episode_0019
by fnovelpia
19. Imperial Ball
The clattering of hooves tickled my ears.
I even felt the jolting sensation as if I were riding inside a bus.
My body, exhausted from blood loss after being shot in the shoulder and a week of sleepless development work.
My eyelids, steeped in fatigue, refused to lift.
But isn’t this precisely why humans have brains?
I had witnessed our victory in the war with my own eyes and pieced together what followed.
‘Ah, so Erica must have put me in a carriage out of consideration for my exhaustion.’
Losing so much blood and pulling all-nighters for a week.
Given how utterly drained and unfit for horseback riding I must have been, transporting me by carriage was the obvious choice.
Erica… Normally, she gives off the vibe of a tyrannical boss who works her people to the bone, but surprisingly, she’s quite considerate, huh?
Adjusting my mental assessment of Erica, I slowly opened my eyes.
And as I did, Erica’s face appeared right before me.
“My, aren’t you a sound sleeper?”
“…Count…?”
“Your liege.”
“……….”
I wasn’t sure why she was letting me use her lap as a pillow.
But since some things in life are better left unknown, I quietly sat up without a word.
“How long was I asleep?”
“Hmm… Roughly five days.”
That’s longer than I expected.
My back felt stiff, and my neck was sore.
I rolled my head from side to side to loosen up the stiffness.
At the same time… I glanced out the carriage window and saw an unfamiliar landscape.
It was a place I definitely hadn’t seen even once while marching to Penrose on horseback.
Not to mention, the carriage itself felt oddly luxurious….
Uneasy, I turned to Erica and asked in a small voice.
“Count, where exactly have we traveled to?”
“Southern Redmain.”
“…What?”
I gaped at her in disbelief.
Something about my expression must have been hilarious, because Erica stifled a laugh behind her hand.
“We’re headed to Lumiar.”
“Lumiar?”
I didn’t know much about the regions of this world.
With no satellites in existence, maps were as valuable as military supplies—luxury items even.
And who’d waste such high-level information on cheap papyrus?
So, having lived in the countryside, I lacked information and had no idea where most places were.
Perhaps aware of this, Erica nodded with an amused smile, then gleefully explained while looking at me.
“*Pfft*… It’s the Emperor’s land, the capital of the Frontier Empire.”
“…What?”
“Hahaha—!! Your face is priceless!”
Unlike Erica laughing heartily… I froze stiff on the spot.
…I’m just an ordinary commoner, so why am I in a place with the Emperor?
For about 30 minutes, I blankly stared outside, denying reality.
Then for another hour… I tried convincing myself that Erica was playing a prank and that soon, the capital Presia would appear.
But as we moved deeper into thickening mountains, I had no choice but to accept the truth.
Slumping into the plush carriage sofa like a deflated balloon, I asked Erica.
“…Why are we going to see the Emperor…?”
“Aw, already gave in? Watching you deny reality was quite entertaining.”
I narrowed my eyes and glared at her.
An ordinary commoner would never dare do this to a noble… but she’d let this pass, right?
Dragging me straight to the palace right after the war.
Rather than offended, however, Erica giggled as if tickled.
“The Imperial Palace is hosting a ball,” she said.
“A ball?”
“That’s right.”
A ball.
Usually, balls are matchmaking events… or serve as gatherings for exchanging information, job placements, or debates.
But currently, the Frontier Empire is in chaos after the death of its debauched Emperor….
And they decided to throw a ball now?
Seemingly reading my thoughts, Erica chuckled and answered my doubts.
“They want collars on the mutts.”
“Mu—what?”
“Rulers like me, governing entire regions—they want leashes around our necks.”
The mental image of Erica leashed… was admittedly a little tempting….
Right then, sharp pain shot through my shin.
“Ow-ow—!”
“My apologies. I felt inexplicably irritated.”
Was I that obvious?
If I ever try handing in my resignation later, she might catch on and chase me down….
Rubbing soothing circles on my shin, I listened as Erica continued.
“A few months ago, the late Emperor passed. That’s why I conscripted soldiers.”
“Right. To prepare for the chaos to come?”
“Exactly. The problem is, I’m not the only one who prepared.”
“So… other nobles are also bracing for turbulent times?”
Erica praised my quick understanding with a head pat.
She felt oddly friendlier than before—or was it just my imagination?
