263. Paltennoia, The End of the Empire (1)
Two days later, Duke Erbe’s request for an audience was officially approved by the Imperial Palace. The Duke, with a melancholic smile, headed towards the palace.
The palace was almost unchanged from what he remembered. Every time the Elector Duke summoned him, at least during the time when the Imperial Palace supported Ribue, the relationship between the Carvelier and Tremule families had been quite good. The Duke had never refused a summons from the Imperial Palace.
But the atmosphere. That alone was different from before. Even as he underwent the armed inspection by the eunuchs in front of the audience hall, Duke Erbe couldn’t shake off the chilling sense of pressure and a subtle feeling of alienation.
‘It’s cold.’
The air in the corridor of the Imperial Palace’s audience hall. And the fingertips of the eunuchs searching his person were cold. Freezingly so.
Their expressions were almost inhuman, as if painted pale like porcelain. The eunuchs mechanically rummaged through the Duke’s belongings with monotonous precision.
The armed inspection ended quickly. It wasn’t something that would take long in the first place. Suppressing the unpleasant sense of alienation, the Duke watched as the corridor doors slowly opened.
Darkness spread out before him. Far into the distance, like an abyss. The thick darkness made the scattered candlelight seem insignificant. The deep red silk-adorned inner audience hall of the Imperial Palace. Once called the Hall of Light, this splendid hall was now entirely dyed in black.
‘No. It just looks that way.’
Duke Erbe swallowed hard and stepped forward. His survival instincts were screaming warnings at him. The darkness in the hall wasn’t just visual.
His instincts didn’t want to acknowledge the scene before him. His gaze slid away, avoiding the light. Unable to focus straight ahead, Duke Erbe lowered his eyes.
Still, the hall was bright, splendid, and luxurious. But all he could see was darkness. It wasn’t a matter of color, but the presence of ‘something’ inside that distorted his vision and made his heart pound as if it would burst.
-Thud.
Suddenly, a nosebleed gushed out. Duke Erbe wiped his nose and walked forward. Slowly, step by step, along the path lined with crimson silk.
“Do you like it?”
The Emperor’s voice echoed in his ears. A distant, faraway voice.
“Do you know what you’re stepping on?”
“……?”
Duke Erbe forced his eyes open. The texture of the silk beneath his feet felt unusual. As his vision, blurred by instinct, slowly focused, the shape of the object became clearer.
Duke Erbe recoiled in horror, taking a few steps back. This wasn’t silk. The reason he had thought it was silk was because that’s what had been laid there before.
Not crimson silk…… but blood-soaked shrouds, still oozing fresh blood.
“This…… what……!”
“Haha, surprised?”
A laugh echoed from the distant throne. More blood trickled from his nose. By now, sticky blood tears were streaming from his eyes. His vision began to turn red.
“My, my. Your immunity is quite poor, Duke Erbe. Shouldn’t you have eaten well and lived better?”
“You…….”
Duke Erbe gritted his teeth and forced his head to turn. His neck creaked, making a horrifying sound as it was forced to move. He almost forcibly fixed his gaze straight ahead.
A man sat on the throne. Looking down at him with eyes dulled by boredom.
“You’ve been quite entertaining, Duke. Thanks to you, I’ve been busy.”
“What are you doing……!”
“Well. I’m just making what’s mine, mine.”
-Crunch.
A sound of chitinous collision came from somewhere. Rustle, crunch, crack. The noise, like insects crawling, struck his ears.
“All of it is just futile struggles. The outcome is already decided, so why resist? It’s utterly foolish.”
“You cannot succeed!”
Duke Erbe shouted, struggling to breathe. Blood seeped from his throat, and red blisters swelled up on his hands, bursting one by one.
So this is where I die. Is this the end? I must tell him. I must inform him of the situation in the Imperial Palace. If I fall here…… the soldiers of Ribue are finished.
“Erbe. You and I had a rather good relationship, didn’t we? An ideal relationship between a vassal and a sovereign. I liked your rationality, but have you gone senile with age?”
