Chapter 15

The next morning, after breakfast, I was summoned to the palace and made my way to the garden.

In the colorful garden, I found His Majesty, who was teaching something to a parrot, and hurried over to him with large strides.

“Noah Ararat, I have come in response to your summons.”

I knelt on one knee and bowed my head, and His Majesty replied in an unusually cheerful tone.

“Oh, you’re here. Raise your head.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Henry has reported on last night’s events. The assassin has talked.”

“So?”

“Yes. It was the work of the rebels. They planned to capture you and use you as a bargaining chip.”

“I see.”

I wasn’t surprised, as I had expected as much.

Rather, I was surprised that he had talked after just one night.

“Your Majesty.”

“What is it?”

“The fact that he talked so easily could also be a lie.”

“You’re clever.”

His Majesty became even more cheerful.

“There’s no need to worry. I have a way to verify whether the person who talked was telling the truth. According to that, it was the truth.”

A snake knows the ways of a snake.

I’m not an expert in torture, but if that’s the case, I’ll accept it.

“That’s why, well done, Noah. If you had been captured, the empire would have been forced into a difficult position.”

“I am honored.”

“And one more thing.”

“?”

Is there something else? — I thought, and in the next moment,

“You were right to focus on the fodder.”

“—!”

I was thoroughly surprised.

The plan to buy up all the fodder in the surrounding areas to weaken the cavalry for the conquest of Almeria was something I had come up with on the spot last night and only told Byron.

Yet, it had already reached His Majesty’s ears.

This kind of thing had happened before, but this time I was the most surprised.

His Majesty, completely oblivious to my surprise, praised me excitedly.

“Anyone can lay siege, but to consider the people and focus on the horses, and to do so with your own money—”

His Majesty approached me and placed a hand on my shoulder.

“This idea and the ability to act on it are remarkable. Not many can do that.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

“I must reward you. Money would be too vulgar here… very well, Cruise.”

“Your will.”

Cruise, the eunuch, appeared from behind the garden. As always, I couldn’t tell where he had been hiding until he was called.

“You are allowed to add a sword to Noah’s coat of arms. Issue the proclamation.”

“As you wish.”

Cruise immediately set to work.

I was surprised and knelt on one knee again, bowing my head.

“I am honored.”

The empire is a land of warriors, and most honors are related to combat.

Among them, adding a “sword” to an official coat of arms is something that can only be done with the emperor’s permission.

The same applies to the signs of merchants and guilds.

Using a “sword” without permission is considered a crime of disrespect, and in the worst case, it could lead to the death penalty.

Conversely, being allowed to use it is one of the highest honors bestowed by the emperor.

I raised my head and stood up.

His Majesty was smiling, with dimples appearing on his wrinkled face.

He seemed even happier than I was.

Suddenly, His Majesty seemed to remember something.

“Right, Noah, have you decided how to select the knights?”

“…Yes, I have an idea.”

“Oh? What is it?”

“Would it be impolite to demonstrate here?”

“Yes, go ahead.”

After His Majesty nodded, I beckoned to a low-ranking eunuch standing at a distance.

I whispered to the eunuch, and he went to prepare.

A few minutes later, a table and chairs were set up in the garden, and a few more eunuchs arrived.

A tea set was placed on the table, and a eunuch was holding a bucket of water.

Ideally, soldiers would be more appropriate, but within the palace, one cannot be armed without the emperor’s permission, so we did it this way.

I looked at His Majesty.

He nodded with a smile, clearly looking forward to what I was about to do.

I nodded back, sat down, and picked up the tea set.

In the most luxurious garden in the palace, I performed an elegant tea time.

One of the eunuchs, beckoned by me, splashed water from the bucket.

The water coming towards me triggered a reaction from Leviathan.

The armor linked to the ring transformed into an umbrella-like shape, blocking the water from the bucket.

Another eunuch splashed water, and the next one in line did the same.

In total, four eunuchs splashed water from their buckets, but all of it was blocked by the umbrella formed by the ring.

The ground was soaked, but within a two-meter radius around me, it remained dry.

The word "territory" came to mind.

Within this territory, not even a drop of water could pass through Leviathan.

The demonstration was complete. I put down the teacup, stood up, and knelt on one knee to report to His Majesty.

“I will have the candidates attack me. I will judge based on how far they can push me.”

I didn’t mention that the tea time would be a long process.

“Indeed, well done. This will withstand a long selection process.”

His Majesty seemed to understand.

“However… hmm.”

“Is there a problem?”

“Yes. There is also a risk. Some of the candidates will be quite strong. If they manage to break through my defenses…”

“I am prepared for that.”

I answered immediately.

As a noble and a prince, it is my duty to find the right people for the empire.

Compared to that, a little danger is unavoidable.

That’s why I answered immediately.

His Majesty, looking even happier than before, praised me.

“Well said. You are truly my son, a prince of the empire.”

☆

When I returned to the mansion from the palace, Byron was waiting for me.

I had him brought to the parlor to hear his report. He had already started buying up the fodder and had a good idea of where it was.

“You were quick.”

“The amount of processed fodder that can be transported is limited, and we know where it is. It’s not that difficult to secure it.”

“I see.”

He’s a true merchant.

As I was about to ask for more details, there was a knock on the door.

It was an urgent knock, not a normal one.

“Come in.”

A maid entered.

“Excuse me—Master, there’s a man covered in wounds at the front gate.”

“A man covered in wounds?”

“He says he’s come from Almeria with an urgent report for you.”

Hearing the word “Almeria,” I exchanged a glance with Byron and nodded.

I stood up and left the room, with Byron following behind.

We went to the front gate of the mansion.

There, as the maid had reported, was a young man in tattered clothes, covered in bruises and dirt, clearly having come from a long journey.

“I am Noah Ararat.”

“It’s an honor to meet you, Your Highness.”

“Hmm. Who are you?”

“I am the captain of a ten-man squad in Adra County, Almeria Province.”

“Hmm.”

“Your Highness, a rebellion has broken out in Almeria.”

“…I see.”

I listened to the young man’s report quietly.

What he said wasn’t particularly new.

A rebellion had broken out in Almeria, and his superior had led it.

He did not agree with it, so he had escaped from the army and come to the capital to report to me.

I thought for a moment and nodded.

“I understand. Thank you for bringing this news.”

I turned to the maid who had accompanied me.

“Tend to his wounds. And give him a reward of five hundred—no, a thousand Reen.”

The maid nodded and called another maid to take the man away for treatment.

Left in the courtyard, Byron immediately asked me.

“Your Highness, what was that about?”

“Hmm?”

“Didn’t you already know about the rebellion? Why did you give him such a large reward?”

“Indeed, his information wasn’t useful. It’s not new and wouldn’t have been of any help.”

I looked straight at Byron as I said this.

He stared at me, his eyes asking, “So?”

“It’s a reward for his loyalty. A mere squad captain came here at great risk to report. His loyalty deserves to be rewarded.”

“To give such a large sum for that… You are truly remarkable!”

Byron opened his mouth wide and looked at me with admiration.