Chapter: 687
It seems like next year is going to be filled with nothing but good things.
If that weren’t the case, I shouldn’t be facing such disasters now, as the year is coming to an end.
“Long live His Majesty the Emperor! Erich Krasius of Hardiner, representative of the noble council, humbly presents myself before Your Majesty!”
I prostrated myself, nearly flattening my face against the floor as I praised the Emperor.
Honestly, my mind was still blank. While going about my duties in the council as usual, I received an unexpected message from the palace. Not just any bureaucrat either, but a call from the royal chief—the second-in-command of the Imperial Household!
The message was urgent: the Emperor requested my presence as soon as possible. At first, it seemed like a cruel joke or something straight out of a comedic skit. I wished it were just a joke, to be honest.
But sadly, it was real. The Emperor was calling for me, and as soon as I got the message, I practically sprinted to the Sun Palace.
“Welcome, Baron Hardiner. It seems this is the first time I’ve seen you up close.”
I heard the Emperor’s voice from above.
Sure, I might have caught a glimpse of him from a distance before, but this was my first time standing that close. Naturally, a one-on-one audience? That was a first too.
“Please, rise. I know well that the council members are devoted to the empire, and seeing one of them on the floor like this makes me uneasy.”
“Y-Yes, your Majesty. I apologize for my rudeness!”
At his gentle command, I hurriedly got back on my feet.
“Cough.”
Upon seeing my face, the Emperor couldn’t help but chuckle.
“Your Majesty…?”
I instinctively recoiled at his laughter.
I was already anxious about the unexpected summons, and now he was laughing? Did I make a mistake or something? Too many thoughts raced through my head.
“I’m just reminded of your brother. You do indeed resemble the Minister quite a bit.”
I let out a sigh of relief internally. Thank goodness it wasn’t something I messed up.
“It seems my brother and I took after our father’s bloodline.”
“Hmm, I can see a lot of Count Tileglen in you as well.”
The Emperor nodded slightly, then took his seat, beckoning me to join him.
Trying to calm the wild beating of my heart, I sat down. Sure, I was a representative of the council and a titled noble, but I had only seen the Emperor’s face from afar. Any interaction with him had been mere coincidence, not because he had any business with me.
So, my palms started sweating profusely. What on earth could be the reason for this summons? Was there any particular reason I should have caught the Emperor’s eye?
‘Is it about the territory in Leon?’
Finally, the most plausible scenario crossed my mind.
The territory entrusted to me by my brother, the Marquess of Melrsina, boasted a considerable size worthy of its title. Positioned at a vital point in the western region of the Kingdom of Leon, it was crucial to maintain influence in Leon and keep the borders peaceful.
So, did he summon me to give advice on how to govern Melrsina?
‘Or could it be about Lather?’
The next possibility was Lather’s wedding. I had mentioned Lather’s wedding to my brother, so it must have reached the Emperor’s ears by now. Perhaps he wanted to hear more details directly from me.
Once I started thinking of possibilities, I felt a bit at ease. It’s totally different to converse without a clue versus having a smidgen of knowledge.
“Baron.”
“Yes, your Majesty. Command me.”
“The Krasius family has been a loyal supporter of the imperial family and the empire for 300 years. Krasius has been the sword and shield of Livnoman, as well as its eyes and ears.”
“I’m truly honored to hear such words, your Majesty.”
Once more, as I bowed my head to the Emperor, I felt something land on my shoulder.
“There’s no need for humility. You, as well as your father and the Minister, are all dedicated to the empire. In fact, you and the Minister are still serving it.”
That was the Emperor’s hand.
At that moment, my body went rigid. Can you imagine? The Emperor, an untouchable being, patting the shoulder of just a mere baron? It was an unprecedented event.
“People only praise the Minister, but I believe you are also a fine member of the Krasius family. Since you graduated from the Academy, haven’t you been fulfilling your role as a council member perfectly?”
“U-Uh, you flatter me. It’s all thanks to my senior council members…”
“Accepting and utilizing advice and guidance is a talent in itself.”
That made me lower my head even further.
The praise was starting to feel less like flattery and more like an inexplicable fear. Being under the Emperor as a noble should be a joy, but why was I feeling so apprehensive? I should surely see it as the honor of a lifetime!
“In fact, I’ve heard that during your time at the Academy, you boasted superb friendships. Even the Emperor’s brother, Marquess Idripen, considers you a good friend.”
With more compliments piling on, my eyes started to dart around helplessly.
Sure, all I could see was the floor since I was bowing, but the anxiety was becoming too much to bear without searching for something else.
“Oh, and you also have ties with Prince Lather of the United Kingdom of Yuben?”
“Yes, your Majesty. That is indeed true.”
“Then you must know about Prince Lather’s wedding as well. It’s surely exciting for you, being a friend of the groom.”
‘Ah.’
Suddenly, it felt like my heart had dropped.
So this was why I was summoned. Not because of Melrsina, but because of Lather’s wedding. And it seemed like the Emperor wanted more than just a summary—he looked ready to make a demand.
