Chapter 109
Chapter 109
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 109
Chapter Title: The Owl's Punctual Report
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A week had passed since wrapping up the Founding Day ceremony and having that heated exchange filled with sincerity with Count Hume.
I stayed behind in the audience chamber late into the night, when darkness had fully settled, quietly waiting for the 'Owl' to confirm what reactions the nobles had shown after witnessing my little show with Count Hume.
"Marchioness Shannon, what time is it now?"
"Ten minutes until 23:00."
"Tch..."
These damn owls never missed a time appointment.
They neither arrived late nor early, always appearing exactly on the dot to deliver their report and vanish.
Would it kill them to show up a little early for me?
"Haa..."
I let out a sigh and leaned back against the throne.
How was I supposed to kill this boring time...
I half-closed my eyes and glanced around, desperately searching for something to dispel the tedium.
But in this pitch-black room, nothing like that was going to appear, so I could only stare blankly at the marchioness standing silently by my side, my face screaming utter boredom.
"Hm?"
"Your Majesty, is something the matter?"
"Marchioness, has anything happened lately?"
"What do you mean...?"
"Your figure... it seems a bit different."
I wasn't sure if it was an optical illusion, but compared to a few weeks ago, she looked fuller overall.
I could especially feel more volume in her previously slim waist and gently curved chest.
"Ah, that's probably because of the new undergarments I switched to recently. At my age, standing by Your Majesty's side all day in a corset has become too much, so I had new ones made."
The marchioness, who had spoken while looking at me, gave a wry smile and slightly bowed her head.
The faint wrinkles around her eyes, the deeper nasolabial folds compared to her youth, and the gradual accumulation of fat on her once-perfect figure.
She had done her utmost to conceal these changes with makeup and attire, so they didn't stand out, but she had reached an age where she could no longer completely hide the traces of time.
"Well, you'll be forty-four next year, after all."
"Yes, and thanks to that, I'm feeling just how much my body isn't what it used to be."
"Tch, tch..."
I'd have to bestow some strengthening tonic on the marchioness later.
If I wanted her to continue serving at my side for years to come, she needed proper care starting now.
I was so pleased with the marchioness that I had no intention of letting her step down before she turned sixty.
"So, what are these new undergarments you had made?"
"They were made at the atelier run by Count Hume's son. A bra and girdle, I believe."
"William's? That's surprisingly unexpected."
It was the freshest news I'd heard lately.
I never imagined the marchioness, the epitome of a lady, would visit William's atelier, which even in the kindest terms could only be called outright obscene.
"My daughter gave them to me as a gift, saying she pitied how hard I was working. It felt a bit awkward, but I couldn't just throw away something my daughter gave me..."
"Ahh, I see."
Just as I thought.
There was no way the marchioness would have gone there on her own.
"How do they feel when you wear them?"
"The finishing, design, comfort, and functionality are all perfect—no exaggeration. If I had to nitpick, the outer fabric of the girdle is a bit rough."
"Ho... That good, huh?"
"I could clearly understand what he kept insisting on—that 'you can be comfortable and beautiful at the same time.' I don't approve of his conduct, but I have to reluctantly admit the care he puts into his clothing."
"Hearing you say that much makes me curious now."
This was the marchioness speaking, no less.
When someone as prudish as her, who viewed libertines through heavily tinted glasses, said she had to admit it despite her reluctance, it carried real weight.
I should ask Elizabeth to procure all varieties for me sometime.
"What time is it now?"
With that thought, I figured enough time had passed, so I asked the marchioness again.
The marchioness, who had been standing with a sullen expression, immediately pulled out her pocket watch and glanced at it upon hearing me.
"It's... just turned 23:00."
"Your Majesty."
The moment the marchioness confirmed it was 23:00, the audience chamber doors opened, and one of the knights standing outside entered and knelt.
"The head of the Intelligence Bureau requests an audience with Your Majesty."
"Heh..."
I always felt this way, but they really were ghost-like fellows.
