HTMSAE - Chapter 79 < Signs of a Riot >






Noah put his elbows on the table and held his head. Carson snickered at the sight.

“Don’t overthink it. It’s time to go back to Landhill.”

“What do you mean?”

“Yes, we’re going to stop by the palace and go to Landhill. Find someone suitable to take care of this place.”

Judging from their past experiences, the choices the Empress offered were actually quite reasonable. Noah answered straight and straightened up. He had many questions, but he couldn’t ask more.

“Understood.”

Soon, a wind of change would blow through Monstera. All Noah could do was carry out his master’s orders as always.

***

Rumor had it that the person who had brought peace to Monstera was returning to Landhill.

Since there would be no war for the time being, the territory would be peaceful even if he didn’t stay. However, the people’s sense of loss was quite great.

For several days, the castle was filled with cold air.

Six days after the letter from the imperial court arrived, Carson left for the castle with only Noah and the Knights.

The plague that had spread throughout the islands had subsided considerably, but the southern part of the empire was now in the midst of the storm. That was why Louis stayed. Louis held Ines’ hand tightly as she saw her brother off.

After Carson disappeared from sight, Louis looked up at Ines.

“You’re going to protect me again, right?”

Ines smiled softly at her.  words.

“Yes, that’s right.”

“You said you had to leave now?”

“But Charlotte will stay.”

“Yeah, I’m fine. So Ines, don’t worry about me. I’m a grown woman now, and I’m not a child like I used to be. So I can wait as long as I want. Until the day we meet again.”

Ines held Louis tightly in her arms. Somehow, she had a feeling that it would be harder for her, not Louis, to endure that time.

Louis gently pushed her away as she always did and went into the mansion.

After that, Ines also left for the temple. There, when the deadline was over, she would return to being the daughter of Viscount Swenden.

Having received forgiveness for all her sins, Ines decided never to look back again. Somehow, she felt like she had been reborn.

***

The news that Carson von Raymond, who had resolved the border issue of Puldufin, which had been a headache for the Keynes Empire for hundreds of years, and had greatly expanded the territory of the duchy, would be coming to the palace spread throughout the islands in an instant.

He was a war hero who had ended a war that had not been finished for five generations of Counts and was praised as the strongest and most beautiful man in the empire, his entrance caused the entire empire to boil like an active volcano.

The reason for this was rumored to be to support the Empress's second son, Duke Anthony von Raymond. Then, everyone decided on a course that they had been unable to figure out.

"But why is the atmosphere here like this?"

Unlike the aristocratic social circle, the scenery of the common people within the system was strangely quiet. 

“Isn’t it because the civil war has been going on for a long time?”

“What does that have to do with the common people?”

Noah didn’t know either. Although there was a fierce civil war over the Crown Prince’s seat, it was mostly a political war, not a frequent armed conflict.

Furthermore, since it was a fight between powerful nobles, and between royal families, there was no reason for the market or the common people to look like a funeral parlor.

“It could be because many people died from the plague.”

It was after a storm. Now, the plague had all moved south.

Carson locked the gates of Landhill before the plague could hit. Only those who needed to trade were allowed to enter, and even they were not allowed to trade outside of the lord’s castle.

Fortunately, Landhill, located in the southeast, was relatively free from the disease.

The fact that the epidemic was spreading significantly slower in the capital was something that people would notice first. The habit of minimal contact might have remained, but it couldn't be this quiet.

The market, which was once bustling with people, was empty of people, goods, and even stray cats.

“No, no. I told you that the social world was already showing signs of movement.”

Using the social world to move the nobles was a long-standing method of the Empress. As soon as the illness subsided, the Empress ordered the women of the noble families who supported her to open up social culture again.

It was not the kind of behavior a woman who had lost her firstborn would show.

“I will look into it.”

Instead of answering, Carson took a deep breath and grabbed the reins of his horse. There was less than a month left until he would have Ines by his side. The thought of being tied down by the system again in this situation was already making his head hurt.

But Carson tried to think positively.

If he swore allegiance here and returned to Landhill, Ines would probably arrive at Swenden Manor before him. He could meet the Emperor, get his marriage approved once more, and send a proposal as soon as he arrived at Landhill.

After that, the fight with the Empress who was after Landhill could be resolved again. That fight would not be easy, but the imperial power was also greatly weakened.

