Two-Faced Princess

“He’s dead.”

“His wife and the Count are alive. Bianca’s story is not over.”

Knox wanted to refute it but he abandoned the idea. He wanted to believe Adrian’s words.

“I hope so.” He spoke quietly. “A little more time later, the fallen Byan family will hopefully regain their laughter and glory.” He raised his grey eyes and looked exactly at Adrian. “Perhaps, you’ll also overcome the unknown memory, My Lady.” The green eyes facing him trembled as she smiled.

* * *

Petra was looking at the papers with furrowed brows. Her glossy black hair was fixed and twisted up as usual and her posture was perfectly straight, even though she hadn’t rested for hours. Of the numerous documents neatly stacked at an angle measured with a ruler, what she held in her hand was Paris’ letter. The content was short. Marquis Fortrus had not only refused his request to take the post of the royal family’s Knight Commander but had also committed him serious disrespect. She wanted to kill him right away, but she held it in. Petra sighed. She just couldn’t give him Amoretta because she was still useful. Without her, her top would take a hit. But above all, Amoretta created the only drug that controlled Paris’s eye color. She couldn’t send Amoretta to anyone else because if he didn’t take it periodically, his eye color would go back to its original state. In addition, she also knew Marquis of Fortus’ quaintly twisted character. Perhaps, because he already had a high status and powerful influence, he didn’t put much importance on money. He was rich enough. However, if something, in particular, caught his eye, he had to have it to be satisfied. No prey, no man. For them, Marquis Fortus was a strong force. The emperor once filled several important positions with his people, but some of the aristocrats who agreed at the time were replaced by their descendants and some were not as loyal to the emperor as before due to repeated tax hikes and vicious public sentiment. Of course, Duke Lipper and his relative, Count Amon, had considerable power, but not enough to command the entire empire.

‘First of all, the leader of the imperial knights must recognize someone else.’ It wasn’t too late to think about how to secure the Marquis’ power later. However, it was more important than anything else to appoint an aide to the position of the Royal Knight Commander. He was once famous for his military skills, but the knights’ loyalty was falling day by day due to his recent pointless wars. Moreover, there was a reason why she had to find and recommend the next Royal Knight Commander herself. It was because of the emperor’s recent attitude towards her. Since meeting Seta, the Emperor hadn’t relied on Petra as before.

Although he still trusted her, Petra’s authority within the palace was subtly restricted before. From the day she first visited the Emperor after Seta entered the palace, she had to live with the unfamiliar anxiety in her mind. The thought that her brother, who had dedicated his life to ascending the throne and that she supported him at the risk of her life might throw her away so easily, tormented her. It was the kind of anxiety that she hadn’t felt in decades. Petra wanted to fill the important position of the Royal Knight Commander with someone close to her. It was necessary to maintain her influence on the Emperor as before, even indirectly, through that person.  She had to make the Emperor think that no one else could help him up close except the commander of his choice. Marquis Fortrus, who exchanged unfriendly deals with her, was a good candidate in many ways but it had to be said that the possibility was now closed.  In that case, it would be more effective to find a competent but more obedient warrior. The problem was that such people were very rare. That person should be able to control the Knights in his Order and wouldn’t betray the Emperor and herself. Above all else, he should have a good reputation in his name, so he can buy the loyalty of the rest of the knights.

“You look tired, Madam.” She could hear his husband’s voice over the mountain of papers. When she looked up, she found Duke Louis Lipper looking at her with concern.

“It’s not different from usual, so there’s nothing to worry about.” Petra said with an expressionless face. It was a familiar relationship and conversation between them. Petra was in charge of most of the family’s affairs, and her helper, Duke Louis Lipper, stayed inside the house except for occasional visits to aristocratic conferences. He was in charge of areas Petra didn’t care about, such as his sons’ education.

“Nisha made a bouquet for you.” Louis offered her a small bouquet of roses. Nisha, the couple’s second son, still a boy of seventeen, loved to make these little gifts. It was different from Gareth, who was just rough.