The Empire's Next Sun
The Imperial Palace. Inside the Emperor's office, the Third Prince Enoch stood before the Emperor in a rigid, upright posture.
"...So you're telling me that the summary execution of Baron Baron was self-defense, and that the additional matter of the 100,000 gold was revealed to be a voluntary donation from the northern nobles, leaving no grounds for embezzlement charges?"
The Emperor rested his chin on his hand in clear boredom, idly fiddling with his beard. Enoch lowered his head.
"Yes, Your Majesty. I personally verified the ledgers and the physical evidence. There was not a single legal basis on which to hold the Grand Ducal Castle accountable."
"...Tsk."
The Emperor clicked his tongue in annoyance. His attitude was less like a ruler discussing critical imperial affairs and more like an old man grumbling because he didn't like the side dishes for dinner.
"If you say so, then it must be true. After all, someone as inflexible as you wouldn't have turned a blind eye unless there was truly nothing there."
The Emperor shoved the report Enoch had submitted into a corner of the desk with a careless wave of his hand.
"Very well. You've done your duty, so you may leave."
Enoch swallowed the bitterness rising in his throat. Thousands of knights were bleeding on the barren battlefields of the North to protect the Empire, yet the man who stood as its supreme ruler showed not the slightest interest in their well-being.
With a bitter expression, Enoch offered the Emperor a brief, formal bow before immediately exiting the office. Without hesitation, he turned his steps toward the glass greenhouse.
Inside the warm, humid greenhouse. Among rare flowers that bloomed in every season, the First Prince Arzen was still trimming plants with a pair of gardening shears.
"Oh, Enoch. How was the North? It must have been quite difficult in such a harsh place."
Arzen spotted Enoch and greeted him with a gentle, affectionate smile. But Enoch's face remained stiff and hard.
"Brother. Are you aware that my former deputy, Caleb, has been imprisoned?"
At Enoch's blunt question, which skipped even basic pleasantries, Arzen paused his snipping and nodded.
"I've heard. He caused quite a scene at the banquet by abusing his authority, didn't he?"
"When we were restraining him, Caleb shouted your name, Brother."
Enoch's gaze fixed directly on Arzen.
"He claimed he was only acting on your orders. Do you have any idea what he might have meant?"
Arzen widened his eyes in apparent surprise.
"Hm? My name came up?"
He stroked his chin for a moment, pretending to think seriously, then shook his head with a soft smile.
"I can't think of anything in particular."
"Truly?"
"My goodness, how hurtful. Enoch, have you ever seen me lie to you?"
His demeanor was far too calm. When Enoch faltered, Arzen shrugged and continued.
"Ah, now that I think about it, there is one small thing that comes to mind."
"What is it?"
"Caleb had only recently been appointed as your deputy, hadn't he? So this was probably his first long-distance mission... I believe I patted him on the shoulder the night before he left and encouraged him, saying I had high expectations for him."
Arzen chuckled softly, clicking the shears in his hand.
"But isn't that simply the kind of encouraging remark a member of the imperial family ought to give to a subordinate? Surely you wouldn't arrest me over something like that?"
Arzen tossed out the remark in a joking tone.
"......"
The single phrase "I have high expectations" from Arzen, the First Prince known as the Empire's Next Sun. Enoch could easily imagine how much pressure that must have placed on an ordinary deputy.
Brother's words could never have been meant lightly.
But Enoch stopped his questioning there. Considering Arzen's usual conduct, he convinced himself that his brother would never have deliberately ordered a frame-up and set aside his suspicions.
Snip. Sniiip.
Arzen picked up the shears again and trimmed the stems of the plants.
"There really are so many rotten branches, aren't there?"
At the sudden remark, Enoch answered in confusion.
"Pardon? Ah, yes..."
"So? I doubt our upright little brother came all this way just to relay the nonsense of some deputy."
Arzen kicked aside the cut branches with the toe of his shoe and turned to look at Enoch.
"What exactly happened in the North? Tell your older brother everything."
Enoch hesitated for a moment, then finally opened his mouth. He recounted everything he had witnessed with his own eyes in the North, without omission or exaggeration. The knights with their crude, worn-out equipment. Their fierce determination as they faced off against magic beasts more desperately than anyone. And the solemn, majestic Northern Memorial Service held on the snowy fields where no one else paid them any heed.
"Brother. About the decision this winter to ban large-scale food distribution to the North and minimize medical supplies."
Enoch asked in a heavy voice.
"I understand it was a decision made by His Majesty the Emperor, but I heard you also approved and remained silent on the matter. What exactly was the reason? No matter how much risk there may be of inciting rebellion, if the North collapses, the entire Empire will be in danger."
At Enoch's pointed question, Arzen stopped what he was doing and offered a gentle smile.
"I understand why you're saying this, my brother. After witnessing the noble sacrifices of the northern knights, it's only natural that your emotions would be stirred."
