Chapter 198
Emperor Roman ascended to the most prestigious seat for distinguished guests.
As countless esteemed guests offered their respects, he responded with an awkward smile.
Perhaps Roman resembled some famous person.
All the noble daughters seemed captivated by Roman. They whispered to each other, saying he looked like someone.
After the emperor was seated, we also took our seats around a round table. Soon, the food began to arrive. Only then did Duto Syren glance at me. He had no expression at all.
The celebration banquet soon began.
I asked Merchant leader Barako,
"Are you familiar with Madam Mien's merchant guild?"
"I don't deal with them, so I don't know them well. From what I see, she seems to be close with many of the capital's big merchants."
"I've heard rumors she leads a crime organization."
That was Count Mals.
"As a woman?"
"The merchant guild leaders say so. Quite a few who underestimated Madam Mien have gone missing. There's even talk she runs an assassin organization."
It was more than just an assassin group.
Madam Mien did not place her faith in the northern army. She definitely had her own secret force hidden away.
When I first met her at the inn, those attendants who accompanied her... While I sensed the chill typical of assassins, there was also a strange energy I couldn't quite define. I still didn't know what it was.
"By the way, I haven't had a chance to tell Director Roger, but in Tris things are getting dangerous with all the agitation going on. I'm not sure about the capital, but I imagine it's similar."
"It is."
"Shouldn't we respond? If we detain them, they'll just cry oppression. How many people have actually seen this so-called apostle of god? If someone says it's fabricated, then it's fabricated."
Eilin was currently training in the magic vault. The so-called apostle of god was referring to her, but even if we showed her to the public now, they wouldn't believe it, insisting it was all fake.
At that moment a chamberlain approached me and whispered something.
I stood up right away.
As I walked out, I noticed Duto Syren was gone. I supposed he chose today's banquet to speak with me privately, worrying that those accompanying him would overhear if he tried to speak another time.
I left the banquet hall and walked for quite a while.
He was standing by the empress's pond, a place where guests rarely ventured. His face was concealed and he wore different clothes.
It was Duto Syren.
He was the eldest son born to the Grand Duke and Lady Urada, and a half-brother to Art Syren.
Madam Urada was the first daughter of the late Count Urada. After her death, the Urada family was cast out by the Grand Duke. Duto seemed to have had his path blocked as well.
Thus, the Urada family was his maternal side, and my sister-in-law was his youngest aunt's daughter. For these reasons, I believed he had secretly helped us in the past.
Madam Urada's death must have had a huge impact on Duto Syren. It was likely Madam Mien approached him first at such a time, to gain secret information from the grand duke's family.
"Do you have something to say?"
I asked.
Duto replied, still gazing at the pond.
"I never imagined the family would burn."
"Is that why you're with them?"
The corners of his mouth, hidden by the mask, lifted slightly.
"I've lost everything. Madam Mien is only using me. I don't even have the money to rebuild my family."
"Seems you want to make a deal."
Only then did Duto look at me.
"Help me."
"What can you offer in return?"
"Their plans."
"How much do you want?"
He stopped speaking at that.
I asked again.
"Does rebuilding your family even matter to you?"
"Whether I like it or not, it's still my home."
Syren cannot be restored.
The stain of being traitors clung to them.
"I will entrust you with the Urada territory."
Duto's eyes grew wide.
"Are you serious?"
"If you become one of us."
"How can I trust that?"
"I can't say it's easy to trust you either."
I wasn't telling him to become the Lord of Urada.
I meant, become the castellan. I was purposefully vague. If he wanted to become the actual lord, he would need formal bestowment of title and land.
Duto believed that since I stood behind the emperor, I could arrange such titles and land grants. While technically possible, I had no intention of doing it. What would I gain from trusting him?
"What are they plotting right now?"
Duto hesitated for a moment.
He must have been anxious.
"She met Sez."
"Is he in the capital?"
"He's believed to be in the north."
Duto looked around and continued.
"They completely believe I'm on their side. Most of them are from knightly families of the empire, and I used to be the deputy-commander of the imperial knight order."