As always, he erased the uncertainties surrounding him and moved along the path that seemed most clear.

When Carson arrived at the palace in the evening, he was treated more splendidly than ever.

After a short rest, he was called by the Empress late at night.

The place she called Carson was a museum and castle that displayed luxuries exclusively for the Empress.

“I’ve only heard rumors about this place, but it’s really amazing.”

Noah said with wide eyes.

The entrance to the Wolluming Castle, which was exclusively for her, was dazzling. It was so spectacular that it was almost laughable.

There were more than 40 halls in total. The paintings that were worth more than enough to buy a whole estate were basic, and the stone statues that filled an entire wall were so perfect that they were as if they were made by a God that they dared not even be named.

The jewels presented by the lords of each estate were made up of only the highest-grade jewels from the region.

“I don’t know where to look.”

Noah shook his head and kept looking in all directions.

Since the castle gates were closed, there were not many opportunities to see these exhibits.

It was a time when the national power was weakened. The financial deterioration caused solely by the expenses spent on the palace had started in the last years of the previous Emperor and had not improved even under the current Emperor’s reign.

The Empress tried to maintain the tradition of a splendid court life immediately after her ascension to the throne. For that reason, she periodically held large-scale ceremonies and festivals in the palace. As a result, the imperial family continued to suffer from chronic financial difficulties.

“That’s right. I guess this is the height of extravagance.”

Keynes’ chronic problem prevented the situation from being resolved. Under the current system, it was not political power but family background that determined social achievement and success.

Therefore, there was no room for a rising class without a family background but with skills such as education and technology to rise up. It was a situation where they could not read the flow of the times at all.

“What is this?”

Carson couldn’t help but laugh at what Noah was pointing at.

In the current palace, etiquette was highly valued, and there were ceremonies performed when the imperial family coughed or went to bed. What Noah was pointing at was a jewel that was used to rub the soles of the Empress’s feet before going to bed.

Currently, Keynes has no set standard law. Customs and laws vary by region. The northern and central regions had the heaviest taxes, and the capital was particularly severe.

Farmers not only paid taxes for the imperial family but also supported the clergy and were forced to do forced labor.

“It seems that the Empress has lost her wits.”

Noah was careful with his words. However, his silence contained a positive meaning.

The Empress soon appeared, and Carson was led to the painting room.

It was where the portraits of the direct line of the imperial family, the first high priest who was said to have actual divine powers, and the portrait of the goddess Heclesia were hung. And next to the goddess, the face of the Empress was painted side by side.

“You were so anxious, and now you show up?”

The investiture ceremony was just around the corner. Carson slowed down his pace as he checked the places where the railroad tracks would be laid on his way here.

“You must have already heard that I was leaving, but you were anxious?”

“Yes, the Prince is always acting against his mother’s wishes.”

She touched the jewel in front of her portrait with her gloved hand.

“I am truly sorry to hear of His Highness the Crown Prince.”

The Empress’s fingertips stopped in their tracks. Carson realized for the first time that she was also a person, from that unconscious action. After standing silently for a moment, the Empress smiled again and faced him.

“He was not meant to be the Emperor of Keynes.”

“...”

“Do you know that?”

“What do I mean?”

“When our Duke is crowned Crown Prince, I intend to open this entire castle.”

Carson had to clench his teeth to keep from laughing. It would be very unwise to open this hall at this time.

“You think the Empress is being foolish, don’t you?” 

“No, I am just concerned that there might not be any favorites around to assist Your Majesty the Empress.”

The Empress smiled a little bitterly at those words.

“Our Prince knows one thing and doesn’t know the other.”

“...”

“The people must be very angry with the royal family right now. They are so foolish to not make such a sacrifice when the stars in the sky have fallen.”

“They are just people who are exhausted from hunger.”

“That’s right. To those hungry and lowly beings, this royal family must be an object of awe. That is what the people truly want. A faith they can fear, and an Emperor who can control and rule them.”

“So you are going to open this castle and show that it is still alive and well?”

She shrugged and walked away.

“Well, that is true. Nothing has as good an effect as something visible. People often say that these are all my exhibits, works of art, but in fact, to me, these are all... trophies.”

Wherever the Empress’s footsteps led, all kinds of rare swords and weapons were on display.


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