The Cooking Princess - Chapter 101

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The sudden news of the Garnet Family’s rebellion turned the Luzhiere Empire upside down.

However, the Emperor’s reaction was surprisingly mild.

“Normally, I would execute them without giving them a chance to defend themselves, but since they have merit in helping and protecting my son thus far, I shall place them under house arrest and thoroughly investigate whether they are guilty or not.”

Instead of destroying the Garnet Family accused of rebellion or imposing severe punishment, he only ordered house arrest for the time being.

‘What?’

Treason was the gravest crime.

The Emperor was a warmonger, but he wasn’t stupid.

If he truly believed the Garnet Family had rebelled, he should have immediately arrested every single member of the ducal house without exception, not simply confined them.

‘The fact that he didn’t means…’

It was highly likely that the Empress had joined hands with Claude to frame the Garnet Family,

and the Emperor seemed to have noticed this fact and was troubled about how to handle it.

‘I can’t carelessly contact Shurya and Eshir either.’

Since rebellion was such a serious matter, if they were caught communicating with outsiders, they would get dragged into it too.

Although Eshir had the favor she owed in exchange for the magic range from before… Chloe couldn’t bring herself to endanger her friend to save herself.

After all, Chloe knew well that she would reincarnate.

‘So if I die, it can’t be helped… like hell.’

Still, Chloe wanted to live.

Moreover, the rebellion charges weren’t against Chloe alone, but against the entire family.

At this rate, everyone in the Garnet Family would be executed.

‘Could the original story unfold like this?’

Even though the original had changed so much, to think the tragedy from the original would strike so futilely.

Perhaps no matter how hard she tried to change the future, only the ending where Chloe ‘gets executed along with her family’ might remain unchanged – this thought made her face turn pale.

The people of the ducal house were confined separately to prevent them from approaching each other, and after some time passed, only Chloe was permitted to have an audience with the Emperor.

Chloe faced the Emperor with a pale face and opened her mouth.

“Your, Your Ma… Your Imperial Majesty.”

She needed to speak well here, but her mind went completely blank.

Overwhelmed by the crisis that her family might die if she misspoke, Chloe couldn’t easily continue her words.

Looking at Chloe’s pale complexion, the Emperor spoke in a benevolent tone.

“It seems I’ve been too neglectful all this time.”

At the Emperor’s words that could be interpreted in multiple ways, Chloe barely managed to ask back.

“…Pardon?”

“I’ve especially neglected Shuel too much.”

Chloe didn’t know how to react and couldn’t rashly open her mouth.

‘Should I say it’s fortunate that you know that, or should I argue that it’s not true.’

Seeing Chloe’s bewildered reaction, the Emperor calmly added.

“Don’t worry. I know the Duchess has been falsely accused.”

Saying he knew the Garnet Family was innocent but needed to investigate how the fabricated evidence was manipulated, which was why he had temporarily confined them, the Emperor added.

“If the Duchess proves her innocence this time, the position of Crown Prince might finally be decided.”

It meant that if this matter passed well, he would appoint Shuel as Crown Prince.

At first glance, it seemed like a very good proposal, but Chloe’s complexion remained pale.

‘Then, what if I can’t prove my innocence?’

Right.

The Emperor seemed to want Chloe to clear the rebellion charges herself.

The Emperor himself had no intention of helping Chloe whatsoever.

What would be easier – framing someone for a crime, or proving innocence?

Naturally, it was much more difficult for someone falsely accused of treason they never committed to bring evidence proving ‘they didn’t commit the crime.’

“As expected, the Duchess is clever. You understand my unspoken intentions.”

He chuckled and told Chloe a bit more of what he was thinking.

“The Grand Duke might have deliberately framed you with such charges to suppress you, since you’re an obstacle to his expansion of power.”

There, Chloe realized the Emperor’s intention.

‘Claude has become threatening to the Emperor as well.’

It wasn’t about power.

Currently, Claude’s faction was even weaker than Shuel’s, the legitimate prince.

What the Emperor felt threatened by was none other than Claude’s violent nature.

Unlike Shuel who had a gentle disposition, Claude was fundamentally violent and only cared about himself.

He might even try to secretly poison the Emperor for not actively supporting him.

“That child is very violent. If something interferes with his affairs, he would try to harm even blood relatives without hesitation.”

Seeing that Chloe seemed to share his thoughts, the Emperor stroked his mustache and smiled with satisfaction.

“Work hard. I’m rooting for you and Shuel.”

Having unexpectedly received encouragement from her one-on-one conversation with the Emperor, Chloe immediately began thinking about what she could currently do upon returning.

She couldn’t meet Shuel.

Since she was accused of rebellion, naturally she couldn’t meet the Merchant Prince or the Pope either.

If she made a wrong move, they could get dragged into it too.

“What am I supposed to do in this situation…”

Chloe clasped her trembling hands tightly together and thought hard.

Ultimately, this matter would be decided based on whether the ducal house’s rebellion charges were true or not.

Obviously, she just needed to prove their innocence.

“But I know too little.”

She had simply been told that the Garnet Family was falsely accused of rebellion and was confined as such, but she didn’t know the details of the situation.

She wanted to consult with her parents, but since they were also confined separately, she couldn’t carelessly contact them.

Having thought that far, Chloe requested another audience with the Emperor.

The fact that he had prevented her from meeting Shuel yet deliberately summoned her to give orders meant… probably.

‘He meant for me to cool my head and come back.’

Even if this guess was wrong, it wouldn’t be bad since she could see the Emperor once more and ask about the overall situation.

And her guess seemed to be correct.

Chloe’s request for an audience was accepted remarkably quickly.

***

As soon as Claude heard the news that the entire Garnet Family had been arrested on rebellion charges, he arranged a secret meeting.

‘It would be even better if I could completely isolate the Garnet Family with this opportunity.’

He was confident that Chloe Garnet wouldn’t collapse from just this much.

That’s why the current opportunity was more precious.

He had to finish the job while she couldn’t pay attention to him.

Though he prided himself on not acting suspiciously, she had seemed to be on guard these past few days, as if she suspected he had some scheme.

‘I don’t know how she figured it out.’

Since he was suspected while his preparations were incomplete, Claude had no choice but to frame them with the massive false charge of treason.

Even if this plan failed and the Garnet Family was completely destroyed, it would be fine.

Things would progress quickly, and he would seize control of the Luzhiere Empire before Chloe could be killed.

It wouldn’t be too late to propose a deal and release her then.

Having thought that far, Claude put on an extremely affectionate face and greeted the foreign dignitaries first.

“It’s good to see you all.”

“Grand Duke, good to see you. It’s been a while, hasn’t it? Have you been well?”

The nobles Claude had summoned were all envoys with connections to foreign kings and emperors.

Claude got along well for quite a while with the nobles who, though clumsy, tried to greet him in the Luzhiere Empire’s language.

When the atmosphere had ripened, Claude spoke in a secretive tone.

“Most regrettably, His Imperial Majesty seems intent on passing the country to Shuel.”

“Oh my, oh my. So His Imperial Majesty is thinking such thoughts.”

The foreign nobles exchanged glances among themselves and agreed with Claude’s words.

“So I have a proposal to make.”

When Claude lowered his voice, the foreign nobles all listened intently to his words.

“If I become Emperor, I would like to give gifts to those who support me.”

In other words, he was asking their countries to support him as the next Emperor of the Luzhiere Empire instead of Shuel.

“What kind of gift are you referring to, Grand Duke?”

Claude smiled slyly at one of the nobles’ broken Luzhiere and added:

“For instance, I could gift you the Western Port, which has been responsible for Luzhiere’s trade for a long time.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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