Beneath the Surviving Princess's Joyful Facade - Chapter 121

9

The next day arrived. With only three days left until the coronation, preparations were in full swing.

Miesa, who had stayed late into the night in the secret chamber inside her office the day before, was now seated in the office, receiving urgent reports that needed her attention.

Eirik spoke to Miesa in a serious tone, “It seems that the late king’s funeral must proceed as planned.”

Eirik’s method of supporting Miesa involved the posthumous deposition of Vermel. However, since the succession had occurred through lawful procedures, there was no appropriate way to change this.

“It’s alright, proceed as planned. Display Vermel’s corpse the day before my coronation.”

Miesa seemed unconcerned about the decision to hold the funeral with the embalmed body placed in a floral coffin. However, the Duke of Salachez, who had been quietly listening in the corner, cautiously spoke up.

“I’m not well-versed in these matters, but considering the late king’s tyranny, is that the right course of action?”

The Duke of Salachez had clearly heard the conversation in the central hall the previous day. The talk of ‘being mocked and scorned like a mad beast’ that Anika mentioned, and the queen’s words that ‘the root cause was Vermel.’

“I understand the Margrave swapped a few prisoners, so it wouldn’t be impossible to do the same with the body, right?”

Miesa looked at him for a moment.

The people in the boxes were officially recorded as executed. In their place, prisoners with damaged faces were beheaded and buried in a criminals’ cemetery. It was more of a pit filled with multiple bodies and covered with earth than a proper cemetery.

Eirik had arranged it so Miesa could handle those in the boxes however she wished. But even Eirik hadn’t considered swapping the king’s body.

“I think the Duke of Salachez’s suggestion is quite reasonable. Indeed, a royal tomb is too good for him.”

Miesa smiled contentedly, and the Duke of Salachez bowed and smiled back. Sensing that the queen no longer harbored ill feelings towards Anika, he added another comment.

“We happen to have a body, don’t we? From yesterday.”

Bury Vermel’s corpse in the criminals’ cemetery and lay Anika to rest in the royal tomb. Miesa pondered over the Duke of Salachez’s words.

“Come to think of it, she did ask to be burned here.”

“Given the circumstances and the numerous scars on her body, it was likely a request made out of consideration for her parents who remained in Sidate.”

Eirik sighed and explained what he knew. “Anika was probably the daughter of the Semenov family from the Principality of Sidate, a noble family revered as living saints.”

Due to the long war with the Principality of Sidate, Eirik was well-acquainted with their affairs.

“The daughter of the Semenov family was confirmed to have passed through the slave markets of the southern Kingdom of Trea after she disappeared as a child, but there had been no further news until now. I did not expect to find her here.”

“I see. Anika must have endured much hardship in her life.” Miesa nodded, recalling Anika’s bruised face. “Let’s bury her in the royal tomb instead of Vermel.”

“Then let us move on to the next agenda item, concerning the new title for the prince consort.”

With no counselor present, Tilberg awkwardly continued the explanation, “The Margrave is expected to receive the title of Grand Duke, and we seek Your Majesty’s guidance on the timing of the investiture.”

However, Eirik deftly evaded the subject. “Your Majesty. For various reasons, I suggest postponing the acceptance of the title of Grand Duke.”

“Why?” Miesa’s eyes widened in surprise.

Eirik gently took her hand and answered slowly, “I will discuss it with you separately.”

After dismissing the attendants for lunch, Eirik shared his thoughts.

“We need contingency plans for the hastily acquired throne. Should any unforeseen circumstances arise, we must seriously consider the possibility of independence as a Margravate State.”

If a rebellion were to occur while the royal authority was unstable, Eirik, accustomed to considering the worst-case scenarios, was already rearranging Cladis’s military forces to prepare for any potential problems.

“Receiving the title of Grand Duke doesn’t mean relinquishing your current title. Why is it necessary?”

“Symbolism is significant. If you establish a Grand Duchy with the title conferred upon me as the prince consort, it will appear as though we are not entirely separate from the Kingdom of Esquillir.”

“…Ah.”

“The Cladnier family has protected this land as a Margrave since before the Kingdom of Esquillir existed. Therefore, independence as a Margravate State is preferable.”

