I Became the Master of the Empress

Episode 300

Before I knew it, Sunday had arrived.

Finally, I would be able to escape this hellish Grand Duchy.

I feel sorry for my mother, but honestly, I have no desire to become the Grand Duke.

I just want to obtain a suitable title and live comfortably.

“Have you woken up, young master?”

“Yeah. Did you sleep well?”

It was 5 AM, but Heinrich and I wake up at this time every day.

My daily schedule starts at 6.

“Yawn~! I’m so sleepy I could die.”

I understood his fatigue.

“But just hold on a little longer. We’ll be leaving Wynn tonight. Is everything ready for departure?”

Heinrich nodded with a serious expression.

“Everything is prepared.”

“Good.”

It has been ten years since I came here.

During that time, I have grown deeply attached to my family.

—

My mother, Pulbia, who always worries about me, and my kind-hearted sister, Octavia.

Then there’s Mary, whose personality is so petty that even the neighborhood dogs know her better than my brother does.

We used to get along well, but lately, as she has emerged as my rival, we’ve become distant.

I have a feeling that Mary wants to become a grand duke.

Well… if Mary becomes a grand duke, that would be fine by me.

After all, if I go to the United Kingdom, it won’t matter if a hero comes, so I feel a bit more at ease.

Having gone through a busy schedule until the afternoon…

I’m going to see my family.

Since today is the last day.

My mother and sister know that I’m coming.

As for Mary… I decided to keep it a secret, just in case.

“Debbie, are you here?”

Before I knew it, my grown-up sister Octavia welcomed me warmly.

“Yeah.”

I gently took my sister’s hand and said.

“I’m doing well. Don’t get sick.”

“Yeah. You take care of yourself too. I’m sure we’ll see each other again.”

Octavia’s eyes glistened with tears.

I hugged her tightly.

Family.

To me, who never knew what family was in the original world, they are incredibly precious.

As I gently released my sister, she wiped her eyes and spoke in a voice full of emotion.

“Ugh. I shouldn’t be crying.”

If my sister, a noblewoman, cries, it might raise unnecessary suspicions.

“I’ll see you again later. So…”

“Yeah… I won’t cry. Let’s hurry to Mom.”

Dinner shared among family.

Though when I say “family,” Valoran is excluded.

At the lavishly set dining table, my mother and Mary are together.

“Did you come?”

—

“Are you here?”

Mary, who has grown quite a bit.

With her long red hair and playful face, she spoke.

“Did you get beaten again today, just like always?”

Since she turned ten and became a player, I have never managed to win against her.

As I pointed that out, my expression hardened.

“You always have no mercy in your hands.”

“Hehe, you’re such a loser~”

As Mary provoked me, my mother’s expression stiffened.

“Mary, didn’t I tell you not to say that?”

“But Mom, it’s the truth, isn’t it?”

Seeing that, my mother sighed.

“Ruling a nation isn’t all about strength. While you may excel in combat, there’s no one better than Debbie when it comes to governing the people.”

There are quite a few people who have high hopes for me, who was called a genius in my childhood.

Notably, my mother and my sister Octavia, for instance.

“Hmph!”

Seeing Mary turn her head with a scoff, as if she had nothing to say, the meal began.

During the various dishes, no one spoke.

Mary seemed to have no particular thoughts, but seeing my mother’s eyes redden, I felt uneasy.

It’s likely that my mother will suffer the most when I leave.

“Debbie, eat this too.”

My mother picked the fish meat and placed it in my bowl.

“What’s this?”

“I made it myself.”

That short statement carried multiple meanings.

Since I was young, my mother had occasionally prepared meals from the United Kingdom.

Perhaps… since she doesn’t know when I’ll return after today, she’s putting extra care into it.

“Yes, I’ll eat well.”

Compared to me and Mary, my mother and sister hardly touched their food.

They just stole glances at me from time to time.

As the meal filled with silence was coming to an end.

“Debbie? Could you come to my room for a moment after dinner?”

I nodded at my mother’s words.

***

When I entered my mother’s room, she embraced me tightly.

“My son… my son.”

Tears streamed down her face.

She caressed my cheek.

“To think I have to part with you when you’re still so young. It feels like my heart is being torn apart.”

My mother, who always took care of me, gently stroked my back.

“Ugh… Elisha. Please watch over this child.”

“Mother… please don’t worry too much.”

I gently pulled away from her and said.

