I’ll Quit as The Empress

Fabian recalled memories of the past and looked at Sagan fiercely. For the first time, throughout his life, he intended to use his power to protect his precious things, not for his Emperor’s seat. And as Evelyn said, he won’t take a single step back.

“Apparently … Everyone has gathered except us.”

“But isn’t this a good thing, Duke of Metis also came here at the right time?”

Sagan squinted his eyes, giving him a protest look, but Fabian ignored him lightly and sat down on the throne.

The nobles who followed Sagan were more concerned about the presence of the Senate next to him than the Emperor itself. Anxiety and curiosity crossed over in their mind, about what kind of bomb-statement the Senate would judge.

“You guys don’t have to put on tense expressions like that. What I will convey today is good news for this Empire. “

Suddenly, Sagan’s face hardened by Fabian’s announcement.

“Especially, those of you who have always been worried about my succession will be pleased.”

Sagan breathed deeply. In the end, his worst prediction seemed would be happened.

“The child, known as Prince Adrian of the Felice Kingdom is my son.”

The Congress hall fell silent at once, and the nobles of Duke Metis’ faction immediately turned their attention to Sagan.

“To be precise, my son and the only legitimate heir of this imperial family was born to Evelyn Felice, my Empress,” Fabian exclaimed confidently. The Senate Elders sitting behind him also nodded, as though they had already confirmed it.

But not for Sagan, as it meant that things were going to the worst for him. He couldn’t stand such a statement and quickly stepped up. “Your Majesty! This is not a matter that can be settled by a hasty decision,” he shouted in frustration.

Fabian watched Sagan coldly through his black eyes, as he had already known this would happen, and said, “He’s my son, I’ve accepted him. Besides, the senate elders here have also confirmed it. So, is there anything else that needs to be discussed?”

The Imperial family had a method of proofing blood ties from generation to generation. It was an open secret, but the Elders had to certify it personally using an ancient-relic, and Fabian had done both. In other words, no one could deny that Adrian was Fabian’s biological child.

“……Legally, yes, he is,” Sagan said.

Fabian frowned at his remarks. It was an expected refutation, still, when that words pierced his ears, it’s very unpleasant to hear.

“He’s literally the Prince of Felice Kingdom. The illegitimate child of the current King.”

The offensive terms grew more and more. Coupled with Duke Metis’ nobles, who started to add fuel one by one.

“The prince is an ‘outsider’. That’s definitely a problem.”

“Yes, and……He’s not the Empress’s child.”

Huh, Fabian spat out an unbearable laugh, “Now, have you not heard that the Elders and I have recognized Adrian as my biological son?” His fiery voice revealed all his hostility. But the opposition didn’t want to back down easily.

The nobles knew, if they obeyed Fabian’s decision, their faction would lose the posts of successor and Empress. If that happened, then it would be hard to interrupt this stubborn Emperor again. They felt that even though they were silent, they would still lose their positions, so it would be better to try something.

“Your Majesty. I beg your pardon …. but it is true, if that child is legalized as Emperors’ son and the heir of the Empire, it will violate the qualifications law.”

It was a fact that Fabian must have known it from the beginning. Then Sagan continued to speak in the limelight of nobles’ attention, “According to the laws, the heir of the Imperial family must be born here, in this Empire, and from a legitimate Empress. And only then he can be verified by the Elders.”

“So, didn’t I and the Elders already verify it?” Fabian irritatedly pressed his intonation, but Sagan didn’t go easy on him. “I don’t deny that. The Elders have indeed guaranteed that he is Your majesty’s son. However, two conditions must be fulfilled first to become an Imperial successor.”

Sagan’s war of words to restrain the Emperor’s tail had begun.

“Currently Prince Adrian is the Prince of Felice Kingdom……And in truth, he wasn’t born to the ‘Empress’…..Since she didn’t give birth in the Imperial family when she was the Empress.” It was an inevitable fact. At the same time, it was also a good excuse for Sagan to stick around with his opinion.

“Forgive me Your Majesty, but in this case ……… no child out of wedlock or illegitimate can be a successor.”

Fabian rose from the throne, his dark eyes were filled with icy fury as he watched how Sagan dared to cross the line and risk his political life, “How dare you call my son illegitimate?!” He came down from the podium and stood in front of Sagan. “Who do you think you are? Whatever it is, he’s stronger and nobler than you, so you should keep a guard on your tongue.”

Seeing Fabian’s intimidating figure and his ferocious spirit as if he was ready to pull the sword to cut his head right away, Sagan shut his mouth for a while.

“Never again insult my son with such disrespectful words.” Afterwards, Fabian, who sighed angrily, returned to the throne and sat in a pressing-posture.

On the other side, the Elders didn’t say a single word. Still, their eyes and expressions indicated that they also agreed with the Emperor’s opinion. Besides, they had already recognized Adrian as the Emperor’s successor and his biological son, so there was no reason to oppose it.

“And one more thing, I won’t leave the Empress’s seat empty anymore.” Fabian’s lip twisted slightly. “I’m going to remarry Evelyn Felice, the Empress who gave birth to my child. So, it won’t be a problem anymore, right?”

Those words burned the hearts of many people at that moment.

“Your Majesty, It’s impossible!” Sagan shouted.

“Why? You’d better think carefully this time before you speak, Duke.” Fabian threatened him back.

“It’s not my opinion, Your Majesty, but it’s legally impossible.”

Fabian stared down at Sagan with a bored face.

“Your Majesty’s divorce was organized by the Vatican. Also, all holy marriages on this continent can only be officially recognized with the Vatican’s blessing.”

“So?” Surprisingly, Fabian didn’t feel agitated. Precisely, his calm attitude fueled Sagan’s anxiety.

