Settlement (1)
Settlement (1)
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A chill that even the warmth of spring could not penetrate lingered in the imperial council chamber.
Two of the five pillars supporting the Empire—in practice, three—were gathered in this place.
The Gate Grand Duke and the Eastern Margrave. And the Lord Protector, who was the former Northern Grand Duke, as well as the representative of the current Northern Grand Duke.
With the highest seat, the Emperor's throne, at the center, the Eastern Margrave sat on the left, and the Lord Protector sat on the right. The Gate Grand Duke was also on the right side, but seated at a moderate distance from the Lord Protector.
Gazes aiming at each other's necks silently entwined, making the air feel like a taut bowstring.
The tension in that bowstring loosened only when the entrance of the council chamber grew restless.
"His Majesty Julian is entering. Everyone, please stand."
As the doors opened, the young Emperor entered.
Intensely burning golden hair was the first thing that caught everyone's eye. The symbol of the imperial family passed down for hundreds of years. It was the most brilliant jewel in the Empire.
The eyes beneath it were turquoise, taking after the now-deceased Empress Dowager.
However, unfitting for such a beautiful appearance, his expression was practically dead.
Two eyes that had lost their luster like a dried jewel. Pale skin that seemed to have lost all vigor.
He had been in this state continuously for several days since the Empress Dowager's death.
As Julian walked slowly and sat in his designated seat at the highest position, the doors closed.
At the same time, from the path Julian had walked down to Leonius's seat, a cold, faint scent of verbena drifted past.
It was a fragrance that Semele had often used.
"His Majesty has taken his seat. Everyone, please be seated."
Only then did all the nobles in the council hall who had stood up sit back down.
Once everyone was seated, Maximilian looked around and spoke.
"Then, starting now, in accordance with His Majesty's command, we shall begin the special council of state regarding the assassination of Her Majesty the Empress Dowager."
"......Begin."
When Julian spoke, the meeting began in the true sense.
"Your Majesty, pardon me, but may I say a word before we begin?"
Unexpectedly, the first to speak up was the Gate Grand Duke, Dietrich.
When Julian nodded, the Gate Grand Duke bowed his head toward Julian as a sign of gratitude and stood up from his seat.
"Because of the fact that my daughter previously brought in a new tea, I am aware that my family cannot be completely free from the investigation of this incident either."
Those words were quite unexpected to Julian.
"As a father, claiming my daughter's innocence would serve as no proof whatsoever. Therefore, I raise no objection to investigating the source and entry route of the tea, my daughter's servants and attendants, and all related records of the ducal house. Until that investigation is concluded, I shall not add my opinion to discussions directly related to the regicide of Her Majesty the Empress Dowager."
Julian could only follow about half the meaning behind those words.
However, to Maximilian, the Gate Grand Duke's words were a matter of course.
"There is no need to go that far, Grand Duke."
Without letting his expression waver, Maximilian spoke with a slight smile.
"The fact that the young lady brought the tea is a matter to be investigated, not a proof of guilt. However, if the Grand Duke wishes to do so, I shall accept your intention."
Julian knew that neither of the two believed a word the other said.
Of course, such things could not actually be revealed outwardly.
In this council, the only words permitted to Julian were the few phrases set by Maximilian.
He had to thoroughly remain a puppet in the shape of an Emperor.
"......So be it."
When Julian said so, the Gate Grand Duke bowed his head toward Julian.
"I shall obey your command, Your Majesty."
When the Gate Grand Duke sat back down, Maximilian nodded once more.
"...Then, I shall now report only the facts confirmed up to this point. The culprit who administered the poison is Charlotte von Stafford. The eldest daughter of the Stafford Count's house."
An inorganic voice resounded through the council chamber.
"She is a person selected as a lady-in-waiting to Her Majesty the Empress Dowager ten years ago. She is the culprit who executed this regicide, and the one who ordered it is her father, Count William von Stafford himself."
"Is that certain?"
Leonius, who had kept his mouth shut until now, spoke up.
His sharp gaze flew as if to pierce Maximilian.
Maximilian smiled as if he did not care in the slightest, and said,
"Yes. Charlotte von Stafford confessed to using the poison, and Count William von Stafford also admitted to ordering his daughter to commit the regicide."
Leonius's eyebrow twitched.
From the very beginning, he did not like this play where everything was fabricated.
