268
Inside the Imperial Audience Chamber, Emperor Philip sat high upon the throne, looking down at those gathered below. Beside him stood Matthias.
Before their eyes, Duke Albert Averil was forced to bow his head to Count Patrick Sharon and his son, Lenard Sharon.
"I acknowledge all the discourtesy and offenses I committed against the young lord of Sharon due to my rash actions this time, and I offer my sincerest apologies."
Once the duke's apology concluded, the emperor spoke solemnly.
"Ordinarily, disputes between nobles are left for each house to resolve. However, overlooking an act of threatening the confirmed heir of another noble house without punishment would undermine the very order of the aristocracy. Therefore, as an example, the crime of attempted noble assassination will be applied. One-quarter of the Averil dukedom's lands shall be confiscated, and Duke Albert Averil is hereby banned from entering the capital."
At the mention of "attempted noble assassination," Lenard's eyes widened slightly.
This charge was rarely invoked, even when nobles nearly killed one another in duels. To bring it up now meant the emperor had resolved to punish them severely.
Confiscation of land and banishment from the capital… that's an extremely heavy sentence.
Voluntarily retreating to one's domain was one thing, but being officially barred from the capital by imperial decree was entirely different. Moreover, losing a quarter of the duchy's territory would deal a serious blow to the duke's prestige and authority.
On top of that, the Averil family was compelled to grant Lenard compensation in the form of properties and estates in the capital and the eastern regions, along with the rights and profits tied to them.
This was a loss far greater than what had happened with Letticia. The letters of introduction from the Marquess of Brie and Elrey Freesia could be downplayed as a gesture for the sake of goodwill, since they carried little immediate cost. But handing over real estate and vested interests was another matter entirely, it meant the duke's house had given up both wealth and influence.
In most cases, such circumstances would demand that the head of the house take responsibility, pass the title to the heir, and retire from public life.
Not that it really matters—Sir Averil will just inherit it anyway.
Despite the apology, given the duke's and Alexander's past behavior, neither Lenard nor anyone in the Sharon family believed the apology was sincere.
They simply remained silent, since the other side had apologized and the emperor had already declared punishment, there was no more room to press the matter further.
The emperor seemed to share this sentiment. After announcing the punishment, he stared at the duke for a moment, then sighed and asked.
"Though it is strange to question you after passing judgment, I cannot help but wonder. Was it truly because of something as trivial as offering a ride to a lady, who happened to be out on horseback on a hot day, that you drew a sword against Young Lord Sharon?"
"…I have no excuse, Your Majesty."
"As you should have none! This is not the Middle Ages. Even debutantes ride alone with gentlemen in carriages without scandal. To think you would threaten another man with a blade over something so trivial, unbelievable! Did you really think I would ignore such tyranny?"
The emperor's furious voice thundered through the hall, punctuated by the slam of his armrest. Seeing how enraged the emperor was, the duke lowered his head further, accepting the reprimand without a single excuse.
"Even in the days when nobles freely challenged each other to duels, one never challenged a titled peer or an heir. Yet you would go so far as to try to kill the direct heir of another house, over this? And the Sharon family's heir, no less? Duke, are you in your right mind?"
"……"
"This time, I will let it end here. But mark my words, if I ever hear of such a thing again, I will strip you of your title and lands and banish your entire family from the empire. Remember that well!"
At the emperor's final declaration, both the duke and Alexander's faces stiffened.
Though he had grown more temperate with time, Emperor Philip was still the same man who, in the early days of his reign, had purged his cousin and every noble aligned with him.
Considering the emperor's overwhelming authority now, it was likely that other nobles would actually pressure him to impose even harsher punishments.
For the Averil household, the only option left was to tread carefully, watching every step under the emperor's gaze. This was the price for their reckless and senseless actions.
***
"Honestly, His Majesty should've punished them even more severely."
So thought Letticia, upon hearing of the emperor's declaration, the punishment of the Averils, and the compensation awarded to House Sharon.
At her younger sister's remark, Lenard crossed his arms and replied.
"In any case, the duke won't be allowed back into the capital, and His Majesty warned that one more incident would strip them of their title altogether. So Sir Averil and Sir Achilles will have no choice but to behave themselves, at least for a while."
"Do they really strike you as people capable of behaving?"
"…I don't expect much from them either. Still, they wouldn't want to end up living in rags alongside Lady Averil. Honestly, I wouldn't want to see her fall that low myself."
