Typically, the royal family refers to power.
When the personal power of a ruler is absolute, and the ruler’s will is the law, it’s a textbook example of feudalism.
The world I reincarnated into follows this typical structure.
Nominally, the highest authority lies with the royal family, but fiefs are divided among the nobility who govern independently, maintaining a lord-vassal relationship with the crown. It’s a run-of-the-mill feudal system.
Of course, the nobility are granted no small degree of autonomy and privileges. This results in the actual power being dispersed in various ways.
Which means…
“There’s bound to be friction.”
The royal family seeks centralization of power. The nobility wish to maintain their existing authority.
Thus, their conflicts are predictable. Control of magical resources, military force, academies, commercial rights…
Though peace is maintained on the surface, the political intrigues and power plays between the royal family and the nobility haven’t ceased since the nation’s founding. It’s only quiet because neither side has landed a fatal blow.
Luke Richter is a bastard child.
Born as an illegitimate child of the Richter barony, I had no place in noble society. In this world, where civilization hasn’t evolved much, going back to farming wasn’t an option. So, I aimed for the relatively stable position of a bureaucrat. To survive, I had to live off the government rations. Anyway, the protagonist of the original story would save the world, so my plan was to enjoy a comfortable life, then retire and live out my days.
“That’s why I pretended to be mad and sided with the royal family.”
My actions at the academy – subtly provoking the nobles and secretly passing valuable information to the royal family, were all intended.
To survive in a world where the royal family and the nobility check each other, I needed such insurance because I lacked both magical power and background.
But.
“Sorry, but there’s no retirement for a governor.”
What does that mean?
No retirement, huh? Isn’t that basically the same as my previous life?
“Looking forward to working with you, Sixth Lord.”
“…”
Speechless. I simply couldn’t hold back my question.
“Excuse me, Your Majesty?”
“Speak your mind.”
“I am, as you know, from the Richter barony.”
“I fail to see the problem.”
“The problem is significant. The Richter barony is a cornerstone of the nobility faction. Moreover, I’m a bastard, lacking legitimacy while possessing a complicated background.”
The emperor stroked his chin.
“Continue.”
“Consider this: To make a nothing bastard a governor, you’d need to bestow a title no less than a baron, which isn’t easy. Regardless of the royal family’s inherent authority to confer titles, there are established customs.”
“True.”
“There’ll be significant opposition. I am, after all, the illegitimate child of a noble, almost like a commoner.”
The legitimacy of one’s lineage is one of the few buttons the nobility will press against perceived insults.
Sure enough, they’ll harass the royal family.
In a desperate attempt, I explained the potential future nuisances.
“And if I were to become a governor, not only Blackmore but also the nearby fief of ‘Shylock’ would come under my direct jurisdiction.”
Both Shylock and Blackmore are strategic chokepoints straddling the Empire and the Duchy.
Though under imperial supervision now, appointing a governor here implies accepting potential conflict with the Duchy.
Moreover, there’s doubt whether the residents would accept a new governor.
“Your Majesty is aware that securing the support of the Grand Lord council is essential. Currently, as the royal family conflicts sharply with the nobility, the neutrality of the Grand Lord council plays a pivotal role in maintaining balance. But this’ll become a major nuisance. The nobility will persistently raise objections, and the Duchy will surely express deep dismay.”
I convinced him without blinking an eye.
It was actually a futile attempt. If the Emperor decides, no one can stop him.
Yet the potential nuisance was real.
That’s why I pushed this point, but.
“Your Majesty!”
Knock, knock.
The irregular knocking rang through the room.
The Emperor, unimpressed replied,
“Come in.”
A man entered the reception room.
Judging by his uniform, he’s likely from the special operations unit. His badges indicate a high rank.
The man stated,
“What?”
“The Duke, who was supposed to have succumbed to poisoning, has recovered!”
Hearing this, I couldn’t control my expression.
