My Lord Who Is Being Prudent! [EN]: Chapter 134

§ 134 – Audience

A figure walked through the doors of the audience chamber.

An aura of dignity and grace emanated from its very being.

Despite the lack of any overt pressure, one couldn’t help but feel intimidated.

*If* Crown Prince Conrad were to age past his middle years, *would* he resemble this?

A presence that was both benevolent and radiated inner charisma.

None other than the most powerful person in the Charlotte Empire.

The Emperor, Valua von Charlotte.

Sian bowed deeply toward Valua.

“Sian, Lord of Ruben, I greet His Imperial Majesty, the Emperor.”

“Conrad, Crown Prince, I greet His Imperial Majesty, the Emperor.”

Conrad, along with Sian, bowed deeply.

Although Conrad was Valua’s son, this was the audience chamber.

It would be different in a private setting.

In the audience chamber, where official business was conducted, one had to show proper respect.

Valua strode across the audience chamber.

Then, sitting on the highest seat, the throne, he spoke.

“Raise your heads.”

Only then did Sian raise his head.

He had caught a glimpse during the founding day celebrations and again upon entering the audience chamber.

Valua was, in every sense, an Emperor.

An overwhelming charisma exuding dignity and grace.

An intangible aura that made one feel intimidated, even without him doing anything.

Sian had never faced Valua before.

More precisely, he had never had a direct audience like this.

It was the first time he was encountering Valua in this way.

And thus, it was his first audience with Valua.

“What are you doing?”

Valua’s question came as Sian stood there blankly.

“I apologize. I am not fully recovered, and I was enduring the pain.”

Valua nodded once.

He knew all about the situation in the North.

He knew what Sian had done and what condition he was in.

“You have done a great service. If it weren’t for you, the people of the North, and indeed the Empire, would have suffered greatly.”

Perhaps because of this, Valua’s demeanor was exceedingly warm.

The overwhelming dignity and charisma were still present.

But because it wasn’t hostile, it only felt reassuring.

Sian bowed slightly and said.

“I did not do it alone. It was possible thanks to Marquis Borderline and Panat.”

“Hahaha. Despite what I’ve heard, you say such things…”

Valua looked at Sian with an intrigued expression and said.

“Marquis Borderline praised you highly. It’s the first time in my life I’ve seen that bear-like Marquis praise someone. He even called you a new star of the Empire.”

Huh?

Sian tilted his head slightly without realizing it.

“Even the Rothschild heir acknowledged you… The Rothschild who is always bickering with Elanur, mind you.”

And then Valua continued.

Sian wondered what he was talking about.

More precisely, he wondered what Valua had heard.

It seemed that many things had happened during the three weeks Sian was unconscious.

“Yes, you said you had something to say to me.”

Valua said with a benevolent smile.

Sian bowed slightly and opened his mouth.

“I am being disrespectful, but I have a request to make, which is why I requested this audience.”

“Speak. I will grant you anything within my power.”

Valua said with a benevolent smile.

And he truly intended to grant anything possible.

*What* on earth did Oslie say?

And what did Panat say?

What did they say that made the Emperor say such things?

‘Hmm…’

A moment of dazedness.

“However.”

Valua’s words were heard again.

“I cannot grant a request to forgive the forest keeper of the Dark Elves.”

It was a tone as cold as ice.

Sian raised his head slightly.

The warm atmosphere from just now was nowhere to be found.

The gentle eyes had turned sharp.

The dignity of a monarch seemed to press down on Sian.

A blade-like atmosphere that felt like it would cut if touched.

That chilling atmosphere spread throughout the audience chamber.

At the rapidly changing atmosphere, Sian swallowed hard without realizing it.

A firmness that showed no room for persuasion.

Crown Prince Conrad stepped forward and said.

“Your Majesty, it was not the forest keeper who committed the act. Rather, he tried to cover up the faults of his own people. Although the sins of the Dark Elves do not disappear, shouldn’t we be able to show mercy?”

Valua’s gaze turned to Conrad.

And that gaze was not the eyes of a father looking at his son.

The most powerful person in the Empire.

The Emperor, Valua.

“Did you think the seat of a monarch was so easy?”

Valua’s low voice was heard.

