Chapter 34. Imperial Palace (3)

Generally speaking, the Imperial Family equates to power.

The authority of the individual Lord is absolute, and the Lord's will is law. It's the very model of a feudal system.

The world I've been reincarnated into also exhibits this typical structure. Nominally, the Imperial Family holds supreme power, but territories are divided among nobles who govern autonomously, and the relationship between nobles and the Imperial Family is that of ruler and subject – your typical, run-of-the-mill feudal system.

Naturally, nobles are granted considerable autonomy and privileges, which means actual power is dispersed in various ways.

In other words…

'It’s inevitable that there will be friction.'

The Imperial Family seeks centralization, while nobles want to maintain their existing power. Therefore, the nature of their conflict is predictable. Control over magical resources, military power, Academies, commercial interests… While maintaining a superficial peace, the power struggle and political maneuvering between the Imperial Family and the Noble Faction haven’t ceased since the founding of the Empire. They're just momentarily quiet, unable to land a decisive blow on each other.

Luke Richter is a bastard.

Born a bastard of the Richter Family, I had no place in noble society. In this underdeveloped world where civilization hasn't properly progressed, farming wasn't a viable option, so I aimed for a stable Government Post. I had to eat, after all. Since the protagonist of the original story would prevent the end of the world anyway, I planned to retire comfortably after working an easy government job with good benefits.

'That's why I took the Imperial Family's side like a madman.'

Stirring up the nobles at the Academy without a care, consistently leaking bits of information from the original story to the Imperial Family – all of those actions were deliberate. To survive between the mutually antagonistic Imperial Family and the Noble Faction, with no Mana or background, I needed this kind of insurance.

But…

“I’m afraid there’s no retirement for a Lordship.”

What was he talking about? No retirement? That's no different from my previous life!

“I look forward to working with you, 6th Lord.”

“……”

I was speechless. I couldn’t help but ask.

“Excuse me, Your Majesty?”

“Speak.”

“As you know, I’m from the Richter Family.”

“I don’t see the problem.”

“Of course there’s a problem! The Richter Family is at the very heart of the Noble Faction. On top of that, I’m a bastard. It means I have no legitimacy, only needlessly complicated ties.”

The Emperor stroked his chin.

“Go on.”

“Think about it. To make a nobody bastard like me a Lord, you'd have to grant me at least the title of Count, and that's no easy feat. Even if granting titles is the Imperial Family's prerogative, there are conventions.”

“That’s true.”

“The backlash will be significant. I’m just a bastard of common birth, after all.”

“Hmm.”

The legitimacy of one's birth is one of the few things that can set off the Noble Faction. They’d undoubtedly raise a fuss and harass the Imperial Family. I desperately emphasized the trouble he would face later.

“Moreover, for me to become a Lord, not only Blackmore, but also the neighboring territory, 'Shylock,' would fall under my direct control.”

Shylock and Blackmore are strategically important locations, straddling the Border between the Empire and the Duchy. Though currently managed by the Imperial Family, making these locations, with their complex interests, directly controlled by the Imperial Family and appointing a Lord means accepting the risk of conflict with the Duchy. Furthermore, it’s questionable whether the residents would accept a new Lord.

“I know Your Majesty needs the support of the Monarch Council. In the current situation, where the Imperial Family and the Noble Faction are sharply opposed, the support of the Monarch Council, a third party, would completely tip the scales. However, it will become even more troublesome. The Noble Faction will endlessly harp on this issue, and the Duchy will certainly express its deep displeasure to the Imperial Family.”

I persuaded him without blinking. It was a pointless persuasion, really. If the Emperor decides to do it, no one can stop him. But things would definitely get troublesome. That's why I was clinging to that point.

“Your Majesty!”

Knock, knock. A clear, irregular knocking sound echoed. The Emperor said indifferently,

“Enter.”

A man entered. Judging by his attire, he seemed to be from the Special Task Force. Looking at the badges on his uniform, he seemed to hold a fairly high rank. The man who entered the reception room…

“…What did you say?”

“The Duke… has awakened…!”

