Chapter 143 - The Crown Prince's Intentions

Bodies adorned in silver and gold, bearing the mark of direct imperial service.

Unlike the knight who had come last time, there were no owl feathers on their helmets, and including the soldiers, they numbered as many as three hundred.

It meant they had come with power backing them beyond that of mere couriers.

"I greet the great Consort of Fire! I am Gogen, Sir Swift, an imperial direct knight."

"What purpose brings you here?"

Ferda openly showed his displeasure.

"I have come to announce a message from His Highness the Crown Prince. Might we borrow the platform?"

"The festival is in full swing, so if it is bad news, I would prefer to hear it later."

"There is no need for concern. It is not news that would ruin this festival."

It would be strange for them to suddenly bring bad news after responding so late.

Ferda stopped the battle of nerves and lent them the platform.

With the nobles still half-asleep, he shouted loudly.

"We came to enjoy the Start of Spring Festival, but an unfortunate incident occurred and an unexpected event took place. You all stepped forward wholeheartedly in this matter!"

Not a few people sent dissatisfied looks at those words.

Everyone already knew that Alexander had been slow to respond.

"That devotion contributed not merely to the far east, but to the defense of the Empire itself, and your merits are held in high regard. Therefore, as the Emperor's proxy, I, Alexander Arken, formally invite you all to the imperial palace and intend to hold a banquet!"

Their eyes widened.

It was an even more astonished reaction than when they heard the far east had been surrounded.

"A banquet in the Empire..."

"Is that not the place said to be the finest when it comes to splendor?"

Any young noble would dream of the Empire dream, and when such an opportunity arose, their eyes were bound to turn.

They had been treated as guests in the far east, and now they were being told they would be treated once more at another location, so who would refuse?

'So there was a reason they rushed over in such a hurry.'

Their aim was to steal the festival.

As proof of that, the festival had been scheduled for two days, but the second day had changed into a day for sobering up and checking oneself over instead of eating and drinking to death.

Of course, Ferda did not particularly care.

This festival had not been planned in the first place, and Ferda was not the type to enjoy himself with guests.

He felt more strongly that he wanted them gone as soon as possible.

However, it did not seem as though they had rushed over in such a fluster for only that.

What Olivia had said yesterday still lingered in Ferda's ears.

"Regent, there is something I must discuss with Lord Burnel Marquis..."

As expected.

"Will you permit me to meet him?"

"The chief researcher is busy right now."

"It is something I must tell him directly."

Ferda frowned at the knight's persistent words.

He answered as if sick of such transparent behavior.

"Do not make me say it twice. Burnel is currently carrying out an important project that directly affects the development of the territory."

"There is a need to inform Lord Burnel Marquis in good faith. As one of the Emperor's subjects, he has the right to be received in audience by command of the Crown Prince, and even Regent Ferda cannot block that."

The commander's eyes were no ordinary thing.

If Ferda blocked him any further, he seemed prepared to use it outright as a pretext to charge Ferda with insulting the imperial family.

"I will yield."

"Thank you."

"However, I would like you to make me one promise. No matter what happens, do not hold anyone responsible."

"There is no need for concern. What grand responsibility would I ask over delivering a message?"

"I would only be grateful if you did."

Ferda obediently went with them to the laboratory where Burnel was.

When he knocked on the door of the laboratory, Burnel slowly came outside.

When the morning sunlight entered his eyes in a place that was practically a darkroom, his face crumpled hard.

One might think he had been sleeping until now, but the dark circles piled beneath his eyes insisted that he had stayed up for days on end.

"Um... what is the matter?"

"These people say they wish to see you. Spare them a moment."

"Must it be now? Right now, I am a bit..."

"I am sorry to take your time. Just five minutes, please."

"Hiss... very well."

Burnel was dragged out by force, wearing an openly reluctant expression.

Seeing that attitude, the imperial knight smiled strangely.

He cleared his throat and unfolded the document.

"Burnel Marquis! This is an order from Alexander Arken, proxy of the Emperor of the Arken Empire and representative of the imperial family! You have rendered great merit in the technical field during this war, and we intend to bestow upon you a medal and the title of count, so would you please board the imperial carriage and come with us to the Empire?"

