The Voyage of the Imperator

Time flowed on, and several months passed. Early spring faded, and the first hints of summer warmth began to creep in. As my imperial family and I prepared to board our carriage...

Neighhh! The shrill cry of a thrashing red horse—bought as a gift for Mary—drew everyone's eyes.

Snort! Neighhh! The beast fought desperately against its restraints, locked in a fierce tug-of-war with a knight who gripped its reins with all his might.

"Good heavens, where on earth did they find such a wild beast?"

"Giving a horse like that to her sister-in-law for her birthday... Do you think the Empress is trying to assassinate Lady Mary?"

The whispering guards gave me an immediate headache. I told her we should have just gone with a sword. Look at this... now people are talking.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

The horse purchased for Mary was certainly healthy enough to justify its exorbitant price. In fact, it was far too healthy. It thrashed so wildly that the stablehands were at their wits' end.

"Thera, dear... I honestly do not know if it is safe to give that beast to Lady Mary."

As my mother-in-law spoke with a worried frown, watching the struggling horse, Theodora also looked deeply troubled.

"They told me it was of an excellent pedigree when I bought it. I had no idea it would be this wild," Theodora murmured.

"Which is why I said we should have just given her a sword."

"You, be quiet."

I shook my head as Theodora glared at me, clearly annoyed by my logic.

"Let's just bring it with us to the Grand Duchy first and figure it out there," I said, stepping up into the carriage.

Today was the day the imperial family and I were departing for the Grand Duchy of Francesco to celebrate Mary's birthday and upcoming wedding. I had temporarily delegated my administrative authority in Roman to Charles, the Speaker of the Parliament. With the Grand Duchy's elite troops stationed there, I was confident nothing would go awry in my absence.

"What should we do? I feel like choosing that horse was a mistake," Theodora said, her eyes still fixed anxiously on the ferocious beast.

I offered her some comfort. "Don't worry. You have no idea how good Mary is at breaking horses."

In truth, horsemanship was a vital skill for any knight. It was only natural, considering they had to fight atop a mount while clad in heavy armor.

Thud!

"Aaargh! My... my ribs!"

At the sudden outcry from outside, Theodora and I turned our heads to investigate. The knight who had been pulling the reins was now sprawling on the ground, while the surrounding knights scrambled to grab the leather straps. Had he been kicked by the forehooves?

As I pondered this, Theodora asked, her voice trembling with unease, "Will she really be alright?"

"She'll be fine. Mary might look short, but she's built like an iron wall. Even if she gets kicked by a horse, her ribs won't break."

Soon, the carriage began to roll, heading toward the Tiber Port.

Before long, we boarded the imperial flagship. I looked around in awe.

"Wow... this is incredibly spacious."

I muttered as I took in the dazzling, opulent vessel.

This was the Emperor's personal ship, the Imperator.

Its colossal size and towering sails were overwhelming. Was it truly possible to construct something of this scale entirely out of wood? I had heard rumors, but seeing it in person was a completely different experience.

There was a massive port called Hams, located a short distance from Wyn, the capital of the Grand Duchy of Francesco. I recalled that none of the ships I had seen there even came close to this size.

Moreover, it wasn't just large. Exquisitely carved statues adorned the vessel, and cream-colored ornamental patterns were inlaid into the wood at regular intervals. Is that... ivory?

I gently ran my hand over the surface, marveling at its smooth texture. Since plastic did not exist in this world, such decorations were almost always crafted from genuine ivory. Ivory... an incredibly expensive luxury.

That wasn't all. The windows were decorated with stained-glass mosaics, reminiscent of a medieval cathedral, making the entire ship feel like a floating work of art.

"What are you doing over there, dear?"

Theodora's voice snapped me out of my reverie.

"Just... wondering how much we could get if we sold this."

Selling it would probably yield less than the cost of making it, right? I wonder how much it actually cost to build.

As I mused, Theodora knitted her brow. "Why are you always trying to sell our imperial property?"

I shrugged at her question. "Well, it is the Emperor's personal vessel, so there's a premium on it... and it really does look like a masterpiece."

To be honest, it hardly felt like a ship at all. Calling it a work of art seemed far more appropriate. In another sense, it seemed highly impractical. Did a ship truly need to be this extravagant? It didn't look like it would be very fast, either.

"I am ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠asking why you are trying to sell the Imperator in the first place."

"Just... thought it would fetch a pretty penny."

If they had the money to build something like this, they should have spent it on developing the Empire instead...

With those thoughts in mind, Theodora and I made our way deeper into the interior of the Imperator.

"Wow... this is truly something else."

Why on earth did they decorate a ship like this? The interior was even more absurd. Gold leaf and paintings adorned almost every surface. Was this the ultimate display of squandering wealth? It was so luxurious that it could easily pass for a mansion. To think they had decorated a ship this way. I wonder if the first-class cabins of the Titanic were this lavish.

With that thought, I headed toward our quarters.

The room was vast. Though smaller than our chambers in the Imperial Palace, the sunlight filtering through the magnificent mosaic windows made me shake my head in disapproval.

"What exactly is bothering you so much, dear?" Theodora grumbled as she entered the room.

"I'm just saying, the money spent on this could have been put to much better use in running the state."

In reality, rulers did need to maintain a certain level of luxury. If an emperor lived in squalor, the lesser nobles would undoubtedly look down on them. But there was a limit. Keeping a massive ship like this docked in port only to use it for occasional outings was the height of extravagance. I truly felt it was a waste of money, but Theodora, unable to empathize with my pragmatic view, simply shook her head.