“This isn’t our last goodbye, is it? We’ll see each other again. I promise… I will bring you to the United Kingdom one day.”

I had heard that my mother had wanted to leave this place for a long time.

But she said she couldn’t because of the children.

Instead of renouncing my inheritance, I planned to bring my mother to the United Kingdom.

Well, anyway.

After sharing tender words with my mother, it was finally time to leave.

“Alright… take care. Don’t get sick.”

“Yes, Mother. I hope you stay healthy until the day we meet again.”

And that was my last meeting with her.

***

As I bid farewell and stepped into the corridor.

Heinrich approached me.

“Your Highness. Everything is ready.”

“Alright.”

As we headed to the stables to mount our horses and leave the grand palace gates.

A chilling voice echoed from somewhere.

“Where are you going?”

—

Why is Balorang here?

I tried to calm my anxious heart and spoke with a composed expression.

“My mind… is troubled, so I thought I’d take a night walk.”

It’s not such a flimsy excuse, as I sometimes enjoy walking at night.

“I see, so these days, when you take a night walk, you’re bringing in ships from foreign lands?”

At Balorang’s words, the guards aimed their spears at me.

“W-what?”

Is it impossible? How did the information leak?

But before I could finish my thoughts, Balorang commanded the soldiers.

“Arrest Deviant and lock him in the prison tower!”

“Sir, if you don’t resist, you won’t be harmed.”

Seeing the guard aiming his spear at me, I drew my sword.

“Shut up!”

Damn… if it comes to this, it’s all or nothing.

If I get caught here, I’ll end up dead at Balorang’s hands.

I can’t die like this.

“Ha ha, this is interesting. You all stay put.”

Balorang drew his sword.

“Are you afraid of death?”

His red eyes were filled with a deep murderous intent.

Is he really going to kill me here?

There’s no way I can win against Balorang, the Sword Master and the Empire’s greatest knight.

What should I do? How can I get out of this?

“Players must concede.”

His eyes appeared relaxed.

If I give up here, it will truly be the end.

I have no way to win against Balorang, but if I want to survive, this is the only method left.

“Gah!”

As I sprang forward, Balorang swung his sword slowly,

– Clang….

—

My sword shatters in two and clatters to the floor.

“You can’t even handle mana. You are a disgrace to the Lion family. Arrest the guard, Davian.”

Thus, I was subdued and dragged to the prison tower.

– Thud!

As the rusty prison door slams shut and I find myself trapped within…

How did this happen?

I calmly gather my thoughts inside the cell.

The only ones who know I’m leaving are my mother, Sister Octavia, and Heinrich.

Could it be… Heinrich?

Has he betrayed me? Why on earth?

***

The news of Davian’s arrest reached Fulvia as well.

“Oh no… No!”

She desperately tries to meet Davian, doing everything she can to save her son.

“I’m sorry, Your Highness the Grand Duchess. His Grace the Grand Duke has ordered that no one be allowed in…”

She was blocked by the guard’s obstruction.

‘What should I do?’

I sought out the famous lawyers of the Grand Duchy to inquire about Davian’s situation.

“Given that the charges against His Highness the Prince are defined as treason, it seems they intend to impose the death penalty.”

“The death penalty? Is there no way to stop it?”

At my words, the lawyer merely shook his head.

“It’s difficult. Moreover, our association has received a secret order from His Grace the Grand Duke.”

He glanced around and spoke in a hushed voice.

“To not defend Prince Davian.”

“W-What do you mean?”

“The trial is set for next week. It will likely be difficult to find a lawyer.”

Isn’t this tantamount to saying they intend to kill Davian?

Fulvia, overwhelmed by despair, abruptly stands up.

‘Time is of the essence! Time is critical.’

She called for Alfred, seeking his help.

—

But Alfred’s expression is not very good.

“Your Highness, the Grand Duchess. We have made various proposals to rescue Prince Debian, but they have not been accepted.”

The authority he received from his home country is relatively strong compared to other ambassadors.

Thanks to the consideration of Leon II and III for Pulvia, he holds considerable power as an imperial ambassador. However, despite his various pressures and inducements upon hearing the news of Debian’s arrest, Valoran’s resolve remains firm.

“Ah… then what about Debian?”

A strong will to ensure a death sentence for Debian was evident in Valoran.

“What are we to do? Debi… Debi?”

Worried that she would lose her son once again, Pulvia fainted.

“Your Highness, the Grand Duchess?! Is there no one outside?! Bring the Grand Duchess at once! Hurry!”