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Chapter 159: Children Surpass Their Parents
After parting ways with Cindy, I hurried back to the Imperial Capital riding the horse she had prepared for me.
The horse Cindy provided was of high quality, exhibiting not only speed and stamina but also excellent responsiveness to the reins—meaning it reacted perfectly to human commands.
It was clear that it had been carefully selected and thoroughly trained by skilled hands.
I took a break during the journey to chat with Cindy, but despite this delay, I managed to return to the Imperial Capital without much setback and preserved a fair amount of stamina.
☆
That night, in the Empress’s bedroom.
Upon returning to the Imperial Capital’s detached palace, the former residence of 13th Prince, I utilized my skills in distraction to sneak into Audrey’s room.
Audrey was sitting in front of her desk, quietly engrossed in a book.
I released my technique of concealing my presence and deliberately made some noise as I stood before her.
The nighttime light only illuminated my feet, leaving my upper body hidden in darkness.
“…Who?”
Audrey flinched for a moment and braced herself.
However, she quickly composed herself, looking up slowly to see who it was.
“You are not fazed at all, huh.”
“Your Majesty.”
Recognizing me by my voice, Audrey stood up with a smile like a blooming flower, reminiscent of a young girl.
“When did you return?”
“A moment ago. My return is still to be kept confidential.”
I said this and performed the classic gesture of placing my index finger on my lips.
With just that gesture, Audrey switched from her girlish smile to a dignified expression fitting for the Empress.
“Has something happened?”
“That’s what I want to ask. Has anything unusual happened in the capital?”
To avoid leading her, I asked without specifying what I meant.
Audrey pondered for a moment.
“Nothing unusual… However, my brother was inquiring about who will be the selection officer for this year’s knight selection.”
“I see, perhaps there is a family member he wants to insert.”
“Yes.”
As she said this, Audrey lightly dusted off the chair she had just vacated with her sleeve.
Though it didn’t significantly change its appearance, it was customary for a married royal to attend to the cleanliness of serving furniture, so even as the Empress, Audrey formally tidied the chair for me before inviting me to sit.
I took a seat and took Audrey’s hand, encouraging her to sit in another chair next to me.
She made a face as if to say, “I can’t do that,” but I met her gaze, reassuring her that it was fine since we were alone.
Audrey hesitated for just a moment but then complied and sat down in the chair.
Together, we continued our conversation at the same eye level.
“Do you know how many candidates there are?”
“I haven’t heard directly, but one of my brother’s associates and one passed through the connection.”
“That’s common enough.”
“Yes.”
Audrey simply nodded in agreement, not saying anything more.
She was wise enough to understand that providing more opinions here could potentially interfere with national politics.
History has many examples of how interventions from the Imperial Harem, especially through the Empress, have led to disastrous political consequences.
She fully recognized this and maintained her own “duty” well.
“The selection officer for this year is Oscar, you should convey that to him.”
“Is it alright for me to say so?”
“Yes, but once you inform them it’s Oscar, ensure you track what actions they take.”
“Should I report the results to Your Majesty?”
“No, if they only resort to the commonplace of bribing Oscar, there’s no need to report that. Just pretend you didn’t see it.”
“…Your Majesty is impressive.”
“Hm?”
I looked at Audrey again. She was in awe.
“And quite strict. If they try to manage things through bribery, they likely won’t catch Your Majesty’s eye in the future.”
“Someone truly capable will eventually reveal their talent.”
“…Ah! That’s why you don’t want a report.”
I chuckled softly.
After all, I am human, and I might start viewing them with prejudices if I knew names and details.
If they are truly capable individuals, and if they appear before me in the future, it would be better not to know in advance to promote them without bias.
“You’re amazing, Your Majesty.”
Audrey’s admiration deepened, and she gazed at me with a respectful expression.
As her respect peaked, she suddenly remembered something.
“I apologize, Your Majesty. There was nothing ‘significant’ about your clandestine return…”
“I see. That’s fine, you’re doing well.”
“I truly apologize for not being of assistance to Your Majesty.”
“You are the head of the harem, the mother of the nation. There’s no need for you to know things that are ‘better left unknown,’ and if you can continue to ‘play ignorance’ appropriately, I’ll praise you even more.”
“Ah…”
Audrey nodded and turned serious.
“I understand. From now on, please leave internal matters to me.”
“Ah, that’s more like it.”
I reached out and touched Audrey’s cheek.
She leaned into my hand and placed her own hand over mine, tenderly caressing it.
It was ironic, I thought.
Princess Arlene, the fourteenth princess, and her husband Angus Blue.
Not long ago, I removed part of tradition for them, freeing them from the confines of “princess and consort” and allowing them to be a normal couple.
Yet here I was, bound by tradition.
Considering the status and positions of the Emperor and Empress, even the intimacy they shared in their night chamber was recorded.
The current interaction we were having was the greatest expression of affection.
But I was human too.
Before I became Noah, I was a commoner.
The affection of a commoner—of being human—was long forgotten, but it wasn’t that I didn’t know it at all.
I felt a deep, warm affection for Audrey.
“Audrey.”
“Yes?”
Audrey responded in a soft, gentle voice.
“I have just decided. My father reigned for 60 years. I will never surpass that.”
“So you are going to abdicate, following His Majesty the Retired Emperor?”
“Yeah, I’ll pass it on to a proper successor while I’m still in my right mind.”
“That’s amazing, Your Majesty. You seem to care nothing for power.”
“That’s why, Audrey…”
I looked straight at Audrey.
She seemed a bit surprised and flustered by my gaze.
“You should also live a long life.”
“Huh?”
“Stay healthy so you can spend your old age with me.”
“—Yes!”
Audrey nodded, smiling much more happily than before.
☆
After leaving Audrey’s bedroom, I left the villa and walked along the main street of the Imperial Capital.
The night in the capital never sleeps.
The main street runs through the entertainment district, where people are bustling about in search of pleasure even after sunset.
I headed straight for the residence of the First Vizier—Don’s mansion.
There was a guard standing at the gate, with bonfires lit.
I used my distraction technique to get inside.
“—Ha!”
Once again, I experienced the power of this technique.
Until now—no, everyone until now had been preoccupied with how to keep a “secret visit” as “secret” as possible.
No matter how secretive the parties involved were, at the point where one had the status to initiate such “secret” visits, there were many other people around.
Even just making arrangements to “clear people away” left the trace of the action itself.
The more people involved in a secret, the exponentially higher the chance of it being revealed.
With this technique, I could keep the “secret” to just the parties involved—this time, just me and Don.
“Can I… surpass my father?”
Words I had read in history books and deeply engraved in my heart surfaced in my mind.
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