The Return of the Female Knight

CHAPTER 75

Empress Ophelia was seated on a chair against a black curtain background. The luxuriously decorated room was filled with thick smoke, a scent created by Ophelia herself.

"That's not something you should just let go of, sister."

The man before Ophelia was his brother, Duke Cesare, the head of the Anita family. Most of the men born from Anita's blood had red hair, and her thick beard and sharp eyes gave the impression of a ferocious lion.

"Then what should I do without smiling at this situation?"

“Come see Crown Prince to discuss the case. How dare he torture your men. He should be severely punished. "

"Enough. The Crown Prince was unable to authorize the search because he was sleeping. "

A fire lit up in Cesare's angry eyes as Ophelia recounted the report brought by her subordinates.

“That's a joke! They make excuses and openly play us. ”

"Leave it. I know the man was sent by the Crown Prince. She runs away and the prince will somehow protect her. ”

Ophelia's mild attitude seemed to only inflame Cesare further.

"Brothers…"

"Stop."

Cesare's mouth closed immediately.

“Very funny when I saw it. However ... The Crown Prince seems to have grown tougher than I thought. I didn't expect this from him. ”

"What low blood can grow like this?"

Cesare grumbled as if he was dissatisfied with Ophelia's praise for Carlisle. The empress, lightly tapped on the table with her fingers and muttered in a low voice.

"I believe the throne will naturally go to Redfield if he seizes the Duke of Lunen, but the return of the Crown Prince is unexpected."

Cesare noticed her troubled face and quickly replied.

"We are still looking for ways to relieve the pain of a prince. So, sister. It is widely rumored that the Crown Prince will offer a marriage to Lady Blaise. Last I heard the Crown Prince personally visiting the Blaise Mansion, so I can't believe it's a false rumor. ”

"…really?"

A political marriage between Carlisle and Elena meant Count Blaise would be directly obligated to the Crown Prince. So far, the ominous prophecy has repeatedly blocked Carlisle's relationship with powerful families, and there are nobles who avoid marriage to Carlisle because of Ophelia as well.

"Hmm–"

He kept knocking on the table with his polished nails. Cesare continued in a confident voice.

"That's why I have a plan to ruin the Crown Prince's marriage."

"…enough."

"What?"

Cesare didn't even have a chance to explain what he was going to do.

"Leave it. If they want to get married, let them. "

"Whatdoes that mean? Old sister. While Count Blaise was not a powerful force, he led the Knight Order of Knights in the Imperial Palace. We can't ignore their military power– ”

"It's better than the Crown Prince joining the Kraus family."

"…!"

When he mentioned the Kraus family, he turned silent. The Kraus family had a large commercial presence in the Ruford Empire. In the tight power struggle between the Emperor and the Empress, Kraus can tip in one way or another.

However, Count Evans, the head of the Kraus family, had no intention of lending his powers to anyone. The Empress had already tried to twist him to his side, but he did not budge, and the Emperor, of course, had to try every means to obtain it. No one could lure Kraus to their cause, and they continued their political battle without him.

"If there is a possibility of a match from the Kraus family ... do you think about Greta who just got divorced?"

"That's right."

"If the Crown Prince's first marriage is with him …"

Currently, Greta is the only qualified person in the Kraus family who can marry Carlisle. The rest were married with two or three children. The problem is that Greta is seven years older than Carlisle, and her divorce is due to her affair with another man. Everything about his appearance, character, and social status was simply no match for the crown prince of the country.

However, Ophelia is very careful even for one small situation, and Greta rates men based on their appearance more than anyone else. Carlisle was so handsome that any woman would be attracted to him.

“By getting married, he can become emperor, so what is the matter of the type of woman next to him? If the crown prince had an ounce of ambition, even if he was an idiot he would keep him by his side. "

"Once, brother. I don't think that far. But wouldn't it matter if he married Lady Blaise? If the prophecy was completed, many other women would vie for the throne. "

The ends of Ophelia's mouth crept upwards.

"It won't be as easy as you think."

"…?"

"If the Crown Prince were to unconditionally make his first wife the Crown Prince, it would be difficult to sign an alliance with other powers as a way to guarantee the status of his second wife."

In the Ruford Empire the first wife was considered a legitimate wife, and the woman who married afterwards was placed in a lower position. If the crown prince wanted to marry another woman, the difference in status between the first wife and the other was huge.

The stronger the noble, the less likely he was to want his daughter to go into a lower position. Furthermore, to make an alliance with Carlisle meant turning one's back on Ophelia. Not many families allow their daughters to become concubines at such a risk. As long as the Crown Princess was taken care of, she could prevent Carlisle's power from expanding through marriage.

“You are very thorough, Sister. But wouldn't it be better not to have a daughter at all? ”

"You know .. The days of the Emperor are predetermined. He was aware of that fact and wanted the Crown Prince to get married. Perhaps that was why inviting him to return to the palace. Even if I stop him, sooner or later the Crown Prince will find someone, and on that condition I can marry him to House Blaise. ”

"You're right. The Blaise family was so loyal that they would not change sides. We have to get rid of them, so it's not in vain. ”

Ophelia smiled at the like-minded Cesare.

“You don't have to look that far. It will end when the Emperor dies. "

"Yes!"

"The Crown Prince will die before he even gets a decent second wife. Once our Redfield ascends the throne, the Crown Prince's life will be over. "

"… Keug keug."

Cesare laughed a little. Ophelia muttered in a low voice as she imagined Redfield taking over the throne.

"If the Crown Prince had allowed himself to die before he arrived at the palace, at least he wouldn't have had to see his wife suffer that fate …"

And if Carlisle and Elena have a baby during their brief marriage, Ophelia intends to kill him as well. Before Carlisle's life was over, his wife and son would die before his eyes. If the child was still in the womb, Ophelia would tear Elena's stomach. Carlisle would fall at Ophelia's feet until the last moment of her life and beg for mercy for her family.

