Beatrice Was Somehow Promoted the Fastest

There were countless nobles of every size and rank across the continent, but there was only one imperial family.

With several of the Empire's grand dukes joining forces, the imperial family had long since become an empty shell. When Isabella inherited the throne, there had not even been a single capable person left in the imperial family to choose from.

And ever since Empress Isabella had been assassinated, the imperial line had all but died out. By rights, there should no longer have been a legitimate heir. So where had this imperial crest come from?

Could it be a letter from the prince? Had he stopped pretending?

Theus looked at Zoe across from him with a complicated expression. Zoe gave a slight nod. "Take a look at the back. I was shocked too."

Theus turned the envelope over, then fixed his eyes on the signature.

Beatrice Perennis Rhine Joan.

Taking a deep breath, Theus carefully set the letter on the table and rubbed his brow.

"Let me think. This is a little messy."

"I have already confirmed it with the messenger who delivered the letter. This Lady Beatrice is Miss Beatrice, the one who escorted the prisoners to Castel that day. She is now the Pope of the Candlelight Society, the legitimate heir to the Perennis imperial family, and the Empire's new Empress."

Theus fell silent.

After a while, he searched through his rather limited knowledge of the nobility and asked hesitantly, "As I recall, she was only a member of the Joan Family before. She had nothing to do with the imperial family, did she?"

"That's right. When she came to Castel, she was indeed only a member of the Joan Family. But the Joan Family and the imperial family actually have a whole pile of convoluted agreements. In