Chapter 68
Since guiding between them had already begun, it was probably inevitable. Empress Yekaterina loved both of her sons, but she had shown less affection toward Kasselard. Part of the reason was that he was an SS-Class Transcendent, but also because he had refused guiding since childhood.
Yekaterina had once witnessed with her own eyes the death of a Transcendent who had gone into a rampage. It was someone who had died right before her in protest against her, because she had been paired with the Emperor when he was still the Crown Prince and couldn’t guide other Transcendents. It had been a foolish and senseless demonstration.
The sight had been so horrific that it left a deep scar on Yekaterina’s heart. She couldn’t understand her son, who pushed guiding away because of a mere aversion.
The end of a Transcendent who rampaged was truly dreadful.
Even before her son reached adulthood, his numbers had already reached a level where a lower-ranked Transcendent would have long since rampaged. Despite his waves worsening day by day, it was astonishing that he endured.
Because he was an SS-Class Transcendent, it was difficult to find a compatible Guide, yet the fact that he could endure far longer than other Transcendents because of that was remarkable.
‘Such luck won’t come twice. That child is a blessing the Goddess has bestowed upon the imperial family.’
Right now, Kasselard was absorbed in guiding with Ephinia and distracted by her, but if the Imperial Princess of the Nabel Empire arrived, the situation might change. The Imperial Princess of Nabel would be a fake anyway, but before that truth was revealed, Yekaterina was worried that Kasselard might begin treating Ephinia terribly again.
She didn’t trust her son’s character in the slightest. She acknowledged that his abilities were outstanding, but that was all. By her standards, there were times when he behaved foolishly in an ambiguous way, so she thought it would be better to push him a little more.
‘Even if the Nabel Imperial Princess turns out to be genuine, there will be criticism if the imperial family monopolizes a Guide of that level. Ephinia is the most suitable Guide for Kasselard.’
Even if Ibella de Hirdenan were truly an S-Class Guide, if she became the Crown Prince’s matched Guide, many Transcendents would likely beg that she not be monopolized.
Agnes was barely managing to guide the S-Class Transcendents, but it was a precarious situation. Because of this, A-Class and S-Class Transcendents were always filled with dissatisfaction.
And even this would become difficult if Agnes were to find a lover, so they lived in constant anxiety.
“There must never be the unfortunate situation where the Crown Princess guides Transcendents other than the Crown Prince.”
That was also a matter of imperial dignity. Yekaterina summoned her personal lady-in-waiting and instructed her to write the message she would send.
It seemed it was time to have tea with Ephinia.
* * *
Trickle…
The sound of tea filling the cup echoed softly. Ephinia kept her gaze lowered, careful not to look around nervously.
‘Calling me the very next day means it must be about that, right?!’
Kasselard, you liar! You said there wouldn’t be any problems!
With a tense expression, Ephinia stared at the teacup as steam rose from it. The Empress seated across from her looked no different from before, but cold sweat ran down Ephinia’s back.
After all, that had happened yesterday!
In the end, Ephinia had enjoyed the ball with Kasselard and returned to the ducal manor, but the events of that night had surely spread widely as rumors.
‘Her Majesty must be thinking of me like a future daughter-in-law…’
She was certain this was to point out her conduct from that day. Thinking that way made her mind go blank.
“Baroness Linier.”
“Yes!”
At Ephinia’s stiff response, Yekaterina glanced at her briefly, then went straight to the point. The misunderstanding she was harboring would disappear once she explained her purpose.
“You have been doing very well so far, but I would like you to proceed a little more quickly. The situation in the imperial family has become delicate.”
The situation in the imperial family has become delicate?
It didn’t seem she was going to scold her about last night. As Ephinia looked at her with a puzzled expression, the Empress spoke with a gentle smile.
“Someone will soon be arriving from the Nabel Empire.”
Caught off guard by the unexpected words, Ephinia looked confused. Even children knew that relations between the Nabel Empire and the Karnan Empire were not very good.
“On the surface, they are coming to request aid because a great internal division has occurred in their country, but… once they arrive here, many things may happen. They will likely commit the insolence of trying to test the Crown Prince’s abilities.”
Yekaterina hesitated over whether she should tell her that they had mentioned a political marriage for the sake of alliance. Kasselard seemed already devoted to her, but Ephinia had not reached that point yet.
‘I can’t yet tell whether this will be poison or medicine.’
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Jennie 🥰