Episode 190 The Last Banquet in the Empire (1)
Rei’s life did not change greatly even though she stayed in the imperial castle for another week.
After eating, I lock myself in the library and read a book.
In the first place, since it was a library that could only be used in the Empire, it was better to check the things that could be looked at.
As he sat quietly reading a book, someone spoke to him next to him.
“Did you come today?”
When he turned his head to look, Princess Celia was there.
She moved to the next seat with the book she was reading and said as if she was surprised.
“You seem to like books very much.”
“Because there is nothing else to do.”
“Do you want to go outside like His Majesty said?”
“Hey, what are you doing outside? It’s best to hang around inside.”
I’m reading a book quite conscientiously for being idle.
Princess Celia took his words as if muttering.
“It is. Reading a book is comforting.”
Sensing something unclear in his words, Ray asked.
“Do you think you need something to comfort you?”
“It seems like that when you think of the imperial family.”
I spit out the words myself and smiled awkwardly as if I was embarrassed.
After all, she was also a member of the imperial family.
“Has anything else happened?”
“Should I call it work? The nobles are gathering little by little for some reason…”
Ray tilted his head at Celia’s words.
There is nothing strange about aristocrats gathering.
Even though they were put on probation since it was a time when the power struggle intensified, there must be people who would try to line the royal family from now on.
Perhaps what she is worried about is not just getting together.
“Looks like you’re up to something.”
“that’s right. But I still don’t know what it is. It would be nice if it wasn’t something big happening again…
”
That’s it.
However, Celia was also aware of that, but she couldn’t easily shake off the uneasiness that was creeping in for some reason.
“Facing unknown threats is also the role of the imperial family. Although the cause is said to be in the imperial family…”
“Do you have any good ideas?”
“It’s not like that, but… You can prepare by knowing at least what you want to decorate, right?”
“What’s different about just reading a book here rather than visiting and asking?”
Ray said with an uncharacteristically serious expression.
“Calm down. It’s nice to find solace in books, but now is the time to move on your own. You’re the princess of an empire, aren’t you? We have to protect our own country.”
Celia hesitated for a moment.
“Can I do well?”
“I don’t know. But I don’t think it will work just by reading books here.”
“…okay.”
Celia, who had quite a bit of realization from his words, began to make up her mind little by little.
No one can protect the empire forever.
You can never grow by only hoping for a savior or a miracle.
If you think about it, you always comforted yourself by reading books, but how many times have you moved properly?
Celia clenched her fists.
‘I can’t run away!’
I was afraid of those who could brutally kill my brother, so I avoided it, but now I can’t do that anymore.
no, that wasn’t the case
If the imperial family collapsed any further, the empire would no longer exist.
In fact, there are quite a few cases where some kingdoms have collapsed due to power struggles.
Although the empire is said to be the strongest, there is no guarantee that it will not perish in a power struggle.
‘Calm down.’
Those words kept ringing in the princess’s head.
I felt ashamed of myself for only running away.
The princess, who was encouraged by the sharp words, bowed her head.
“I feel relieved. Thank you.”
At her atmosphere, which was quite different from the first time, Ray erased his serious expression and smiled.
“What is gratitude? I haven’t done anything.”
Ray hates getting his nose pierced.
That’s why they see the wealth and glory that emperors and aristocrats are trying to give to them, even less than stones rolling on the side of the road.
There was no doubt that the imperial family was also the target.
I would be happy to receive a thank you, but that was all.
However, in Princess Celia’s eyes, that seemed humility.
‘To treat the princess’ gratitude as if it were nothing… How can a person be so humble when she is young? You’re different from other nobles who only know how to present themselves.’
Even if Celia misunderstood, she was firmly mistaken.
He is thinking of giving up useless divine power and quitting the saint because he doesn’t want to get his nose pierced.
Besides, he loves compliments. Humility and humility were not brought out from birth in the first place.
Unaware of his feelings, she smiled pleasantly.
“I’ll just step back.”
Except for the emperor and the princess, it is Ray who does not consider the imperial family normal.
When she thought that she would have to go through these things alone from now on, words of encouragement flowed from her mouth before she knew it.
“cheer up.”
“Okay. Ho ho ho.”
* * *
More bold moves continued in the imperial family.
Local nobles, who had been ignorant until now, began to gather in the capital one by one, and the central nobles greeted them and gradually increased their number.
Since each faction was divided, the people who gathered were different.
Surprisingly, Prince Lee had the most power at present.
