The Solitude of an Emperor [TO BE UNPUBLISHED]

68 : The Effect

Reginald was in a tough position upon hearing the Emperor’s decree. He could not believe his ears and he could already feel his defeat. If he does not do anything to appease the Emperor, all his plans would be in vain. He needs to win. He needs to become the Emperor’s sole husband. Because if he does not win, it will be a stain on his position as the Crown Prince of the Corstan Kingdom if he becomes a concubine. He could also imagine how his father is going to react if he hears about this news. He will surely be pressured by his father.

All his life, he was never defeated. All the plans he made are all successful. He is known as the best candidate for the throne and he is talented. Everyone who knows him sees him as a pillar of strategy. Once he is the one who leads, everything will be solved at the shortest time. He does not want to lose to that title as it is the only reason why he had people. Once he does not exceed those people’s expectations, all the years he worked his sweat off will be like a snap of fingers.

He walked around his room, back and forth. His personal aid is getting dizzy. He is thinking of a way to gain the upper hand among the concubines. He is planning on killing all consorts one by one but it would be too obvious that the murderer would only be one of the consorts. So what he could do is to get on the Emperor’s side or put a stain on the other consorts so he could gain favour. But that is too much work since he is going to deal with four people, let alone two of them are too powerful.

What should he do? Should he use his trump card now?

Meanwhile, Lorenzo could only look at the luxurious food being served to him at the dining table. It was all the food that is well-known among the nobles, the most expensive wine was served as well. The count’s chef even personally sent all the dishes. The plates are even new to him. After the meeting, his foster father specifically took him to the Count Estate. He could see the intention of this feast.

“I believe that my dear son, Lorenzo, has done his best to win the Emperor’s favour.” Count Marshall raised his glass for a toast. A wide smile is drawn to his lips. 

Lorenzo heard a sneer from his older brothers. They are sending him mocking gaze as if showing him that they do not want him to have good luck. His brothers had no choice but to raise their glasses as well, including their mother who’s looking at him with disgust.

They clanged their glasses as they drank it. 

“I would like to see you become the sole husband of the Emperor, Lorenzo. This way, we will not disappoint the late Duke Garrett. He had always been ambitious for the throne.”

Lorenzo did not speak. Ever since he got in this family, he had never heard them compliment the Emperor. Every meal, they would talk about how they are going to rise from position and how they are into the throne. It was normal in this family so he naturally had gotten their ill intentions. He could not help but think the same.

Now that he had been treated by the Emperor well during these past days, he felt like he was doing something wrong. He had never been guilty of what he was doing but upon meeting the Emperor personally, upon seeing her honest nature about the throne, he felt like an evil conquering a peaceful kingdom. He had long felt that all his plans should be demolished and that he must cut ties with this family.

He is planning on giving up his plans but where would he go after the Emperor selects a husband? It is impossible for him to be that husband so is he going to stay as a concubine? However, there are consequences of being a concubine which is making him rethink about becoming one. 

This family will surely throw him out after the selection because he is not useful to them anymore. With that, he will lose the position as a son of a noble and his subordinates will lose their trust in him as a Captain. He will most likely become a laughing stock to the knights if he becomes both a concubine and a fallen noble. 

The image of Duke Esteban comes to his mind. He stopped eating and remembered that he actually has a biological father who knows about his existence. Will his father accept him at the Duke Estate? But what could be the reason he is going to reside there? What if their paternal relationship is exposed? No, he will drag his father down with him if he does that. He would rather go to the mud rather than his father.

“Are you listening, Lorenzo?”

Lorenzo came back to his senses after hearing his name. He only realized that he is not listening to the blabbering of the Count because he is preoccupied with thoughts.

“Yes.”

Count Marshall observed him for a few seconds before sighing.

“Are you worried about not getting the position?”

Lorenzo did not retaliate. He knows pretty well that it is going to either be Duke Esteban or General Theobarlt who is going to become the main husband of the Emperor.

“Is there something you lack that makes that Emperor disfavour you?”

He flinched there. How is he going to answer that? That the Emperor already had someone she loves dearly? That he is just a consort in name in front of the Emperor?

“Maybe it is because he cannot satisfy the Emperor during the night?” His older brother mocked and interrupted. The other brother and the mother sneered as well.

“Oh,” the mother took this chance to further mock him. “The ladies once told me that youngsters are the energetic ones so they are usually favoured. Could it be that your position as a prestigious captain is just for a show?” The mother sounds innocent but it was clearly a mock on his position.

Lorenzo clenched his fist under the table. These people… from the very start, they want to get rid of him. If it is not because Count Marshall finds him useful, he had already been living on the streets.

“Stop this.” Count Marshall seems to realize Lorenzo’s tight spot. He drank his wine before speaking again. 

“Do not forget that the Emperor rejected the two of you,” he looked at his two biological sons. This made the two look away because it was a stain in their image that the adopted son was chosen instead of one of them. “This means that the Emperor had something to Lorenzo. And you,” he turned to look at his wife who flinched after she saw the warning in his eyes.

“How many pieces of jewelry have you been purchasing for this month? It was worth buying a small mansion.”

The Countess did not speak.

“I will put a limit to your monthly purchasing funds.”

The Countess’ eyes went wide upon hearing this. “What?” How could she maintain her image as the most luxurious lady in the Empire? 

“Do you have any problems?” The Count reprimanded her, making her shut her mouth. She glared over Lorenzo, blaming him for the Count’s decision.

Lorenzo remained silent.

***
END OF CHAPTER 68
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