441 – The Monster’s Crown Regained -3-

Darbab, watching the Emperor, maintained a calm expression, economical with his words.

‘There is no cost, is there, Your Majesty.’

He was not the Desmunt of old.

Now, Desmunt was not a family reviled as traitors for using black magic, but a legitimate house reinstated through proper means.

Having recovered the capital and prestige eroded by Olivia’s affair, there was no need to comply with the Emperor’s words as before.

Surely, the Emperor knew this as well.

Darbab felt a flicker of anger at the Emperor’s audacity in making such a request, laying it on so thick.

“…Is that so.”

“I have become weakened since the subjugation of the Monstrous Beast.”

“…”

“From protecting the Crown Prince.”

“…”

“From acceding to Wolfgang’s unreasonable demand to subjugate the Beast and the pirates together.”

“…”

“I believe the physical strain has been severe.”

Speaking to the Emperor, Darbab rubbed his neck, as if his shoulders were stiff, and frowned.

“My devotion to the Empire remains unchanged, Your Majesty.”

“I do not doubt your loyalty.”

“No, Your Majesty. I beg your forgiveness for my inadequacy.”

Darbab was, frankly, displeased with the Emperor’s actions, coming to him with requests only now.

Capturing forty percent of escaped criminals was, in a way, a significant benefit for the Empire, and wanting even more than this was unpalatable.

It was a ridiculous situation.

‘Truly.’

This situation where the Emperor was beseeching a noble.

He had foreseen it long ago.

That an imbalance of power would arise.

Once the scapegoat of all, the lion reigning above the nobles, disappeared, jackals eager to seize that position were bound to emerge.

Of course, the Emperor was doing well.

Had I been Emperor, I would have seized the opportunity to suppress the Desmunt that was a thorn in my side.

Until now, the Emperor had been doing well enough.

-Hah? Protected me…?

The problem arose from empowering that dim-witted Crown Prince, one who couldn’t grasp the shifting tides of the court.

If the dispersed power had been concentrated in the imperial authority, things wouldn’t have escalated to this point.

But even the power of an Emperor couldn’t override a father’s love, it seemed.

Having received Darbav’s cold rejection, the Emperor squeezed his eyes shut and addressed the assembled nobles.

“…This matter is of grave importance.”

“…”

“The eyes of foreign nations are upon our Empire.”

“…”

“Let it be known to all that if we do not rectify this swiftly, war may erupt as it did twenty years ago.”

The Emperor trailed off, his eyes still tightly closed, then fell silent. There was much more he wished to say, but the negative reaction from the nobles made it difficult to articulate.

Wolfgang. Morellion. Winchester. Dagos. He had hesitated to deal harshly with these men, each aligned with the Crown Prince, fearing the repercussions when the Crown Prince donned the crown.

This throbbing headache of a problem, he yearned to discuss it with the Crown Prince himself, but the naive prince seemed ill-prepared to even set foot in the arena of politics.

The Emperor sighed deeply and spoke softly.

“Prime Minister.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Let us adjourn for a time.”

As the Emperor’s words faded, the Prime Minister’s booming voice echoed once more through the assembly hall.

-We shall recess for a short while.

*

After the Emperor’s departure.

The nobles dispersed, seeking out their respective factions to converse.

The clamor of nobles seeking favors from Bellian, who was expanding his influence after subjugating the beast, mingled with the gossip of those who had joined the Crown Prince’s ranks, filling the hall.

The First Prince’s faction.

The Second Prince’s faction.

The Third Princess’s faction.

Darbav, belonging to none of them, let out a quiet sigh and began to approach someone.

“Troubling.”

There was an impudent noble who had grated on his nerves from the very start of the assembly.

“…His Majesty does task us with such bothersome duties. As if managing our own estates weren’t enough, ha ha!”

“Indeed! It would be simpler to dispatch the Royal Guard to apprehend these escapees. Why summon us from afar for such a matter?”

“And these are no ordinary prisoners! Who knows what fate awaits us should we meddle, ha ha! We are but following the Emperor’s will…”

Darvab, halting before this clamorous bunch, spoke in a low voice.

“Margrave Wolfgang.”

He spoke the name of the nobleman who bought his title with coin, arriving in a carriage gilded with gold.

Wolfgang’s eyes widened at Darvab’s summons. He set down his wine goblet and turned his head.

“…”

He could not fathom why he was being addressed.

“Are you addressing me, Duke Desmunt?”

There was no connection between them.

No association. Wolfgang, unable to grasp why he was being called upon, glared at the standing Duke Desmunt.

“…”

Even if one desired no association, the Desmunt of now wielded an untouchable power.

Were it the Desmunt before the subjection of the monsters, one might have treated him lightly. But Wolfgang, fearing the Desmunt who now grasped power, ceased his conversation with the other nobles and approached Darvab, bowing his head.

“I greet the Black Pillar of the Empire, Desmunt…”

“You.”

