The Tenth Research - Sacred Royal Authority (7)
The entire populace gathered at the royal palace gazed at the woman who shone like the sun. She was the most beautiful of all women and strong enough to defeat the finest men. Moreover, as a descendant of a great conqueror and one chosen by noble aristocrats, how could they not kneel?
“I swear it.”
“I, Belladia of House Harrington, descendant of Iron Lord Harrington and Conqueror Zaherion, hereby swear. I shall defend the realm against its enemies, rescue the people from suffering, and uphold nobility against evil.”
“Then from this day forward, you are the mistress of the Swan Crown.”
Long live Her Majesty the Queen!
May her reign be long and majestic!
The grey-robed mage placed the crown upon the kneeling girl’s head, and at last the girl became queen. It was the moment when the life of Viscountess Belladia ended and the reign of Belladia the First began.
“Long live! Long live!”
“Long live Her Majesty the Queen!”
The shills planted in advance shouted with all their might. Women in ceremonial dress scattered flower petals, and the high-elf musicians dispatched from the Eternal Court showed everyone what real music sounded like.
“Everyone’s desperately hiding their discomfort…”
“Isn’t this exactly how power is made?”
After crowning Belladia, the Grey Sage withdrew behind the stage. Today’s protagonist was the Warrior Queen Belladia. The mage who shared a suspicious relationship with the queen needed to keep his presence hidden.
“Thanks to you, the vassals who served House Harrington will rise in status as well. They’re moving from the margrave’s advisory council to the queen’s advisory council.”
Strictly speaking, far more complex power dynamics were at work, but the conclusion was clear: loyal servants of House Harrington like Urban would be given far more opportunities. External factions would also receive titles to ensure their silence regarding the dubious coronation process.
“Won’t you receive a generous reward yourself?”
“I now own every gold mine in Essil.”
“Oh! A reward truly befitting the achievement.”
“I’d like to place the nominal ownership under your name.”
“By all means!”
“And I’d like to entrust you with managing the assets as well.”
“Thank you for this excellent opportunity!”
Treasurer Urban was the top graduate of the Imperial Academy’s humanities department. When it came to managing and growing wealth, few were better.
“Then what do you intend to do?”
“For the time being, I’ll seclude myself and focus entirely on research.”
The majority of the kingdom’s citizens still harbored doubts about the Grey Sage Tellorian. The changes that had occurred after his appointment to House Harrington were simply too dramatic to have happened in less than a year.
“Quite a few believe I’m controlling the Harringtons’ minds with magic. Even reasonable people view my relationship with the queen with extreme suspicion—even after she completed the virginity test.”
In times like these, one had to conceal one’s presence.
Fortunately, there was still a way to stay in contact.
New Lore Acquired: Lore of Foresight
Remaining Legacy Points: 13
Using the newly acquired Lore of Foresight, he had created a new magical tool. It was a hero-grade item forged by melting down the family heirlooms of noble houses that had fallen during the civil war.
“Take this, Urban.”
“!”
“It’s a Clairvoyant Orb. By infusing it with mana, you can observe any place you wish. It can also establish visual communication with other users.”
He had crafted four orbs.
Their owners were as follows:
The Grey Sage Tellorian.
Warrior Queen Belladia.
Protector of the Realm Rodrick.
Treasurer Urban.
“But I have no mana.”
“Which is why I made yours and Lord Rodrick’s usable without mana. However, be aware that the detection range is limited to the interior of the kingdom.”
He explained the various precautions necessary when using the Clairvoyant Orb. Locations such as the Magic Tower or holy sanctuaries that possessed mystery could not be observed. If the presence of a Transcendent was detected, the orb was to be shut off immediately. Proper usage time limits were to be strictly observed.
Lore Acquired: Clairvoyant Orb
Experience +10
Legacy Points +1
Until Level 29: 60/100
Legacy Points: 14
“I will keep it in mind.”
“Then I’ll leave the rest to you.”
Tellorian patted Urban on the shoulder and left the palace. The governance of the kingdom was a problem for the Harringtons and their vassals to solve. For the time being, he would conceal his presence and devote himself solely to magical research.