Miesa now understood and nodded in agreement.

Afternoon came, and Miesa received an audience with Rakane Crispin and the Grand Justiciar, Marquis Britz.

It was a meeting filled with polite formalities. From one side of the audience chamber, the Duke of Salachez was unexpectedly proficient in fulfilling the duties of a chamberlain. The two guests seemed a bit taken aback at receiving such treatment from a duke.

“Eirik, the Duke of Salachez seems more capable than I expected.”

After the audience ended, Miesa dismissed everyone, leaving the room empty except for her and Eirik, who quietly conversed together.

“It turns out that the Duke of Salachez helped resolve the situation with the ladies-in-waiting last time.”

Eirik learned this, naturally, thanks to Emmerich, who was his attendant and cousin, but not a friend.

“The Duke seems to have a good sense of things and excels in mediating. Would you like to keep him on as chamberlain?” Eirik asked.

Miesa nodded. “I think it would be good to have him close.”

“In that case, consider creating a new rank for him. Ah, but to do so, we’ll also need to appoint a successor to Carlisle.”

It was because Count Carlisle, the Minister of State, who had been given to her as a gift and ended up as a mutilated corpse last night, was in charge of personnel affairs for the ministers, meaning he handled the appointments of cabinet members. Although Eirik refused to personally verify the bodies of Count Carlisle and Mrs. Maleca.

“I see. Then I’ll have a separate discussion with the Duke of Salachez.”

Miesa immediately brought the Duke of Salachez to her office. The private audience began in the same manner as it had with Viscountess Manere.

“Is being the chamberlain all you desire, Duke?”

“No,” he replied without hesitation. “I simply wish to be Your Majesty’s ally.”

Miesa nodded and moved on to the next question. “To do that, you must give up one of your weaknesses. Are you willing?”

“Is this how you also have control over Viscountess Manere and Captain Tilberg of the guard?” the Duke asked with a bitter smile.

“I expected this,” the Duke of Salachez admitted, then continued, “In truth, I am not the legitimate child of the previous head of the family.”

There are no proper people left, are there? Miesa smirked.

Salachez seemed to sense her thoughts and said, “No one is without fault. Everyone hides their sins.”

“Are you from an entirely different family, then? Or a commoner?”

“My mother was indeed a maid, but my father was the cousin of the family head, not the head himself.”

How messy they all are. Miesa clicked her tongue internally but didn’t show it as she asked, “Is that your biggest weakness? Since you are the only one left, it’s not a major fault.”

“At the time, four children were sent into hiding in advance. Of those, I killed the three who were ahead of me in the line of succession,” the Duke confessed.

Killed your relatives for the position of heir? Miesa briefly pondered, recalling Vermel, who had killed his half-siblings one by one to protect his claim to the throne.

“How did you kill them?”

“Having no money and no one to help, I simply befriended them and then stabbed them with a knife.”

Since it wasn’t torture but a single fatal blow, it barely fell within the range she could tolerate. Miesa nodded, indicating her approval.

“Very well. Good. Now I’ll show you the delights I have kept hidden.”

Miesa, who had been perched on the desk, gracefully descended and walked over to the portrait.

“You need to pull this down. Give it a try.”

Miesa explained how to open the safe, showing him the handle. When the Duke of Salachez pressed down with his weight, the portrait opened, revealing a dark passageway.

Inside the hidden chamber they reached by feeling along the wall, three prisoners were bound. Although the Duke had some inkling that something was going on in the office, witnessing it left him speechless. Yet, the three showed no signs of blood or bruises, and it didn’t seem they had suffered any major torture from their appearance.

“I come here every day to have fun like this. Take a seat, Duke,” Miesa invited.

While the Duke sat in one chair, staring blankly at her, Miesa also sat in a chair, gazing at the bound captives. She occasionally laughed or spoke in a sing-song voice, finding amusement in something.

“The one who poured featherless birds onto my dress was Count Sellas,” she recounted, a smile playing on her lips.

“The one who starved me nearly to death was Chief Lady-in-Waiting Namirea.”

“The one who hit and tore at me daily was Dialle.”

Aside from that, Miesa did nothing else, yet what was visible on their faces was pure terror, nothing more.