“This castle is the one the Emperor bestowed upon me when I became the Empress and gave birth to my first son. At that time, each hall in this castle contained only one precious item. At that time, the Emperor told me to fill this hall myself.”
After finishing her words, she pointed to the sword hanging in the center of the wall that was visible as soon as she entered.
“At that time, there was only that sword in this room. It was the sword used by the first Emperor.”
Carson’s eyebrows rose. He thought he didn’t have much material desire, but it was an object he really wanted. The Empress smiled when she saw his steps lingering.
The next place she guided him to was an unexpectedly empty hall. And on the wall was a map of the empire.
“Do you see this?”
The place she pointed to on the map was his principality, Monstera.
“This is the land you expanded a while ago.”
The border markings on the map extended to the entrance of the Progon Mountains, just as she had said. After looking at the map for a moment, the Empress turned to him.
“From now on, I intend to fill this place only with what Carson von Raymond brings.”
Carson laughed loudly, his chest heaving.
“Is that the land of Monstera?”
“Of course. It’s a duchy, but you are my subject anyway so that land is mine as well.”
“So what do you want this time?”
“As you know, shouldn’t our Duke Anthony take the Crown Prince’s seat first?”
“You want me to give him solid support?”
“And that’s not all? Offer him the land of Landhill as a sign of your lifelong loyalty.”
“...”
“Oh, don’t misunderstand. I’m not saying I’ll take all of that land away. I’ll give you back the name of Lesonia. So, the Prince, you only have to offer up the land of the old Landhill. Including the gold mines.”
“You want me to give him solid support?”
“And that’s not all? Offer him the land of Landhill as a sign of your lifelong loyalty.”
“...”
“Oh, don’t misunderstand. I’m not saying I’ll take all of that land away. I’ll give you back the name of Lesonia. So, the Prince, you only have to offer up the land of the old Landhill. Including the gold mines.”
“What if I don’t want it?”
“If you don’t want it... It wouldn’t look bad if you gave it to me as a birthday present. If you don’t like that...”
“...”
“You can give up being the royal family and subject of this country. As you know, disobeying the royal order is treason. If you don’t want to be a traitor, just give everything up and go to the principality.”
Saying something like that meant that the royal family had already given their approval.
The argument was that since the territory of the land of Monstera had expanded, it would be reasonable to return that much territory back to the royal family.
The royal family had already given too much land to the nobles, and the silent war to return that land to the royal family had been going on for over 300 years.
The Empress left the hall without saying anything else, letting out her signature laugh. As she left the castle, Noah, who had been waiting outside, approached Carson.
“What did you talk about?”
“It’s what she wrote in the letter, you know.”
“Is she saying that she's going to take the land back?”
“Yes, even the old Landhill territory. And it seems that it has already been passed in the imperial court. They must have touched the temple as well.”
“...”
“Let’s go to the townhouse first. I need to check out what’s going on around here.”
“Where would you like to go?”
Carson was already a great lord and the King of the duchy. He had townhouses all over the capital.
“Harlibin.”
By Harlibin, it was the mansion on the outskirts of the capital. It was a place where even the imperial court had to ride a horse for three or four hours to get there. However, Noah immediately bowed his head and received the order.
The Crown Prince’s investiture ceremony was reminiscent of the Emperor’s coronation.
It was unknown whether the investiture ceremony would take place until Carson arrived. However, when he came and gave him strength, the nobles who had been wandering around the middle completely turned to the Empress.
The Wolluming Castle was splendid even without any special decorations.
As the Empress said, the nobles who entered the castle were literally overwhelmed by its great grandeur.
“Is that the look of awe that the Empress is talking about?”
As Carson snickered at the sight, Noah cleared his throat. Even though there weren’t people right next to him, there were ears scattered everywhere.
Furthermore, the one who was drawing the most attention right now was none other than Carson.
He had finally put on the Prince’s clothes after a long time. He looked like the master of this castle, wearing the purple veil that only the royal family could wear. Some people were blatantly glaring, and many women couldn’t bear to look at him and just glanced at him.
Noah nodded in agreement with his words.
As Carson had said, the people’s eyes of awe were all directed at him.
