Ch.123123. Delegation

The Three Pillars Supporting the Empire.

Wealth, Order, and Sword. The three orders possessing apostles each have their designated roles. The Apostle of the Sword protects the empire from potential external threats, while the Apostle of Judgment manages internal chaos.

While the first two handle matters of force, the Order of Wealth—the Apostle of Gold—bears the duty of supporting them from the shadows.

“Recently, all apostles in the Lornarock region have reportedly been summoned.”

Merchant caravans traveling across the continent inevitably gather various information. Intelligence that reaches Vivienne through numerous middle managers soon enters the emperor’s ears. Naturally, such information has significant potential to influence the empire’s political situation.

In particular, the imperial palace pays closest attention to the activities of apostles scattered throughout the continent.

“Those antisocial bastards gathering together? Are they preparing a rebellion?”

Charlotte sneered, twisting her lips.

Lornarock. A place in the Kingdom of Alteria, located in the northern part of the empire. Also known as the City of the Abandoned, it attracts people who have left their homelands for personal reasons, just as its name suggests.

Most are vagrants and criminals.

Law and order do not exist in Lornarock. For possessing expensive items, traveling alone, getting into disputes, or purely for entertainment—people die countless deaths daily for all sorts of reasons. Abandoned corpses pile up like bundles of goods before being incinerated all at once at regular intervals.

Nevertheless, people seek out Lornarock because it’s the only place where they can survive.

“If they’re going to hide in that cesspool, they should stay hidden forever. If they’re planning some foolish scheme now…”

“No. It’s too early to judge.”

Vivienne firmly shook her head.

“The meeting itself ended quickly. Since it was a highly confidential meeting attended only by apostles, even my spies couldn’t hear its contents, but I doubt it involved impure intentions like rebellion. If they truly plotted rebellion, there would have been signs—troop movements or stockpiling of supplies. Things that can’t be hidden no matter how hard one tries.”

“…All the apostles gathered. Is that certain?”

Alvar stroked his chin with a stern face. Vivienne answered without a moment’s hesitation.

“It is certain. Death, Chaos, and Pleasure. Apostles from all three orders gathered. My spies aren’t naive enough to report unreliable information. We’ve already verified it through cross-checking.”

Lornarock nominally belongs to the Kingdom of Alteria. Nominally being the key word. Decades have passed since the three persecuted orders established their headquarters in Lornarock. During that time, the kingdom has been unable to interfere with Lornarock, and has now half-abandoned its control over the territory.

Except for Elysium, the imperial capital, Lornarock is undisputedly the greatest and worst city on the continent.

The Order of Death possesses Absian, the Apostle of Nihility; the Order of Chaos has Shaharon, the Apostle of the Abyss; and the Order of Pleasure holds Lydia, the Apostle of Pleasure. If they had instigated unrest, the empire would have officially issued an order for subjugation, but so far, Lornarock has shown no unusual behavior. Rather, they deliver large amounts of tribute each year.

From the empire’s perspective, attacking Lornarock would mean accepting significant casualties. While the power of three apostles is certainly concerning, unlike the friendly orders of the empire, Lornarock’s three apostles and their orders check each other and engage in minor disputes.

They remain peaceful unless provoked first. Though there was no mutual communication, the empire understood this, and thanks to that, Lornarock has maintained its existence under the empire’s tacit approval until now.

However, if that long silence were broken and Lornarock’s apostles began to stir… that could not be ignored.

“The conclusion is that we currently know nothing, isn’t it?”

“…That’s correct.”

With Vivienne’s affirmation, the emperor nodded and continued.

“Let’s continue the discussion about Lornarock later. There’s no need to dwell on matters we can’t immediately resolve. However, since this involves apostles, I cannot leave it entirely to Duke Vivienne, so I will dispatch imperial agents to gather more detailed information. For the rest, let’s address it properly after Tiara’s coming-of-age ceremony.”

“Yes.”

The emperor looked at Alvar with a somber expression and asked.

“Have all the delegations arrived?”

“The delegations from Liberta, Calderia, Enoska, and Alteria arrived an hour ago and are staying in the guest rooms.”

“Asking the Alterian delegation would be pointless as they likely know nothing either. What about Sernos and Albheim?”

“We received a message that Sernos will arrive before the ceremony begins, and as for Albheim…”

Just as Alvar was about to continue, a voice came from beyond the door.

“I apologize for interrupting your discussion, but may I come in for a moment?”

“Enter.”

“…I’m sorry. It’s an urgent matter.”

Upon receiving permission, the attendant assisting Alvar carefully opened the door and stepped inside.

“What is it?”

The emperor gazed at the attendant with indifferent eyes. Shrinking under that gaze, the attendant bowed his head and murmured.

“The delegations from Sernos and Albheim have just arrived.”

“It seems I’ve heard enough of the report for now.”

The emperor rose. Alvar immediately followed and asked.

“Will you go to meet them right away?”

“We can’t leave guests who’ve come from afar waiting. Ah, I should tidy my appearance before departing. Even though we see them every year, I must show dignity as the ruler of the continent. It’s fortunate my daughter is out.”

“Her Highness the Princess is practicing for the coming-of-age ceremony. Lord Rex and his friends are waiting in the adjacent room. What should we do with them?”

