Belletria Lien Archesium (7)
Belletria Lien Archesium (7)
The Imperial Legal Minister, the Chief Chancellor, the Quartermaster General, the Head of the Imperial Audit Board, and so on.
The ones who were waiting in the [Grand Hall], people who were even more obsessed with continental unification than Belletria Lien Archesium herself, and who therefore always gave her a headache.
She stopped her slow pace for a moment and looked at the sky through the giant glass window in the hallway.
And as if waiting for this moment, a figure like a black shadow appeared right behind her.
Belletria kept her gaze fixed on the cloudless, clear sky as she opened her mouth.
"How did it go?"
"After investigating Olden's residence and the nobles he was closest to, we were able to catch four more bugs that had some sort of connection to Dharon."
"Disposal?"
"As per the rules, those who knew even a little bit of the truth or were involved were tortured to extract every bit of information before being fed to monsters alive, and those with absolutely no connection were silenced and given an appropriate amount of compensation."
Having heard the man's entire report, Belletria turned her head and began to walk toward the [Grand Hall] again.
Ttok-gak, ttok-gak.
The sound of heels echoed at regular intervals on the marble floor.
Since there was no order for the man to return, he judged that there was still something left to say to the Emperor, so he silently followed her, stepping on her shadow.
Belletria, who had been walking down the hallway in silence for a while, opened her mouth quietly while keeping her gaze straight ahead.
"What is the current evaluation and rumor regarding Idelon Halden Rehentra?"
Kasein, the leader of the [Wolikdae], the Imperial intelligence unit, gave his answer without a moment's hesitation.
"Positive and negative sides are mixed. On the positive side, rumors are spreading among the palace staff that despite being a hostage, he has the boldness to speak directly to Your Majesty before the throne, and that he is a rare romanticist who captured Your Majesty's firm heart in an instant."
"......."
There was no change in Belletria's gait.
Kasein continued his report in a calm tone, his head slightly bowed within the shadow.
"On the other hand, there are not a few negative views. There is crude criticism that he is just an incompetent prince from a defeated nation who happened to catch Your Majesty's eye, and that he is clouding Your Majesty's eyes and ears with a cunning tongue. Above all...."
Kasein paused for a moment and looked at Belletria's back as she walked ahead.
"Speak."
"... Some nobles from the aristocratic and neutral factions are, just as Your Majesty worried, openly expressing their dissatisfaction."
"I see."
It was as expected.
The Empire's nobles, especially those in the aristocratic faction, had vied to pour out massive private troops, subsidies, and military supplies for the conquest of the Rehentra Kingdom.
And the result they wanted was a box containing the heads of the Rehentra royals, or at least a perfect surrender document with the territory and rights intact.
They had wanted to secure a sure dividend on their investment in the war.
However, the result they received was only a massive war indemnity paid to the Imperial family and a single hostage prince from a defeated nation.
They hadn't been granted territory, nor had a formal surrender document arrived.
And to make matters worse, that useless hostage had overnight snagged the position of the Emperor's fiancé and even the position of Commander-in-Chief for the upcoming Dharon conquest.
From the nobles' perspective, they had used their own blood-money and troops to benefit a foreigner.
"......."
Belletria continued to walk toward the [Grand Hall] without a word.
Kasein knew what his master's silence meant, so he matched his steps without even making the sound of breathing.
As they turned the corner, the giant doors of the [Grand Hall] in the distance, and the attendants and maids standing guard in front of them, began to come into view, small as a colony of ants.
It meant this was an area where Kasein should no longer be seen.
And so, just as he was glancing around, preparing to melt into the darkness, it happened.
Belletria stopped her steps again and looked toward the direction of the [Sun Garden] as she spoke.
"We've been too lenient, so they seem to be overstepping their bounds."
He was a man who had confessed to harboring blind love for her for 8 years.
Even if it had started as a clumsy farce offered instead of a surrender document, Idelon Halden Rehentra was now entirely her property, the person marked as the partner of the Emperor of the Empire.
Yet, the vermin clinging to the Empire like parasites under the rule of that Emperor were spouting bullshit.
Even the massive private troops, subsidies, and military supplies they had provided were only large numbers by the standards of fiefdom wars.
In reality, over 90% of the Imperial army mobilized for this Rehentra Kingdom conquest war was the power of the Imperial Knights and the Emperor's faction nobles.
Therefore, most of the indemnity that came with the prince had also gone into their hands.
In short, to summarize the current situation, they were protesting why they weren't getting a reward when it was normal not to receive one.
"Tsk, to let such an evaluation be made of the man who will be My partner."
She took a pair of black leather gloves from her bosom and carelessly pulled them onto her white fingers as she issued an order.
"Tell Grand Duke Kailum Roses. Before the war with Dharon begins in earnest, dispose of the arrogant ones rotting from within."
"Kailum-nim⋯."
To move him, the Imperial loyalist who was currently finishing up the war with Terdia.
It meant she would not end this matter with a simple warning.
However, even though it was an instruction that foretold a terrible bloodbath where the heads of several leaders of the aristocratic faction might end up rolling on the parade ground.
Kasein showed no agitation.
"Loyalty."
With that short, dry answer, he smoothly slipped into the deep shadow of a pillar where the sunlight did not reach and disappeared.
As if no one had been there from the beginning.
At the same time, Belletria's red eyes, which had been flickering with the emotion of unpleasantness until a moment ago, sank calmly like a deep lake whose depths could not be known.
She approached the threshold of the [Grand Hall].
The waiting attendants felt the Emperor's presence and hurriedly bent their waists at a 90-degree angle, pulling the giant door handles from both sides.
