Fiancée Facade and the Golden Empire's Fall
"This is pretty convenient."
"What's that?"
Lucy giggled as she lay side by side with Ian on the baggage cart. "Pretending to be your lover. It was such a hassle dealing with those peasants one by one. But now that I'm with you, everything's sorted out?"
Lucy casually referred to the caravan laborers as peasants. From the sensibilities of this era, there was nothing strange about it. She was a noble lady from a prestigious family, and the laborers were lowly folk not even worthy of stepping on her shadow. Up until now, she'd had to play the part of a (forced) runaway quietly. But ever since hiring Ian as her escort, she'd regained her confidence and occasionally showed her noble airs like this.
From a modern perspective, it came off as incredibly arrogant.
"But don't get the wrong idea, mage. I'm just pretending to be your lover. It's not like I want to actually date you!"
"..."
"Well, if you want to become the Talian family's son-in-law, I could start dating you right now..."
She chattered on and on. What did she have so much to talk about? Ian wanted to plug his ears. He wasn't oblivious to her feelings. A girl who'd been on the run this whole time had finally found someone on her side—how excited she must be.
Just let her enjoy it~ She's that thrilled, after all~
But that was that, and this was this. Since he couldn't block his own ears, he'd have to shut her mouth instead.
"Can't you shut up already? You're being too damn loud."
Lucy burst into delighted laughter at Ian's words. "Oh! That sounded just like a mage!"
"...Fuck."
No matter what he said, it was useless. Even his curses got spun as a mage's virtue. And getting seriously mad would just make him look like the fool. Since Lucy was going to keep yapping anyway, he might as well fish for some useful info.
"So. What's the plan from here?"
If she had no plan at all and was just running blindly, he'd ditch her right here. Ian steeled himself. No matter that they were traveling, time wasn't infinite. He hated wasting it on worthless pursuits.
"After passing a few more villages, we'll reach my uncle's territory."
"Uncle?"
"Catania Earl is our uncle."
Lucy's plan was simple. To her, the fastest and most reliable help came from Catania Earl. She'd reveal her parents' poisoning, accuse that snake of a usurper, and the earl would surely lend her soldiers... or so she thought.
"Hmm."
Ian tilted his head. It wasn't a sloppy plan, but it wasn't flawless either.
"Just a few questions. First, how close were Catania Earl and your mom?"
"Not bad?"
An ambiguous answer. If Lucy's mother and the earl had been close since childhood, the enraged earl would've drawn his sword at the news of the Talian baron's wife's death. But if not?
Harsh as it was, women in this era were treated like outsiders after marriage—strangers, basically. Coldly put, the Talian couple's deaths were just "someone else's family matter." Not worth getting blood on your hands for.
Doesn't feel right...
If Catania Earl lent Lucy troops, that could be ominous in its own way. On the surface, it was perfect: an uncle mobilizing for his orphaned niece who'd lost her parents. Impeccable justification—no other lords would dare interfere.
But what if the earl demanded more than just returning her territory? Things got weird. If he entrenched himself in her lands? Or swallowed them whole? No one left to stop him...!
Once the fake baron was ousted, only the earl and Lucy would remain. Who from outside could tell if he supported her or devoured her?
"How about asking another noble for help instead?"
"Another noble? Who?"
Lucy's eyes blazed as she glared at Ian.
"Someone we can deal with more reliably than your uncle..."
"Who in the world is more trustworthy than my uncle?!"
"..."
"Are you doubting my uncle right now? Ian Eredis Raven! Even if you're a famed mage's disciple, I won't tolerate that insult!"
Ian shrugged. If Lucy was so certain, fine. He knew nothing of Catania Earl. Lucy, on the other hand, had met him a few times as a child. She knew the earl better than Ian did. He'd have to trust her.
"I'm just saying be careful. The chunk of meat in your hands is too big."
"...I don't expect to get the territory back intact. I'll have to give my uncle his share. But he's still better than some stranger. The others... they'd just want to marry me."
Lucy glanced at Ian. "Though... if you proposed, Ian... that'd be fine..."
There it is again.
Ian clicked his tongue. Ever since their escort contract, Lucy brought up marriage whenever it crossed her mind. A desperate bid to tie a mage to her territory. And honestly, a mage's value was worth throwing her body at for a prospective lord like her—it made sense.
But when the proposal was so blatantly about his profession, it was hard to accept. At least for Ian, with his modern mindset. Marriage needed at least some affection. And for someone like Ian, eager to study the world's magic, it was way too early.
"Our contract ends when we meet Catania Earl."
"That's too much, Ian! A noble's offering to live together!"
"There are plenty of other women besides you."
Facts hurt. You couldn't deny them. Lies could be brushed off with "nuh-uh~," but facts had no guard. Undeniable. Lucy got deeply scratched.
