Chapter 22
Chapter 22
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter Title: Territory Granting Ceremony (2)
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As the blue light faded, what unfolded before my eyes was a majestic scene incomparable to the modest castle of Kandoria.
Marble pillars soared as if piercing the heavens, and the floor was covered endlessly with a massive mosaic depicting the history of the empire.
The Ruberius Imperial Palace. The heart of the empire.
‘…I ended up coming back again.’
Even seeing it again, it was a sight that couldn’t help but inspire awe. The overwhelming size and scale.
As I regained my senses amid the crushing pressure, the interior minister's solemn voice announced that the doors to the audience chamber were opening.
Following the princess, who led us with confident strides, the doors to the audience chamber swung open.
As the massive doors opened, all eyes within turned to us at once.
A long red carpet stretched out, leading to a grand jade throne at the end.
And seated upon it, the absolute ruler who commanded the empire, Emperor Siegmund, gazed down at me intently.
I followed Lorensia to the front of the throne and knelt, bowing my head in accordance with imperial custom.
“Kandoria Lord Proxy, Jonathan Valerius, greets Your Imperial Majesty, the exalted sun of the empire.”
The emperor's low, resonant voice filled the entire marble hall.
“Raise your head, young man who has devoted himself to the empire and become its faithful vassal.”
As I lifted my head, I felt the emperor's intense red gaze.
Though it held no hostility, like observing something amusing. But behind it, a strength on another level.
Soon, a dignified voice resounded through the hall.
“Indeed, it has been quite some time. It feels like just yesterday that you won the tournament held in the imperial capital.”
“It is an honor.”
“Your merits do not end with the valor shown in the tournament. Rather, the wisdom you displayed afterward truly astonished the empire.”
The emperor's voice carried a faint hint of amusement.
“You shook the empire's tables, and turning the resulting chaos into opportunity, you established new laws and order. In the process, you even filled the empire's coffers. In my lifetime, I have never received such a bizarre yet exhilarating petition.”
With each word he spoke, the gazes of the ministers lined up in the audience chamber fixed upon me.
Admiration, envy, curiosity. Amid gazes mixed with all sorts of emotions, I kept my head bowed silently, awaiting his next words.
“Thus, as emperor of the empire, I intend to bestow upon you a reward befitting your achievements. Imperial Chamberlain, proclaim the edict.”
At the emperor's command, the white-haired chamberlain standing by stepped forward and unrolled the parchment.
His thick voice boomed through the audience chamber.
“By the name of Emperor Siegmund von Ruberius, it is decreed! Jonathan Valerius has established new order on the empire's tables, saved the people from chaos caused by adulterated food, and in the process greatly enriched the empire's treasury.”
“Accordingly, all the southern pastures reclaimed by the imperial family from the Merenes family, along with the three nearby villages, are granted to him, and his eternal dominion over said territory is recognized!”
At the proclamation of the edict, the audience chamber filled with a low murmur.
But the emperor's next words cut through it sharply.
“Bring the criminal here.”
Soon, a side door to the audience chamber opened, and a man, his arms gripped by two guards, was dragged in unceremoniously.
Bound in iron chains, he looked far more wretched and pathetic than when I had seen him in the warehouse just a few weeks ago.
Behind him followed the Merenes court count, looking a decade older, and Edelin, who kept her head bowed, barely concealing her sorrow.
“Father! I was wrong! But it's because of that bastard!”
Branik spotted me and immediately screamed with bloodshot eyes, struggling wildly.
I had seen him as just the little brother of an acquaintance from the neighborhood, but he was talking as if I had done something wrong. That damn foal.
“If it weren't for that bastard! If he hadn't been there, this wouldn't have happened! Father, please…!”
But the Merenes court count never met his son's eyes.
Watching the man's frenzied outburst, the emperor looked down at Branik with eyes full of contempt.
“Do you still blame others for the crimes brought by your own foolishness? I shall deal strictly with your foolish son according to imperial law, but considering the Merenes family's generations of service to the empire, I grant them one final chance to restore their honor.”
At the emperor's declaration, the Merenes court count's shoulders trembled faintly.
Pale as if on the verge of fainting, he couldn't utter a word.
Of course, he would know full well the gravity of distributing food that directly harmed the lives of imperial subjects.
Only Branik, among them, failed to understand, cursing in a final tantrum as he was dragged away by the guards.
His screams faded completely beyond the heavy doors, and only then did Edelin step forward.
Standing before her speechless father, pale-faced, she knelt before me.
“Sir Jonathan. On this occasion, I sincerely apologize on behalf of the Merenes family.”
Unlike before, her voice was formal, using honorifics instead of casual familiarity. Her body trembled, unlike her usual confident demeanor.
Yet, facing this situation head-on without fleeing was just like her.
“N-No need for that... The crime was committed by Branik, not the Merenes family or you, Lady Edelin...”
Struggling to use honorifics instead of my usual friendly tone as if talking to a female friend from the neighborhood.
Seeing her shoulders tremble faintly, I could guess how much courage it took for her to stand there.
Uncomfortable with her kneeling, I extended my hand to help her up.
“Please rise first, Lady Edelin. Doing this before the throne is discourteous even to His Majesty.”
At my words, Edelin barely managed to stand on her trembling legs.
But she still couldn't lift her head. A clear droplet fell with a plop onto the red carpet below.
