Chapter 19

(19)

It was a difficult question, but I was accustomed to difficult questions.

It was thanks to the aftermath of the drastic personnel changes and forceful diplomatic measures implemented by Jeilliris in my previous life.

“It is a crime to covet the Emperor’s relics. However, your father did not meet the death he desired because of his arrogant greed. Consider it a grace,” I said, looking at the face of a girl who should have been around fifteen years old.

“Are you saying my father wished for death?” she asked.

“Yes.”

Otherwise, you would die. I didn’t feel the need to say that.

I knew well that the guilt over the deceased could not be easily shaken off.

Living with irreversible regrets is a brutally cruel thing, as I had experienced.

Of course, she was the child of a sinner, and the Empire practiced collective punishment.

But if her neck was destined to be cut according to the laws and the will of the sovereign, there was no reason for her to live with guilt for the rest of her life.

“Go. The Black Iron Knights will be here soon. Do not touch that potion unless you wish to be sick,” I instructed.

“Yes, Your Highness. I will never forget the grace you showed me today.”

The one-legged girl bowed.

Her movements were neater than her father’s.

Looking into her eyes, shining with fierce anger and cold reason, I suddenly thought it might be a ridiculous probability, but we could meet again someday.

I exited the building.

Sir Trentia was waiting outside the burnt entrance.

She looked immaculate without a drop of sweat.

“Are you injured, ma’am? There were quite a few of them.”

“Not a single one dared to come at me,” she replied, a bit shyly.

I furrowed my brow in confusion, and she continued.

“As soon as they recognized I’m a member of the Platinum Knights, they all fled with their eyebrows flailing. Several even threw away their bracelets.”

I saw some tied bracelets rolling on the floor.

“Good. It’s better than shedding unnecessary blood. They’re not wearing that shiny armor for nothing – they should know to run away.”

With an awkward expression, Sir Trentia nodded.

I pointed towards the second-floor chief’s room and said, “There are drugs piled up in that safe.”

“Then I will go secure them at once.”

“No, it’s better to leave this matter to the Black Iron Knights.”

She furrowed her brow for a moment before realizing. “If I, a Platinum Knight, handle matters outside the palace, they’ll consider it a provocation.”

“Indeed. The misunderstanding that you were an accomplice has already put Sir Barbatos in a difficult position. If you gain merit in the Black Iron Knights’ jurisdiction during this tumultuous time, it would be akin to blackening their faces.”

“You’re wise, contrary to the rumors. Then I suppose I’ll leave this debt.”

Having heard that, I pulled a relic out from my pocket and presented it to her.

A penpoint the size of two palms, wrapped in layers of high-quality paper.

“Your Highness, you really found it!”

“Did you think I wouldn’t find it?”

“How did you know it was here?”

Sir Trentia looked at me with a dissonant expression.

This was not the gaze of someone witnessing the man who used to kick Sir Bonnel’s shins and complain during training sessions.

I avoided her gaze and exclaimed in an exaggerated tone, “Did you think I was lying?”

“Ugh!”

“Take it and report. This is your achievement.”

“What do you mean? You realized that it was the work of the slum rats, guided me through the underground sewer, and personally entered their lair to retrieve the relic. So how is this my accomplishment?”

She declared with a gallant face, almost scolding me for trying to make her a liar.

After a brief moment of contemplation, I decided to leverage my authority.

“Ah, if the Duke considers it your achievement, it shall be your achievement.”

I shoved the relic into her hand, almost forcefully.

She would be a knight who would become a Sword Master in the future.

Just having her next to Jeilliris would strengthen the Empire’s foundation.

Knowing the future, I had many opportunities to earn merits ahead.

I had to witness my loyalty being proven in an environment I could control, gradually accumulating achievements.

If unforeseen circumstances arose, I would consider it a bonus and distribute the merit.

After all, the Empire would not be pacified for another year or two.

* * *

Three days had passed since I solidly advised Sir Trentia.

