Chapter 87
Chapter 87
Arkan Winterbell’s gaze was incomparably calm. As he looked at the imperial procession that had arrived, there was not the slightest agitation in his eyes. A serenity rested within them, as if he had already foreseen everything.
‘As expected, the Emperor didn’t come.’
It was something I had anticipated.
The Emperor of the Empire. The weight carried by that position could not be compared with anything else. The throne of the Emperor was not merely a symbol of authority; it represented the Empire itself.
However, there existed two ducal families that threatened the prestige of the Imperial Family. Those were the Winterbell Ducal Family and the Helios Family.
The two houses had existed since the founding of the Empire. Even as a thousand years of history flowed by, they had never declined. Rather, they had grown even stronger to reach their current state.
With outstanding martial strength and immense authority as their foundation, they exerted influence in their respective regions that rivaled that of the Imperial Family itself.
Winterbell, which had seized control of the snowy northern lands, had subjugated countless nobles beneath their silver wolf banner. Helios, which had occupied the barren southern lands, displayed a power that none dared covet with the majesty of their crimson lion.
Even the word “reign” would not be sufficient to describe it.
Within their own territories, they had formed small empires. Even if it was the Emperor’s command, nothing could be accomplished in those regions without the consent of the two ducal houses.
Thus, from the Imperial Family’s perspective, it was inevitable that they would look upon them unfavorably.
Arkan knew well the way the Imperial Family looked at him. Outwardly, they expressed goodwill, yet inwardly they were surely grinding their teeth.
The Emperor was the sun of the Empire.
But with three suns beneath the same sky, how could one possibly ignore it?
The radiant golden sun, the blazing southern sun, and the coldly shining northern sun.
The delicate balance created by these three supported the Empire.
From the Imperial Family’s standpoint, they would have liked to find a pretext and push them aside. However, the influence they possessed had already taken root far too deeply in each region.
Winterbell’s swordsmanship had become the culture of the North, and Helios’s fire had become the spirit of the South.
They had already grown into great trees, their roots spread across entire regions.
Over the course of hundreds of years, their influence had expanded beyond mere political control. They had already become the spiritual pillars of their lands.
If the Empire ignored that and tried to forcefully suppress them, the Empire itself might end up split into three.
The biggest problem was that even if the Imperial Family mobilized all of its military forces and pushed forward, they could not guarantee victory.
If they failed, they would not only lose the people’s support, but in the worst case, even the Emperor’s position could be taken away. That was why the Imperial Family maintained the current attitude.
Of course, both Winterbell and Helios were well aware of this delicate relationship, so outwardly they showed the utmost respect toward the Imperial Family.
After all, they too were subjects of the Empire.
The Emperor not coming personally could be considered a kind of power struggle.
Because if the sun of the Empire moved on his own, it could appear as though he was admitting that he stood on equal footing with Winterbell and Helios—or perhaps even below them.
Therefore, instead of coming himself, the Emperor had sent the Prime Minister, the second most powerful figure in the Empire.
When the Prime Minister stepped down from the carriage, the Imperial Knights lined up in perfect formation. Their golden armor shone brilliantly within flawless order, and their momentum resembled that of a single enormous blade.
“It has been a long time, Arkan Winterbell.”
The voice of Prime Minister Kyron Valles rang out. Silver strands were mixed among his black hair, and his sharp eyes and elegant smile formed a peculiar harmony.
His sly yet imposing presence sufficiently explained why he had come here in place of the Emperor.
“It has been a long time, Prime Minister.”
“You seem even younger than when I last saw you.”
“And you seem even more aged.”
Arkan Winterbell looked like a painting brought to life. His silver-white hair fluttered in the northern wind, and his flawless appearance—untouched even by time itself—captured the gaze of anyone who looked at him. His beauty had gone beyond mere appearance and reached the realm of art.
“Ha ha. Isn’t that only natural?”
The moment the two shook hands, the surrounding air vibrated subtly. The Prime Minister’s unfathomable smile met Arkan’s tranquil gaze. On the surface, their handshake was a courteous greeting, but within it lay an invisible contest of strength.
The presence of the Imperial Knights grew even sharper. Their mere existence seemed to dye the surrounding air in gold. As befitting the strongest knights of the Empire, an overwhelming pressure could be felt simply from the way they stood.
“Thank you for the hospitality of the Winterbell family.”
“You must have had a difficult journey.”
The Prime Minister’s words carried appropriate courtesy while also bearing the dignity of the Empire’s highest official. The smile hanging on his lips was a perfect mask forged from decades of political experience.
Arkan merely gave a slight nod. Every one of his movements was graceful, as though his figure had been condensed from moonlight itself. Their meeting was, in itself, a political ritual and a symbolic scene that displayed the balance of power.
Leon Helios, the legitimate heir of the Helios Family, approached not Ryan Winterbell but Lux Winterbell. His reddish-golden hair fluttered like the mane of a lion, and his eyes seemed to contain the southern sun itself.
