Chapter 106:
The next morning, news arrived that destroyed my hope.
It was another gloomy day. An injured carrier pigeon arrived from the west after we noted the ominous black smoke from the nearby mountaintop.
Chancellor Cornelius brought the dead pigeon and inford .
“Your highness, a rebellion has occurred.”
Until now, every ti I saw the chancellor, he had always been calm.
However, today, he looked tense and anxious. He looked decades older.
My voice trembled as I asked him, “What does that an exactly?”
“All of the provinces were asked to join his highness during his hunting event and part of the southern military group attacked the emperor.”
I was familiar with the southern province because Lucretius was concerned about it. This was where Marquis Galisia worked as the chief of the military for a very long ti.
Since Lucretius didn’t trust him, he moved Marquis Galisia to another province recently and placed his own trusted man in the southern military base.
However, it was this very army that attacked Lucretius. What did this an then? Did the man Lucretius trusted betray him? Were the southern n still loyal to Marquis Galisia because he led them for so long?
Suddenly, it clicked.
“Southern province, Marquis Galisia... The dowager empress...!”
The chancellor nodded. “That’s the only possible explanation.”
I clenched my teeth and asked, “How is the emperor? Did anything happen to him? Any other news?”
Cornelius shook his head. “Other than this ssage, we received nothing else. I am not even sure if the battle has ended or if it is still going on.”
I couldn’t think. My eyes beca blurry in shock.
Lucretius? Was he safe?
He had to be!
Could he be... Dead?
He left with a promise that he would return to safely.
He said he would co back in three days.
The dead pigeon in the chancellor’s hands looked grueso. It was covered in its own blood.
Was Lucretius hurt as well?
No! It can’t be!
“NO!”
“... ness!”
“It can’t be...”
“Your highness!”
At the chancellor’s firm voice, I managed to regain my thoughts. He looked at steadily. His hand was on my shoulder. He must have been shaking , and I haven’t even noticed it.
“You need to snap out of it!”
I nodded slowly. “Yes, I know. Thank you.”
The chancellor looked relieved.
“Did his highness by chance leave you sothing before he left?”
For a second, I hesitated. Could I trust the chancellor?
I tried to think hard and rember what Lucretius had told . The chancellor lost his beloved granddaughter because of the dowager empress. This made him Lucretius’ greatest ally and, therefore, the dowager empress’ enemy. I had already seen Cornelius and Katleyanira go head to head a few tis.
If I had to beware of the chancellor, Lucretius would have warned already.
As long as the dowager empress remained as our common enemy, I decided I could trust the chancellor.
I nodded carefully.
“... Yes.”
“Thank god.” He looked tense as he continued, “There is nothing we can do about the emperor’s situation in the field, but your highness needs to do what you must before the rebellion spreads to the city.”
My hands shook and they felt numb, but I couldn’t let my fear take over . I had to be strong. I had no ti to waste.
“The item his highness left you... Does it give you the authority over our military?”
I nodded and showed him the royal seal. He looked relieved.
“Good. Firstly, your highness, you need to call for a Senate eting.”
“Senate eting? I thought only the emperor could call it.”
“As the only wife to the emperor, you are considered the acting empress. Without the emperor present, the empress becos the acting ruler. So... at this point, your highness is the head of this kingdom.”
The Senate was the agency that had the authority over any major decisions involving Cransia. Even the emperor, who was considered to have absolute power, still couldn’t disregard the senate mbers. The group was made of the most powerful noble family mbers in the kingdom.
Before Emperor Kentius, the Senate didn’t have much power, but Kentius changed this. He made sure the Senate gained more authority during his reign.
Lucretius explained to that Emperor Kentius didn’t trust his only son and that was why he did this. Knowing the forr emperor, I could understand why. Before he died, Emperor Kentius’ last words for his son was to always follow the senate’s decisions.
The Senate had the most power it ever had in history and the chancellor was now asking to command them.
I felt overwheld.
“Sir... Wouldn’t it be better for you to do call the eting?”
Cornelius shook his head. “His highness gave you the royal seal, which ans he wants you to represent him. You are the only one who can do this.”
The chancellor picked up a pen and started to write the order for the Senate eting. He also wrote out other orders at the sa ti.
“One of the Cransian armies started the rebellion, which ans we need to quickly assess which of the generals we can trust. The first thing is to command the castle defense team and the royal guards.”
The chancellor handed one of the orders that called for all the royal guards and the defense team. The defense team was to be deployed to help the emperor fight against the rebels and the royal guards were to stay and protect the castle. It was a standard procedure and I quickly stamped it with the royal seal.
The ssengers were called in, and they each left with the orders.
Suddenly, I realized I missed sothing.
This all started with the dowager empress. I needed to address the route of all these problems.
I shouted, “Royal guards! Get all the royal guards in the castle!”
***
I had the royal seal in my hand. Lucretius placed it with to keep it safe.
It represented power.
In addition, I was the acting empress at the mont. With the emperor missing, I had the authority to do anything I saw fit. This was an unusual case, but it didn’t matter.
With every available royal guards, I headed towards the dowager empress’ quarters. I sent so of the guards to princesses Liliana, Roselia, and Margaret as well.
I was certain the rebels were connected to the dowager empress. This ant she most likely planned on placing Princess Liliana on the throne. If I arrested the dowager empress and the princesses were in my hand, we would still have a chance even if the rebels captured Lucretius.
The dowager empress’ principle maid in waiting stopped at the door.
“What do you think you are doing?!”
I ordered coldly, “Arrest her! Everyone in this quarters who work for the dowager empress is a rebel who committed treason.”
The guards grabbed any maids and servants who tried to stop from entering the room.
“How dare you...?!”
“This is the dowager empress’s chamber!”
They protested and scread, but it was easy to ignore them. The only thing I could think of was Lucretius. The maids were dragged away quickly.
Slam!
The door to the dowager empress’ bedroom opened.
The guards and I ran in like a tidal wave, but the room was empty.
“Dammit!”
We were too late. The guards I sent to get the princesses also ca back empty handed.
My anxiety increased drastically, but there was nothing I could do about the dowager empress at this point.
Now, it was ti to attend the Senate eting.
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