The attendant asked in a respectful tone. Charlotte responded with an indifferent expression.

“Tell them to keep waiting since we’ll be heading there soon anyway.”

“Understood.”

The attendant bowed deeply once more and departed with hurried steps.

***

Despite expectations of grandeur based on the elaborate preparations, the ceremony proceeded rather quietly.

Quiet, but by no means modest. In the banquet hall bustling with dozens of people, Tiara could be seen on the platform, under the gaze of distinguished nobles. She wore a pure white veil symbolizing purity, with minimal makeup, her eyes closed.

“Is it alright for you two not to be up there?”

Rex asked, tilting his head curiously. His voice was soft. Charlotte’s companions were seated in the VIP section reserved only for the most distinguished guests. It would be inappropriate to disrupt the ceremony with even an accidental loud noise.

“If they were princes, I would be there too, but today’s protagonist is the princess. What use is it for the Apostle of the Sword to bless a woman? Moreover, the princess is not a holy warrior and will live a life far removed from battle.”

When Charlotte responded curtly, Vivienne smiled bitterly and added.

“Well, it’s not like an apostle’s blessing brings about any meaningful change anyway… In any case, I feel the same. Alvar is more suited to giving blessings than the two of us.”

On the platform stood not only Tiara but also the emperor and Alvar. The emperor read from a prepared script about the empire’s history, the mindset a princess should maintain, and other formalities, his face solemn. Meanwhile, Alvar blessed Tiara, holding the Order of Order’s sacred artifacts—the Crown of Sacred Law and the Hammer of True Destiny—in both hands.

In terms of commemorating adulthood and wishing for peace, the imperial coming-of-age ceremony wasn’t much different from the one in Oakbrook Village.

After the speech ended, the emperor and Alvar stepped back, and Tiara smiled brightly, waving her hand. Applause erupted simultaneously, as if coordinated. Rex was about to join in by clapping his hands when he suddenly felt a gaze from somewhere.

“Lord Charlotte.”

“What is it?”

Instead of voicing his question, Rex pointed to the side. A short distance away, people were gathered in the same VIP section. He had been told they were delegations from other kingdoms.

Four kingdoms: Liberta, Calderia, Enoska, and Alteria. Additionally, the Holy Nation of Sernos and the Great Forest of Albheim. Among them, the delegation from Albheim caught his attention.

“They keep staring at us.”

The gaze was blatant. Showing no interest in the ceremony, they had been fixedly staring in their direction since entering the banquet hall. At first, Rex thought they might be curious about Charlotte and Vivienne as apostles, but that didn’t seem to be the case.

Their gaze was fixed on Ellin.

“They’re probably intrigued to see one of their own kind.”

Charlotte replied in a disinterested tone. Elves are among the rarest races in this world. Most elves spend their entire lives within the Great Forest and end them there as well. While some occasionally venture outside, there are no exceptions—all elves return to their homeland when death approaches.

Due to this characteristic, encountering another elf outside their homeland is extremely rare. Rex himself had only ever met Ellin.

“Ellin. Do you know them?”

“…”

“Ellin?”

Rex stared at Ellin with wide eyes. Her rigid expression. Her downcast gaze. Even someone as oblivious as he could tell that Ellin was avoiding answering.

Why?

He had simply asked if she knew them, with no particular intention behind the question. Elves are few in number and live long lives, so he thought they might be acquaintances.

But why? Before he could voice his confusion, Ellin silently took his hand.

When Rex blinked in surprise, Ellin said with a faint smile.

“…Yes. I know them. I didn’t expect to meet them here.”

Her grip tightened. Rex barely noticed, more puzzled by Ellin’s smile than the unexpected touch. From their first meeting until now, Ellin had always shown little emotional variation. She kept her distance from others, always speaking with an indifferent face and a monotone voice.

That’s what those who don’t know Ellin well tend to think. But Rex, having spent three years with her, knows she has emotions. He knows Ellin likes dogs, though she prefers flowers and trees much more, and sometimes smiles secretly.

But this smile was different from her usual ones. It seemed almost forced…

“Princess.”

The sudden voice broke his train of thought. The voice was directed precisely at them. Ellin’s hand trembled in his. Princess? Rex turned his head with a puzzled expression.

A man with a cold demeanor was approaching with unhurried steps. Long green hair and eyes of the same emerald hue.

An elf.

After the princess’s coming-of-age ceremony ended, five elves made their way through the nobles exchanging greetings. The nobles hesitantly made way, intimidated by their sharp presence. Ignoring the dense crowd, the elves approached directly to the group.

“What is it?”

Charlotte asked, narrowing her brow. The man standing at the front bowed his head with a cold expression.

“Apostle of the Sword, Charlotte von Edenhar. I am Silvaren, here as an envoy from Albheim.”

“I know you’re the envoy. Didn’t we already meet at the palace before the ceremony began? What business do you have?”

“You seem to be mistaken.”

The elf, Silvaren, replied in a curt tone.

“I extended greetings merely out of respect for someone of your apostolic rank, but I… no, we don’t have business with you.”

“What?”

“Princess.”

Silvaren knelt on one knee. Rex widened his eyes in confusion.

The direction of Silvaren’s gaze was—

“Lord Elturas has ordered your return.”

“…”

It was toward Ellin.