“…”

“Are you devoid of intellect?”

Darvab ignored Wolfgang’s bow and continued.

“You seem to lack the capacity for thought.”

“…”

“Or perhaps, are you acting thus because you have the Crown Prince’s backing?”

“I might overlook insults directed at myself, but I cannot simply ignore words that defile the Empire’s Little Sun.”

Darvab let out a dry chuckle at Wolfgang’s firm stance.

“Cannot simply ignore, you say… Am I then to interpret this as a threat against my person?”

“…”

Darvab, feeling a surge of satisfaction at the vitality in Wolfgang’s gaze, continued.

For the blood of Desmunt craved provocation.

“…I could charge you with lese-majesty. Duke.”

“No… that sort of thing won’t do. If it goes like that, I won’t receive a proper punishment, will I?”

“…”

“It’s treason against the Imperial Family, something I’ve been doing for ages now.”

“…”

“The first Emperor and the first Head of Desmundt made a pact, wishing their close friendship would pass down through the generations. Do you think you can punish me for that?”

“…”

“If you intend to show your fealty to your liege lord with such lukewarm gestures, do you truly think your heart will be conveyed, Marquis?”

“…Duke. You are crossing a line.”

“Marquis. Shall I cross it further, then?”

“…”

Darvab spoke, appreciating Wolfgang’s loyalty. His loyalty needed something of this magnitude to truly shine.

“We shall have a Territory War.”

“What did you just say…? A Territory War… that is…”

“The first Head of Desmundt also created his current territory through a Territory War, so I believe creating a decent territory in the West at this opportunity wouldn’t be so bad. What is your opinion, Marquis?”

“…Duke!!”

“It’s not a bad proposition, is it? If the Marquis wins, you can have the Desmundt mansion as well as the Southern Territory.”

Sensing a threat in Darvab’s unyielding demeanor, Wolfgang lowered his head, uttering words that broke his pride.

‘He’s serious…’

This man hadn’t uttered the words ‘Territory War’ falsely.

“I apologize. I misspoke.”

“I believe if you’re going to apologize, it would be more advantageous to remain silent.”

“…”

“You bought your title with money, so it seems you lack manners.”

-Scratch

“Don’t grind your teeth, Marquis. It’s loud.”

Darvab waved his hand, putting away Wolfgang’s anger. He thought he had scolded him enough.

Darvab was angry.

Even if the Emperor was lenient, grasping that and discerning his thoughts was the duty of a vassal and noble.

Of course, Desmundt, who evaded taxes and rebelled against the Emperor, had no right to say anything, but Darvab was displeased at the thought of just anyone defying the Emperor.

Even if he looked down on the Emperor, that didn’t mean they were on the same level.

“Wolfgang, does the Emperor’s command seem trivial to you?”

“…”

“His Imperial Majesty spoke to the Marquis. To capture the escaped criminals.”

Upon hearing Darbav’s words, Wolfgang shook his head, his fist clenched tight with hostility aimed at Darbav.

“Trivial? His Imperial Majesty extended not a command to us, but… a proposition.”

“Are you of the Imperial Family?”

“…”

“Are you the Duke of Lumiere, or perhaps a Duke of the Empire charged with the formidable task of guarding the Northern Forest of Death?”

“…I oversee the West.”

“The West is within Duke Belian’s domain. Who are you to dictate terms regarding the West?”

“…”

“The responsibility for the frozen canals. The evidence related to the slavers. Ignoring all questions regarding those matters, and now even disregarding the Emperor’s command… is it simply because you are unwilling to bear the burden of your noble station?”

“…”

Darbav asked with a frigid tone.

“Watching you, one might think you consider the Emperor your inferior.”

“…N-No, sir.”

“Had you met the Emperor in his younger years, you would be dead.”

“…”

“I would have you know that the Emperor exercises a great deal of restraint these days, Marquis.”

Darbav whispered, his voice low, towards Wolfgang, who clutched his wine glass.

“Are you resentful?”

“…”

“If you are, you should have ensured the success of your grand cause in the West.”

“…!!”

“Why are you so startled, Marquis?”

“…”

“The next dance is yours.”

Spitting out a scoff, Darbav addressed the other nobles in a booming voice, making it clear that he alone was allowed to treat the Emperor so freely.

“Conduct yourself accordingly.”

“…”

“Now, you lot are vassals and nobles of this land.”

“…”

“Mind your behavior.”

Darvab finished speaking with a smile, thinking to himself,

‘Perhaps I can pay a little less in taxes this year.’

Darvab was the worst of them all gathered there.

*

“This is troublesome.”

Another peaceful day on the hills behind Hamel.

As I gathered valuables from the corpses of criminals assaulted by brigands, I spoke, looking at the woman with serious eyes before me.

“It’s troublesome when you come seeking me out like this.”

I didn’t want her to see me like this.

“Your Highness.”

I was embarrassed to have been caught looting.