# 382
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382
Even if she were a noble daughter from a Korean-American family, the emperor would not talk to her in such a friendly tone.
He was an emperor known for being strict.
However, considering the blood relationship between the imperial family and the Grand Duchy of Linosa, it is clear to Charlotte that the emperor is an adult in the family and that she had already met him when she was young.
There was nothing bad about the emperor showing favor to Charlotte.
The emperor winked at her.
“I heard you came with the Black Wing Knight Commander.”
The Black Wing Knight Commander was not present and was simply escorting Grand Princess Rinosa.
However, the meaning that he came with was symbolic that her words were the same as Grand Duke Rinosa’s words.
After the attempted assassination of the crown prince, Linosa showed no significant response.
Michael wasn’t really involved in the temple, and it seems like he only said a few words at their request, but if he comes forward and apologizes or something, it just seems like he’s being pricked.
But it is clear that we cannot move on as if nothing happened.
That’s why Charlotte’s coming to the empire had such a significant meaning.
It would be for Prince Rinosa to present a solution that could resolve the strained relationship between Rinosa and the empire.
“That’s right. “I visited the Empire under orders to convey Grand Duke Linosa’s wishes to His Majesty the Emperor.”
“Tell me.”
The emperor searched his memory and recalled the appearance of Grand Duke Linosa. In my memory, he looked rather young.
It is not often that the monarchs of the two countries meet.
After ascending to the throne, he only saw Grand Duke Linosa once.
He was a serious and thorough person who would not make any hasty moves.
‘I’m looking forward to seeing what the solution is.’
Eventually, Charlotte’s mouth slowly opened.
“I hope to hold a swordsmanship competition jointly hosted by both countries to show that the friendship between the two countries is alive and well and further achieve greater harmony in the new era.”
Charlotte added clearly.
“This is the will of Grand Duke Rinosa.”
There was silence for a moment. The emperor put his hand to his short beard. Charlotte watched his reaction carefully.
“That’s an interesting offer.”
The heavy voice that eventually fell contained a positive meaning.
“It’s a sword fighting competition between the two countries. “I’d like to hear more details.”
Charlotte recited what Grand Duke Linosa had planned.
The location of the sword fighting competition will be decided by agreement within two months, in a city somewhere between Jedo and Latona.
The emperor, who had been listening to her in silence, opened his mouth.
“I want to make one thing clear. “I heard that Grand Duchess Linosa is friendly to the temple.”
And it is known that the relationship between the Grand Duke of Rinosa and the Grand Duchess is very close.
If this is also part of the temple’s plot…
The emperor’s eyes sharpened. It was a problem that he could not overlook as he was working hard to drive out the power of the temple in the empire.
When her mother was mentioned, Charlotte’s expression darkened slightly. But she answered steadfastly.
“An individual’s religious beliefs cannot determine Linosa’s will, and Grand Duke Linosa is expressing concern and anger at the temple’s attempt to assassinate His Highness the Crown Prince.”
If the temple tried to harm the crown prince of the empire, why couldn’t they also try to harm Grand Duke Rinosa?
The obstacle to them in Rinosa now is not Charlotte, a student at the academy, but the Grand Duke of Rinosa, who always blocks the temple’s demands with his extremely fair appearance.
There was no need to do the same thing to elevate Michael, who was friendly to the temple, to the throne.
From that perspective, Charlotte was also feeling uneasy about the fact that the Commander of the Black Wings was away from the Archduke.
For that reason, Grand Duke Rinosa took another measure.
“…Also, all contact with the temple has been blocked within the Grand Duchy of Rinosa, so you can leave it alone.”
In a way, the temple gave justification.
Grand Duchess Linosa’s religious life was interrupted, and this was the same for everyone living in the royal castle of Latona.
The emperor, who was calmly listening to the story, quickly nodded.
“Okay, I accept it.”
“Thank you for your decision. I hope that through this, the friendship between our two countries will become stronger again.”
“Charlotte, are you attending too?”
Charlotte shook her head.
“Unfortunately, I don’t think that will be possible.”
It wasn’t the place for her. Competition participants have limited field of vision.
Charlotte had to watch the competition from above.
This concludes her role for now.
Charlotte will watch the turbulent waters raging outside the sea.
This concludes the most important conversation. It was an hour away.
The emperor suddenly asked Charlotte, who was sighing in relief.
“Are you not interested in marriage talks at all? “I heard you said that to the crown prince.”
Charlotte’s body flinched at those words. The emperor spoke again.
“Don’t you like the men of the royal family that much? “They look good on the outside and have abilities of their own.”
The emperor had never seen Asuka, but he knew about her.
Archduke Farnese had not yet presented Asuka to the emperor because he was not sure what kind of accident he might get into.
The face-to-face meeting did not take place because Asuka also did not want to be in the uncomfortable position of facing her uncle, who was almost like an emperor.
“They… they are not the kind of people I would dare to feel lacking in, but for now, I just want to help my father.”