“Wait.”
At that moment, Urban called out.
“Why do you trust me this much?”
“Because I want you to become my man.”
“…”
“I know our ideals don’t align.”
Urban was a humanist to the bone.
“The people I need are comrades who share my goals, so I won’t demand that you change your ideology. But remember this one thing.”
I can offer you far more opportunities than the [old master] you currently serve. Under him, you would remain nothing more than a capable limb. But if you stand with me, you could become a great lord in your own right.
“!”
“Therefore, I advise you to weigh profit over ideology. I’ll see you later.”
Imperial Regent’s Spy Exposed!
Experience +10
Legacy Points +1
Until Level 29: 70/100
Legacy Points: 15
＊＊＊
Tellorian secretly returned to Harrington Fortress. Belladia would rule the nation from the capital, and Rodrick along with the vassals would remain at the new queen’s side until the regime stabilized.
‘Thanks to that, Harrington territory has become a power vacuum.’
Rodrick had asked Tellorian to govern the border march, and Tellorian had delegated that authority to the Silver Serpent. It was subcontracting a subcontract.
“You want me to rule over humans?”
“It’s a good way to resolve your worries, isn’t it?”
“You have a point!”
The Silver Serpent used the administrative skills she had honed during her time as a divine king to govern the border region. At first the territory’s people grumbled about a young woman serving as regent, but once she demonstrated excellent rule, they fell silent.
New Era’s Concerns Recorded!
Experience +10
Legacy Points +1
Until Level 29: 80/100
Legacy Points: 16
“Human worries really are the same now as they were in the past.”
“What common point makes you say that?”
“They’re always agonizing over life and death.”
Well.
That was a Transcendent’s perspective, after all.
“What do the common people think of the new queen?”
“They don’t seem to hold any particular expectations yet.”
Belladia had certainly received recognition of legitimacy from the nobility. She was a descendant of Conqueror Zaherion and strong enough to protect the kingdom. She had also been unanimously nominated for the throne by the aristocracy.
But the commoners were another story. They still couldn’t understand on what grounds Belladia had become queen, and the very fact that a woman had become the head of state felt awkward to them.
“They still regard the Sun God as their spiritual pillar and pray for the soul of the boy-king of the Arsil Dynasty rather than the girl-queen of the Harrington Dynasty.”
Hmm.
A catalyst was needed.
Something that would brand Belladia into their minds as their leader.
‘In the end, the strongest fortress a monarch possesses is the affection of their subjects. Without the people’s love, even the most powerful ruler’s foundation becomes precarious.’
In medieval lands where a strict class system existed, public sentiment might appear unimportant at first glance. In reality, because the system itself was crude, the monarch’s popularity was directly tied to their ability to rule.
‘In medieval lands, even if an order is issued from the center to the provinces, the provinces can simply pretend they never received it. This is even more true in a feudal nation like the Essil Kingdom.’
Therefore.
Belladia’s popularity had to be raised.
To complete her authority as queen.
“It is an honor to meet you, Bardmaster Garrick.”
“So you are the Grey Sage Tellorian.”
He had invited the head of the Bard Guild to the Magic Tower.
“I will listen to what the dangerous schemer who overthrew the kingdom wants from humble minstrels. However, we bards do not become propagandists for any particular faction.”
The Bardmaster spoke in a resolute voice, as if protesting that bards were more than mere entertainers.
“What is your mission?”
“To deliver truth and joy to the people.”
“Then let us speak of joy.”
“…Pardon?”
“Spread rumors about Queen Belladia’s romantic scandals.”
?
??
???
“I’ve even prepared a script. She was in a special romantic relationship with the Grey Sage Tellorian, but upon ascending the throne she tearfully ended their relationship for the sake of the nation.”
At that, the Bardmaster frowned.
“Wasn’t that to give the lords a chance for political alliance? The commoners won’t pay good coin for such a boring story.”
Snort.
That wasn’t it at all.
This bard lacked imagination.
