Don't Get the Wrong Idea!
"...Huh?"
A foolish sound escaped Lucian's lips. His red eyes wavered, unable to find a place to settle. It was clear his brain was overloading, trying to process the meaning behind the words "become the Emperor."
To Lucian, Irene was a woman blinded by power. A cold-hearted creature who thought only of succession while her husband lay ill. I knew it well, having experienced it myself. I knew the venomous nature of this woman.
It must have been absurd for such a woman to suddenly offer to give up power.
Swoosh.
Lucian's gaze sank, turning icy. The eyes that had widened in shock soon returned to the sharp, piercing gaze that looked exactly like his father, Skevan. The muscles in his face hardened.
Killing intent.
A chill ran down my spine. His eyes were filled with clear hostility and contempt. It was the look of someone convinced that I was playing some kind of malicious prank.
"Mother."
Lucian's voice was as cold as ice.
"Are you mocking me right now?"
I had expected this much.
"Mocking? I am quite serious."
"There is nothing I find less trustworthy than the word 'serious' coming from you, Mother."
Lucian was an honest man. He didn't hide his thoughts and spat them out immediately.
"What on earth are you plotting? Are you trying to put me on the throne only to manipulate me from the shadows? Or are you planning to frame me for treason the moment I accept the crown so you can purge me?"
Lucian gritted his teeth. He was determined to say what was on his mind.
"Speak! What is it you hope to gain by testing me?"
I had anticipated this, but hearing it to my face still left me breathless.
It was unfair. I truly, purely wanted to repay the debt I owed this boy. Back when I was the Saintess Elise. When everyone had turned their backs on me, the only person who had cared for me was the Emperor, Lucian.
I was certain it wasn't because Lucian had any special feelings for me. It was simply human to human. Perhaps it was just pity, feeling that even though I was the head of an enemy state, he shouldn't treat me that way.
In the end, Lucian had kept his promise. Even at the cost of defying the words of his mother, Irene.
I believed that such a man was surely capable of being entrusted with a country. But this sincerity of mine never reached Lucian.
I didn't need to be told the reason why. The vicious acts that Irene, the original owner of this body, had committed against Lucian until now had become a massive wall, perfectly blocking my sincerity.
'Damn it, seriously.'
My insides were burning. I couldn't even reveal that I was the Saintess Elise from the past.
"It's hard to believe, but I'm Elise. The Saintess you helped at the brothel! Thank you for helping me. As a reward, I'll give you the throne."
If I said that, I'd be treated as a lunatic and locked away in an asylum immediately. To break through this situation, I had to create a reason that Lucian could accept. If he couldn't accept my goodwill as goodwill, I had no choice but to present it as malice or political calculation that he could understand.
I swallowed a short sigh internally. I had a scenario in mind. I would proceed according to that scenario.
Swoosh.
I adjusted my posture. I leaned deep into the sofa and crossed my legs. Then, twisting the corners of my mouth, I wore that venomous smile unique to Irene—the one I had seen so often during my time as Elise.
"You're sharp."
I lowered my voice as much as possible. It felt disgusting, hearing that unpleasant tone used to look down on others coming from my own lips.
"Yes, I was testing you."
The moment the word 'test' left my lips, Lucian's tightly pulled shoulders relaxed ever so slightly.
'...This is absurd.'
Lucian was actually feeling relieved. He had been as wary as if looking at a viper when I showed pure goodwill, but he only let his guard down when I acted venomously.
I felt bitter that Lucian couldn't recognize my true intentions. But it couldn't be helped. This was the karma Irene had built up.
I continued the act.
"Yes. I want to seat my own blood on the throne."
"So you intend to seat Rene after all."
"Exactly. It goes without saying. A child born from the seed of the Emperor that I carried! Only that child will bring prosperity to the Empire."
I raised my voice, pretending to be stubborn. Lucian's brow furrowed again.
"However..."
As I drew out my words, Lucian's gaze focused on my lips.
"If you are so opposed to it and worried about the safety of the Empire, I will take one step back."
"By taking a step back, you mean..."
"Only until Rene comes of age..."
I paused for a moment. I made it look like I didn't want to say it. That was the only way Lucian would believe I was truly Irene.
"Only until Rene comes of age!! Lucian! You take the throne."
"...!?"
Lucian's eyes wavered violently once more. This was a concrete, conditional proposal, different from the vague test of a moment ago.
"Instead! You must promise to hand over the throne completely the year Rene turns twenty. That is my condition."
"Mother..."
Lucian wore a confused expression. He bit his lip and stared at me.
"Why... why me, specifically?"
"What?"