What a sight it was.

They called it giving great recognition for his merits, but their intention was obvious.

Were they not trying to take away the far east's only technician who understood magical engineering?

Ferda was full of the urge to overturn everything on the spot, but Burnel was one step faster.

"Uh... so you are telling me to attend, yes?"

He answered with bleary eyes.

Perhaps because it was different from what he had expected, the commander continued with a slightly flustered look.

"That is correct. Come with me and—"

"Um... I am sorry, but could I not go?"

"W-What?"

They had clearly come without considering the word refusal.

Burnel scratched his head with a tired expression.

"Are you saying you would reject the goodwill of the Emperor's proxy and the representative of the imperial family?"

"It is such a busy time... I have no time to fool around. And as far as I know, unless it is an order from His Majesty the Emperor, I do not particularly need to attend..."

"He is the one who will become His Majesty the next Emperor, and if you commit such an insolent act—"

"He will be the next, but he is not right now, is he? I am busy with what I am doing right now, and I need to use my head."

Burnel muttered like a listless and gloomy man.

"If I move somewhere again, it is obvious I will forget things, and then I will have needless worries piling up again... and if worries pile up, I will not be able to do my work again... whew."

Annoyed by the irritation stabbing at his head, Burnel scratched his hair roughly.

Then, after letting out another sigh, he raised his eyes and looked at the imperial knight.

The commander asked him as if he found it absurd.

"You are saying you will not attend the audience for such a trivial reason?"

"Uh... yes... I suppose? To the imperial family, it must be a trivial reason. A medal or a title is nice too, but I do not really need them... I want to do what I can do. That is the reason. I will not attend."

After driving the point home like that, he bobbed his head as he looked at Ferda.

"I am sorry, Regent. I am at a point where I am exactly stuck right now, so I do not even know what I am saying."

"No. It is my fault for calling you at a time like this."

"Anyway, I will be going. I am sorry."

Burnel muttered, then shut the door just like that.

Even after hearing and seeing it himself, the commander could not believe it.

They were people who made others tense up at the words imperial knight, and who had always received excitement and words of gratitude when they praised someone's merits.

Burnel's attitude had gone beyond rudeness into a refreshing new realm, leaving him with nothing to say.

Since he was at it, Ferda decided to drive the point home.

"You said there would be no responsibility to hold anyone to, so I would prefer that you not say anything pointless."

The next day, the young ladies and young lords woke from their hangovers and dressed themselves in neatly washed clothes befitting nobles.

Everyone left the castle with excited faces.

The Empire itself had acknowledged them.

The young lords had been recognized for their merits merely for having participated in the battle, and the staff officers and knights who had bravely stepped forward had even been promised separate medals.

There were officially four people from Valdrova Castle whose merits were recognized.

Burnel Marquis, the chief technician.

Isabella Iorga, the administrator of Hestia.

William, the security captain who had established the basic tactics of the tactical infantry.

And Ferda, the Regent.

That was because Isabella had played a decisive role as a 5th Circle mage in bringing down a colossal demonic creature.

Echidna had performed similarly well, but they stated that her name had been excluded because, as a witch, she could not be allowed into the palace.

In any case, Ferda had no intention of sending her.

She was someone who had come right to this castle simply after seeing Zed's face, so what kind of coaxing might she face if she went all the way to the imperial palace?

There was no need to ask Burnel, since he had already refused.

Isabella had no great expectations for the imperial palace, and declared that she would focus solely on her duties as administrator, so she did not attend.

Ferda also politely refused to participate for the same reason.

In the end, only William came to head for the imperial palace.

"Is it truly all right for me to go?"

Even setting aside his merits this time, William was a coveted talent.

Even when he had been under Duke Yurei, he had been the top cadet, and he had charisma as well, so he was a man with the qualities of a knight.

Though he had betrayed his lord.

"They say if even you do not go, it will be no different from making enemies."

"That is true. I have no choice but to carry that burden..."

He had an expression that seemed uncertain of something.

Ferda did not try to persuade him.

