episode_0061

“Your Majesty, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, who is on a campaign in the County of Ekarsi, has sent you a letter.”

The chamberlain bowed his head and spoke. In his hand he held a letter personally sent by the crown prince.

“Is the work already over?”

The palace.

The Emperor, who was sitting in the state room reviewing documents, smiled faintly.

This was because the string tying the letter sent by Fedelian was gold, symbolizing Rosino’s success.

“Success.”

The emperor nodded as he read the last line of the letter he had received. With this level of achievement, other matters could be put on hold for now.

“The meeting will end here. Everyone, please leave.”

The emperor, who was sitting on the highest throne, stood up. There were many matters that had not yet been examined, but his ministers raised no questions.

-Yes, Your Majesty.

He simply nodded and accepted the Emperor’s decision.

The emperor, leaving the state room, turned his head slightly and spoke to his attendant.

“I’ll go to the garden. Call Lariana.”

“Yes.”

The emperor leisurely came out into the garden. Even without separate announcement, the attendants had already finished preparing for tea time.

The position of the chief chamberlain of the palace is one that only those with both intuition and competence can assume. It was natural for him to handle such matters.

“… … .”

Before Lariana arrived, the Emperor slowly closed his eyes while holding his teacup.

We succeeded in closing the cave.

It was a moment that would make history, but he wasn’t simply happy. He was racking his brain over how to maximize his gains.

‘If Johan Harsen becomes a member of the imperial family, the blockade of the den will be monopolized by Rosino.’

This was soon a means of further strengthening the authority of the Rosino imperial family.

It was also possible to control the balance so that the authority of Perbace, one of the four great families, would not rise alone.

Additionally, the fact that the Imperial Family held the sole power to protect the continent would certainly instill absolute loyalty in those who served Rosino.

‘…I think my worries are over.’

Click. The Emperor put down his teacup. It didn’t take long for him to make a decision.

‘Johann Harsen must become imperial.’

Even now, and in the future, the benefits he brings to the royal family are considerable. Even if there were limits to Pervace and Cheokji, this marriage had to happen.

Of course, it was quite possible that Johan Harsen would reject this marriage proposal.

Because he has a lover.

‘That doesn’t matter though.’

The emperor’s eyes shone coldly.

The solution was simple.

All I had to do was make it impossible to refuse.

“Your Majesty, I heard you called.”

At that moment, Lariana, who had entered the palace garden, greeted him politely. The Emperor slowly nodded and opened his mouth.

“Sit down.”

“Yes.”

Lariana was a little nervous, but she didn’t show it and just smiled and sat down across from him.

“Your engagement with Johan Harsen has been decided.”

The moment the Emperor’s voice reached her ears, Lariana flinched. His words meant only one thing.

“…Did you manage to close the cave?”

“Yes.”

“Ugh…”

Lariana’s golden eyes shone. The current Johan Harsen could not dare to value them.

“Once the news of the closing of the cave is announced, the Imperial Family will immediately proceed with the engagement between you and Johan Harsen. No objections, right?”

She answered with a bright smile.

“Of course, Your Majesty. How could I dare refuse Your Majesty’s order?”

“Yeah.”

The emperor slowly nodded with satisfaction at Lariana’s answer, which was without a trace of hesitation.

“But, Your Majesty, how will you handle the opposition of the Perbache Dukes?”

The emperor smiled leisurely.

“It’s not bad to force her out, but if you want a flexible relationship, you’ll have to offer a price to Perbache.”

The usual method was to save face for the offended Perbache and offer realistic compensation.

“If Pervace accepts the imperial decision, he will spare no effort in providing the duchy with all the support it needs.”

There would be economic compensation, military benefits, and political promises.

“I see.”

Lariana smiled and nodded once. There was a smile on her face, but her feelings were different.

To be honest… I didn’t think Duke Pervace would accept the offer.

No matter what support the Imperial Family promised the Duke, it would not be able to match the benefits that Johan Harsen would bring.

And most importantly, Johan Harsen himself would never negotiate marriage. But he couldn’t force it either.

However, Lariana did not express any opinion. From here on, it was up to the Emperor and the Crown Prince to handle things on their own.

“Now that the story is over, let’s get on with it before it’s too late.”

The emperor emptied his teacup and stood up from his seat with a cool smile.

* * *

After John closed the cave and returned.

As soon as he returned, he had to go to the throne room as ordered by the imperial family without even having time to rest.

A throne shining in golden light. Surrounding it were flags intricately engraved with the sun and lion symbols of the Rosino Empire.

“Raise your head.”

When John, kneeling on the red carpet, raised his head, the Emperor’s golden eyes were piercing through him.

“Thank you for your hard work, Harsen Special Wizard.”

“It was something that had to be done.”

“I see. Was it a natural thing?”

The smiling emperor nodded once and then received a document from his minister. It was a thick proclamation decorated in gold.

