Shattered Peace
Shattered Peace
Agravain was merely watching what was happening in front of him calmly.
"You foolish bastard! You idiot! Do you have any idea what you've done?! Do you know what you did?! You trashy...! You maggot-like bastard...!"
Beside him, the man called Marquis Stumpen was ruthlessly trampling Grimus and beating him with a whip.
Grimus, covered in bruises and wounds, repeatedly apologized over and over again.
Marquis Stumpen kicked his head to knock him unconscious. Then he tidied his disheveled attire, calmed his rough breathing, and bowed his head toward Maximilian.
"I am sorry, Lord Protector-jeonha! That this idiotic bastard ruined your grand plan is entirely due to my own lack of virtue! I will disown him immediately and inflict rightful punishment upon him, so please!"
Please spare the marquisate—even without saying the rest of the words, it was obvious. Marquis Stumpen was offering his own son as a sacrifice, begging for forgiveness by claiming that everything had happened independently of his family.
Maximilian quietly looked at him and opened his mouth.
"'-jeonha,' is it...?"
Those words seemed focused on something else rather than the Marquis's desperate apology. At Maximilian's words, Marquis Stumpen's shoulders flinched and jerked upward.
While Marquis Stumpen racked his brain over what hadn't pleased him or what had offended his mood, to his ears—
"Haha."
Laughter echoed out.
"Calling me -jeonha. When His Majesty is alive and well, is it proper to call me -jeonha, Lord Stumpen? -gakha is quite enough."
Not even the corner of his eyes twitched. Over an expressionless face, only his voice was laughing. To Agravain, that version of Maximilian was a creature more terrifying than anything else in the world.
"A-Ah! I-I am sorry, Lord Protector-gakha! I was momentarily deluded!"
Look at this. Right now, present in this place were Lord Protector Maximilian, Marquis Stumpen, Agravain, and two nobles who were the Lord Protector's close aides. Even though anyone could see that there were only nobles called the Lord Protector's faction, he spoke as if upholding the Emperor.
It wasn't even reaching anyone else's eyes or ears, yet even in front of his own subordinates, he acted the role of the supreme loyal subject to the Emperor.
That was precisely why Agravain was afraid of Maximilian.
And that was why he felt pity for the Emperor.
If a man like that were above him, he would feel as though he were not truly alive day after day.
Though he wondered whether the Emperor, who was foolish enough to be comparable to that collapsed Grimus, actually knew it or not.
"It turned out just as you said, Agravain."
"...Yes, Lord Protector-gakha."
Agravain answered calmly, though slightly surprised by Maximilian suddenly addressing him.
Just as Maximilian said, Agravain had already conveyed to Maximilian that 'such a thing might happen.'
After all, after finishing the previous regular report, Grimus had been complaining about what displeased him so much, saying things like, "I will make Lord Protector-gakha look at me in a new light," or "I will knock down that damn brat's pride."
Since it felt like it was about to explode at any moment, Agravain pretended to go home that day, parted ways with Grimus, and then went back to report that something seemed about to happen.
Having heard that report from his aide, Maximilian gave an order to the escort knights that day: 'No matter what happens, do not intervene until it is over.'
No one else understood that order, but Maximilian issued it filled with some kind of certainty.
In that way, using a young marquis's son—no, a former young marquis's son—and two knights as sacrificial pawns, he finally obtained the reason behind the chilling atmosphere.
"You may leave now."
With his quiet words, the door opened, and a knight entered to drag out the unconscious Grimus. Afterward, Agravain paid his respects and stepped out of Maximilian's office.
Agravain couldn't know what that piece of wooden sword signified, but he could tell that a huge wave of turmoil might sweep through this imperial palace.
Maximilian briefly stared at the door through which Marquis Stumpen and Agravain had exited, then turned his gaze to look at the piece of wooden sword resting on his desk.
Up to a certain point, it was cut neatly as if severed by something sharp, but beyond that point, there were marks as though it had been forcefully torn off.
Indeed. It was strange at a single glance.
Was it so old and weakened that it broke? To say that, the cross-section was bizarre.
Did the Former Emperor Faction tamper with it from the beginning? When on earth? How? Impossible. Preparing the wooden sword, as well as the time and place, was all done by Maximilian himself. There was neither time nor reason to tamper with it like that.
Did they tamper with it right before, anticipating this outcome? Returning to the previous question: even if they had anticipated it, when on earth? The Lord Protector had never once received a report of anyone else approaching that training ground.
