C139
"How did this happen?"
Mikhail immediately furrowed his brow.
"Why are you here?"
Ethel shrugged and replied.
"First, sit in front of me. The conversation will be long."
"...You lured my mother."
The letter that brought Mikhail here was clearly written in the empress's handwriting.
The woman he saw in front of the greenhouse a moment ago was clearly a confidante who had served his mother for a long time.
In other words, this meeting wouldn't have been possible without the empress's help.
"Now that I think about it, Duke Birod needed a large amount of magical stones for business."
His mother ended up falling into the temptation of that woman because of the magical stones.
Mikhail gritted his teeth and took a step back.
"Where are you going?"
"It seems that my father and mother really won't come. So there's no reason for me to be here."
"I recommend you talk to me."
"I refuse. I have nothing to say to you."
Despite Mikhail's stern rejection, Ethel greeted him politely and without the slightest agitation.
"Then, goodbye."
Mikhail looked at her and then walked angrily towards the exit of the greenhouse.
However, after a while, he had no choice but to return to the pavilion where Ethel was.
"Well, we meet again."
Ethel smiled happily, but Mikhail's voice trembled.
"How dare you lock me in here...?!"
For some reason, the greenhouse door was securely closed, and the maids and knights of the empress who had been in front of it a moment ago were gone.
If this had been an ordinary greenhouse, Mikhail would have broken the lock and left without hesitation.
However, this place was no different from a shelter created in preparation for invasions from other countries, long-distance magical attacks, and monster attacks.
Water could be obtained from the spring, and not only ornamental plants but also crops and fruits could be cultivated, making it possible to survive here for a few days.
Naturally, not only the lock but also the greenhouse walls were carefully crafted artifacts.
Even if Mikhail exerted all his power until exhaustion, destruction couldn't be guaranteed.
"Open the door now!"
"Oh my, is the door locked?"
Ethel asked with wide-open eyes.
"Are you being pretentious?"
"Even if you say that... How can I open a door that you can't even open?"
Ethel sipped her tea calmly, even with furrowed eyebrows.
"What a shameless act. Aren't you afraid when you and I are locked in an isolated space?"
"Is there something to fear? His Highness is a knight."
Mikhail had nothing to say in response, so he kept his mouth shut.
No matter how angry Mikhail was, he didn't lose his reason enough to use physical force against Viscountess Lucibiu, who was honored by the emperor.
Moreover, judging by the situation, she was a victim trapped here with Mikhail.
He was the one at a disadvantage if he behaved even a little violently.
In fact, Mikhail's intention was to scare her into opening the door, but he didn't actually intend to do anything.
"Ha, you definitely said you wanted to talk first, didn't you?"
Mikhail sighed and sat in front of Ethel under the pavilion.
"I'm not in the mood, but I'll listen. I'm a bit curious why you called me here."
"It turns out I have another cup of tea here."
"Coincidences are nonsense. Let's get to the point quickly."
"Do you remember this book?"
Ethel asked, showing him the cover of the open book in front of her.
The title "The Monarch's Path" was written in an ancient book with small stains. It was a familiar book.
Only then did Mikhail take a closer look at the books on the table.
They were all books on kings, military studies, imperial etiquette, imperial history, and world affairs that he studied as a child.
"How could...?!"
After taking it and checking, he definitely noticed that it was the book he had read.
"I asked for it, and Her Majesty the Empress lent it to me. She kept it very carefully."
Disgusted by the senseless action, Mikhail hit the table.
"What does this mean?"
"You studied very hard. Particularly, the pages of 'The Monarch's Path' are very worn."
"What does that have to do with you?"
"Your Highness."
The moment Ethel closed her eyes for a moment and opened them, Mikhail stiffened at the unusual sensation.
It was because his divine power had reached her, but Mikhail had no way of knowing that fact.
"Is the monarch you dreamed of as a child the same now?"
"... I don't understand what you mean."
"It is written in this book that the monarch must put the country first."
"Don't I put the country first now?"
"I think Your Highness knows better than anyone."
Mikhail stared at Ethel's calm face and burst into laughter.
