Chapter 58 Emperor's plan

One time in the palace.

The sun was up and the air is cool making the atmosphere peaceful. The people were not so busy as there were no upcoming banquet or any celebration or activities to be held.

Inside the emperor's sitting room, Klaude was sitting in front of the emperor while having tea. Klaude and Emperor Fritzgerald Aurelius Thymis were known to be best friends ever since the Emperor was a still a prince. Klaude, who once held the title being the lord of one of the most powerful family stood side by side the prince until he was crowned and ascended to the throne.

Throughout the battle of succession, Klaude supported the prince and Fritzgerald always did his best to pay off the effort his friends and colleagues did for him.

However, he had something on his mind.

"Klaude, I heard that your daughter had already have her first menstruation."

"Ahh...yes, she already did."

"Hmm... she was so little just a while ago and now she had crossed the age of being a child."

"Yes. I didn't even notice."

Fritzgerald knew what Klaude meant.

Almost every noble in the empire knew how Klaude treated Aillenne. She was the only sore who tainted the Winston family name, black. The sole existence that brought one of the most powerful family to the mud and be a laughing stock among nobility.

The lineage of powerful mana users in water attribute has always been regarded by the empire to be the most important. The first emperor and the first head of the Winston's even had a pact to help one another and have a good relationship and the promise is effective until now.

Many even said that whoever Winstons supported in the imperial family will always win in the succession. But by her mere existence... people's view changed quickly.

"Hmmm? I think you should pay close attention to her now."

They both knew what each one meant.

"I think so too. The young Duke of Alastair is showing his intention in an obvious manner. People began speculating that they were a couple."

"Those children had always been close ever since."

Klaude groaned and nodded. It was true that they were so close, though that was because the duke had always followed and cling to his daughter.

"I always thought that the duke just see her as a friend. He lost his parents at a young age and he perhaps sought the warmth of another, but I never thought it would turn out this way."

"Yes. I agree with you. However, the crown prince is also showing off his intentions."

This time Klaude sighed loud and washed his hands on his face.

"That child... he seems to speed up the process of being engaged to my daughter."

"Hmm? Why is that?"

"Don't act like you don't know. That kid had always--! Aillenne's servants had always reported that whenever Aillenne went back after coming to the prince's palace, she always had kiss marks on her skin."

"Hahaha! Pffft! Pwahahaha!"

The emperor couldn't maintain his expression and burst out laughing. His face is red and it seemed to agitate Klaude to the extreme.

"Indeed, I know. Haha! That kid's sly. He's only fifteen but he's bold. He truly had the blood of the imperial family."

"Yes? In terms of being lustful?"

"Well, if you put it that way, then it is. Hahaha! I never had a good laugh this days."

Klaude took a sip of his slightly cold tea as he contemplated. Many kids come like bees swirling around his beautiful flower. Klaude was irritated for some reason.

The emperor called for a servant to change the tea. As the steam rose, they sat and became quiet for a moment.

"I always find your daughter fascinating and beautiful. However, I don't see a strong resemblance to either you and Camilla."

"Uh... everybody's been talking about that." Klaude said as he recalled a few words from other people.

"Hmm...only your son and the youngest lady have your mixed features. Aillenne only have that unique features."

"Everyone's pointing that fact. Some were even asking if she's really my daughter."

"She looks like the goddess from some ancient texts..."

"..."

"Hmmm, anyway...I am thinking of making the princess from Garwin Kingdom have a political marriage with Phillip. Garwin Kingdom had a strong military power and swallowing it up would be easy if it's in guise of marriage. I am also thinking of using Count Hestorial's young lady as his third wife."

"..."

"It's not that I don't want your daughter Aillenne become the empress..."

"...!"

Klaude was evidently surprised.

'Why? What's on this bastard's mind?'

"I understand--"

"No. I already knew you have set your sights on the empress seat. You have always been obsessed in regaining your image, but I know that you don't need to go that far. The Winstons were already powerful enough it's just that the nobles were like hyenas waiting to ravage a prey. They're senseless though. Keep on yapping when they don't even know what they were talking about." The emperor mumbled.

"I have always wanted to regain the family's prestige. The long line of powerful members and the family's fame was tainted ever since she was born."

"A child without mana and talent is indeed a shame, most especially if she came from the Winston family."

Klaude nodded bitterly. He recalled his daughter who were evidently trembling, but her gaze is determined when she came to talk with him just the other day.

She looked so perfect, but it's a shame since she doesn't have powers. Klaude is mad but at the same time felt pity for his child. He knew that she didn't do anything wrong, her sin was just to be born without the qualities of the family.

"I can give the Empress' seat to your child if that's what you want."

"What do you mean, Your Majesty?"

"This."

Klaudes eyes widened at the information written at the letter.

'That's ridiculous!'

That day, Klaude began to change his plans and boosted Adele's education as an empress. He ordered the nanny and Aillenne's servants to aid her as an ordinary noble and not be hard on her anymore. They were task to not instill the idea of becoming an empress anymore.

"Sir Tristan, you do not have to teach my daughter Aillenne to be an empress. Let's just focus out time and efforts to my daughter Adele."

"I understood, Your Grace. However may I ask why?"

Klaude just smiled for an answer. Even Camilla is surprised at the sudden change. This brought a new idea to her that the child is becoming useless as days go by.

"Don't teach Aillenne anymore. Do not give her anymore ideas. Make her innocent and dumb as possible."

In just one day, Aillenne lost her worth and her only use in becoming the Dominique empress candidate, though only the emperor and Klaude knew about this.

"Everyone! Listen, we do not have to serve lady Aillenne as we did in the past month. All we have to do is just serve her like we did in the past thirteen years. We will only await a new order for her to be thrown back to the west house. Are we clear with the new instructions?"

The butler and Klaude did their best to change the structure. They removed her teachers and took away her right to gain more knowledge. It's not that Klaude is afraid of Aillenne's thinking and potential, but because of the more suitable plan Klaude received from the Emperor.

"Hmmm. This is for the best. I hope my daughter will understand. Likewise, she had already experienced being neglected for the past thirteen years. There's not reason to hold on the privilege of the past month."

But of course, Klaude couldn't control other outside happenings that Aillenne began stirring because he acted too late.

The maids and servants who received a new order was puzzled and at the same time felt regret for the lady they serve. In their eyes, Aillenne was the perfect empress they envisioned to serve and rule over them.

"Why did the master suddenly?---"

"Indeed, I thought he changed already?"

"Is the master planning to place lady Adele to the Empress' throne? I heard that she's not suitable for the position?"

"Hush... quiet. You might as well want young tongue to be cut? Do you? Let's just follow."

"I swear. This will be a huge mistake on the part of the master. Lady Aillenne is the perfect empress to rule over us. Her insights and knowledge is vast."

"Indeed."

Everyone could agree. However, they cannot do something and just follow the given order.

Though in all of these storm, Aillenne acted calm and accepted the changes as an opportunity for escape.

***

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