Instead, he left only one final word.

"Do as your heart tells you."

William, who had hesitated, finally decided to head to the Empire as the representative of Hestia village.

Morning dawned, and the Empire's standard-bearer took the lead as they prepared to depart.

Before moving in earnest, Ferda met one person.

"Princess."

Olivia Arken.

The face that had grown pure while she lived as a warrior had returned to the splendid face of a princess.

"Did you call me because you wanted to see me?"

She smiled with her eyes and made a joke that was easy to misunderstand.

It was possible because no one else was around.

"Do you truly think you can enter politics through this matter?"

He knew the Empire's disposition.

That was why, even with this merit now, he did not think she would be able to enter politics.

"Do not worry."

Olivia smiled faintly.

That smile did not carry the same confidence as before.

It felt as though she, too, foresaw defeat.

Ferda handed something to Olivia.

"What is this?"

"It is data in which the administrator personally judged the operational contributions through the records of those deployed in this operation."

In truth, Mori had done it.

Because it had been calculated using only objective data, its margin of error was smaller than what most experts would produce.

Olivia's contribution was a staggering 45%.

It was safe to say that she had effectively handled everything.

There was also an added note that if her contribution to the development of the far east were included, she would easily exceed half.

She looked a little flustered by the unexpected goodwill.

She stared intently at Ferda's face, then smiled faintly.

"Please tell the administrator I am grateful."

It was neither the smile she wore like a mask nor the smile she had shown only to him.

Before he could try to find its meaning, she climbed into the carriage.

Unlike what he had expected, thinking they would have a long journey to the Empire, the Empire's mages prepared a magic circle in the empty lot.

It was a place some distance away, but Ferda knew what that massive magic circle they were drawing on the empty lot was.

Teleport Gate.

It was a magic circle connected to the Empire's triumphal arch through magic that linked two spaces.

The larger it was and the longer it lasted, the more mana it consumed, but as with any national event, efficiency came second.

And so, the enormous gate opened successfully, and beyond it unfolded the colorful boulevards of the Empire.

It was noisy with the cheers shouted by the people who had come out into the streets and were looking beyond the gate.

The young ladies and young lords could not hide their excitement.

It felt as though they had become heroes from a story, or generals returning after a great victory.

They entered in lines, carrying their childhood dreams and hot blood with them.

Hestia, which had been bustling just a moment ago, fell silent in an instant as though the heart of winter had suddenly arrived.

Unlike the now-desolate Hestia, what touched his skin was warm spring sunlight.

Ferda blankly enjoyed the lingering warmth.

As his tension loosened and drowsiness washed over him, he slightly closed his eyes, thinking he might take a short nap.

Then Luri's voice struck his ears.

"My lady has set out to subjugate the demonic creatures."

He opened his eyes wide and sprang up.

He could ignore anything else, but he could not miss a fight.

The demonic creatures had been waiting to cross the line the moment they had the chance.

Several among them openly approached, and Valdrova immediately set out to punish them.

Black earth and filthy masses of flesh.

Amid them, pure, shining red scales were sharply tearing through the enemy.

Had it not been a standoff of an entire month?

During that standoff, her emotions must have piled up and her body must have itched for action.

The way she released what had been compressed was anything but ordinary.

Ferda sat down.

It was an old story now that Luri had even brought out a tea table because he watched every one of Valdrova's fights without fail.

"Shall I pour you a cup?"

"Please."

He melted the chill of the summit with black tea and watched her form.

As always, it ended in Valdrova's overwhelming victory.

In the heat of the blazing battlefield, Ferda's body also warmed along with it.

'She will return home like this.'

According to the pattern that had become fixed, that was how it went.

With lingering regret that he wanted to watch her a little longer, Ferda also tried to rise from his seat.

But this time was different.

Instead of spreading her wings and returning to her lair, was she not staring intently up at Lonely Mountain?

There was no doubt.

Valdrova was looking straight at Ferda.

'Why?'

No sooner had he cast that question than her wings flapped.

Her destination was not her lair, but somewhere higher.

Toward the summit of this Lonely Mountain.

Right where Ferda was.