~Chapter 107~
How to Drive Someone Crazy
Eleanor didn’t have time to cover her face.
Just by looking at his twisted, angry expression, she knew that he had already seen her face and understood her feelings.
Surprised by the unexpected encounter, Eleanor flinched for a moment, but quickly composed herself. She couldn’t let the emperor see her disturbed face; she couldn’t let him notice anything. If he saw Karsian and invited him to join their conversation, her plans would be ruined.
It was as if Karsian could read her thoughts. He stayed in his place, observing her silently without approaching.
His intense gaze lingered on Eleanor’s face before sweeping over the emperor standing in front of her, his expression now colder than before.
At that moment, Eleanor realized something.
Just from the fact that she was walking with the emperor, Karsian had already figured out everything—every incident from the palace, every part of her plan. And perhaps, he also realized that she had disappointed him.
Her heart suddenly clenched, and she bit her inner lip to control the rising emotion. Her steps, once light, grew heavier, and her clear purpose started to blur.
However, Eleanor quickly put on a calm smile. She continued chatting casually with the emperor as they passed by Karsian, making sure not to show any emotion. She wanted to turn back and check Karsian’s expression but held herself back.
There would be a chance to meet him later. For now, she had to focus on what she needed to do.
Feelings were unnecessary. She quickly dismissed them from her mind.
***
The emperor’s palace looked even more magnificent than before. New decorations and sculptures filled the halls, as if the emperor was trying to fill the emptiness left by the loss of his beloved mistress.
Eleanor took her seat in the luxurious drawing room. Unlike at the Crown Prince’s palace, this time she was served hot tea.
“So, what is it that you, Miss Astria, wish to tell me? You requested this meeting, so I’m curious to know.”
As soon as Eleanor took a sip of tea and put the cup down, Emperor William IV moved straight to the point.
“I simply wanted to talk with Your Majesty after such a long time…” Eleanor replied.
“I know well enough that your purpose isn’t so simple,” the emperor said, cutting to the chase. “You didn’t ask for an audience just to talk, so tell me what it is that you want.”
Eleanor bowed her head slightly and hesitated for a moment. Then, with determination in her expression, she looked up and said:
“Your Majesty, as a citizen of the Juvenile Empire, I dare to speak. Please, I ask you to stop my father, the Duke of Astria!”
The sudden request shocked Emperor William IV, and his eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
“What are you talking about?” he asked.
“I’m sorry to say this, but my father’s ambitions have crossed a line. If this continues, it will lead to disaster. I cannot stop him on my own, so I ask for Your Majesty’s intervention.”
“Ambitions? Explain yourself properly.”
“As you know, my father has been a strong supporter of the Crown Prince. Since Prince Arlo became the Crown Prince, my father has supported him, and other nobles have followed his lead. But Your Majesty, the truth is different. My father doesn’t serve Prince Arlo as his lord; he’s trying to use him like a pawn on a chessboard.”
When Eleanor used the word “pawn,” the emperor’s face twisted in anger.
However, Eleanor did not stop there and continued.
“My father meets with the Supiares every week and spreads the teachings of Solarem among the nobles, despite the fact that the Empire officially recognizes Triton as the state religion. The influence he’s built isn’t aimed at supporting Prince Arlo; it’s for his own benefit. He treats the prince as an inexperienced fool.”
The emperor clenched his teeth, but he didn’t speak right away. It was clear that he was familiar with the situation, as all the nobles suspected the Duke of Astria’s motives.
Though the emperor knew about the Duke’s actions, he had allowed it, as the Duke was too powerful to confront. His influence had grown beyond what even the emperor could challenge. Still, the emperor pretended to accept it, justifying it because the Duke supported his son, Arlo.
“I understand your concerns, Eleanor, but this is a misunderstanding. Your father is a nobleman with power, and he’s been a strong ally of the Crown Prince.”
Eleanor, however, was determined to push further.
“Also, Your Majesty, the one who made the former Crown Prince, Harrison, like this is my father, too!”
The emperor froze for a moment, clearly shocked by her words.
The emperor’s golden eyes now burned with anger, his emotions visibly rising.
“How dare you mention Harrison in front of me!” the emperor shouted.
The table in front of him shook as he slammed his fist down, causing Eleanor to immediately rise from her seat and kneel before him, apologizing.
“I’m sorry, Your Majesty!”
Her pale forehead touched the floor as she bowed deeply.
Harrison, the former Crown Prince, had been cruelly driven into madness by the Duke of Astria. His tragic story was one of manipulation and power games. Eleanor recounted how the Duke had played a crucial role in Harrison’s downfall, ultimately leading to his current state of insanity.
Eleanor’s confession struck a chord with the emperor. For years, he had believed that his son, Harrison, had gone mad on his own, but now he realized the truth. The Duke of Astria had used rumors and manipulations to drive Harrison to madness, making him lose everything.
Eleanor’s words, though shocking, were not just accusations—they were the painful truth. Harrison’s madness, his fall from grace, had all been orchestrated by the Duke, and now Eleanor had brought it to light.
Eleanor continued, “When my father saw the opportunity, he pushed Harrison aside and promoted Arlo as the Crown Prince. All this time, I’ve been watching it unfold, and I cannot stand idly by.”
The emperor’s expression twisted, realizing that his son’s downfall was the result of a calculated move by the Duke.
As Eleanor finished speaking, the emperor, though furious, seemed to contemplate her words.
His anger flared up again as he addressed her.
“You… you’ve crossed a line, Eleanor. You dare mention Harrison in front of me, knowing what happened?”
But deep down, the emperor knew the truth.
Eleanor’s words had shattered the emperor’s denial. The truth about the Duke’s role in Harrison’s demise had finally reached him, and now, nothing could undo the damage. The emperor was consumed with anger and betrayal, and Eleanor knew that her plan was unfolding exactly as she had intended.
This confrontation would have far-reaching consequences, and she was determined to see it through.
