Published: January 4, 2026
For a moment, Mother’s eyes widened.
It was clear beyond doubt that she was greatly surprised by my words.
Of course. That "summer villa" was the villa that Father, the late emperor, often used in his later years, and Mother was the consort who was most favored during that time.
We had gone there many times together to escape the summer heat, so it was a land filled with deep sentimental value.
So for me to say I wanted to "sell it," it was only natural for her to be surprised.
No, it might be more accurate to say she was right to be surprised.
After that brief but understandable shock, Mother regained her composure and looked at me with quiet eyes.
I quietly returned her gaze.
There was no agitation.
I felt some remorse, but I deliberately kept it from showing on my face.
It was important.
Disposing of the late emperor’s summer villa—a property equivalent in scale to an entire town—was indeed important.
But there was nothing shameful about it.
On the contrary, I believed it to be a rational decision.
So without hesitation or looking away, I stared firmly back at Mother.
While the female court attendants around us were anxious, we maintained our gaze.
Naturally, the attendants understood the significance of that villa.
By Mother’s side, as Empress Dowager, there has always been a middle-aged female court attendant who has served her for many years.
She should understand the weight of this matter just as well as Mother.
And so they were nervous about how this conversation would unfold.
Taking all those gazes upon myself, I kept looking at Mother.
After a while, Mother spoke quietly.
“As your mother, I am constantly surprised by you.”
“I apologize.”
I bowed my head.
“Gossipy people say this:”
Suddenly, she said, which made me raise my face and tilt my head slightly in confusion.
Mother continued.
“Prince thirteen is said to be too devoted to the law and lacking in compassion.”
“I believe I have done things that make such comments inevitable.”
I truly thought so.
Rather, I felt that my life had been judged correctly, which even brought a slight smile to my lips.
I rose to prominence as prince thirteen and earned the late emperor’s respect precisely because of my strictness towards the law.
I was strict with the law, and that did not change even with my brothers.
More than that, I even admonished the late emperor—who held the highest and most revered position as emperor at the time—that certain actions should not be taken as they would violate the law.
If the assessment of me was “too devoted to the law and lacking in compassion,” then I would rather be pleased.
“But I think differently.”
“Mother?”
“Regarding Gilbard, the late emperor often praised you to me. Time and time again, he spoke highly of those moments. And—”
Mother looked straight at me.
“—he was grateful.”
I involuntarily straightened my spine.
Hearing the late emperor’s words from the Empress Dowager carried more conviction and credibility than anyone else.
It was as if I was receiving words directly from the late emperor himself, and my spine naturally straightened.
The Gilbard incident—a major event from when I was still a child.
Memories from decades ago vividly resurfaced in my mind.
Mother continued.
“At that time, Prince Gilbard attempted to assassinate the emperor. Using a certain food and a certain sake, harmless separately but fatal when combined at the same time, Gilbard administered them in a time-staggered manner with the intent to poison the late emperor.”
“The late emperor had already detected this beforehand.”
“Yes, but he did not expose it. Because Gilbard was his own blood. Even though he was nearly murdered, he could not bring himself to take his child's life.”
“...”
Speaking as a parent, Mother’s face was solemn and painful.
After a few breaths, she continued.
“That’s when you advised. Both items were already presented, so the act was considered committed and death penalty was unavoidable. However, as the greatest leniency, a reprieve was allowed.”