The King's Power (1)
Jeron and Kang crossed the dimensional gate just as the sun was setting.
The environment shifted completely.
The harsh sun vanished in an instant, replaced by the gentle, earthy scent of wood.
Mechanical parts lay scattered everywhere, surrounded by unfinished walls.
This was Kang's workshop.
"You're back?"
"Huh? Why are you still awake? What are you doing here?"
Kang Yu-jung was assembling a crossbow in the workshop.
Lately, the territory had been producing as many crossbows as possible to prepare for the subjugation of the Red Orcs.
Since the local craftsmen were only tasked with manufacturing individual parts, the assembly fell entirely on the Kang father-daughter duo.
She had already assembled more than ten crossbows.
"I was worried. How could I sleep when both of you crossed over to that dangerous Earth?"
"Still, you need to sleep to work tomorrow."
"I'm young, so I'm fine. Dad is the problem."
"Oh, I'm alright."
In truth, Kang looked like he was on the verge of collapsing.
Jeron was young, so staying up for a day didn't bother him much, but Kang was in his fifties.
It was an age where stamina began to fail, and any chronic illnesses would start to flare up.
He might have been fine back when Earth was normal, but after years of stress and starvation, Kang's physical age was practically in the sixties or seventies.
For a man in that condition to go without sleep for a whole day?
It wouldn't be surprising if he fainted right then and there.
"Our Lord is young—practically a kid—so he's fine, but you need to think about your age, Dad. It looks like the Lord worked you to the bone."
Jeron winced at her words.
Yu-jung wasn't wrong.
"Ahem. Go get some sleep, Kang. You too, Yu-jung."
"The sun is already rising. Sleeping now will only make me more tired."
"Ah, to be young again."
Kang looked indignant.
After all, Jeron had lived through the same era as him, yet here he was, boasting the energetic body of a late teenager.
The sleeping territory began to wake.
The residents were already moving before the sun even rose.
They prepared at the first crow of the rooster and began their labor the moment the sun broke the horizon.
On the office balcony.
Jeron watched the bustling territory while enjoying bread and coffee.
Violet stood beside him, attending to his needs.
"This tastes quite good."
"The workshop completed the small grinder. We made this bread using the flour from it."
"Oh, it's already done? The butter tastes different from before, too."
"Lady Yu-jung developed a new kind of butter."
"Wow, really?"
Jeron marveled throughout his breakfast.
Ever since the Kang family settled in the territory, every sector had been transforming at a rapid pace.
The territory's mechanical engineering had grown beyond imagination, and even the culinary culture, which he hadn't expected much from, was showing signs of a revolution.
Now that the prototype grinder was complete, the moment they scaled it up, the territory would have another specialty product.
Jeron felt that just being able to eat delicious bread was a massive blessing.
Having been born into this miserable medieval world, he had completely given up on the concept of flavor.
As the meal neared its end, Sir Leila arrived to greet him.
"Good morning, my Lord!"
"Good morning, Sir Leila. Have you eaten?"
"If you are offering, I would gladly accept."
"Sit."
Leila's personality had softened a bit compared to before.
Originally, this stiff female knight would have refused to share a table with Jeron.
She was the type to claim she had eaten even if she was starving, but lately, she was showing a more honest side. It was a very positive change.
Leila tore off a piece of bread, dipped it in sweet jam, and let out an involuntary gasp of admiration.
Soon, finely ground flour would be distributed throughout the territory.
Though the wheat seeds were different, meaning it wouldn't be exactly like Earth's bread, the quality of their diet would still be incomparable to the past.
They finished with a cup of tea.
Only then did Leila relay the news that had arrived overnight.
"My Lord, through the Dark Moon, we have discovered who Viscount Rebion intends to field as his champion."
"Who is it?"
"It is Baronet Burcain, often called the Strongest Sword of the North."
"Burcain... He was the winner of the jousting tournament held a few years ago, wasn't he?"
"Yes. He also won the swordsmanship tournament hosted by Count Hanes."
"Right. That's why he got the title of the North's Strongest Sword."
"Shall I order the Dark Moon to take care of him beforehand?"
Leila was suggesting they deal with him preemptively.
But Jeron quietly shook his head.
"There is no need for that. As I said before, the moment he steps onto the field, a hole will be put through his head. Don't worry about the territory war. More importantly, is there any news from Lady Seria in the capital? It should be about time for her to meet the King."
"It appears she will have an audience with His Majesty today."
Brancia Palace.
Seria, who had been specially invited by the King's command, was currently being held captive and adorned by the palace maids.
She usually detested tight clothing and never even wore a corset, but today was an exception.
Even in this medieval world, etiquette existed, and an audience with the King required several preparations.
The maids were currently handling those preparations.
"Lady Seria? Please exhale."
"Huuu... Like this? *Gasp!*"
"Perfect. Now your figure is properly accentuated."
"Ugh... Accentuating my figure is nice and all, but isn't it a bit too hard to breathe?"
"We live like this every single day."
Seria was left speechless by the maids' reply.
To wear a corset that squeezed the waist this tightly every single day?
If it were Seria, she wouldn't have lasted a year before quitting.
But finishing the dressing didn't mean she was ready for the audience.
Seria was summoned by the Grand Chamberlain and had to undergo hours of intensive etiquette training.
"Do you understand? You must never make eye contact with His Majesty until he explicitly tells you to raise your head."
"Yes, yes."
"Only answer when asked, and remain entirely passive. A single mistake could lead to the execution of your entire family, so keep that in mind."
"Ugh... I understand."
