It Worked Out Nicely
The weekend had flown by in the blink of an eye. Saturday was the day I went shopping with Flora, so there was that. But Sunday I’d spent entirely within the Imperial Palace.
I’d even imagined what sort of past must exist between Father and Cecilia. I’d gone to the Imperial archives to investigate which kingdom on the vast Arsenia Continent I might escape to. And then I’d spotted a book that caught my eye, and before I knew it…
Ah, I’d spent the entire time reading. Still, it was quite useful, so I couldn’t complain about the wasted hours. Problem solved, I guess.
“Let me check one last thing…”
Before heading to the office, I stood in front of the full-length mirror to double-check my appearance. Hair—clean, no flyaways or kinks. Beard—neatly trimmed. Uniform—the maids had done an excellent job ironing it yesterday, every crease perfect. Last, the cravat—slightly askew.
I straightened it carefully with my own hands. Now everything was ready. I glanced at the clock: 8:40 in the morning.
“Let’s give it everything today.”
I blew out a breath, then left the room.
“Everyone, did you spend the weekend comfortably?”
Before starting work, Cecilia looked back and forth between me and the maids. Myria and Flora answered first.
“Yes! It was full of good memories, Your Majesty.”
“Thanks to Your Majesty, it was a very relaxing weekend.”
Then it was my turn.
“Yes. I spent the week reflecting on myself and resolved to work even harder this time around.”
“Hmm…”
Did she really mean that? Or was she just being polite.
“You didn’t go out on Saturday with Flora?”
“Yes. Thanks to the young lady of Marquis Simonian’s family, I was able to choose thoughtful gifts for my family and friends.”
“It seems you spent a very fulfilling weekend, then.”
Cecilia nodded as if she understood.
“Luke. What’s the morning schedule?”
The slight imperial dignity had crept into her tone.
“There’s a council meeting at 9:20 this morning.”
“…”
Cecilia closed her eyes with a quiet sigh. It looked as if she was already picturing how much stress she’d have to endure today.
I’d seen her endure far worse than anyone else in that room.
“Thirty minutes until departure. Everyone, sit down and prepare to work.”
I and the maids took our seats almost at the same moment as Cecilia’s order. Immediately afterward, the various departments began sending today’s pile of documents.
Ugh. At least five hundred sheets today, as usual.
I’d been in the palace for nearly two months now. Familiar and mundane.
Familiar and mundane… yet somehow I still dreaded it. I didn’t want to attend noble meetings either. Administrating was simply one endless string of tasks I’d rather avoid.
Today’s documents belonged to the Interior Ministry—handling palace facilities and supplies, and preparing next month’s budget.
‘Lately I keep getting handed only numbers-related paperwork…’
I pulled out my abacus and started verifying the cost calculations. Before long, it was time to head to the council chamber.
I gathered today’s documents and approached Cecilia’s desk.
“Your Majesty, we should depart now.”
“…”
Cecilia rose slowly, as if she’d swallowed a mouthful of water. She clearly wanted to stay behind, but in this room no one else dared say a word.
“Let’s go.”
I followed her to the council chamber.
“Her Majesty, Empress Cecilia, Mother of the Eckhart Empire, has arrived.”
The nobles all rose and bowed the moment Cecilia took her seat on the imperial throne.
“Everyone, please be seated.”
Her voice, far too dignified for a nineteen-year-old, settled them into their chairs. I placed the documents I’d prepared on her desk.
Cecilia scanned the pages without lifting her chin.
“The first agenda concerns the monster sightings in the northern provinces.”
She set the papers down and looked at the nobles seated on either side of her.
“Is Margrave Hans present?”
The nobles exchanged uneasy glances. He wasn’t here.
Just then, a man rose from the farthest corner.
“Your Majesty. I am Baron Ringel, sent in his place by Margrave Hans.”
“Come forward. I wish to hear the full report.”
Note that the monster-hunting agenda had been added at dawn that morning. Baron Ringel had ridden straight here with Margrave Hans’s urgent letter, begging for reinforcements.
I’d learned this detail from Cecilia on the way over.
Watching her as I always did, the thought came to mind once more: how many headaches it takes to rule as an emperor.
‘How did this emperor turn into a tyrant?’
Was it simply the stress of the job?
Before I could dwell on it, Baron Ringel stepped up and knelt before Cecilia.
“How is the front?”
“The margrave’s soldiers are still holding as best they can, but I fear we’re simply in a war of attrition…”
A faint despair colored his voice.
