Chapter 9: A Spider’s Invitation

The time for the palace’s morning conference.

This was a gathering attended by the Emperor and the core officials of the imperial family.

While sharing breakfast, they would conduct a brief council on state affairs; yet, the scene of the morning conference, which had always been the same, was a bit different today.

"Isn’t that His Highness the Second Prince?"

"Did he really come to attend the morning conference?"

The officials sitting around the long, grand table murmured among themselves.

Rohan looked like a completely different person.

Elegant, old-fashioned clothing and neatly combed hair.

There was a mysterious gravity emanating from the boy’s face, and everyone was glancing at Rohan with subtle curiosity.

"His Majesty the Emperor is entering!"

At the sound announcing the Emperor’s entrance, everyone stood from their seats.

Step, step.

Emperor Beltar Schubert made his way to the seat of honor.

Only after Beltar was seated did the rest of them sit down again.

"Today’s morning conference is attended by the Second Prince Rohan as a special guest."

At Beltar’s words, one of the officials spoke up.

"Did you know?"

"Rohan sent me a letter. He said he would be joining today’s morning conference."

"May I ask what brings him here?"

Beltar took a sip of wine, already indulging from the morning, and answered.

"Isn’t it about time the Second Prince became acquainted with imperial affairs?"

"Yes, that’s true, but..."

The late Crown Prince Joshua had attended these meetings from an even younger age than Rohan.

But that was because Joshua was the Crown Prince.

The Second Prince’s attendance at the morning conference now was an unprecedented step that no one had requested.

For the Second Prince to attend the morning conference of his own accord—no one could help but be curious about his intentions.

"I was just as surprised. Rohan, why don’t you answer for yourself? What made you decide to join the morning conference?"

The Emperor, too, was curious about his intention.

At Beltar’s question, Rohan spoke up for the first time.

"Everyone thinks that the imperial government’s affairs are decided in the ‘Corridor of the Sun.’ But in truth, aren’t most of the important discussions held right here in this morning conference? That’s exactly why I am here. I wanted to witness firsthand how you, Father, govern the realm, to listen with open eyes and ears, and learn."

"Heh."

The corners of Beltar’s lips curled slightly upward.

Father, he said.

Though he hadn’t seen Rohan often, it was the first time Rohan had ever called him ‘Father’ with his own lips.

"What a commendable thought."

"If it pleases you, Father, I would like to attend the morning conference from time to time."

"Not just today, but frequently?"

Beltar’s white eyebrows rose.

The officials began to murmur once more.

What the Second Prince just said was not simply a wish to attend for the sake of learning every day.

‘Is this the beginning of his preparations to seize imperial power?’

‘Does the Second Prince intend to become Crown Prince?’

‘To think he’d start working behind the scenes in this way! This is truly unexpected.’

The shrewder officials quickly understood Rohan’s intent.

"Indeed. I’ve heard there are quite a few things you’ve been up to lately."

Beltar gave Rohan a sharp look as he asked.

"You knew?"

Rohan’s expression was calm.

He’d never doubted that the Emperor, Beltar, would know.

He’d acted knowing full well that everything he did would reach Beltar’s ears anyway.

There was hardly any imperial affair Beltar didn’t know about.

No matter how ill he might be, Beltar always had his ear to palace rumors—Rohan was well aware of that.

"Of course I know. It was all very interesting. Especially how you dealt with the Boronia Palace’s steward recently."

"He was a man of poor character who embezzled the imperial treasury. I only did what I ought to as the prince responsible for Boronia Palace."

"Heh. Are you saying you were the one in charge of Boronia Palace?"

The implication behind his words was clear.

How could a prince with no real ability be called the master of a palace?

Are you truly someone who can claim such authority as its master?

That was what Emperor Beltar was saying.

Rohan steadied his breath and continued calmly.

"Boronia Palace is Yours, of course, Your Majesty, but I understand that the responsibility lies with me as its prince. The position of a prince, after all, can never be free of responsibility—whether in the smallest or the greatest of things."

"Is that so?"

Emperor Beltar’s eyes glimmered.

A wise answer.

Had Rohan claimed the palace as his own, he’d have been scolded for overstepping his bounds; had he tried to evade responsibility, he’d have been rebuked as well.

‘Was he always like this?’

Beltar felt a quiet admiration at Rohan’s confident reply, which left no room for reproach.

The truth was, Emperor Beltar had had no expectations for Rohan.

He’d loved Empress Amanda, and learned about the child only later.

Upon investigation, the boy was undeniably his blood.

Yet Rohan had grown up as a commoner for far too long and struggled to adapt to palace life.

In that situation, his relationship with Empress Amanda had fallen apart as well, leaving him in a state of near abandonment.

Suddenly, Beltar had a thought.

‘Perhaps I’ve been judging Rohan too harshly all this time?’

After all, the way Rohan sat in the morning conference room was so dignified that one could easily believe he’d grown up a prince since birth.

Beltar smiled as he spoke.

"Very well. From now on, you may attend the morning conference whenever you wish."

At those words, the officials’ faces all changed in their own ways.

