Toppling the Empire (3)
Sisilia returned after brilliantly wrapping up negotiations with the demon tribe.
Today, I might actually look kinda cool.
She'd secured a stable supply contract with the trading partner. She'd even devised a plan to keep the competition in check. Wasn't this what people meant by a successful career woman? Sisilia arrived at the mansion with a subtle swell of pride.
The first to greet her was her No. 1 attachment newbie, Ruby.
"Welcome home, miss."
"I'm back."
Watching Ruby naturally take her travel bag, a single strand of Sisilia's hair fluttered.
"You must be tired. I've prepared your bath."
"Ruby on duty today?"
"Yes. I'm a bit nervous since it's my first time... but the master said anyone joining the Chiron household has to go through it..."
The Chiron family welcome ritual, passed down for the last ten years. And it always ended with attending to Sisilia's bath.
Not that it was easy, mind you. Because she kept squirming around. As the owner of the Wind Blessing, she hated the feel of water on her skin.
—The parts that touch water can't use the Blessing...
Sisilia was top-tier difficulty in every way when it came to child-rearing.
"How's academy life treating you?"
Normally, she'd pull a blatant cat-like scowl at the unwanted question, but in front of Ruby, Sisilia maintained at least a minimum of dignity. Ruby answered, still tense.
"It's good. It's only the first week, so I'm still figuring things out... but working here has been a huge help."
"Doing laundry at the academy too?"
"Ahaha, no, but... the other maids have been teaching me how to deal with nobles."
"Ruby. If you run into any nasty nobles, let me know. I'll wipe out their whole family."
Ruby blinked up at her as she took the cloak.
"Pardon?"
"I've got that kind of pull."
No bluff, no exaggeration—just plain fact in Sisilia's tone. Ruby froze for a moment before managing a reply.
"Th-thank you."
"Oh, right."
Sisilia shot Ruby a glance as she undid her blouse buttons.
"If you spot Bianca at the academy, get friendly with her."
"Bianca...? Yes, got it. Someone you know?"
"My friend."
"You have friends too, huh."
"?"
Sisilia couldn't comprehend. Why did everyone think a perfect, pretty Sword Princess like her had no friends?
"Uh, um."
And then Ruby discovered one of Sisilia's little secrets. Getting an eyeful around her chest area, Ruby whipped her head away, sweating bullets. Sisilia noticed but just smirked. Because Ruby was in the same boat—same class, even. Though Sisilia might edge her out in pure volume. Well, in front of Beatrice, they were all equals anyway.
Sisilia snapped out of her thoughts and tossed off her knickers with a flick. Ruby scurried after, picking them up and dropping them in the laundry. Watching her, Sisilia felt a strange emotion well up.
Ah.
This was definitely—
...the feeling of the breadwinner coming home after a hard day's work.
The weary provider returns from grueling company labor. Kids at the door, beautiful homemaker wife. And the husband realizes, in that moment of pure bliss, the meaning of slaving away at work. The meaning of life—
Let's keep at it.
That's how Sisilia felt right now. Her passion ignited.
Meanwhile, Ruby was starting to grasp what "attending Sisilia's bath" really entailed.
"...Miss Sisilia, I've got one question."
"Yeah?"
"Why doesn't your hair ever get wet, no matter how much water it touches?"
"Because my hair's waterproof."
Ruby spaced out, holding Sisilia's silver locks in her hand.
"...Pardon?"
Refreshed with renewed resolve, Sisilia started her day on a fresh note.
"Kyaaah! Miss Sisilia, I told you not to do that!"
Today's morning greeting: teasing Betty, then flashing a satisfied smile.
"Why do you keep flipping up my skirt?!"
"But you don't wear panties, so you must enjoy it."
"That has nothing to do with it!"
For the record, Beatrice skipped panties because they were uncomfortable. The uniform Sisilia designed had zero armor function, but its one merit was comfort. Losing even that would feel like too much of a loss.
"Next time, just bite the hem and greet me to save trouble."
"...You think I'll put up with this forever?"
Beatrice finally rebelled cutely, but Sisilia mercilessly flipped her skirt in retaliation.
"You're such a total perv...!"
"Woof woof."
Beatrice fumed to tears, and Sisilia began her day quite satisfied—
"So this is the Liannen Kingdom?"
The empire's delegation had arrived.
"What a piddling little place."
Leading the group was Crown Prince Albert of the empire. They set foot in the capital, Terezia.
"Your Highness, it has a certain artistic flair, no?"
"Still just a backwater nation. Can't compare to the great Eldrishion Empire."
He didn't hide his arrogance. No need to. He fundamentally believed everything in this world existed for the empire—and thus, the empire could claim it all.
"The women are at least easy on the eyes."
"Indeed, Your Highness. The rumors of Liannen's beauties aren't just talk."
Unlike the Liannen Kingdom, where sunlight wasn't intense, the empire basked in stronger rays, leading to different skin tones. It drew the imperial eyes.
"I'd love to pick a few as sex slaves right now—but diplomacy first."
"A wise decision, Your Highness."
The delegation headed to the palace. But they couldn't meet the queen.
"Her Majesty is ill."
"Ill?"
"Given her age, we ask for your understanding."
