TMLITTKM | CHAPTER 49

Chapter 49

“The Paradox of Neutrality, what does it mean?”

In response to the Empress’s question, I answered with another question.

“Your Majesty, what happens if neutrality is maintained between a tilted scale?”

“It stays tilted as it is.”

“Yes, that’s correct, Your Majesty.”

I paused slightly and sipped my peppermint tea.

The sharp scent filled my mouth, making me feel refreshed for a moment.

“The idea of someone staying neutral when the scales are tilted is essentially the same as siding with one of them.

It’s like when two brothers fight and the father just silently watches.”

“…I see.”

The Empress opened the latter part of The Paradox of Neutrality.

After briefly skimming its contents, she closed the book.

“It’s a book with a good message.

Will you lend me this one as well?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“But tell me what you really want.

You brought this book right after I mentioned giving you a reward.

It seems the content of this book is tied to the reward you’re seeking, isn’t it?”

At her direct words, I couldn’t dodge the question, so I smiled awkwardly.

“Yes, Your Majesty.

But the book is here to add persuasion to what I’m about to say.”

“Very well.

I will read this book carefully, so go ahead.”

I exhaled lightly and looked straight at the Empress.

“Your Majesty, I ask that you dismiss your attendants.”

The Empress said nothing and simply turned to her maids.

“Stand back at least twenty steps.”

“Thank you.”

It seemed she had learned after experiencing Rizel that sometimes she needed to keep distance from her servants.

“First, this is about His Highness the Crown Prince and my father, the Duke of Wentworth.”

“My son and your father?”

“Yes.

My father has proposed a new tax reform bill, and soon there will be a vote on it.”

“If the Duke of Wentworth proposed a reform bill, it must be one favorable only to the nobles.”

The Empress said it as if it were obvious, without even looking at me.

“The noble faction will support the Duke’s reform, while the Imperial faction led by the Crown Prince will oppose it.

Since the nobles hold more votes, the Duke of Wentworth will likely win.

Is that what you mean by a tilted scale?”

She was so precise that I had nothing to correct or add.

I answered meekly, like someone whose weak spot had been hit.

“Yes, yes.”

“Neutrality here… neutrality….”

Even the wise Empress didn’t immediately think of the Emperor.

After all, for so long emperors hadn’t participated in voting.

“If you mean neutrality as the votes that don’t participate, do you mean the citizens’ votes?”

“No, Your Majesty.

If it were that, I’d be out on the streets persuading them, not visiting you.

The neutral votes I mean… belong to His Majesty the Emperor.”

When I gave the answer, the Empress stared at me silently.

Was it too much even for her?

To move the Emperor into casting his votes?

I grew nervous as I waited.

After a long silence, she slowly spoke.

“Yes, His Majesty the Emperor holds twenty votes.”

“Yes.”

“Countess, let me make sure I’m not mistaken.

Am I right to understand that what you’re asking is for His Majesty to use his voting rights in favor of the Crown Prince’s side?

That would mean opposing the Duke of Wentworth.”

“That is correct, Your Majesty.”

The Empress shook her head with genuine puzzlement.

“You are the daughter of the Duke of Wentworth.

If that happens, the Duke will suffer significant political damage.

It’s not just losing—it’s losing because the Emperor himself intervened.

Are you truly fine with that?”

“……”

Truthfully, I was fine with it.

But I worried I might come across as too brazen a daughter against her father, so I answered with silence instead.

Still, since the Empress waited for an answer, I finally spoke.

“A child does not always have to share the same will as her father.

And… my father and I are not particularly close.”

It would have been too much to explain, as I had to Vincent, with all the details.

Fortunately, the Empress accepted that explanation and let it go.

“Hm. I see.”

“Your Majesty, will you be alright with this?”

I worried whether she might face political burdens.

At my concerned question, the Empress smirked.

“It’s only a matter of trying.

I cannot promise the result.”

“Just attempting it is already enough for me.

Thank you.”

“Well, it would also be better for the people.

But Countess…”

As she spoke casually, her tone suddenly sharpened when she addressed me.

“Yes?”

“Does Vincent know that you are here making such a proposal?”

“Uh… I haven’t told him.”

But since my movements and routine were being monitored, he probably already knew I came to the Empress’s Palace.

Derek will report soon enough.

The Empress didn’t press further and asked nothing more.

“Very well.

Leave the matter of persuading His Majesty to me.”

Although she said she couldn’t guarantee success, I felt certain she would accomplish it.

I was glad I had come.

This wasn’t even part of the original story.

“Then, Your Majesty, I will take my leave.”

“Ah, wait, Countess.”

Just as I rose to bow, the Empress called me back urgently.

I looked at her, wondering what I had missed.

The Empress hesitated before speaking.

“Your Majesty?”

“Before you go, could you teach our new head chef a recipe?

The apple porridge and quince tea you made for me before.”

Her expression looked a little embarrassed as she said it, and I found it somewhat endearing.

“Yes, I’ll teach the recipe before leaving.

But… is the head chef new as well?”

“Yes.

Rizel couldn’t have acted alone in everything.”

“Ah, I see.”

Of course.

Though Rizel gave the orders, she must have had others assisting her.

Perhaps not even all of them had been removed yet.

So that’s why she drinks only water now.

It struck me that both the Empress and Vincent now avoided tea.

Mother and son shared that in common, ironically.

“Then, Your Majesty, I will return again soon.”

After bowing properly this time, I headed straight to the kitchens of the Empress’s Palace.

It wasn’t a difficult recipe, but with simple things, even a slight difference in ratio could completely change the taste, making it hard to reproduce exactly.

“Ohhh, so it needs more honey than I expected.”

“Yes.

You need about this much to bring out the sweet flavor.

It’s fine warm, but in summer, it’s also good chilled.

And as for the apple porridge…”

I wrote the detailed recipe for the new head chef before returning to the Crown Prince’s Palace where I stayed.

I deliberately chose to walk instead of taking the carriage, thinking of it as exercise.

*Now then.

Will the Empress succeed?*

If she really persuaded the Emperor to cast his twenty votes, and that caused the Duke of Wentworth to lose—

I should make sure to see the Duke’s face when it happens.

And when he realized it was because of me, Amelia Wentworth, how furious would he become?

The thought made me anticipate it.

Then another realization made me laugh.

“I really… dislike the Duke of Wentworth, don’t I?”

Well, isn’t it obvious?

Right now, Vincent may be the immediate threat to Amelia, but it was the Duke who had pushed her to this desperate state in the first place.

If Amelia were to be reborn and seek vengeance on just one person, it would surely be him.

Suddenly, I remembered Amelia in that dream a few days ago, clutching Vincent and weeping sorrowfully.

The thought felt like it was about to connect to something, but slipped away, leaving me frustrated.

Still, choosing to walk back to the Crown Prince’s Palace was the right decision.

The path painted with autumn leaves was as beautiful as a red carpet, the sky was blue, and the air was cool.

Yes, I need to exercise more.

Physical strength was always necessary, and I needed to build it up in advance.

With such useful resolutions in mind, I kept walking.