"There are many puppets among your subordinates who could take the throne, are there not? Someone like Commander Greple."
"That man is out of the question. He can't even do half of half of what the Emperor could do. Which means he can't even do a quarter of what you can."
Of course, I didn't know who Commander Greple was. I didn't know if he was truly capable or not, but regardless, I couldn't give the throne to someone like that.
"Why me?"
"What?"
"I am your political rival."
He was a sturdy man. Even if he was a rival, it would be hard to say it to one's face like that...
"So?"
"And you have always been most uncomfortable with me. You have always treated me like a stranger because I don't share your blood."
Ah... Now I understood why Irene and Lucian, despite being mother and son, had such a bad relationship. Irene was his stepmother.
Right. I had wondered why a mother could be so harsh to her son...
"Then why are you suddenly trying to entrust the throne to me? What will you do if I break the oath and usurp the throne?"
Lucian's question was sharp. He was analyzing the situation thoroughly from Irene's perspective.
'If I were Irene, I would never put a tiger cub like myself on the throne. Therefore, I, Lucian, cannot understand you, Irene.'
That would be the summary.
"Ha, yes. I suppose you could think that."
But I had already prepared the perfect answer to this question.
"Because a puppet cannot stop the hyenas."
"..."
"You said it yourself earlier. That surrounding nations are eyeing the Empire now that the great martial power of the late Emperor is gone."
I pointed straight at Lucian.
"In this Empire, the one who most resembles the late Emperor is you. Lucian."
"...!!"
"You have inherited the late Emperor's martial power and have the strength to command the military. If I put some incompetent commander on the throne, the surrounding nations would clap and cheer. But if you become the Emperor, the story changes."
Lucian couldn't refute my words. Because it was a clear fact he had told me himself.
"If you ascend to the throne, the hyenas of foreign powers will not dare to look down on us. Because the terror of the late Emperor will be projected through you."
I stared deep into Lucian's eyes and drove the final nail in.
"And, it is for the sake of legitimacy."
"Legitimacy, you say?"
"Imagine the scene where you stabilize the Empire and then, on the day Rene comes of age, you voluntarily hand over the throne to your niece. A throne handed over while the living late Emperor watches over it firmly from the side. There would be no legitimacy that could make Rene's power more solid than that."
Silence. Not even the sound of breathing could be heard in the room.
"I want Rene to inherit the throne in a perfect situation. Only then will my own power become even stronger."
I had finished what I had to say. I had perfectly revealed even my ambition, which didn't actually exist.
Lucian looked as if his head was about to explode. That was to be expected.
A woman who hated him so much was using him? And she was even handing over the throne she had wanted so badly? Was there another scheme?
He was probably thinking that to himself. I decided not to give him any more time to worry.
"That is all for my proposal."
I declared coldly.
"If you really hate it, I will put Rene on the throne as Empress tomorrow. Honestly, I could just rule as regent!"
Brinkmanship. Lucian's greatest weakness was his sense of responsibility for the Empire. If I grabbed that sense of responsibility and shook it, he would have no choice but to give in.
Lucian's shoulders trembled slightly. A vein popped out on his clenched fist.
"...I understand."
Finally, Lucian's lips parted. His voice was so raspy it sounded like grinding metal. It was a clear indication of how much he had struggled in that short time.
"I will accept Mother's proposal. I will ascend to the throne. And on the day Rene comes of age, I will transfer the throne to her."
"Good. A wise decisi..."
"Instead! I have a condition."
"What is it?"
"I want you to affirm that you will never interfere in politics while I am Emperor."
"Ho... you are bold."
I pretended to be offended and replied coldly. But inside, I was cheering.
"Fine. You handle it well. I, too, need a rest for the time being."
Lucian let out a long sigh and bowed his head deeply to me. His attitude was as if he were carrying a much heavier burden than when he had entered.
"However!"
At my sharp voice, Lucian's body stiffened for a moment.
"The moment you touch me or Rene even slightly, you will have to descend from that throne through death."
"That is only natural."
"Yes. Good."
I leaned deep into the sofa. It was a non-verbal gesture that everything was over.
"Then, I shall take my leave. I will prepare for the coronation."
"Yes. Go."
Lucian turned and left the room.
Clang!
The sound of the heavy wooden door closing echoed through the room. I confirmed that the door was completely shut and that Lucian's footsteps were fading away.
Only then did a very slow... uncontrollable smile spread across my lips.
"Hehehe..."
A laugh leaked out. It was perfect.
I had given the most certain reward to the benefactor who had pulled me out of hell. And I had done it by perfectly exploiting his tendency to suspect me.
