Ch#218
218
Inside the banquet hall of Dolakan Castle, shouting more menacing than usual echoed through the air. It was the result of the escalating confrontation between the Valto Noble Alliance and the Imperial delegation.
The talks, which were expected to conclude within a few months, had been repeating a futile tug-of-war for half a year without any significant progress. Finally, having reached the limit of their patience, the delegation adopted a hardline stance, and a murderous atmosphere settled over the room as if swords might be drawn at any moment.
“I am beginning to doubt the very sincerity of the Northern Noble Alliance’s intent to sign a peace treaty,” Theodosius Leon, the Emperor’s chamberlain and head of the delegation, snapped in a cynical tone.
“Are you not simply dragging out these talks to stall for time, waiting to see which way the wind blows so you can side with the rebels again if necessary?”
“Refrain from such excessive speculation!” a voice immediately retorted from the Valto Noble Alliance side.
“We are merely requesting the minimum safeguards. As we have stated repeatedly, if the autonomy previously held by the Northern Noble Alliance is guaranteed, we are more than ready to press our seals to the treaty.”
“I believe the Imperial response to that demand has already been sufficiently conveyed.”
Theodosius pressed his temples as if he had a headache and let out a weary sigh.
“The Valto Noble Alliance has already turned its back on the Empire once. His Majesty has shown clemency by declaring he will not hold you accountable for that crime, but he has made it clear that for the time being, the major cities of Valto will be subject to inspection by administrators dispatched from the Imperial Court.”
“And exactly how long does this ‘for the time being’ mean?”
A young northern noble, who had been sitting quietly at the end of the table, asked with his arms crossed over his chest.
The Emperor’s chamberlain gave a nonchalant shrug.
“That would depend on how quickly you all manage to restore the Imperial Court’s trust.”
The chamberlain’s arrogant tone brought a dark shadow over the faces of the Valto nobles. However, the man continued in a high-handed manner, showing not the slightest hint of being intimidated.
“This meeting is the final mercy His Majesty is bestowing upon you. There are only two paths the Northern Noble Alliance can take: humbly accept His Majesty’s proposal, or pay the price for your disloyalty.”
“Drop the attitude as if you are granting some unilateral favor.”
The old Count of Valto, who had remained silent throughout, spoke up with a heavy voice.
“Is it not His Majesty who also wishes to end the war quickly? Do you think we are unaware that the lords of other regions are also full of discontent?”
“I must remind you that such discontent is also directed toward Valto,” the man shot back sharply.
“The entire continent of Robiden is suffering due to the rebellion sparked in Valto. If they were to discover that you are neglecting this responsibility and are only concerned with preserving your own positions, where do you think those arrows of fury would be aimed?”
The old Count fell silent at the man’s point.
The chamberlain did not stop there but pushed forward with momentum.
“If this war is not ended swiftly, Valto will be branded as the public enemy of the Robiden continent.”
At the statement containing an explicit threat, one of the northerners slammed the table hard.
“It was His Imperial Majesty who proposed the peace talks! Is this what you call the clemency of the Empire—subjecting those of us who came here trusting His Majesty to such intimidation!”
“The Northern Noble Alliance turned their blades against the Empire! Nevertheless, His Majesty was the first to reach out with a hand of reconciliation and forgiveness. Yet you repay him by putting forward such absurd conditions! Just how far must His Majesty endure your shamelessness!”
Unable to contain themselves, heated shouts erupted from the delegation side as well, and the hall instantly turned into a scene of chaos.
Watching the spectacle from a distance, Erich, the second son of the Bleystone family, let out a heavy sigh. It looked as though the talks might collapse at any moment.
“Can this situation really be salvaged?”
His nephew, Sedric, who had been fidgeting restlessly beside him with an anxious expression, whispered softly.
Erich scanned the faces of the nobles surrounding the long table with a pensive gaze.
The activities of Bjorn Blodar Heimdall had made the northern nobles even more skeptical of a peace treaty.
At a time when the hostility of Valto citizens toward the Empire had reached its peak, they feared being branded as ‘traitors to their people’ if they hastily sided with the Imperial Court.
However, even amidst this turmoil, the Imperial delegation showed no sign of backing down. They seemed more wary of the Empire’s dignity and prestige being damaged than anything else.
“Certainly… bringing up the marriage proposal in this situation might only have an adverse effect,” Erich admitted reluctantly.
Even if the ruler of the East was on close terms with the Imperial Court, it would not be easy to persuade the stubborn Emperor and his blindly loyal subjects.
‘Should I revise the plan?’
Erich tapped his fingertips on the table, thinking of the young Grand Duke who looked as if he were carved from ice.
Despite his delicate features that emphasized his Oshirian bloodline, he was a young man with a considerably bellicose temperament.
Could that green youth, who had seemed somewhat rough and reckless, skillfully handle such a complex situation?
Stroking his chin with a skeptical expression, Erich soon rose from his chair.
Though it was said that Grand Duke Searkhan was like a blood brother to the Crown Prince, rumors were rampant that their relationship had grown distant after the marriage talks with the First Princess fell through.
It seemed better to find another breakthrough. Having reached that conclusion, Erich spoke in a voice tinged with frustration.
“Staying here seems like a waste of time. Let’s head back.”
Just as he was about to leave with his nephew, someone walked into the conference hall.
The nobles, who turned their heads reflexively, all held their breath. A man with unrealistically beautiful features was entering the hall, leading two knights who appeared to be his aides.
