Chapter 110

Time is running out.

The day after meeting the Empress, as soon as I arrived at the production facility, I could sense it immediately.

‘They’ve finally brought it.’

Next to the funnel lay an oval-shaped bundle of dried leaves. It resembled the tea leaves Siena had once served me, purportedly brought from the Great Forest. This was the same substance that Medelin’s addicts regularly consume alongside heroin. While I had never seen the real thing in my previous life, I could guess its nature.

I also understood Siena’s intent in secretly bringing this here.

She wanted to confirm our connection.

Siena had access to this production room. Neither Bono, who managed the warehouses of morphine and heroin under my trust, nor his brother, who oversaw the purchasing of raw materials, had ever stepped foot inside. Among all the people in the Empire, only Siena possessed knowledge of even the basics of solvent extraction processes and had access to this room.

Out of all the Empire’s multitudes, only one person—her.

‘She probably wants to tell me this as well.’

I had a rough idea of what was going through Siena’s mind.

“I was the one who first recognized your true worth. I provided you with the raw materials, facilities, and space to release your creations upon the world. And I am the one who loves you the most.” Insisting on reminding me of all this now was essentially a warning.

Rather than feeling disturbed, I was grateful. I had already wanted to check on my sister’s condition, and Siena had saved me some time.

Without directly probing, I could infer Siena’s state. This woman seemed prepared to do anything to have me. She might even be quietly expecting some kind of catastrophe.

‘I should check on Victoria as well.’

As I thought this and turned to go, there she was.

Siena stood there. Unlike her usual long waves, she had a bob haircut. Oddly, it was cut short only on the right side. Maybe she deliberately styled it this way, or it might have been while she entrusted her hair to one of the handmaids and then suddenly rushed out.

For a moment, Siena stood awkwardly before finally speaking slowly.

“Alan. Did you see the tea leaves?”

“Yes.”

“I placed them there last night. You must have known.”

“Yes. I guessed immediately upon seeing them.”

“Uh-huh.”

Siena slightly nodded her head. A brief silence followed, and Siena showed no sign of wanting to break it. She fidgeted with her fingers, fondled the hem of her dress, stared at the neatly arranged alchemical tools, and took a deep breath despite the room not being especially fragrant.

After some time, her voice returned.

“Alan. I have a good idea.”

“Speak.”

“It’s… Anais. What if we just kill her?”

“…”

“Let’s kill her. Cleanly.”

There was no hint of jest.

Siena is more than capable of such an act. She’s assassinated people before. Certainly, there’s a difference between killing common thieves and one’s half-sibling, but Siena has no qualms about taking lives.

Listening more carefully, it seemed like she’d already worked out a detailed plan.

“It won’t just be a straightforward killing. We can make it look like someone accidentally killed her due to the effects of the health syrup… Of course, Mom might be suspicious, but we can deal with that too. It’s not that hard to neutralize her.”

“Siena.”

“What do you think, Alan? You agree, right?”

“…”

“Anyway, Anais is probably plotting your death right now. Mom is trying her best in some way, but honestly, it’s annoying and bothersome. To me, there’s no real need for that mother-daughter pair to be involved at all.”

Let’s settle this once and for all, Siena continued.

She seemed ready to act immediately with just my consent. It was something she could accomplish with a firm resolve, and she might even pull it off without my help.

But the problem was the fact that she’d devised such a plan because of me. She was ready to commit, fully aware that her actions would throw the Empire into chaos. Looking at her expression, it was evident she had abandoned any notion of risk management—perhaps even concern for herself.

“Let’s kill her, Alan.”

“Please remain silent for now.”

“…”

“Do nothing without my orders.”

By deliberately using the word “orders,” Siena hesitated for a moment before slowly nodding. Her fidgeting hands relaxed as well. Though it was comforting that she followed my words, it was a temporary reprieve.

Knowing and suppressing her momentarily, I left my position.

Because there was another Imperial Princess I needed to check on—Victoria, who might be even more dangerous than Siena in certain ways.

**

I arrived at Princess Victoria’s palace.

Victoria had traditionally resided near the Military Affairs Ministry, where she wielded her authority as the Empire’s military liaison. As a member of the Special Staff, she often interfered in various matters, primarily focusing on the welfare of the Imperial Army.

Recently, however, Victoria had mainly been residing in her palace. This was the palace she received from the Emperor upon reaching adulthood, grand enough to serve as a royal palace in most mid-sized nations.