“That’s why the Five Lords plan to leash us.
‘However the country fractures, the Emperor remains—so behave yourselves while we sort it out….’
Offering bribes to secure non-interference from the palace, no doubt.”
“What a mess.”
“*Hmph*, isn’t this nation utterly fucked?”
I answered with silence.
Then asked Erica one question.
“So… are we going to pay bribes?”
“No.”
Erica leaned back against the sofa.
“We’re going to mingle with other rulers.”
“Mingle?”
“To figure out who’s friend or foe. Other rulers will likely come with the same intent.”
“Not full alliances yet, but a chance to decide who stays friendly and who’s a future conquest target?”
Again, she reached to pat my head.
I sidestepped her hand by leaning away.
Not happening.
Pouting slightly, Erica glared at me.
I deliberately ignored it and asked another question.
“I get it now. But why bring *me*?”
“Just felt like it.”
…Is she actually insane?
Rumors say even Penrose, once a rebel, was spared because she valued talent.
Her unpredictability was beyond imagination.
Going to an imperial audience… with a commoner in tow….
Lost in thought, Erica raised a finger and asked abruptly:
“This war was unexpectedly perilous, wasn’t it?”
“Uh… yeah?”
“Why do you think that was?”
I paused, mulling it over.
The first answer was obvious: betrayal.
The betrayal ruined our bold strategy—storming through winter unscathed with a surprise attack.
Forced into a siege, the war dragged on longer….
But Erica likely wanted more than such a simple answer.
So, I voiced what came to mind.
“Food shortages.”
“Correct.”
The rock-hard bread I’d tasted while demonstrating the improved furnace.
Back in my village, it cost a measly 15 donghwa.
But in Presia—Redmain’s capital—it cost 35 donghwa.
That’s 3,500 KRW in Korean terms.
Even accounting for winter depleting grain stores, the price was outrageous.
Meaning food must’ve been scarce across Redmain.
We’d barely scraped by carrying a month’s rations.
With ample supplies, the siege would’ve only needed time before victory.
“Any guesses what I’ll ask you to make next?”
“A solution to the food crisis?”
Erica nodded and elaborated.
Redmain wasn’t alone—almost the entire empire faced shortage, save two regions.
Civilian food supply equals military provisions equals combat strength.
Hence, bringing me along to gather useful intel for development in the capital.
It made sense, but…
Does this tyrant boss see me as *Doraemon*?
Next she’ll ask me to magically produce gold and jewels.
“Look, I know it’s a tall order. Still, I’m counting on you….”
“…I’ll do my best.”
Resting a hand on the resignation letter nestled in my chest, I reaffirmed my vow.
Let’s wrap this up quickly and quit ASAP….
After another week of travel.
Boredom never set in—between humoring Erica’s antics, watching the scenery felt like touring a foreign country.
Closer to the Emperor’s lands, southern Redmain’s buildings grew lavish.
“Inns cater to nobles visiting the palace. Shabby buildings wouldn’t attract them.”
Meaning this once-poor village—remote and with meager farmland—now thrived on hospitality.
They grew rich *by* building luxuries, not the other way around….
Lost in observing this world, time flew.
Soon, we passed grandiose walls into a dazzling city.
The kind of radiant metropolis straight out of fantasy….
But sightseeing would wait—heading straight for the Imperial Palace.
While the driver parked our carriage, I scanned our surroundings.
Then a woman spotted Erica and approached….
“My, my… Erica Grace. Still tiny, I see.”
“Oh, Cecil—whatever Lacusia…! Still all chest, no wit!”
“Your crassness hasn’t changed, old friend… Still forcing noble speech?”
“Ugh. This act is *exhausting*.”
Golden locks spun like thread of pure gold.
Eyes like gilded sculptures—mystical and dazzling.
A statuesque 175cm, limbs long as a model’s… draped in noble finery.
And breasts putting Erica’s to shame, paired with truly regal speech….
A woman seemingly crafted as Erica’s polar opposite.
Their bickering felt less hostile, more like old friends ribbing each other.
Mid-conversation, Cecil’s gaze shifted to me.
“You must be Baron Cain Jun? Your inventions have earned renown across the Empire.”
…Ohhh, *mommy*.
Dazzled by the beauty addressing me directly, my expression slackened….
Only to earn a *much* harder than usual whack from Erica.
Why’d that one feel *personal*?
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