Faint exclamations escaped the lips of several nobles who recognized his face.
“Grand Duke Searkhan…”
It was the ruler of the East, who had been brought to Dolakan Castle only a few weeks ago in a state no different from a corpse.
Dozens of pairs of eyes filled with shock slowly scanned the man’s sculpted face and robust physique.
According to the testimony of the soldiers, a longsword coated in poison had pierced through the man’s side and out his back.
Rumors had been widespread that his condition was so critical that recovery could not be guaranteed, even with the High Priest immediately attending to his treatment.
However, no sign of injury could be found anywhere on the man as he strode across the hall.
“I ask for your understanding for barging in without seeking prior permission,” the man said, showing a relaxed smile as he naturally took the seat of honor.
“I simply could not contain my curiosity as to how the talks have been progressing so sluggishly for half a year.”
“…I heard it has not been long since you regained consciousness. Is it already alright for you to be moving about like this?” the Emperor’s chamberlain asked with a wary look.
The man, picking up a wine glass and wetting his lips, spoke in a gentle tone.
“As you can see, I have now fully recovered.”
“That is indeed a relief. His Majesty will also be able to set his mind at ease.”
“It is truly regrettable that I have caused His Imperial Majesty such concern,” the man remarked dryly, leaning back against the chair and loosening the buttons of his tightly fastened doublet. The sight was reminiscent of a feline predator quietly lowering its body just before pouncing on its prey.
Erich settled back into his chair.
It seemed Grand Duke Searkhan intended to keep his promise. It wouldn’t be too late to decide on a course of action after seeing how that man resolved this situation.
With that thought, Erich rested his interlaced hands on the table as the man continued in a leisurely tone.
“Do not mind me and continue your discussion. I am quite curious to see how these talks will conclude.”
“Your Excellency, did you not take on the role of Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Allied Forces? Should you not be focusing your attention there rather than on these talks…?”
“That is quite a heartless thing to say. Are you telling a man who has just returned from the brink of death to crawl right back onto the battlefield?”
The man let out a short laugh as if he had heard a funny joke and raised his empty glass toward a servant standing behind him.
The designated servant hurried over and filled the silver goblet. Taking another sip, the man turned to the Emperor’s attendant with a languid smile and spoke.
“Does His Majesty perhaps wish for me to meet an untimely end in this land?”
“How could you say such a thing…!”
The Emperor’s chamberlain raised his voice with a flustered face.
“Surely Your Excellency is not blaming the Imperial Court for the injuries you sustained? That was all…!”
“My injuries are entirely due to my own inadequacy. Surely you don’t think I would resent the supreme ruler of the Empire for such a thing.”
The Grand Duke cut the chamberlain off with an insincere attitude and set his glass down with a clack. A tense strain appeared on the chamberlain’s face.
Just moments ago, he had been boasting that the discontent of the lords was directed at Valto, not the Imperial Court. Now that one of those lords, Grand Duke Searkhan, was openly displaying signs of dissatisfaction, he must have been extremely embarrassed.
The man, rolling his eyes with a stiff expression, soon spoke in a conciliatory manner.
“His Imperial Majesty is deeply grateful for the Grand Duke’s devotion. He has also repeatedly requested that no support be spared for the Grand Duke’s recovery.”
“Very grateful words indeed,” the man muttered impassively and leaned over the table.
“But what I need is not some healer. It is the end of the war. If His Majesty truly cares for his subjects, I only hope he will devote all his strength to concluding this war.”
The young chamberlain’s face hardened. In contrast, the faces of the northern nobles brightened. They seemed to think the situation was turning in their favor.
Scanning those faces with a dry gaze, the man spoke once more.
“The longer this drags on, the weaker the Empire’s solidarity will become. We cannot continue to ignore that self-evident fact, can we?”
“So… are you saying His Imperial Majesty should now bow down to traitors?” the young chamberlain spat out through gritted teeth. As a man from a loyalist family that had served as the Emperor’s right hand for generations, he seemingly could not tolerate the Grand Duke’s remarks that appeared to challenge the authority of the Imperial Court.
Looking down at the man, who had veins bulging on his forehead as if he were witnessing a fatal betrayal, the Grand Duke let out a sigh laden with fatigue and spoke.
“How could that possibly be the case? My point is that we should stop the foolishness of clinging to a prideful battle that yields no practical benefit and losing sight of the essence, which is the security of the Empire. The Roem Empire was founded under the ideology of integration and harmony. The first Emperor, Darian Roem Gyurta, embraced even us Khans, who had opposed the Empire for a long time, as members of the Empire. Now that the Roem Empire is on the brink of division, there is a need to revive that spirit of harmony once again.”
At the eloquent speech flowing from the lips of the man known for his reticence, a strange silence fell over the hall.
After wearing a blank expression for a moment, the chamberlain asked in a somewhat irritable tone.
“Exactly what is it you wish to say?”
“I am saying that to end this dispute, we need a symbol of union that will bind the Empire and the North together once again.”
Only then did the young chamberlain’s eyes widen as if he realized what the man was proposing.
Amidst the stirring in the hall, the Grand Duke lightly raised the glass in his hand and continued smoothly.
“The Imperial Court needs a guarantee that the North will never rebel again, and the North wants a clear assurance that they can enjoy the same status as before as members of the Empire. A union between a daughter of a family representing the North and His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince. Where else could there be a more certain token than this?”