"Then why—!"
"You know what happened during the previous Grand Duke's time, don't you?"
At Arzen's question, Enoch flinched and fell silent.
"During the time of the previous Grand Duke—that is, Grand Duchess Giselle's father—the North's power had grown strong enough to threaten the imperial family."
Arzen strolled through the greenhouse as he continued his calm, measured explanation.
"Mana stones, the absolute energy source that keeps the Empire running. The North has near-total control over their supply. On top of that, the northern military, tempered daily through life-or-death battles against magic beasts, is overwhelmingly stronger than even the central knight order."
It was a well-known fact.
"Back then, if the North had truly set its mind to rebellion, our imperial family would have been helpless to stop its own destruction."
"That... yes, I acknowledge it, but..."
"But unfortunately, the previous Grand Duke died a heroic death while fighting magic beasts. Afterward, the young Giselle ascended to the position of Grand Duchess, and the imperial family and the Empire's nobles finally unleashed the fear they had been suppressing. They imposed various restrictions to weaken the North's power."
Arzen patted Enoch on the shoulder.
"The food and medical supply controls you mentioned are simply an extension of those long-standing restrictions. Even now, the North's power remains a fearful thing to the Empire."
"But Brother! The current Grand Duchess Giselle is not that kind of person! She is more devoted than anyone to the Empire and its people!"
Enoch cried out in frustration. Arzen wrapped an arm around Enoch's shoulder, his expression turning bitter.
"I know. Your older brother understands that very well. Even with such immense power, the previous Grand Duke never once plotted rebellion. Instead, he fought magic beasts and died gloriously for the Empire."
Arzen let out a long sigh.
"But Enoch, governing a nation unfortunately doesn't always go according to our wishes."
"......"
"There are countless nobles who support the Empire. The imperial family can only remain whole with their backing and wealth. If we were to lift the restrictions based solely on the North's loyalty, only for the terrified nobles to turn their backs on us—what then? The imperial family would collapse, and the Empire would split in two."
Arzen looked at Enoch with sorrowful eyes.
"Of course, I know it's only a one-in-a-million possibility. But in this day and age, even an imperial prince cannot simply draw his sword without proper justification and demand, 'Do as I say.' Isn't that right?"
Arzen spoke of political reality as if it couldn't be helped.
"In short, it's a regrettable sacrifice."
Enoch clenched his fists tightly. So the reason the loyal knights of the North were bleeding and dying was ultimately because of the central nobles protecting their own interests and their cowardly fears.
But Enoch still felt something didn't add up.
"Brother. Is that... truly the only reason?"
Enoch asked, unable to shake his doubts.
"No matter how much one must consider the nobles' opinions, it still doesn't make sense to oppress the Empire's strongest shield so harshly. Perhaps there is another reason..."
At Enoch's reasonable suspicion, Arzen stopped trimming and quietly stared down at the rotten branch in his hand. Soon, a meaningful smile spread across his lips.
"Who knows."
"...Pardon?"
"Worldly affairs don't always turn on just one reason, after all."
It was an enigmatic answer that revealed nothing. As if he had no intention of explaining further, Arzen set down the shears and smoothly changed the subject.
"By the way, was there no news of our foolish youngest brother while you were in the North?"
"That..."
At Arzen's question, the image of Kael ripping off his shirt and screaming flashed through Enoch's mind.
"When a blade is coming at my body, who the hell has time to worry about some damn law?!"
"......"
Enoch hesitated for a moment. Kael's eyes. They had been far too calm for a mere beast in heat, carrying a strange, rational killing intent. He wondered whether he should mention it to Arzen.
But after witnessing the cold reality of this imperial palace that tightened the noose around the North, Enoch somehow no longer wanted to voice his questions about Kael. He bit his lip and shook his head.
"...He was the same as always. Drinking heavily and acting like a complete degenerate."
"Is that so? Well, I suppose."
Arzen chuckled and nodded.
"Our youngest brother couldn't possibly possess any grand intelligence. You've worked hard, Enoch."
Arzen gave Enoch's shoulder a few light pats.
"Well done, Enoch. You must be tired after such a long journey. Go rest for now. We'll discuss the matter of material support again later."
"Yes. I shall take my leave, Brother."
Enoch left the greenhouse with heavy steps. Once the door closed, only Arzen remained inside.
"......"
Arzen smiled quietly as he stared at the spot Enoch had stepped on earlier. The rotten branches crushed and shattered beneath his brother's shoe.
"My lovely, pitiful little brother."
Arzen murmured softly into the empty air.
"Don't you know? No matter how much you trim the outer branches of a tree that's already rotten to the core, it remains nothing but a rotten tree. What's worse, it will spread its rot to the healthy trees around it."
Arzen tossed the gardening shears onto the table.
"So... it's better to rip it out by the roots and burn it entirely."
A new board was being set.