The Emperor cut to the chase and brought up money, causing both Sererassie and me to blink in surprise for a moment.
Jeilliris, dressed in a black uniform with golden embroidery over her black dress, smiled lightly as if to say why we looked so foolish.
“Sererassie. That money we agreed to discuss when you came to me.”
“Oh, I just remembered!”
Sererassie said with a bright smile.
She was always indifferent to money as she could earn whenever she wanted, and after having sent assassins to the casino because it was reluctant to release her chips, she couldn’t exchange the chips she had secured.
She showed her loyalty by dedicating half of it to Jeilliris.
“I had intended to visit as soon as I heard, but with various incidents happening all around, I was delayed. Requests for support poured in from every direction, and since the Duke and his wife were scheming through my nephew, even I, no matter how busy I am, couldn’t find the time.”
“That’s not true, Your Majesty. I believed you would always remember me.”
To Sererassie’s words, Jeilliris laughed like a girl of her age.
“The ruler is bound to be happy in the face of taxes and cash and gold! I am no different.”
She spoke in a manner that hardly seemed like that of a girl her age.
“So, I will soon assign knights to you so that you can go collect the money. After retrieving it, I intend to hold them accountable for drug trafficking and seize any remaining assets without leniency. Do not forget that half is your share.”
“Your Grace is tremendously generous, Your Majesty. I will use it all for the research expenses for my workshop.”
“Yes, I find your loyalty commendable, Sererassie.”
Jeilliris, who smiled contentedly, let down her platinum hair and asked,
“Oh, speaking of the workshop, it suddenly came to mind. When will I see the prototype of the shock conviction potion you developed? I was greatly surprised to see it.”
With the expression of someone who seemed to have just heard that the spot she was digging was her grave, Sererassie replied.
“Your Majesty, you cannot demand a hundred different applications when you request the prototype.”
“You mean you haven’t even started?”
“When I receive the money, I will bring in my apprentices and begin in earnest. Please wait a little longer.”
“Yes. Yes. What can’t be done with money?”
I was secretly astonished by the conversation unfolding before me.
The Emperor hadn’t even started her orders yet.
Of course, Sererassie was incredibly busy, but under normal circumstances, she would have been met with harsh orders or bolts of lightning.
However, Jeilliris today seemed to be in such a good mood that such thoughts didn’t even cross her mind.
“Your Majesty. You look particularly radiant today.”
“Yes. It appears that way even to you, Valenciaunos.”
She smiled like a carnivore.
Under the light of hundreds of golden candlesticks lit in the reception room, shadows cast over her face were dense.
With a crunch, her white, sharp fangs ground together.
“How could I not be happy? The house cleaning is nearly done. Thanks to you, having cleaned up all the illegitimate children, there are only a few variables left. Once those with high succession status remaining in the Crimson Crescent Palace are dealt with, it will truly be over.”
I felt compelled to ask.
“What will you do afterward?”
Jeilliris continued with a satisfied smile.
“First, I must stabilize the state. With the gold from the red-light district, we can gather and hire wandering knights, and it will be enough to equip them with armor inscribed with the Incantation Circuits.”
Knights were the most valuable forces of this era.
They had to be ‘well’ fed, ‘well’ clothed, and ‘well’ housed, and their salaries had to be ‘high.’
The gold needed to maintain around 200 knights in your order along with Wyvernfit was beyond imagination.
“Then, I must receive the anointing from the newly born saint to secure legitimacy. As long as he resides in the capital, he will not dare to defy my orders.”
“And then…”
Without needing me to ask, Jeilliris continued with a smile that seemed to imply she hoped for our response.
“Having established legitimacy, I will demand a loyalty oath from the great lords across the land. Then I will become the true Emperor. Those who defy me will be hunted down by the army. Afterward, I will shut down the magical realms across the region and, along with the church, hunt down the Infiltrators. I will not sit idly by while the old ones toy with my citizens. And then…”
The Emperor muttered as if dreaming.