“No... No. My brother's foolishness... has ruined everything for the family. He defiled the order you worked so hard to establish and plunged innocent people into suffering. No words can forgive such a sin.”
Finally, her voice broke with sobs. Her shoulders trembled faintly.
The family's honor, her brother's crime, and her guilt toward me must be weighing her down.
Silently, I took a clean handkerchief from my pocket and handed it to her.
“Everyone is watching here. Compose yourself first.”
At my action, she hesitated for a moment, then took it with trembling hands.
Dabbing her eyes with the handkerchief, she finally calmed her emotions after a while and spoke in a small voice.
“……Thank you.”
She took a deep breath and finally looked up at me.
Her eyes were red, but in those brown eyes burned a firm resolve different from her previous confidence.
“The land His Majesty has granted... is close to our territory, isn't it?”
“Yes, so I heard.”
“After settling family matters, as a neighbor... may I come to formally pay my respects, Lord Jonathan?”
The way she addressed me was no longer the casual name from childhood.
Accepting that weight, I nodded calmly.
“You are welcome anytime, Lady Edelin. I too hope we become good neighbors.”
At my response, she mustered her last strength for a graceful curtsy, then supported her nearly collapsing father and withdrew from the audience chamber.
Once all the commotion ended, the emperor on the throne spoke softly, seemingly satisfied.
“Indeed, a man of great capacity treats those around him differently as well.”
The emperor's gaze returned to me, now laced with deeper interest and scrutiny.
“Do you understand the meaning behind granting the Merenes family one last chance, Jonathan Valerius?”
“I am humbled, but I dare not presume to fathom Your Majesty's profound intent.”
“How modest. Your attitude without arrogance is praiseworthy.”
The emperor chuckled cheerfully and continued.
“I am a merciful sovereign, but not foolish.”
“Erasing a family's name from the empire is easy. However, it would only bring new chaos to the lands and people they have guarded for generations.”
“Punish the individual for the crime, but give the family the opportunity to repay the debt. That is the way to stably lead the empire.”
His red gaze turned back to me.
“And the moment you handed that handkerchief to the family's daughter, I knew my decision was not wrong. Hating the sin but not the person. That is the true virtue of one who rules a territory.”
Unsure where to put myself at the emperor's praise, I bowed my head, and his voice continued.
“Now, to the main point. To govern a new territory, you'll need initial funds. The imperial family shall generously provide settlement funds as a gift for your merits.”
At the emperor's words, another low murmur rose among the ministers.
Granting territory was already unprecedented, but direct imperial support for settlement funds was unheard of.
Ignoring their reactions, the emperor nodded toward the finance minister.
“I hear those pastures are ideal for raising horses and sheep. Producing the finest warhorses for the empire's cavalry from your new territory would be another loyalty you offer the empire.”
“To that end, I intend to grant dozens of the finest selected stallions directly from the imperial stables. What say you?”
Warhorses, and not just any, but the finest breeding stallions selected by the imperial family.
Even in a medieval fantasy setting, their value as means of transport and strategic assets far surpasses old workhorses.
Moreover, breeding and raising horses from these for the empire's military would be devotion on another level.
Any ordinary noble would gratefully accept immediately.
Before the emperor's extraordinary proposal, I took a moment to breathe.
All the ministers in the audience chamber watched my response with eyes mixed with envy and awe.
I spoke politely, but without hesitation.
“I am humbled, Your Majesty. I am well aware of the value of the stallions you offer and the profound intent behind them.”
“Hm, indeed. Then—”
“Even knowing that, I cannot accept the imperial grace.”
“Hmm?”
At my words, the emperor's red eyebrows arched slightly in interest.
A low gasp of shock rippled among the ministers.
To refuse the emperor's gift, especially dozens of top breeding stallions.
“Speak. Then, instead of dozens of the empire's finest stallions, what is it you desire?”
The emperor's voice held not anger, but pure curiosity.
Meeting his eyes directly, I revealed the core of my plan.
“Chickens.”
“...?”
“I need tens of thousands of healthy chickens.”
The audience chamber fell silent as if doused with water.
The ministers could only look at each other, doubting their ears.
The finest breeding stallions for the empire's future, in exchange for mere chickens.
One top stallion's value far exceeds ten thousand chickens, yet he wants chickens.
Even I found it a bit absurd as I said it.
The bizarre awkward silence was broken by one person.
A faint smile on Princess Lorensia's lips as she stood beside the throne, as if she knew everything.
And the next moment, a booming laugh erupted from the throne, shaking the entire audience chamber.
“Puhahaha! Chickens! You need chickens!”
Emperor Siegmund laughed so heartily the throne shook.
He laughed for a long time before wiping tears from his eyes and addressing me.
“Indeed, indeed, Jonathan Valerius! Others would take the pastures and horses to build an army, but you plan to shake the empire with chickens!”
The emperor's laughter held not contempt, but pure amusement and admiration.
As if my out-of-left-field answer delighted him, he waved his hand grandly.
“Good! Excellent! I like that breadth of vision!”
“Finance Minister, hear this! Provide as many chickens as the new lord desires—no, the maximum he can manage—and the best personnel to raise them, in the imperial name! I shall watch with my own eyes what new miracle he creates with chickens!”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
The finance minister, still dazed, accepted the command.
The ministers looked confused, but none dared contradict the emperor.
I bowed deeply to the throne once more and thought to myself.
“I am immensely grateful, Your Majesty.”
Fresh egg vending machines numbering in the tens of thousands, acquired!