Of course, Rohan showed no change in expression, simply bowing his head.

"Thank you, Father."

"I’ve delayed the meeting long enough. Let us now begin the morning conference in earnest."

No sooner had Beltar finished speaking,

Meals were quickly brought out, as if waiting for the moment, and the officials, conscious of Rohan’s presence, began to open their mouths one by one.

---

The Second Prince made an appearance at the morning conference!

This rumor quickly spread among the nobility.

"Is the Second Prince really aiming for the position of Crown Prince?"

"I heard he said he’d attend regularly! That’s exactly what it means, isn’t it?"

"And how splendid and luxurious his clothes were! They say he looks like a totally different person compared to the old Prince Rohan. Whose handiwork is it?"

And the rumor soon reached even Empress Emilia.

Bang!

"The Prince Rohan attended the morning conference? What? Dressed elegantly and brimming with dignity? How dare he!"

She trembled openly with rage.

"How dare that commoner-born brat dream of the position of Crown Prince. The Crown Prince seat belongs to Elliot!"

Crash!

A porcelain vase shattered and rolled across the floor.

"Y-Your Majesty the Empress! Please, calm yourself!"

A startled maid rushed to try to soothe her.

"What?"

What met her was Emilia’s gaze, brimming with murderous intent.

"Calm down? You want me to calm down? That lowborn, cornered prince is coveting the position of Crown Prince?"

Emilia shoved the maid’s forehead with her finger, speaking with venom.

"Ah!"

Pushed again and again, the maid soon had her hair seized as well.

"You. You’re fired, starting today. Don’t even dream of attending social events for a while. Understood?"

"Y-Your Majesty..."

"And who are you to tell me to calm down?"

At a single tilt of Emilia’s chin, other waiting maids hurriedly carried out the fallen girl.

"Madam, madam! Please forgive me, just this once!"

"Hmph. Know your place."

When she extended her hand, another maid quickly handed her a handkerchief.

"Now then, what should I do about that insolent Second Prince?"

Emilia pondered, wiping her hands with the handkerchief.

She’d recently heard that the tutor she had planted for Rohan had run away in the night.

The head of the Imperial Household Management Department had said the man had been addicted to gambling for years, riddled with debt, and hounded by loan sharks.

Of all the tutors available, to assign someone like that—

It made her realize even her father had his careless moments.

"Something is definitely strange."

Moreover, she had heard that Boronia Palace’s steward was recently arrested for embezzlement.

For the once-quiet Boronia Palace to become such a topic of conversation was intolerable for Emilia.

Just then,

"Prince Elliot...?"

At a maid’s murmur from outside the door, Emilia’s expression shifted in an instant.

"Oh my, Elliot! When did you get here?"

Emilia quickly grabbed her skirts and moved to the door.

Then, with elegant motion, she bent gracefully.

"If you’ve arrived, you should announce yourself. What brings my lovely prince here?"

Even at Emilia’s kind words, Elliot stood stiffly.

"I-I... I wanted to eat with you, Mother..."

In Elliot’s small hands was a fistful of cookies.

"Is that so? Oh my, our son is so kind-hearted. But what to do? Mama is a little busy right now—why not give me the cookies and go to your room?"

"Y-yes, Mother..."

When Emilia gave a pointed look, a quick-witted maid gently nudged Elliot out of the room.

"Shall I escort His Highness the Prince to his room?"

"..."

And so,

Once Elliot was led out by the maid, the corners of Emilia’s eyes sharpened once again.

"Hah, who would eat those dirty cookies handled by hand?"

The cookies Elliot had brought were swept into the trash by Emilia’s hand.

The maids’ faces turned pale, and Emilia sat on the sofa, crossing her legs.

"Feet."

"Yes, Madam!"

With just that one word, a maid rushed over, knelt as if accustomed, and removed Emilia’s shoes.

"By the way. Who was it?"

As she received a foot massage, Emilia asked abruptly, and the maids exchanged glances.

"Sigh, how can you all be so slow. I mean the tailor who made Prince Rohan’s clothes!"

"Ah! Yes, Madam. I know. Her name is Lucretia Finch, a famous young tailor lately, and she recently visited Boronia Palace."

At the maid’s words, Emilia twirled a curl of her hair and pursed her lips.

"If the officials are talking about it, those must be no ordinary clothes."

After all, aren’t those officials among the most well-fed and well-dressed?

If even they are gossiping about it, the garments Rohan wore must have been something else.

"I’ve heard the name, and it seems her skills do live up to her reputation."

"In fact, Lucretia Finch contacted us just last week, wishing to tailor a dress for you, Madam."

"What? And why am I only hearing about this now?"

Emilia shot up, voice raised, and the maid shrank back.

"You said you were satisfied with your current tailor and didn’t want to change for the time being..."

"You really all need to learn to read the room, hmm? Can you let that lowborn prince outshine Elliot?"

It was an unreasonable demand, but the maids could only remain silent.

"Hmph, Lucretia Finch, is it."

Emilia filed her nails and mused for a moment, then spoke.

"Bring her to me. I want to see her skill for myself."