Chapter 125
Chapter 125
Alter swiftly took action after receiving a letter from the Supreme Commander of the entire army.
It must have been an urgent matter, so the Supreme Commander likely intervened on his own before even waiting for an imperial order.
Of course, since the Supreme Commander was vested with command authority over the imperial army by the Emperor himself, he held commensurate powers.
'He must have called for me and Brillie Illenat to resolve this peacefully.'
The Sword Saint, the great mage, and two holy apostles had already been dispatched to the regions where the unrest had broken out.
The Emperor, perhaps mindful of his marriage to Brillie Illenat and himself, would have avoided summoning them unless absolutely necessary.
However, since a serious situation had erupted right in the capital where the Emperor resided, they had to quickly mobilize whoever was on standby.
'Something about this feels artificial.'
Alter guessed that this too must be part of the instigator's plan.
From the start, they stirred up various regions, scattering the powerful.
After that, they were likely trying to pressure the capital and isolate even the patrol guards and security corps.
'So, does that mean they're confident they can break through the imperial palace defense and the Imperial Household knight order with just their own forces?'
Alter frowned, filled with questions.
No matter how many powerful figures or external forces were excluded, one simply could not recklessly invade the imperial palace.
Furthermore, to launch a surprise attack, they would have to send in people of outstanding skill.
'... No. There must be traitors within the imperial palace.'
When the Third Princess had staged her rebellion, she had managed to win over the capital defense commander and imperial palace defense.
By similar reasoning, some of the administrators or commanders within the palace might be colluding with the instigator.
If the instigator had even riled up the commoners in the capital, then their plan must be nearing its final stages.
'If not tonight, at the latest within a few days, they'll probably attack the palace.'
Alter came to a tacit conclusion, but he couldn't report this directly to the Emperor just yet.
Given the current circumstances, everyone affiliated with the palace would be under suspicion.
So he had to speak privately with the Emperor and discreetly seek a solution.
'I need to resolve this first, then head to the palace.'
Passing the ranks of soldiers, Alter received a salute from the patrol guard captain.
Brillie Illenat simply examined the surroundings in silence, remaining composed.
"I know you two are busy, but the circumstances are not favorable, so we had to trouble you to come here. My sincerest apologies."
"What's the situation right now?"
"As you see, the commoners are staging a sit-in. We've ordered them to disperse, but they're just holding their ground. Perhaps they'll listen if people of your stature speak to them?"
"And you haven't fought with the commoners, right?"
"We deliberately avoided any engagement. We were ordered from above to disperse them peacefully."
"... I'll try talking to them."
After quickly assessing the situation, Alter stepped forward.
Brillie Illenat followed close behind, not letting her guard down.
The commoners looked on with suspicion, but didn't dare approach the two directly.
"I am Alter Radiant, youngest son of the grand ducal house of Radiant and the next great mage. I'd like to speak to the person in charge; could you come forward, please?"
"The grand ducal house?"
"He's the next great mage?"
"My goodness..."
"We're done for. We're all going to die here."
"He's the one who smashed that dragon, isn't he?"
The commoners grew greatly agitated and tried not to even meet Alter's eyes.
A grand ducal household was a peerlessly high-ranking noble, and the one acknowledged as the next great mage would be someone no one could easily approach.
On top of that, having pacified the northern territory and slain two dragons, he was inevitably regarded as a figure of overwhelming authority.
"I have no intention of fighting you. I only came here to talk and find a solution."
"What do we do?"
"Nobody said the next great mage was coming!"
"We're dead if we go now."
"Should we just run for it?"
"Run away after coming all the way here?"
"So what are we going to do?"
"Hmm. I'm the one who brought these people."
A middle-aged man of rather sturdy build stepped forward without hesitation.
Brillie Illenat kept a close watch, ready to draw her sword at any moment.
Should he show any hostility, she would subdue or cut him down without hesitation.
"I won't concern myself with formalities. So, why are you all doing this?"
"We know we can't meet Her Majesty the Emperor. So we went to the authorities, but nobody would listen to us."
"Let me ask one thing first. Didn't someone order you to do this?"
"Well... we just gathered together on our own, and it led to this."
"..."
Alter immediately sensed the man was lying.
No matter how many commoners gathered, they wouldn't likely think to stage a sit-in right in the heart of the capital.
More likely, they would rush to the offices or try to leave the capital.
'Usually, the imperial household only notices problems after they afflict the commoners. But this time, the commoners acted first—before anything happened.'
In truth, these people must have been incited by the instigator.
Even if it was revealed they had received such orders, nobody would have been able to deduce who the real instigator was.
Perhaps the instigator intended to abandon the commoners after achieving his goal.
