Stepmothers Are Not Always Evil Chapter 98
Chapter 98
“The investigation is being carried out by the royal guards.”
“Has the source of the ruthless monster that threatened His Majesty’s safety been revealed?”
“It hasn’t been revealed yet, but Sir Peterson’s guess is that as the number of monsters increases, the one expelled from the group has flowed into the capital.”
The Emperor continued speaking without changing the color of his face. When he finished answering, Helios opened his mouth as if he had been waiting.
“If Your Majesty permits, I will join the royal guards to assist with the investigation.”
“The Duke himself?”
“Yes. If there is someone who has dealt with the monster directly, I think the investigation will be a little easier.”
The Emperor, who swallowed dry saliva, struggled to return his blurred complexion.
“I know the Duke’s heart, but your injuries are not healed, so there is no need to overdo it. With the Imperial Knights as well as the Security Guard assisting in the investigation, it will be revealed sooner or later.”
“…….”
“When there is any news, I will inform the Duke first.”
Helios quietly raised his lips in a friendly tone, pretending to be concerned. Then he lowered his voice and whispered.
“Actually, there are things that bother me.”
“… What’s bothering you?”
Helios glanced at the Empress at the Emperor’s question.
“The appearance of the monster is familiar, so I thought carefully about it, but it seems to be similar to the monster I encountered at Anthony Eaton’s Spirit Stone Mine.”
“……!”
The Empress, who had heard Helios’ story, turned her head to the Emperor. The Emperor’s face turned pale for an instant.
“Well, that can’t possibly be… given how far it is from there to here.”
“I think so too, but in case you don’t know, I’ll check it myself…”
“No, you don’t have to.”
The Emperor shook his head resolutely.
“Don’t worry about it, I’ll tell the security guard the Duke’s words and ask them to find out.”
It was an unusually firm refusal.
He wondered how the security guards, who had never seen a monster, could confirm that fact, but Helios took a step back from that point.
“All right. If you do, I will wait for the news.”
“Yes.”
The Emperor, who immediately drank the champagne on the table as if his throat was burning, changed the topic.
“By the way, do you like the medal?”
Helios looked at the medal on his left chest and answered humbly.
“I don’t know where to put myself because you have given me such an undeserved reward.”
“Undeserved. What more can I give to the person who saved my life and the lives of the princesses?”
The Emperor smiled and added.
“I have returned the small estate in Fenbury under the name of Escalium, so go check it out when you have time.”
… What else does this mean?
Helios frowned at the fact that he gave Escal the Guardian’s Sword without consulting us, and that he even awarded the estate because it was not enough.
The ignorant Emperor spit a joke lightly.
“Are you disappointed that it wasn’t given to you, Duke?”
“My Majesty, I apologize, but legally, only adults have the right to receive your territories from Your Majesty. Escal is still….”
“If the land I gave to you means a reward, then the Duke is right. But there are exceptions.”
Helios, realizing the meaning of the Emperor’s words, bit his lip.
“I have given you the surname of Hastings, and your son Escal is also Hastings. So this is a gift.”
… You’re good at things like this.
Helios, his lips pursed as if he were speechless, barely managed to squeeze out a voice.
“This is unprecedented. There’s no way the nobility would let that slide…”
“I consulted Count Turner, and he said there’s no problem.”
“……”
“Now that we’ve talked about it, it would be better to talk about it in advance. When Escalium comes of age, I intend to make him Count of Fenbury.”
Now it seemed that I knew the Emperor’s intentions.
‘It’s because of me.’
If I ever give birth to Escal’s younger brother, he thought that Helios might put Escal aside and pass on the Duke of Anthemion title to that child.
If that happens, it will be difficult for the Emperor who chose Escal as the husband of the Princess, but the Emperor cannot intervene in the inheritance of the noble family.
So, it seemed that the Imperial family had found a solution to strengthen Escal’s position.
In a prosperous estate, above the Count, and even a sword from Prince Frederick, it is only a matter of time before becoming a knight.
… My son’s future is very bright. Ha.
