ICM Chapter 121

Only after the two people left did the commotion in the conference room subside. Some felt sorry about the tragedy that had occurred at the Marquis Oclein’s house, while others wondered what would happen to Glenoa.

 

“I understand that Lady Schwern is alone due to her family’s downfall. If formal charges are filed, she will have to stand trial, but she has no legal guardian. Since Duke Talion brought her here, will you take responsibility all the way to the trial?”

 

“What kind of unreasonable demand is that? You brought the murderer that the Imperial Guard and Security Force couldn’t find, and now you’re asking me to take responsibility for what comes after?”

 

Drushia drew a clear line in response to Count Lutenun’s question.

 

The Count understood and nodded. Ashika had been dishonored because of Glenoa. There was no reason for Drushia to take responsibility for the murderer’s personal affairs as well.

 

“Very well. Marquis Oclein will proceed with formal charges soon. Since this matter will go to court, the Noble Council will no longer be involved.”

 

After the disturbance died down, Count Lutenun looked around the conference room.

 

“Then let’s conclude this matter…”

 

“You all seem to have forgotten, but isn’t there a bigger issue at hand?”

 

Just as Count Lutenun was about to wrap up the conference room, Drushia stepped forward again.

 

“Does Duke Talion have an agenda you wish to formally propose?”

 

“It’s a bigger issue than the murder case. What about what happened at the recent imperial banquet?”

 

“Hmm.”

 

“That’s…”

 

The nobles who understood what he meant glanced at each other. Even Count Lutenun, who had maintained his composure throughout, looked troubled.

 

“Issues concerning the imperial family are not matters for the Noble Council to address.”

 

It had been a full 40 years ago. Just because the Empress Dowager’s hidden birth secret had been revealed didn’t mean they could dig up events from 40 years past. Even if there were problems, no one could accuse a member of the imperial family. Only the Emperor had the authority to punish imperial family members.

 

If the House of Arkpella had been destroyed under false accusations, this would be a problem significant enough to shake noble society. But who would dare raise issues against the Emperor’s mother?

 

“Of course that’s true, but if it’s a matter concerning the Grand Duchy rather than the imperial family, then the situation is different.”

 

As if he had expected this reaction, Drushia continued calmly.

 

“As you know, Talion has followed the will of the late Emperor all this time. We shared the responsibility that Her Imperial Majesty the Empress Dowager, the last heir of the Grand Duchy, should have borne. But if Her Imperial Majesty the Empress Dowager has no connection to the Grand Duchy, then who exactly is the current owner of the Grand Duchy?”

 

The nobles held their breath at Drushia’s question.

 

The situation of the Grand Duchy was special in many ways. Since it had been destroyed for treason, the name of the House of Arkpella should have disappeared from the noble genealogy. In such cases, the Grand Duchy should have been reorganized as the Emperor’s direct territory or by noble houses.

 

However, while the late Emperor disposed of all records related to Arkpella, he did not completely erase it from the noble genealogy. Instead, he processed it as inherited by the last blood relative, the Empress Dowager.

 

In principle, those who become part of the imperial family through marriage renounce their family’s inheritance rights. However, when there are no remaining blood relatives at all, succession is exceptionally possible, and the authority inherited by the Empress Dowager was then processed as being delegated back to the late Emperor.

 

With that authority, the late Emperor sealed the Grand Duchy. If his purpose had simply been to claim the Grand Duchy, such complex processing wouldn’t have been necessary. The late Emperor wanted to prevent the Grand Duchy from having any power whatsoever and to thoroughly watch it wither away.

 

But now the foundation of all those measures was being shaken to its roots. The nobles of the Grand Duchy had endured unjust blockade because they had hope. The hope that the Empress Dowager, the last blood relative of Arkpella, would someday revive the Grand Duchy.

 

But all of that had been lies and hypocrisy. If this fact became known, no one could predict what the nobles who had been holding their breath in the Grand Duchy would do.

 

“Does Duke Talion wish to formally propose this matter in the name of the Noble Council?”

 

“Isn’t it only natural? I’m not saying we should investigate the Empress Dowager’s birth, but that we should sort out the Grand Duchy’s problems.”

 

It sounded simple, but in reality it was an enormous problem. Sorting out the inheritance rights of the House of Arkpella would inevitably bring up the treason issue from 40 years ago, and once that issue surfaced, everything the late Emperor had handled in the past would come tumbling out.

 

It was truly like throwing a spark into an oil warehouse.

 

“We cannot discuss this matter today. We don’t have enough attendees to handle such a major issue.”

 

“I’ll leave that to the Noble Council’s decision. However, we must be clear about this one matter.”

 

Drushia continued in a calm tone.

 

“Talion wishes to withdraw from managing the Grand Duchy.”

 

“What?”

 

“What do you mean by that?”

 

The conference room became chaotic again. Even Weive, who had been watching the situation throughout, opened his eyes wide in surprise.

 

If Talion withdrew its forces, the management of the Grand Duchy would be left hanging in the air. Even if other nobles’ forces were brought in, there would inevitably be gaps.

 

“We will withdraw our forces gradually over the next two months. I hope you’ll consider this matter when the next meeting is convened.”

 

He didn’t even look at the nobles’ opposing reactions. Drushia said what he had to say and closed his mouth.

 

The conference room was filled with chaotic commotion for a while. From the Empress Dowager’s problem to the issues Talion had thrown regarding the Grand Duchy. The situation made it difficult to continue any discussion. Count Lutenun declared the meeting adjourned.

 

Immediately after leaving the conference room, Weive called out to Drushia. He too had a confused expression.