A servant came and called me to the Main Palace.

“Rudi. I’ll be off.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

I exchanged greetings and headed to the Main Palace with the servant.

He did not lead me to the grand Audience Chamber, but to a sunlit room facing south.

The walls of that room were made of floor-to-ceiling glass on the southern wall and half of the western wall, resembling a greenhouse.

The room was filled with large plants with broad leaves.

It felt fragrant and fresh, even without flowers.

The stench of the slums I had visited three days ago was completely wiped from my mind.

In the corner of the room, a musician sat playing the violin.

It was a waltz—a hauntingly beautiful tune that seemed perfectly suited to the tastes of nobility wanting to be immersed in deep emotions.

“Have you come?”

Jeilliris was reclining on a long seat in the center of the room.

Her white hand, completely relaxed, drooped over the armrest.

To block the sun, she had placed a warm wet towel over her eyes.

For an emperor referred to as a family killer, her demeanor was far too defenseless.

But I had the experience from my previous life.

I understood that such absurd composure was her way of reaffirming her power and authority.

“Yes, Your Majesty. I have arrived.”

“I have heard from Sir Trentia. The advice you gave was a great help.”

Her voice was laced with drowsiness.

“Can it be said that she possesses the virtue of humility as well?”

I indirectly complimented Sir Trentia while belittling myself.

However, Jeilliris shook her head with a small but firm gesture.

“I had also intended to dismiss it as a mere loss. At this opportunity, I decided to take significance in catching the rats that have been feeding off my money in the Western Palace. How could I trace what has flowed into those filthy slums? I apologize but, I only pressured her to maintain Sir Barbatos’s face by giving her a task that was not quite her duty.”

“……”

“She is a promising knight. If I cannot have her, I would want to break her. But as you know, the ability to slash and stab is different from the ability to analyze situations and draw conclusive directions.”

“I possess neither ability—”

“Enough.”

She interrupted me firmly.

“I received the report on the Platinum Knights’ search of the Western Palace. It mentioned that Duke Valencius offered some assistance while passing by.”

Those who know this grace.

They could simply feign ignorance and take all the credit.

“However, I also heard that Sir Trentia received some advice from you this time. Though this world is full of coincidences, I do not believe this is one.”

The drowsiness in Jeilliris’s voice vanished.

Oh no, this is bad.

The melancholic violin melody abruptly stopped.

She removed the wet towel from her eyes and stood from the long chair.

Her dragon-like golden eyes flickered with their characteristic intensity.

I bowed down low on the spot.

“If you spare me—”

“You are too precious a talent to be stored away in the Crimson Crescent Palace.”

Huh?

“I have realized that although I ascended to the throne by killing my kin, I too cannot completely escape from my kin.”

She bit her lip and shuddered.

What happened then?

I didn’t remember well, as I was suffering from the aftermath of torture in my previous life.

It was troubling.

“I would like to assign you a position. I am appointing you to the position of advisor. I will summon you regularly starting next week to hear your opinions.”

I desperately wracked my brain.

Not much had changed since my previous life.

All administration revolved around personal anecdotes and human relationships.

Change cannot be stopped but is slow.

The civil war against the Great Lords, revolts, and incursions from the magical realms had not even begun yet.

So what compelled her to appoint me before a year had even passed since her purge?

“Your Majesty, may I ask why you have decided this?”

Is she trying to keep me close to watch me?

“You will recall when I allowed my five half-siblings to take their own lives. You captured the maid who poisoned my drink.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“I saw several lists in the follow-up process. Some who openly participated and others who pretended to be clean while aligning themselves in the shadows. There are those I must keep alive temporarily due to a lack of evidence and because their mothers are high nobles.”

But she continued, gathering her thoughts.

“But you, you are clean.”

“That doesn’t mean anything. I simply—”

“You will say you were soaked in alcohol. I do not mind. Now I am admitting that I was glad to confirm that my bloodline did not wish to kill me…”

“!”