“Mercy is a virtue that a monarch must possess. Deceiving the people, betraying others, manipulating, and treating them coldly. A monarch can become a ruler in this way, but can never gain glory.”

Looking at him.

“In that sense, Conrad, you are truly a merciful monarch and possess the qualities to become a glorious ruler.”

However.

“Mercy is only a ‘virtue’.”

Valua continued.

“A monarch must not only be good. It is a mistake to think that resentment is washed away by bestowing merciful grace. A monarch must also be able to become evil if necessary.”

Looking at the facts, the Dark Elves are criminals.

If they are forgiven.

Who will speak for the pain of the sacrificed Northerners?

And Valua is the Emperor of those Northerners.

A monarch who cares for all the people of the Empire.

“And the forest keeper of the Dark Elves is the monarch of the Dark Elves. The faults committed by the people are rightfully the responsibility of the monarch. Conrad, when you sit in this seat someday…”

Valua looked at Conrad and spoke in a low voice.

“Remember today’s events and do not forget your responsibility as a monarch.”

“······”

Conrad couldn’t say anything.

As if words were blocked in his throat, Conrad couldn’t say anything.

In the end, he lowered his gaze and stepped back.

Valua’s gaze turned back to Sian.

“State the reason for requesting the audience.”

And Valua’s words were uttered.

The coldness had disappeared, but the dignity of a monarch was present.

Sian lowered his gaze slightly.

He was a criminal who put the people of the North in danger.

Valua seemed to have no intention of forgiving Asrandiz, the forest keeper of the Dark Elves.

And he knew it to some extent.

He guessed it from the fact that Conrad had failed to persuade Valua.

Although Sian was not a monarch.

He shouldn’t be called a monarch, nor should he be called one.

The Lord of Ruben.

He was merely a lord responsible for a remote territory in the Dark Forest.

On the other hand, Valua is the Emperor.

The most powerful person in the Charlotte Empire, overseeing the entire Empire.

Sian couldn’t dare to argue about being a monarch.

However, although he couldn’t be compared to Valua.

Still, regarding ‘responsibility’ and ‘being responsible’.

Sian could realize and understand.

That’s why he understood Valua’s feelings.

That’s why Sian had no intention of asking to forgive Asrandiz from the beginning.

Just.

“Please punish me along with the forest keeper.”

He intended to embrace Asrandiz’s sins, the sins of the Dark Elves.

“······ What?”

Valua’s eyebrows twitched at Sian’s words.

“What… what are you saying…?”

Conrad also looked at Sian with a very surprised expression.

Sian didn’t say anything.

He simply lowered his gaze calmly and waited for Valua’s words.

Valua’s figure was not visible in the downward gaze.

However, Sian could feel the monarch’s gaze toward him.

Silence descended.

“Punish you along with the forest keeper?”

After a little time, Valua’s voice broke the silence.

“Yes.”

“What is the reason?”

At Valua’s question, Sian slowly raised his head.

Valua’s expression showed doubt and a slight embarrassment.

Those two emotions were present.

Sian bowed again and said.

“As Your Majesty said earlier.”

“What I said?”

Sian nodded slightly and said.

“I am being presumptuous, but I am a lord governing a small territory.”

Valua nodded slowly.

He had heard that Ruben was a territory and that Sian was the lord of that territory.

“And?”

“I dare not speak of the virtues of a monarch like Your Majesty and Your Highness. However, I believe that a lord is also a person in charge.”

Valua nodded again to this as well.

There was only a difference in degree and scale.

The position of a lord was no different from a monarch within the territory.

“Therefore, I simply thought that the sins committed by the territory’s people are a problem that the lord must embrace.”

However, he could not nod at Sian’s subsequent words.

It wasn’t that he disagreed with the words themselves.

However, that was not the reason why the forest keeper and Sian should be punished at the same time.

And perhaps knowing Valua’s question.

Sian spoke again.

“Asrandiz and the Dark Elves are the people of Ruben.”

“What?”

“Are you saying that…!”

Valua and Conrad shouted in surprise at the same time.

A rare sight of the Emperor and Crown Prince being surprised together.

He briefly thought about where else he could see such a sight.

And well…

He knew the reason why they were so surprised.

That the Dark Elves were the people of Ruben.