Clocks varied slightly from person to person and place to place, yet how could they arrive exactly on the dot with the marchioness's watch...
Suppressing a chill, I lightly flicked my hand, and the knight nodded before stepping back out.
"Oliver George Smith of the Intelligence Bureau greets His Imperial Majesty the Emperor."
Shortly after, an unremarkable middle-aged man whose face left no strong impression entered the audience chamber, knelt, and bowed his head to me.
"Do you know why I summoned you this time?"
"I heard Your Majesty has questions regarding the plan you recently devised."
"Indeed. There are many things in your report that are hard to understand."
"Ask anything. I'll answer everything within my knowledge."
"Hm."
I nodded and picked up the report the intelligence chief had submitted that morning, giving it a little shake.
"It's only been a week since I devised and executed that shady plan with Count Hume, but your report states that dozens of nobles have already taken action. Is that true?"
"Yes, it is."
"I know full well how outstanding your abilities are, but this result is hard to believe easily. That's why I'm worried you might be getting swayed by false rumors spread by the nobles."
It was natural for nobles to backstab for power at any opportunity, like breathing. But just one week?
It was too fast and sudden for them to grasp my bizarre actions and mobilize.
"I fully understand Your Majesty's concerns, but every conclusion in that report has undergone double cross-verification."
"Heh..."
It was hard to believe, but I had no choice but to.
The Intelligence Bureau didn't stamp something as 'fact' without ironclad certainty.
I felt the strength drain from my body.
All I'd wanted was to quietly weed out the lukewarm fence-sitters, but I never imagined these idiotic moths would flock in droves.
Had twenty years of peace been too long for the nobles?
Or had I grown too lax over time?
Or perhaps the ones with even a bit of brains had died alongside my brother's execution?
"To think the nobles leading this nation are no better than chickens with their heads cut off. What a lamentable state."
My head throbbed at the fools' parade, so I clutched it and closed my eyes.
"Still, nine-tenths of them are fine."
"We already culled two-tenths twenty years ago, and now more?"
"Where there are people, trash is inevitable, isn't it?"
"......"
The intelligence chief said it lightly, like a joke, as if it were no big deal, but it wasn't comforting.
If anything, it only reminded me of those damn mongrels who had sweet-talked my brother into rebellion, leading to his death, souring my mood further.
"What about the House of Duke Devonshire? Their name wasn't on the report. Any suspicious signs?"
I continued questioning without hiding my displeasure.
Many nobles' names were listed, but what truly mattered was Devonshire.
Even without fangs, they were one of the few who could muster forces capable of troubling me.
"Their situation seems complicated. We're estimating a split among the family's heavyweights."
"A split?"
"Intelligence indicates a divide between wait-and-see and support for the First Imperial Princess."
"Support for the First Princess is unexpected... Is that the duke's stance?"
"Yes. No particular reason; we're guessing it's simply adherence to succession law."
"That man did shed some blood because of the former duke."
Both the former and current dukes showed the same bat-like politics, but their views on succession differed sharply.
The former duke's fence-sitting nature had extended to his own heir selection.
Succession law was more guideline than mandate, so that was fine, but holding a competition among candidates until three months before succession was madness even by my standards.
The previous king had done it and plunged the country into civil war, so no wonder the current duke was fed up.
"Then there's nothing more to see there."
Weeding out the shady ones was a success, and we'd gained an unexpected bonus.
Though a bit early, it was time to end this shoddy, pathetic show.
"Intelligence Chief."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
I opened my eyes, straightened my posture, and called to him.
"Divide the nobles into three categories based on the intelligence so far."
"Yes."
"Send those who crossed the line straight to oblivion, and for the ones to watch, keep surveillance and deal with them the moment their tails are stepped on."
"Yes. Then, Your Majesty, what level of punishment should we apply?"
"Punish them according to exactly two criteria."
I paused, flashing a vile smile, then fixed my gaze on the intelligence chief and continued with force in my voice.
"Thoroughly enough to serve as an example to others, and cruelly enough that they'll never harbor vain thoughts again."