"Good grief... looking at everything through that lens is a disease in itself."

Several days after Deviang and the imperial family departed for the Grand Duchy, in the Nicaea Kingdom...

Yohanes was reading a telegram that had arrived from Roman.

Initially, Yohanes had intended to build his forces primarily around regular troops. Mercenaries were not a trustworthy breed. However, training regular soldiers took too much time, and that cunning young lion was currently holding his weaknesses over his head. Furthermore, if a military conflict were to arise over the recent tax reform bill, Deviang might very well be preparing to use him as a sacrificial pawn. Their relationship was hardly amicable; they were like beasts, each biding their time to tear out the other's throat.

Staring at the telegram from Roman, Yohanes fell deep into thought.

"Indeed. The Empress and the Grand Duke have departed for the Grand Duchy... It is finally time to make my move."

Byzantion, the capital of the Nicaea Kingdom, was a hub of trade—a capital positioned perfectly to connect continents. Yet, a hostile force existed within a mere hundred kilometers of that very capital.

"The Duopol Duchy."

They were not an exceptionally powerful force, but if Nicaea were to go to war with the Emperor's Faction, their presence would be a troublesome thorn in his side. It was best to eliminate them beforehand. As for a justification, he had more than enough. The House of Burg, the ruling family of the Duopol Duchy, had been bitter enemies of his family for generations. The root of the animosity lay in their proximity; being situated right next to the ruling house of Nicaea, frequent armed clashes ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠had been inevitable.

Although they had once possessed a vast territory, only a small fraction of it remained today. Yet, the House of Burg, which had nearly collapsed into ruin, had managed to rally neighboring nobles to form a coalition, maintaining a tense standoff against the Nicaea Kingdom. The current Duke of Duopol, Leopold III, would likely be utterly powerless to stop what was coming.

In the past, Nicaea's failure to bring a decisive end to the conflict with the Duopol Duchy was largely because they shared a border with the Babylon Empire. Unable to deploy their main army, the war had dragged on. This time, however, he would wipe them out completely. Unlike before, he had secured a secret pact with Babylon. The empire was currently dealing with rebellions in its newly conquered territories and had no desire for war. In other words, even if Yohanes withdrew his frontline troops, Babylon had given their word that they would not move. Success was guaranteed.

Yohanes rubbed his hands together, his eyes scanning the map. I will station regular troops in Epirus and Egypt... and the moment Duopol falls, I will use the mercenaries to swiftly eliminate the high nobles of the Emperor's Faction. Yes, after Duopol, the next target should be the Ern Kingdom. He would rapidly seize the kingdom, renowned for its rich mineral resources, and then strike Bohemia. Taking advantage of the chaos among the high nobility, he would strike hard and fast, swallowing the Emperor's Faction whole in a lightning campaign.

He had to act swiftly, leaving the young lion no time to intervene. Conveniently, Deviang had just left Roman for the distant Grand Duchy, leaving a window of about a month. Once he devoured the Emperor's Faction... he would no longer have to walk on eggshells around the central government. Yohanes eagerly anticipated that glorious moment.

We sailed down the Tiber River and out into the North Sea. I fell into deep thought as I gazed at the scarlet sunset.

"We will be arriving at Hams Port shortly, Your Grace."

"Understood."

Hams Port. This was my first time returning here since I visited with my mother as a child. It was here that I had first met my maternal uncle. If one crossed that vast sea to the west, they would reach the Allied Kingdom. Come to think of it, I had heard that my uncle would also be attending this time. It had been nearly ten years. I wonder if he's doing well. We had exchanged letters since I was young. Though I had only met him in person once, I knew he met with my older sister, Octavia, quite frequently. The Northern Sea Kingdom and the Allied Kingdom engaged in heavy trade, and if I recalled correctly, it was through my uncle that my sister and brother-in-law had first met.

Theodora came to stand beside me, leaning against the railing. Her hair fluttered gently in the wind as she spoke.

"Dear? What are you doing out here?"

She really is breathtakingly beautiful. The sight of her grey hair, tinged with the hues of the setting sun and dancing in the breeze, was like a masterpiece painting come to life.

"Just reminiscing. We're about to arrive at Hams Port, after all."

She nodded at my words. "Are you glad to be back in your homeland?"

"It's alright."

There was a time when my only desire had been to escape this place. Unable to endure Valorang's horrific abuse, I had nearly succeeded in fleeing... but, unfortunately, I was caught. The tragedy of that day. As the memory resurfaced, my expression hardened.

Gently, Theodora placed her hand over the back of mine.

"It must have been so difficult for you."

I didn't know how to respond to that. "What do you mean?"

Gazing out at the sea alongside me, she murmured, "Just... everything. I found out about the reason your mother passed away."

My body stiffened at her words. Well... I suppose it was too famous an incident to remain hidden.

I let out a bitter laugh. "I see. I never really intended to hide it anyway."

It was far too sensational a scandal within high society to keep secret. The heir to the Grand Duchy of Francesco attempting to flee his own country to seek asylum in the Allied Kingdom, a rival nation of the Empire. There was no way she wouldn't have heard of it.

"It must have been so painful."

I offered no reply. I closed my eyes as the memories of those desperate, agonizing days rushed back. Though it was all in the past now, I had never once forgotten the scars left behind.

"I don't particularly want to talk about it."

With those words, I coldly brushed her hand away and walked back toward our quarters.