Chapter 35
Chapter 35
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: Trial of the Dragon (4)
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Imperial Court of the Empire.
Nominally created to work tirelessly for the Empire day and night, but in reality, it was a gathering formed to protect their power.
The reason the nobles created such a group to safeguard their already scant authority stemmed from a rebellion in the past.
The title of Duke was originally bestowed upon powerful lords who completely controlled an entire region.
This meant the imperial family guaranteed them that much power and territory, so naturally, the number of dukes couldn't be large.
However, during the reign of the previous emperor, repeated northern expeditions depleted the national treasury, leading to the implementation of a certain policy to fill the void.
That policy was the sale of offices and titles. At the time, by paying money or providing soldiers, one could purchase positions and titles matching their contribution.
By the end of the previous emperor's rule, the number of nobles holding ducal titles had exceeded thirty.
Of course, the number later decreased significantly, but that was merely because they killed each other and absorbed territories.
In that way, seven dukes who had grown strong enough to threaten even the imperial family by devouring other nobles' lands eventually rose in rebellion.
Emperor Leonis, upon ascending the throne, first quelled the Rebellion of the Seven Dukes. A crisis often turns into an opportunity.
After suppressing the Rebellion of the Seven Dukes, Emperor Leonis used it as a pretext to confiscate the territories of the nobles who had joined the revolt.
By reclaiming nearly seventy percent of the territories under imperial control, he established a strong centralized system and the foundation of absolute imperial authority.
There were still some territories not subjugated by the imperial family, but most of them belonged to nobles loyal to the throne.
And that meant, as time passed, the nobles' power would weaken. Naturally, the nobles couldn't welcome this.
But what if that backwater bumpkin from Blackguard or whatever brilliantly passed the Trial of the Dragon and showcased the imperial prestige?
In a situation where imperial authority was already strong, it would be tantamount to birthing another sword threatening them.
Thus, they devised a scheme. And, as expected, the emperor wasn't one to miss their ploy.
Having read all the petitions submitted by the nobles, Emperor Leonis let out a sigh.
"Are you really sure about this?"
"Your Majesty, we've already staked our lives on it. What more is there to fear at this point?"
"Gathering the palace maids from the West Palace and South Palace for a joint drill... Those two groups get along worse than dogs and cats."
Palace maids—literally women working in the palace. The term "handmaiden" might be more accurate, but...
Nevertheless, there was a reason the title "palace maid" stuck. Right after quelling the massive rebellion, the emperor personally decreed it.
All nobles of the Empire must send one blood relative to the imperial palace to prove their loyalty. In simple terms, it was taking hostages.
The nobles protested the unilateral order, but they couldn't defy the imperial family that had just crushed a large-scale rebellion.
In the end, they tearfully sent their second sons or daughters to the palace... and that custom solidified into what we now call palace maids.
Palace maids assist nobles and royals in the palace but remain nobles themselves, thus birthing this new position.
"The reason nobles send only women to the imperial palace is to seize control of palace maid factions and gain even a sliver of power. And since the West Palace and South Palace maids belong to different factions, they clash like fire and water."
"Moreover, there's a high chance they issued a special order to check the imperial family in some way. They'll undoubtedly try to sabotage the Trial of the Dragon."
"Then why on earth would you suggest accepting their proposal?"
"Your Majesty, with opposition from the ministers already fierce, rejecting their proposal too would breed resentment over this issue or doubts about Your Majesty's fairness among many."
Handing over territories seized with bloodshed in exchange for just one person was already a huge concession.
No matter how heavenly imperial authority might be, constant suppression only accumulates discontent. And accumulated discontent eventually erupts.
Thus, by accepting their proposal this time, he would quell their discontent while proving something. That was Oren's plan.
"I understand the intent. However, doesn't the crown prince's plan have one fatal flaw?"
"Indeed, Your Majesty. No matter how intricate the design, if the core component breaks, it becomes a failure in the end."
"Your words say one thing, but you don't seem worried at all."
"Have no fear, Your Majesty. He will surely prove it.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ A gray sky mercilessly scattered white death, heralding the start of a winter no one desired.
The midwinter chill that tore at the skin and pierced deep into the bones was problematic enough.
But an even greater issue was the severe shortage of food right then and there.
Foraging in the forest had its limits anyway, and now that winter had begun, even that had vanished.
At this rate, they would starve before succumbing to the winter cold.
If the imperial army hadn't come and shared supplies, that surely would have happened.
About half a month after accepting Princess Morgana's proposal, the imperial army suddenly arrived and distributed supplies.
The enemy they'd been killing and being killed by until now offering aid... But refusing in their dire situation wasn't an option.
Opinions were divided among the nobles, but in the end, they had no choice but to accept.
"...Your Highness, what on earth is the reason for going this far?"
When the Empire first offered help, the nobles suspected how they could trust them now.
But they'd long passed the suspicion stage. The supplies provided by the Empire alone were beyond imagination.
Not just military rations, but even military tents to shelter from wind and rain, magic lanterns needing no firewood...
A trap? Why bother? They could just ally with the kingdom and crush them by force; they wouldn't last.
Yet receiving such extensive support only bred fear. Goodwill without reason doesn't exist.
At that, the princess flashed a bewitching smile at me. Just looking at her dried my mouth parched.
"Fear not. This means the Empire holds your loyalty and abilities in high regard..."
Beneath her radiant golden hair that lost no luster even in the blizzard, a hand white and smooth as jade gently caressed my face.
Unyaffected by the intensifying snowfall, her crimson eyes fixed solely on me, as if she would never let go...
Was the chill down my spine from the winter cold? Or...
"Lord Blackguard?"
"...Ah, Your Highness."
"Your complexion doesn't look good. Are you unwell anywhere?"
"I'm fine."
I must have been lost in deep thought. The princess, with a worried expression, extended her pale, delicate hand to touch my forehead.
I nearly swatted it away in surprise, but instinct desperately held me back.
After feeling my forehead for a moment to check for fever, the princess tilted her head.
"Strange. I don't feel any fever..."
"I'm really fine. Rather, are you alright, Your Highness?"
"Yes, no issues at all."
"I haven't even asked yet..."
"You meant riding in the same carriage as me, right?"
Princess Morgana's words hit the mark, making not just me but even Princess Anna seated to her left flinch.
Riding together was one thing, but offering the seat beside her meant treating one as an equal.
Princess Anna, who knew this better than anyone, hadn't uttered a word since boarding the carriage.
Her crimson eyes, glowing intensely like blood, seemed to swallow all surrounding light. At last, the princess spoke.
"Earlier, didn't you try to ride in the carriage with the princess?"
"Yes...? Well, that's true, but..."
No matter that Princess Anna could ride a horse, her frail body couldn't endure the journey to the Empire.
Thus, she had to take the carriage, and to prepare for any contingency, I'd planned to stay by her side. That was the original plan.
And at that moment, I doubted my eyes. The royal who made my mouth go dry just from exchanging words had vanished...
"H-How can you, a man, try to ride in a cramped carriage with no regard for propriety?! I absolutely won't allow it! No way!!"
...replaced by a puffed-up pufferfish with cheeks inflated to the limit?
I shook my head to regain my nearly scattered focus. We were almost at the imperial palace.
Like the saying that even if a tiger carries you off, staying sharp-minded lets you survive... To live, I had to keep my wits about me.
And what I'd just seen... Could it be the princess testing me in her own way?