Shadow Queen

Elena was quite embarrassed when asked. Although Sian’s questions were comprehensive, they were high-level questions that required very professional learning.

“I didn’t learn much because I wasn’t good at commercial talent. But since you asked for my opinion, I will speak my mind.”

“I’ll listen.”

“The current flow of imperial money is closely related to power. The Grand House and the Four Great Families intervene in various interests and monopolize anything that makes a profit.”

Since the founding of the empire, there has never been a single history in which aristocrats have held such vested interests. The empire belonged to the royal family from generation to generation, but gradually the power of the nobility grew and lost its authority. The scarecrow emperor. The nobles above the emperor change even the emperor. That was the reality of the present imperial family.

“You saw it correctly.”

“Because not only the flow of money, but also its pretext is being swayed over by the nobles.”

“The Empire must change.”

Sian also seemed to be fully aware of the seriousness of the situation. His eager eyes gave him a sense of willingness to regain his powerful imperial power, breaking away from the interference and checks of the great and four great families.

Elena was very sorry for the proposal. If he was born well, he had many qualities to become an emperor, but unfortunately, there was no place for such an emperor now. It was so sad to see that Elena quit.

“Get someone competent.”

“Human.”

Sian still brooded on the word and asked, his eyes glistening.

“Do you mean someone like *you?”

“No.”

Elena cut the line with a snap.

“I’m not as good of a person as you think I am.”

“You’re so humble.”

Khalif barely spoke, but seldom got involved in the conversation. There were some high-level conversations, but because it was a very sensitive topic, it was so. In contrast, Elena maintained a terrifying calmness without any emotional disturbance.

“I also had the same thoughts as you. But most capable people are aristocrats. They never want to be on the side of the imperial family.”

“…”

She also understood Sian’s frustration. Even in academic institutes, most intellectuals who have received a high level of education are to abstain from nobles. Rarely, there were also commoners, but as the majority of them were struggling to succeed, there were more people who leaned on the nobility rather than the imperial family.

‘You have a will, but you’re wrong.’

Elena saw it clearly. Sian, who dreamed of strengthening the imperial power and tried to reform, failed. He would repeat the same mistake in the same way as he was now.

‘If you could read the flow of the new era properly, it would be different.’

A new era is coming soon. If he can read and ride on the bandwagon, there is a possibility that Sian may achieve what he wanted. But Elena couldn’t bring it up. Sian was reading monarchism when she happened to bump into him in the library reading room. If he was still dreaming of a strong despotic imperial power, the future of the new era and Sian will conflict.

‘Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Your Highness will take care of the judgment.’

Elena wanted to be of some help to Sian. It was all because of the lingering love and hatred for Sian, who she once lived as a couple with. Yes, that was it.

“May I offer you a word of advice?”

“Advice. I’ll take it hard.”

Elena gave strength and said as Sian’s permission fell.

“There are countless emperors in the Empire who were revered as great men in the past. It’s no exaggeration to say that we have an empire now because of their achievements.”

“Go on.”

“The reason why their achievements are highly regarded is that they have prepared the necessary systems for the times, read the changes of the times and dealt with them appropriately.”

Throughout Elena’s words, Khalif could not relax. He was nervous that she might offend Sian.

“The times are beginning.”

Elena took a small deep breath. It’s real from now on.

“The nobles are rotten and corrupt. Nevertheless, the imperial family has no authority or power to press them.”

“…”

Sian’s expressionless eyebrows wiggled. Elena pointed out the incompetence of the Imperial Household in front of the Crown Prince Sian.

“L-Lucia! Bite your tongue.”

The frightened Khalif stepped in and stopped him. Even though that may be said to be true, it was tantamount to an insult to the imperial family to undermine the imperial family. But Elena had no intention of stopping here. No, she wouldn’t have even spoken if she had quit here in the first place.

“The world will change soon.”

Even though it may sound uncomfortable and insulting, his expression did not change. Only Khalif, caught in the middle, was restless.

“The change of times never begins above. It starts below.”

“Below.”

“Commoners.”

“…!”

Sian’s eyes, where there was no change of emotion, were energized. Since the founding of the empire, the subjects of reform have been the imperial family and the nobility. In the pyramid-shaped status system, the common people, who are the absolute majority, were simply objects to be governed, but were not included in the subjects of consideration as reform subjects. Elena pointed out those commoners. She said that the change of times is not from the top, but from the bottom. For Sian, the story came as shocking.

