NOVEL NEXT chapter 6
6 – Episode 6
So, a few days have passed since I informed the three councilors of my decision.
It’s a confusing situation.
During that time, I succeeded in resolving the divided factions that emerged after Balloran’s death.
I may still be inexperienced, but right now they don’t have any other choice.
Even now, without the Empire’s support in this turbulent situation, the Imperial faction’s army will soon be defeated.
Most of the soldiers occupying Loman are from the Empire’s military.
But that doesn’t mean the current situation is favorable.
Even my fate is uncertain.
That’s why, as my first order as the Emperor, I have commanded the retrieval of the bodies of the Emperor and the nobles.
For the sake of those who are loved by the Imperial citizens, I need to show the people that I am different from Balloran.
And today, their funerals begin.
Normally, it would take about a month of preparation for a funeral like this, but we don’t know when war might break out here…
So, while there is still some peace, it’s better to proceed with the funeral procedures as quickly as possible.
-Kiik!
The black carriage carrying the bodies of the emperor and the nobles slowly moves along the road.
Right behind that black carriage, another carriage carrying the imperial family follows closely.
On the streets, the imperial citizens express their condolences, grieving.
“Oh, Your Majesty!”
“Even the heavens seem indifferent…”
In the melancholic atmosphere, I gaze at the scenery.
The former emperor, who was loved and respected by the imperial citizens.
I sought revenge for him, but what about the people… Will they still like me?
From their perspective, am I just… an audacious thief’s son, perhaps?
With such thoughts, I look at the individuals sitting across from me.
Three women, all dressed in black dresses.
They are all equally beautiful, with bright gray hair.
However, despite that, all of their faces are filled with the same sadness, shedding tears.
Among them, the woman sitting in the center appears to be in her thirties, but I know she is actually in her late forties.
She is… Empress Eurydice of this empire.
The woman sitting to her left, with a dog-like face and red eyes, is Princess Joy.
On the right side of the empress, there is a beautiful woman with sharp features and red eyes.
She is Theodora, the princess who was almost my stepmother once.
Perhaps when the coronation ceremony takes place, she will become the empress.
The empress sitting across from me seems to have calmed down a bit. She wipes her tears with a handkerchief and speaks.
“Your Highness… Thank you.”
I respond, conveying a deep sense of apology in my words.
“No, it’s not necessary… Instead… If my swordsmanship had been a little faster…”
Guilt and remorse.
It’s difficult to look at them calmly, as these emotions mix together.
In reality… it’s because the Emperor died that Ballorang let down his guard…
If Ballorang hadn’t hosted a banquet for his soldiers, it would have been almost impossible for me, no matter who I am, to summon mercenaries to the palace.
I made up my mind that day to use that opportunity to challenge Ballorang.
Bringing down Ballorang by exploiting the Emperor’s death… It’s my secret that I can’t bring myself to tell them.
“No, it’s not necessary.”
The Empress shakes her head, as if to say she’s not the Empress, and continues speaking.
“Even like this… I’m so grateful that you’re repaying our enemies.”
And I shake both of my hands to express my gratitude to the Empress, who bows her head in thanks.
“Your… Your Majesty!”
“Mother…”
Seeing the Empress bow her head, it confuses me, Theodore, and Joy. But the Empress closes her eyes as if it’s nothing important and speaks.
“Ballorang… Your Highness, you wouldn’t know how much I wanted to kill him.”
I don’t know her exact feelings, not her herself.
But I know very well that she despises and curses Ballorang, who killed her beloved husband and sons.
“So… thank you very much.”
“No… On the contrary… As an aristocrat of the empire… I simply did what was expected of me.”
The empress nodded as if understanding my words.
She cautiously spoke.
“I have received the Duke of Charles’s proposal for the Grand Duke.”
-Shudder.
In that moment, my body shuddered.
Was she talking about the marriage with Theodora?
As I glanced at Theodora, she shot me a disapproving look.
“I see…”
What do the empress and the princesses think of me?
Do they see me as a rebel like Valerian…? Or as a dreamy young man in love, wanting to marry Theodora?
“But I am not interested…”
-Gulp…
Before I knew it, the carriage came to a stop.
“No matter how much you claim to have established the empire, in the end… you are still the son of my enemy. I do not wish to witness the marriage of such a person’s son to my beloved daughter…”
And…
“Therefore, I reject your proposal.”
As I tried to respond to the empress’s declaration…
-Click!
The door of the carriage opened.
“So it is… However, I hope you understand that I have no choice either.”
Saying that, I descend from the carriage as if escaping.
***
A carriage, carrying the bodies of the emperor and nobles, stands still in front of a grand cathedral.
A knight at the front of the carriage stands before the cathedral’s gate.
The knight gazes at the large wooden arched door.
Soon, he pulls the sword hanging from his waist and bangs on the cathedral’s gate.
-Thud! Thud! Thud!
A resounding sound…
“Who seeks entry?”
The voice of an elderly inquisitor is heard from inside the cathedral, and the knight begins to speak in a majestic voice.
“Tiberius Augustus. The Emperor of the Great Empire, the Guardian of the Imperial Council, the Protector of all races, the foremost citizen of Rome, the Supreme Commander of the Empire, the Chief Justice, the King of Epirus and Ithaca, the Duke of Louvre, the Lord of the Nile, the Count of Tyre, Lido, and Antioch, and the Guardian of Antioch, Biren, and Prin.”
The knight solemnly recites the titles held by the late emperor.
“We do not know such a person.”