Kki-gi-gik.
With the sound of metal friction, the giant doors opened.
At the same time, the old ministers who had been having a heated debate and foaming at the mouth inside instantly stopped their actions as if dead.
Belletria walked slowly into the [Grand Hall], where the troublesome old men were lined up, with a gait so elegant and disciplined that it was hard to believe she had just given a blood-soaked order to wipe out one of the Empire's three major powers.
'... Should have spent about 30 minutes, too bad.'
Two days later, morning.
Today, I had washed up early, dressed firmly, and left the [Imperial Palace] with a maid named Ruamel to come out to the capital.
The reason I ventured out, even though the perception of me as a hostage was still strong and it could easily arouse suspicion, was simple.
It was because I felt an urgent need for information about Belletria.
'I really don't know how I got through yesterday.'
The only information I had about Belletria was what I had heard through rumors.
But because I was asked during tea time yesterday, "If you've loved Me for 8 years, you must know My tastes, right? I'm thinking of going out alone with you soon. Do you know a place that would please Me?", I had been sweating buckets and barely managed to answer.
Anyway, for that reason, I had come out today with the intention of securing as much information as possible—not the rumors spread widely across the continent, but the rumors about the woman named Belletria spread within the Empire, and the things she liked.
And finally, even her hobbies or secret secrets.
'But... will I be able to get it?'
Honestly, I had no confidence.
Who would dare to speak carelessly about the owner of the Empire and the strongest person in history, who was unprecedented?
That was why I was already somewhat resigned.
That I wouldn't be able to get any useful information.
Still, rather than just sitting still and waiting for the coming death, wouldn't it be better to grab at a straw, get some fresh air, and try to bump into things?
"Hoo...."
I let out a light sigh and hurried my steps.
Beside me, Ruamel, the maid who had followed me from the [Imperial Palace] as both a monitor and a guide, was walking in step with me like a shadow.
"Prince-nim. From here on is the heart of the Empire, the central downtown of Iter."
As I shifted my gaze to the front at Ruamel's explanation, I saw a massive crowd of people and intricately crafted red brick buildings lined up endlessly, the likes of which I would only see during the grand festival held once a year in the Rehentra Kingdom.
The attire of the people walking on the street was luxurious, and the smell of sweet spices wafting from the street vendors made my mouth water on its own.
It was truly a lively and prosperous scene worthy of the center of the continent, but it did not alleviate the pressure that was tightening around my neck right now.
I peeked into various shops and tried to collect information on the sly.
At first, I stopped by the highest-end tea leaf merchant, said to be the most famous in Iter.
Pretending to buy a flashy silver tin case, I showed the merchant a good-natured smile.
"The aroma of this tea leaf is excellent. Is this a merchant group that also supplies the [Imperial Palace]? If I knew what kind of tea Her Majesty usually enjoys, it would be a great help in choosing a gift...."
Before I could even finish my sentence, the merchant's face turned pale.
He gripped the display case with trembling hands, looked around, and burst into coughs repeatedly.
"Kheu-heum!! Th-that. How could a lowly merchant of the marketplace dare to speak of the Imperial family's secret luxuries."
With that, the merchant stepped back far away as if he had nothing more to say, as if he didn't want to talk.
I had no choice but to smack my lips and leave the merchant group.
The situation was the same elsewhere.
It was a series of failures, even at the high-end dress shop that noble ladies frequented, and at the bookstore that handled rare books.
As soon as I opened my mouth and brought up the 'Bel' in Belletria, people would be startled and avoid my gaze.
The fear that they might have their throats slit without anyone knowing if they spoke carelessly about the private life of the tyrant who had stained the continent with blood was evident.
One merchant even dropped his teacup on the floor and trembled as soon as I asked a question.
In the end, only after wandering around the downtown area for a couple of hours did I realize the miserable reality.
That to the people of Iter, the Emperor was an object of awe, and at the same time, the very scale of terror that must never be touched.
'I'm screwed. Not a single letter is coming out.'
By the time my legs were aching, we headed to a quiet cafe located on the outskirts of the downtown area.
I slumped into an empty seat in the corner of the terrace and ordered a fruit smoothie, pointing roughly at the menu.
Ruamel just stood in an upright posture across from me, guarding against passersby with sharp eyes.
'Is she an assassin? Why is she like that?'
Soon after, the smoothie in a glass was placed on the table.
I put the straw in my mouth and sucked up the drink in one go.
The ice crystals, cold enough to make my head ache, went down my esophagus, but instead of my blocked chest feeling refreshed, only my sighs deepened.
"Haa...."
I wiped my face dry and bowed my head as if collapsing onto the table.
I clutched my head with both hands as if tearing it out and let out a groan between my lips.
The exact date hasn't been set yet, but within a month at the latest, I'll be going out alone with that bloody female Emperor.
If I were a romantic man who had only looked at her for 8 years, I would naturally have to know her tastes and plan a perfect date course.
All I knew was the gruesome fact that she didn't even blink an eye when she cut off a traitor's head.
If things went on like this, it was obvious that I wouldn't be going on a date course, but rather looking for my own grave site.
It was the moment I was continuing to lament my life, like someone who had become terminally ill.
"......."
Ruamel, who had kept her mouth firmly shut since leaving the [Imperial Palace] except when guiding the way, carefully took a step toward the table.
Her shadow was cast over the top of my head, which was bowed low.
I just slightly raised my head to look at her face.
"...?"
"By any chance, are you trying to hear rumors about Belletria-nim, Prince-nim?"
Ruamel asked a personal question for the first time.
