Chapter 107:
“Y, your highness!”
Samantha looked up at nervously. Agnes was so shocked she almost fainted. When they also learned the fact that we didn’t know whether Lucretius was safe, they started to pant in panic.
Agnes reacted the worst. She was in such a shock and grief she needed to be helped by other maids. She was the stepsister of the dead Empress Beatrice. I knew how she cared for her stepmother, who was Beatrice’s birthmother.
It made sense for Agnes to react this way, Lucretius’ safety was the priority at all tis. He was the only living child of her beloved Beatrice. Not knowing what had happened to him would have been dreadful indeed.
I always thought she was one of the strongest people I’ve ever t. Thus, when I saw her collapse, it reminded again how serious this situation was. We were all in grave danger, and this wasn’t the ti for to just sit and be idle.
I needed to take care of the situation or else, it would be ga over. Even if Lucretius ca back safely, it would be pointless if the dowager empress successfully took over the castle. She could easily marry off Liliana to a man she chooses and placed him on the throne.
The royal seal felt heavy in my hand.
Lucretius probably thought of many different possible situations and planned for them, but I wasn’t sure if he predicted this particular scenario.
On the other hand, the fact that he left the royal seal must have ant he did expect so sort of danger to himself.
I needed to get going. I needed to move fast.
The news of the Senate eting spread throughout the castle fast. I already sent the defense team to Lucretius and instructed the royal guards to protect the castle. However, I needed the Senate’s official acknowledgnt of the rebellion to be able to send other military forces to help Lucretius.
“Your highness?” Yulia asked for my order.
I put as much force as possible into my voice and requested.
“The dress... The violet one I wore at the ball... Please bring that dress. The blue diamond tiara as well.”
I needed to look regal.
***
A Senate eting called by the emperor’s wife. This was the very first ti it had ever happened in Cransian history.
The room was filled with tension as all the noblen gathered.
The n argued nervously with each other as to what should be done.
How would they fight against the rebels?
Was the emperor even still alive?
Did we have his body?
Should we send the scouts to find out what was happening?
However, these rebels are well-trained military n. They would spot scouts and had them killed imdiately.
What about the castle?
What about the situation with Genoa...?
So many questions and unknowns. No one could co up with a logical solution.
The one who needed to decide was the emperor, but he wasn’t here.
Soone asked carefully, “This eting was called by her highness, yet why isn’t she here?”
Soone shouted, “It shouldn’t have been called by the wife of an emperor in the first place! She doesn’t’ have the authority! This isn’t how things are done!”
“Perhaps it’s the chancellor who is conducting this eting in place of the emperor?”
“But even the chancellor doesn’t have the authority! In the past, an empress or the heir to the throne were given the power to call such etings. Not a chancellor and definitely not an emperor’s wife!”
“And what are we going to do about the situation with Genoa?”
As people continued to talk on top of each other, the chancellor slapped the table loudly.
“Stop this imdiately!”
A silence fell.
The chancellor raised his voice and announced, “How dare you suggest the emperor has passed! How disloyal! This is treason!”
Suddenly, soone from the far corner sneered.
Everyone turned towards the rude sound, which ca from a man who held his head up high.
It was the dowager empress’ brother, Marquis Toruka.
The dowager empress and the princesses hid as soon as the news of the rebellion reached the castle. However, her brother didn’t need to do so at this point. There was no solid proof the dowager empress was involved in the rebellion.
Marquis Toruka asked sharply, “Don’t you think it is most likely that the emperor is dead?”
The chancellor warned him, “You should think carefully before you speak.”
“On this table, everyone has an equal right to speak. It has been so since the ti of Emperor Kentius.” The marquis stood up dramatically and added, “Besides, what is the point of this eting? We don’t even have a figure who has the authority to rule us.”
The chancellor smiled confidently and replied, “Oh, but we do.”
Before the Marquis could say sothing, the chancellor moved quickly.
He walked to the door and opened it elegantly as he announced, “Let’s continue our discussion with the lady who has the authority over all of us.”
The door opened to reveal a majestic woman in a deep violet dress.
The first wife, Sa Bina le Cransia.
The youthful woman walked inside with the elegance of a real empress.
***
Everyone seed shocked to see . Marquis Toruka looked especially tense.
I stood straight and walked slowly towards them. It seed like Marquis Toruka was about to say sothing, but the chancellor spoke first.
“Greetings to your highness.”
He sounded too happy to see , which made sense. We had already gone over what would happen at this eting.
“I apologize for being late to the eting I called myself,” I said to the chancellor nonchalantly as if this was an ordinary day. I continued respectfully, “I admit that as a woman, I may not be the best person to stand here, but there is no other way. This is for the good of the emperor and the kingdom.”
The Marquis interrupted .
“Your highness, unfortunately, the wife of an emperor doesn’t have the authority to call a senate eting. I would like to ask you why you would do this.”
Fortunately, I didn’t have to answer him since another nobleman answered instead, “Her highness technically does have the authority.”
“What do you an?”
“Currently, we do not have an empress. In such cases, the first wife legally has the sa authority as the empress.”
The chancellor added quickly, “That is very true. Without the emperor in the castle, the empress can act in his place temporarily. Therefore, it only makes sense that her highness has the authority of the emperor at this mont.”
The marquis argued, “How could you say a re wife can act in place of an emperor!? That has never happened in the entire history of Cransia!”
My heart pounded hard. I had never been more anxious in my life.
However, I put on a confident smile and looked around the room. I then raised my right hand so everyone could see it clearly.
“I am indeed qualified as Sa Bina LE CRANSIA. On top of that, his highness has left this in case of an ergency.”
Marquis Toruka’s face crumpled in anger. “That is... the royal seal!”
The noblen murmured among themselves in shock. Everyone could see the golden ring on my finger. They knew what it ant for to possess it.
It was a heavy ring. It felt even heavier knowing the responsibilities I gained from it.
When I was sure everyone had a good look at it, I lowered my hand and smiled. “Now, can you all acknowledge that I am qualified to stand here?”
The chancellor smiled and answered for everyone, “Even without the seal, you were qualified, your highness.”
So clearly wanted to argue, but they didn’t dare.
Finally, the question of whether I could call this eting was shushed. Now, the real fight would begin.
I swallowed hard nervously.
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