“Baron, I’d like to propose something.”
Before I knew it, my hands and feet started trembling.
“Would you consider attending your friend’s wedding and gracing the occasion?”
“T-That would be…”
“Well, it’s merely a proposal. The United Kingdom of Yuben isn’t exactly a neighboring country; it’s located at the opposite end of the continent. No matter how much you use teleportation, it’s not exactly a light trip.”
He sounded understanding, and a glimmer of hope arose within me.
“So if you accept my proposal, I’ll arrange support for your journey through the royal family.”
I bowed my head again.
A proposal… a proposal? But how could this be a mere proposal when the Emperor said, “We’ll support your journey; do you want to go?”? Refusing would only lead to, “Oh, so you don’t want royal funds? Then you’ll have to go on your own!”
“Of course, you can refuse. By the time Prince Lather gets married, you may be on your honeymoon, and the destination of one’s honeymoon should be decided by the couple themselves.”
While that was a gentle consideration, it didn’t feel gentle at all.
It would be incredibly difficult to turn down such kindness from someone so high up.
*
Watching Baron Hardiner walk away all dejected made me smile bitterly.
I made a mistake. I thought proposing was just a casual thing—either you accept or you don’t—probably too casual of a mindset.
“I treated him like he was a Minister because he’s the brother of one.”
If it had been the Minister, he would have waved it away immediately. He’d know that my remarks were simply a suggestion, not an order, so refusing would have posed no problem. The Minister would have that kind of wit and courage.
But Baron Hardiner is different. He hadn’t spent 17 years in a bureaucratic role like the Minister, nor did he have the varied experiences across ranks and events. Naturally, he didn’t have much of a conversation history with me either.
Could he have interpreted my proposal sincerely instead of seeing it as a command veiled as a suggestion? Clearly, he would’ve viewed it as an order!
‘I feel kind of bad about this.’
I never make mistakes like this with other officials.
But since the Baron is the Minister’s brother and closely resembles him, I unintentionally treated him like the Minister. If I had ten mouths, I wouldn’t have an excuse!
‘Should I retract now?’
I briefly contemplated, then shook my head and dismissed the thought.
Though it felt harsh to impose such a request on a subordinate who should be enjoying his honeymoon, honestly speaking, having the Baron go to Yuben would lighten my load impressively. The circumstances might be weird, but I did get his careful agreement to head to Yuben.
If my conscience only hurts a bit, I could diplomatically manage things better. It would let me congratulate the wedding of foreign royalty without any hiccups.
‘I should offer ample support.’
Of course, since I just issued what was essentially an order dressed as a suggestion to a subordinate on their honeymoon, I’d need to provide compensation that far exceeds the burden.
First off, the royal treasury needs to cover the transportation costs significantly more than the original plan—many times over, in fact. You can’t buy sweet honeymoon time with money, but cash is a straightforward way to reward someone.
And Baron Hardiner could go to Yuben in a personal capacity. It wouldn’t be an official mission; he’s just a guy enjoying a trip who’s willing to spend his time supporting goodwill between our nations.
With that rationale, if I could carve out a little bit of the royal territory for him—
‘Would he even like the territory?’
Suddenly, I felt unsure. Sure, having more money is always welcomed, but would the hassle of managing territory annoy him? The Minister certainly had such tendencies.
…No, that’s rude to compare. I just messed up by treating him like the Minister! Nobility generally wouldn’t refuse ownership of territory. The Minister is odd; his brother’s not necessarily the same.
Alright then. Let’s give him a piece of territory the size of the Barony. As a bonus, I could also offer him an honorary advisor position at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, raising his salary too.
‘That’ll make things a bit easier.’
With money, land, honor, and position—while it might not be perfect, it should smooth over the Baron’s feelings.
*
Erich called for me.
– Guess what? I’m heading to Yuben.
“…What?”
– I said I’m going to Yuben.
Just like that, Erich mentioned it while casually chugging from a wine bottle he was holding.
I thought about scolding him for drinking while talking to me, but looking at his expression and voice heavy with sorrow, I couldn’t find the courage to say anything.
“So, how did that happen?”
I just wanted to ask for an explanation while feeling sorry for him.
– Well, that is—
And when he explained the situation, my pity deepened even more.
That brat of an Emperor. It seemed like he just poked at a problem that he didn’t want to deal with, all while using Erich—who’s just starting out in this whole ordeal—as a decoy.
‘How could you treat Erich just like me?’
I couldn’t help but rub my forehead in despair.
It takes just the right setting to turn down the Emperor’s proposal, and I needed to have solid circumstances backing me up to even think about it! I’ve got a vested interest in this thanks to the Emperor’s previous dealings in Leon that I could rightfully complain and push back.
But expecting Erich to perform such complex maneuvers? With the experiences I’ve painstakingly built, he’d hardly be ready to face that kind of direct challenge.
‘It’s like comparing apples to oranges.’
It’s rather pitiful to see how Erich is overestimated just for being my brother.
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