Though Seria was naturally bright and cheerful, being stuffed into a suffocating corset and subjected to hours of etiquette training was driving her mad.
If I knew it would be like this, I would have left the auction to someone else and gone back.
Seria deeply regretted her choice, but it was too late to run away now.
She had no choice but to face the King.
She knew noble etiquette inside out, but palace etiquette was a different beast entirely.
After having her spirit thoroughly crushed for half a day, Seria was finally led to the King.
The unimaginable grandeur of the palace made her tense.
The marble floors, the artwork hanging everywhere, and the massive chandeliers stretched endlessly down the corridors.
Working in a merchant coalition meant she had seen all kinds of luxurious sights, but no estate could compare to the royal palace.
Maintaining a palace like this must cost an astronomical sum.
An ordinary noble wouldn't be able to afford the upkeep even if they were given the palace for free.
The palace was also spotlessly clean.
Not a single speck of dust existed, which felt alien to Seria.
Finally, she arrived before a pair of massive doors.
The audience was about to begin.
The Grand Chamberlain whispered to her as quietly as possible.
"Do not forget what you were taught earlier."
Seria gave a small nod.
This palace exerted an immense pressure just by existing.
Even Seria felt intimidated and shrunk back.
Soon, the Grand Chamberlain's voice rang out clearly.
"Your Majesty! Lady Seria, vassal of Baron Ferrow, requests entrance!"
Creak!
The doors to the great hall swung open.
Seria lowered her posture and walked in with quick, short steps.
Her eyes remained fixed on the floor, following the red carpet.
The Grand Chamberlain held her arm, guiding her since she couldn't look up to see where to stop.
When they came to a halt, Seria knelt on one knee and bowed her head, just as she had practiced for hours.
"I greet His Majesty the King, the sole sun of the Atun Kingdom!"
"Oh, so you are Seria, the vassal of Baron Ferrow?"
"Y-Yes, Your Majesty!"
"I have heard much about you. Many nobles in the capital speak highly of you."
"Your words honor me, Your Majesty."
"Raise your head."
"How dare I..."
"Raise it."
The King's voice carried absolute authority.
As Seria raised her head, she gasped inwardly.
Sitting in the hall alongside the King were the highest-ranking nobles of the kingdom.
Duke Langton, Duke Lion, and even Duke Haman? What on earth is going on?
Cold sweat broke out on Seria's forehead.
Not only that, but even the princes and princesses were lined up to watch, making her wonder what kind of situation she had walked into.
The King was a very dignified old man, just as she had heard.
He looked healthy for his age, but he likely had five years left at most.
Once the King passes, chaos will erupt.
The faction wars within the palace were already intensifying.
Each faction was working tirelessly to place their respective prince on the throne.
She believed a civil war was highly likely.
The three major factions kept each other in check, and the relationship between the princes seemed terrible.
The only reason things hadn't devolved into the worst-case scenario was because the King was still holding the reins.
When I return to the territory, I must tell the Lord to prepare for a civil war.
Seria observed the delicate balance and atmosphere of the factions, trying to gather as much information as possible.
Then, the King's voice reached her ears.
"Did you bring the masterpiece?"
"Yes!"
As she looked at the Grand Chamberlain, he ordered the servants to bring forward a massive frame covered by a shroud.
It was a large piece, measuring 1.5 meters in length and 80 centimeters in height.
Anticipation gleamed in the King's eyes.
"Remove the shroud."
Whoosh!
Before the King and the most powerful nobles of the kingdom, the shroud was pulled away.
The grandeur that revealed itself was breathtaking.
Even Seria had been unable to recover from the shock when she first saw this painting.
It depicted an angel descending to earth to heal the sick.
According to Jeron, it was originally a mural, but it had been copied onto a canvas.
Gasps of astonishment echoed through the hall the moment the painting was revealed.
"Oh! What a magnificent masterpiece!"
"The descent of an angel. To think such a work existed in this world!"
"This cannot possibly be the work of a human!"
The artist's name was Michel-something, right? I've never heard of such an artist.
While the crowd marveled, Seria remained quietly in her place.
The King called out to her again.
"Lady Seria, explain this work to us."
"Yes... Yes!"
She stood up, suppressing a grimace.
She hadn't expected to have to give an art lecture here.
Seria closed her eyes for a brief second, then began to spout whatever came to mind.
"The Descent of the Angel... is a work that depicts the goddess taking pity on the Atun Kingdom and sending an angel down. The ones praying beneath the angel are the common people, but in a broader sense, it represents the protection of the entire kingdom."
"Oh! Such a profound meaning!"
"Indeed!"
"..."
Seria's eyes trembled slightly.
She had just made it up on the spot, but the King and the nobles seemed entirely convinced.
The King, who had been admiring the painting, looked pleased and turned to Seria.
"If there is anything you desire, speak it."
"I..."
Seria was about to say she was fine, but realized that would be even ruder.
To refuse in this situation?
The King had his pride; refusing a reward after presenting such a masterpiece could leave a bad impression.
If she changed her perspective, this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Who knew when she would ever have an audience with the King again?
Seria cleared her throat and spoke in a clear, ringing voice.
"If the Ferrow family emerges victorious in the territory war against the Rebion family, I hope that the Baron may be promoted in rank!"
"Oh?"
Many nobles looked at Seria with impressed expressions.
With royalty and high-ranking officials filling the room, it was difficult for a mere vassal of a baron to state her desires so confidently.
Perhaps pleased by her boldness, the King gave a light nod.
"I grant it."
"Y-Your grace is immeasurable!"
Seria immediately prostrated herself, bowing her head to the floor.
At this very moment, Jeron's promotion was decided.