Chapter 41
“Is that truly something you should be saying here?!” Marquis Beneretti, the Empress’s father, roared, his face twisting in fury.
“Then where should I say it?” Edin asked, his expression instantly turning cold as he looked at the Marquis. Marquis Benneretti, speechless, clenched his fists.
“Tell me, Marquis. Where exactly am I supposed to discuss my inability to… perform with the Empress?”
“Your Majesty!!”
“Lower your voice, Marquis.” Theor, who had been lounging on his chair with his arms crossed, frowned and growled at Marquis Benneretti’s outburst. The Marquis glared at the impertinent young man, barely older than his own son, but held his tongue. Theor was, after all, the head of the Empire’s sole ducal house.
“So, the issue is that His Majesty, even in rut, couldn’t, shall we say, rise to the occasion? Meaning, His Majesty is… impotent? Is that what this meeting is about? Can we wrap this up then?” Theor shrugged, clearly eager to end the tedious meeting. Edin raised an eyebrow, displeased.
“I can perform with everyone but the Empress.”
“Everyone here knows Your Majesty spent your entire rut with Nyxna at the Rose Palace. There’s no need to specify it’s only the Empress, Your Majesty. We all understand.” Theor’s sly remark prompted one of the ministers to shout at Edin.
“Regardless, Your Majesty should have spent your rut with the Empress, as per the late Empress’s will!”
“Indeed, Your Majesty. The late Empress’s will…”
“However, the late Empress’s will…” As the ministers chimed in, each criticizing Edin for disregarding the will, he slammed his hand on the table. Bang!
“Are you suggesting,” Edin’s voice boomed, silencing everyone as they turned to look at him, “that you wanted me to suffer throughout my rut?”
“…!!”
“I sought out my Nyxna because I couldn’t be with the Empress. Is that a problem?” The ministers exchanged glances. It was a problem, and yet, it wasn’t. When an Alpha’s rut came, they had to sate their desires. The agony of an unfulfilled rut was unimaginable. The Alpha ministers knew this all too well.
Edin’s inability to perform with the Empress during his rut was a significant issue publicly. However, addressing it directly could jeopardize the Empress’s position. Marquis Benneretti had intended to focus solely on Edin abandoning his daughter. But the cunning Theor had exposed the issue the Marquis wanted to keep hidden, making it difficult for him to press the matter further.
***
Edin instructed Zerga to tighten security at the Rose Palace. Since Lysei had spent the rut with him, the Empress and her father wouldn’t let her be. He longed to keep her by his side, but the ministers were already restless about the rut issue. While the Imperial Palace was safe for him, the Rose Palace was safer for Lysei, so he couldn’t bring her there.
“Some of the Shadows have already been bought by the Empress. We need more trustworthy guards at the Rose Palace.”
Edin nodded at Zerga’s words.
“Send Trey.”
“Sir Trey alone won’t be enough.”
“Do we have anyone else we can trust?”
“There’s Theor.”
“….”
“He’s busy trying to locate the Heretics’ leader. He’s relying on reports from his agents abroad, so he could spare a few days to guard the Rose Palace.”
“….”
“Should I call him?”
“…He’s… unsettling.”
“Is there anyone more trustworthy in the Empire than Theor?”
“….”
“Just call him. Lady Lysei’s safety is paramount.” Zerga pressed, seeing Edin’s hesitation. Edin looked at Zerga for a moment, then finally nodded.
“Send Theor and Trey to the Rose Palace.”
***
“The security at the Rose Palace is tighter than anticipated. It will be difficult to gain access.” Seiren reported to Raz. Raz had ordered him to kill Lysei, the woman who had spent the rut with Edin, by any means necessary.
“We have our people among the Shadows. Contact them and find a way in.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“If she’s carrying his child, it will be even more difficult to get to her. We must hurry.”
“Don’t worry, Your Majesty. I will bring you the Nyxna’s head.” Seiren’s words earned a nod from Raz.
The thought of Lysei, a mere Beta, carrying Edin’s child filled her with anxiety. If Edin had a child, especially one born from a Beta, before she did, it would jeopardize her position and her father’s.
Most ministers supported her father, but their loyalty was fickle. If they discovered her father’s dealings with foreign Heretics, many would abandon them. A Beta bearing the Emperor’s child before she, the Empress, did was simply unacceptable.
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