“If all the magical realms in the Empire are destroyed, the next step is the continent. So that humanity is not swayed by the old ones.”
“Do you plan to conquer the world?”
Jeilliris shook her head, her yellow eyes flashing like lightning.
“That’s different. Conquer the world? I wouldn’t wish for that to be something I could do at any time.”
I momentarily recalled the moment decades ago when I stood on the battlefield with her.
Jeilliris had always been Jeilliris.
Now, as before, her heartfelt words represented her essence.
“I have always looked beyond the borders. I hope that the kings of this world and my citizens can live without worry of corruption and decay.”
Of course, in the process, she would gain fame and honor, she added as her speech concluded.
Seemingly quite excited, a faint blush appeared on her white cheeks.
“Thus, you two, who will become the first buttons to be fastened, are important. Sererassie, you must exchange the chips without any consideration, and Valenciaunos, you must keep a close watch on the remaining royals in the Crimson Crescent Palace. Nothing is more pitiful than stumbling right before everything is about to work out.”
I looked at the Emperor with a somewhat refreshed feeling.
At this time before my reincarnation, she was the Emperor who flew in the sky riding a Wyvern, punishing the noble alliance.
“I will not allow the old ones to toy with my citizens.”
That voice echoed in my head.
I felt tears welling up for some reason as I murmured in my mouth.
After all, it was a good thing to have prevented war.
“Your Majesty. May I ask one more question?”
“What is it?”
“Will you give those who remain in the Crimson Crescent Palace an opportunity to take a trial as well?”
Since I was at it, I intended to push the button to the very end.
Isn’t it better to save at least one more person?
“Do as you wish. You are always under trial anyway.”
Jeilliris replied brightly.
“Shh. Did you hear what he said?”
“What story?”
“The Emperor is thinking of killing us all this time.”
“Here it comes.”
The royals no longer reacted with shock when such tales arose.
Death was part of daily life in the Crimson Crescent Palace.
“Could he really kill us all? Those who were accused of revolt, assassination, and infiltration have already been dragged out.”
“Aren’t we from a great noble family? Your mother is from the Purioaito line.”
“That Purioaito family is currently being constrained with all kinds of allegations of rebellion. I’m also in danger of being beheaded alongside my aunt and uncle.”
“That friend Lancea said to gather briefly at midnight. Will you go?”
“Lancea? You mean that ruffian from the red-light district?”
“What good will it do to listen to someone inferior to Valenciaunos?”
“I’ll pass. It’s obvious they’ll kill us if we gather; what kind of scene would I want to witness?”
“Still, I will go. I can’t die here. I must survive and find a way to get back at that damned Emperor.”
Nevertheless, they were genuinely ‘real’ royals with solid backgrounds.
There were even royals who had ranked within the top ten in succession order a year ago.
The mere fact that they were gathered in one palace was a significant enough event that even Jeilliris would have to bear the political fallout.
The knights guarding the Crimson Crescent Palace were barred from entering the third floor, where their rooms were.
Thanks to that, they could truly assemble ‘without anyone knowing.’
At midnight, the royal family members began to gather one by one in a dimly lit room with a few candles flickering.
The darkness enveloped the entire room, making it impossible to see faces unless they were viewed up close.
“Clarence. You’ve arrived.”
“Is that you, Arietta?”
“Lancea was already here before.”
“Helena, I didn’t expect you to come.”
“I can’t die in a place like this.”
Helena, the daughter of a renowned swordsmanship family, resembled her mother more with her blond hair and red eyes.
Once a princess, she was now in a state worse than a criminal, and the burning heat of hell ignited in her red eyes.
From a distance, Lancea’s voice began to be heard.
“Dear siblings. Welcome.”
A few chuckled at the greeting that felt like the opening to a cult.
Of course, they were actually siblings, so it wasn’t inaccurate.
“Lancea will explain the escape plan through the red-light district.”
Listening to the continued explanation, Helena nodded.
“I’m familiar with the place we always go.”
“Honestly, it sounds reliable.”