“Nothing precious can beat the beauty of a person.”
“You must have become a philosopher after seeing the precious works of art.”
While everyone was thrilled to be invited to this grand event, Carson had a sullen face like a young student about to take a class he didn’t want to attend. Even that would have made him look like a sharp beast in people’s eyes.
In a few years, he had the face of a perfect Emperor.
While Noah was admiring him anew, the trumpet sounded to announce the Emperor’s entrance.
Carson had never seen his father since he came to the island. And the Emperor had not called him either.
“You’ve gotten older.”
He had lost many children in the past year. It was strange that even the most high-ranking Emperor did not grow old.
In the Emperor’s hand was a staff.
It was a staff decorated with the finest diamonds sent from a land he had colonized on a distant continent. That object could only be seen at the Emperor’s coronation and the Crown Prince’s investiture ceremony.
So even among the powerful nobles, many had never seen this staff.
People looked as if they were going to be blinded by the huge diamond at the very top of the staff.
Carson clicked his tongue at the sight and looked around. The moderates turned around and the votes were even, but the seats of the powerful families were still empty here and there.
“I get goosebumps when I see things like that.”
“Please, Your Highness. Please speak in a lower voice here.”
But he didn’t care.
“How does that thing symbolize eternal beauty? Countless people would have to die to dig it up. What if it were a cursed thing?”
He had actually been to the colony where the diamond mine was located. It was a truly horrific scene that was hard to bear to watch. Diamonds could only be mined by digging down as high as the spire of the highest temple in the empire. It was different from gold or iron.
“If I become Emperor, I will make the colonies independent and destroy the diamond mines.”
“Yes?”
Both the one who spoke and the one who heard met eyes in surprise. Carson was the first to look away.
“That’s what I mean. That’s what I mean...”
“If you don’t want it... It wouldn’t look bad if you gave it to me as a birthday present. If you don’t like that...”
“...”
“You can give up being the royal family and subject of this country. As you know, disobeying the royal order is treason. If you don’t want to be a traitor, just give everything up and go to the principality.”
Saying something like that meant that the royal family had already given their approval.
The argument was that since the territory of the land of Monstera had expanded, it would be reasonable to return that much territory back to the royal family.
The royal family had already given too much land to the nobles, and the silent war to return that land to the royal family had been going on for over 300 years.
The Empress left the hall without saying anything else, letting out her signature laugh. As she left the castle, Noah, who had been waiting outside, approached Carson.
“What did you talk about?”
“It’s what she wrote in the letter, you know.”
“Is she saying that she's going to take the land back?”
“Yes, even the old Landhill territory. And it seems that it has already been passed in the imperial court. They must have touched the temple as well.”
“...”
“Let’s go to the townhouse first. I need to check out what’s going on around here.”
“Where would you like to go?”
Carson was already a great lord and the King of the duchy. He had townhouses all over the capital.
“Harlibin.”
By Harlibin, it was the mansion on the outskirts of the capital. It was a place where even the imperial court had to ride a horse for three or four hours to get there. However, Noah immediately bowed his head and received the order.
***
The Crown Prince’s investiture ceremony was reminiscent of the Emperor’s coronation.
It was unknown whether the investiture ceremony would take place until Carson arrived. However, when he came and gave him strength, the nobles who had been wandering around the middle completely turned to the Empress.
The Wolluming Castle was splendid even without any special decorations.
As the Empress said, the nobles who entered the castle were literally overwhelmed by its great grandeur.
“Is that the look of awe that the Empress is talking about?”
As Carson snickered at the sight, Noah cleared his throat. Even though there weren’t people right next to him, there were ears scattered everywhere.
Furthermore, the one who was drawing the most attention right now was none other than Carson.
He had finally put on the Prince’s clothes after a long time. He looked like the master of this castle, wearing the purple veil that only the royal family could wear. Some people were blatantly glaring, and many women couldn’t bear to look at him and just glanced at him.
Noah nodded in agreement with his words.
As Carson had said, the people’s eyes of awe were all directed at him.
“Nothing precious can beat the beauty of a person.”
“You must have become a philosopher after seeing the precious works of art.”