'Suppressing them with soldiers wouldn't be too difficult. But to meet the commoners' demands, you'd have to break the nobility first...'
The Emperor must balance the interests between nobles and commoners.
Each serves their own role as the empire's foundation.
But as commoners have less influence, it was common for nobles to receive preferential treatment.
'Even an emperor has to choose the easier path. The previous Emperor was the one who accepted the harder course.'
The current Emperor, even while compromising with officials, had preserved the lives of commoners.
She never threatened the common people recklessly, preferring to resolve matters through dialogue.
But the instigator, predicting even this, had used the commoners as shields for the rebels.
'Such a person must never become Emperor. He treats human life lightly.'
At the very least, the current Emperor, even while the palace was being overthrown, strove to minimize casualties.
Only the deposed Emperor, the previous Imperial Household knight order captain, the previous Supreme Commander, and a handful of commanders were assassinated.
By contrast, this rebellion's mastermind seemed ready to sacrifice many commoners; thus, he must be considered a particularly malicious sort.
"... Did someone promise you money or food if you just held out like this?"
"Huh? Oh... No. I've never heard anything like that."
"Then let me ask again. Do you think you are being oppressed because of Her Majesty the Emperor?"
"I... I think the officials and nobles are more to blame than Her Majesty, but..."
"Recently, didn't Her Majesty distribute free grain to the commoners? And even reduced some of the taxes, unless I'm mistaken?"
"That's... not wrong."
"Do you think Her Majesty simply showed such generosity for no reason? He did so despite noble opposition. Yet you vent your discontent, disregarding even that effort?"
"..."
The middle-aged man averted his gaze in silence.
Despite the many unreasonable circumstances, he had managed to endure thus far.
Yet, even when the Emperor bestowed grace, it didn't change their harsh reality.
So, after gaining a minor benefit, it was easy to begin resenting the Emperor again.
"I heard on the way here that people are saying the dragon and monsters invaded because the Emperor was lacking in virtue, is that right?"
"It wasn't put quite like that..."
"Since Her Majesty rules this empire, if it comes to matters of survival or ruin, responsibility naturally falls to her, doesn't it?"
"..."
"Did you think I went out to the borders to slay dragons just to hear such nonsense? I struggled on the order of Her Majesty and now you would diminish my achievement?"
"That's... not what I meant..."
"Ah, I see. So Her Majesty must have just been mistaken. She fought to drive back your enemies early for your sake, only to get nothing but criticism and ridicule upon her return? Maybe I should be the one to apologize to Her Majesty in your place."
"We were gravely wrong. Please, forgive us!"
Once the middle-aged man bowed his head, the rest of the commoners followed suit, dropping to their knees.
Alter seemed to ponder for a moment, then spoke again.
"Answer me truthfully. If you do, her Majesty will mercifully forgive you. I will ask again: did someone incite you to do this?"
"Well... we were told things would get better for us if we did this."
"Do you know who that person is?"
"I never saw their face, but they gave us money."
Furrowing his brow, Alter glanced at Brillie Illenat.
Brillie seemed resigned to accept the situation as it was.
Even the patrol guard captain, who was quietly eavesdropping, didn't think of interrupting the conversation.
"Can all of you attest to this?"
"Not everyone, but I and a few others were there."
"Will you answer honestly if the patrol guards question you?"
"If we do, will our crimes be forgiven?"
"If you tell the truth, the Emperor will pardon those crimes. Captain, is that acceptable?"
"Technically this is a grave offense... but I will defer to the next great mage's decision."
The patrol guard captain didn't want to worsen the situation.
He had to follow the orders from above, and the commoners had shown intent to surrender.
Moreover, as both the next great mage and Sword Flower had intervened personally, he should respect their authority.
"Lady Brillie Illenat, would it be alright to stop by the palace for a moment?"
Leaving the aftermath to the patrol guard captain, Alter hurried away.
Brillie Illenat silently followed, answering a beat later.
"Did you learn something?"
"I believe there's a traitor inside the palace."
"Any evidence?"
"It's only conjecture for now. Still, we should inform them."
"... You're saying someone is plotting treason?"
"With the capital in such disorder, they could launch a surprise attack."
"Even with significant forces, it would be hard to take on the palace defenses and the Imperial Household knight order, wouldn't it?"
"That's why the traitor is important. We have to root them out quickly, don't we?"
"Hmmm... No harm in being cautious, I suppose."
Brillie Illenat more or less accepted Alter's view.
Alter always made rational decisions and achieved firm results.
A moment ago, he had skillfully handled the conversation and persuaded the commoners at once.
If he was this competent, maybe he could be trusted anywhere and anytime.
'He may be young, but his thoughts run deep. I should be content to help him from the side.'