Initiium Empire
Snatching the letter from Cache's hand, I tore open the griffin seal right there and began reading the contents.
His Majesty Emperor Estivaron Belenet Initium, the Sun of the Empire, hereby bestows the title of Earl upon Baron Miner Gold for his great feats in the battle against the subhumans...
"Director? What's it say?"
"Earl..."
"Pardon?"
"They're granting me an earldom, and summoning me to the ceremony."
"Oh my god! Director, you're becoming an earl? That's incredible!"
"Hmm..."
"Why the long face? Aren't you happy? An earl!"
An earldom was great, sure. But in our current situation, I couldn't just celebrate.
"Whoa... Director, don't tell me? Is it the earl registration tax?"
"Cache! What do you take me for?"
"No?"
"Ahem, well, that's a minor annoyance, but let's talk in the conference room."
There was no one around to eavesdrop, but since it involved the imperial family, I headed to the conference room with Cache and shut the door.
"Cache, I told you what happened during the war, right? No matter how I think about it, something's off."
"About receiving the earldom?"
I nodded at her words.
"Yeah, it's just too strange. On the surface, it looks like the subhuman alliance retreated to the Squinoa Mountains and the war's over, but strictly speaking, it's not an 'armistice'—it's a 'ceasefire'."
"Hmm... So you're saying granting an earldom during a ceasefire is suspicious?"
Cache finally seemed to grasp my point.
"Exactly! Plus, we claimed orcs and ogre children were used to make chimeras. Sure, on paper it was Mac Dollar, lord of the Tower of Truth, but the palace surely knows I was involved."
"True."
The drawing from orc warrior Hoknuk, depicting his child turned chimera. I didn't just submit that as evidence. Instead, far from the war zone, I had Hoknuk enter a proof flower and recorded him proving the truth via crystal orb. Then Mac spread it to all the mages.
"They haven't even announced how the chimera incident happened or who's involved. Granting a title during wartime? Super suspicious."
"Hehe, Director, you're overthinking it. You think the palace is luring you in to chop your head off?"
"Don't jinx it!"
"I mean, maybe you're reading too much into it."
Reading too much into it? What did that mean? As I shot her a puzzled look, Cache smirked like she'd read my mind.
"Think about it. Wars need heroes, right? And who racked up the biggest merits this time? You! With cutting-edge medicine, you saved limbs from countless knights who were nearly hacked apart, stopped plagues too! And you single-handedly unraveled this endless war."
"So you're saying this is to make me a hero?"
"Yeah, though there might be other motives."
"Other motives?"
Cache glanced around slyly at my question.
"You might've heard, but the emperor's rumored to be a mad tyrant. He killed his brother the crown prince and took the throne himself."
"...?"
"Then married his brother's fiancée, causing a huge uproar. Lost a ton of support, so he doesn't have much sway over the western continent's ducal houses."
"..."
Her explanation made the emperor's intentions even murkier.
"A tyrant's motives make even less sense. What's the point of elevating a frontier baron like me...?"
Cache shook her head at my musing.
"More precisely, he was a tyrant. Called that after killing his brother and purging opponents once! And another bloody purge when he made his brother's fiancée empress. Second one's over ten years ago—no issues since."
"..."
Two purges were enough; escalating now made no sense. Life here was finally profitable—no need to get dragged to a mad emperor.
"I think with two purges gutting his base, he's using this war to expand influence."
"By giving a frontier baron like me an earldom?"
"Hehe, Director, come on? It's not just you! Who's the guy you lecture daily, skipping afternoon clinic?"
"Who else? Tower of Truth lord."
"Exactly. Where's the Tower of Truth?"
"Helle Gar Territory... Ah!"
As realization dawned on me, Cache snickered.
"You know the late empress who died in childbirth was Sharon Helle Gar Initium? Everyone knows you're tight with Helle Gar's Tower of Truth lord—the palace knows too."
"So... the emperor's extending influence to the capital and the frontier via proxies—you mean something like that?"
Cache shrugged.
"My take. Even ruling west and north continents, dukes could topple him if they wanted. Emperor wants to check them too, but needed pretext. War's perfect—naturally elevate you."
"Hmm... Kinda makes sense. But Cache, is this okay?"
"What?"
I glared at her beaming innocence.
"Even if I'm from elsewhere, you're native to the west continent. Talking smack about His Majesty? What if I become his vassal?"
"Pfft! Director, please? Us commoners curse emperors from the gutters—that's our privilege. Kellogg's soundproofing here's top-notch. You won't ditch me over this—sales would tank!"
Her cheeky grin amid the banter proved I'd hired right.
"Kidding. Anyway, gotta prep quick. Just got home, now off again."
"Hehe, when you return, we'll swap the sign to 'Earl's Clinic'."
"..."
Cache, valuing the cash shop and profits over my life. Sometimes more materialistic than me.
Ten days passed at the Beauty Tower. July 17th, Monday. Time to head to the palace for the earldom ceremony.
"Baron, sky carriage ready, all prepped."
"Phew... Thanks, Walter."
The soulless stares of the sky turtles pulling the carriage mirrored my mood perfectly.
"Not dying with you along, right? Everyone, board. Cache, mind the fort—crystal orb if issues."
"Safe trip, Director."
"Miner! Be careful!"
"Res, behave for Cache. Back soon."
Usually dragged Res everywhere, but this imperial trip: just Walter and the witches. First long separation since hatching—felt oddly sentimental.
"Director, dawdling won't help. Hurry."
"Coming. Everyone, take care."
"Safe travels, Director!"
"Bye, Miner!"
Others busy, so waved to Cache and Res outside before boarding.
"Phew... Let's go."
"Yes, Director."
Walter input the coordinates from the letter; sky turtles' half-lidded eyes snapped open, gulping air like vacuums.
Kugung— Kugugugung—
Moments later, expelled air from shells rocketed the sky carriage skyward.
"Director."
Stella called amid takeoff tremors.
"Less than a day."
"Not that. Can't we swap sky turtles for smoother ride?"
"Huh? Why suddenly?"
She sighed shakily.
"Rare before, but sky carriages more common lately. For frequent use, something with less takeoff vibration? Sky crocs comfy, see—"
"Not buying."
"Tch, no dice."
Stella and Hazel obsessed with bizarre beasts. Knew her game—shut it down fast.
"Anyway, remember: you're my maids?"
"Yup. 1.5x pay—don't forget."
"When've I stiffed you? Hope all goes smooth."
Walter and witches for this trip: unknown dangers. Past visits always incidents; frontlines even kidnapping. Needed reliable protection.
But bringing Beauty Tower mages to ceremony might signal distrust—so told palace: one guard, three maids.
Standard for nobles.
It's fine, Minho. Nothing'll happen. Like always.
Shaking off unease, a day later we reached the Initiium Empire palace.