Chapter 10

Mrs. Giggs examined the gold ingot handed to her by the Empress.

"To see the level of the dress and pay the price, may I use up this entire gold ingot without leaving any remainder? I think it would be good to give the impression that Her Majesty the Empress is generous."

"Since I brought it for that purpose, please use it all."

"I understand."

The Empress drank cold water to soothe her stomach and asked in a calm tone,

"How could such a thing happen?"

"…I think it’s because there is no budget allocated to the Empress’s palace."

"No budget allocated to the Empress’s palace?"

"At the end of each year, the Echmont Royal Palace sets the budget for the following year. Since Her Majesty the Empress was not present last year, it’s likely that no budget was allocated."

"So you’re saying this situation is normal?"

"Of course not. It’s entirely possible to reallocate the budget through emergency supplementary budget procedures. The problem is that the authority to approve the supplementary budget is granted only to His Majesty the Emperor."

At that moment, a maid announced that the owner of the dress shop had arrived, and Adel and Mrs. Giggs stood up simultaneously. The Empress patted Mrs. Giggs’s shoulder with a polite smile.

"Please handle it wisely, Mrs. Giggs."

"Don’t worry. But, Your Majesty, where are you going?"

The Empress smiled charmingly. It was a smile that even a seasoned old lady who had seen it all would find chilling.

"Know your enemy and know yourself, and you will never be defeated. Don’t worry, I’ll see you later. Stay at my palace tonight."

The Empress winked and whispered, then strode away. Mrs. Giggs watched her black hair fluttering in the wind, entranced for a while.

"Mrs. Giggs."

A maid approached and called her name, and Mrs. Giggs, who had been lost in thought, finally snapped out of it. She smiled slightly and lifted her lips.

"Please guide me."

"Yes, please follow me."

＊ ＊ ＊ Adel headed straight for the Emperor’s palace, where the Emperor’s bedroom and the main council chamber for state affairs were located. Compared to the luxurious Empress’s palace, this space felt neat and practical. In front of the Emperor’s palace, various officials in their formal attire were gathered in groups, and they quickly straightened their postures and bowed deeply when they saw the sudden appearance of the Empress. Adel passed through them lightly.

"Is there a council meeting?"

As Adel asked while passing through the main gate, the gatekeeper respectfully confirmed that there was. When the attendants, who had heard of the Empress’s visit, hurriedly came out to greet her, Adel directly stated the purpose of her visit.

"I wish to see His Majesty the Emperor."

"Yes, Your Majesty. Please wait in the reception room for a moment, and I will inform His Majesty and give you a response."

"Reception room?"

"Yes."

The Empress, who had nodded, suddenly tilted her head as if a thought had struck her.

"Is there no waiting room in the council chamber?"

"Of course, there is a waiting room, but it is not as comfortable as the reception room I will guide you to."

"It doesn’t matter. I would like to see the council chamber of Echmont, so please guide me there."

The Empress commanded in a firm tone, not allowing any objections, and the attendant had no choice but to comply.

＊ ＊ ＊ At that moment, in the council chamber. The Emperor, with a bored expression, sat at the head of the table and idly flipped through the documents in front of him. Duke Despoin, who sat to his right, craned his neck to glance at the documents on the Emperor’s desk. When he couldn’t see the contents clearly, he frowned and turned his gaze, only to meet the eyes of a man looking at him from across the table. The man, wearing transparent glasses, was named Theseus Valdr, the head of the Valdr family and the lord of a vast territory. At 29 years old, he was a young minister, but he was considered the best among all the Valdr dukes. Theseus, upon meeting Duke Despoin’s gaze, naturally turned his head to look at his younger brother. Where his gaze landed, Lionel Valdr, 27 years old, sat.

Lionel, the younger brother of the Valdr Duke, was a born warrior, currently serving as the Captain of the Royal Guard and the Minister of Defense of Echmont. The knights called him 'Captain,' and the ministers called him 'Minister of Defense.' Duke Despoin alternated his gaze between the Valdr brothers and inwardly sighed. If only he had a son like them! Even if not a son, if only they shared his views, he would have cherished and loved them greatly. Well, being the sons of the previous Valdr Duke, it was unlikely that they would share his thoughts. As Duke Despoin was lost in thought, watching the Valdr brothers, a man’s desperate plea broke his reverie.

"Your Majesty! Please, please send Strikers and Keepers! Everyone is dying! They are dying even as we speak!"

'Pfft. Crying like a child. Annoying.'

Duke Despoin turned his head away with an irritated expression.

"They keep coming in endless waves. Now, even flying monsters have appeared, and there is no way to stop them. Unless Strikers and Keepers remove the tower…"

"Do you think we are just sitting around doing nothing?"

The one who cut off the tearful plea was Renox Poite, sitting to Duke Despoin’s right.

"Those who have 1st and 2nd class towers in their territories are not saying anything, right? But! The tower built in the Barony of Calvin is only a 4th class tower."

"That’s what you say, but it’s now wider in diameter! Flying monsters are appearing! It’s not a 4th class tower!!"

"But it’s written as a 4th class tower in the document! How can you say it’s not?!"

Renox raised his voice, and Baron Calvin, swallowing his anger, leaped to his feet and knelt before the Emperor.

"Your Majesty!!! Please, save us!!!"

"You are a very selfish person, Your Majesty!!! Send the knights to fight the monsters, Baron Calvin!!"

Baron Calvin, who was kneeling, clenched his fists and glared at Renox, but a low voice intervened.

