The Chamberlains. They were an unrivaled family full of money-gathering talents, starting with mining. By succeeding in business one after another, they were able to exert absolute influence in the empire solely with capital power.
It was difficult to accept that Lady Amber, who had nothing but debt, was protected by such a great family. Lucas, however, mumbled to himself in a voice that seemed to linger in the past.
“It turned out that Claudia has changed beyond recognition because of her…….”
In fact, it was so different that he thought she was someone else who had changed their appearance with magic.
However, Benjamin, who pulled out a new cigarette, did not let it end there and brought up a more shocking story.
“Your Highness may have guessed why Depallacion was standing up for her.”
“It’s probably because of the Crown Princess’s seat. I’ve had enough of their bizarre obsession to get that spot.”
“Then, did you know that Lady Depallacion has something to do with this?”
“What? That can’t be true. Erica will never do anything unless the Duke instructs her to do it.”
“Do you really think so?”
Benjamin asked, holding a cigarette in his mouth and an artifact in his left hand.
Then, a small flame arose over the flickering red jewel.
Lucas stared blankly at the end of the cigarette that burned from the magically lit fire.
Then he suddenly realized something and narrowed his eyebrows.
“No way…… No, it can’t be.”
“There’s nothing impossible in the world. You have to be mindful of all the possibilities.”
So Irene Amber made Erica, Depallacion’s puppet, move on her own?
Lady Amber’s influence over a powerful figure like Depallacion was as difficult as meeting with the emperor directly.
But Irene was clever enough to know that the Duke was the only one who reacted sensitively.
And that, it was Erica who would one day become the empress.
Duke Depallacion had no intentions of raising his own power. He only had his eyes on the Empress’s seat. If he felt that this was being threatened, he would not care if there was fire or water<sup>.
This was a very difficult problem.
If I wanted to reveal the secret, I could sit with Claudia and chat for days and days. But what a shock she’d have. It hadn’t even happened yet, and she was already acting this way.
I was seriously troubled.
Claudia asked me seriously with a similar look.
“But are you closer to me?”
“…….”
In fact, wasn’t it the greatest tragedy for her to say I had someone else I was closer to?