Chapter 103

(103)

Why on earth is the Emperor in a bad mood?

I focused on that thought as I climbed the stairs.

The first thing that came to mind was the incident where I abducted the Saint.

Even though the educated class might understand the circumstances, to the citizens, it appeared like a genuine kidnapping.

The initial reason Jeilliris sent me was to make the Church indebted to her, but if the Imperial Court ended up committing a serious mistake against the Church, that would be turning things upside down.

Of course, there could be other reasons.

Let me think back to before the return.

Perhaps the repeated assassination attempts today were annoying her, or reports of armies gathering from another province, or news of a magical realm erupting might have come in. It’s also possible that the court official had been petitioning all day for the release of the five royals confined in the monastery.

Otherwise, her characteristic insight might have shone a light on something negative.

Jeilliris, in her 30th year of rule, often gave instructions during dinner to behead some traitor or to launch a preemptive strike because she sensed the nation would soon invade, and all those instances turned out to be right.

“Duke Valencius sees Your Majesty.”

I respectfully greeted as I stepped into the office.

The sun was setting to the west, casting a red hue on the clouds, while the eastern sky faded into a deep blue.

The Emperor sat with her back against the large glass window, tapping her ring-adorned fingers on the desk, contemplating something.

Her radiant platinum hair glowed like a waterfall in the sunset, and her golden eyes gleamed inhumanly, while her finely-featured face resembled the finest porcelain crafted by the best artisans.

“Duke Valencius. You’ve come?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“I didn’t expect it to take this long. It seems there were many events at the monastery.”

I had fought for a day and spent 14 days tidying up afterward.

She’s angry that I’m late.

“I apologize. I will be at the palace for some time now, so please call for me whenever you wish.”

That seemed to be the right answer, as her eyebrows slightly arched.

“I heard from the Order about the report. It seems the son of Baron Antares ran in with the daughter of Count Dorcaesis, begging not to be killed, saying they would marry, end the war, and develop the mine. You’ve saved two counts.”

That’s good news.

I’m relieved.

As I let out a sigh of relief, a sadistic smile crept onto her lips.

“But because of that, the first practical application of the new scroll developed by Duke Sorelazie has been delayed.”

Oh dear.

“I thought saving lives was a priority.”

“Yes. Your words are correct. As a ruler, it is also my duty to overlook matters when someone pledges their loyalty.”

“A wise choice, Your Majesty. The future will praise Your Majesty’s virtue.”

Jeilliris lightly laughed.

“Now, tell me what happened. How intense was the bloodshed that you were away from my side for a month?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I will explain in detail.”

I reported the neatly organized facts.

The head of the monastery made an old contract to end the war by marrying the heir of the count, and while obtaining significant alchemical reagents through unofficial channels, they were caught.

The Saint and I fought off the Infiltrators for a day, and the Saint performed a miracle.

There exists an unknown faction of Infiltrators who assisted with the contract.

Given they could enter the monastery, they seemed to have considerable experience, and they researched methods to conceal the energy of corruption using the power of holy relics with the aid of the monastery.

“I suspect they are behind this.”

As I finished speaking, Jeilliris furrowed her brow.

“Duke, do you remember what happened in the Purioaito territory?”

“…It seemed a bit odd for a sister’s revenge. While searching through the office for missing funds and jewels, I found several suspicious books and magical tools.”

“Would it be excessive for me to suspect they are the same individuals?”

“No, it is not.”

I stated firmly.

It wouldn’t be common for an established Infiltrators’ Sect that could influence the monastery to exist.

“The distance is enormous, but if it were those guys, it would not be surprising if they had some means of communication. Furthermore, they easily unite, so there is surely a connection.”

Jeilliris nodded.

“There’s one more reason to get closer to the Church. It’s a pity that I can’t traverse the entire Empire.”

Before the return, I did that and failed.

In the end, Justianus, who acquired the knowledge of corruption, opened the boundaries of the magical realms and summoned a dragon.

I lowered my voice slightly.

“This summer’s pledge of loyalty will become increasingly important.”