"To call someone selfish when their territory is being devastated is inappropriate."

Renox and Baron Calvin’s gazes simultaneously turned to one person.

"Isn’t that right? If a large tower with flying monsters appears in a territory, it is a disaster. How could the lord not come here to plead? To call him selfish! Be careful with your words, Baron Poite!"

Duke Valdr warned Renox. Renox, after a moment of blankness, sneered. When he openly mocked Duke Valdr’s words, some nobles reacted with indignation.

"You are the head of the House of Valdr! Show respect, Baron Poite!"

"How dare you sneer?!"

As the nobles protested, Renox Poite glared fiercely and then shrugged. Despite being a commoner, he had secured a hereditary barony and was an outstanding Striker. However, he was not in a position to compare with Duke Valdr. Nevertheless, he acted arrogantly, relying on Duke Despoin and Dian Poite.

"What did I say that was wrong? Isn’t that right, Your Majesty?"

Renox bowed his head to the Emperor and asked, and the nobles’ attention focused on the Emperor. Karl, who had been observing the situation with his chin in his hand, looked at the Valdr brothers, who were sitting with their mouths tightly shut, staring at the table.

"The Deputy Commander of the Mages’ Corps would not speak without reason."

With that, Baron Poite lifted his lips in a smile and bowed.

"Baron Calvin."

"…Yes, Your Majesty."

"I am sorry about your territory."

"Please… Please understand, Your Majesty. Your Majesty’s many subjects are dying even as we speak."

Tears streamed down Baron Calvin’s eyes. As his tears soaked his collar, Renox Poite shook his head and muttered.

"Why are you asking the Emperor for your own loss?"

"…What did you say?! Renox Poite!!!!"

Baron Calvin’s anger exploding was natural. His shout echoed through the council chamber, and Renox Poite leaped to his feet and shouted back.

"What did I say that was wrong?!!"

"What?!!"

The council chamber instantly turned into a chaotic scene. Lionel and Theseus, buried in their chairs, glared sharply at Renox and then looked at the Emperor simultaneously. The Emperor, frowning, stared at Baron Calvin, showing no intention of stopping the situation.

"Baron Poite, stop it."

The one who stopped Renox was Duke Despoin, who could no longer tolerate his outburst. Renox immediately complied.

"Yes, Your Grace."

On the other hand, Baron Calvin, with a red face, panted and could not contain his anger. The atmosphere in the council chamber was like thin ice, ready to break at any moment. A suffocating silence fell. After observing the situation for a while, Lionel sighed deeply and broke the silence.

"Your Majesty, if flying monsters are appearing in the Barony of Calvin, it is right to send mages first. We have the manpower, and the Mages’ Corps is stationed in the palace, isn’t it?!"

At this, Renox immediately protested.

"Do you think we are just sitting around?!!"

Then, a few nobles who had been silent until now leaped to their feet and shouted.

"Why does the Mages’ Corps exist?! Why do they stay in the palace and not go where they are needed?!!"

"What if a 1st class tower descends in the palace while we are destroying a mere 4th class tower?!!"

"Stop making excuses!!"

As another fight was about to break out, the Emperor, who was tired of the meeting, slammed the table.

"Enough! This will never end."

The Emperor, burying himself in his chair, indicated that he would end the meeting for today. Since the atmosphere was far from conducive to ending, many objected, but Duke Despoin and Baron Poite actively agreed and stood up. As they stood, the meeting turned into a chaotic scene. Lionel and Theseus looked at Baron Calvin with stern expressions. He was pale and staring blankly into space. This meeting was his last hope. At that moment, an attendant approached the Emperor and relayed a message.

"Your Majesty. Her Majesty the Empress is waiting."

"Empress?"

The ministers, who were preparing to leave, paused and looked at the Emperor and the attendant.

"Yes. She is waiting in the waiting room of the council chamber. Where would you like to have her brought?"

At this, Karl, who had frowned, sat back down and ordered.

"Is there a need to go far? When the ministers leave, bring her here."

"I understand."

Renox Poite, who had been carefully observing his reaction, subtly lifted his lips in a smile.

＊ ＊ ＊ Meanwhile, as the council meeting was in full swing, the Empress was in the waiting room outside the council chamber, her ears perked up. She seemed to be listening intently to the conversation, her movements frozen. As the ministers’ shouts penetrated the heavy door and reached the waiting room, the two attendants guarding it looked at the Empress with embarrassed faces. The Empress, upon hearing the shouts, frowned deeply.

"Who just shouted?"

"It seems to be Baron Renox Poite."

The Empress nodded and focused on the sounds from the other side of the door again. After a while, the sound of chairs being pushed back loudly echoed. As the Empress realized the meeting was over, she sat back on the sofa with a relaxed attitude, as if nothing had happened. She lifted a teacup she hadn’t touched, tilted her head back slightly, and stared at the council chamber door with a haughty expression. The attendants, who had been watching, were taken aback by her sudden change in demeanor. A moment later, the heavy door opened, and the ministers began to pour out. Since the council chamber’s structure required passing through the waiting room to exit, the ministers inevitably met the Empress’s eyes as they came out. The ministers who met the Empress’s eyes hurriedly bowed. Since there were many people, Adel, who couldn’t greet each one, put down the teacup and nodded lightly. Just as she was about to ‘elegantly stand up and greet them,’ a shocking call reached her ears.

"Zilbu!"

Adel, who had almost doubted her ears, heard a call so absurd that she was taken aback.