What Became of the Tyrant After the Pregnant Empress Left - Chapter 130
“Yes, Your Majesty. In fact, the imperial consort is in no position to be the culprit, as many people can account for her whereabouts,” Zebiken stated firmly.
Kazhan furrowed his brow. The answer displeased him, but he suppressed his irritation to maintain a rational discussion.
“What exactly was the consort doing last night that would rule her out?”
“She left the banquet hall early and remained in the royal garden for quite a while. I, too, saw her there.”
“She couldn’t have been in the garden all night, could she?”
“True, but considering what happened to Your Majesty, it is improbable that she could have been involved. The garden is located on the opposite side of the palace from the changing room,” Zebiken reasoned smoothly.
While Kazhan acknowledged the logic, he realized he would need to verify timelines to refute it. His hand lightly brushed his jawline as he hummed in thought, allowing Zebiken to continue with his flowing rhetoric.
“The nobles will think that Your Majesty is grasping at straws to depose the imperial consort unfairly. They may believe that, regardless of her guilt or innocence, you would eliminate her eventually. Especially now, with your public affection for the Empress and the Imperial Prince solidifying their positions, the consort’s value has diminished.”
Kazhan clenched his teeth inwardly, annoyed by how astutely the chancellor read him.
The truth was, Kazhan initially brought in the consort for Ysaris’s protection. The consort’s existence was meant to serve as a decoy, diverting hostile attention from Ysaris, who, in her precarious position, had yet to conceive a Tennilath child. With Mikael’s birth, the consort had outlived her usefulness.
As Kazhan recognized that Zebiken’s counsel was veering away from his intended course, his expression soured.
“So?”
“Your Majesty, I suggest focusing on identifying and punishing the true culprit for now. Deal with the consort later, under irrefutable grounds. Ensuring solid evidence will benefit Your Majesty in the long run.”
“Do you think I care about public opinion?” Kazhan retorted sharply.
How many nobles had he already executed for the most trivial of reasons?
With an indifferent demeanor, Kazhan conveyed his disregard for lives—save for Ysaris’s.
Zebiken found Kazhan’s apathy unsettling, but it was also something he expertly exploited.
“Perhaps not the others, but surely Your Majesty cares for the Empress’s regard. Her sense of fairness would not condone an unjust execution,” Zebiken remarked knowingly.
“…”
Kazhan fell silent, the memory of Ysaris’s horrified expression when he had once asked if he should dispose of the consort rising unbidden in his mind.
“True. That would be troublesome,” Kazhan conceded after a long pause.
“Precisely. A more deliberate approach will yield better results. The consort is powerless for now, so there’s no need to act rashly.”
“Fine. I’ll put it on hold for now. But find the true culprit and bring them to me.”
“As Your Majesty commands. I will bring my son by tomorrow as well.”
“Good. You may leave.”
Maintaining a formal posture, Zebiken offered a crisp bow and exited the emperor’s office. Only after traversing the long corridors and entering the workspace designated for his duties as chancellor did his composed facade crack.
“Click.”
Everything had gone awry.
If events had unfolded as planned, Kazhan’s memory would have been wiped, and the incident reduced to a minor accident—an inexplicable fainting spell in the changing room.
If only the consort had fulfilled her role properly, it wouldn’t have come to this.
“Absolutely useless,” Zebiken muttered with a bitter chuckle, shaking his head as he sank into his chair. The aftermath of last night’s bungled plan had cost him dearly to cover up.
He cast a furtive glance at a concealed drawer. A thin smile crept onto his lips, tinged with both satisfaction and regret.
“Still, there were gains,” he mused.
One outcome stood out: the experimental potion, created from his blood and refined by a black mage’s alchemy, had proven effective on the emperor.
Moreover, he had successfully used an unregistered magic circle within the palace—no minor feat. Though contingency plans had been prepared, bypassing the palace’s magic immunity barrier was an accomplishment Zebiken relished.
“Indeed, its power is considerable…”
Yet vigilance was essential. Black mages were notorious for turning on their allies, and Zebiken was determined to stay a step ahead.
With a narrowed gaze, he inspected the black envelope resting on his desk. Picking up his quill, he began drafting a reply to the enigmatic faction he had partnered with.
Having bought time by shielding the consort for the moment, it was time to address external matters.
* * *
“Mikael!”
“Mommy!”
Ysaris eagerly embraced her son as he rushed into her arms, his warmth and softness bringing an uncontrollable smile to her face.
But then…
“Why are you here, Cain?”