"I see why."
"They think I'll rebuild Syren and lead it. But Art stole all the family's assets while I was up north."
"Why were you in the north?"
"Art tried to kill me."
"For what reason?"
Duto sighed.
"It was when you had just arrived in the capital, I believe. There were some strange things happening at home. There was a place only my father could go, and I thought it was just his habit."
"What was in that place?"
"Monsters."
"What kind of monsters?"
"I don't know exactly. They ate people. I heard screams. I heard the monsters roar, too."
He hadn't seen them—only heard them.
There was something else I'd been meaning to ask.
"Why did Art go to Tern?"
"Why would my younger brother go there?"
It seemed he had been thoroughly excluded by the family. That was likely the reason he had turned away from them. From talking to him, I felt I had come to understand Duto a little more.
"Is Commander Sez planning to reveal these monsters?"
"I'd think so."
"Where are those monsters?"
Duto hesitated once again.
"Madam Mien is also suspicious. I can't tell whether she's really on my side or has always been on my father's. She knew where Commander Sez was."
"Commander Sez probably contacted her first. He could use her and those who side with her."
"Perhaps."
"What do you mean by her being on the grand duke's side?"
"There were people who got eaten by those monsters, and I'm convinced they were slash-and-burn farmers from the north. Madam Mien's organization is involved in the slave trade—where else would they get their 'product'?"
"Who are they selling the slaves to?"
"I don't know that."
It seemed he'd witnessed human trafficking.
"Have you seen the slaves?"
"They called them bandits, but anyone could see they were just slash-and-burn farmers. What sort of thief has a grandmother for a ringleader?"
There were many monsters in the north, and thus, many restricted zones. It seemed there was something going on in one of those places. The slaves weren't just being sold—they were likely being offered up as food to the monsters.
Duto Syren had a tendency to jump to conclusions even with unclear facts, so I had to interpret his statements carefully. Perhaps that was why Madam Mien was exploiting him.
Madam Mien had only provided her covert services when it was beneficial to her. She wasn't really on the grand duke's side, nor was she strictly an enemy. More likely, she was an anonymous client.
Like raising Holy Knights.
The grand duke had created the monsters.
I would need to send agents to the north.
"Is that all you had to tell me?"
"Isn't that enough?"
"There's nothing certain about any of it. I guess you didn't tell me the details because you don't trust me."
Duto gritted his teeth slowly.
"Will you really do as you promised?"
"Depending on the value of the information."
He hesitated again, then spoke.
"About Madam Mien's subordinates."
"What about them?"
Another pause.
"I don't think they're ordinary humans."
"What do you mean?"
"It's just a feeling. Madam Mien has changed since coming to the capital—she's become more like her subordinates."
I, too, had sensed a change in her.
She'd been different when I'd first met her compared to when I saw her recently at the Secret Council—and even more so today.
"Have you seen anything specific?"
"I haven't seen anything with my own eyes. It's hard to explain in words. You'd only know if you watched closely for some time."
So there was definitely something.
He spoke again.
"Anyway, I'm supposed to meet Commander Sez. He told me to come—he has something to say about rebuilding the family."
"When is this?"
"Next week, in the north."
Likely, Duto would die once he met Sez.
For Sez, madam Mien was still useful, but Duto was not. Madam Mien herself would not last much longer either.
Both Madam Mien and the noble families allied with her were being used by Commander Sez. It was likely his idea to paint me as a devil through agitation.
Was it Viscount Born? One of the heads of the families allied with Madam Mien said that it was just a matter of time before my identity was exposed. That they would reveal I was a devil worshipper.
If so, those monsters would surely be brought out.
They would pin them on me, claiming I'd summoned devils. Sez would then send out Holy Knights to capture that devil.
"Let's go back to the others."
"Be careful."
"You too."
I headed back to the banquet hall first.
"Squad leader."
—Please speak.
"Send agents to the north to dig deeper into Madam Mien's merchant guild. There's testimony that people are being fed to monsters."
—It's probably past the restricted zones.