Was it magic? That was truly impossible. Even after about 700 years since the First Emperor, Rotarius August Aurelian, founded the empire, deciphering the barrier remained impossible.
Of course, records existed stating that the First Emperor had used magic-like techniques inside the barrier. However, it was concluded that such a feat was possible solely because he was the First Emperor.
That brat was on par with the First Emperor? Utter nonsense.
There were records showing that the First Emperor, at that age, had already used reinforcement magic to slay a giant boar demonic beast. It couldn't be compared to that.
Then what was left?
Maximilian's fingertip slowly slid along the grain of an old scar.
"Sword qi..."
Sword qi. In other words, aura. The threshold leading to a Sword Master.
──A realm that Maximilian ultimately failed to reach.
Maximilian was a genius of war. By viewing just a fraction, he could survey the entire battlefield from a bird's-eye view and discern what his opponent was targeting.
However, his individual martial prowess was at the level of an ordinary knight. That was why on that day of negotiations, he could not stop it.
A superhuman who could single-handedly overturn the upper hand on a battlefield—a Sword Master.
And that ultimately became an inferiority complex rooted in Maximilian's heart. Unwilling to admit it, during the post-war negotiations with the Norden Kingdom, Maximilian forcefully had the kingdom's Sword Master publicly executed.
Even so, Maximilian's inferiority complex did not vanish. Rather, it worsened.
The inferiority complex rooted deep inside him turned into a thorn, unextracted even after more than a decade, festering bit by bit.
Therefore, to Maximilian, the sword qi of someone younger and more promising than himself was taboo.
Thinking calmly, he knew that couldn't be the case.
There was no way that brat possessed such talent. Talent for a Sword Master wasn't like that. It was far easier to recognize and much more conspicuous. Most Sword Masters displayed glimpses of that talent from a very young age.
It was just like magic. From childhood, based on talent alone, it was visible whether one would become a Sword Master or not. If so, that brat could never become a Sword Master. He wouldn't even be able to step onto that threshold.
──Just like Maximilian himself.
But, but... What if? What if, by some million-to-one chance, it were real?
It wasn't as though there were no cases of people who showed no talent in childhood but had their talent explode as they grew older.
Maximilian held the piece of wooden sword and kept staring at it.
No. That couldn't be.
He knew it. This was by no means sword qi. This was by no means the shadow of a Sword Master.
"...Gakha?"
As Maximilian held onto the piece of wooden sword and stayed silent for a long time, his aide present in the room could not contain himself and spoke up.
"No..."
"Gakha?"
Maximilian wasn't answering those words. He was merely muttering words flowing unconsciously from his mouth.
"...Such a thing must not happen."
Even by a one-in-a-million chance. It must not be that.
If, by chance, that were the case...
"Adjutant. Execute that."
These were words that should not be spoken aloud.
At least, words that shouldn't be spoken right now.
He was acting emotionally.
It shouldn't be like this.
He had to remain calm.
"...By 'that', do you mean...?"
The adjutant asked back with a hardened face. Not because he truly didn't know. He was asking again hoping he would be told it wasn't what he thought it was.
"Semele."
However, as if indifferent to whatever feelings the adjutant held, Maximilian uttered the Empress Dowager's name nonchalantly.
Words uncharacteristic of Maximilian, who had maintained politeness until now even when nobody was around.
At those words, the adjutant's face went beyond hardening; all color drained from it, turning deathly pale.
Startled as if about to leap out at any moment, the adjutant took a step forward.
"You must not! It is still, still too early! If we execute that now, everything we've built up so far will come to naught──"
"Are you..."
Only then did Maximilian raise his head. Diverting his gaze from the wooden sword piece, he directed a look filled with intent to kill on a completely different dimension toward the adjutant in front of him.
"Are you above me?"
"...No. By no means, gakha."
"Then execute it."
Maximilian touched the scar on his face again.
He had to know.
Even if doing so meant digging up his own terror.
Even if it were something that shouldn't be done right now.
A sword qi user who has just stepped onto the threshold of a Sword Master and has not yet matured will unconsciously emit qi from their body when experiencing strong emotions. Rising like a heat haze, it is visible even to the eyes of someone without talent.
Because it is akin to sword qi, it cannot be blocked even by the imperial palace's barrier.
If, by a one-in-a-million chance, that is seen...
No matter what price has to be paid.
Like that man whom he ripped apart and killed with his own hands──
──He would have no choice but to kill him.
