Chapter 126

Chapter 126: Between Those Who Share the Same Dream (4)

“From the moment His Highness truly steps into the struggle for the throne, your roles will become even more critical.”

I looked at Catherine, who was trembling.

“Catherine, you can’t just focus on running the Crown Prince’s Palace like you have until now. You’ll need to pay attention to exchanges with the other palaces too, and learn every rumor and piece of information circulating within the Imperial Palace.”

“M-me?”

At my words, Catherine clutched her head as if she was about to panic.

“And as for you, Gardener.”

I continued, looking at Sage, “There’ll be a lot more you’ll have to teach His Highness Edwin.”

“As if that’s so hard.”

Sage lifted his wineglass and twisted one corner of his mouth.

“I’m telling you! I’ve got nothing to worry about! Our young lady Brown can handle a hundred men by herself….”

He clamped his mouth shut as he almost let something slip about who I really was.

Because I shot him a sharp, killing look.

“Nanny, I, I want to sit this out.”

Meanwhile, Catherine started shaking her head, her face going pale.

“I’m not ready to take on a role like that. And I’m worried about Their Highnesses too. His Highness Edwin isn’t like the other princes! He’s not prepared at all, and he doesn’t even have a powerful maternal family….”

“So what? Cavelius III, the current Emperor, killed all his brothers and sisters and took the throne.”

“T-that’s true, but…”

“Head Maid, do you know what’s most important in a power struggle?”

“Huh? W-what is it?”

“It’s that all that matters is winning at the very end. No matter what you have to do.”

At the old sage’s words, Catherine bit down hard on her lower lip.

“Well, in His Highness Edwin’s case, the easiest way is to follow his father’s path. Even if it doesn’t suit him.”

He gave me an intentionally sinister smile and glanced my way.

“I can make as much poison as you want, the kind that kills with just one drop, so just say the word.”

“Hey!”

Catherine looked around as if she was worried someone might hear, then pressed her index finger to her lips.

“How can you say something so terrifying out loud so casually!”

“Hmph. If it’s out loud, what’s the worst that happens? We die? Then kill me. This old man’s lived long enough. I’ve got nothing left to fear.”

“I’m scared, I am!”

They definitely seem like they hate each other, but somehow their timing is weirdly perfect.

I watched the two of them bicker for a moment, then lightly struck the desk.

Thud.

At the dull sound, their gazes snapped to me.

“I have one question,” I asked, looking at them. “What do you need in order to become emperor?”

“First, you need the qualifications.”

As expected, the answer came from Sage.

He spoke with one hand raised elegantly, “Someone with imperial blood. That’s the most important thing.”

That’s not what I’m asking.

As I kept a flat expression, Catherine cut in, “But just because someone has imperial blood doesn’t mean they can all become emperor.”

She mumbled, still full of worry.

“The Emperor is a position only someone recognized by everyone can take.”

On the surface, the Emperor of the Empire looked like an absolute ruler, but in reality, that wasn’t the case.

If anything, they were more like a counterweight, balancing all the factions so the foundations of the nation wouldn’t shake.

“Right.”

Sage raised his index finger at her words and added, “Which is why, to become emperor, you have to secure support from three people, excluding the current emperor.”

First, the Speaker of the Senate, who could be called the representative of the Empire’s nobles. Second, the Commander-in-Chief, who held overall command of the Empire’s military authority. And lastly, the Holy Emperor of the Holy Kingdom of Rion. Only with the consent of these three could someone ascend to the throne.

‘And I already know who the Holy Emperor is.’

The current Holy Emperor of the Holy Kingdom of Rion was the man who’d taken the throne before I died.

Back when I worked for the organization, I’d seen the man who became Holy Emperor in person.

Because I’d been assigned a mission to infiltrate the Holy Emperor’s coronation ceremony and assassinate a target.

‘He didn’t look particularly devout.’

There was no way to know how a high-ranking cleric, all belly and greed, ended up on the Holy Emperor’s seat. At the time, I hadn’t been all that interested in the Holy Emperor’s existence, either.

‘But I don’t know who the Speaker of the Senate and the Commander-in-Chief are.’

The Holy Emperor served a seven-year term, a position you stepped down from when the time came.

But the Speaker of the Senate and the Commander-in-Chief, appointed by the Emperor, were positions where the person could change at any time.

