The Audience Chamber.
The emperor’s face, seated at the head of the table, was frozen cold. Around him, the expressions of the ministers and officials at the round table were no better.
It was all because of one letter that had arrived at the Imperial Court.
“Have we failed to identify the sender?”
As the emperor’s lips parted, his weighty voice resonated throughout the chamber. The tone carried more than just words….it pressed against the air with a palpable intensity of restrained anger.
The chancellor responded.
“Yes. We investigated based on the point of origin, but we found nothing. The location was an empty plain, and the sender appears to be someone who doesn’t exist within the empire.”
There could be no greater disgrace. An enigmatic letter had bypassed every level of security and reached the emperor himself.
Even after the Minister of Magic conducted a personal investigation, all traces were erased, leaving the sender’s identity an unsolvable mystery.
“All we have to go on is the single character written in the letter?”
“That is correct.”
The only clue was an initial—”F”—scribbled in the lower right corner of the letter. Of course, it wasn’t much help.
“However, Your Majesty, after direct investigation by the Hounds, the contents of the letter have been verified as true.”
The Minister of Military Affairs cautiously broke the silence.
“High traitor Fedelian Rogino is indeed hiding in Tenerope, leveraging their resources to prepare for a coup against the throne.”
The letter reads
<High traitor Fedelian Rogino is conspiring with the Royal Family of Tenerope to usurp the throne. Act swiftly, or it will be too late.>
To the empire, it sounded arrogant, yet Tenerope boasted elite knights and the Grand Swordmaster, Duke Aegis. It wasn’t something they could afford to dismiss entirely.
The emperor furrowed his brow as he asked,
“Why would Tenerope aid Fedelian? Surely they know the odds of a successful coup are slim?”
Uncertainty, however, was not the same as impossibility.
War could not be won solely through the strength of a Grand Swordmaster. Logistics, control of key locations, strategy, morale….many elements had to align.
Even with Tenerope’s elite knights, it was undeniable that they were no match for the empire.
The chancellor, his expression grim, answered,
“If they succeed, they stand to gain a great deal. Of course, the likelihood is low, but the Royal Family of Tenerope is doomed regardless.…”
Tenerope had no other choice. To avoid destruction, they had to gamble on a reckless confrontation with the empire.
“Hm…”
The emperor leaned back fully against the throne, furrowing his brow deeply.
“Has there ever been such a disorder in Rogino’s history…”
A pounding headache overwhelmed him.
The crown prince, whose succession to the throne was all but assured, had become a traitor through his own folly. This upheaval had shaken many nobles.
And in aristocratic society, when the nobles faltered, so did the nation.
The economy and industries they managed were collapsing in real time, and public sentiment was turning volatile.
“Your Majesty, it would be wise to act preemptively against Tenerope before they strike first.”
When the Minister of Military Affairs made his proposal, another minister raised his voice.
“Are you suggesting war? That’s exactly what the traitor would want!”
“Then what do you suggest? Wait idly for a declaration of war?”
“Of course not! First, we should issue a formal statement and…”
“Tenerope has nothing to lose! They’re not the type to hesitate over such things!”
The escalating argument between the two ministers quickly drew others into the fray.
“So we charge blindly forward? Without a clear justification?”
“The Holy Kingdom won’t stay silent! They’ll surely incite slander and fabricate…”
“Why should we concern ourselves with the Holy Kingdom? Rogino is the heart of the Empire!”
“That’s not the issue here, is it?”
The Audience Chamber descended into chaos in an instant. Ministers raised their voices, attempting to drown each other out, their faces flushing red with heated emotions.
“Enough.”
At that moment, the emperor raised his hand. His single word was enough to make the air itself feel as though it had frozen solid.
“…”
“…”
“…”
The ministers and officials fell silent, as if bound by an unspoken agreement.
The emperor rose from his seat of honor, his determined expression sweeping over the gathered ministers.
“Rogino will issue an emergency statement and deliver a stern warning to Tenerope. Furthermore, Count Rahardt will be appointed as the executioner of the high traitor, Fedelian.”
As the emperor’s decree echoed in the chamber, the meaning of his words sank in. The executioner, acting under imperial authority, would wield full power over all matters related to this task from the moment of their appointment.
“If Count Rahardt successfully executes the traitor, I will grant him the title of duke.”
The room stiffened at those words. While a noble’s power wasn’t solely determined by their rank, a dukedom was an exception.
Apart from the Grand Duchy of Renokhonan, which bore royal blood, the only noble family holding a ducal title was the House of Ferbache.
Yohan Rahardt, already a man of immense influence due to his title of *Defender of the Sun* and his exceptional abilities, would be elevated even further. A dukedom bestowed upon him would risk overshadowing the royal family itself.
“Your Majesty, granting a ducal title is…”
“Count Rahardt’s power will grow too great.”
The elders, who had been silently observing, voiced their concerns. However, the emperor shook his head, rejecting their apprehensions.
“His unprecedented abilities are indispensable. Count Rahardt is destined to become a central figure in the Empire. Strengthening his position will serve us better.”
The emperor’s reasoning was clear.
Suppressing someone like Rahardt to keep him beneath the royal family would only breed resentment. Instead, fostering a positive relationship by empowering him was the wiser course.
Moreover, by reforming the shaken noble society, the balance of power among factions could be recalibrated. With Rahardt as the Empire’s vanguard, potential threats could be kept in check.
There were, of course, countless political calculations underlying this decision.
“This concludes today’s court meeting.”
The ministers and officials rose from their seats and bowed respectfully.