Though I had visited before, the atmosphere was different now.

The palace attendants all looked tense, and the steward guiding me appeared to be a young man in his twenties.

I had a suspicion of the situation unfolding.

“It seems there’s been a purge within the palace.”

“That’s… ”

“Enough.”

It was likely the servants recommended by the Wolphall family were being dismissed. Considering the previous relationship between Victoria and the Wolphalls, it was unavoidable.

‘They didn’t want to leave any lingering ties.’

The expressions of the attendants serving Siena were similar. It was unusual and somewhat strange to see them remain calm as colleagues were removed.

I reached the audience chamber of the entity that kept them all on edge.

“How glad I am to see your face, Sir.”

As soon as she saw me, Victoria slowly stood and greeted me. On the surface, nothing seemed different from her usual manner. Unlike Siena’s messy bob cut, she maintained her standard military attire, dressed in olive-green combat fatigues instead of her usual formal dress uniform. Two Wallock pistols were placed neatly on her desk.

“Forgive me, Sir Alan. Though I am aware we need to discuss how to address the Empress’ somewhat disrespectful proposal, I’ve been buried in trivial administrative tasks, causing you to travel here.”

“What kind of trivial tasks?”

“I’ve been promoted.”

It was then I noticed Victoria now wore the insignia of a lieutenant colonel.

While rank wasn’t crucial to Victoria as a princess—she wielded more influence as a lieutenant colonel than any deputy minister in the army—it seemed more likely she was promoted for a specific purpose.

“I’ve decided not to appoint new commanders to the four regiments led by my late uncles-in-law and the one under my uncle exiled to the labor camps. I plan to observe the situation while delegating temporary management to battalion commanders or chief-of-staff officers.”

“Ah, and I’ve taken on the role of senior advisor for all these regiments.”

“The promotion was related to that, then?”

“Certainly, there’s no particular scheme behind it. I merely figured the troops might be worried about dissolution without their commanders, so I’ve only lent my name for reassurance.”

Though she said this, her intentions were clear.

The Empire’s army operated without division commands. The highest ranks among field officers were the colonels commanding the brigades. It wasn’t coincidental; the Wolphalls were satisfied to remain colonels because overseeing a brigade was a position of substantial power.

‘The brigades will now come under direct control of Victoria.’

Victoria claimed it was ‘just lending her name,’ but that was unlikely.

Without a colonel, the subordinate officers of each brigade would inevitably look to the senior advisor stationed in the capital. By personally assuming this role, she was clearly aiming to strengthen her influence.

Why now?

She had always exerted significant influence over the military, but something felt different this time. I wanted to believe Victoria wouldn’t misuse the army for dubious intentions, but…

“Sir Alan. Why do you look at me this way?”

“…”

I could no longer confidently say that.

“Sir Alan?”

“Ah, my apologies.”

“Sit, please. Incidentally, it has come to my mind that I’ve never held a proper banquet in your honor. Considering all your accomplishments, it is something I should have already done. Even if the state’s situation is dire at the moment, there are things we must uphold.”

“That’s unnecessary.”

“Unnecessary? …Of course, I’m aware you’re always busy. However, we mustn’t forget that you are destined to become the next state chancellor. As a proxy for the emperor, you’ll be receiving foreign dignitaries, and you must often participate in events.”

“…”

“Occasionally, it would be good to show a gentle and composed demeanor. And I won’t deny that I also wish to spend some time with you.”

Victoria’s smile was polite, but devoid of any warmth.

She was disregarding the compromise the Empress had proposed, advising me on how to conduct myself as the future chancellor, as if none of it mattered. She didn’t even acknowledge the fact that no wedding agreement had been made, or even discussed.

It was as if our marriage was already a foregone conclusion in her eyes.

She showed no signs of hesitating or yielding if anyone challenged our union. In fact, she might even remove or incinerate any obstacles, regardless of the person, using methods far from conciliatory.

“Let’s take a walk.”

Victoria informed me without seeking my consent.

She didn’t mention the Empress or her younger sisters, making me feel uneasy.

A more perilous situation than anticipated.

Still, my investigation had its merits, as I finally knew what I needed to do to avert a catastrophe.

More precisely, I’d accepted the truth.

“Sir, you shouldn’t worry about anything.”

Walking shoulder to shoulder with Victoria, she said this, and I remembered Siena, who had noticed me first.

There was no other way but the one I’d chosen. It wouldn’t be easy, but for now, this was the safest course of action.

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