A Quiet Dinner Interrupted
I listened to a brief summary of the waiter's life. Born into an ordinary middle-class family, he had studied diligently under parents who ran a weapons shop to gain admission to the Academy. To help pay the exorbitant tuition, he worked nights like this.
"Must be exhausting," I remarked.
He shook his head nonchalantly. "Not at all. Most commoners do the same."
Commoners... In the Empire, the official term was "imperial citizens." Yet, I couldn't help but smile bitterly at the fact that most citizens still referred to themselves as commoners. After all, the privileged class of nobility still very much existed.
"I see... Still, if your parents run a shop in Roman, wouldn't you be considered relatively well-off?"
In truth, establishing a shop within Roman's triple-layered walls placed one squarely in the upper-middle class of the Empire.
"Well, yes, but Academy tuition is ridiculously expensive. Only the nobles have the luxury of doing nothing but studying. For commoners like us, it's a struggle."
"Indeed."
Soon, our conversation drifted toward the current state of the Empire.
"No matter how I look at it, the Grand Duke seems to be doing a terrible job governing."
Intrigued by his critique of me, I prompted him further. "What is your biggest grievance?"
"Isn't it obviously the unstable political climate?"
My curiosity piqued, I asked, "Why do you think the current climate is unstable?"
Chew, chew. The waiter swallowed a piece of meat before speaking.
"Well, the imperial authority has hit rock bottom, and the Emperor's faction and the Anti-Emperor faction are locked in a power struggle... Eventually, the two forces will clash. When that happens, it will be the start of a civil war."
Impressed by his sharp insight, I pressed on. "I don't know... If I were the Grand Duke or King Yohanes, I would seek reconciliation."
He scoffed, as if such a thing were utterly impossible. "No way. Both the Grand Duke and Yohanes just want to seize the Empire for themselves. That's why they'll probably halt the war for now and divide the Empire into East and West."
He wasn't wrong. However, thinking his leap in logic was a bit too extreme, I took a sip of my wine. "That is a bit of a stretch. Wouldn't it be better for both of them to cooperate and lead the state well, rather than risking everything in a war?"
He stuffed another piece of meat into his mouth, chewing vigorously as if to dismiss my naive notion. "Oh, come on. They are both far too greedy for that."
"Greedy?"
"Of course. You have the Grand Duke, who used brute force beyond his station to marry Empress Theodora and usurp the Empire, and then you have Yohanes, who supports the Grand Duke to dismantle the imperial authority, destabilize the Empire, and swallow it whole. They're greedy, plain and simple."
Stab! Watching the waiter aggressively spear a thin slice of meat with his fork, I spoke up.
"You're going to break the plate..."
"Haha... I'm not used to this kind of formal etiquette. My apologies. Anyway, the nobles will wage war against each other, and a struggle for territory will begin. In the end, many people will die."
I understood the gist of what he was trying to say. "So, in short, you believe the political situation is unstable because the Grand Duke lacks absolute power?"
He nodded in agreement. "Exactly. He has almost no influence outside of a central government that exists in name only. Even in the Imperial Assembly, it's hard to pass any bills without King Yohanes. Now that the Anti-Emperor faction has practically collapsed, it looks like King Yohanes will be the ultimate victor."
His sharp intellect and keen perception intrigued me. "You said you were an Academy student?"
"Yes. I'm currently in my third year."
"What is your major?"
The waiter took a sip of wine before replying. "Diplomacy and politics. But I think I chose the wrong major."
Puzzled, I asked, "Why is that?"
"In both politics and diplomacy, it's nearly impossible to find a job unless you have a noble backing you. The more I think about it, the more I regret choosing this path."
It was true. Unless one belonged to a noble house with vast territories, a degree in politics or diplomacy was practically useless. I smiled bitterly at his plight.
"If you truly cannot find a job, come work under me later."
Honestly, though he was just a waiter I had met today, his insight and perspective had caught my interest. I've found a great slave... no, a fine talent.
"Huh? Really? Are you a high noble, by any chance?"
I smiled and nodded. "If you're a third-year, you'll graduate the year after next. At that time..."
"Make way for Her Imperial Majesty! Everyone, stay where you are!"
"If anyone makes even the slightest suspicious move, you will be executed on the spot!"
A sudden commotion erupted from the floor below.
"Y-Your Majesty... I... I beg your forgiveness, but... we were only ordered by His Grace the Grand Duke to guard..."
Looking down at the hesitant escort knight before me, I commanded: "Did I not order you to seal the entrance to Roman's Night?"