"...You're the worst!"
Her face flushed red as she stomped off ahead, fuming.
Rick sidled up slyly. "Women are such troublesome creatures, aren't they?"
"You're talking about your wife, right?"
"Haha! That's my missus you're speaking of!"
"Not interested, so shut up."
"Hahaha! Aigoo! Of course, of course!"
Ian's curses bounced right off Rick. The more he swore, the more Rick loved it—pushing Ian to get edgier.
A thousand years ago, the world was ruled by the colossal ancient empire known as the Golden Empire.
The Golden Empire succeeded in uniting the entire world through astonishing technology, a superior army, and ironclad central authority—the one and only empire to do so. Its name rang with majesty, and under its just rule, imperial citizens enjoyed peaceful, happy lives (of course, only citizens—slaves didn't count as citizens, so it wasn't exactly a lie).
But nothing in this world lasts forever. Even this empire, named for the symbol of immortality—gold—succumbed to decadence and luxury, its roots rotting away. Gold shifted from a name of eternity to one of corruption.
Greedy officials squeezed the people dry, the middle class collapsed, leaving only paupers and the elite. With no soldiers left to conscript, the empire could no longer sustain its massive frame and shattered into fragments.
The end of the Golden Age.
As the giant fell, swarms of vermin descended to feast on the corpse. Those vermin’s descendants, aping humanity while raising their voices—that's today's nobility.
And naturally... vermin know nothing of what humans built...!
"Rick, isn't there another road?"
"Pardon? Another road?"
"Like a proper carriage path..."
Rick grinned at Ian's question. As a traveling merchant, he knew what Ian meant by "road."
"Ah, you mean the ancient roads? There's one north of River Bill!"
"..."
Incredibly, this world had no concept of roads. Or rather, no concept of building them. Roads were something only the ancients could construct...!
So how did busy routes form? They didn't. Excluding ancient roads, other paths stayed inconvenient, traffic too low to grow.
Just pave new ones? No one had the cash. And after centuries without, no one had the skill anymore either.
So... they didn't bother. Just use the ancients' roads!
Thus, this medieval fantasy world still relied on roads built by an empire a thousand years ago. Suspiciously advanced ancient civilization. Post-collapse ragtag survivors. Absurdly valuable ancient relics... Sound familiar?
That's right. It was post-apocalypse all along. Medieval fantasy was just post-apoc...!
"Let's just go."
"Yep!"
Ian hadn't realized it with Eredis, but now it was clear: this era made inter-territory exchange nearly impossible. No roads—how could you trade? Carrying goods like the Rabbitfoot Caravan was sheer madness.
They crossed fields overgrown with zombie-green grass, plains where wild horses galloped, heading for River Bill. Soon, the river appeared, and following its bank revealed the village.
River Bill lived up to its name—a sturdy settlement hugging a massive river.
Not your average village...
Ian marveled at the well-built wooden palisade. River Bill was encircled seamlessly by high walls; you couldn't enter without passing the guarded gate. Bigger than Heyhill, where Ian grew up—easily double.
"Halt!"
As Rabbitfoot Caravan approached, a guard barked. Disciplined and trustworthy-looking.
"Aigoo~ Hello there!"
Rick bowed obsequiously, offering a gift. From a modern view, bribery—but not a bad item. Strangers today, a quick intro was standard, even for repeat visitors like them. A light gift was fine.
The guard calmly pocketed the booze.
"We're Rabbitfoot Caravan—we've traded here before!"
"Hm. All accounted for?"
The guard eyed them puzzled. A group this size should have armed escorts. Not a single weapon in sight.
"Ah, we had mercenaries... but they all died in an ambush."
"Lucky you."
Ian found their exchange absurd. Rick casually mentioning dead mercs, the guard calling it luck... Perfect post-apoc banter.
The guard waved them through without a thorough search. Unarmed caravans posed no threat—valuable suppliers, even.
"What're your plans now, mage?"
Ian's reason for joining Rabbitfoot was crossing Earth Drake Mountain. Many events (mostly omitted) later, they'd reached the next village safely. His next move was up to him.
"We'll meet the lord now... care to join?"
You always greeted the local lord first upon arrival—avoided trouble later. Rick invited Ian naturally, figuring a mage would deter any nonsense from the lord.
Ian preferred it too; declaring himself a mage would score prime lodging and food.
But he had baggage.
"Ian..."
Lucy. No sane lord would touch her with a mage escort, but rumors of a "beautiful girl traveling with a mage" weren't welcome. And who knew? Lords could snap.
Better safe.
"We'll rest here and head out later."
"Understood. It was an honor serving you, mage!"
Rick parted cleanly, content. Saved by a mage? He was lucky already.
"Well then..."
"Inn first."
After splitting from the caravan, Ian and Lucy headed to an inn to shake off the travel fatigue.