episode_0006

It had been a few days since I informed the three councilors of my decision.

A confusing situation.

During that time, I managed to resolve the chaos caused by Baloran’s death and the fractured faction of the rebels.

I may not be fully prepared yet, but there is no other choice for them right now.

If the power of the Grand Empire is not present in the current situation where I am like a candle in the wind, I will soon be brutally killed by the rebel army.

Most of the soldiers who have occupied Roman are from the Grand Empire.

But that doesn’t mean the current situation is good.

Even now, my fate is like a candle in the wind.

That’s why, as my first order as the Grand Duke, I ordered the retrieval of the bodies of the Emperor and the nobles.

For the sake of those who were loved by the people of the Empire, I need to show the people that I am different from Baloran.

And today, their funerals begin.

Normally, a funeral that would take a month to prepare, but here, we never know when war might break out…

It seemed better to hold the funeral during a time of peace, so I hurried as much as possible to begin the funeral proceedings.

-Kiik!

A black carriage carrying the bodies of the Emperor and the nobles slowly moved along the road.

Behind that black carriage, another carriage carrying the former Imperial family followed closely.

The people on the streets expressed their condolences and sorrow.

“Oh, Emperor…”

“Even the heavens are indifferent…”

I looked at the scene, immersed in a melancholic atmosphere.

The former Emperor, who was loved and respected by the people of the Empire.

I may have avenged him, but the people of the Empire… will they like me?

From their perspective, I might just appear as the ruthless son of a conqueror, right?

With those thoughts in mind, I looked at the women sitting across from me.

Three women in black dresses.

They were all beautiful with bright gray hair, but their faces were filled with sadness and tears.

The woman sitting in the center appeared to be in her thirties, but I knew she was in her late forties.

She was… Eurydice, the Empress of this Empire.

To her left, a woman with a dog-like face and red eyes, Princess Joy.

To the right of the Empress, a beautiful woman with red eyes and a sharp expression.

She was Theodora, who was once almost my stepmother.

She is likely to become the Empress once the coronation takes place.

The Empress, who seemed to have calmed down a bit, wiped her tears with a handkerchief and said, “Grand Duke… Thank you.”

I replied with a sense of guilt, “No… If only my actions had been a little faster…”

Guilt and remorse.

It’s difficult to look at them with these mixed emotions.

In reality… it was because of Baloran’s death that I let my guard down…

If Baloran hadn’t hosted a banquet for the soldiers, it would have been almost impossible for me to call mercenaries to the palace.

I decided to take advantage of that and made up my mind to hold the funeral that day.

My confession that I took advantage of Baloran’s death to bring down Baloran… my shameful confession that I couldn’t bring myself to tell them.

“No, Your Majesty.”

The Empress shook her head as if to say no and continued, “Even so… I am so grateful for avenging him.”

I waved my hands in refusal to the Empress, who bowed her head in gratitude.

“Your… Majesty!”

“Mother…”

Although I and Theodora and Joy were taken aback by the Empress’s bowed head, the Empress, as if it were nothing, closed her eyes and said, “Baloran… You wouldn’t know how much I wanted to kill him.”

It’s hard to know exactly how she feels.

But I know she must have hated and cursed Baloran, who killed her beloved husband and sons, endlessly.

“So… thank you so much.”

“No, it was just something that I, as a noble of the Empire, had to do.”

I find it difficult to look at them with a mixture of guilt and gratitude in their eyes.

The empress nodded as if understanding what I said.

She cautiously opened her mouth.

“I have received the intentions of the Grand Duke Charles.”

– Gulp.

My body shuddered at that moment.

Is this about the marriage proposal with Theodora?

When I glanced at Theodora, she shot me a disapproving look.

“I see…”

How would the empress and the princesses view me?

As a cold-hearted opportunist like Valoran…? Or a dreamy young man in love, wanting to marry Theodora?

“But I am not interested…”

– Sigh…

Before I knew it, the carriage came to a stop.

“Despite your efforts to establish the empire, you are ultimately… the son of my enemy. I do not wish to witness the marriage between the son of such a person and my beloved daughter…”

And…

“Therefore, I reject your proposal.”

As I was about to respond to the empress’s declaration.

– Click!

The carriage door opened.

“I understand your decision…, but please understand that I have no other choice.”

Saying that, I hurriedly got off the carriage.

***

The carriage containing the bodies of the emperor and the nobles stopped in front of a grand cathedral.

A knight stood in front of the cathedral’s main gate.

The knight, eyeing the large wooden arched door.

He drew his sword from his waist and struck the cathedral’s door with the scabbard.

– Thump! Thump! Thump!

Vigorously…

“Who seeks entry?”

As the voice of the old priest inside the cathedral was heard, the knight began to speak in a majestic voice.

“Tiberius Augustus. The Emperor of the Great Empire, the Guardian of the Imperial Council, the Protector of all races, the Chief Citizen of Rome, the Grand Marshal of the Empire, the Chief Justice, the King of Epirus and Ezeb, the Duke of Tyre, Lido, and Antike, and the Protector of Antioch, Bairen, and Prin.”