Because the Duke was ensnared by the Star Sect’s scheme and poisoned with ‘Invisible Poison,’ a deadly toxin without an antidote. It was their plot to eliminate him and install a successor loyal to the Star Sect to expand its influence over the Duchy.
That’s how important the Duchy was to the Star Sect.
However,
‘How?’
‘Invisible Poison’ is a deadly toxin with no known cure. It’s unaffected by detoxifying agents, and no antidote exists. The only way to save someone poisoned by it is to erase the poison from their body using overwhelming divine power. And only one person in the continent could do that.
“One young girl supposedly healed the Duke.”
“Who is this girl?”
“Elfried Trivia, who claims to be the current saint.”
Damn.
Why are you involved now?
“A letter also arrived for Baron Rumore.”
“What happened there?”
Kenneth Rumore.
The master of the most prominent Rumore Trading House in the Empire and a noble famous for his influence.
Despite holding just a baron’s title, his influence is high because the Rumore Trading House is the largest across both the Empire and the Duchy. Also, this house serves as the financial backing for several factions of the nobility.
Naturally, the royal family’s relationship with them is often strained, but.
“Apparently, he was attacked by a Demon Beast days ago.”
“Did he die?”
“He returned safely. Despite having his arm and leg torn and his only son at death’s doorstep, he was saved by a girl…”
“Who was this girl?”
“In this case too, it was Elfried Trivia, the same girl. After investigation by Baron Rumore, there was one peculiar point…”
“Go on.”
“All this, she claimed, was not her will but that of a man… A man named…”
At that moment, goosebumps ran down my spine.
Wait.
Hold on.
Hold on for a second.
“Luke Richter…”
“…”
“…”
“Your title will be granted soon.”
With that sentence, the Emperor dismissed me. The joy on his face was evident. Winning the support of not only the Grand Lords but also gaining a debt from the usually distant Duchy would certainly make him happy. But…
“Damn.”
Not me.
I’m screwed.
On one side, they mistake me for a dragon.
On the other, they think I’m a vending machine that resolves everything with the press of a button.
And somewhere, they mistake me for Kabila, a god who vanished who knows where.
Not to mention, I’ve now become the Sixth Lord.
‘Worse, Kabila is a goddess.’
I’m about to lose my mind.
Anyway, the concept of gender for a deity shouldn’t matter. Still, it irks me.
“Over here.”
As I exited the palace, Balkhan, who had been waiting, guided me.
There was a carriage waiting. Rudine was there, and…
“Are we done?”
The Grand Lord Arkhan.
She waved as she stood in front of the carriage.
“I hear you caused an uproar in the Duchy too?”
“…”
“I couldn’t believe it, but managing to detoxify Invisible Poison. Your trip to Kalmas wasn’t in vain, huh?”
I remained silent.
Instead, I glared at her murderously.
She smiled innocently, as if unaware, and grasped my hand.
“Let’s hurry.”
“Where to?”
“Where else? We have to go to the Duchy. Since we saved a life, we should claim what’s owed, shouldn’t we?”
Ah, it’s about that.
Being too tired to respond, I simply ignored her.
“Ah, but before that, we have to make a quick stop.”
“What?”
“Remember the forbidden book Grimoire you retrieved after killing Jinjo and gave to me? Do you know what it contained?”
“…What?”
Arkhan grinned.
“The Holy Scripture.”
“…What?”
“The original version lost thousands of years ago. It turned out to be closer than we thought.”
I was momentarily stunned but quickly regained composure.
The Holy Scripture might sound like a Bible equivalent, but its essence is a Rune.
Given that both use language as a medium and store fragments of power in it, there’s little difference between it and a Rune.
It’s merely about whether the medium is a book or a stone.
And obtaining the Holy Scripture grants access to the…
‘Rune of Space.’
The Rune of Space.
A treasured artifact containing a fragment of Kabila’s ‘Space’ power.
“Are you coming? Sixth Lord.”
Arkhan’s eyes curved into a smile.