"Furthermore, letters of secret correspondence with the Norden Kingdom were discovered at the Count's manor. However, whether that secret correspondence is directly related to this regicide has not yet been confirmed."
The culprits are the lady-in-waiting and her family. Maximilian casts them aside while feigning regret over an incident that occurred within his own faction.
Even letters with the Norden Kingdom were discovered? It couldn't be better.
Only one thing.
If there was a point of concern.
"If secret correspondence was confirmed, how can you be certain that it was not connected to the regicide?"
"Nowhere in the letters was there any content directly mentioning or implying the regicide of Her Majesty the Empress Dowager."
"May I see those letters?"
The Norden Kingdom. The main enemy of the war that ended merely 15 years ago.
He could not imagine that such letters were created simply to fabricate evidence.
"Scribe, read it aloud."
However, with an expression showing not an ounce of hesitation, Maximilian had the scribe read the letter that had been handed over as evidence in advance.
At that leisurely attitude, Leonius barely held back from clicking his tongue.
The contents read out by the scribe pertained to troop movements at the border, internal court affairs, and the payment of compensation.
Nowhere did any content related to the Empress Dowager appear.
Maximilian's tone was impeccably polite, just like when he submitted reports to Julian.
"Have your doubts been cleared?"
"...Thank you."
Leonius had no choice but to say so with an uncomfortable look.
Maximilian brought the teacup placed before him to his mouth.
The tea prepared by the ladies-in-waiting in anticipation of a long meeting was still steaming.
The steam rising from the teacup brushed past Maximilian's scar. It was the scent of orange and bergamot black tea that the Empress Dowager used to enjoy.
Taking a brief pause, Maximilian lightly surveyed the council chamber.
"These are the facts confirmed up to this point."
Are there any more questions? Maximilian was asking just that.
Nothing more could be gained by discussing the culprit further.
At least, that was what Leonius thought.
He had prepared up to this point. There was no telling how long ago he had prepared it all.
However, because he had prepared to this extent, what was even more incomprehensible was...
Why, at this very point in time, did he attempt an assassination so forcefully?
That was the sole doubt Leonius harbored.
Even after that, they exchanged remarks about the incident a few times.
Calling the Empress Dowager's head lady-in-waiting to hear testimony regarding the perpetrator, or bringing in servants from the Count's manor to inquire about anomalies in the Count's behavior.
Everything pointed to Count Stafford as the culprit.
"...Charlotte von Stafford and William von Stafford shall each be detained until the trial takes place. Furthermore, the Stafford Count's manor and archives shall remain sealed, the disposition of assets shall be forbidden, and the fief shall be placed under the administration of the Empire."
The culprit, whom no one believed to be the real one, was confirmed on the spot as the true perpetrator.
"Next is the responsibility for the failure to protect Her Majesty the Empress Dowager's person."
At those words that finally came out, the atmosphere inside the council hall shifted.
Everyone was looking at one man, Maximilian.
"This incident was not committed by an assassin who breached the castle gates. The culprit was the person Her Majesty the Empress Dowager kept closest to her. Therefore, we must distinguish between security failure and complicity."
Maximilian, who ought to be the most uncomfortable in this place, instead held a burning emotion within his eyes.
"Maintaining the previous imperial security system as it is means placing His Majesty's life in danger. Therefore..."
He continued with immense confidence.
"Using this incident as an occasion, the control over His Majesty's surroundings must be made even stricter."
From Leonius's stance, those words were precisely what could never be tolerated.
"Who will control it?"
"What do you mean, Margrave?"
The polite demeanor from moments ago stripped away from Maximilian's speech.
"Exactly what I said. Her Majesty the Empress Dowager was assassinated inside the imperial palace. All of that occurred while Your Excellency the Lord Protector was responsible for the safety of the imperial family."
Leonius's blade-like gaze clashed in midair with Maximilian's oncoming gaze.
"I cannot surveil every single court lady-in-waiting."
"Indeed. Therefore, I too have not said that Your Excellency directly caused Her Majesty the Empress Dowager's death."
Maximilian's finger paused once on the table.
"I am merely pointing out the fact that the system created by Your Excellency failed to protect Her Majesty the Empress Dowager."
Maximilian fell silent.
Though his title itself was that of a count, it was a family that had shared a border with the Parmanum Empire—the Empire's greatest enemy since the First Emperor—for hundreds of years.
