The Evil Empress Adores Me-Chapter 50

Just as the Margrave of Antes gritted his teeth in frustration—

"...Who is that?"

"Surely not..."

A wave of astonishment spread through the banquet hall.

A noblewoman, elegant and composed, stepped gracefully into the room.

For the past five years, she had not attended a single public event.

Lifting her gaze, the noblewoman greeted the gathering.

"It has been some time."

The nobles rose to their feet and offered their respects.

"We greet Your Majesty, the Dowager Empress."

"We greet Your Majesty, the Dowager Empress."

Following them, the Empress knelt and bowed.

"I greet Your Majesty, the Dowager Empress. It is truly a joy to see you honor us with your presence."

"......"

"......"

A faint tension settled over the room.

After all, the Empress and the Dowager Empress were not exactly on good terms.

The Empress was the daughter of a noble family that had helped the current Emperor stage his coup, while the Dowager Empress had fought to protect her grandson.

For a moment, the two women studied each other with complex expressions.

Then, the Dowager Empress finally responded to the Empress's greeting.

"I am unsure if it is appropriate for me to attend a gathering of such importance. But thank you for the invitation."

"Your presence is an honor, Your Majesty."

Meanwhile, the people of Antes focused on one specific phrase—"a gathering of importance."

It meant that those present at this banquet did not intend to turn a blind eye to Antes’s plight.

A moment later, the Margrave of Antes spoke, his tone somewhat softened.

"I am grateful to Your Majesties for showing respect to Antes."

In truth, the expressions of the people from Antes had noticeably relaxed.

Because if the most senior member of the imperial family—the Dowager Empress—had come out of her five-year seclusion for this banquet, it meant that the imperial family acknowledged the seriousness of their situation.

"But we did not come all this way just to be honored with a fine meal."

The Margrave’s eyes sharpened.

"Antes is facing a crisis."

"...Margrave of Antes."

"We do not even have enough supplies for our soldiers. They lack weapons, they lack food—"

Clenching his fists, the Margrave bit his lip before continuing.

"And yet, His Majesty the Emperor refuses to even grant us an audience."

"......"

"......"

Silence.

A Grand Lord of the empire, setting aside his pride and ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) dignity to plead—

That alone showed just how dire the situation in Antes had become.

"'Make do with the tax exemptions you've been given'? Does that sound reasonable to anyone here?"

The Margrave’s voice rose in frustration.

"The only reason Antes has tax exemptions is because our situation demands it!"

If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.

"Please, if you would just calm down for a moment—"

"No, tell me, who among you could remain calm in my position?!"

Overwhelmed with injustice, the Margrave slammed both hands down onto the table.

"I am at my wit’s end! I have to wonder—does His Majesty still hold a grudge against Antes?!"

At that furious outburst, people scrambled to soothe him.

"Margrave, please, your emotions are getting the best of you!"

"We understand your frustration! We do!"

When the previous Emperor passed away, the Margrave of Antes had opposed the current Emperor's ascension.

After all, there had been a rightful Crown Prince—why should the Emperor's younger brother take the throne?

And now, the Margrave was openly questioning whether this was the Emperor’s way of exacting revenge.

To be honest... His Majesty probably would do something that petty.

The Empress pressed her lips together as she watched the heated exchange unfold.

Meanwhile, the Margrave’s voice grew even sharper.

"Otherwise, how could he treat us like this?!"

"Sir, please!"

"We are already struggling just to hold the beasts at bay, and yet His Majesty continues to ignore us—"

"Margrave of Antes."

At that moment—

A calm voice cut through the tension.

It was Matthias.

"Why don’t you escalate the situation?"

"...Escalate?"

"You are here requesting financial support from His Majesty, correct?"

Even as all eyes in the hall turned to him, Matthias remained completely composed.

"And that is why His Majesty can simply ignore you."

"That’s—!"

"He holds all the power in this situation."

His deep green eyes gleamed coldly.

"The first step is to take that power back."

"Take it back?"

Murmurs spread through the room.

Matthias continued in an even tone.

"Yes. Start by officially requesting emergency relief funds from the Noble Assembly."

The empire’s budget wasn’t solely controlled by the Emperor.

There was one other system in place—

The Emergency Relief Fund, which could be allocated by the Noble Assembly.

The problem was...

"...Duke Rochester, are you mocking me?!"

The Margrave’s face turned red with anger.

"Emergency relief funds require unanimous approval from the Noble Assembly!"

Getting every noble to agree on something was practically impossible.

Yet, despite the Margrave’s outrage, Matthias remained unfazed.

"I do not expect unanimous approval."

"Then what exactly are you—"

"I have one goal."

Matthias’s gaze was unwavering.

"To shift the power dynamic away from His Majesty."

The Margrave clenched his fists, breathing heavily as he glared at Matthias.

"By requesting emergency funds, you publicly declare that Antes is in dire need."

Matthias’s eyes remained sharp.

"This will attract media attention."

"The... media?"

People blinked in confusion.

Matthias calmly continued.

"The Emperor denied Antes’s request for aid."

His words landed with a heavy weight.

"The situation was so urgent that the Margrave of Antes had no choice but to request emergency funds from the Noble Assembly."

No one dared to interrupt.

Everyone hung on to every word.

"Antes is desperate. And if it falls, demonic beasts will invade the empire—it's only a matter of time."

His gaze sharpened.

"And if the media begins to spread that message—"

"......."

"......."

Matthias tilted his head slightly, scanning the faces around him.

"Wouldn’t the people start demanding that Antes receive aid?"

Then, he shrugged.

"And as we all know, His Majesty is quite... sensitive to public opinion."

"Th-That’s true."

The Emperor already had terrible public approval.

After all, he had stolen the throne from its rightful heir.

And if on top of that, he was exposed for abandoning his duty to protect the people—

"If public sentiment turns against him, His Majesty will have no choice but to support Antes."

Matthias ended his explanation flawlessly.

"......A-Amazing."

"I never expected such a brilliant solution..."

"Yes! Duke Rochester’s insight is truly impressive!"

Even the furious Margrave of Antes nodded in agreement.

Amidst the wave of admiration, Matthias simply shook his head.

"No."

"...Excuse me?"

"I was not the one who came up with this plan."

The nobles stared, bewildered.

If not Duke Rochester... then who?

Matthias settled the mystery with a single sentence.

"This was the idea of His Highness the Crown Prince."

At that moment, the Dowager Empress lifted her gaze.

Her eyes, wide with shock, locked onto Matthias.

And then—

"Th-The Crown Prince?"

"But isn’t he confined—?"

The Empress stepped forward.

"His Highness is currently under my protection."

A ripple of uncertainty spread through the room.

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Who was protecting whom, exactly?

"This was an arrangement approved by His Majesty himself."

The Empress’s words were gentle yet firm.

"Thanks to that, I was able to seek the Crown Prince’s counsel on this matter."

The attendees exchanged glances.

They had assumed that the Crown Prince and the Empress would be bitter enemies.

But now...

‘...Perhaps their relationship is better than we thought.’

As the nobles whispered amongst themselves, the Dowager Empress studied the Empress intently.

Their gazes met—

And the Empress... smiled.

At that, the Dowager Empress’s expression softened.