212. The Duke of Ribue, Erbe de Carvelier (1)
Ribue was the most prosperous city on the Empire’s frontier. At least, while the war with the Sultan lasted. When the seemingly endless 50-year war finally ended, the outposts near the frontline quickly declined.
The endless flow of resources came to a sudden halt. War is a business that swallows vast amounts of money, and the merchants who had invested in it either ended up on the streets or left Ribue after the war ended.
All kinds of businesses—mercenary work, transportation, trade, metallurgy, and food distribution—were hit hard. Ribue, which had been a hub for trade routes to all the frontline outposts, could no longer cover the massive population growth and the resulting security vacuum with gold.
Thus, the Grand Duke of Ribue, Erbe de Carvelier, had to find a way out. The golden age of war profiteering was over, and all that remained was the bill for the glorious past.
“Grand Duke, Lorance is burning!”
To minimize bloodshed in the war, the Empire had state-led mercenary operations. As a result, after the war, the number of unpaid mercenaries became unmanageable.
And unemployed mercenaries are no different from bandits. This meant that Ribue’s vast territory was now swarming with at least dozens of bandit groups.
Meanwhile, the Imperial Army had already withdrawn entirely over the past year. The Imperial Army, composed of the forces of various Dukes, had no desire to stay in Ribue and pay maintenance costs.
Moreover, some Dukes wished for the downfall of a powerful rival.
“…Soldiers. Do I have any soldiers left, Deputy?”
“Baron Isidore’s forces are still stationed here. Marquis Maurice and Marquis Turen have also… offered to assist Your Grace.”
The Duke’s dry voice was met with a somber reply from his deputy. The principality’s standing army had already been scattered to suppress bandits and rebels.
The vassals who had successfully preserved their forces during the war were staying in Ribue instead of returning to their own territories.
They were vultures. The Duke sighed deeply and held his forehead. Vultures. Since they had mobilized their troops under the Duke’s summons, etiquette dictated that the Duke had to cover half of their maintenance costs. But the Duke lacked the resources to sustain all those troops.
What they wanted was simple: his daughter. The heir to the Grand Duchy after his death. In exchange for resolving this crisis, they sought sovereignty over Ribue.
That was impossible. He couldn’t burden his precious daughter with the failed war business and the downfall of their family while saving his own life. The Duke, still holding his forehead, spoke.
“We need war to survive…”
“Your Grace.”
“Human blood keeps us alive. How are we any different from vampires? Tell me, how are we better than those vile mosquitoes…?”
The deputy bowed his head without a word. Imperial support had ceased, the Dukes desired Ribue’s downfall, and his lord was too fragile.
It wasn’t that he lacked the talent for war. In fact, he was a highly capable commander. But now, with the war over and his territory on the brink of collapse, the old general had become more vulnerable than ever.
There was no hope. The general and his deputy had been together for many years, and they could communicate with just a glance. Despair flowed between them.
Then.
“Your Grace! Your Grace!!”
-Crash!
The door to the lord’s chamber burst open, and a servant rushed in, panting. The servant, drenched in sweat, ran forward and prostrated himself before the Duke.
“Forgive my rudeness, Your Grace!”
“What is it?”
“An envoy has arrived!!”
“An envoy?”
“The envoy of the Federation of Nobles… The Chieftain himself requests an audience!”
“What?!”
The Duke shot up from his seat and shouted. In this era of chaos, the strongest warlord of the Great Wilderness had come to Ribue?
There was no time to waste. The Duke splashed water on his face and quickly donned his coat.
“Lead the way!”
An unexpected guest in the midst of turmoil. Whether this would be a saving grace or the trigger for the territory’s downfall remained to be seen. But with no other options, the Grand Duke bit his lip and left the room.
* * *
“The Empire is a kind of federation ruled by eight Dukes.”
“Your Excellency, this is a bit heavy!”
“The more extravagant, the better. Imperial nobles don’t deal with those who look insignificant.”
Fernandez adorned Kirhas with jewelry as he spoke. It had to be as practical as it was lavish. To deal with and manipulate the Dukes, a shabby appearance was unacceptable.
“If one family ascends to the throne, the other seven families take key positions in the Imperial Palace. They’re nominal titles, but power comes from names.”
“What is the position of the one we’re dealing with now?”
“Commander of the Imperial Western Expeditionary Forces.”
-Click.
“Ugh!”
As Fernandez tightened the gold-decorated belt around Kirhas’s waist, she let out a choked gasp. She shook her head and made a pained face.
Ignoring her, Fernandez sat at her feet, bowed his head, and retied her shoelaces.
He was the most loyal figure to the Imperial Palace and a person cherished by the Emperor. However, since the Western Expedition failed, the Imperial Palace needed to make an example. Even after the Western Expedition ended, his position remained as the Supreme Commander of the Expeditionary Forces.
“But the expeditionary forces…”
“Exactly. His situation is like a kite with its string cut. At this point, with the expeditionary forces disbanded, the responsibilities and debts of the commander remain. He must resolve the post-war debts of the scattered mercenaries and the security issues arising from the concentration of military forces. It’s a position with no benefits, only obligations piled up.”
