226. The Imperial Envoy (1)
“You have a son……?”
“Yes.”
“With the Chieftain……?”
“No.”
“Then, is your wife in the Sernerd Barony? The Dane Kingdom?”
“No.”
“I don’t mind riddles, but this is a bit frustrating. Where is your wife now?”
“She’s no longer here.”
At Fernandez’s words, Rene was startled. A sticky, gloomy air lingered between them. Rene straightened her posture and cautiously asked.
“She passed away……?”
“…….”
It was a kind of farewell. He had seen her death with his own eyes on that stormy day. The shattered emotions, the boiling grief—none of it remains now. It’s all turned to dust, the soul split apart, and the memory of that day remains more like a phantom than a recollection.
Vaitas had detached himself from the emotions of his past life. It was unforgivable, but if there was any silver lining, it was that he didn’t need to dwell on regrets or sorrows beyond what was necessary.
“I see…… I’m sorry. Truly.”
“There’s no need for you to feel that way, my lady.”
“Where is your son now……?”
“Far away.”
Very far away. Rene’s eyes gradually lit up as she seemed to understand Fernandez’s words. She fell into deep thought for a moment, then nodded her head.
“Well, among nobles, such flaws are hardly even considered blemishes. I’m fine with it.”
“What are you talking about……?”
“Let’s get married. Us.”
“No.”
An immediate answer. Rene stared blankly at Fernandez. No emotion could be seen in his eyes. The corner of her lips trembled.
“There’s…… much to gain, isn’t there?”
“There’s also much to lose.”
“I’ll compensate you……?”
“Where do I sign the refusal clause?”
“You’re so stubborn.”
“…….”
“Give me the strawberries.”
* * *
The Duke’s reply had arrived. Accompanied by a grand procession and a noisy band. The Duke frowned as he watched the heavily armed knights enter the outer gates of Ribue.
At the forefront was a flag-bearer, dressed in splendid armor, striding in with a pompous expression. And for good reason. The style of that armor belonged to the Knights of the Radiant Spear, the oldest traditional knight order of the Imperial Palace.
There was no way the Knights of the Radiant Spear would escort a mere envoy. The flag-bearer carried two types of flags. One was a small flag with the knight order’s emblem embossed in grandeur. And the other—
“The Imperial Palace has come forth……?”
A purple cloth with golden threads depicting tulips, a crown, a sun, an eye, and a deer. The tulip represented the Empire, the crown the nobility, the sun and the eye symbolized Shield and the Temple of the Gods, respectively. Finally, the deer represented the current Imperial family—the House of Tremule, the Count of Tremule.
The golden threads of the crown shimmered in the sunlight. The second prince, it seems. Duke Erbe stroked his chin and slowly prepared to receive the envoy.
Even if the other party is a prince, the throne is not hereditary. Therefore, the prince is merely a titular honor, and his actual rank is that of the second son of a count. If the House of Tremule adheres to the primogeniture principle, this young man will likely end his life as nothing more than a common noble in a robe, let alone a count.
Thus, as the Duke and the Supreme Commander of the Empire’s Expeditionary Legion, Erbe had no need to lower himself. His vassals wouldn’t want that either. Yet, the Duke dismounted without hesitation and stepped forward himself.
“Glory to the great Leviathan! The legitimate second son of the Imperial family, the noble Marshal of the House of Tremule, and the Imperial Treasurer, Sir Robert Benitier de Tremule, has arrived!”
A herald beside the flag-bearer shouted at the top of his lungs. It was a ridiculous envoy procession. Erbe suppressed a laugh and bowed his head. Even if it’s a nominal position, a prince is still a prince. The power of politicians often stems from titles and legitimacy.
And the House of Tremule is a great noble family that holds military and commercial power far beyond what Ribue could ever compare to.
“Welcome, Sir Robert. It’s been a long time since the last celebration banquet.”
“Indeed, Duke Carvelier! I hope you’ve been well? I should have visited more often to lighten the burden of the Empire’s Supreme Commander, my oversight!”
