As Sienna began distancing
herself from Patricia, her daily routine shifted significantly.
Previously, her days were
filled with studying and attending various governmental meetings to gain
practical experience. She had viewed social activities as frivolous and
interactions with people as a waste of time. While she still avoided social
parties, she started approving more requests for audiences at the Silver
Palace.
People were eager to meet
the Silver King, a powerful heir to the throne, even if only to exchange a few
words. However, Sienna rarely granted audiences unless there was a clear
purpose. The Silver King was known for his strictness, often rejecting
requests, and having one’s request denied repeatedly was damaging to one’s
reputation. As a result, the number of audience requests she received was
relatively low, considering her status.
Recently, however, rumors
spread that the Silver King had been more receptive to granting audiences. Many
boasted about having shared tea with her, and this sparked a surge in requests.
Soon, the number of audience petitions grew explosively, and Sienna found
herself spending entire afternoons meeting people.
“It is an honor to meet
you, Your Highness,” said an elderly count, dressed neatly but not
ostentatiously, bowing deeply.
“Welcome, Count Pierre,”
Sienna greeted him warmly.
“I’ve brought a small gift,
though it’s modest,” he said, presenting two translucent teacups wrapped in
parchment. “These belonged to my mother. They’re a set for couples, and I’ve
never used them, as I’ve kept them in great care.”
Sienna smiled. The count
seemed almost embarrassed by his simple gift, yet she could sense the
sentimental value he attached to it.
“Are you sure you want to
part with something so precious?”
“It would be an honor if
Your Highness accepted it,” the count replied earnestly.
“Thank you. I will make
good use of them,” she said, though her thoughts wandered. For a brief moment,
she imagined herself and Kuhn sitting together, drinking tea from the couple’s
set, and her cheeks flushed at the thought.
The Pierre family had been
based in the capital for generations, though they had never risen to great
prominence. As a count, he maintained only enough prestige to keep his title.
He had submitted his audience request without much hope, so he was shocked to
be given a specific time and date. His only desire had been to meet the Silver
King, not expecting anything significant from the conversation, which lasted
about half an hour.
After the count departed
with a deep bow, Sienna let out a small sigh. The day's meetings had finally
come to an end.
‘I underestimated the
difficulty of socializing,’ she thought.
Meeting people proved to be
even more exhausting than sitting through hours of governmental meetings.
Sienna began categorizing
those who requested audiences into three groups: influential political and
financial figures, prominent socialites, and those who fell into neither
category. She ensured a balanced distribution of meetings with each group.
To her surprise,
conversations with nobles who had no significant influence in politics or the
economy turned out to be unexpectedly useful.
These individuals, though
not part of the elite ruling class, provided a unique perspective. They were
not rulers, but neither were they commoners—they represented the middle class
of the Empire’s nobility, which made up the majority. Through these
interactions, Sienna gained a broader understanding of the world. She realized
that people’s experiences and viewpoints were incredibly diverse, often
differing drastically depending on their position in society. This was
knowledge one could never glean from books.
Moreover, by meeting so
many people, Sienna began gathering valuable information, even if indirectly.
No one outright divulged sensitive secrets, but casual remarks and seemingly
insignificant details could be pieced together to form a bigger picture,
revealing connections she hadn’t anticipated.
‘Acheron and Count Miller
seem to be meeting frequently,’ she noted.
Both attended most of the
same social gatherings, and Sienna suspected that they had either formed an
alliance or were at least testing the waters.
‘Count Miller is close to
the Iron King. He might know about Acheron’s relationship with him.’
As Kuhn had mentioned,
Acheron seemed to be building his influence. Whether he intended to assist the
Iron King or seize power for himself remained unclear.
People naturally expected
rewards for their efforts, and Sienna surmised that Acheron would seek
compensation if the Iron King became emperor. He wasn’t the type to be
satisfied with his nephew on the throne, quietly stepping into the background.
‘If I’ve figured this out,
there’s no way the Iron King and the emperor aren’t aware of Acheron’s
movements.’
What were they thinking as
they observed his actions?
‘Mother has been unusually
quiet lately.’
Patricia had stopped
hosting her frequent social gatherings.
‘Either she’s preoccupied
with the information I’m feeding Sir Stus, or she’s working on some other plan.’
However, since Doug was
currently away from the capital, Sienna wasn’t too concerned about any
immediate threats from her mother.
‘The dukes are all watching
carefully, trying to gauge the balance between me and the Iron King.’
Aside from her own maternal
family, the Rimone family, and the Iron King’s family, the Grossi family, the
Schultz, Luke, and Morton families had remained neutral, without declaring
their allegiances.
‘The Iron King mediated
peace between the Luke and Morton families, so I thought Luke would side with
him... but they’re keeping their distance from both sides.’
As in the past, the noble
families that hadn’t produced an emperor’s consort would likely stay on the
sidelines until the very end. Since the Empire had never seen a reversal in the
succession order, the ducal families had no reason to involve themselves in a
conflict where they had little to gain.
‘How interesting.’
Sienna smiled, feeling a
sense of power. Was this what it felt like to sit and see through the world?
‘It’s because I’m royalty
and a strong contender for the throne.’
While she prided herself on
her ability to sift valuable information from the mundane, she wasn’t overly
proud. Being the Silver King allowed her access to high-quality intelligence.
People strained their memories to share anything that might catch her
attention.
For example, if she
casually asked, "What was the atmosphere like at Count Momo's party that
day?" the person would go out of their way to detail who attended and the gossip
that circulated, without her even needing to probe further.
‘I’ve been underestimating
the importance of rumors. They can be turned into valuable information.’
“Your Highness,” a voice
interrupted from outside. It was Beth, knocking at the door. Moments later, she
entered.
“Shall I have dinner
prepared?” Beth asked.
“I’ve been sitting too
long. I’ll go check on Rit,” Sienna replied, referring to her horse.
“Shall I fetch your riding
clothes?”
“No need, I’ll just walk.”
Sienna stood up, but as she
was about to leave, Beth spoke again.
“Oh, Your Highness, I have
some joyous news. It seems the Iron Queen is expecting.”
Sienna froze mid-step, then
slowly turned around.
“Where did you hear this?”
she asked, her expression hardening.
Beth’s smile faded as she
saw Sienna’s reaction.
“A maid mentioned it to me.
Shall I bring her to you?”
“No… I’ll go to the Iron
Palace myself,” Sienna said, her mind racing.
Sienna calculated Violet's
pregnancy term. It was just shy of four months.
‘If only they could have
kept it hidden a little longer…’
The news is out this early complicated thing. In the quiet of her mind, Sienna weighed the
consequences. Violet’s pregnancy would draw immediate attention, especially
given the Iron King’s status as a potential successor to the throne. If the
child were a boy, the Iron King’s influence would only grow, making him an even
more formidable contender.
Sienna couldn't help but
feel that the timing of this announcement was premature—perhaps it was not
fully planned, or maybe forces beyond her control were moving faster than
expected. A pregnancy could shift the political landscape significantly,
solidifying alliances and altering loyalties.
‘This could change
everything.’
She had hoped for more time
to strengthen her position, to maneuver carefully without this looming factor
tipping the scales. But now the future had collided with the present, forcing
her to adapt quickly. There was no turning back now, only forward, with more
caution than ever.
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