I’m the Only One Who Can Put the Tyrant To Sleep

Chapter 27 The banquet ended in an instant, with no useful information gained about the trends of the noble factions.‘Well, at least we know what Duke Spiegel looks like, and we have a general idea of the other noble factions.’I didn’t think they would have a meeting in a public place in the first place.“Evelyn.”At Caesar’s call, I hurriedly said goodbye to Floria.“I’ll be back next week.”“You must!”With a quick bow, I headed for the carriage. In front of the mansion, in the garden, Caesar stood alone in front of the waiting carriage.“Your Highness, you’re not going in.”Caesar didn’t answer, but instead gestured for me to get in. As I hurriedly climbed into the carriage, I saw an attendant heading toward the mansion.‘What?’Without realizing it, my eyes followed.The time the banquet ended. Unlike the other guests who leave the mansion, the man goes to the mansion alone.The man had gorgeous golden hair that sparkled in the dark streets. His gestures seemed to be in a hurry, but he didn’t look impatient.His side face gave me a strange air. Beautiful, yet dangerous.‘Who is it?’“Evelyn?”Caesar stopped in his tracks and looked at me questioningly.“Oh, I’m sorry!”Even as I shifted my feet onto the carriage, the man’s image lingered in my mind. I didn’t recognize the face, but it felt familiar.‘Where did I see him?’I hurriedly climbed into the carriage and looked out the window. There was nothing but silent darkness on the empty road. ***** Inside the dark room, a strange group of people sat in a circle around a circular table. A candle in the center of the table was lit.“What’s going on?”The one seated at the head of the table spoke solemnly.“Duke.”“Uh-huh!”When a woman with bent back put the title of ‘duke’ in her mouth, everyone’s eyes turned to it.“I thought we were forbidden to say anything that would give away our identity.”“… Stop it.”The one who sat at the top, Duke Spiegel, raised his hand to stop it.“After all, it’s only us, so you don’t have to worry about it.”“You have to be careful.”The white-haired woman clicked her tongue.The reason they were so cautious was simple.They had a dangerous idea: to overthrow the current emperor and take his place.In short, they were aristocrats dreaming of rebellion.“Well then, today’s agenda is….”At that moment, there was a knock on the door. Instantly, the atmosphere in the room stiffened.The Duke’s gaze turned to the woman with the bent back, Viscount Kraus.“Go check it.”“Yes.”Viscount Kraus went out the door behind the black curtain.“Did you invite anyone?”“I never did.”“Then who… Isn’t this place known only to us?”There was a slight commotion around the table.They were gathered in a specially set aside room in Duke Spiegel’s mansion. It was a special room in Duke Spiegel’s mansion that was double and triple enchanted so that no one else would ever know.Whenever Duke Spiegel held a banquet, they would come to the ducal residence under the pretense of attending the banquet and gather in this secret room to plot their next move.“Don’t worry.”Duke Spiegel, the owner of the hideout and host of the gathering, was not pleased.‘Who the hell is here? And how?’All those on the invitation list had already arrived. So no one should came.The door opened again and Viscount Kraus entered.“Uh… Duke.”“Who is it?”“It was the Duke of Bryden.”“What?”The Duke’s brow furrowed deeply.“Duke Bryden?”“You mean the Bryden family?”“How the hell does he know this place….”The faces of those sitting at the table also faded.And for good reason. The Brydens had been known for their loyalty to the imperial family since the first Emperor. They had a good reputation and a fortune that had been passed down through the generations.For the aristocratic faction, they were a big obstacle that they had to get rid of in order to occupy the throne.“Shall I kick him out?”“You say kick him out right now.”“That, but he says he has useful information.”“Useful information?”Duke Spiegel narrowed his eyes and considered. Useful information would be welcome, but he didn’t know if he could trust him.‘Maybe it could be the Duke of Bryden, or maybe a spy from the Imperial faction.’Duke Spiegel was not a man for adventures.“I don’t need it, kick him out.”“Yeah, I see.”But just as Viscount Kraus was about to step out again, the door burst open and the curtain was drawn.“Are you kicking me out? I’m sorry.”