Mortal life is truly pitiful. The Emperor laughed loudly. As Duke Erbe tried to speak, the Emperor raised a finger to his lips.
“Shh.”
-Crunch, crack.
The sound of insects moving grew louder. As Duke Erbe tried to say something, the Emperor declared in a low voice.
“You will become one with us.”
“He will stop you……!”
Duke Erbe shouted with a voice boiling with blood. Soon, his vision darkened, and he could see nothing. Blood tears stuck to his eyelids, making it impossible to open them.
In the darkness, Duke Erbe slowly knelt and collapsed, shouting. He will stop you. You cannot succeed.
And.
My beloved daughter.
Rene Philippa. My daughter.
* * *
The meeting room was shrouded in gloom. None of the Duke’s knights dared to speak first. The bravery they showed on the battlefield was nowhere to be seen. They simply remained silent, heads bowed.
A cold solemnity permeated the dim meeting room. The knights just sat still, hoping someone else would speak first.
Fernandez let out a short sigh. It wasn’t that he didn’t understand their feelings…….
-Cowards.
‘Don’t say that, Faijashi. They understand.’
-Understanding and acceptance are different. They’re not accepting it.
‘That’s not stubbornness or fear…… it’s loyalty.’
Fernandez comforted the sulking Faijashi and slowly stood up. The Duke’s knights all turned their gaze to him. Their eyes were trembling.
Yes. Comforting the bereaved is also the duty of a priest. Fernandez smiled bitterly and opened his mouth.
“The Duke has likely passed away.”
He swallowed the word ‘probably.’ He didn’t want to give the knights false hope. The Duke’s death was almost a confirmed fact.
Five days had passed since the Duke entered the Imperial Palace. If he were alive, he would have contacted them long before now. During that time, the Duke’s legion had simply stayed in place, consuming the capital’s food supplies.
“…….”
The Duke’s vassals remained silent. They were suppressing their grief. Understanding and acceptance are different. And it wasn’t fear-driven escape but loyalty-driven reluctance.
“With Duke Carvelier’s passing, I will no longer hide this from you. You have three choices left.”
Fernandez looked each person in the eye as he continued.
“First. There is no one in the military camp with command authority equivalent to Duke Carvelier. This means that even Knight Commander Borua cannot command the entire army. Therefore, you must go to Rene Philippa de Carvelier, the Duke’s daughter, and reorganize the troops.”
Rene Philippa, the Duke’s daughter, is currently leading naval battles centered around Guir. If there’s anyone who can be accepted as the rightful lord of the Ribue army, it would be her.
But the knights didn’t respond. Fernandez nodded briefly and said.
“Right. This is the least favorable option. The Duke’s daughter is nominally anti-Emperor, while Duke Carvelier built his reputation as pro-Emperor. Not only would you lose all the reputation the Duke built with his life, but turning the army north would also leave the western Ribue region unprotected.”
Currently, Duke Carvelier’s army is defending the capital, Paltennoia. But this also means they are in a position to deploy in any direction and flexibly respond to any sudden events in Ribue.
Heading north to Guir would buy time to reorganize the troops, but it would mean losing both Ribue’s safety and the Duke’s reputation. After that, Duke Carvelier would be reduced to just another ambitious Elector Duke, unable to contend for the throne, making this the least favorable option.
“The second proposal is to march on the Imperial Palace. There’s the satisfaction of avenging the Duke, the immediate supply and resources, and the thousands of benefits that come from occupying the palace and deposing the Emperor.”
About a third of the knights in the meeting room flinched at his words. Fernandez carefully observed their faces and secretly clicked his tongue.
These knights are at least high-ranking officers equivalent to commanders. Their reaction was too incompetent for their supposed expertise.
Of course, most of the knights just looked at him without any change in expression. Fernandez sighed inwardly.
He nodded readily and said,
“That’s right. This is a blunder that doesn’t even qualify as a low-level scheme. Not only will the Duke lose his justification immediately, but if it’s revealed that the Duke’s death was the Emperor’s doing, the Carvelier family will go down in history as a house of traitors. Not only will the late Duke’s honor be tarnished, but the survival of the entire family will be at risk.”