I inhaled sharply.

I had momentarily forgotten that her face had not changed since my regression.

Right now, she was only seventeen years old.

She had not yet experienced betrayal from a trusted vassal, numerous wars, or the encroachment of magical realms.

I took a deep breath, feeling as if I had been struck.

“Yes, your Majesty. I, Valencius, sincerely thank you for the position of advisor and will do my utmost.”

Rising quickly in rank is always beneficial.

Since I’ve obtained the position, I’ll give it my best shot.

Jeilliris nodded.

“If you idle, I will have your head.”

That was like breathing in and out.

As I let it wash over me, I suddenly felt a moment of doubt and asked her.

“If I may dare, could I ask one more thing?”

“Speak.”

“As an advisor, what duties will I have? I would like to know whether I will be assigned to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, or the Ministry of War.”

“Of course, it shall be a dual role. Consider your position; it is more than enough to take on significant responsibilities.”

“Pardon?”

This time, it was my turn to be surprised for a different reason.

An advisor typically falls under one of two categories.

You either place the elders there out of respect who doze off like sickly chickens or employ external experts without granting them ultimate decision-making power.

I guessed my duties would lean more towards the latter.

* * *

“I’m just glad it went well without injury. I really thought that this time both Duke Valencius and I would lose our heads.”

Rudi spoke in a heavily subdued voice.

“I am truly sorry for making you go to such a place, Your Highness. I don’t think I fit as your maid.”

Tears glimmered in her eyes.

“Don’t worry about it. Who would have known it was a relic? Like you said, it ended well.”

I couldn’t blame her.

I was halfway resigned to the idea of recovering the relic after my regression as well.

“A good ending is all that matters.”

I spoke firmly to break through her guilt.

“I just returned from training and feel like my muscles are about to die. Could you give me a massage?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

She turned to fetch some oil, smiling through her tears.

In that minute or less, I fell into contemplation.

Just as I had thought earlier, not much had fundamentally changed since my previous life.

Revolts, civil wars, and invasions by monstrosities had yet to commence.

Rudi was precious enough for me to stake my life on, but objectively, she remained just another lowly maid in the Palace.

However, the ripple effect of her survival was larger than I expected.

Sir Trentia had managed to shed her false accusations faster than I had planned, and I was appointed several years earlier than in my previous life.

Who knows how such a small change, like the life or death of a maid, might alter the course of future monumental events from my past life?

With that thought, I let out a small sigh.

“Since things have come this far—”

If variables emerge even when I act cautiously, I might as well embrace audacity.

The Empire still stood strong, and on the surface, there were no cracks.

This was an opportunity to recruit many talents who had stood by the side of the rebellious prince in my previous life, even at a risk.

If they refused to serve her, I could nip it in the bud.

Having acquired a position of advisor should make things easier.

Shall I go meet the future Grand Magus first?

My reputation might be at rock bottom, but that just means I can afford to make bolder moves.

Having reached that conclusion, I took off my outer garment and lay face down on the bed in front of Rudi.

“It seems you’re getting better. Just last week, your shoulder muscles seemed thinner than they are now.”

“The Empire’s swordsmanship training is the best. I’ll teach you later, Rudi.”

“Yes, yes?”

“I’m not joking.”

* * *

“Your Majesty, Duke Valencius has put in a request for a business trip.”

“A business trip?”

Upon hearing the report from the master of ceremonies, Jeilliris raised an eyebrow.

“Where is he going for this business trip?”

“To the red-light district casino. No matter how I think about it, it seems more like a personal outing. Shall I issue an order for his apprehension?”

She unusually pondered for over three seconds before shaking her head.

“The last time he visited the casino, he caught a embezzler, didn’t he?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Then I look forward to seeing whom he will catch this time.”

“What if he ends up squandering the budget?”

“Then we must order him to take his own life. No, that would be too honorable. Let’s burn him at the stake.”