“Thank you for your concern. Haha, please come in. A banquet has been prepared!”
“I’m grateful for your hospitality.”
Robert was a handsome young man who looked splendid in his lavish coat. The dazzling golden hair characteristic of the Tremule bloodline shimmered in the sunlight.
An ivory-colored dress suit with intricate golden embroidery hugged his lean body flawlessly. Prince Robert walked over to Rene, who was standing beside the Duke, and lightly kissed the back of her hand.
“It’s a pleasure to see you again, Lady Carvelier.”
“Yes…… Sir Robert. It’s been a while since the last social gathering.”
“The victory banquet for the Western campaign was the last.”
The Western expedition was officially recognized by the Imperial Palace as a ‘victorious war.’ The reason was that it had repelled the Sultan’s offensive and secured the Empire’s territory. She remembered the grand banquet held here when Ribue was still at the center of power.
It could almost be called a grand funeral. It was the day Ribue’s political and economic lifeline was cut. The exact conversations among the nobles at that banquet remain unknown.
But after that day, Ribue’s financial arteries were severed one by one. No more logistics flowed through Ribue. And it was clear that the Imperial Treasury had a hand in that flow.
Traditionally, high-ranking positions in the Imperial Palace were given to the Elector Counts. Just as Duke Erbe held the position of Supreme Commander of the Imperial Legion, the heads of various departments were handed over to the Elector Counts.
But beyond these nominal powers, there were others who actually ran the departments. The Imperial Treasurer of the Treasury, the Palace Chamberlain of the Palace Affairs, the Captain of the Levans Knights of the Legion……
The real power that moved the Empire lay with the Emperor’s appointed aides, alongside the throne. The Elector Counts, beyond their nominal positions, also held their own territories.
Taking care of things is already busy enough.
Therefore, the political schemes happening here in Ribue must be the work of one of those individuals. Considering the collapse of the commercial sector, it was highly likely that this young financial secretary was behind the scheme.
But nobles never show their emotions on their faces.
“Truly, you’ve been most generous.”
“Haha! The young lady is still as beautiful as ever!”
With those words, the cavalry and the band began to enter the castle. As Erbe subtly gestured with his eyes, Rene bowed her head and then retreated.
“You must be exhausted from traveling all the way from the capital to Ribue. Please warm yourself and rest comfortably in the banquet hall. Sir Robert, I hope you will treat this place as your own castle.”
At Erbe’s words, Robert smiled softly and expressed his gratitude.
* * *
And because the entrance was so spectacular, the scene was clearly visible even from the tower of Ribue’s inner castle, which was still under repair. For Fernandez, this distance was practically next door.
-The prince has come in person…
‘How bold.’
Fernandez frowned as he gazed at the banner of House Tremule. Robert Tremule. A noble whose name was renowned even in his previous life.
After the Hundred Years’ War, the Duke of Carvelier, who had seized both military power and wealth, would peacefully inherit the throne at the next electoral council. After the death of the previous emperor, the Count of Tremule returned to his territory.
The main port of the Tremule court is Guerda, a trade port in the northern part of the empire. All maritime trade routes in the northern seas of the empire pass through Guerda, and Guerda, connected to the eastern triangular trade ports, quickly accumulated wealth, becoming a massive city.
Hence its nickname, ‘Platinum Port’ Guerda. A place so grand that from the city walls to the docks, the vast territory is adorned with marble, glowing brilliantly like platinum under the morning sun.
And also, the battlefield where the black-clad Erik fell in battle.
‘That guy, even in this era, is an incredible swordsman.’
Count Robert Tremule was one of the empire’s great heroes who fought on the front lines during the invasion of the northerners. When the northern barbarians’ sudden attack set all the port cities of the eastern kingdom ablaze, and war engulfed the east. The northern ports of the empire were not spared either.
It was Robert who managed to restore order during that chaotic period. His personal combat skills and strategic insight were both hailed as the pinnacle of imperial chivalry, and he succeeded in almost perfectly defending the empire’s north.
Naturally, Robert was also one of the heroes of human civilization that Faijashi had warned about, and as such, there were no gaps in the information about him.