Kirhas tilted her head and asked again.
“But Your Excellency, there’s something I don’t understand.”
“What is it?”
“If you want to use the Duke, wouldn’t it be better to start in the eastern part of the Empire where the Pope’s influence reaches? How does using a noble who has lost power and fallen help?”
“If we approach a Duke close to the Pope, the secular lords of the east won’t just sit back and watch.”
At this moment, with the eyes of many kingdoms focused, if the Vaitas Church, which had declared a Holy War, suddenly contacts the Duke of the eastern Empire, it could easily be seen as a move to support the Empire’s conquest of the east.
Moreover, the current Emperor, thirsty for war, would definitely create such public opinion. Therefore, the eastern Dukes are excluded from the target.
“Now, let’s discuss the details after the meeting. Do you know how to act?”
“Yes, Your Excellency. You mean to delay the Chieftain who came to negotiate, right? Someone not deeply familiar with the Empire’s situation.”
Kirhas smiled brightly. The Empire’s situation, meaning the loss of Duke Karvelier’s military authority, was something the arrogant and self-righteous female lord was to pretend not to know, as per Fernandez’s instruction.
And that was one of Kirhas’s strengths. She reached out to the Beastman standing behind her.
“Cigarette.”
“Yes, Chieftain!”
-Snap!
The Beastman warrior quickly knelt and handed over a long pipe. Kirhas elegantly took the pipe and asked softly.
“Your Excellency, one last question.”
“Sure. What is it?”
“I am the Chieftain, and here are my subordinates, my household. What is Your Excellency’s role?”
“An advisor.”
When Fernandez answered, Kirhas smirked and retorted.
“Will you follow the role I have prepared for you?”
“…?”
-Knock knock.
A knock was heard at the door of the luxurious reception room. It meant the Duke’s preparations were complete. Soon, the door opened, and a neatly dressed servant bowed his head.
Kirhas, sitting in her chair, exhaled a thick puff of smoke. She then stood up without hesitation. Clink, her movements caused her ornaments to clash.
Under the light of the room’s lanterns, the gold shone brilliantly. Above it, Kirhas’s turquoise eyes gleamed sharply like a beast’s.
“From now on, be my concubine. Follow me.”
-Thud.
She threw the pipe behind her and spoke. With many ears listening, Fernandez did not refute and followed behind her with his head bowed.
Contrary to her solemn and cold expression, Kirhas’s tail tapped the floor excitedly, as if she couldn’t contain her joy.
* * *
Duke Erbe sat nervously, staring at the door leading to the corridor. Until the sound of people moving was heard beyond the door, the Duke and his retainers silently watched the door.
A tense atmosphere flowed. His vassals present did not hide their dissatisfaction and anxiety. Those who remained loyal despite the Duke’s fallen authority were either loyalists or sycophants.
The loyalists who had followed him through years of battlefields did not hesitate to speak their minds, while the sycophants no longer cared for his favor. The Duke, looking at his vassals who openly expressed their emotions, suddenly felt lonely.
“The Chieftain of the Federation of Nobles, Kirhas Hearttaker, is entering!”
-Click.
The door to the corridor slowly opened with the sound of the doorknob turning. At the forefront stood a woman, leaning slightly with her arms crossed.
The sound of vassals swallowing their saliva was heard. Admiration for the Chieftain’s beauty, lust, awe at her presence, and wariness of her military power. Such emotions swirled around the reception room.
Kirhas, with cold eyes, slowly scanned the surroundings and suddenly spoke.
“Ruler of the Great Wilderness.”
-Thud.
She took a step forward, pushing aside a flustered servant. The servant stumbled back with a gasp. Kirhas took another step and said.
“Conqueror of the Wraith Dynasties.”
“The first monarch baptized by Kadán.”
“Mistress of the Hunt.”
“The Undefeated of the Great Wilderness.”
-Thud.
Kirhas stepped on the red silk spread across the reception room and advanced without hesitation. Seeing the Duke frozen in confusion, she stopped just within sword’s reach.
Growling, she said.
“Though such titles are missing. It is I, whom your servant called. Noble of the Empire. The Chieftain of the Federation of Nobles has requested to meet you.”
“How dare you, what insolence!”
A large noble with a long mustache stepped forward and shouted. Kirhas tilted her head and looked at him.
“What insolence?”
“Uh, um…”
Overwhelmed by her cold gaze, the noble hesitated and stepped back. Kirhas clicked her tongue and spoke to the frozen Duke.
“Your servants lack courage. I believe they are not the best you have. Duke.”
“…Bring refreshments.”
Duke Erbe gestured to a servant and spoke. Seeing this, Kirhas quickly added.
“Prepare the wine table as well. We shall see the end of the meeting.”
Beastman Nobles serve wine to friends and tea to enemies. Remembering this custom, the Duke’s face stiffened. Kirhas growled with laughter and strode to the chair brought by the Beastman warriors, leaning back.
“Let’s begin the meeting.”
Sinking into the chair with an enchanting expression, crossing her legs, Kirhas reached out. A Beastman warrior quickly approached and handed her the pipe.
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