With the numerous bribes that the princess solved, the aristocrats are already pushing the prince.
In addition, as his power gradually increased, even the nobles who had been paying attention joined the prince’s side.
In terms of the number of nobles he possessed, he had already overtaken Prince Il.
However, the current emperor is not called the iron-blooded monarch for nothing.
I already have a plan in place for that.
No matter how much the nobles grow and fight the succession, they cannot disobey the emperor’s designated successor without a clear reason.
Furthermore, except for this princess, all of them were placed on probation.
When they refuted, there were dozens of possible answers.
However, there was something the emperor overlooked.
It is true that their ultimate goal is to occupy the throne of the emperor, but that is not their current goal.
A banquet for Ray was held in the imperial lobby.
As many nobles gathered, there were quite a lot of people in attendance.
What stood out among them were the nobles who had been scattered in tatters after Prince Oh’s death.
The nobles, who had previously been on the side of Prince Oh, were desperate to line up again, and this was evident even within the banquet.
If he couldn’t belong anywhere like this, he would hate future emperors, so it was only natural that he was so desperate.
The emperor stood up from his high chair and said.
“Tomorrow, the saint will leave the empire! I hope that many people gathered here will not forget the grace the Holy Son bestowed upon the Empire!”
He raised a glass with him, and nobles followed suit.
Later, as the emperor drinks, everyone toasts.
After one toast, the banquet proceeded freely.
Rey approached the emperor and said softly.
“Didn’t you spend more money on the banquet than the Seungmu Festival?”
It is a gorgeous banquet even at a glance.
Famous minstrels played and even used the garden of the imperial castle as a venue, so it was a scale that most kingdoms could not even dream of.
The emperor let out a kind laugh.
“I heard that the saint is leaving, but if you do this much, will Lesian save face in the Holy Land?”
I just want to change the mind of the saint who is trying to leave somehow.
Ray, who had no way of knowing the emperor’s thoughts, smiled.
“Anyway, thank you for the banquet. I can enjoy it for a long time. Oh and…”
He rummaged through something in his arms.
Eventually, he took out a piece of luxurious parchment, and on it were scorched letters carefully written.
Seeing the emperor’s expression as if asking what this was, Ray continued.
“It’s a contract written by the Wyvern Lord with mana. With this, unless the empire touches the wyverns first, there won’t be any sudden attacks.”
When the parchment was handed over with explanations, the emperor accepted it with trembling hands.
“This… What the hell… Wyvern Lord…? What is that…”
Working with a wyvern has been a long-cherished wish of the empire.
The clash between the two races, which has been going on for hundreds of years, is not something that can be easily stopped.
Did a saint who wasn’t even a member of the empire solve it?
Unbelievable in reality, the emperor looked down at the parchment several times.
If, as he said, the attack of the wyvern is gone, the top of the wyvern mountain range will be able to enter and exit.
In this way, the cost of uplink can be reduced overwhelmingly and stability is also guaranteed.
In addition to that, the capital will become even more active as many merchants will ascend through the Wyvern Mountains.
What the saint in front of him had done was not only to eliminate the Wyvern’s irregular raids so that he would not waste military power unnecessarily, but also to safely penetrate a trade route that was not in use.
In a way, it couldn’t be bigger than curing the emperor.
The emperor looked at Ray with an expression close to astonishment beyond surprise.
“Please keep this a secret. When I go back to the Holy Land, there will be people who will nag me for doing stupid things in other countries.”
He was clearing his ears as if he could already hear the nagging.
“Who would say anything! Cancer Of course you have to keep it a secret! It has to be kept secret!”
Already the emperor had become his faithful follower.
He abruptly stood up from his seat.
“It’s not like this! thank you saint I will never forget this grace of mine even after a lifetime!”
Rather, I want you to forget it.
With those words, the emperor accompanied a few nobles and headed somewhere.
Seeing that he was busy, it was probably to do the work of the newly opened Wyvern Mountains.
After the emperor stepped down, the nobles moved a little more actively.
The sons of the nobles each talk to one side, and the older nobles gather with familiar faces to strengthen their friendship.
Princess Celia also gathered and chatted with them, as if she was making an effort in her own way.
There was nothing to worry about anymore.
From now on, only things that the emperor and Celia can lead will remain.
‘Let’s go in soon.’
I put my glass down with my thoughts.
However, they are not nobles who will leave a saint alone.
Several figures approached him as he quietly turned his steps.
