Elias, until he was ready for sleep, had his mind occupied with the competition. He was certain Daisy would win. This contest was neither about embroidery nor about strength—it was intelligence and cunning that mattered most. And in that, no one could match Daisy.
Tomorrow would be an interesting day. The news would reach everyone. Of course, the five families would not remain silent… he had plans for them too.
Elias entered his room and stood facing the bed. He hesitated to sleep. In the past, psychological pressures had caused him restless dreams and recurring nightmares—so much that he gradually became afraid of sleeping.
He reminded himself:
"I've returned to the time before my illness. So nothing is going to happen."
He took a deep breath, lay down on the bed, pulled the blanket up to his shoulders, closed his eyes, and tried as much as he could to think of good things.
He was mistaken.
Returning to the past could not heal his damaged mind. Perhaps if he could forget everything, perhaps… but now, the experience of death had been added to it.
When Berlot came to wake him, he found the Emperor standing by the window. The morning breeze blew against his pale face. Elias had slept no more than an hour or two that night.
Berlot asked with concern:
"Your Majesty, are you alright?"
Elias tried to keep his tone calm:
"Yes… I'm fine."
Elias was in his study, busy behind the desk. He spent most of his day there. The room was furnished only with a set of chairs and a table. A servant entered:
"Your Excellency, Sir Arthur Hamilton has arrived."
Elias was about to give permission when Arthur entered without ceremony. So he changed his words:
"Hello, Arthur. What brings you here so early in the morning?"
Arthur stood before the desk and gave a false smile:
"About last night's matter, I have a few questions."
Elias chuckled softly:
"Only a few?"
Arthur laughed too:
"Yes… for example, last night didn't you hit your head somewhere?"
"No."
"Oh… then you were drunk, right?"
"No."
"… Then what about those jokes you made?"
"I was completely serious."
Arthur quickly interrupted:
"So was I."
He looked at Elias with a serious face:
"You know very well what you did, don't you?"
Elias dropped the joking tone:
"Of course I do."
Arthur ran a hand through his hair:
"Then you know why I'm here. They want to speak with you as soon as possible."
Elias casually twirled the pen in his hand:
"Alright, don't worry. I've thought about that part too."
Here's the English translation of your passage, keeping the meaning intact without altering it:
Arthur stood with his arms crossed:
"Is this because of that girl?"
Elias, his mind elsewhere:
"Girl?"
"The Walker girl. What did you two talk about in the garden that made you pull such a stunt?"
Elias thought his friend wasn't yet ready to hear his plan. After all, Arthur's family was involved too. He dodged the answer:
"I can't say it had no effect."
Arthur pretended to shiver:
"You're acting scary. Has the girl driven you mad?"
Elias disliked the direction of the conversation:
"Listen, I know what I'm doing. The important matter here is you."
Arthur was taken aback:
"Me?"
This time Elias looked at him seriously:
"I want to know whose side you're on."
Arthur grumbled:
"You really are getting scary."
Arthur was a clever but compassionate man. In the past, he had been caught between his family's decisions and the Emperor. When talk of succession arose, he suddenly left the capital with his younger sister without explanation, abandoning his family name and status. Elias feared the same might happen again.
"I don't want your answer now. But remember what I said."
A few moments of silence passed. Arthur ran a hand through his hair again:
"I don't understand your actions. Just know this—I'm on your side, whatever happens."
Although the five families wanted to discuss the matter as soon as possible, the Emperor had explicitly declared he was busy and they would have to wait until the end of the day. Now, in the council chamber, they sat around a rectangular table.
On the left sat, in order: Duke Hamilton, Count Black, and Davies. On the right, Marquis Warren and Foster stared impatiently at the door.
Finally, the door opened. At the sight of the Emperor, they all stood:
"Hail the Emperor."
Elias sat in his chair and fixed them with a questioning gaze.
Duke Hamilton began:
"Your Majesty, we requested this meeting to ask about a certain matter."
Elias calmly asked:
"Matter? Exactly which matter are you referring to?"
Warren spoke up:
"We mean the competition you announced last night."
Elias nodded:
"Very well… what questions do you have?"
Hamilton continued:
"Why did you establish this competition?"
Elias clasped his hands together:
"Because it is the best way to choose the Empress. Don't worry, it won't be a contest of strength. All the young ladies will be judged by the standards of a noblewoman."
Warren said sharply:
"All of them? That's the problem. Why do you allow commoners to put themselves alongside nobles?"
Count Black, leaning back in his chair with arms folded, cut in:
"Lord Warren, you're diverting the discussion. The real issue is the competition itself. Why does His Majesty want to find this person through a contest? You could have left it to us. It seems you enjoy the spectacle. After all, you're still young."
Elias had many replies to this insult, but chose to let it pass. He wanted the meeting finished quickly.
"By your standards, someone has already been chosen. I want to see who emerges by my method. As for the Marquis's question: it's true they don't know our etiquette, but surely among them exceptional individuals can be found. Any other questions?"
Hamilton asked:
"Why didn't you tell us beforehand?"
Speaking with the Duke was easier than with the others—at least one could reach a conclusion, good or bad. Elias answered honestly:
"Because yesterday, on my way to the temple, I remembered my prophecy."
"Prophecy?"
Elias signaled to a servant, who handed him a scroll. Elias gave it to the Duke:
"You may read it aloud."
After the Duke finished the last line, everyone's faces showed confusion. They seemed to have nothing to say.
Davies asked:
"Why didn't you mention this until now?"
"I had forgotten. I think we wanted to postpone it until marriage, because we were confused."
The Duke placed the scroll on the table:
"So your decision is serious?"
Elias scanned their faces:
"Do you have a better idea? If we make a mistake, the empire will fall."
Of course, even if they suggested something, Elias would oppose it. Everyone in that room was a source of torment to him.
When he saw no one speaking, he rose:
"Very well. Don't worry about the timing—I intend to finish the competition within a month."
He then left the chamber, thus ending the meeting.
As Elias walked down the corridor, thinking of his next step, he heard a familiar voice:
"Elias!"
He immediately recognized the speaker. No one but Arthur dared call him so informally. Arthur hurried over and asked anxiously:
"So, what happened?"
Elias gave a smile that wasn't intentional:
"I am the Emperor. Of course everything goes as I wish."
Arthur, who had never seen such an expression on his friend's face, straightened himself:
"You're right, Your Majesty! Forgive me for forgetting. So what will you do now?"
Elias said indifferently:
"I'll attend to my own affairs. You should go too, before your tasks fall behind."
Arthur was puzzled:
"Tasks? Me? What tasks do I have?"
Elias smiled and placed a hand on his shoulder:
"From now on, you are responsible for organizing the competition."
Arthur shouted:
"What!?"
"I'll send you the instructions. You can arrange it however you like, as long as you follow the points I specify."
Arthur protested:
"Wait a minute, I haven't agreed yet!"
Elias gave him a threatening look:
"I didn't ask you. This is an order, Arthur Hamilton."
Then he turned and left Arthur standing there, bewildered and helpless.