"…Brother, if you don't mind, should I invite Lady Averil to join the perfume business with me? The duke's been banished from the capital, and those foolish brothers will be forced to lie low for the time being."
Letticia suggested cautiously, glancing at her brother. Lenard fell silent for a moment, lost in thought, before answering.
"…On two conditions. First, Sir Averil must have no direct involvement in the business. Second, if any scandal or wrongdoing on the Averils' part—whether public or private—causes harm to the business, they must pay a penalty. If she agrees to both, then I'll allow Lady Averil to rejoin the venture."
"Really?"
"Yes. But you'll need to get Father's permission. After all, you're the one who started this business."
However, when Letticia brought up the idea, Patrick's response was cold.
"Do you honestly think the risk can be controlled that easily, Letty?"
"…Well, it's better than nothing, isn't it? And besides, the duke isn't in the capital anymore."
"The father may be gone, but his children remain, children who grew up for over twenty years in a household that encouraged madness for the sake of their little sister."
Taking a sip of his strong, bitter coffee, Patrick spoke firmly. His expression was as unyielding as stone, leaving not the slightest opening. Faced with that stern gaze, Letticia finally revealed her true reason.
"But Father, the whole reason I started this business was to help Lady Averil in the first place. That's why it's important she stays with us until the end."
"To help her?"
"Yes. To separate her from her brothers, to let her succeed with her own ideas, earn her own money, and truly stand on her own."
"…That's a very personal reason. And judging by the fact that you didn't mention it when you first explained, you know as much yourself."
Patrick looked at his daughter with a hint of anger in his eyes. Letticia flinched under his stern gaze, but she didn't back down.
From the beginning, this had been less about gains and losses and more about emotions. If persuasion had to rest on emotion, then she would have to make her father accept those emotions as valid.
"People may call her the pampered youngest daughter, but I bet Lady Averil always felt suffocated around her family. Back when she worked as a civil official, they kept her from after-hours gatherings or overtime just to 'protect' her, and her peers turned on her for it. Even when she wanted to learn proper etiquette, they told her it wasn't necessary and stopped her. I don't want to see my friend live like that."
"Strictly speaking, Letty, that's their family matter. Why should my children, who were nearly harmed by those same people, have to consider that as well?"
"I don't care about the rest of them. I only care about Lady Averil. Honestly, what difference does it make to me if Sir Averil defies His Majesty's orders again and ends up banished, or if the duke loses his mind from being kept away from his daughter? But I don't want her to sink with that rotten ship."
As Patrick had pointed out, Alexander might try to act like a sane man, but in truth, he had been raised in a family that considered blind devotion to Ariette a virtue. His limits were obvious.
Even his recent apology had been polite, but it hadn't felt sincere, certainly not like he truly regretted what he had done to Lenard.
For now, the imperial command kept him restrained. But with time, it was entirely possible he would cause another incident. And if that happened, Ariette would lose her noble status and be banished from the empire along with him.
Before that happens, she needs to be made independent, so I'll have something to appeal to His Majesty with.
Unless it was treason, the empire did not punish daughters who had already married into another family or branched out on their own.
Thus, to guarantee Ariette's safety, she had to be settled—through marriage or independence—while Alexander still remembered the emperor's warning.
"If it meant I had to sacrifice myself, I wouldn't do it. But if we follow Brother's conditions, nothing will come back to harm us. That much I can handle."
"…So, in the end, you truly want to help Lady Averil."
"Grandfather didn't help Her Majesty the Empress because he foresaw she would marry the emperor. Sometimes you just help someone because you sincerely want to. Please allow me to do the same. I'll take responsibility, at least as much as I'm able."
Letticia smiled brightly, and Patrick couldn't help but let out a small chuckle in response.
"Responsibility, hm… If you're determined enough to say that, and Lenard agrees as well, then perhaps I should allow it."
"Really?"
"Yes. But it will all depend on how the duke's family responds to these conditions."
Patrick picked up a pen and began writing on paper. Letticia, watching quietly from the side, widened her eyes as more and more points were added.
"Will they really accept all of this? These terms are far too favorable for us."
"Exactly. If they do accept, it will mean they're willing to endure the cost in order to rebuild trust and goodwill with us. If not, they can either negotiate or refuse altogether."
After finishing his list, Patrick leaned on his chin and spoke.
"So, let's see for ourselves. Let's find out if the acting head of House Averil—who boasted so confidently—can respond rationally to the very business his younger sister once sought to pursue."
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