Toppling the Empire (4)
“Edward. I'm fine.”
“……”
“They were probably just trying to take a strand of my hair. There's no way an official delegation would do something like that.”
Sisilia smiled brightly, smoothing things over.
“Right?”
The crown prince's face remained stiff. If he disagreed here, he'd be branded a pervert intent on sexual harassment.
“……You're right.”
“Oh dear, I've been rude.”
Edward smiled back apologetically. But the moment he turned away, his expression turned icy.
I'll respect you for now, Sisilia. But—
Edward saw Sisilia as a rival. But watching her get pawed at by some outsider was another matter entirely.
He could tame her himself if needed. But no one else was allowed to touch even a single strand of her silver hair.
Your plan had better please me as much as it offends me.
And she knew that.
No one in the Windsor Knights would have stayed silent in that situation. Which meant Sisilia had deliberately provoked Edward into stepping in.
“Then, shall we get to the main discussion?”
Sisilia said demurely, propping her chin on her hand.
“What the Empire wants from the Liannen Kingdom.”
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The crown prince's words were flowery and circuitous at times, almost painfully so, but the gist was simple.
“The Liannen Kingdom now holds a clear advantage in the war against the demonkin. We've made exceptions for your circumstances until now, but discontent from other nations is growing.”
Stealing your friend's toy because you want it is wrong. But politics finds justifications to take it anyway.
It'd be so easy if everyone just admitted it was bad. Instead, they circle around it, too proud to confess.
Pathetic.
As the Sword Princess of a medieval world with classic patriarchal thinking, Sisilia despised such beta-male bullshit.
But.
Of course, I'm a girl, so I'll do it anyway.
“Liannen has no choice but to pay tribute to the Eldrasion Empire. And we'll offer ample recompense in return.”
“And if we refuse?”
At Sisilia's question, the crown prince flashed a chilling smile, as if he'd been waiting.
“The Empire deems all nations refusing tribute as enemies. The choice is yours.”
It was the most effective diplomatic tactic in imperial history: imposing absolute submission on others.
A special diplomacy possible only because the Empire held unrivaled superiority.
“I see.”
She won't accept right away. But she'll have no choice in the end.
Like every other kingdom before them, Liannen would fall in line. Everything would go the Empire's way.
“I came planning a long stay from the start. Take your time with the answer……”
“Then let's do that.”
“What?”
“The Liannen Kingdom will pay tribute to the Empire.”
Her ready agreement widened the crown prince's eyes.
What?
He couldn't hide his bewilderment, glancing back at the imperial nobles.
They looked equally flustered. No nation ever accepted a tribute demand outright.
“You really…… mean to pay tribute?”
“Is there a problem?”
Sisilia acted as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
“No—none. ……It's just too straightforward.”
As the crown prince faltered, Sisilia spoke softly.
“We can't afford to anger a superpower like the Empire. Liannen is a small nation, after all.”
The prince paused, staring at her, then burst into laughter.
“Hahaha!”
He liked her words.
“A wise choice! Sorry for the misunderstanding. You're quite the diplomat.”
Things were going better than expected; he was thrilled. Only one step left: demand the maximum, then graciously concede a bit.
“For tribute, gold……”
“We'll cede all northern territories.”
Interrupting the crown prince was unheard of. But he was too shocked to care.
“The northern lands?”
“Y-You're serious?”
The delegation behind him reacted the same. Who cedes territory as tribute?
But Sisilia's follow-up made sense.
“In exchange, no further tribute after that.”
Give up the barren north to dodge ongoing tribute.
“Hoh.”
The crown prince chuckled, amused. Not a bad deal for Liannen.
Idiots.
Now he thought he grasped their intent, smirking slyly. The north was barren wasteland. Land the Empire had ceded to Liannen long ago when overextension left them unable to handle demons too.
Sacrifice worthless dirt to solve the tribute issue shaking their kingdom's foundations. Smart for them.
And for the Empire too.
But Liannen was clueless.
Do they really think we'll be satisfied with just taking that land back?
The Empire could reclaim the north anytime. They'd only lent it temporarily. Of course they wouldn't stop at getting it back.
A little time later, demand more. Under pretexts like, 'Since the Empire blocks the demons, you owe us compensation.'
“Not a bad condition for the Empire. Right?”
He glanced back; the delegation smiled meaningfully.
“Indeed.”