Jeilliris nodded.

“Yes. Precisely. We must collaborate with the Great Lords to burn those tumors. …I’m not sure if it will be beneficial or detrimental that the Saint has gained new powers.”

It was a harsh statement, but I couldn’t deny it.

For us, it was better for the Saint to quickly spread the cleansing flames than to heal each individual Infiltrator.

Now that he wielded powers that didn’t exist before the return, he might no longer be the Matheos I knew.

Or perhaps it would be better to say he had effectively changed.

“I will keep a close watch. If necessary, I can abduct him again, so rest easy.”

“Do so. Hahaha. I was surprised the Saint looked so manly but couldn’t ride a wyvern.”

“I was surprised too. He needs to adapt moving forward.”

* * *

After some more discussion, we moved to the topic of blood magic.

I wanted to keep this hidden, but Jeilliris languidly spoke.

“From your complexion, it seems you’ve learned a new magic.”

Her voice was lazy, but her eyes were sharp.

Perhaps she sensed it the moment I walked in.

“…I nearly got crushed in your grasp. I had to reflexively use blood magic to escape.”

In the end, I spilled all the facts in detail, waiting with a racing heart for her judgment.

The royal family was wary of magical practices, and blood magic was particularly scrutinized.

It wouldn’t be surprising if Jeilliris had means to completely seal away magic from me.

But she said something unexpectedly to me.

“You’re fortunate to be alive. There’s no helping it since you’ve already learned it. Train it well so that you don’t run amok or get used by others.”

“Yes, yes?”

“I didn’t think you’d say that? Did you expect me to behead you?”

Trying hard to keep my mouth shut and not deny it, Jeilliris smiled lightly as she spoke.

“The one who has undergone the Rite of Dragon Transformation will face little corruption, even if it progresses. So there’s no real reason you shouldn’t learn blood magic.”

“Ah.”

“If well honed, it may also help in stopping the Dragon Transformation. Train accordingly.”

I let out a deep sigh of relief.

“Your Majesty’s grace is boundless. Whether rain or shine, I will train daily to aid Your Majesty.”

Jeilliris nodded.

“You’ve preserved the relics… It seems you’ve secured your part well as well. Did the Saint not react in shock?”

“I told him that I should bring something back to keep my own life, so I handed it over. The ownership, he says, still belongs to the Church. It’s a show of trust toward the Imperial Family.”

It’s truly an amusing matter.

If the Saint heard I returned the relic from Duke Valencius, rumors would spread that he had gone mad, but saying I gave a token of trust to the Imperial envoy makes everyone nod in agreement.

“Make sure to keep that safe. It’s not something I need.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Even within the Imperial Family, there were only a few suitable to use that, so in the end, it was nearly equivalent to giving it to me.

“I’d still like to draw it once. Just as I heard, it looks plain. The holy sword ‘Eternal.'”

A longsword that looked like it was made by a small manor’s blacksmith, with a handle devoid of any decoration and a scabbard wrapped in uncolored brown leather.

I wore that sword alongside my trusty ceremonial sword.

“Would you like to draw it?”

Jeilliris shook her head without hesitation.

“Not necessary. What use would it be to a noble Emperor? I am someone who greedily longs for honor and glory, worldly wealth and power, taste, strength, and stability. I can neither be nor desire to be just a temperate purifier.”

I thought she would respond that way.

Naturally, I could not attempt to draw it, so I didn’t even try.

Jeilliris scanned me, then laughed.

“Hahaha. It truly doesn’t suit you. All those ornate decorations and that unadorned sword.”

“I think so too.”

“It will suit you even less.”

“What do you mean by that? Perhaps…?”

“Baron Antares and Count Dorcaesis sent you a gift as a token of their gratitude.”

She pulled out a wooden box from beneath the desk.

Inside, there was a pair of luxurious shoes made of white-dyed leather.

“May I try them on now?”

“Isn’t that common courtesy?”

Fortunately, they fit my feet perfectly, strangely robust and comfortable yet elegantly crafted enough to be worn anywhere.