“It’s been a while, Lux Winterbell.”
“It has been a while, Young Lord.”
The two exchanged greetings as if they were acquainted.
From the carriage that followed, a man stepped down who carried an oppressive presence, as if fire itself had been molded into human form.
Rayven Helios.
With his appearance, the surrounding air seemed to heat up instantly.
The way he stepped down from the carriage was graceful, almost like part of a ceremony. His brilliant reddish-gold hair caught the sunlight and danced like living flames.
His skin, tempered beneath the southern sun, carried a healthy glow, and his golden eyes were deep and hot like molten lava.
His appearance rivaled even Arkan’s beauty, yet the atmosphere surrounding him was entirely different.
If Arkan was cold and noble like moonlight, Rayven was hot and intense like the sun.
The smile hanging on his lips was cheerful, yet the authority hidden within it was by no means light. Each time he stepped forward, his crimson cloak fluttered in the wind.
His armor was made of deep crimson metal, emitting a unique luster as if it had been forged from cooled molten iron. It was a sacred relic of fire passed down through generations of the Helios Family.
“As expected, the North is cold no matter how many times I come here. It’s truly freezing!”
Rayven’s laughter rang out. His voice carried a natural ease, yet his presence was anything but light.
Heat seemed to swirl around him, and that energy clashed with the frigid air of the Winterbell territory, creating a strange tension.
His reputation as one of the strongest individuals in the world was no exaggeration. The overwhelming presence felt in each of his steps was the very dignity of an absolute ruler who had dominated the South for decades.
Rayven Helios strode straight toward Arkan Winterbell. Even so, Arkan did not blink once and simply looked at him with an icy expression.
“…….”
When he arrived in front of him, Rayven Helios broke into a bright smile like the sun and extended his hand for a handshake.
“Arkan, you’re still as cold as moonlight.”
At his single remark, it felt as if the frozen air around them began to melt. At this moment, when three of the strongest figures had gathered in one place, everyone held their breath as they watched their meeting.
Arkan reached out and clasped Rayven Helios’s hand.
It was the moment ice and fire met.
And in the very next moment, an unexpected remark flowed from Arkan’s mouth.
“That foolish face of yours is still the same.”
Those nearby were inwardly horrified by the unimaginable words that had come from Arkan Winterbell. Some attendants froze on the spot, while the knights could not hide their discomfort.
After all, even a three-year-old child knew that Winterbell and Helios were sworn rivals.
The rivalry between the two families, which had lasted for hundreds of years, had already become legend.
Large and small conflicts fought over the hegemony of the North and the South, and the lingering resentment that had piled up along the way.
It was not something that could simply be brushed aside lightly.
Yet the head of the Winterbell family had openly spoken words that sounded like a provocation toward the head of the Helios Family.
No one could even guess what might happen next.
A situation like this did not exist in any book of etiquette.
In fact, the knights of the Helios Family were already giving off an aura as if they might draw their swords at any moment. Their crimson armor shone even more vividly beneath the sunlight, and their tense muscles were stiff as though they were ready for war at any time.
As if to say that they did not fear them.
And this was on Winterbell’s land.
However, contrary to everyone’s expectations, Rayven Helios burst into cheerful laughter. His laughter was as intense as thunder in the middle of a summer day.
“Ha ha ha ha ha!”
At his laughter, the surrounding tension melted away in an instant.
Like an avalanche of snow on a spring day.
“…….”
Arkan’s silence felt like a wordless smile.
“You’re the same as always.”
Rayven’s words carried a warm sense of familiarity. In his golden eyes was the affection one might show toward an old friend.
“You’re noisy.”
Even Arkan’s cold reply sounded somewhat gentle.
Contrary to the rumors spread among the public, the two of them seemed to get along quite well. The way they treated each other felt natural, like old friends meeting again after a long time.
It was as though winter and summer had met to create spring.
The Prime Minister also nodded as if this were perfectly natural, showing no particular reaction. Within his sly smile was the leisure of someone who already knew everything.
As the Empire’s second most powerful figure, he likely already knew the relationship between the two men.
At least for this moment, it did not feel like three suns had gathered together, but rather like three old friends reuniting.
However, the responsibilities and duties resting on their shoulders still appeared heavy.
Even in this brief moment of ease, they remained those who stood at the very top, leading the Empire.
“You both must have had a difficult journey coming from so far away.”
“Ha ha! It was nice seeing snow again after such a long time.”
“You’re too kind.”
Arkan Winterbell spoke.
“Let’s go inside and catch up properly.”
“Excellent! I brought our family’s pride, ‘Breath of the Sun,’ so I could drink it with you!”
The Prime Minister’s eyes sparkled.
“Oh? You brought such a rare liquor? May I have a taste as well?”
“Ha ha. Of course.”
The three of them naturally headed toward the main palace of Winterbell, where Arkan resided.
The remaining forces could only glare at one another amid an awkward atmosphere.