Meaning other people might be occupying those seats now, not the ones I knew before I died.

“Who are the ones currently serving as Speaker of the Senate and Commander-in-Chief?”

“They’re people you know well too, Nanny.”

Catherine briefly cleared her throat, then said, “The Speaker of the Senate is the Marquis of Radcliffe, and the Commander-in-Chief is Duke Jerome Crowner.”

Damn it. Why did it have to be those two bastards?

Meanwhile, Sage burst into laughter at Catherine’s words, like he found it amusing.

“Pwahahaha! This is going to be a real headache!”

Of all people, they were each a passionate supporter of the Second Prince and the First Prince.

Drawing people with clearly established factions to our side was damn near impossible.

‘This isn’t just a headache.’

I furrowed my brow.

‘It really is. For Edwin to jump in now, the board is just too big.’

Catherine must’ve read my thoughts, because she quickly poured out her words.

“Nanny, the other princes have been steadily preparing for a long time, guided by their close aides, to become emperor. But His Highness Edwin hasn’t, has he?”

For Edwin, the Imperial language, imperial studies, swordsmanship, all of it was new.

His growth was fast, but in terms of proficiency, it was true he couldn’t match the other two princes.

“It’s too reckless.”

“…Still, we can’t give up without trying anything.”

In the end, any prince who failed to become emperor was killed.

Sure, people say they can inherit their maternal family’s status and become a noble instead of royalty, but reality wasn’t so pretty.

‘Leaving behind a bloodline that could threaten your own position is foolish.’

Across the entire history of the Empire of Ventrume, only a very few princes who inherited their maternal family’s standing survived.

‘In Edwin’s case, the only way to live is to defect to the Holy Kingdom.’

But I wasn’t even sure a boy who didn’t want to be separated from his little sister could go to the Holy Kingdom alone and live as a cleric.

I laced my fingers together and spoke again, “I intend to do my best so His Highness Edwin can achieve what he wants.”

A servant’s duty is to help fulfill their master’s will.

I accepted Edwin as my employer, and I told him I’d give him the chance to choose anything.

‘Wanting to become emperor is Edwin’s dream.’

I swore before Emma’s grave that I’d work for that boy’s happiness.

‘If someone with a dream can’t achieve it, they can’t be happy.’

I’d already woken from my dream a long time ago.

But I wanted to make sure Edwin’s dream came true, at least.

‘It’s a promise I made to Emma too. That I’d protect those children’s happiness.’

I recalled Edwin’s eyes when he said he wanted to become emperor.

The eyes of someone dreaming were beautiful, like stars in the night sky.

‘And I just….’

I didn’t want to see the light go out in those eyes.

“No matter what anyone says, I’ll do everything I can to make sure His Highness Edwin becomes emperor.”

I raised my head toward the two of them.

“Because I’m His Highness’s nanny.”

Maybe she thought he wouldn’t listen no matter how much she tried to stop him. Catherine pressed a hand to her forehead and let out a deep sigh.

“…Nanny, do you know what happens to people like us if His Highness Edwin enters the struggle for the throne and doesn’t become emperor?”

Instead of answering, I simply looked at Catherine.

After meeting my eyes, she added in a voice that had sunk heavily, “If His Highness the Prince doesn’t become emperor, people like us will be the first ones eliminated.”

“I know.”

Catherine made a face like she still couldn’t understand.

“You know, and you still say that so easily….”

“Then we’ll have to put His Highness Edwin on the throne no matter what.”

At my words, Catherine opened her mouth like she was at a loss.

Then Sage, seated beside her, patted her shoulder hard. “Good grief, worrying like it’s your job! Don’t you think there’s a reason Ky- no, Young Lady Brown is this confident? We just need to do our best in our own way.”

“No, why are you like this too, Gardener!”

“Since he was born with imperial blood anyway, shouldn’t he at least gobble up the imperial throne so his birth means something?”

At that, Catherine clamped her mouth shut again.

Her two hands were clenched so tightly her knuckles showed, drained as white as her face.

“…Catherine.”

I spoke quietly as I looked at her.

“If you want, you can step away.”

“…What?”

“You have a family you need to support, don’t you? And you should marry a good man too.”

I couldn’t force a one-sided sacrifice on someone who had so much to protect.

I added, looking at Catherine’s startled eyes, “Your life matters just as much as His Highness the Prince’s dream. So make your choice freely.”