 

“Duke Talion, what is this behavior? Do you intend to throw the Grand Duchy into chaos?”

 

“No one knows whether it will fall into chaos or become an opportunity.”

 

“What are you instigating now? If this continues…”

 

Weive swallowed his next words.

 

“The Emperor will be unable to either swallow or spit out the Grand Duchy. That’s exactly what I hope for.”

 

Looking at Weive, who had gone rigid, Drushia smiled bitterly.

 

****

 

The next day, Marquis Oclein formally accused Glenoa through proper procedures, and a trial date was set before even a week had passed. However, on the day the trial date was set, Glenoa went missing while being transferred to a temporary detention facility.

 

Although Marquis Oclein protested vehemently, this incident was concluded quietly compared to its beginning. Rumors circulated that mercenaries had been hired to track down Glenoa, and afterward the Marquis returned to his territory.

 

The nobles whispered that the Marquis Oclein’s departure to his territory might be to reinvestigate his eldest son’s death. Thus, one incident that had turned the capital upside down quietly came to an end.

 

All these events passed through Ashika’s mind unfiltered in succession. Her thoughts wouldn’t turn, as if she had become an idiot. The shock had been too great.

 

Ashika, who had been staring blankly out the window, bumped her forehead against the window glass with a thud.

 

‘How did things turn out this way?’

 

While Ashika couldn’t collect herself from the shock, Drushia had quickly seized control of the situation and swept through it. He instantly subdued Marquis Oclein, who was calling for territorial war, and quickly caught the culprit, quelling sinister suspicions.

 

In that process, he showed no hesitation or worry whatsoever. Drushia was moving with certainty. Some definite certainty that even Ashika didn’t know about.

 

While she was lost in thought, the reception room door opened quietly.

 

“Are you feeling alright?”

 

“Oh, Rushia.”

 

The worried voice belonged to Drushia. Only then did Ashika turn around.

 

A magnificently tall, large frame that dominated the interior, short golden hair swept back coolly, blue eyes deeper than before, and softly curved lips. She could feel warm affection in the eyes looking at Ashika.

 

“Good day, Lady Igraine.”

 

Following behind Drushia was Kalf. Ashika responded with a light nod instead of a greeting and opened her mouth.

 

“I heard that Lady Schwern went missing. Could it be that Marquis Oclein had a hand in it?”

 

This had been weighing on her mind ever since she heard the news yesterday.

 

Drushia glanced at Julmanan, who was standing quietly next to Ashika. The man closest to Ashika in the Igraine mansion. He rarely showed his presence, so there was nothing to find fault with, which made him all the more disagreeable.

 

‘Couldn’t I change the aide to a woman?’

 

While mulling over such ridiculous thoughts alone, he shifted his gaze to Ashika.

 

“It almost happened.”

 

“Then, surely…”

 

“Lady Schwern can’t live in the Empire anyway. Marquis Oclein won’t leave her alone.”

 

He had said he would ensure she received a fair legal judgment, but it would have been difficult for Glenoa to survive until then. Knowing this, he couldn’t push her into court. So Drushia chose to let Glenoa live and go free.

 

What should she say? Ashika found it difficult to readily agree with or oppose Drushia’s choice.

 

“I decided not to judge whether it was the right choice.”

 

Glenoa was neither a complete victim nor a complete perpetrator. So perhaps she would receive the judgment of time instead of the judgment of law.

 

Drushia’s purpose was to protect Ashika, and Glenoa had finished her role, so that was enough. He had simply returned what he had received.

 

“Don’t exclude me like this next time.”

 

Drushia and Weive had prevented Ashika from attending the meeting she was planning to go to. Two ladies involved in a love affair scandal. Even before weighing the guilt, that alone would have made them a spectacle.

 

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

 

While Drushia nodded, he didn’t promise he wouldn’t do it again. Noticing this, Ashika quietly sighed.

 

After hesitating for a moment, Ashika looked at Kalf and sat on the sofa. She seemed to be trying to be careful with her words.

 

“It’s fine. You can speak.”

 

Kalf was someone who had been by Drushia’s side since he was a young duke. He was also the person who exercised all authority in his absence.

 

Ashika nodded and carefully began to speak.

 

“I heard you’re withdrawing forces from the Grand Duchy. What are you thinking?”

 

“Chaos is unavoidable anyway. If the Grand Duchy’s blockade is to be lifted, it’s growing pains that must be experienced once.”

 

“The repercussions will be great.”

 

“It’s a door that’s been firmly closed for 40 years. Would it open just from a little knocking?”

 

The greater the chaos, the better. That would actually be preferable. The late Emperor’s power had been strong, but not now. The imperial family wouldn’t be able to exert proper strength, and the more that happened, the louder the nobles’ voices would become.

 

Moreover, if the nobles of the Grand Duchy joined in, the situation would become uncontrollable, and the Emperor would have no choice but to provide some kind of answer.

 

“Trust me, Ashika. I will make choices to save everyone.”

 

“But…”

 

“Don’t we have more important business today?”

 

Drushia smoothly changed the subject. Only then did Ashika remember the real purpose of Drushia’s visit today.

 

“Grandfather sent that…”

 

Ashika hesitated as she opened her mouth. Her face was somewhat perplexed about what to say.

 

“The documents, you mean?”

 

“To be precise, it was a list of demands. Conditions to be included in the prenuptial contract.”

 

When Drushia extended his hand, Kalf took out a document from his briefcase and handed it over. Seeing the official document with the Igraine crest, heat rushed to Ashika’s face.