“I see it differently. Were you planning even the ruffian antics?”
The reactions around were also not bad.
The explanations flowed smoothly, connections were solid, and plans B and C were prepared for emergencies without any shortcomings.
At that moment, a small voice whispered in her ear.
“That bastard is peddling drugs again. He plans to sacrifice everyone and slip away.”
Helena slowly turned her head.
And she clenched her mouth shut, suppressing a scream.
“Ugh!”
With white garments and platinum hair slicked back, her pale cheeks bore the yellow eyes of royalty.
The Emperor’s dog, the slaughterer of Wyvernfit, a kin-slayer.
Valenciaunos, who had fed twenty illegitimate children to the monstrous Infiltrators, was mingling among them.
There were countless questions – how did he get in, what had he heard, did he plan to leak it?
But Valenciaunos continued speaking faster than she could scream.
“Listen carefully. If you go there, you will definitely die. I’m planning to escape too.”
“What!?”
“Working under the Emperor, I understand now. I will surely be discarded soon. I can’t bear it. I’ll use the kids leaving this time as bait to escape. I’ve finished talking with Hope Casino. I’ll only be taking the capable ones, so if any of you are interested, after this meeting ends and everyone scatters, come to the room next door.”
It was an unexpected remark.
It seemed too desperate to dismiss as a lie.
Valenciaunos disappeared into the crowd before she could respond.
In the thick darkness where even the faces of those nearby couldn’t be seen, Helena could only wear a blank expression.
Before my reincarnation, there were royals, excluding myself, who followed Jeilliris.
They surrendered to the logic of power, faked their obedience while waiting for an opportunity, had power lust overshadow anything, or aimed to save their families.
The reasons varied greatly, but they were all competent individuals.
They were the younger siblings I was thankful for, who helped me recover from my drug and alcohol-induced decline right after I emerged from the red-light district.
Helena had helped me take up the sword again.
I did not wish for them to die.
Not just those who had followed Jeilliris before my reincarnation but including those whose resentment wasn’t that deep.
I wanted to provide as many people as possible with the opportunity to take a trial.
I made sure to lead them into thinking I was caught off guard with my weak words, using provocative statements like bait to suggest danger around Lancea.
They had no choice but to come, thinking they might as well hear it out.
“Rudi. Prepare some tea. Add plenty of herbs so it settles quickly. Light the scented candles.”
“Yes, Lord Valenciaunos.”
Rudi, who had two matchlocks tucked into the hem of his skirt, followed a step behind me.
Not long after, the door quietly creaked open.
“…Valenciaunos.”
With her golden hair and red eyes, Helena, an outstanding swordswoman and remarkable officer, stood before me.
“What are you thinking calling us here?”
With ashen bobbed hair and golden eyes, Hadrian, who was bright with wealth, asked.
“Honestly, I don’t trust you.”
With long brown braids, the future Spirit Master, Denia, followed suit.
About five more people joined them.
There were a few with hoods pulled over their heads obscuring their faces, but fortunately, all the loyalists from before my reincarnation were gathered.
I felt relieved and said.
“Lady Trentia. Please close the door.”
At the mention of ‘Lady,’ the royals gasped.
“Valenciaunos!”
“It’s a trap!”
“Kill him!”
Some drew daggers, others began to chant spells, and the room buzzed with activity as they searched for windows.
I sat quietly, raising one hand to calm the chaos.
“You.”
When Helena saw me not moving, she first lowered the dagger aimed at my throat, and Rudi stowed his matchlock.
…When did he draw it?
Helena, glancing at Lady Trentia, ground her teeth.
“Is this a trap?”
“No.”
“Then you must explain what this joke is.”
“Alright.”
I shrugged and looked over the assembled royals.
Then, dramatically opening my arms, I delivered a thunderous sentence that would strike like lightning to them.
“I, Chief Consultant Valenciaunos of the Royal Affairs Bureau, sincerely welcome you who have pledged allegiance to the Emperor.”
“When did I?”
Helena asked, looking as if she had been struck on the head.