That was unheard of.

Of course, Sian was also hearing it for the first time.

He hadn’t obtained the consent of the Dark Elves.

But it wasn’t that he had no thoughts.

No, it wasn’t just that he had thoughts, he wanted to do it.

Of course, if he said this and the Dark Elves said, ‘Huh? We’re not the people of Ruben,’ he would have nothing to say.

In short, it was a format of just doing it and seeing what happens.

“Do you know what that means when you say that?”

Valua’s words were finally heard.

Sian nodded slowly.

In fact, he hadn’t asked the Dark Elves for their opinion, but there was also Valua’s decision, which was the biggest problem.

If Valua said, ‘Okay. I’ll grant your request,’ and punished him together, he would really have nothing to say.

So, frankly, it was a gamble for Sian.

But it wasn’t just a gamble.

Still, he wasn’t without something to believe in.

“I know the meaning well.”

Sian lowered his gaze slightly and waited for Valua’s words.

And Valua, who was looking at Sian.

Valua really had nothing to say.

It was embarrassing…

Of course, there was no change in his intention to hold the Dark Elves accountable.

And if Sian was their lord.

Sian also had to be held accountable.

The justification for punishing Asrandiz was that.

Asrandiz is the forest keeper and the monarch of the Dark Elves.

He was trying to hold Asrandiz accountable for the sins of the Dark Elves.

But if Sian was their lord, Sian had to be punished in the same way.

But there was a problem.

Sian was the greatest contributor to resolving the situation in the North.

Marquis Borderline, as well as Rothschild’s Panat, spared no praise.

He even mentioned the words “new star of the Empire.”

And according to the report…

In fact, it was safe to say that Sian alone had resolved the crisis in the North.

He was literally the greatest contributor.

Punishing such a great contributor?

*What* nonsense is this?

Rewards and punishments must be clear.

This was also a virtue as a monarch.

Punish sins clearly.

And reward merits clearly.

But if he punishes the sinner, he must also punish the contributor.

And if he doesn’t punish, what can he do?

“……”

Valua couldn’t help but be embarrassed.

“The punishment given to the forest keeper is execution. Are you still going to be punished together?”

“Yes.”

Sian nodded without hesitation.

He showed no hesitation.

As if he was truly fulfilling his responsibility as a lord.

A boldness and sharp spirit could be seen.

And it was somewhat similar to the dignity of a monarch.

Valua looked at Sian with sharp eyes.

An unspoken force erupted, heavily pressing down on the air in the audience chamber.

Sian didn’t say or react anything.

Conrad watched the situation with a slightly embarrassed face.

How much time had passed like that?

“Ha.”

Valua’s laughter leaked out.

“The rascal of Elanur. Rumors can’t be trusted.”

Valua’s words continued.

“Even so, I will not forgive the sins of the forest keeper.”

“However, Your Majesty…”

Conrad stepped forward and opened his mouth.

However, Valua raised his hand and cut off Conrad’s words.

“However. But I can’t execute the new star of the Empire.”

Valua shook his head slightly and said.

“I will reduce the forest keeper’s sentence appropriately.”

Only then did Sian bow deeply and utter the words.

“Thank you for Your Majesty’s grace like the sea.”

Then Valua scoffed and said.

“Grace… If being played in your palm is grace, then it is grace.”

Sian didn’t say anything.

And Valua didn’t ask any more about it.

And Valua’s words continued again.

“So. Is that all you want to ask for?”

Sian raised his bowed head.

And Valua said to such Sian.

“I have reduced the forest keeper’s sentence, but that alone is not enough to reward the greatest contribution to resolving the incident in the North.”

As expected, the Emperor is the Emperor.

Is the monarch a monarch?

“If there is anything else you want to ask for, say anything.”

He really had a different kind of boldness.

Well… other people.

He would have said, ‘No. I am satisfied with the grace you have already bestowed,’ and showed humility.

But he had already acted forcefully as he had acted forcefully.

What would change if he acted more forcefully here?

Sian said without hesitation.

“I apologize for being rude, but if possible, can I get some gold…?”

“Gold? You want money?”

Sian nodded slowly and continued.

“As I said, I am the lord of a territory. But running a territory usually costs a lot of money… Moreover, the financial damage is severe because I conscripted this and that while dispatching troops to the North this time.”