The knight's eyes darted around, desperately searching for a way out of this predicament. I looked at him coldly.
"I am the Empress of this empire, and my husband is its Grand Duke. And my husband loves me dearly. Can you withstand his wrath?"
"B-but we must at least know the reason..."
I let out a soft sigh at the helpless knight. "If you obey my command now, I shall ensure my husband does not punish you. But if you test my patience any further, I assure you, it will not end well."
The knight, weighing his options as his eyes darted back and forth, finally nodded. "I obey Your Majesty's command. What are you doing? Obey Her Imperial Majesty's orders!"
At the escort knight's shout, the guards began pouring into the restaurant.
"Make way for Her Imperial Majesty! Everyone, stay where you are!"
"If anyone makes even the slightest suspicious move, you will be executed on the spot!"
After a brief moment, a guard reported back to the knight. "Both the front and back entrances have been sealed."
"Please proceed, Your Majesty."
Guided by the escort knight, I stepped inside Roman's Night. Surveying the interior, which was lavishly adorned with white marble, I spoke.
"Ipa, are you certain the Grand Duke is here?"
Ipa nodded silently in response.
Just then, an elderly man hurried forward, dropping to one knee and bowing his head deeply before me. "I... I greet Her Imperial Majesty."
"And you are?"
"I am Alex, the manager of this establishment. I am deeply honored by Your Majesty's visit."
Feeling a wave of annoyance, I waved my hand dismissively. "Alex, guide me to the VIP rooms."
"Of course, Your Majesty."
With tears of anxiety welling in his eyes, the manager led us up to the second floor. "Currently, all the VIP rooms are occupied. I will ask the guests for their understanding. Please wait just a moment."
"No, there is no need for that. Bring every single guest in the VIP rooms before me."
The manager gasped in shock. "B-but that would ruin our establishment's reputation..."
"Oh? Is that so? Sir Winter."
Seeing the manager hesitate, I called upon my escort knight. "You called, Your Majesty?"
"Drag everyone out of the VIP rooms immediately—"
Just as I was about to issue the command, a door at the end of the hallway swung open.
"Theodora! What on earth do you think you are doing?"
Deviang stepped out.
A loud commotion echoed from the floor below.
"The... The Empress... is visiting this place?"
Watching the flustered waiter, a throbbing headache began to bloom in my temples. Why on earth is she here?
The realization that the Empress had snuck out of the palace to cause a scene gave me a massive headache. Did Theodora come out incognito as well? No... there's no way anyone would make this much noise while incognito.
I sighed, utterly exasperated that her sudden, reckless outburst had shattered my brief moment of quiet happiness. "Sigh..."
She had claimed she was going to the Academy today. Was this restaurant the Academy now?
In a desperate bid to escape this awkward situation, a foolish thought crossed my mind.
"Wow... our restaurant must have become incredibly famous for the Empress to visit. I've never seen her in person, but they say she's breathtakingly beautiful..."
The waiter seemed strangely tense. Why are you getting nervous over someone else's wife? I let out another sigh, dumbfounded by his reaction. "Phew..."
Voices gradually drifted in from the hallway.
"Currently, all the VIP rooms are occupied. I will ask the guests for their understanding. Please wait just a moment." It was an unfamiliar man's voice.
"That's the manager," the waiter whispered.
"No, there is no need for that. Bring every single guest in the VIP rooms before me."
Why on earth would you do that?! I thought, exasperated. If you're already here, just eat your food and leave!
Internally, I was flabbergasted by her sheer recklessness. Why was the Empress of a nation throwing a tantrum in a perfectly legitimate business establishment? Anyone watching would mistake her for a common thug rather than the ruler of the Empire.
"B-but that would ruin our establishment's reputation..."
Hearing the manager's desperate plea, I hoped Theodora would show some semblance of sanity. No matter how absolute her power, demanding that all VIP guests be dragged out of their rooms in a high-end restaurant was utterly unreasonable.
"Oh? Is that so? Sir Winter."
But of course, our dear Theodora doubled down on her tyranny.
"You called, Your Majesty?"
"Drag everyone out of the VIP rooms immediately—"
Hearing that, I decided I had to intervene.
"Ah? Sir, what are you doing?"
As I stood up, the waiter called out to me in concern. I replied casually, "I'm going to discipline my reckless wife."
With that, I opened the door and stepped out.
In the hallway stood Theodora, radiating her breathtaking, ethereal beauty, alongside an elderly gentleman. Sir Winter and the guards stood close by, shielding them.
"Theodora! What on earth do you think you are doing? And Sir Winter, what is the meaning of this?"