The Fruit of Labor
The mountain of intelligence seized by Solea after the Imperial Embassy raid was enormous.
Even five investigators reading every document once took four full days.
Every single sheet held critical information, so none could be skimmed.
After weeks of analysis with sleep sacrificed, the investigators uncovered the Emperor’s grand scheme to conquer Solea.
All the mistakes that had allowed the Empire to make a bold move were now laid bare.
One week had passed in the prison when Ambassador Weiz finally walked out.
The first thing awaiting him upon release was not a comfortable seat.
The Grand Conference Hall of Solea Castle.
Father stood before Weiz, holding the official letter that would return him to the Empire.
Weiz, pale and trembling, knelt at the center of the hall.
Now that a week had passed and his body had recovered, I could stand.
Luoa sat beside me.
The hall fell silent. Chien entered holding a magic crystal ball and stood by Father’s side.
“Begin.”
Father’s order and the crystal ball began to glow.
He unfolded the letter and read aloud the three crimes the Empire had committed against Solea.
“The Imperial Embassy, listen. The Empire’s mistakes are three. First, it tried to assassinate the sole heir to Solea’s throne, the prince. Second, the envoy teacher dispatched by the Empire violated every rule and molested the princess. Third.”
Father could no longer contain his rage. He crumpled the letter in his hand.
“Third, the Empire gathered all of Solea’s core intelligence to use it as a bridgehead for invasion. Imperial Ambassador, if any of these is false, speak now!”
Father’s thunderous shout made Weiz’s head nod, tears streaming down his face.
“Don’t just nod—answer! I asked if any of what I said is wrong!”
“Hik, no! Everything is correct!”
Weiz answered in a terrified rush. Father, satisfied, gave a tiny wave to Chien.
The crystal ball’s light faded.
Father stepped closer. “Do you know what you have done?”
“I have said that everything was wrong in the Empire.”
“Correct. The Imperial Ambassador is the one personally appointed by Emperor Franz. And yet you said all three of the mistakes I read were true. We recorded your words with magic just now.”
Weiz’s face drained of all color.
Father took a deep breath and roared right in his face. “We will broadcast this to every nation in the world! The Empire has committed such atrocities! Remember this well. You, and only you, the Imperial Ambassador, are the one who admitted to these crimes!”
After his shout, Father kicked Weiz hard.
Weiz flew into the air, then rolled across the floor.
The kick of a knight who had become king was powerful.
“Foolish boy. Hm…? This is…”
The liquid that had soaked Father’s boot was urine.
Weiz had wet himself from fear.
Father’s face twisted even more with anger.
“Drag them back to the prison. Feed them only enough to keep them alive until the Empire’s people come to fetch them.”
For an entire week we focused on capturing internal spies.
A few escaped, but every spy within the Magic Tower, the Knight Order, and the castle had been found.
We did not execute them.
It was certain the Empire had committed wrongs, yet execution was absolutely forbidden.
Even if they were spies, executing a single Empire citizen would give the Empire a reason to declare war on Solea.
“It seems this stage is finally over.”
Father stretched out on the chair and let out a sigh of relief.
In the earlier scene where we confirmed the Empire’s crimes, the atmosphere had been sharp and solemn.
Now, in the receiving room, smiles bloomed across everyone’s faces.
“Erebon, this is all thanks to you.”
“No. I only made a request and a proposal. His Majesty the King and the others did all the work.”
I who planned it, Father who approved and supported, Chien and Gifford who dismantled the spies inside the Magic Tower and the Knight Order, and Luoa who used her exceptional acting to lure out the spies.
Everything had been accomplished thanks to everyone doing their part well.
“Could others have done their work without you explaining the details so thoroughly? While others also have credit, your contribution is the greatest.”
Father looked at me with warm eyes, then turned to Luoa.
“If you had not told us in advance that the princess was acting, I would have rushed over and torn that envoy teacher apart limb by limb. The princess is only eleven years old—how did she manage such acting?”
“Hehe, thanks to Uncle Erebon’s help.”
When it was just the two of us, Luoa called me “Oppa.” In front of others she used the respectful title.
“Sir Gifford, Chien. You both worked hard.”
They bowed their heads in gratitude.
While Father smiled at the successful conclusion, the time had come to think about what came next.
“It is truly regrettable. If we had only our strength, we would have declared war immediately.”
“We are not merely weak. During the purification process holes appeared, yet we still possess a splendid Knight Order and Magic Tower. Without them, Solea would not exist today.”
Father nodded at my words.
His gaze toward me had completely changed from when we first discussed the Empire’s annexation plan.
“Think positively, but do not be careless. The treaty with the Empire signed by the previous king is still valid.”
Solea paid tribute to the Empire, yet it had two undeniable reasons for remaining a vassal state.
First, the Empire was a neighboring territory, so it required caution.
Second, it was the treaty Father signed with the Empire when he became king.
The Empire acknowledged Solea’s independence.
Yet the King of Solea had only one promise to keep.
When the Empire requested military support, Solea must send at least one hundred knights.
Maintaining this promise made Solea an ally of the Empire.
“Yes. That treaty is exactly the problem. Our one hundred and two knights are already on the Empire’s battlefield because of this incident. How can we protect them?”
The Empire’s long-standing policy of endless conquest wars was the true issue.
Solea’s one hundred and two knights were still fighting for them on the battlefield.
Father spoke while looking at me. “Ironically, we are now in a position where we protect them. Since our knights are helping the Empire, the Empire cannot break the alliance.”
According to the treaty, if the Empire deliberately started a war, we would have to recall or eliminate the dispatched knights.
Yet the knights’ achievements were exceptional and the Empire’s mistakes had spread worldwide, so it could not start a war lightly.
“But we can no longer maintain the previous relationship. The only thing left is that the relationship has deteriorated.”
“That is why I have something to say.”
“Erebon, speak. What new proposal will surprise us this time?”
Father’s expression lit up when I revealed my new idea.
He straightened from where he had been lying on the chair.
Everyone in the receiving room focused on my words.
I said what I had prepared.
Father staggered.
Luoa and I, sitting closest, quickly grabbed him.
“W-what did you just say? I must have misheard. Say it again.”
“Your Majesty…”
I knew my words were shocking.
But I had no intention of changing my decision even if Father reacted this way.
“I will go to the Empire myself.”
I confirmed my words. The flow in the room stopped completely.
Even though the teacher had not stopped time.