“Whether you are nobility or the imperial family. It doesn’t matter to the common people. The nobles are corrupt, and the imperial family loses authority and cannot stop the tyranny of the nobility.”

“…”

“The exploited commoners don’t see both of them differently. The persecuting one or the one unable to stop it are just the same.”

A cold sweat ran down Khalif’s spine. Elena’s level of words was so high that he was nervous that she might buy Sian’s anger.

“Continue. Keep talking.”

What was surprising was Sian’s patience. Despite being criticized for the incompetence of the imperial family, he showed a willingness to continue to listen to Elena’s claims.

“To the imperial family, nobility is the enemy. Are the common people the enemy to the imperial family?”

“No.”

“Then who should the imperial family lean against? It’s the people.”

“Lean on, the imperial family…”

Sian calmly chewed over what Elena said. The imperial family viewed the common people as an object to be governed, but did not give any other meaning. As far as the status exists, the common people have been recognized only as such. But now Elena’s words were breaking all that common sense.

“The reign of the Emperor is over.”

Elena gave strength to her voice and said it clearly. It was time to wrap up the long and lengthy argument.

“The Emperor should not reign over the people, but stand on the people’s side and go together.”

“…”

“That’s the only way you can achieve what you want in an era of change.”

Elena’s last argument was convinced. It was the future she saw and experienced in person, so she was able to speak firmly and without wavering.

‘That’s enough. The rest of the choice is yours.’

Elena knew. She knew what she was talking about was going to sound ridiculous. Even though she knew that, she hoped this sincere advice reached him because of the affection and sorry she once had.

“L-Lucia.”

When Sian was silent, Khalif seemed nervous and called Elena in silence. As the silence continued, cold sweat formed on the forehead of the tense Khalif. Elena waited softly. The long silence signified Sian’s troubles. When the worries were over, she was about to end the love and hatred she had by respecting whatever he chose.

“You surprise me every time.”

Sian’s first words were admiration. There was a surprise from learning about the world from a completely different perspective and knowledge.

“Is that? Is that the meaning of the Holy Empire books you saw then?”

“…!”

Elena was surprised. She never thought that Sian would remember the books she had read at that time and get the point of what Elena said.

‘You really listened to me?’

Far from being angry, she couldn’t believe it even when she saw Sian brooding over Elena’s story in front of her eyes. The claim was somewhat unconventional and unreasonable for him, the crown prince and the pinnacle of the status system.

In addition, it was very different from the way he didn’t listen to Elena in her previous life even when she begged desperately. It might have been more comfortable if he had ignored her as before. But Sian kept listening to Elena’s words, which made her even more confused in dealing with him.

“Today’s story was very meaningful. I feel like the fog in my head has gone away.”

When Sian broke the debate, the happiest person was Khalif. If he could leave this place without any problems, he would sell his soul.

“*My lady.”

Sian sang low to Elena.

“It was a very fruitful time. Would you often spend this time with me?”

“… Yes, Your Highness.”

Elena replied reluctantly that she would. Even if she didn’t want it, she couldn’t refuse it in front of the city. After finishing the story, Elena and Khalif came out of the dormitory. Before she knew it, the sky was dark. Elena felt fatigue as soon as she relaxed.

‘I want to rest.’

She could see the dormitory just across the street. It was a stone’s throw away, but Elena couldn’t go. It was because she had to stop by the library’s archives and remove her disguise to return as Veronica.

“How *swollen is your liver? In front of Your Highness what? What about the imperial family?”

Khalif walked side by side and criticized Elena. In his view, Elena’s remarks today are well above the danger level.

“If he doesn’t listen to me, that’s a mistake.”

“What?”

Elena closed her mouth with meaningful words. Khalif, who was trying to criticize more, said, “Did you feel that this is not the atmosphere?”

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(T/N: -간이 배 밖으로 나오다/간이 붓다 (the liver comes out of the stomach / to have a swollen liver): to be overbold and foolhardy, ignoring apparent hardship.)

(T/N: Throughout this chapter, just in general, Sian has been referring to Elena as “영애,” it’s a polite way to refer to a noble’s daughter, however, since there is no English word for it, I would either use “you” or “my lady.” Just know that whenever he speaks to her, it’s in a polite manner.)