At his words, the knights who had been startled earlier turned pale.
There’s an unwritten rule among nobles: even if you betray someone, do it elegantly. By nature, nobles are untrustworthy, but at the very least, they don’t betray someone to their face.
The justification in noble society carries more weight than mere rumors. What proves a noble’s dignity is their lineage, and what a long lineage signifies is ‘trustworthiness.’ Respect for a family stems from their trustworthiness.
Therefore, nobles can never betray someone openly. They are beings who must achieve their goals through schemes alone.
If the knights attack the Imperial Palace, even if the Duke was truly assassinated by the Emperor, all the blame will fall on the Duke’s knights. That day, the Duke’s house will be finished in noble society.
“Third. This is the last proposal I can offer you. Pretend you know nothing and continue to guard this region as usual.”
At his words, confusion spread across the knights’ faces. Knights of this era aren’t just strong warriors. They are field commanders, and even in the simplest cases, they are trained in basic tactical concepts.
From a strategic perspective, maintaining the status quo is no different from regression. Time applies equally to both the enemy and allies, and while the allies remain stagnant, the enemy will advance.
War is a highly relative competition. There’s only one condition for victory in war: to be better than the enemy. In this situation, where the enemy’s schemes and moves are unknown, simply staying still might seem like a poor strategy at first glance.
Fernandez continued smoothly,
“The Vaitas Church has declared a Holy War. All cathedral knight orders under the Church are marching en masse to Paltennoia.”
Fernandez quickly marked three armies on the map. The Cross Crusader Order, the Order of St. John, and the 5th Ascetic Order. These were the symbols of Vaitas’s major military forces.
“Additionally, the Eastern Kingdom Alliance’s combined forces are advancing beyond La Merthion into the Jaclyn and Dian regions. The pro-Emperor faction’s Elector Dukes in the east are too busy trying to stop them.”
The three major powers in the eastern part of the Empire. The pro-Emperor territories of Merthion, Jaclyn, and Dian were marked in red. In reality, those regions are likely already drenched in blood and fire.
“Lastly, Gur. The Tremule court count is currently at war with the Arnan Duke in the northwest. He’s the last pro-Emperor Duke the Emperor can call for support. Now, the Emperor has lost all his limbs.”
The Grand Duke of Merthion, Bares.
The Duke of Dian, Poitiers.
The Duke of Jaclyn, Grimor.
The Duke of Troyes, Arnan.
The four families that can be called pro-Emperor are all too busy with their own territorial wars. No matter how powerful the Empire is, with all the Elector Dukes preoccupied with their own battles, the Emperor has no military authority left.
The entire Empire is now engulfed in the flames of war. Gur’s Tremule has joined hands with Duke Carvelier, while Duke Sephor’s house in Vula has fallen into the hands of the Federation of Beastmen Nobles…
“The only family that can restrain us is in the south. The Duke of Blancfleur’s house.”
“They hate the Emperor.”
“But does that make them our ally?”
“The enemy of my enemy…”
“No. If there are two hungry wolves, they’ll just compete over one deer. The Blancfleur family won’t let you monopolize the prey.”
When Fernandez said that, Borua frowned and asked,
“Then why aren’t they showing any military action at this point?”
“Duke Blancfleur isn’t foolish. Look at the current situation. All the lords are baring their fangs at each other, and the only one holding the ‘honorable’ position is Duke Carvelier. Blancfleur can’t possibly make the first move.”
Because nobles don’t betray openly. Duke Carvelier, who has proven his loyalty and honor, holds an unshakable justification as long as he doesn’t make the first move.
“So, it’s best for you to hold your position at least until the situation in the east or north stabilizes. It might seem like a poor strategy in normal times, but right now, it’s the only way.”
The Duke’s legion had formed a defensive perimeter around the capital. In other words, they were the only army that had the Emperor completely surrounded.
If even a single justification comes from the Emperor—for example, evidence of the Duke’s assassination—the soldiers defending the system would instantly turn into invaders surrounding the capital.
