unexpected situation.
‘He wasn’t angry?’
Honestly, she had never expected Nathan Valencia to help her this much.
The Emperor, his eyes gleaming, waved his hand toward Rachel.
“Lady, withdraw and get some rest. The meeting looks like it will take a while. Chamberlain, escort the lady. The Violet Palace should do.”
“Understood. Lady, this way.”
Rachel bowed to the Emperor before following the chamberlain out of the Grand Assembly Hall. For a moment, she caught sight of her father’s face, which looked happy despite being filled with all sorts of questions.
Grrrr—
The doors closed. In front of the Grand Assembly Hall, an open carriage was waiting. As the chamberlain escorted her into the carriage, she asked,
“If it’s all right, may I call for my maid and escort knights?”
If she was planning to become independent and leave the family soon, the conflict with her parents would become more obvious. Before that happened, she thought it would be good to bring her own people over as well.
The chamberlain nodded.
“You will be staying for some time, so I imagine you will need familiar faces around you. I’ll make the arrangements.”
“Thank you.”
She leaned comfortably against the sofa and suddenly looked up at the sky. Dawn was already beginning to break.
Being caught up in an attempt to assassinate the Emperor and even infiltrating Marquis Tauren’s residence.
It had been a tense night, but—
‘……It wasn’t bad.’
She had also learned where Nathan Valencia’s suspicions had come from.
It had not been the best way to resolve things, but in any case, that problem had been settled too.
And Nathan Valencia also seemed determined to actively keep his promise.
Now, it was safe to say that her independence was only a matter of time.
Rachel smiled faintly. At last, the peace she had longed for was within reach.
The emergency court meeting finally ended in the morning. An envoy was sent to the Borza Kingdom, while the Empire’s First, Second, and Third Knight Orders and the First Mage Corps departed for the north under the command of the Minister of Military Affairs.
The atrocities committed by the northern nobles were revealed. At the same time, stories about Rachel Ingrave and Nathan Valencia, who had uncovered the evidence, were spreading throughout high society.
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