In response to Charlotte’s answer, the emperor carefully looked at her expression.
There were no other hopeful signs for the crown prince.
“…Okay, I understand. “I hope you have a comfortable stay in the imperial palace.”
With those last words, the audience ended.
*
“Did the story go well?”
The Black Wing Knight Commander spoke to Charlotte.
Charlotte, who had a nervous complexion, answered with a secret smile.
“Yes, I have safely conveyed the Duke’s wishes to Your Majesty.”
“Thank goodness.”
“There are more places to go than that. I want you to leave the imperial palace. I thought I’d take a look around the island’s stores. Since I want to move quietly, I hope that the other guards will be removed and only the knight commander will be with me. “In the imperial carriage.”
“Yes, let’s get ready.”
Even if Grand Duchess Linosa goes out, the imperial palace does not get involved.
Still, I had to know where I was going.
Charlotte’s eyebrows furrowed slightly.
‘Even if it’s the imperial palace, you can’t feel safe.’
Michael’s guards spread even throughout the academy. Fortunately, it is difficult to manage people in the system and it is also difficult to follow them.
As long as the Black Wing Knight Commander, who has sensitive senses, is with him. Since it might be more suspicious to go undercover and disguise yourself, Charlotte decided to take the natural approach.
Michael would never have thought that he would immediately take action after meeting the Emperor.
The carriage that departed stopped by several stores as planned, and Grand Duchess Linosa purchased some items there.
Then she got into the carriage and spoke calmly.
“Let’s go to the Farnese Archdiocese.”
Although it was an uneventful visit, he could not refuse Grand Duchess Linosa’s visit.
As expected, the imperial carriage passed through the gate of the Farnese Archdiocese, proudly announcing its presence.
After a while, she found herself facing some familiar faces.
Asuka, who was taking a liberal arts class, faced her with a happy and embarrassed face.
“Charlotte! “What’s going on in my house?”
Charlotte ignored his joy with a calm expression.
“I came to see Senior Helmut.”
I can contact Area. But this was a story that had to be told in person.
Everyone looked with unfamiliar eyes at Charlotte, who came to the Archduke Farnese’s residence in the guise of a noble woman.
“I heard it from Asuka, but that sight is really… shocking.”
Sian was so shocked that he almost didn’t recognize her for a moment.
Always dressed as an academy swordsman. Or she was walking around comfortably wearing pants and holding a sword.
It was completely different to see me walking around wearing a dress and makeup and shoes like I do now.
“Why are you so pretty?”
Asuka said with a grin as if she was showing off her girlfriend.
Area, who was a little irritated because her study time, which she had been enjoying freely thanks to Archduchess Farnese’s long-awaited absence, was interrupted, placed her chin on her chin and asked.
“Is this something you and Helmut will talk about together?”
“This is a story you all can listen to. Anyway, there’s nothing left to hide anymore.”
“say it.”
Helmut’s mouth finally opened. Two pitch-black eyes met in a straight line.
It was the same abyss, but it was also different. One had a slightly warmer and more honest glow, and the other was solid and contained a will like iron.
Helmut’s eyes lacked the vitality that youth brings. As if there were still traces of what was once a ruin.
He was dressed simply, wearing only a shirt and trousers, in contrast to the fully dressed Charlotte.
It looks like he was swinging a sword just a moment ago.
Charlotte felt strange when she saw that. It was somehow bitter and thrilling.
Originally, Helmut would have been there to meet the emperor on behalf of Grand Duke Linosa.
‘But you can turn it back.’
She clenched her fists. It was slow, but we were moving forward step by step.
She believed that the end must be beneath the pouring light. Because that’s what I’ve been working towards for the past four years.
“I have just come to see His Majesty the Emperor.”
Charlotte spoke in detail about the upcoming sword fighting competition.
A swordsmanship competition jointly hosted by the Empire and Rinosa. Even that that was the will of Grand Duke Rinosa.
There was strength in her voice as she emphasized the last word.
Asuka narrowed her eyes.
“What, then, Helmut’s father is on Helmut’s side? “Do you mean to proudly announce your presence by winning the swordsmanship competition?”
Even though Asuka may seem like an idiot at times, at other times she is sharp. Xian frowned.
“Did you really tell His Highness the Grand Duke about you? “How does he know that Helmut escaped from the Forest of Pahe?”
“I have never told His Highness about Senior Helmut. “I haven’t seen him again since I came back.”
Area opened her mouth insinuatingly.
“Still, since Helmut came back and met some people, wouldn’t it have been possible for him to get to know them in the process?”
“It could be a plot hatched by that unlucky bastard called Michael or something!”
The negative thing was, of course, the cyan.
Having grown up in a harmonious family, he could never understand the situation of the Grand Duchy of Linosa, who betrayed their own blood relatives and led them to their deaths. That led to hostility.
But all of this was just speculation. Charlotte shook her head quietly.