“If you want to do what you wish, first of all, Your Majesty must retrieve the marriage certificate that was destroyed by the Vatican and annul the divorce.”

Every time Sagan said a word, Fabian glared at him, who was always against his will. His reaction didn’t go beyond Fabian’s expectations either.

“Ah, unlike me, the Duke has a good relationship with the Vatican. Then, are you trying to set up a mediation?”

Sagan frowned his eyebrows. Could it be?

“Well, thank you for your advice, but you don’t have to,” said Fabian calmly.

Sagan lowered his brows. Even if Evelyn gave birth to Adrian, even though that child was Fabian’s son, it couldn’t be denied that he was born after they had divorced.

The Vatican wouldn’t recognize an illegitimate child as the heir of the Imperial family. And, such a child also couldn’t be an excuse to annul their divorce.

“I’m a little tired. But fortunately, I have someone to tell you instead.”

Fabian’s words were completely unexpected. But after the Palace chief’s shouting was heard. Sagan realized that it wasn’t mere nonsense.

“The Duke of Akshire is coming!”

Shame appeared on Sagan’s face as a name he would never have thought of echoed in the congress hall. In the first place, he was curious as to why Akshire was interfering in the current succession issue of the Imperial family.

But before Sagan could even organize his mind, Liam, confidently walking across the middle of the hall, his sturdy figure wearing the uniform and his waist-high sword that amazed everyone.

“I see you, Your Majesty…” Liam gave an emotionless example, and Fabian took his greeting with light gestures.

“Duke Akshire is a close ally of the Felice Kingdom who has witnessed the life of Evelyn Felice and Adrian. Isn’t that right?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” Liam’s green eyes shone transparently. He just seemed like a huge, solid man, like a statue in the square.

But no one in the hall noticed that his eyes were swollen.

Who would have imagined that he shed tears every night, agonized all the way from his estate to the Empire?

“In this congress hall, it seems everyone has doubts that Adrian is my successor. What do you think?” Fabian asked him.

“That’s ridiculous.” Liam cut it off. The reply was short yet sharp. His face was hardened, as he didn’t want Fabian getting close to Evelyn even if he died. But before that, Liam was a good-hearted young man. So he chose to preserve Evelyn’s honour, whom he admired and cherished, rather than his personal jealousy.

“That doesn’t make any sense.” Unlike the usual Liam who only said a few words, this time he stepped forward and continued to add arguments. It was a bonus to shoot the nobles, especially Sagan’s faction.

“It’s a true fact that the child currently known as Prince Adrian is Your Majesty’s son.”

Liam never dreamed that he would play this role. Even in his dream, there was no way he would help that detestable Fabian.

“Also, I’m sorry to mention…….”

Fabian gave Liam permission with a generous expression according to their play-script.

“It’s true that I was the one who helped the divorce between them.”

All may have overlooked the truth. Because what was famous among them was that the Empress got divorced because she was kicked out of the Palace by the Emperor, who was angry with her. But the details of the story were actually unknown to many people.

Evelyn initially thought the divorce wouldn’t be easy. So, from the Felice Kingdom, she was helped by Duke of Akshire, who had a close relationship with the Vatican.

“I informed the Pope about it, so he processed the divorce.”

In other words, there was no more room for the nobles to protest since Liam was also the third-party who involved in their divorce.

“So, I came here… …to testify the truth.” Liam still spoke silently. His heart was pounding with pain, but there was nothing he couldn’t do if it was for Evelyn.

It was Liam, who was always there for Evelyn from the beginning whenever she needed his support. The same thing also happened this time. Even though he had to step on his own heart, Liam came all the way to the Empire because he wanted to protect Evelyn’s honour and happiness. Even for that, he couldn’t hold back his tears flowing every night.

“Their divorce was a formal pretence. I’m the witness.”

“What ………. is Duke Akshire talking nonsense now?”

Liam wasn’t shaken despite Sagan’s resistance. Now wasn’t the time for him to feel the pinch of others.

It’s his Love.

He was sending his first love to another man with his own hands, so what’s more to be afraid of?

“At that time, the Empress, who was pregnant, noticed that there were several people who were eyeing the successor of the Imperial family. So she returned to the Felice Kingdom, deceiving the world’s eyes for the sake of the Emperor’ son, and raising the child safely.”

There would never be another day in Liam’s life to tell a lie greater than this.

“I came to help her in the process.”

“Yes, that’s right” Fabian added it shamelessly without blinking a single eye.

“But didn’t the Vatican legalize their divorce ?!” roared Sagan.

“Yeah, I was guilty of lying to the Pope for the safety of the successor at the time,” Liam answered indifferently. The man who didn’t care anymore about his own life was strong indeed.

“Well, isn’t their divorce still legally established?” said another nobleman.

“Yes.” Sagan grinned, but Fabian’s eyes looked so serene as if there was no fear inside.

Only

“But if that’s the case, it’s possible for them to remarry.”

“That’s what I meant. I wanted to tell you that the Pope has cancelled their divorce and returned the marriage certificate. But…….” Liam raised his eyes and looked at Fabian.

By a glance, he wanted to say that his role was over. Fabian nodded and stood up from the throne with a relaxed smile. “The marriage certificate is right here.” Then, he took the scroll out of his arms. It was the Emperor’s marriage record that couldn’t be forged. “The Elders has confirmed it, and you may verify the authenticity if you want, Duke.”

“But how…” Sagan knew at a glance that the thing was real. In the first place, there was no reason for Fabian to be disadvantaged by making a flimsy lie.

“How? What do you mean, isn’t it just normal for me to have this?” Fabian looked down on Sagan as if his uncle asked something trivial.

“It was sent to me in the first place, so it’s not my responsibility to give it back.”

Even before all these stories had started, Fabian’s first instilled tactics eventually paid off.