Its military might surpassed even the Northern Grand Duchy, which was called the foremost among the Grand Duchies, and its power itself was not inferior when compared to a Grand Duke.
These were the words of the strongest man in the Empire, who was a Margrave simply because the First Emperor had designated his house as a Margraviate. It was not something that could be ignored as the mere words of a count.
"The former Emperor entrusted his personal safety to the Imperiani, who were loyal solely to the Emperor. They swore loyalty to no Grand Duke, to no minister, to no one at all."
Leonius's cool, blood-red eyes looked at Maximilian.
"However, that organization was dismantled."
"Because it was an unnecessary organization."
"And the current internal security system of the imperial palace failed to protect Her Majesty the Empress Dowager."
"That is sophistry."
Maximilian spoke as if shouting. Having seen a weak point, he struck immediately to prevent further speech.
However, Leonius did not stop.
"What Her Majesty the Empress Dowager's death proved is the fact that the current internal security system of the imperial palace cannot be trusted. Yet, are you saying you will use that very system as it is for the personal protection of His Majesty the Emperor as well?"
Maximilian could not say anything.
There was no justification to refute these words.
Regretting his childishness driven by emotion at this late hour was already too late.
"......What is it that you wish to say, Margrave?"
"I, Leonius von Chrysoricos, Eastern Margrave, have a matter I earnestly request of Your Majesty."
Only then did Leonius rise from his seat.
He unbuckled the sword strapped to his waist and laid it upon the desk.
Thump—the heavy sound of iron pressing against wood echoed through the council chamber.
"This sword is the authority bestowed upon the Chrysoricos family by the First Emperor. I, Leonius, intend to return this authority to Your Majesty the Emperor."
At those words, the room froze.
"......What is the meaning of this?"
"Precisely what I said, Your Excellency the Lord Protector. As of today, I wish to lay down the governance and military command of the Eastern Margraviate. I request of His Majesty to allow my heir and eldest son, Asterion von Chrysoricos, to succeed to the title of Margrave and the duties accompanying it."
Maximilian clenched his teeth. The sound of something grinding between his molars was heard only by himself.
"After today, I shall not stand before Your Majesty as the ruler of the East. Without a fief, without an army, and without the rights of a feudal lord, I wish to serve Your Majesty as a knight holding a single sword."
This was it.
The reason Leonius had rushed to this place. The reason he ultimately had not said much in the preceding council.
It was all for this.
"Your Majesty. Please revive the Imperiani created by the former Emperor and accept me as its first knight. Until the day this body wears away to nothing, I shall protect Your Majesty's side."
Blue veins bulged on Maximilian's neck.
What he had feared became reality.
"And do you intend to demand that commander position?"
"I do not. I am not asking for command authority. The Commander of the Imperial Guard, the Imperiani, can be chosen directly by Your Majesty later when you find someone you can trust."
He was shutting down any leeway to find fault.
"I shall not bring a single soldier from the East. They will receive the orders of the new Margrave and guard the border."
He eliminated with his own mouth even the justification that could become the biggest problem.
"However..."
Yet, being unable to stop was the same for Maximilian as well.
"Should you do that, there is a risk that the border will weaken. You cannot fail to know how grave a matter it is for the Empire's strongest Swordmaster to leave the border vacant."
"This is not a decision made by me alone, Your Excellency the Lord Protector."
That was a statement that served as no answer.
That was why Leonius's very remark was a question to Maximilian.
"......Explain yourself, Margrave."
"It means this, Your Excellency the Lord Protector."
Leonius handed the letter he had prepared in advance to a nearby servant.
The servant took it and delivered it to the scribe.
"......What is that?"
"It is the opinion paper of the Southern Sea Grand Duke."
"A petition?"
"......"
Leonius did not answer Maximilian's question.
"It is indeed the seal of the Southern Sea Grand Duke's house."
At the scribe's words, Maximilian suppressed his emotions as much as possible.
"Open it."
As the scribe opened the letter, his eyes widened as if they would burst.
"What is written there?"
"......It is a single word."
Instead of reading it, the scribe unfolded the letter so that everyone in the council hall could see it.
The word written on the letter was, as the scribe said, just a single word.
『Reckoning 』
Reckoning.
Or, judgment.
A single word scrawled in ink sticky as blood.
Beneath that word were a signature and official seal. And the great seal of the Southern Sea Grand Duke's house.
It indisputably belonged to the Southern Sea Grand Duke.