The Story Of The Second Son Of The Baron Family [EN]: Chapter 25

“It is against etiquette for a subordinate to summon a superior.”

“Etiquette? Superior? To consider me a subordinate to the young lady… those are words that shake the foundation of the Empire. Am I using honorifics with you? Or are you relying on the prestige of Marquis Ziek? If the young lady has recently been granted a title, I would visit her and apologize. It seems I haven’t heard the news while serving at the Tera Barrier.”

Whether one’s parents were barons or counts, their children’s ranks were officially unrelated. Unless they inherited their parents’ titles or received a title from the Emperor for great service, they were all just nobles. There was no inherent hierarchy amongst them.

Of course, with so many prideful individuals gathered, a hierarchy was bound to form based on their parents’ titles and the power of their territories. However, a mere knight should not voice such assumptions so openly.

“······That is not the case. But!”

“Besides, I clearly stated that I am carrying out Marquis Ziek’s orders. If you don’t believe me, I swear on the honor of my father, Baron Dragnil. Despite that, is this invitation so urgent that I must abandon Marquis Ziek’s orders? Or does the young lady’s invitation hold more weight than Marquis Ziek’s orders in your eyes?”

“Of course not!”

“If not, then what is it?”

“······It was my fault, due to my shortcomings. Please accept my apology.”

“As I said before, I cannot accept the young lady’s invitation because I am carrying out Marquis Ziek’s orders, which are also in service to the Imperial command. However, if she still wishes to see me in three days, I will gladly accept the invitation then. If she needs to see me immediately, I can only suggest that the young lady come to me. Do you understand?”

“Yes, I will inform the young lady.”

With those words, the knight of the Marquis family turned and left. It was a fortunate thing. Occasionally, knights would overstep their bounds, trusting in the power of their territory. It was hard to imagine that Marquis Ziek would have such a knight under him, but since he had been away from the territory for several years, there was no guarantee that such a person had not been chosen as a knight.

* * *

I don’t know what reaction the young lady will have to my words, but since I prioritized Marquis Ziek’s orders, there is not much she can do, even if she is angry. The knight who just left will dissuade her well before it comes to that.

“Are you alright?”

“You know Marquis Wisp, don’t you? Marquis Ziek is not the type to bring personal matters into the public sphere.”

No one is without flaws, but at least as far as I was concerned, Marquis Ziek was someone who seemed impeccable. Would such a person reprimand me for rejecting an invitation that he didn’t care whether I accepted or not, especially while I was on a mission? It was a hundred, a thousand times more beneficial to focus on performing well at the demonstration in three days than to waste time on such useless speculation.

“I will continue to rely on you, Marquis Wisp.”

“I will do my best.”

#

“It seems everyone has gathered.”

Those who received the Emperor’s summons quickly gathered at the Imperial Palace. High-ranking nobles of count rank or higher, and those who did not have titles but were comparable in reputation or authority, had gathered. In fact, the people gathered here were those who held significant influence within the Empire.

“Is there anyone who has not yet arrived?”

“Except for Count Lancaster, who could not come due to illness, everyone is here.”

“His illness is regrettable.”

Many had left their territories to their families or close aides and stayed in the capital themselves, so even in a short time, enough people had gathered as the Emperor wanted.

Those who had gathered at the Imperial Palace by the Emperor’s order felt the tension in the air, given the prominent figures who had arrived at the conference room. To gather this many people meant that the Emperor’s words would carry significant weight.

‘What on earth is he going to talk about that he summoned us all?’

‘I haven’t heard of any major events recently.’

‘Is he going to start a war or something?’

Some were so nervous that they repeatedly drank the tea in front of them until their teacups were empty, even before the meeting had begun. The Emperor smiled briefly at the sight, as if amused, and then began to speak.

“Thank you all for gathering like this, even though it was an invitation without prior notice.”

“We have only done what is natural. Who would hesitate at an order directly given by His Majesty the Emperor? Isn’t that so?”

“That is correct. We have only done what is natural.”

“If I may be so bold, may I ask the reason why you have summoned us?”

“Of course. But before that, let us all look at this and then begin the real discussion.”

The report that Marquis Ziek had sent to the Emperor had grown to dozens of pages. It was clear that the handwriting varied and that they were copies, but the expressions of everyone who read the reports hardened as they realized the contents were the same.

“As you can see from the reports, the reason I have summoned you is because a report requesting support has arrived from Marquis Ziek of the Tera Barrier. I would like to hear your opinions on this, so please speak freely and honestly.”

The nobles’ reactions were largely divided into two categories. First, the nobles who were close to the Tera Barrier, mainly located in the north, all expressed concern.

They directly benefited from the Tera Barrier, and if it were breached, more human and material resources would be spent to protect their territories, which were their base, than the support sent to the Tera Barrier. Therefore, they had to secure the safety of the Tera Barrier at all costs.

However, in contrast to them, the southern nobles, who were far from the Tera Barrier, had a more lukewarm reaction. They were distant from the Tera Barrier, located at the northernmost part of the Empire, so even if it were breached, the damage would be minimal. Moreover, unlike the barren north, the south boasted a warm climate, so even territories of the same size economically surpassed the north, and they were already sending relatively large amounts of support. Additional support? Their expressions were not favorable.

In the end, a conflict between the two factions was inevitable.

“The troops and supplies that will depart for the Tera Barrier the month after next are already substantial. To send additional support from here is too difficult.”

“Then are you suggesting we should let the Tera Barrier collapse?!”