While everyone was thrilled to be invited to this grand event, Carson had a sullen face like a young student about to take a class he didn’t want to attend. Even that would have made him look like a sharp beast in people’s eyes.
In a few years, he had the face of a perfect Emperor.
While Noah was admiring him anew, the trumpet sounded to announce the Emperor’s entrance.
Carson had never seen his father since he came to the island. And the Emperor had not called him either.
“You’ve gotten older.”
He had lost many children in the past year. It was strange that even the most high-ranking Emperor did not grow old.
In the Emperor’s hand was a staff.
It was a staff decorated with the finest diamonds sent from a land he had colonized on a distant continent. That object could only be seen at the Emperor’s coronation and the Crown Prince’s investiture ceremony.
So even among the powerful nobles, many had never seen this staff.
People looked as if they were going to be blinded by the huge diamond at the very top of the staff.
Carson clicked his tongue at the sight and looked around. The moderates turned around and the votes were even, but the seats of the powerful families were still empty here and there.
“I get goosebumps when I see things like that.”
“Please, Your Highness. Please speak in a lower voice here.”
But he didn’t care.
“How does that thing symbolize eternal beauty? Countless people would have to die to dig it up. What if it were a cursed thing?”
He had actually been to the colony where the diamond mine was located. It was a truly horrific scene that was hard to bear to watch. Diamonds could only be mined by digging down as high as the spire of the highest temple in the empire. It was different from gold or iron.
“If I become Emperor, I will make the colonies independent and destroy the diamond mines.”
“Yes?”
Both the one who spoke and the one who heard met eyes in surprise. Carson was the first to look away.
“That’s what I mean. That’s what I mean...”
“I, I know.”
But Noah had a hard time catching his breath due to his pounding heart. He tried to concentrate on the ceremony, thinking that his heart was racing because of the splendor of this castle. He also did not forget to add that he should speak quietly. Soon, the high priest stood next to the Emperor, carrying the Emperor’s crown.
Since purple gems were so rare, only the royal family could wear the purple insignia. Furthermore, purple amethyst was also rare, so the Crown Prince would wear a crown decorated with amethyst during the investiture ceremony.
With the sound of a graceful trumpet, the Crown Prince, who would become the new Emperor of Cainz, began to ascend the altar.
“How did someone like that come to be?”
“Please.”
“Shut up?”
He never hid his displeasure, occasionally laughing playfully. It was all due to his personality of disliking seriousness, and it was also his usual habit of dealing with difficult situations. Moreover, what he said was true.
Both the Emperor and the Empress were tall and had beautiful appearances that anyone would look back at at least once in their youth. However, it was not easy to say that Duke Anthony was beautiful, even in vain.
As Anthony stood on the platform, the Emperor approached.
The Emperor had sole authority to appoint a Crown Prince. No matter how times changed and the rulers of the changed times changed, the Emperor alone had that responsibility.
Soon, the congratulatory speech for the appointment began.
“The Emperor says, the ancient Emperors who inherited the will of Heaven and knew how to govern the people of the empire appointed a Crown Prince to rule the empire and solidify the foundation of the country. Although I once experienced the sorrow of losing my Crown Prince and my eldest son in a great storm, I am very happy that I can establish a new foundation. Therefore, I have pondered this matter for a long time. To uphold the will of the previous Emperors, I make this important but joyful request. My son, who is newly becoming the Crown Prince, has kept the so-called ‘second son’s moderation’ of not stepping into the eldest son’s territory. He is becoming more intelligent every day and is showing more and more of his purity...”
The Emperor who had been speaking at length took a deep breath.
“To honor the spirits of the previous Emperors, according to the precedent, a sacrifice will be made at the Temple of Heclesia. In the year 351 of the Imperial Calendar, the greatest achievement of this era, Marquis and Count Carson von Raymond, is hereby appointed as Crown Prince. Let the new Crown Prince reside in Granzaim Castle and respect the imperial line that will continue for tens of thousands of years and uphold the will of the previous Emperors.”
An eerie silence fell over the hall for a moment. The people could not even swallow their saliva.
“Damn it!”
And the one who broke the silence was none other than Carson von Raymond, who had just become the Crown Prince.