Valua nodded as if it was not a big deal.

“Okay. I’ll tell the Imperial Treasurer. Discuss it with the Treasurer and take it.”

The Imperial Treasury, which oversees the entire Empire, was literally like an inexhaustible sea.

That’s just a few coins of gold.

It was possible to give it as a reward for the contribution.

Rather, ending it with gold rather than an unreasonable request was cleaner.

But.

“Your Majesty!”

Conrad didn’t seem to think so.

Conrad was horrified and stepped forward.

There was no other reason.

“You must not leave it to the Treasurer!”

Conrad knew!

In an instant, Sian’s gaze turned to Conrad.

However, Conrad tried to avoid it.

Of course, there was no change in the fact that Conrad would help Sian.

But this was not it.

Not like this.

Valua could say such things because he didn’t know.

“I think Your Majesty should set the amount of compensation for sure!”

If he made a mistake, the pillars of the Imperial Palace could be pulled out!

Conrad desperately stopped Valua.

But Valua didn’t listen to Conrad.

“Instead, there is a condition for that.”

He only set one condition.

“Your Majesty. I apologize for being disrespectful, but this is not a matter of setting conditions!”

Even so, Conrad desperately stopped him.

Whatever the conditions, whatever the trumpet.

He must not leave it to Sian!

Conrad’s mouth opened wide again toward Valua.

But.

“I thought the Crown Prince was saying useless things.”

Valua’s words continued.

“Meet Elena once.”

Conrad’s mouth, which was about to step forward, was tightly shut.

#

After finishing the audience, Sian went straight to meet Asrandiz.

Valua had told him to meet Elena.

Elena was away for a while.

So, he thought it would be better to meet Asrandiz before that.

Asrandiz was imprisoned in the Imperial Palace prison.

To be exact, it was a prison managed by the Imperial Palace, not the Imperial Palace itself.

It was a detention center called Altraz.

The prison where only the most heinous criminals of the Empire are held.

Mainly crimes related to the overall well-being of the Empire, including treason.

Or terrible and heinous crimes that you can’t even imagine.

It was the worst prison in the Empire, where only those who committed such crimes were held.

Of course, security and defense were impenetrable.

In the first place, the warden was the leader of the Royal Knights.

It meant everything that the knight of the Master was the warden.

Therefore, it was a place where even non-criminals could not enter without permission.

“Identification confirmed. Please enter.”

But Sian was not restricted.

He had the permission of the Emperor, no less.

“I will accompany you in case of an emergency.”

Far from being restricted, he could receive the escort of the warden.

“Ah, you don’t have to do that.”

“Then I will guide you to where the prisoner is.”

But Sian politely refused the warden’s escort.

The warden didn’t say anything and accepted it.

In fact, the warden only stepped forward because of the Emperor’s permission.

There was no reason for the knight of the Master to step forward.

Also, it was just to prepare for a possible situation.

Every place in Altraz was under thorough surveillance.

Leaving the departing warden behind, Sian headed to where Asrandiz was imprisoned.

The prison of Altraz was not dark or dirty inside.

It was not the image that you usually imagine when you think of an underground prison.

It was a mix of processes and felt like a typical house.

It was a space where heinous criminals were held.

On the other hand, it was also a space where the Royal Knights stayed.

Of course, the space where the criminals stayed was a gloomy prison.

How far had he walked like that?

“This way. Then I’ll be on my way.”

The warden guided Sian into a prison and then turned and left.

Sian looked at the back of the departing warden and then turned his gaze forward.

A prison with a gloomy atmosphere and a strange magic.

It felt like he was suffocating, and it seemed like there was a device to suppress magic.

It seemed to be a prison exclusively for criminals who use magic.

Inside such a prison, a figure was sitting slumped.

He was tied to a chain embedded in the wall.

The black hair was disheveled and matted.

It covered his face, making it impossible to confirm whether it was Asrandiz or not.

But the pointed ears visible on the side were telling him that he was an elf.

Sian slowly approached the prison.

Then, feeling the presence, Asrandiz slowly turned his head.

A haggard appearance.

“… Who are you?”

Asrandiz, who found Sian, slowly opened his mouth.