﹡ ⊹ ⊰ Chapter 224 ⊱ ⊹ ﹡
Empress Ravini frowned.
What do you mean by 'Don't trust the Imperial Family'?
Although through marriage, Ravini herself was a member of the Imperial Family.
Croiten Angenas continued to convey his words.
"It is the cruelty of those who sit on the throne that the Braun family, who has devoted their entire lives to the Empire, are banished with just a word."
It couldn't be more of a contradiction.
It was Angenas who once enticed the Emperor to push the Brauns out and annihilate them.
But now you have to stand on the opposite side and look closely at the Emperor's motive.
"For Emperor Durelli, Lombardy is the only eternal ally. Don't risk the fate of Angenas on the favor of the Emperor, who come and go like waves."
Ravini stood there for a moment without saying anything looking as if she didn't hear Croiten's words.
She only stood looking at the dry branches swaying in the wind. Then she turned around and went back to the conference hall, leaving a remark.
"It's too late."
At those words mixed with the cold wind, Croiten Angenas laughed unknowingly.
'It's too late for Angenas.'
It was because that was the real last words his father had left.
'So, you, Croiten, leave Angenas right now.'
But Croiten, left alone in the courtyard, shook his head.
"Where am I going when I leave Angenas, Father?"
His grayish hair shook in the winter breeze.
He who inherited the blood of Angenas only lived and died with his name.
At the same time, the waiting room next to the conference hall.
Emperor Jovanes entered the waiting room with an annoyed face.
He was just thinking of ending the schedule of the annoying and burdensome meeting so he can go on hawk hunting in the afternoon.
At that time, a small noise caught Jovanes' attention.
"It seems I have a companion." Jovanes said in an unpleasant voice.
He doesn't like having to share the same space with others when he's already in a bad mood.
"I was having a cup of tea before the meeting started, Your Majesty."
That companion was Perez.
"I don't want to see the faces of the aristocrats filling the conference hall." As Perez said, the wrinkles on Jovanes' annoyed face flattened a bit.
"I think it's too early for a young Prince to already think like that."
Jovanes pretended to be decent, but he was thinking the same thing as Perez.
That was the reason why he wanted to take a drink in the waiting room before the meeting.
Originally, Jovanes was thinking of sitting far from Perez, but he changed his mind and sat in front of the Second Prince, pretending to be cordial.
"I made a mistake out of frustration, Your Majesty." Perez said calmly and put the empty teacup in front of the Emperor naturally. He continued talking as he poured the tea into it.
"I don't know how you've been doing this for decades. Are they not those who only want to receive graces without reciprocating the Imperial Family?"
The sound of tea pouring softly resonated in the room.
"I have great respect for Your Majesty."
"Hah! The Prince knows how to speak the right words!"
Jovanes burst into laughter and brought the teacup to his mouth. Then he paused, stopping his acting, and asked Perez.
"What kind of tea is this, Second Prince?"
"It's a tea with a proper mix of tea leaves that calms one's senses and aids sleep."
"Oh, really?"
Jovanes looked into the light brown tea liquid and smelled it.
The scent of the tea mixed with fragrant flowers was pleasant enough for him to enjoy.
"I also drink often when I want to calm my mind."
He can't believe that the Second Prince was also a regular drinker.
Jovanes relaxed and began to drink his tea.
"You look exhausted, Your Majesty." Perez said in a slightly dry voice.
But Jovanes rather liked it.
Perez, unlike the others, did not try to be excessive in gaining his favor.
He had more of a cheeky attitude, but Jovanes didn't mind that either.
He thought that it was because the son of the Emperor, the owner of the Empire, was too reluctant to nose around.
"As the Second Prince said, there is no single day to be at ease while seating on the throne." Jovanes said with a big sip of his tea.
As Perez mentioned earlier, it has the effect of calming his senses, both mentally and physically.
The more he drank tea, the drowsy he felt.
Then Jovanes and Perez's eyes met.
"It looks like the Prince has something to say to me."
As if surprised, Perez raised his eyebrows slightly.
"You didn't expect me to notice, did you?"
"I guess my inner thoughts were revealed without my knowledge."
"Haha! Although I'm indifferent, I'm not an insensitive Emperor."
Maybe it's because he drank his favorite tea in a long while, Jovanes rarely smiled generously.
"What do you want to say, Prince?"
Perez looked troubled for a moment then he opened his mouth.
"Would you please clear the surroundings first?"
Jovanes waved his hand casually in the air to get the servants out of the waiting room.
All of them, including Maid Otua, who was waiting for them, stepped out of the room.
Finally, when only the two men were left, Perez began to speak, "Before the meeting begins, I have something to inform you."
"Tell me."
"Before that..."
Perez poured another cup of warm tea into Jovanes' teacup, now nearly empty.
"Please have some more tea."
The sound of the tea pouring trickled again.
"If you hear what I have to say, Your Majesty's heart will be greatly uncomfortable." Perez said with a smile as soft as tea pouring.
***
At the final path leading to the central palace where the meeting is held there stood Lombardy's carriage surrounded by the Imperial knights.
"Hah!" Lambert Lombardy laughed bitterly as he saw the Knights in front of him.
That's all he did but the shoulders of the confronting Knights flinched slightly.
"It's like doing training without coming out of the mansion."
It was a voice mixed with laughter, but the energy and anger in it were enough to send shivers down everyone's spine.
"Has Lombardy changed in the meantime or has the world gone crazy?"
Lambert's eyes glanced at each Knight. And finally, he looked at the person who stood in front of the Imperial Knights.
"What do you think, Sir Ethan Klaus?"
"I need to check the luggage compartment."
"As expected, animals do not speak human language." Lambert Lombardy said, slowly picking up steam.