Anthony reached for the crown that the priest was holding, but the high priest made a bewildered expression and hid the crown in his bosom.
He reached out for the staff again, but the Emperor threw it away. The staff with all sorts of decorations clattered to the floor with a loud noise. No matter how much he wanted to be the Emperor, Anthony couldn’t pick up something that had fallen on the floor.
At that moment, a hysterical scream burst out from the Empress on the altar.
“Ahhhhhh! At last, at last!”
As the nobles’ murmur grew louder, the Empress’s knights drew their swords. The sound of the blades being pulled out of their scabbards rang out sharply.
At the same time, the Emperor’s knights rushed to block Carson. It was a situation where swords would clash at any moment. The nobles, without exception, raced to escape the Wolluming Castle.
It was an unprecedented event that no one had ever heard of or seen before.
But Noah had a hard time catching his breath due to his pounding heart. He tried to concentrate on the ceremony, thinking that his heart was racing because of the splendor of this castle. He also did not forget to add that he should speak quietly. Soon, the high priest stood next to the Emperor, carrying the Emperor’s crown.
Since purple gems were so rare, only the royal family could wear the purple insignia. Furthermore, purple amethyst was also rare, so the Crown Prince would wear a crown decorated with amethyst during the investiture ceremony.
With the sound of a graceful trumpet, the Crown Prince, who would become the new Emperor of Cainz, began to ascend the altar.
“How did someone like that come to be?”
“Please.”
“Shut up?”
He never hid his displeasure, occasionally laughing playfully. It was all due to his personality of disliking seriousness, and it was also his usual habit of dealing with difficult situations. Moreover, what he said was true.
Both the Emperor and the Empress were tall and had beautiful appearances that anyone would look back at at least once in their youth. However, it was not easy to say that Duke Anthony was beautiful, even in vain.
As Anthony stood on the platform, the Emperor approached.
The Emperor had sole authority to appoint a Crown Prince. No matter how times changed and the rulers of the changed times changed, the Emperor alone had that responsibility.
Soon, the congratulatory speech for the appointment began.
“The Emperor says, the ancient Emperors who inherited the will of Heaven and knew how to govern the people of the empire appointed a Crown Prince to rule the empire and solidify the foundation of the country. Although I once experienced the sorrow of losing my Crown Prince and my eldest son in a great storm, I am very happy that I can establish a new foundation. Therefore, I have pondered this matter for a long time. To uphold the will of the previous Emperors, I make this important but joyful request. My son, who is newly becoming the Crown Prince, has kept the so-called ‘second son’s moderation’ of not stepping into the eldest son’s territory. He is becoming more intelligent every day and is showing more and more of his purity...”
The Emperor who had been speaking at length took a deep breath.
“To honor the spirits of the previous Emperors, according to the precedent, a sacrifice will be made at the Temple of Heclesia. In the year 351 of the Imperial Calendar, the greatest achievement of this era, Marquis and Count Carson von Raymond, is hereby appointed as Crown Prince. Let the new Crown Prince reside in Granzaim Castle and respect the imperial line that will continue for tens of thousands of years and uphold the will of the previous Emperors.”
An eerie silence fell over the hall for a moment. The people could not even swallow their saliva.
“Damn it!”
And the one who broke the silence was none other than Carson von Raymond, who had just become the Crown Prince.
Anthony reached for the crown that the priest was holding, but the high priest made a bewildered expression and hid the crown in his bosom.
He reached out for the staff again, but the Emperor threw it away. The staff with all sorts of decorations clattered to the floor with a loud noise. No matter how much he wanted to be the Emperor, Anthony couldn’t pick up something that had fallen on the floor.
At that moment, a hysterical scream burst out from the Empress on the altar.
“Ahhhhhh! At last, at last!”
As the nobles’ murmur grew louder, the Empress’s knights drew their swords. The sound of the blades being pulled out of their scabbards rang out sharply.
At the same time, the Emperor’s knights rushed to block Carson. It was a situation where swords would clash at any moment. The nobles, without exception, raced to escape the Wolluming Castle.
It was an unprecedented event that no one had ever heard of or seen before.
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