The knight spoke solemnly of the titles held by the late emperor.

“We do not know such a person.”

The priest’s voice from inside the cathedral sounded disdainful, as if they did not know such a person…

The knight struck the door again.

– Thump! Thump! Thump!

“Who seeks entry?”

At the repeated question from the priest, the knight shouted louder and more grandly.

“Tiberius Augustus. Member of the Imperial Council, Chairman of the Five Races Council, Honorary Doctor of the Academy, the Guardian of Rome, decorated with numerous medals from the Council and the Church.”

The second time, he spoke of the emperor’s achievements and successes…

“We do not know such a person.”

The man’s voice from inside the cathedral sounded disdainful.

Two refusals.

Perhaps the priest already knew that he was blocking the emperor’s rest.

But in reality, it was not to block the emperor’s rest, but to prevent the arrogance and immorality of the imperial family… a funeral ritual unique to the nobility.

– Thump! Thump! Thump!

As the knight struck the door with his scabbard again…

“Who seeks entry?”

The old priest asked again.

And the knight replied.

“Tiberius. A sinful and pitiful human being.”

“Then let him in.”

– Creak!

The massive door opened, and the carriage entered the cathedral.

*Sobbing*

The empress was sobbing.

“Dad…”

– Thud.

Princess Joy’s legs seemed to give out as she hesitated.

Supporting her, I asked, “You seem unwell. How about taking a break?”

Joy weakly shook her head and said, “No… just a moment… I just felt dizzy.”

With that, she gently pushed me aside and headed towards the inside of the cathedral.

*Whoosh*

As a cold wind blew.

Theodora and I locked eyes as I turned back to look.

Was she holding me back because I tried to escape last time?

Her eyes were filled with strong anger.

But it was inevitable.

If I let her escape, the empire will be engulfed in civil war.

The only way to negotiate with the imperial faction is to have her, who will become the empress, in my grasp.

With a cold and icy gaze, she turned her head back towards the cathedral.

***

A solemn requiem.

The sad melody touches my ears.

“Black…”

“Your Majesty…”

The mournful atmosphere of the song and the sobbing of the people in black attire.

It is a painfully sad scene.

Barorangi created this scene.

Perhaps everyone gathered here loved the late emperor.

So… they wouldn’t have good feelings towards me.

No matter what… I am Barorangi’s son.

The empress and the princesses weep as they look at the bodies of the deceased nobles.

Tears never dry in their eyes as they look at the dead nobles.

It was a good decision to make the bodies look as clean as possible after the brutal execution.

Black stitches visible on the neck in some places.

The gruesome sight of bodies with severed heads and bodies somehow managed to be resolved.

It may look a bit sloppy, but still… I did my best to fix it.

The funeral procedures are almost coming to an end.

Once this is over… I have to deal with the mountain of work that has piled up.

According to the report I received yesterday, we seemed to be running low on fireball scrolls and ammunition.

I asked for additional orders, but I’m not sure if we’ll receive them before the imperial faction arrives.

Hmm… as I watch the work of placing the bodies in the royal mausoleum come to an end.

“Your Grace…”

Agrifa approaches me and whispers in my ear.

“I have instructed the chief justices. You should be able to receive a verdict at any time.”

I nod in response to his words and whisper in Agrifa’s ear.

“Alright… go and submit the petition for a judicial review. And ask the chief justices to deliver a verdict by tomorrow…”

“Sigh… you’re making me work hard.”

Agrifa sighs as if he finds it difficult.

“Sigh… you haven’t been getting much sleep lately, have you?”

Even before Barorangi died, we stayed up late every night planning what to do after his death.

Well…

After Barorangi’s death, I have been working day and night to handle this situation, so… I feel sorry.

“Well, I never thought becoming a noble would be easy…”

I smile brightly at Agrifa and say.

“I’m not just a superficial noble. I will become the Duke’s family… and the future Duke’s father. Anyway, just do this and then go get some rest.”

Agrifa shakes his head in response to my words and says.

“Haha… you still have a lot to do, so you must be tired.”

He jokes, then his expression turns serious.

“Your Grace… if the negotiations fail…”

Agrifa cautiously brings up the worst-case scenario.

“Will we be able to rescue Lady Mary?”

Mary Ryan.

My younger sister and a knight proud of the Duke’s country.

But she knows her responsibilities and duties…

I shake my head and say.

“She probably won’t come…”

As our ancestors have always done, she will protect that place.

“So… this negotiation must not fail.”

If the negotiations fail… the Duke’s country and Mary…

Both will be in danger.

No matter how strong the Duke’s country’s military might be, and despite the imperial faction’s demands, a full-scale war with the imperial faction is impossible.

The factions that have maintained neutrality and even the nobles who were part of the imperial faction have all turned to the imperial faction due to Barorangi’s excessive actions.

We must find a way to end this peacefully with them.

“Oh… did you deliver the evidence to the Pope’s side that Barorangi was a worshipper of demons?”

Agrippa seemed to be ignoring my words.

“Yes… But still no response.”

Sigh…

I thought she would at least have some feelings for me… Is she just playing hard to get?

“Sigh… It’s not easy…”