"Yes, I have changed. Because I learned about love. Liena is more important to me than anything else.
...
But! That doesn't mean I'm giving up on my country and my path as a monarch. I will gain love and power. I have the ability to do that.
Ability? Do you really think so?
Say what you want. I only made some mistakes, but after a while...
I guess you want to benefit from it after capturing Her Majesty's heart through Liena. In the world, we don't normally call those things ability."
Mikhail's fist tightened at the comment that clearly penetrated his intention. He felt verbally assaulted.
"Just because you think you know something...
Even if a monarch feels lonely, he alone shines at the top of all people. But you can't do that. It's because Liena's light is stronger than your burden."
What?
"Your Highness, don't you consider yourself subordinate to Liena?
I'm not a subordinate, but a companion! I stand on equal footing with Liena and walk the same path!"
But for some reason, Mikhail's shouts sounded hollow even to himself.
"Then I challenge you to answer. What did Liena sacrifice for you?
Are you trying to drive a wedge between Liena and me?
Your Highness, for the sake of Liena and the young lady's family, distanced herself from Duke Birod, who is her greatest support. So, what did Liena give up to be with you?
...shut up.
Did she give the wealth of the Cassius family to Her Majesty? Or has she ever seriously confronted a family member who opposes her association with Your Highness?
Li, Liena gave me useful information. She eased my loneliness and healed my wounds.
So, you let Liena do this even though you knew she was engaging in all sorts of illegal activities to grow Iver?
If you want to achieve something great, you can't just cover the distance. Liena is not bad; she is wise.
A monarch should not allow injustice to corrode the nation, driven by personal affection."
Suddenly, Ethel pulled out a piece of paper from the book and began to read it aloud.
"I love my mother and am grateful to my grandfather, but I will never allow the Birod family to interfere in the monarch's decisions."
What is that?
"This is something Your Highness wrote during writing class when you were young. Would you like to see it?"
Mikhail took it with trembling hands and quickly examined the content.
A memory came to mind as he saw the child's efforts to write clearly.
It seems it was around six or seven years old. During the first writing class, the teacher gave him a free topic, so he wrote about what he wanted to write the most.
Now looking at it, he knew nothing yet, so it was an immature piece that only spoke of idealistic things.
However, for Mikhail at that time, it was a piece he wrote while thinking about every word during the writing time.
At that time, he truly believed he could become such a monarch and wanted to be one.
His father, seeing this, patted him on the shoulder and said it was great, and his mother smiled and patted him on the head.
Mikhail tried to open his mouth, ignoring the unfamiliar emotions that arose in his chest.
... I have changed. I discovered love.
Your Highness already knew love. Isn't it written there? I love Her Majesty the Empress.
Although she was sometimes kind, my mother was basically a very strict person. I rarely remember hearing warm words.
Even so, she loved you. Isn't that right?
Enough! The love I learned after meeting Liena was much greater and nobler than that...
Her Majesty the Empress cried.
Your Highness knows it very well. She never shows weakness in front of others.
That was true.
The Empress did not shed tears even though she was angry and scolded Mikhail even when he acted against her will. Because she always tried to remain a strong and dignified mother of the nation.
Don't you know how Her Majesty felt when she deceived you and called you here?
Mikhail's shoulders trembled slightly.
I really can't guess what she was thinking when she carefully handed me the objects of your childhood.
For his sake, Your Highness, please open your eyes now.
Mikhail was moved by those words.
A few hours later, Mikhail was able to leave the greenhouse.
When the conversation with Ethel ended, the greenhouse door was wide open as if it had never been locked.
Mikhail did not return to his palace immediately but walked through the Empress's palace and immersed himself in memories.
When he was young, he was not given a separate palace but stayed in the Empress's palace.
Mikhail reminded himself of those days with a blank mind and returned to his palace at sunset.
"Mikhail, where have you been? I've been looking for you for a long time! Don't you know how much needs to be prepared for the engagement ceremony?"
Seeing Liena warmly greet him, Mikhail had difficulty opening his mouth.
"Liena, I'm so sorry...
Eh?
Can we postpone our engagement for a while?"