"How many times do I need to say that it's only possible if you knock me down?"
A number fewer than ten of Lombardy Knights were surrounded by over thirty of the Imperial Knights including Ethan Klaus.
Lombardy was already outnumbered, but the atmosphere of the two opposing forces was the opposite.
Rather, it was Lombardy's side that was on the rise.
"Why are these guys so weak?" Gillieu said grotesquely while watching the Imperial Knights.
"Commander, why don't you just knock them down yourself?"
Like Lambert Lombardy, Mairon laughed, scanning the Knights of the Imperial family one by one.
However, even with such words and actions, the Imperial Knights could not protest.
"Damn it."
This was because the power of the Lombardy Knights far exceeded the Imperial Knights.
What Mairon was saying wasn't just a bluff.
If they really move, all of the Imperial Knights here will be out of action or have to endure major injuries.
Aside from the Lombardy Knights, Ethan Klaus will be the only one who can get a single piece of Lambert Lombardy's sword.
"This is an Imperial territory."
Sir Lambert Lombardy pointed to an Imperial Knight standing next to Klaus with the tip of his chin.
"Are you the Vice Commander of the Fourth Division?"
"Well, ye, yes..."
"What do you think, Sir? Should Angenas' hound open the Lombardy's carriage and check the luggage compartment?"
"Oh, we..."
Looking alternately at Lambert Lombardy and Ethan Klaus, the Vice Commander had been wary since and had a look of 'I know nothing.'
"It's an Imperial order to check the luggage compartment of Lombardy's carriage!"
"How come?"
"For security reasons!"
"Oh, you're good at cooking things up." Lambert Lombardy laughed as he felt his patience slowly wearing thin.
"The Commander... started laughing."
"It's gonna be the end of the world."
"We won't be able to stop it."
The twins, acquainted with the peculiar habit of Lambert Lombardy, who smiles as he gets angry, clicked their tongues, sympathizing with the Imperial Knights.
Meanwhile, Ethan Klaus was convinced.
'Clerivan Pellet is in there.'
The meeting starts in a few minutes.
However, the reason for the confrontation that was taking so much time was only one: Clerivan Pellet was hiding inside the luggage compartment.
'It is also a good idea to stall for time to prevent them from attending the meeting.' Ethan Klaus thought so, staring at Lambert Lombardy.
It was then.
"Sir Lombardy."
From the carriage came the voice of Firentia Lombardy.
"Yes, Deputy Head."
"Let him take a look."
Everyone outside the carriage was shocked. Especially, Ethan Klaus, who was convinced that Clerivan Pellet would be hiding in the luggage compartment, flinched in surprise.
"...You wouldn't mind?" Lambert Lombardy asked without taking his eyes off Ethan Klaus.
"I'm quite upset, but I rather ask Angenas to take responsibility for that."
The voice that came forth was rather calm.
"It will be absolutely embarrassing to be late for the first meeting with His Majesty after becoming the Deputy Head, right?"
"...Okay, Deputy Head."
Lambert Lombardy lifted his hand at the Vice Commander.
"Check it, Vice Commander."
The Vice Commander slowly swallowed his saliva as he approached the carriage.
At the same time, the Lombardy Knights' pressure as they were watching the scene became sharper.
It was like if he tried to do something nonsense to the carriage where the Deputy Head was riding, his wrist would be cut off.
With a small noise, the compartment opened.
And
"Huh? There's nothing." The Vice Commander said.
"Get out of the way!"
Ethan Klaus couldn't stand it anymore and stepped forth, knocking the Vice Commander aside.
And what he saw was truly an empty luggage compartment.
"This..."
Are you really telling the truth that Clerivan Pellet won't be attending the meeting?
This time, Ethan Klaus hardened his face and couldn't hide his embarrassment.
"Have you done checking it now?" said the Deputy Head of Lombardy over the closed carriage door.
"Let's go. I'm going to be late."
Ethan Klaus, who was looking at the empty luggage compartment with his bewildered eyes, looked up at her words.
He was able to catch glimpse of the profile of Firentia Lombardy through the window.
'She's...laughing?'
The Deputy Head of Lombardy was smiling.
At that moment, Klaus shook his head as he had a strong sense of foreboding.
Something is wrong.
However, Lombardy's carriage was already departing for the venue.
There was no reason to block them anymore.
With whatever the Deputy Head of Lombardy prepared, it's already too late to stop them.
p style="text-align: center;">***"I'm late, Your Majesty, because there was a little commotion on my way to the palace."
I was able to get into the conference hall in the nick of time.
The Emperor, Perez, and the Empress were already waiting for the meeting to begin, so I told them.
But I didn't apologize.
I could see it just by looking at Jovanes, who didn't ask me, 'What was the commotion?'
The fact that both the Emperor and the Empress knew in advance what was going on, I sat down at my seat with an expressionless face.
When I glanced at Perez's direction, I could see him nodding briefly.
It meant that he had a successful private conversation with the Emperor.
Alright, so you've prepared on your side as well.
"Let's start the meeting."
It was when Jovanes declared it from his seat that I met the eyes of the Empress.
She was sitting comfortably as if she expected a victory when she saw that I came in alone without Clerivan.
She even smiles at me leisurely.
Then I guess I have to wipe that off.
"You're already off guard."
Knowing the future of the Empress and Angenas, I laughed unconsciously.
The corners of my lips slowly raised.
As I smiled silently myself, Empress Ravini's blue eyes trembled uneasily.
The smile gradually disappeared from her beautiful face.
Then, there was a thud and a heavy sound.
It was the sound of the door of the conference hall closing.
It was also the sound of a trap that I had been working on for a very long time.
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February 04, 2022
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