# 21
---
A few days later, I left the palace and headed towards the Imperial Palace.
Today was the meeting of the major nobles from the Emperor Pavilion to discuss matters of state.
For the first time since my father's death, I was invited to fill the vacant seat he held.
“Hirose, what do you think?”
I asked him, his expression looking a little dark.
“Although they claim to recognize you as the successor to the Duke of Elmore, I believe they are plotting to find a loophole in you.”
After taking over the body, I secretly supported Ethios as I seized the Duke of Elmore's inheritance and destroyed those who coveted what was mine.
I even completely cut ties with Filius Regalo and Vadelmon.
Those vile nobles from the Emperor Pavilion who betrayed the previous Emperor for wealth and power, how could they look at me kindly just because I was now nominally one of them?
“I know, I think so too.”
I crossed my legs as I looked out the carriage window.
Dobberton was now clean and bright, and there was no longer any chance of another attack.
This is also thanks to the road maintenance rights I extracted from my relatives.
“Disgusting, isn’t it?”
The fate of the Elmore family, the Emperor's favorite, should have been tied to the Duke of Elmore alone.
They thought it was natural that our prestige would collapse after the Duke's death.
But instead, I gained the Emperor's trust again, while the hyenas of relatives who thought they could prey on me - with the exception of Vadelmon - came under my sphere of influence.
Even Vadelmon's indictment is ready, and all that remains is to submit the indictment.
Of course, I would be a thorn in their eyes, because the little girl they thought was just being moody has now become the new Duke of Elmore.
“What fleeting insects.”
I twisted my lips sarcastically.
All these power struggles are temporary, and soon they will all be swept away when Etheus succeeds in his revolution.
Of course, I have no intention of continuing to pretend to be weak in front of them until then.
Among them are those who apparently contributed to Etheos' suffering and the deterioration of his health.
The opportunity will come to return the favor to them in equal parts.
“Madam...”
Hirose looked at me with sparkling eyes as he bowed slightly.
“Since Your Highness the Duke passed away and I have been in your service, I have seen in you a very strong personality...but please do not overburden yourf.”
"What?"
“If anything happens to you... really, I won't be able to bear it.”
As he spoke with slightly red cheeks, I stared at him for a moment and then turned my head.
'His flattery gets worse every day.'
* * *
The carriage soon arrived at the Imperial Palace, and drove through the majestic palace towards the meeting hall of the high-ranking nobles.
When the huge doors opened, I saw the elderly nobles sitting inside the hall.
“Khhhhhh.”
Among them was the Marquis of Regallo, who frowned at the sight of me—the girl who had once been a potential bride for his son—and then quickly averted his gaze.
Filius Rigalo is still imprisoned in the Emperor's dungeon.
It seemed that the Emperor was very annoyed that time was being wasted on him.
“Since the representative of Ellimore has come, let us begin the meeting.”
The one who presided over the meeting of the main nobles in the Emperor's Pavilion was Windsom Marquis, and he was about ten years older than my father.
Despite being part of the Emperor's wing, he was a noble of little influence compared to the Duke of Elmore.
He was also one of those who coveted the position of duke after his death.
'The Actress of Elmore, not the Duchess of Elmore, what a childish title!'
Even the battles of young noble children were more mature than this.
I sat in my seat, smiling coldly.
Then the Marquis of Windsom continued his speech.
“Today’s agenda is... kah kah... distributing the resources of the northern lands and suppressing the barbarian region in the south. Let us start with the first point, and let us hear everyone’s opinions.”
If he was talking about the resources of the Northern Lands, he was undoubtedly referring to “Frislar.”
Reports have arrived of the discovery of new resources there.
“I will speak first, according to studies conducted by our family, the geological formation in the Fryslaar area...”
The elderly nobles began making boring speeches.
In short, each family wants to seize the resources of that region for itf.
As I watched them spar, Marquis Rigalo opened his mouth.
“However, there appears to be one member who is silent in this constructive discussion.”
With those words, everyone turned to me as if in agreement.
Then Marquis Rigalo smiled with an ugly smile similar to his son's and asked.
“Well, Duchess Elmore, what do you think?”
It was a sickening sight – middle-aged men with glints in their eyes hoping I would make a mistake and take advantage of it.
“If you don't know something, it's okay to admit it, but at least say something.”
He was pretending to be nice, but his intention was clear.
They expect me to babble nonsense, thinking I'm not interested in politics.
I slowly raised the corner of my lips and opened my mouth.
“What meaning do these theoretical discussions about how to divide resources make sense, when we didn't even get permission from the original landowner?”
'In the end, all they think about is how to seize other people's property.'
While the nobles' faces flushed with anger, I crossed my arms coldly as if I knew everything already.
In fact, there is no “owner” of the northern lands – they are imperial land.
But the Duke of Ellimore was in charge of its management before he died, and they completely ignored this fact and played a game of “find the owner.”
If I agree to any proposal and sign it, the management rights will be transferred to another noble family.
This was their plan from the beginning – to invite me here to exploit my ignorance and take away management rights.
“But the Duke of Elmore is dead, and the young duchess has no ability to manage that region.”
“Tsk, it's basically wrong to invite a duchess who knows nothing.”
Marquis Rigalo let out a disdainful sound.
“What do women know about these things?”
The other nobles nodded, ignoring me.
“Just sign, Duchess, we will make the decision for you.”
I shrugged for a moment, then opened my mouth.
“In fact, I was thinking of giving up the management rights of Frislar. The duties I inherited from my father are too heavy.”
"truly?"
“Oh, that's an idea...”
While the nobles' eyes were shining with hatred when I showed that I knew that the rights to administer the Northern Lands were in Elmore's hands, their expressions suddenly became softer.
Immediately, they started looking at me sympathetically as if they hadn't just been hostile.
But Marquis Rigalo remained frowning and turned his head.
He knows very well that a rejected bride will not give Rigalo rights anything.
“As I said before, the Windsom family is the most suitable, if you cede management rights to us...”
“No, Windsom is geographically too far away, we might as well pick it up.”
As I listened to the nobles argue, I slowly opened my mouth.
“All this identical betrayal...”
At that moment, silence filled the hall.
I stood up from my seat and said.
“You ignore the fact that the rights to administer the northern lands of Elmore are essentially the property of His Highness the Emperor.”
When I suddenly mentioned the Emperor, everyone fell silent.
“Especially since it is a land where new resources have been discovered, it should have been returned to His Highness, ah, it seems that the Elmore family is the only one loyal to the Emperor.”
“What nonsense!”
“Don't make fun of us!”
Immediately, voices of protest poured in from the nobility.
Well, the Emperor himf was an annoying person, but he was helpful in situations like this.
“By the way, during my visit to the palace, I asked His Highness the Emperor to attend the meeting.”
At the right moment, the hall door opened.
The Emperor appeared with a sullen face, as if he had been standing there for some time.
‘How amusing it is to see nobles losing color in their faces!’
After that, the Emperor slowly advanced to the middle of the hall, and everyone lowered their eyes.
I bowed carefully before the Emperor and then backed away a little.
The Emperor's tremulous voice sounded.
“It seems like everyone here is thieves, except Elmore.”