The meeting was adjourned. The knights left in small groups, each trying to look convinced. In a meeting where the Duke’s death was clearly announced, no vassal dared to speak recklessly.
Fernandez waited for them all to leave, then sat down and looked at the map.
“Is it over?”
The door opened, and Abel entered. She had been waiting for him in the corridor throughout the meeting.
“Yes.”
“I heard the discussion outside. But are you sure it’s okay to stay still like this? I’m no strategist, but I don’t think the Emperor is a fool.”
“Of course not.”
The Emperor isn’t a fool. In fact, one must assume the Emperor is an extremely shrewd man. To achieve unanimous support through politics among the Elector Dukes, each a warlord in their own right, requires that level of intelligence.
So, to think the Emperor would just sit back and take it is absurd optimism. Unlike the knights, Fernandez couldn’t believe the Emperor would idly wait for the Empire’s downfall.
And from a third-party perspective, Abel vaguely understood this as well.
“The Emperor will definitely reach out to Duke Blancfleur. It’s the only support request the Emperor can make.”
The Emperor’s faction is currently collapsing without a chance to act. In such a situation, the only one the Emperor can scheme with is Duke Blancfleur.
No matter the conditions, the Emperor will accept Duke Blancfleur’s proposal. Suppose the Emperor declares this right now:
– Duke Carvelier attempted an ambush after requesting an audience, and his attempt to seize the throne was thwarted by the Imperial Guard.
– Duke Carvelier’s forces have unlawfully occupied the capital and surrounded the nearby borders, and the Emperor declares them traitors.
Then, Duke Blancfleur would immediately march. If the Emperor locks all the capital’s gates and holds out for just a few weeks, Duke Carvelier’s army would be caught between the capital and Duke Blancfleur.
That’s the best plan the Emperor can come up with right now. Unlike the ruined Principality of Ribue, which collapsed after a long decline and western expeditions, Duke Blancfleur’s forces in the southern Principality have preserved their military strength relatively well.
The Duke’s army, having lost its base, would be crushed without even breaching the capital’s walls. The only reason the Emperor hasn’t devised this plan yet is…
“Either Duke Blancfleur made an outrageous demand in response to the Emperor’s request for support.”
“Or, Duke Blancfleur’s forces have already been mobilized and are on the march.”
The Emperor’s silence might just be buying time. If the Emperor is staying silent to buy time for Duke Blancfleur’s army to march toward Paltennoia, then the current situation is the worst-case scenario.
The knights of Ribue would have to fight unprepared, and the end would be nothing but ruin.
But war is a contest where time determines victory before military strength. If it’s a battle of time, Fernandez is confident in his own way.
“If the east collapses, or if Gur’s Count Tremule wins the war and heads to the capital, or if the Vaitas Church’s Holy War army arrives at the capital first, we win.”
“And if Duke Blancfleur arrives at the capital before those forces, it’s our defeat.”
“No, the Emperor’s victory condition requires one more thing.”
“What is it?”
“The Emperor’s declaration. Even if Duke Blancfleur arrives first, if the Emperor doesn’t declare Duke Carvelier a traitor, then nominally, Duke Carvelier’s house remains a loyal family defending the Imperial Palace. They can’t be attacked first.”
At his words, Abel tilted her head. Of course, he’s right, but…
“Can’t we just detain the Emperor directly? Didn’t you say these humans can’t attack the Imperial Palace directly because of justification?”
And isn’t that justification the only lifeline keeping Duke Carvelier’s house alive?
When Abel asked that, Fernandez smiled faintly.
“Of course. The moment the Duke’s vassals attack the Imperial Palace, not only Duke Blancfleur but all the Elector Dukes will have the justification to attack Duke Carvelier’s forces. That can’t happen.”
“Then how do you plan to shut the Emperor’s mouth?”
“The Duke’s knights have no way.”
As he told the knights earlier, they only have three options.
But Fernandez has one more option left.
He pulled out a rosary from his pocket and smiled playfully.
“Heresy investigation.”
“Ah.”
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