As the emperor left the chamber, his eyes narrowed in contemplation.
‘Yohan Rahardt. I will invest in you.’
He would become the keystone that would elevate the Empire’s authority to even greater heights.
* * *
Francia returned from her mission three days later.
“Where have you been?”
It was early morning at the Ferbache imperial estate. Yohan stood with his arms crossed, his tone firm.
“Hmm… A woman’s secret?”
Francia scratched her cheek playfully with a sly grin. But her appearance made it clear she hadn’t just completed a simple mission.
Her official uniform was covered in dirt and dust, and her face bore the signs of her rough journey. The usually lustrous, obsidian-like black hair was disheveled, looking as though it hadn’t seen a comb in days.
“You know I can’t let this slide, don’t you?”
“….”
Francia clasped her hands behind her back and subtly averted her gaze. Her rosy, delicate lips remained stubbornly shut.
“For now, go get cleaned up. Have you eaten?”
“Just a little.”
“Then you must be hungry. I’ll have them prepare a proper meal.”
Yohan reached out and gently brushed the dirt off her cheek with his fingertips. Francia’s lips curved into a soft smile at his touch, a faint trace of relief flickering in her expression.
“What’s so amusing?”
“It’s been a while since I’ve seen you, Yohan. Of course I’m happy.”
“Flattery won’t get you anywhere.”
“Hmph…”
When Yohan remained unyielding, Francia playfully pulled back her head. On anyone else, the motion might have looked clumsy or awkward, but even such gestures seemed to highlight her beauty.
“We’ll talk later. Go get ready.”
“Yes, sir…”
With a resigned sigh, Francia trudged toward the bathroom, accompanied by attendants rushing to assist her.
Yohan, meanwhile, instructed the kitchen staff to prepare Francia’s meal and waited in the dining hall for her arrival.
Not long after, Francia entered, freshly washed and looking radiant.
“Please, take a seat.”
Yohan’s voice, heavy and steady, caused Francia to shrink slightly as she quietly lowered herself into the chair.
“So, where exactly have you been? I know it wasn’t for a mission.”
Even Ricardo, the deputy commander who oversaw final approvals, had only known Francia was out investigating something; he had no idea of her destination.
Francia avoided his gaze, fidgeting with her fingers as she mumbled,
“Well, um, I’ve been researching artifacts for a paper I’m working on. The investigation ran longer than I expected, so I got delayed…”
“…”
Yohan narrowed his eyes. Researching for a paper? It sounded plausible enough, but it wasn’t a sufficient explanation for disappearing for three days without a single word—not even to him, her lover.
“You’re lying, aren’t you?”
“…”
“Or is it something you simply can’t tell me?”
“Well…”
When Yohan’s lips pressed into a firm line, Francia hurried to defend herself, fearing he might misunderstand.
“I didn’t do anything strange! I would never betray you, Yohan—absolutely never!”
Her desperate plea was accompanied by a flicker of unease and earnestness in her crimson eyes. Yohan exhaled softly.
“I didn’t think you’d betray me. It’s just… it seems you have quite a few secrets, Francia.”
“.…”
“Well, even in a close relationship, secrets are bound to exist.”
Yohan smiled gently, meeting Francia’s gaze with a calm understanding.
“So I won’t press you for details. Just as you’ve shown understanding toward me, it’s only fair that I do the same for you.”
He continued with a soft yet firm tone,
“But, in the future, at least tell me where you’re going and how long you’ll be away. You have no idea how worried I was when you didn’t return after several days.”
On the first day, he’d assumed she was simply carrying out her mission and thought little of it. But as the days stretched to three, his anxiety grew.
Shadows of the former crown prince’s schemes still lingered, and there was always the possibility that Cassis Renokhonan could be plotting something sinister.
While the chances were slim, Yohan had waited, trusting in Francia.
“….Thank you.”
Francia lowered her head, her soft laughter tinged with a faint melancholy.
“Please, eat. You must be hungry.”
There was no need to discuss the matter further. Work could be addressed later; for now, Yohan’s priority was ensuring Francia’s well-being.
Francia glanced at Yohan with a tender expression before focusing on her meal. Clearly famished, she ate in silence, her utensils moving steadily.
Yohan watched her with a contented smile. Her puffed cheeks as she ate reminded him of a chipmunk, endearingly adorable.
Just then, the steward knocked three times before entering the dining hall.
“My lord, you are needed immediately. An envoy has arrived from the palace.”
“…The palace?”
Yohan tilted his head in slight confusion. For the palace to send an envoy rather than a letter or message….it could only mean an imperial decree.
“I’ll go see them.”
“Did something happen while I was away? An envoy from the palace…?”
Francia, mid-bite, set down her utensils and asked, her voice tinged with concern.
“I’ll find out soon enough.”
“Should I come with you?”
“Finish your meal. I’ll be back shortly.”
Rising from his seat, Yohan reached over to gently pat Francia’s head before heading out to the estate’s entrance.
At the main gate, a carriage adorned with the royal lion crest stood with commanding presence. Knights clad in gleaming golden armor stood guard silently, holding banners high in solemn vigil.
“What’s the matter?”
“It’s an imperial decree.”
came the brief response from the lead knight, who straightened his posture and spoke with a grave tone.
The knight unfolded a scroll with ceremonial precision, and the surrounding air seemed to grow still as everyone held their breath.
“Yohan Rahardt, by the name of the Imperial Family, you are hereby appointed the executioner of the traitor Fedelian Rogino. Join forces with the imperial inspectors and eliminate this threat to the Empire’s peace.”
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