Lover
Having resolved all the complicated and troublesome political affairs of the previous dynasty and dismissed all her attendants, Empress Dowager Katerina von Eisenberg walked alone, stepping on the soft, heavy carpet, towards an extremely secluded yet extravagantly decorated side hall deep within the palace.
Pushing open the heavy, carved wooden door, a warm aroma mixed with the scent of precious ambergris wafted out, a stark contrast to the somber and cold atmosphere of the outer hall.
Inside the side hall, the fireplace roared with fire, warming the entire room with a cozy glow.
A man dressed in a dark purple Rune mage was lounging lazily on a large, soft couch covered with velvet.
He was handsome, yet possessed a touch of effeminacy and wickedness. His slender fingers were toying with a crystal goblet, the amber wine inside swaying gently with his movements.
Most startlingly, his features bore a striking resemblance to the young, new King Sigmund!
Upon seeing Katerina enter, the man did not rise, nor did he even change his posture. He merely lazily raised his eyelids, a hint of amusement and an air of absolute confidence flickering in his deep purple eyes. A knowing, ambiguous smile played on his lips, "Oh? Our esteemed Empress Dowager, have you dealt with all those annoying flies up ahead?"
Upon seeing this man, the mask of cold authority and power that Katerina wore instantly melted away, her eyes softening and filled with dependence, even carrying a hint of girlish coquettishness towards her lover.
She walked quickly to the soft couch, and very naturally nestled into the man's open embrace, finding a comfortable position. Her tone was a mix of complaint and coquetry. "Viktor... you're so leisurely, hiding here enjoying yourself... I've been so busy these past few days, dealing with those Old Fox, it's been exhausting."
This man was none other than Empress Dowager Katerina's deepest lover, and her most trusted and almost inseparable behind-the-scenes strategist, the Viktor.
Few outsiders knew of his existence, and even fewer knew of his long-standing secret relationship with the powerful Empress Dowager, or... his unspeakable blood ties with King Sigmund.
Viktor chuckled softly, his arm naturally encircling Katerina's shoulder, his fingertips idly twirling her loose blonde hair. "It's good that you're done. So... our little Sigmund can finally sit in that chair legitimately?"
"Yes," Katerina pressed her face against his chest, listening to his steady heartbeat, feeling a twisted sense of relief. "Everything is going according to your plan, more smoothly than you could have imagined."
"That old stubborn Olivier has already been executed by us on charges of 'treason.' Alvin, on the other hand, is pragmatic; seeing that the tide has turned, he has sworn allegiance to the new king. As for Wolfgang ..."
She scoffed, her tone laced with disdain. "As expected, he lives up to his name, nothing more than a cunning wolf. He caught a whiff of danger and immediately tucked his tail between his legs and ran away. He's already resigned from all his official posts and gone back to his hometown to 'live out his days in peace.'"
She raised her head, her eyes gleaming with the light of power in her grasp, her voice trembling with excitement. "Now, this Prye City, and even this vast Goldflower Kingdom, are ours!"
Viktor lowered his head and took a sip of his drink, his tone calm with a hint of barely perceptible smugness. "I didn't expect it to go so smoothly either. It seems that after old Heinrich's death, this group is even more vulnerable than we anticipated."
Mentioning the Former King, Katerina slightly furrowed her brows, looked up at Viktor's beautifully sculpted jaw, and asked the question that had been lingering in her mind, "But... Viktor, there's something I've never quite understood."
"Why are you in such a hurry to get rid of Heinrich? Although he's in the way, he's old and his health isn't what it used to be. We could have waited a while longer and let him die 'naturally.' Isn't this too hasty and aroused suspicion?"
Viktor put down his glass, his fingers gently tracing Katerina's cheek, his eyes becoming deep and calm. "My dear, this is the only way. News has just come from the Northern Territory that Rochfort and that Karl of Carnford have joined forces to repel Harald's army and achieved great success. After this battle, their prestige in the Northern Territory will be at its zenith."
His voice lowered, taking on a cold edge. "Think about it, Heinrich has always valued the Northern Territory defenses. For such a great achievement, he will surely reward Rochfort and Carnford without reservation."
"At that time, the kingdom's already meager food and resources will be heavily diverted to the north. How much will your father, Earl Eisenberg, get? The distribution of food and resources is secondary. What I'm really worried about is that, with Heinrich's full support, Rochfort's power will expand rapidly, truly growing into an uncontrollable border tycoon. By then, it will be much more difficult for us to restrain him."
He paused, then concluded, "Therefore, we must act preemptively before Heinrich fulfills his promise and further strengthens Rochfort. We must completely sever this supply chain, kill Heinrich, and install Sigmund, who is completely subservient to us, in order to firmly control the resources. The temporary risk is for the sake of long-term control."
After hearing this, Katerina's doubts vanished, replaced by complete trust and admiration. She offered him a kiss and whispered, "You always think of everything so thoroughly... Viktor, you're so clever."