＊ ＊ ＊
"Empress Dowager-mama, these are tea leaves newly brought in this time. How is it?"
"Oh my, the aroma is truly wonderful. Thank you, dear."
Narea, called 'dear,' slightly blushed as if feeling shy, but her mood seemed to brighten as she broke into a gentle smile.
An expression that could never be seen during class or when passing by the imperial palace occasionally—so to speak, an expression she never showed me.
"My dear Julian. There's something on your mouth."
Gently laughing with a "Fufu," Eomoni wiped off what was on my mouth with a handkerchief.
Eomoni was always smiling gently.
I, too, dropped all my act only in front of Eomoni and smiled sincerely.
The reason I could hold onto my sanity for these past ten years was thanks to this gentle Eomoni.
As I looked at Eomoni, Eomoni also looked over at me.
"What is it, Julian?"
"Nn-nn. It's nothing!"
I smile. Eomoni also smiles.
A young child calling her Eomoni and using informal speech. Although it was an act, it was also because Eomoni disliked me using formal speech in private settings like this.
Narea put on a slightly uncomfortable expression looking at the two of us, then swallowed a sigh inwardly for a moment before giving a soft smile.
My tea time with Eomoni was always like this. Looking at each other and smiling, conveying love. As a mother and son trapped in the imperial palace.
Because I didn't want to destroy this situation, I had no choice but to swallow this anxiety deep down inside.
...The Lord Protector is quiet.
A month had passed since that incident took place at the training ground. After officially offering an apology at the imperial court council, the Lord Protector had been terrifyingly quiet ever since.
It was understandable for the Lord Protector to be quiet. Unless there was a special occasion, he didn't try to do anything to me. But that wasn't what was important.
After that incident, when I returned to class after a week of recuperation and met the children again, the training ground was spotless.
All the wooden swords, including the wooden sword I had shattered, had completely disappeared.
The Lord Protector definitely noticed.
Even if he didn't realize I used magic, he must have realized that something out of the ordinary had occurred in that place.
Even so, the current quiet situation felt like looking at the sky right before a storm... I couldn't let my guard down.
Thus, today's tea time came to an end, and I shared a hug with Eomoni before stepping out of the room.
"...Well then, I shall return to the Grand Ducal residence, Your Majesty."
"Ah, right. Okay. Farewell, Narea!"
Narea bowed her head to me, then turned around and walked out.
Compared to the beginning, Narea's attitude had softened as well. Basically, every time we met, I studied hard, claiming it was to make a good impression on Narea, and since I hadn't done any tyrant-like behavior to Narea after the Birthday Banquet, she seemed to have accepted it to some extent.
Have I made some progress...? I can develop human relationships without stopping the act. For now, this was enough.
I also turned back and decided to return to my quarters.
Several days passed like that.
Today, as usual, a long, tedious class continued. While letting the teachers' endless praise of the Lord Protector slide right past my ears, my hands repeatedly clutched and released the hem of my clothes over my knees. I spread my fingers and pressed down on my knees.
It was a day no different from usual. The sunlight streaming in, the teachers' voices, the footsteps echoing back and forth in the hallway. A day with not a single thing different.
After class finished, tea time began, as it always did.
"So then I went like this to that guy!"
When I spoke, Eomoni smiled. Seeing that smile filled with affection, I too couldn't help but smile.
"Julian."
"Nn?"
"I love you."
Words like any other time. A smile like any other time.
"Yeah! Me too!"
At my reply, Eomoni smiled brightly.
Whenever Eomoni and I were alone together, Eomoni always looked at my face and said she loved me. Receiving the affection held in those eyes, I too conveyed my love to Eomoni.
During the short period of tea time granted to us, we confirmed our mother-son bond.
"Your Majesty, it is time."
"Tch, okay."
With a dissatisfied face, I hopped down from the chair. Eomoni approached me and hugged me as usual.
Her arms wrapped around my back. From her chest pressed against my cheek, I heard her heartbeat. The soft texture of silk. The familiar body temperature beneath it.
"I'll be back, Eomoni!"
"Yes, go well."
When parting from her embrace, the hand stroking my back brushed my hair aside one last time.
After that, I turned around and walked away.
The court lady opened the door. The door opened smoothly without a sound.
The moment the door opened and I was about to take a step forward—
Clatter! resounded a sharp sound.
What met my eyes as I turned around at that sudden sound was—
───the sight of Eomoni collapsing onto the floor.