Word of her gravely poor health. Albert wasn't pleased, but she was a queen nonetheless. No point pushing here.
"Then summon the next highest authority."
"Please wait a moment."
The delegation waited in the reception room. The crown prince smirked at Liannen's conduct.
"They can't even grasp the basics of statecraft. Making us wait."
Their visit had been announced well in advance. Yet no one to greet them on arrival? It meant one thing: Liannen's intelligence network was so poor they missed imperial ships docking openly.
Unthinkable in the empire. Rumor had it even the emperor knew how many bean bugs lived in commoners' homes.
"Sealing the treaty won't be hard."
"As you say."
His goal: force an unequal treaty on Liannen. Entrusting him with this was the emperor's test for his successor.
Didn't expect it to be this easy, though.
He'd been tense, but the kingdom was a joke up close.
"Hm."
"Something wrong, Sir Sezarik?"
Sir Sezarik, a Sword Master among the empire's top knights, took interest in the 'guard' in the reception room.
"Quite the fine knight."
"...Knight? Isn't that just some regular soldier here?"
"He's disguising as a guard, but he can't fool my eyes. That's a high-caliber knight."
"Intriguing. Aren't Liannen knights supposed to be strong? All that battlefield experience."
"Experience matters, but before true realm, all is futile, Your Highness."
Sezarik smirked at the blinking Liannen guard.
"The empire has ten times the kingdom's population."
Battlefield experience? The empire overwhelmed with sheer numbers. And talent pools to match.
Nice presence, though. Rare aura like that.
Sezarik figured this guard ranked top ten in Liannen.
"You there. You've got quite the spirit."
He couldn't resist approaching the promising knight from a foreign land. His competitive spirit flared.
"How about it? Time's dragging while we wait. A light spar?"
"..."
The guard stared like he'd suggested nonsense.
"Sparring on duty is grounds for discipline. My apologies."
"Pity."
"...Anyone else would gladly accept."
The guard couldn't fathom why this guy picked a plain sentry like him. But they were imperial bigwigs, so he responded politely.
"Fine. If it's not a top knight, no fun for me anyway."
"...?"
That's when they realized their grave misunderstanding—as the door opened.
"Sorry to keep you waiting. We're ready; please follow me."
"The empire has shown the Liannen Kingdom more than enough mercy thus far. Your survival to this day is purely our benevolence."
Crown Prince Albert stated flatly, staring coldly ahead.
"But what is this disgraceful display?"
He'd bristled from the 'escort' offer. They should come to him. Making a crown prince walk? Barely tolerable—old isolationist kingdom, lacking 'common sense.' But his patience snapped at the sight of Sisilia at the table.
"To receive an imperial crown prince with... a mere knight order vice-captain. And a woman."
Impossible by his standards.
"You are committing a grave error."
But Sisilia just smiled faintly at his outburst.
"Liannen is a military state. Vice-captain of the Windsor Knights is higher than you imagine."
"Even so, vice-captain? Shouldn't you at least bring the captain?"
"The captain's on sick leave with acute gastroenteritis."
"Sick leave for that? Proper knight?"
"No worries. I've been granted full authority. We can proceed without issue."
"This isn't about that! Foolish wench!"
Sezarik calmed Albert.
"Your Highness, compose yourself."
Then whispered:
"This might play to our advantage."
"...!"
True. Albert needed to extract as much as possible. From an ignorant young girl? Easy pickings. He swallowed his rage.
"...Apologies for the rudeness. I was hasty."
"I'm fine. But watch the outbursts—high blood pressure's no joke."
Sisilia wagged a finger with a bright smile. Beatrice, behind her, was purely awed. She says that even here? She flinched at Edward's shit-eating-grin beside her.
Edward had insisted on attending, so Sisilia told him to play aide and stand behind her. Surprisingly, he'd agreed without hesitation.
"Then, allow me to reintroduce myself. I'm Sisilia Windsor, vice-captain of the Windsor Knights."
At her name, the imperials' eyes widened.
Sisilia Windsor. The one who crushed the Holy Nation's holy knights. Who humiliated 7th Prince Kashutar.
"...I've heard the name. Sisilia Windsor. You nearly beat my brother to death."
The empire's youngest prince. To Albert, less than a passing acquaintance—they'd barely met. But that was irrelevant.
"Your presence here means the kingdom holds you blameless?"
"My sincerest apologies. Back then—"
Sisilia recalled a fitting excuse and smiled sweetly.
"I was sexually harassed, so I handled it."
"...I see."
Albert eyed her coldly, twitching a brow.
"And what will you do about this?"
He reached for Sisilia's chest. She didn't flinch. Beatrice nearly panicked, trying to intervene.
At this rate, the imperials all die.
As Albert's hand neared—
Thwack.
"...!"
Edward, watching from behind, seized the crown prince's wrist hard.
"What do you think you're doing? Daring to touch my royal person with your filthy knight hands?"
The prince glared furiously.
"Release me now!"
His delegation drew swords, aiming at Edward. But Edward ignored them, glaring murderously. Amid the chaos, Sisilia's eyes fixed on one spot.
Sezarik, face pale with terror, looking ready to puke.
Sharper than the Holy Nation. He sensed the captain's power.
Sisilia thought, still smiling.
That's... a problem.