As I smiled in satisfaction, Jeilliris spoke.

“The name of those shoes is ‘Anima Lamentum.’ By infusing mana and uttering the word ‘Anima,’ a fierce wind will erupt from the soles, lifting or pushing you. The distance is quite similar to the ‘Blink’ of magicians.”

Creating magical tools without using metals or gems was a challenging task.

It was a price worth receiving for saving the count’s life.

Hesitantly, I asked, “Is it really alright for me to wear something this good?”

“It’s not suited for me, and I would run faster than it. Strengthening my limbs is equivalent to strengthening myself, so run hard in those shoes for me.”

I smiled brightly and bowed respectfully.

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

“Now that the capital is relatively stable, we must receive pledges of loyalty from the Great Lords to stabilize the Empire.”

Upon hearing that, familiar faces from before those I had saved came to mind.

Helena, who would become an officer, Hadrian, who would be knowledgeable in finances, the future spirit mage Denia, and five others.

“Yes, Your Majesty. I will tell the royal family with high nobility to write tearful letters to send to their matrilineal line.”

Jeilliris smiled in satisfaction.

Her yellow eyes shone inhumanly.

“Yes. You grasp my intentions well, bringing me true relief.”

* * *

A flowing mane of golden hair, fiery red eyes, and a woman with an ambitious lion-like demeanor.

Helena was referred to in society as one of the ‘Eight Survivors’ or the ‘Coward of the Eight.’

The ‘Great Escape,’ led by the defiant women who didn’t turn over chips to Sorelazie and the Infiltrator Lancea.

At that time, she accepted Duke Valencius’s proposal and squeezed through the escape plan of her half-siblings, surviving.

Since then, nearly seven months had passed since she was assigned to the Bronze Knights.

The tasks assigned to her were daily training, reading tactical books, and participating in war games.

“Sigh.”

Helena sighed as she looked at the desolate desk, as if a swarm of locusts had swept over it.

If she had truly achieved success, it wouldn’t have been unjust to say she gained riches and honor by selling out her siblings, yet now she was merely training daily alongside the knights—what a predicament!

In fact, the ‘Bronze’ knights saw much less action when peace reigned compared to the ‘Platinum,’ who led the elite guard, the ‘Silver,’ who patrolled outside, or the ‘Black Steel,’ who managed the constables.

Since large-scale expeditions were rarely assembled, maintaining a small elite force and a newbie training unit was not the duty of knights but rather the responsibility of the subordinate officers.

Just as ‘Black Steel’ managed public peace with constables, ‘Bronze’ managed the army through the officers beneath them.

Of course, there were a few joint training sessions, and they would operate together in actual combat, but for now, the leaders of their four knight orders, including general ‘vassal knights,’ hardly had any ‘command’ duties.

What Helena dreamed of as a ‘knight commander’ was more akin to a ‘vassal knight’ coming to gather an army during times of war as a lord.

While others asked why a noble royals would want to lead a complex and exhausting army alongside smelly commoners, she actually enjoyed it.

Flags and blood, fire and iron, the ancient glory.

Friendships forged in fierce battle with soldiers.

“Follow me!”

The reality was spending another day recapping war games.

“Damn.”

The war games were so well-crafted that every time she played, it left her craving more.

Her heart raced, making her yearn to draft an army and march somewhere right away.

At that moment, the leader called for her.

“Helena.”

Helena rose from her seat, placing her clenched right fist over her heart to show her respect.

He was the only person in ‘Bronze’ with command authority over soldiers, making him a source of envy to the officers.

Originally, the leader should have addressed her with at least a hint of respect due to her royal status, yet Helena did not wish for that.

Titles meant little.

“I’m told to invite you to dinner.”

“I’m not interested.”

She had no desire for anyone interested in her based merely on her face and title.

What she desired… was Duke Valencius.

“Next time, please just tell me that from the start!”

Helena felt her heart race again.

He was the half-brother who had changed her life once before.

She felt once again as if her life might change.