“Good. The Imperial Court will recognize the merits of the Harsen Special Magician and will reward you accordingly.”

The emperor, who had spread the document down, shouted in a loud voice.

“Through this proclamation, I declare that the exploits of Johan Harsen will become part of the history of the Empire.”

His voice echoed throughout the audience room. All eyes were focused on John.

The ministers and senators held their breath in silence.

The Emperor’s proclamation was not simply a reward for merit.

It contained the Emperor’s intention to connect John deeply with the imperial family. No one in the room was unaware of this fact.

“In the name of Rosino, I grant you the title of Count and grant you a fief in the eastern part of the Empire.”

The audience room fell silent as the Emperor announced his decision. The ministers and senators bowed their heads in reverence for his decision.

No one questioned or raised any objections to the public achievement of closing the cave.

Because the achievement was beyond controversy.

“Also, I promise to support you infinitely with the imperial treasury, and I will bestow upon you the title of Guardian of the Sun.”

As the Emperor’s words echoed, the air in the audience room became heavy.

Guardian of the sun.

In Rosino, it was a title meaning the most honorable person under the name of the emperor.

“You will rise to become the most prestigious noble in this Rosino Empire.”

John did not loosen his tightly shut lips as he listened to the emperor’s proclamation. He knew well how heavy and at the same time significant the reward that had just been given was.

It was an honor, but at the same time it was a heavy burden to follow the Emperor’s will.

“This proclamation is not a simple compensation.”

The Emperor’s voice resonated deep and low. Even the pillars of the audience room seemed to shake at his words.

“Johann Harsen, you did more than just close the cave. Your deeds protected the safety of Rosino and brought great glory to the Empire.”

The ministers still had their heads bowed, and in that atmosphere, John looked straight at the emperor.

“Therefore, your name will remain in the history of the empire.”

The document is folded.

“ or more.”

As the Emperor finished speaking, applause broke out. The inside of the audience room was filled with the sound of clapping hands.

“Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty.”

John bowed his head politely and expressed his gratitude.

* * *

Johann Harsen, the civil servant’s special wizard, closed the den.

The news spread throughout the empire the same day, from the nobility in the frontier regions, to the poor who could not even afford to buy newspapers, and even to distant foreign countries.

Of course, it reached Perbache as well without exception.

“…Close the cave?”

A puff of white steam came out of the peacock’s mouth.

This is the North.

A land where the cold wind always penetrates to the bone. The winter air crushes life, and the fields are covered in silence, with only bare branches remaining.

A cold wind swept across the gray fields. A snowflake slowly settled on the peacock’s shoulder.

“Yes, that’s right. The whole empire is in chaos because of this news.”

The Perbache knight who came to deliver the news continued to speak.

“Thus, Johan Harsen was given the title of Guardian of the Sun, and was granted a countship and territory.”

“Uh…”

A small breath escaped from the corner of the peacock’s mouth. To be honest, I couldn’t believe it. The den, where the truth had not been revealed for a long time, was closed, and it was Perbache’s son-in-law who did it.

“What’s the news?”

The Knight Commander of Perbache asked, wiping the blood that had splashed on his face with the back of his hand.

“…I heard that my son-in-law, who was about to be engaged to our Francia, closed the cave.”

The Duke was on a tour of the lands with the Knights of Pervace, preventing flooding.

I was so busy securing resources and food here that I didn’t have time to hear any news, but this fox-like guy was doing an overwhelming job.

“…Huh? Does that make sense?”

“It must be true since it was announced by the royal family.”

“Uh…”

The Knight Commander opened his mouth wide in surprise. It was sudden news, but he couldn’t believe that the cave had been closed.

“No, wait… Did you say son-in-law?”

“Yeah.”

“Could it be that the princess brought you…?”

“That’s right.”

Anyone working for the Duke of Pervace could not help but know Johan Harsen.

Because Francia, the Duke’s precious daughter, had decided to marry him herself.

“…You surprised me by becoming a special wizard for a public official in just one month, but now you’re making me feel astonished.”

The Duke stroked his chin with a bewildered expression. To him, Johan Harsen was nothing more than a capable magician.

But… now he has become someone that no one can surpass.

This was good news for Perbache, who was suffering from a chronic illness, but it was not so good news for Francia’s father, who had accepted him as his son-in-law.

“…I guess I’ll have to bring the engagement up a bit.”

The Duke’s firm voice dropped to a low note.

“The engagement that was supposed to happen next year?”

“Yeah.”

There were still many issues regarding the territory, and Francia’s mind might change, so I waited for some time. Now, there was no more delay.

If it were the emperor, he would definitely propose marriage to Johan Harsen.

If you stall for time and the imperial family strikes first, things could get complicated.

“I will go to the zodiac.”

It was time to take care of things that had not been taken care of for a while.