“No need for council—this benefits us.”
And at the same moment.
Edward, watching silently, covered his mouth.
Sisilia. You really—
He struggled not to laugh.
You're a woman I want.
Now he saw her plan.
Open a path for demons straight to the Empire.
And claim half the Empire in return.
Liannen would bear the infamy of 'humanity's betrayer' for ages.
But with Sisilia's move, the narrative flipped.
Return the north to the Empire. Liannen loses nothing—hell, the Empire demanded tribute first.
The Empire would self-destruct from its own greed.
Liannen could intervene at the perfect moment, reaping pure profit.
Meanwhile, the oblivious crown prince.
“Let's seal the oath.”
Drank the poisoned chalice Sisilia offered.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
“No better outcome for a succession trial.”
The crown prince's steps were light as he carried the oath document. This solidified his claim as heir, paving his path to emperor.
Thrilled, the entire imperial delegation—including the prince—returned home safely.
But.
“Foolish whelp—!”
The emperor's roar filled the chamber.
“Can't you even tell if this profits or harms the Empire?!”
The crown prince looked up, utterly aggrieved.
“Y-Your Majesty—the northern territories have been imperial direct holdings since ancient times. I reclaimed them without spilling a drop of blood. Why rage so?”
The Empire's history was one of conquest and invasion. The north was their sole territorial loss.
Historians called it 'the previous emperor's sole blemish'—overreach forced the handover.
But Emperor Raigor V saw it differently.
They'd only built today's Empire because they ceded the north. Liannen blocking demon incursions let the Empire grow safely within its walls.
“……I ordered you to weaken Liannen's power. Extract tribute they could barely afford—a simple task. That's why I sent you.”
The emperor was 56. He could die anytime.
But how could his heir be this stupid? The Empire's future looked bleak.
Raigor V stared pityingly at the flustered prince.
“And what harm does this deal do to Liannen?”
“Th-Their already cramped lands shrink further, Your Majesty.”
“Fool!”
The emperor clutched his neck.
“Don't you see? Truly blind? Is this future visible only to me?!”
He scanned the chamber. All avoided his gaze, staring at the floor. No one understood.
“Y-Your Majesty—we foolish ministers can't fathom it. Please share your wisdom.”
Suppressing his fury, the emperor explained.
“……Just like the past. We solidified our position by ceding the north—thanks to Liannen's protective barrier.”
He glared coldly at the prince.
“Now that barrier belongs to Liannen. They'll grow faster than ever. Our growth stops—we'll fight endless demon wars!”
“!”
Ministers and prince finally grasped it.
But deep down, doubt lingered.
Even so, could Liannen surpass the Empire?
Too foolish to voice it.
The emperor sighed, gripping his head.
“Lord Sezarik. Tell me—Liannen's military strength?”
The delegation included Sezarik, Sword Master and Imperial Knight Commander.
Not mere escort—emperor's orders: assess Liannen firsthand.
Sezarik bowed.
“Knights' skills are exceptional overall.”
“How many Sword Masters?”
Masters decided wars—one worth ten thousand troops. He'd tasked Sezarik with counting.
“Many for a mere kingdom, with impressive skill. But none surpass me. I met their strongest knight—undeniable.”
The emperor eased slightly.
Not pointless. Liannen's strength from demon wars. Empire must fight demons too—but no safe haven for Liannen.
The oath lacked his signature—not final.
Raigor V commanded.
“Approve Liannen's offer of northern territories. But take only half. Send word.”
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Five hours before the delegation's departure.
“……Please.”
Imperial Knight Commander Sezarik prostrated in the finished audience hall.
“Take everything I have.”
Edward, who'd been cheek-puffing him as punishment for treating Sisilia like a lowly aide's aide, stared in disbelief.
Sisilia, meanwhile, appreciated the time saved.
“Grant me enlightenment to Grand Swordmaster! I'll do anything!”
Grand Swordmaster.
A legendary title. Childish fantasy to imperial knights.
In Liannen, called Sword Sovereign.
Hmm. Or maybe Sword Emperor? This guy's Sword Demon level.
Anyway, it was Sezarik's lifelong dream.
He'd lived hoping to glimpse that mythical realm.
So spotting Edward as Grand Swordmaster—no, perhaps beyond—prompted this. Natural for him.
“Pathetic.”
“……”
“Your level's exposed.”
Edward flushed crimson with shame.