The Empror's Trap

Ch 13 - Trust

Kenji knew that any explanation he gave now would be pointless in the emperor's eyes.

Without a doubt, this wasn't just an attempted assassination—it was a frame-up. To be precise, framing him was probably the real goal, and the assassination part was just a bonus.

He regretted not realizing this sooner. If the Emperor planted a spy in the Anos's duchy, it stood to reason others would know about it too—maybe they didn't know exactly who the Emperor placed there, but they would guess the Emperor had eyes in the estate. So they simply used that spy and delivered some perfectly ordinary-looking intel. Then, in one move, Kenji would go from victim to traitor who'd tried to kill Pluvia.

Truly Brilliant.

"Your Majesty, I beg permission to speak. I truly had no knowledge of this, and I came to see you today to tell you about what happened to me yesterday, hoping you might have some clues..."

He was sure that explaining would do little good, because to the emperor, he was never really on her side. Or more accurately, he'd never been so, not from the start. Right now, even if he was blameless, Pluvia would suspect him first. That was the burden of Duke Anos.

"I know what you want, Kenji," Pluvia said with a cold laugh, gripping her pen so hard it seemed she might tear her own palm with her nails. "But I've never actually put you in that much of a bind. Sure, there have been times I didn't trust you, but I never tried to kill you. So what is this? Are you so giddy with the power in your hands that you finally couldn't help it? Or do you think now's the time to dethrone me because I haven't stabilized the country yet, so you can slot yourself in?"

Hearing that, Kenji quickly answered.

"I have never considered such rebellion."

"Never considered it, or never dared? Or maybe...you can't pull it off just yet?"

She walked up to him and asked quietly.

Kenji stayed silent.

"I recall telling you once that you are like a brother to me, that anything you want and anything I can give is yours—just don't turn your back on me," she said in an ever-colder tone. She planted her smooth, pale legs in front of him, and each slight movement felt like it could shake the fate of countless people. "And what did you do? You wanted military power, I gave it. You wanted money, I gave it. You wanted to raise your own private troops, I allowed it. Tell me, what more do you want?"

Kenji sensed the sudden tension. He noticed that Pluvia's legs had shifted slightly toward Lina. He realized exactly what was happening.

"Lina, mind your manners."

"Yes, Master," Lina said, pulling her gaze away. She relaxed the hand she'd already bent into a claw and let it hang at her side. Then she gave the same bow Kenji had used. "I beg Your Majesty's pardon. I was merely doing my duty."

Kenji felt nothing but misery inside.

Damn it, girl, can't you just stay quiet? You're glaring at the emperor like you're ready to commit regicide, and then you say you're just doing your job? Whose job are you talking about in front of the emperor?

I kept telling you to read more books, but you never did. This girl is going to get me killed down the line...

"It's all right. Your master is a good man in your eyes," Pluvia said with a long sigh, settling back into her seat. She cast Kenji a calm glance. "No need for more of that 'grand salute,' Grand Marshal Kenji. Aren't you tired of standing there hunched over?"

"I'm fine, Your Majesty. I only hope you will see the truth and settle this matter with a calm mind."

"I am perfectly calm, Grand Marshal." Pluvia glared at him with a mocking smile. "Look, I've already offered you everything I have."

"I dare not accept."

"Stop pretending you're loyal in front of me. Sometimes that irritates me more than you know. Now tell me—how do you plan to talk your way out of this?"

"Lina," Kenji said with a sigh, "tell her majesty exactly what happened last night."

Lina nodded and went over every detail she'd seen—the dead assassins, how they took poison, everything.

Pluvia listened in silence without a single interruption, but her expression changed as the story went on.