Helios, who thought that it would not work if he had to speak more, shut his mouth, and the Empress spoke to him.
“By the way, Young master Escalium’s birthday is in ten days, isn’t it?”
“That’s right. Her Majesty the Empress.”
“Did you decide how the birthday banquet will be held?”
“Since the monster outbreak is upsetting the system, I plan to celebrate quietly amongst our family.”
“Oh, no, you can’t do that.”
The Empress put down the teacup she was holding.
“Rather, in times like these, the more grand the banquets are, the more reassured the people will be. And it’s his first birthday, isn’t it?”
Helios interrupted in a polite tone.
“I have received such a great gift from Your Majesty, how can the size of the banquet matter so much?”
“That’s a different story.”
The Empress raised her eyebrows meaningfully.
“At times like this, if you don’t pay attention, there will be a lot of people who will be suspicious of your wife.”
“No matter what I do, there will always be people who see it badly, so I don’t want to care.”
In response to the euphemistic refusal, the Empress tilted her head slightly.
“If it is because it is cumbersome to hold a banquet, can I help you?”
“… Yes?”
“How about opening it at the country house you met with the Grand Duchess last time?”
“I don’t think so. Her Majesty the Empress.”
I hardened my face and waved my hand.
“Your Majesty has already bestowed undeserved favors on Escal, and if we receive additional favors here, the issue of equity will be raised. It’s fine, but I don’t want Escal to get involved in unnecessary gossip.”
“Yes, I think the Duchess is right, Empress.”
The Emperor interrupted the Empress politely.
“It’s not bad to spend time with family. Just like last time, let’s bring my sister along and make it simple for us.”
“Yes?”
What else does this mean? When did you become part of my family?
I pursed my lips in confusion, and Helios placed a hand on my back as if to stop me.
“I haven’t been feeling well for a while, so I haven’t had time to think about it. May I go back and discuss it carefully and tell you?”
“Please do so.”
*****
“Yeah, let’s do it. Hah! Mary, put a bulletin board in the square! It’s my son’s birthday, so come and eat some cake!”
“Who is that, madam?”
Mary stopped me as I slammed the table with a frown.
“If anyone hears, call the bakery right now and tell them to put in an order for ten thousand cakes, and bring booze and juice and… Whatever!”
“Are you really going to do that? Are you asking the people to empty the main square?”
“Duchess.”
Mary wept as she watched Helios rise one more drink.
No. Why is the imperial family interfering when I say that I am going to have a private birthday with my son?
As I grumbled with anger, Helios laughed bitterly and teased me.
“If you don’t like it, I’ll tell Your Majesty.”
“Don’t bother, or I’ll have to sleep in the palace.”
Rather than spend Escal’s birthday alone with the Emperor and his wife, I’d rather make a big deal of it, inviting everyone I know.
“Mary, bring the list of nobility to hand over the invitations.”
Mary looked at me worriedly, as if she didn’t know what to do, and left the room.
I pressed my temples together, feeling my head throbbing, and Helios patted me on the back.
“If it’s hard, don’t do it by yourself, leave it to Merlin.”
“I’m not doing this because it’s hard. It’s because I hate having to spend my son’s birthday on a whim.”
Escal receives the Sword of the Guardian directly from Prince Frederick in front of everyone, so there will be plenty of gossip.
When word gets out about the birthday banquet, all the nobles will be there to gossip about him.
I’d rather run away somewhere far away than have to deal with that.
Even if I want to live quietly, people won’t let me go, so is this the fate of the protagonist?
‘Because it’s a problem even if you’re too good.’
Shaking my head in a frustrated mood, Helios picked up his coat.
“I’m going out for a while.”
“Where are you going?”
“I’m coming to see Count Turner.”
“Now?”
“Well. I have something to ask him.”
Is it because of Escal?
I was a little surprised to hear that the upright Count Turner had allowed Escal to take over the estate.
He wasn’t afraid to go against the Emperor’s heart, so I thought he had a purpose, but Helios seemed to recognize it too.
“I’ll be back soon.”
He kissed my cheek softly and hurriedly left the mansion.
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