Cecilia asked more questions: casualties, weapons stock, supply lines, and the number of reinforcements needed.
“The food supply is secure, but arrows are nearly exhausted. These monsters are the size of storage houses—four of them. We’ll need at least 2,500 more soldiers, Your Majesty.”
The number 2,500 sent ripples through the room. For a monster hunt, it was substantial.
“That means the situation is dire…”
Cecilia murmured quietly.
There was no other way. If the northern provinces fell, the rest of the empire would be destroyed in no time.
So we had to crush them before they reached the margrave’s fortress.
“I will send the Imperial Knights, two thousand in total. It falls short of your request, Baron. I am sorry.”
She rose slowly from her throne.
“Therefore, your support is required.”
It was an imperial order. Yet not a single noble raised a hand.
How could that be?
This was the fate of the empire itself.
The aristocrats staying silent made sense—any excuse to cling to Cecilia would do. But the imperial faction nobles hesitating too… I hadn’t expected that.
Disappointment and betrayal hit me at once.
“…”
Just in case, I glanced sideways at Cecilia’s face. She looked more stern than usual. She was clearly displeased.
What to do about it?
Then someone requested the floor. Duke Montersen of the aristocratic faction.
What was he going to say this time…
“Permission granted.”
“Your Majesty, my family will dispatch five hundred knights.”
What? Why was the duke suddenly offering help?
But the next moment he revealed his true colors without a trace of shame.
“In exchange, once the monsters are defeated, I would ask you to consider my son, Theolord Montersen, as a prince consort candidate.”
“Duke.”
“If you refuse my request, the knights will not be sent.”
During a national crisis, to act this way… and so schemingly.
I studied the duke’s face. Greedy as ever.
“…”
Cecilia let out a heavy sigh instead of answering. I checked her face again—her fists were clenched tight.
She could threaten them with the Imperial Order right here…
‘I might face backlash later.’
Her imperial authority wasn’t yet rock-solid. Nobles with sons were desperate to seat their own boys at her side.
South Korea had been just as messy in its own way. This empire was no different.
‘But I can’t just refuse either…’
If she sent two thousand imperial knights and won, that would be fine. But if they lost, no escape plan would matter—the empire would fall!
We had to hold the monsters back no matter what.
“Your Majesty, the sooner we decide, the better.”
“Indeed. If we cannot stop them now, a great calamity will befall the empire.”
“Make your decision, Your Majesty.”
The aristocratic nobles raised their voices in unison.
The imperial faction nobles were only whispering among themselves. None stepped forward.
Of course they didn’t want to risk their own soldiers.
How selfish could these nobles be?
Then Count Hulla of the imperial faction raised his hand. Cecilia silenced the aristocrats and gave permission.
“Our family can send up to two hundred knights.”
“That makes two thousand two hundred in total, Baron Ringel.”
The baron, still bowing, answered.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Is that enough?”
“Forgive me, but even two thousand five hundred is the minimum…”
The aristocratic nobles called for a decisive answer once more.
Great, now I’m in trouble.
I was grateful to Count Hulla, but the imperial faction had run out of volunteers.
Then an idea crossed my mind.
The imperial knights currently stationed totaled 2,500.
Cecilia planned to dispatch all but the minimum 500 necessary to guard the palace to the margrave.
If we sent every single one, there was no need to accept the duke’s proposal.
We only had to decide who would handle the palace security.
“Your Majesty, I have one idea. May I speak?”
“Permission granted.”
I straightened my back and addressed her.
“It would be best to dispatch all 2,500 imperial knights to the margrave.”
“That would leave a gap in the palace security.”
“Then use the knights dispatched by the various nobles to fill that gap for now.”
“!”
Cecilia’s eyes widened in surprise. She clearly hadn’t considered this method.
“A baron’s daughter dares to speak so carelessly!”
“Quiet. You are being far too loud.”
Cecilia stood from her throne. The duke fell silent.
“I will dispatch the full 2,500 imperial knights to the margrave. In exchange, I ask Baron Hulla’s knights to temporarily cover the palace security gap. With this, the nobles’ forces will suffer almost no loss.”
Cecilia turned to the imperial faction nobles.
“To those who assisted the palace this time, I will show my small gratitude.”
Cecilia dangled a carrot at the imperial faction.
Several who had only been watching raised their hands and offered to send troops.
I quickly returned to my seat and wrote down their names and the numbers of knights they would provide.
Then I glanced at the duke. He looked furious.
How lucky for him. You greedy old fox.