“Who said we should let it collapse? I’m saying we should look for other solutions! The Tera Barrier has firmly protected the Empire with the support we have sent so far! Furthermore, to ask for a large amount of magic stones to deploy new weapons… do you think magic stones are easily found just by digging anywhere!”

“I don’t see how that’s different from saying we should let it collapse! Am I the only one who thinks so?!”

The discussion, which began with polite discourse, gradually escalated. From simple expressions of opinion, it turned into personal attacks as time passed.

It was as if they had forgotten that the Emperor was listening to all these words. However, neither the Emperor nor anyone else stopped them.

It was something that had to be aired out at least once. Besides, there is always a higher authority. No matter how loudly they argued, they could not make an important decision as long as opinions were divided.

“Everyone, it would be wise to calm down for a moment. Do not forget that His Majesty is listening.”

It was Duke Arsen, sitting in the row immediately after the Emperor at the head table, who silenced the uproar that seemed endless. Usually, the higher the rank, the closer they sit to the head table, so he was arguably the highest-ranking individual present, aside from the Emperor.

“Your Majesty the Emperor, may I address these people?”

“Do so, Duke Arsen.”

Duke Arsen, boasting snow-white hair from his head to his long mustache, was old enough that the days he had lived far outnumbered the days he had left. Yet, no one could dismiss him as just an old man.

Even his territory alone boasted a size and power that was among the top in the Empire, excluding the Emperor’s direct control, and he was like a representative of many southern nobles.

If he made up his mind and united with the nobles to start a civil war, it would not be surprising if the Empire was split in half. He was a major figure who could bring about the important decision the Emperor was waiting for, and everyone listened intently to what he would say.

“I have heard your opinions well. There were some words mixed in that made me frown, but I’m sure that’s not what you intended. You are worried that the burden on the people of your territories will increase as support increases. Isn’t that so?”

“Duke Arsen is right. We are not opposing out of personal greed. We are opposing because we know that the suffering of the territory’s people will increase.”

“However, there is something you must also keep in mind. It is none other than Marquis Ziek who sent this request for support. Is he someone who makes empty words?”

Marquis Ziek was famous, and he had no choice but to be. His skills aside, he had been fighting monsters in the cold and barren Tera Barrier for many years without complaint, solely because of the Emperor’s orders, far from his own territory. Moreover, this was the first time he had requested additional support in all those years.

“If he requested support, it must be because he truly needs it. If he needs magic stones, it must be because he truly needs them. Am I wrong?”

“Duke Arsen is right.”

“It’s not wrong, but······.”

The nobles’ reactions were mixed. The northern nobles cheered, while the southern nobles reacted as if they had no choice. The nobles who did not belong to either of those groups were also falling in line with the prevailing sentiment of providing additional support.

“What does the Tower Master think? You seem to have something in mind, as you have been pondering until now.”

The Archmage, who had made a rare visit at the Emperor’s command, had shown no reaction so far. He had not said a word, nor had he taken any action. He had only been listening to the opinions of others while pondering. However, he could not remain silent even to Duke Arsen’s question, and he finally spoke.

“If you have decided to provide support, then do so. The subject of support is you, so I have nothing else to say.”

“What about magic stones? I heard that the Magic Tower has a considerable amount of magic stones.”

At those words, the nobles’ eyes lit up. Magic stones were never enough, even for their own use. However, if someone else contributed more, the burden on them would naturally decrease. The Archmage met the gazes focused on him.

“So, there is one request I would like to make to Your Majesty.”

“What is it? Speak.”

“I would like to see the new weapon called Scorpion that the mages of the Tera Barrier developed. Marquis Ziek is an excellent knight and a virtuous man, but he is not proficient in magic, so it is necessary to check whether the mages under him have falsely inflated their achievements.”

Many nobles nodded at the Archmage’s words. Even if other support was provided, the support of magic stones was unprecedented. Since the reason was for the deployment of new weapons, they had the right to see its power with their own eyes. As it was a reaction that had been expected in advance, the Emperor readily accepted it.

“Knowing that, Marquis Ziek prepared and sent it. In three days, there will be a demonstration of the new weapon, so I hope everyone will attend. Then, I will assume that additional support has been decided, and we will discuss the support of magic stones again after the demonstration. Is there anything else to say?”

The Emperor, who had subtly secured the increase in support that would be available in two months, looked around the audience. Fortunately, no one opposed the Emperor’s words, as if they had no choice but to comply.

#

“Tower Master, are you really going to let them take the magic stones like this?”

“······.”

By the side of the Archmage, who had returned to the Magic Tower, the elders protested that they could not stand idly by. However, the Archmage was only tapping the table with his finger and closing his eyes, lost in thought.

“Isn’t it just a matter of preventing it from exerting its power during the demonstration? If so, then I······.”

“That won’t do. It was you, Tower Master, who requested to see its power. Also, the Magic Tower has the most magic stones. Who would be suspected first if anything unnatural happened?”

“Are you saying we should just sit still and let them take the magic stones?”

Evan tried to stop the elders who were spouting nonsense, but they persisted. As they continued to make plans, the Archmage made a decision.

“Let’s wait and see the demonstration first.”

“Tower Master!”

“Enough. It’s just a weapon created by mages who were relegated to the frontier at best. If its power does not meet the standard, it will end there. If its power is sufficient, the development of the mine will accelerate, so we can demand more at that time.”

“That’s right, Tower Master. It may be a loss right now, but it will return as a greater profit later.”

Once the Archmage had made a decision, the rest of the mages had no choice but to follow, even if they were dissatisfied. In that subtle peace, three days passed, and the demonstration that had been announced in advance was approaching.

< The Second Son of a Baron Family – Episode 25 – > End