Ophelia, however, would slowly kill each of the people involved, and eventually take Carlisle's life. Imagining her cries of sadness seemed to slightly assuage Ophelia's stifled anger, and a smile spread across her face.

"If the crown prince wants Lady Blaise, let him. I thought it would be more fun to give him what he wanted and then take him away. ”

“Yes, sister. ”

Despite her expectations, Ophelia had no intention of interrupting Carlisle's marriage. Instead, she hopes Carlisle will be happy on her wedding day, whoever is with her. That way, it was worth to see the pitiful expression on his face when that happiness was taken away from him.

Ophelia stopped talking to Cesare and spoke towards the back room that seemed like there was no one.

"Yes mother . ”

From the darkness came the voice of the second prince, Redfield. From childhood, Ophelia was confined to a back room by mistake and had him write down the kingdom's military tactics. It's the same as it is now. There was an incident and Redfield had trouble keeping himself under control.

“I know you like your woman, and while you say you can't help it, you should know how to control yourself before you become emperor. Don't you know better than to force yourself on a young woman from a famous family? "

“Sorry, Mom. It was always more entertaining when a beautiful face looked so challenging. I will be more careful from now on. ”

Ophelia clicked her tongue. This is not the first time they have had this conversation. Nevertheless, Redfield's taste for feminine charm has not been improved. He used his influence to keep up the rumors, but it could be dangerous if this lasted longer. He especially had to be more careful since Carlisle had already returned to the palace.

"I warn you, stay low for now. ”

Cesare stepped in.

“My dear sister, when a man is young, it is inevitable that her eyes will turn into a beautiful face. Please understand . ”

"What's in a hurry? If he became emperor, he would be able to take any woman he wanted. But I can't forgive another accident at the moment. ”

In the end, Cesare shut his mouth facing Ophelia's stubbornness. Redfield doesn't care what the other two say. He could order his servant to look like he was completing his sentence. It wasn't the first time, and he knew how to avoid it now. Right now, the second prince was not the curator of the royals list to be invited to his party.

The first name on the list is Elena Blaise. He stared at the name with one hand resting on his chain, and a cruel smile flashed across his handsome face.

"You're going to marry my sister?"

Redfield entertained himself with his imagination. While she heard everything Ophelia and Cesare said, her views on Carlisle's marriage were slightly different.

"I didn't mean to oppose the marriage, but I was too tired to let it go. '

*

*

*

After Elena and Mirabelle had breakfast at the palace, they returned to the Blaise Mansion. Under Carlisle's orders, the two sisters travel in colorful carriages decorated with pure gold, however, Mirabelle's thoughts turn to Kuhn, who is, and Elena was still furious that some men saw her sister's body.

As they walked the path of the lost house in their own minds, a figure appeared to meet them.

"Why aren't you excited after returning from the Imperial Palace?"

Elena looked at the familiar voice, and looked at Derek with his firm stern expression on her face. He looked like he was training near the park, and his face and body were sweating.

"Brothers…"

Mirabelle's spirit rose upon seeing her brother.

"Are you still practicing here, brother?"

"How can I ignore training one day when the sword competition is imminent? I don't like the look on your face. Did something happen in the palace? ”

Elena and Mirabelle glanced at each other. The two got lost in their own thoughts and looked back, there was only silence and an awkward smile on the royal carriage. Mirabelle shook her head at Derek first.

“I'm having fun in the Palace. The Crown Prince was very kind to Elena. You will know when you meet him. ”

"…really?"

Derek's face was dubious, but Mirabelle smiled back and continued.

“Will be faster to just meet him than to say a hundred words. From his eyes, I could feel a lot of affection for him. ”

Elena forced a smile, Mirabelle's unexpected words. She really did not know if Carlisle was looking at her like that, but the best thing to do was to follow her.

Derek just nodded.

"Yes . As you said, I'll meet him later. ”

“... I wish I was looked upon with such affection. ”

Mirabelle muttered softly and Derek looked at her curiously.

"What?"

“Ti-no! I'll go in first. I am tired from a long journey. ”

"Go rest. ”

"Yes . I enjoy myself with you. Let's spend some time together again, even if it's not in the Imperial Palace. ”

"Of course . ”

Elena thanked him for patting Mirabelle's head. Mirabelle may be worried about Elena's workload. Of course, Elena did not intend to forgive those who saw her brother's body.

Mirabelle first entered the mansion, and Elena turned to Derek.

“I'll also be in, brother. Don't push yourself too hard and relax. ”

"Good . See you for dinner later. ”

"Yes . ”

Elena followed her sister inside. Michael, the butler standing at the entrance, greeted him brightly.

"Welcome, Madam. ”

"Is everything okay?"

“Yes, but I have many invitations for you, so please meet them later. ”

"Ah, I'll do it. ”

He held dozens of envelopes in his hand, and he seemed to have caught them when he set them up.

But among them, there was a prominent red invitation. They usually come in plain white envelopes, but this one is elaborately designed. It must be an expensive envelope that is not available on the market. Elena pointed in that direction.

"Is that for me too?"

"Oh, yes, Madam. Do you want to see it now? "

"Yes please . ”

Suddenly he was curious to know what kind of invitation was made with such skill. Elena opened the red invitation envelope to confirm where it was sent from, but unexpectedly, she saw that it was marked with a dragon stamp from the Imperial Household. He just returned from the palace. He opened the envelope, wondering who else would invite him there.

"W…!"

Elena's mouth gaped.

[Survey]

Carlisle's father, Emperor of the Ruford Empire.