“What!”Duke Spiegel jumped up from his seat. It was Ian Bryden, the Duke of Bryden’s son, who opened the door and entered.The crowd of aristocrats were stunned, momentarily forgetting that he was of the Imperial faction.It was because his beauty was unmistakable, even in the candlelight’s faint glow.Gorgeous blonde hair and gorgeous gold eyes. Even the corners of his mouth with an intelligent smile on his pure white skin.Despite his behavior, Ian looked very elegant because of his beauty. Even at a young age, he possessed a sense of intimidation capable of swaying his crowd.“Get out of here now!”“I know it’s hard for you to believe.”“What?”Ian strode forward and stood beside the duke, his momentum causing the duke to flinch and step back.“Hey, what rudeness is this! No one invited you!”“No one invited me, so I came of my own accord.”“What…!”“I am different from my parents. I’m not like the Brydens, who foolishly remain loyal to the Emperor for no gain.”The rumbled loudly at the blatant statement.“I assure you, if you cast me out now, you will regret it greatly.”“… Are you talking about that useful information?”“That’s right.”Perhaps he saw Duke Spiegel’s hesitant expression, Ian added.“If you listen to it and don’t like it, then you can kick me out.”The Duke looked around. A few people gathered at the table nodded their heads.It was certainly a no-loss proposal for the Duke, or even the aristocrats.“… If so, tell me.”Ian said with a bright smile as if he knew that.“Are you aware that the Crown Prince has changed?”A hush fell over the table at Ian’s words. The Crown Prince changed?Of course, it was no secret that the crown prince had grown taller and more muscular in recent years, but a change in a growing child was hardly something you’d call ‘changed’.‘Does it mean that the change is not in appearance but in ideology?’Duke Spiegel narrowed his eyes and considered Ian’s question.“Oh, I see, no one else has noticed?”The white-haired woman let out a huff.“If you are trying to test us with words like that, just leave.”“Are you sure I can leave? I know how to get in and out of this room, and I know who the people sitting here are.”“Are you threatening me?!”With his mouth shut, Ian slowly walked around the table. The sound of his shoes echoed.“I’m sure you’re aware that not long ago… all the maids in the Crown Prince’s palace were changed.”At Ian’s absurd remarks, the Duke shot at him.“Why are you talking about that all of a sudden?”“Do you even know why?”“The Empress has decided. I hear she’s having a problem with the maid she’s been keeping undercover.”“Problem…. Did you even hear what the problem was?”“Do I really need to know the reason for all this bullshit? How many cards we’ve played and thrown away for this-”“You are treating the Empress like a fool.”The Duke clenched his jaw. Ian was right, they were treating the Empress with disrespect.‘A person who is greedy for a subject that she has nothing.’That was what the nobles thought of the Empress.‘I firmly believe that if we hold hands, the Princess will ascend to the throne and that she will be able to seize power herself.’The aristocrats were planning to use her like that.It didn’t matter who the Emperor was. It only matters who is behind it.So, once the Imperial faction was dealt with, dealing with the Empress would be a piece of cake, or so they thought.But now Ian was telling them they were wrong.“I’m only saying this in good faith, but if you continue to ignore the Empress like this, you’re going to get in trouble.”“… Does that mean she has an ulterior motive for changing the crown prince’s maids?”“Are you curious?”With only a wry smile, Ian didn’t speak easily. The duke realized he was looking at him.Of course he was curious, but he shrugged, unwilling to admit it to the man who had just tried to drive him away. The duke was the head of the noble faction, and there were many eyes in the room.When he saw the duke’s eyes searching for understanding, Ian raised his hands in surrender.“Very well.”“What?”“I’ll give you the information first, and I can assure you it’s solid. As for my proposal, I’m sure the Duke will accept it readily.”“You mean you’ll leave the judgment to me?”“That’s right. If you like my information, I hope you and I will have some time alone after this meeting.”Behind his serious expression, the Duke smiled secretly. A deal alone was what he wanted more than anyone.‘You act so smart, but you’re still a child.’The Duke seemed to think for a moment, then finally nodded.“Good. Let’s talk.”“The story will be told by someone else, not me.”“Someone else?”With exaggerated hand gestures that could only be seen in a theater, Ian pointed to the drapery, and a woman slowly emerged from the drawn curtain.Many eyes focused on the newcomer.Standing there was Marriott, who could not hide her face distorted in anger.