From him, I heard the news that the Duke, who should have been poisoned and on the verge of death, had somehow survived. Upon hearing this news, I couldn’t control my expression. Because the Duke had been poisoned by the Formless Poison, a scheme orchestrated by the Holy Order. The Holy Order attempted the assassination to expand its influence within the Duchy. It was a plan to eliminate the Duke and install a successor who supported the Holy Order, since the Duchy was the only place the Holy Order hadn't gained a foothold.

But…

'How?'

Formless Poison is an incurable toxin. Haeju's liquor won't work, and there's no antidote. The only way to save someone poisoned by Formless Poison is to completely erase the poison within the body with overwhelming Divine Power. Only one person on the continent can do that.

“A girl healed the Duke.”

“Who is this girl?”

“Elfriede Trivia, a woman who claims to be the Saintess of this generation.”

'Fuck.'

'Why the hell is *she* here?'

“Lord Rumore also received a letter.”

“What happened there?”

Kenneth Rumore.

The owner of the Rumore Trading Company, the most prominent in the Empire, and a noble renowned for his influence.

The reason a mere baron held such sway was because the Rumore Trading Company was the largest trading company in both the Empire and the Duchy.

Simultaneously, it served as the financial lifeline for the Noble Faction.

Naturally, their relationship with the Imperial Family was strained.

“……A few days ago, he was attacked by a Monstrous Beast.”

“Is he dead?”

“He returned safely. His arms were torn, his legs mangled, and his only child was on the verge of death, but they were saved by a girl…”

“The girl's name?”

“Again, it's Elfriede Trivia, the same girl. Lord Rumore managed to track her down, but there's one strange thing…”

“Tell me.”

“All of this wasn’t her will, but the will of a man… That man’s name is…”

Suddenly, chills ran down my spine.

'Wait.'

'Wait, wait a minute.'

“Luke Richter…”

“……!!”

****

“I shall bestow your title upon you shortly.”

The Emperor dismissed me with those words.

A deep sense of delight was plastered across his face as he spoke.

He’s probably ecstatic, having secured not only the Lord Council’s support but also incurred a debt from the usually aloof Duchy. But…

“Fuck.”

I’m not ecstatic.

I’m fucked.

“……”

One side mistakes me for a Dragon Race.

Another thinks I'm a vending machine that dispenses solutions with a simple press of a button.

And yet another mistakes me for Cavilla, or whatever that vanished god’s name was.

On top of all that, I’ve now become the 6th Lord.

‘Shit, Cavilla is a *goddess*.’

I feel like I’m going insane.

Not that a god's gender matters, but it still pisses me off. A lot.

“This way.”

Balkan, who had been waiting, guided me as soon as I left the Imperial Palace.

A carriage awaited me there, along with Rudine and…

“Are you done?”

Great Lord Arcan.

She stood in front of the carriage, waving her hand.

“I heard you caused a stir in the Duchy as well?”

“……”

“I didn’t expect you to be able to neutralize Formless Poison. Guess it was worth going all the way to Kalmash to retrieve you.”

I held back my reply.

Instead, I glared at her murderously.

She smiled brightly, seemingly oblivious, and grabbed my hand.

“Let’s go.”

“……Where?”

“Where else? To the Duchy. Since you saved their lives, you should receive your due, don’t you think?”

'Ah, is that so?'

Too drained to respond, I just ignored her.

“Oh, but there’s somewhere we need to stop by first.”

“……”

“The Grimoire Magic Book, the Forbidden Book you gave me after killing that True Ancestor. Do you know what's written in it?”

“……What?”

Arcan grinned.

“The Sacred Text.”

“……What?”

“The original, lost for thousands of years. It was closer than we thought.”

Stunned for a moment, I quickly regained my composure.

The Sacred Text, while sounding similar to a bible, is essentially a Rune.

After all, its medium is language, and the fact that it contains fragments of Authority within its words makes it no different from a Rune.

The only difference is whether the shell is a book or a stone.

And, the Rune obtained by acquiring the Sacred Text is…

‘The Rune of Space.’

The Rune of Space.

A Precious Artifact containing a fragment of Cavilla’s other Authority, ‘Space’.

“You’re coming, right? 6th Lord.”

Arcan's eyes curved into crescents.