"Do you know something?"
—Since two years ago, there's been an increase in never-before-seen monsters. With all the incursions, there are more mercenaries in that area too.
"One more thing. Duto is meeting Commander Sez."
—We will prepare.
I returned to the banquet hall.
The celebration was in full swing.
I took my seat and asked Duke Mals,
"Our finances are in dire straits. If any of you have ideas, I'd like to hear them."
"I suppose the grand duke took everything for himself."
Merchant leader Barako clicked his tongue.
Count Parde asked,
"How bad is it?"
"The state treasury will be empty before winter arrives. The imperial finances are already actually bankrupt."
"It's that bad?"
Count Mals chimed in as well.
"Even the contingency fund is gone?"
"Yes. The grand duke seems to have taken not only this year's budget, but even the reserves and minimum emergency stocks. Regular tax income won't even cover the officials' salaries."
"We wouldn't make it past next year, then."
"To think the empire has fallen that far."
Did the grand duke siphon away all the assets just in case he lost to us? I didn't think so. He absorbed the empire's power for himself and discarded it. It was doomed to fall by his own hand anyway.
"Any ideas?"
"It is a difficult thing to say on the day of the emperor's enthronement... But if finances are ruined to that extent, you won't last even two years. Raising taxes will only stir more resentment."
"What about national projects?"
"There's nothing left except electricity or mining."
That was the core business of our family.
It would be difficult to undertake such projects for the empire's sake.
Duke Watts spoke.
"I need to discuss something with all of you."
"I think I know what you mean."
The tone grew grim as we continued eating.
We would have to prepare, even if it was a bit early.
No one knew when the empire might collapse.
/ / /
We gathered at the Hader Inn.
It was because of the discussion that Duke Watts had proposed.
"This is very hard to say, but we need to consider what comes after the empire."
"I agree."
"If, by any chance, the empire falls, those with money and power will surely declare independence."
No one responded.
It wasn't an ancient nation, but it was still the first and most powerful empire on the continent.
The thought of its collapse was unfamiliar and hard to fathom, and difficult to believe would really happen. But if it became impossible even to pay the regular army, it would become reality.
"What do you think, Duke Watts?"
Duke Watts evaded the question.
Everyone dreams of becoming king. They just don't say it out loud. Merchant leader Barako and Duke Mals couldn't become kings without soldiers to command.
Count Parde spoke.
"Let's be honest, at least among ourselves. Duke Watts, your family is based in the capital, and as supreme commander, I'd support you."
Everyone swallowed.
It meant that if Duke Watts declared an independent kingdom, Count Parde would support him. Dangerous words.
If the empire did fall and kingdoms rose up, the one that seized the capital would become the core. That was also true before the empire was founded. The kingdom that held the capital became the strongest.
Silence filled the dining room.
As the issue was so serious, no one spoke. Duke Watts couldn't reveal his true intentions, either.
"May I say something?"
"Go ahead."
I had things to summarize.
"The capital region could split into north and central regions. Whatever happens later, we must prevent them from devouring the capital."
"Agreed."
"So, if the empire falls—Duke Watts should declare a kingdom, and those of you here must support him. That way we can hasten their faction's division."
"Division?"
"They will split into the Born Viscount and Madam Mien factions. Madam Mien will win. Thus, if the empire falls, there will be two kingdoms."
Everyone agreed.
Count Parde likely harbored ambitions too.
But that was for later.
In turbulent times, the one with the greatest army becomes king. If someone isn't "king material," he would perish, and if the heavens didn't send the right person, it would become an age of war and chaos.
"They need to make the first move so we have a justification. Let's all forget this discussion for now. If I see signs, I'll tell you first."
"So be it."
Everyone stood in haste.
Since I was in charge of national security, there would be no repercussions for this conversation. I was the one behind the emperor, after all.
The grand duke had cut the last breath from the dying empire. It only still beat faintly because it had been such a mighty nation. But that faint heartbeat would not last past next year.
Secure as much funding as possible.
If I cannot save the dying empire—
It is better to prepare for the next era.