Or so it was thought. His father, the previous emperor Tremule, had already died before Faijashi’s prime, so there was no need to investigate him. But the family composition, personal history, and connections of Robert Tremule were all under Faijashi’s information network.
-But, the second son.
‘Right. There’s an eldest son.’
The list of high nobles of the imperial court handed over by the Pope. As Fernandez read through the report that meticulously recorded the lineage of House Tremule, he had a hunch. A face he had never seen, a person who didn’t exist in his previous life. The first child of Tremule.
‘Everiz Lis de Tremule.’
If a high noble of electoral rank were to have their eldest son suddenly die or be poisoned during the succession process, it would be impossible to hide the scandal. There was no mention in any of the information collected by Faijashi that Robert had an older brother.
‘If Robert’s sibling is still alive and is destined to die later, but we failed to notice?’
-Robert is sixteen. If he had an older sibling who is still alive, there’s no way there wouldn’t have been any mention of the succession rights.
‘Then it’s certain.’
-Almost.
Fernandez stroked his chin as he looked at the prince’s face. Things were getting more and more out of hand. As if reading his thoughts, Faijashi grumbled.
-Damn it, Vaitas. Are you doing this on purpose?
‘What kind of fool would bury his own daughter in a zombie and then demand she be rescued.’
Fernandez chuckled at that. Everiz. A person who didn’t exist in his previous life, the young lady of House Tremule. The first princess of the imperial family, showing signs of corruption…
‘Razerial, Soareldel. One of the two.’
One of the remaining two angels. In any case, there’s one more reason to execute the emperor. Fernandez thought as he entered the palace.
* * *
Although it couldn’t compare to the grand banquets or lavish social parties held in the empire’s capital, Levance. The banquet in Ribue was extravagantly flaunting the prosperity of the territory.
At a time when the palace repairs were not yet complete, the banquet hall was set up outdoors. It was spring, and the wasteland had turned into a grassland, the spring now humid and warm. The late evening social gathering was glowing under dense magical lights.
Numerous servants continuously brought new drinks and exotic delicacies. Fernandez sat among the beastman warriors, smirking. The duke’s personal fortune was being spent in real-time.
In the distance, Kirhas could be seen sitting at the duke’s table. She occasionally glanced at him with anxious eyes. Finding it quite amusing, Fernandez deliberately made eye contact with her.
‘I’m in danger right now! Save me, Your Excellency!’
Kirhas mouthed fervently. Fernandez chuckled and raised his glass, teasing her.
Kirhas looked at him with eyes trembling in shock and betrayal.
“Playboy.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Strawberry thief.”
“Shall I compensate you?”
“Womanizer.”
“Never been one.”
-Are you serious?
Fernandez ignored Faijashi’s dumbfounded expression. Excuse me, Rene said as she chased away the beastmen and sat across from him. The beastmen glanced at Rene and Fernandez, then chuckled among themselves and left.
“Is there more going on?”
“Of course there is. What do you think?”
“The prince’s visit. Hmm. It was unexpected.”
“What does it mean?”
“We’ll have to see if it’s the prince’s will or the emperor’s.”
Fernandez clasped his hands and looked into the distance, at Kirhas, the duke, and the prince conversing with them. He was cutting meat into small pieces with surprisingly noble gestures.
“If it’s the emperor’s will?”
“They’re probably spying on Ribue’s situation and trying to cover up their failed schemes.”
“If it’s the prince’s will?”
“An emperor aiming for hereditary succession, a competent eldest daughter, and a second son whose succession is being pushed back. The empire follows the principle of primogeniture under noble law. If the second son has come to a region clearly hostile to the imperial family… Doesn’t that paint an interesting picture?”
Fernandez said as he quenched his thirst with wine. He couldn’t kill or imprison the prince. That man is one of the shining heroes of civilized society. So…
‘We’ll have to use him.’
Rene looked at his face with an admiring expression. She then nodded primly and elegantly picked up a glass of champagne.
“Shall we get married?”
“No.”
“Ah, why not!”
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