As the long list of titles once held by the emperor is recited, the inquisitor dismissively declares that they do not know such a person…
The knight once again bangs on the door.
-Thud! Thud! Thud!
“Who seeks entry?”
In response to the inquisitor’s voice, the knight shouts louder and more grandiosely than before.
“Tiberius Augustus. Member of the Imperial Council, Chairman of the Council of the Five Races, Honorary Doctor of the Academy, and possessor of numerous decorations bestowed by the Council and the Church as the Guardian of Rome.”
The second one speaks of the Emperor’s accomplishments and success during his lifetime…
“We don’t know such a person.”
A man’s voice is heard from inside the cathedral, dripping with sarcasm.
Two refusals.
Perhaps that investigator already knows.
Knows that he is now obstructing the Emperor’s rest.
But in reality, he’s not obstructing the Emperor’s rest, but rather the imperial family’s funeral procession to prevent their descendants from falling into arrogance and immorality… a funeral procession unique to the royal family.
-Thud! Thud! Thud!
As the knight strikes the gate with his sword…
“Who seeks entry?”
The elderly investigator asks again.
And the knight replies,
“Tiberius. A man burdened with many sins.”
“In that case, let him in.”
-Creak!
The massive gate opens, allowing the carriage to enter the cathedral.
*Sob…*
The Empress sobs.
“Dad…”
*Thud.*
On the bridge, Princess Joy, unwilling to hesitate, seemed to have lost strength.
Supporting her body, I speak.
“You seem unwell. How about taking a short rest?”
Joy, weakly nodding at my words, says, “No… just a moment… I just felt dizzy.”
Saying that, she gently pushes me aside and heads toward the cathedral.
– Whoosh…
In the moment the cold wind blows.
Turning my head and looking back, Theodora and I meet eyes.
Is it because she was caught trying to escape last time?
Her eyes are filled with intense anger.
But it’s inevitable.
If I let her escape, the empire will truly be engulfed in civil war.
The only possibility of negotiating with the Imperial Faction lies in her becoming the emperor under my control.
With those cold and frosty crimson eyes, she looks at me again and then turns her head toward the inside of the cathedral.
***
The solemn requiem.
The sorrowful melody touches my ears.
“Ah…”
“Your Majesty…”
A somber and mournful yet majestic atmosphere of songs and people in black clothes sobbing.
It is an excruciatingly sad scene.
Balorang created this scene.
Perhaps everyone gathered here loved the emperor.
So… it’s unlikely that they have good feelings towards me.
No matter what anyone says… I am Balorang’s son.
The empress and princesses weep while looking at the corpses of the emperor and prince.
“Oppa!”
Tears do not cease to flow from their eyes as they gaze upon the deceased nobles.
I’m glad I ordered for the corpses to be presented as neatly as possible, even though the execution was tragically ruthless.
The black stitching visible on the neck in places.
We somehow managed to deal with the gruesome sight of the bodies with severed necks.
It may look a bit sloppy, but still… we did our best to rectify the situation.
The funeral procedure is almost coming to an end.
Once this is over… I have a mountain of tasks to handle.
According to the report I received yesterday, we seemed to be running low on fireball scrolls and shells.
I asked for an additional order, but I’m not sure if the Imperial Faction can afford it until the harvest.
Hmm… now as I watch the process of interring the bodies in the imperial burial chamber.
“Your Highness…”
Agripa approaches me and whispers in my ear.
“I have given instructions to the justices. You will be able to receive a verdict at any time.”
Nodding at those words, I whisper in Agrippa’s ear.
“Alright… Go and file a petition for an illegal law trial. And ask the justices to deliver a verdict by tomorrow.”
“Sigh… You’re making me work hard.”
Agrippa sighs as if he’s exhausted.
“Phew… You haven’t been getting much sleep lately either, have you?”
Even before Valoran’s death and even after he died, we pondered every night, until late, about the things we need to do together.
Well…
Since Valoran’s death, I’ve been working day and night to resolve this situation… I feel guilty.
“Well, it’s not like I ever thought it would be easy to become a noble…”
I say with a smirk as I look at Agrippa, who is smiling brightly.
“You’re not just a superficial noble. You’re going to become a duke’s family… and the future father of a duke. Anyway, just do this and get some rest today.”
Upon hearing my words, Agrippa raises his head and says.
“hahahaha… I still have a lot to do, so I don’t think I’ll be able to rest.”
He says with a joking tone, but his face becomes serious.
“Duke… If the negotiations fail…”
Agrippa cautiously speaks, discussing the worst-case scenario.
“Will it be possible to rescue Lady Mary?”
Mary Lyon.
My younger sister and a knight that the Duchy of Agrippa takes pride in.
However, she was aware of her responsibilities and duties…
I nod and say, “Probably… she won’t come.”
As our family has done for generations, she will likely protect that place.
“So… if this negotiation goes wrong, it won’t be good.”
If the negotiation fails… both the Grand Duchy and Merry…
They’ll both be in danger.
No matter how strong the Grand Duchy’s military is and despite the Harvest Empire’s demands, a full-scale war with the Empire is impossible.
The factions that were usually neutral, not to mention the nobles belonging to the Harvest Empire, have all turned to the Empire due to Valoran’s excessive actions.
We must somehow conclude things peacefully with them.
“Oh… did Valoran deliver evidence to the Pope’s side that she’s a demon worshipper?”
Agrifa glances at me in response to my question.
“Yes… but so far, there has been no response.”
Sigh…
I thought she would at least have some favorable impression of me… Is she ignoring me?
“Sigh… it’s not easy…”