“Actually, spread the story that we were siblings.”
“…Excuse me?!?!?!”
“Iron Lord Rodrick took many women in his youth, didn’t he? In truth, the Grey Sage Tellorian was a bastard child born at that time…”
Lore of Drama Acquired!
Experience +10
Legacy Points +1
Until Level 29: 90/100
Legacy Points: 17
“W-what is this?!”
“It’s the kind of story people will pay money to hear.”
“Isn’t this too vulgar?!”
“Vulgar? Ancient myths are far worse.”
“This isn’t myth—it’s about Her Majesty the Queen!”
At worst it could lead to the gallows.
At worst, the torture chamber.
“I swear there will be no punishment.”
“…!”
“Use every ounce of a storyteller’s imagination to spread tales about the queen. Lewd stories are perfectly acceptable. Put anything on the table that will spark conversation.”
From that day on, audacious stories about the queen spread like wildfire. The common people gladly paid money to hear tales of the most exalted person being brought low. The more it spread, the more bards flocked to the kingdom to sing songs on similar themes.
“Her Majesty the Queen actually has twelve lovers…!”
“Every night she visits the stables and…”
“She kisses the decapitated noblemen…!”
Blasphemous songs that could get one’s head chopped off for merely listening to them spread among the populace. Erotic engravings that vividly depicted the queen’s appearance sold like hotcakes. Thanks to this, the queen’s dignity took a considerable hit, but at least everyone now knew her name.
‘To build fame, recognition comes first.’
When Belladia began her royal tour in this atmosphere, the public’s explosive interest focused on her. They wanted to confirm whether the queen was truly the extraordinary beauty described in the songs and engravings.
“Ah…”
As a result, countless young commoner men turned their backs on the world. Some despaired over a love that could never be and took their own lives, while others lost their lives attempting to break into the queen’s residence.
“I have come to listen to your hardships.”
“…Your Majesty?”
“Your clothes are ragged and your bodies are frail—it pains my heart. As the mother of this nation, I have a duty to protect and nurture you. Therefore, speak your difficulties without reserve. This may be the last opportunity you ever have in your humble lives.”
In a situation where attention was already concentrated, when the beautiful young queen showed interest in the people’s livelihood, the citizens poured out their grievances like a bursting dam.
“There are too many monsters!”
Swoosh!
Swept away!
Because killing monsters was fun!
“The lord is committing tyranny!”
Swoosh!
Swept away!
To expand the royal demesne!
“There is a drought and we have nothing to eat!”
“Then I shall distribute the Queen’s Manna Bread.”
Ooh!
Just one bite fills the stomach!
Loyalty toward Her Majesty is surging!
“““Long live Her Majesty the Queen! Long may she reign!”””
Thus, by the time Belladia the First’s royal tour ended, every citizen of the kingdom worshipped Queen Belladia. Since no one remembered the boy-king anymore, the Arsil Dynasty faded into the back alleys of history. Only then were the queen dowager and her bastard children sent to the grand duchy, where the grand duke expressed gratitude and promised friendly relations.
With this, the Harrington Dynasty was placed upon solid rock.
The Promised Queen
Research Progress: 5/5
Research Completed!
Experience +20
Legacy Points +2
Level Up! Until Level 30: 10/100
Legacy Points: 19
Choice B: Sophisticated Cognitive Manipulation
Unique Spell: Sophisticated Cognitive Manipulation Acquired!
Sophisticated Cognitive Manipulation (Unique Spell, Lore of the Mind)
You can deeply manipulate the cognition of a specific individual. When this spell is used, the target’s Will and your Mana will clash.
Caution
— Realistic manipulation receives a bonus.
— Unrealistic manipulation receives a penalty.
— The farther the distance, the greater the penalty.
— Failure is regarded as hostile action.
— Cannot be used against multiple targets.
However.
A new shadow was looming.
One that would force the Grey Sage to step forward once more.
‘The movements in the Abyss are ominous.’
Moreover.
A familiar witch had arrived.
Carrying the results of the Grimoire review.