Chapter 36
“Among the matters His Highness was overseeing was the relief effort in the eastern region, which has been suffering from years of drought. The delay in urgent action has caused intense public resentment in the East.”
“……”
“Also, gaps have begun to appear in the surveillance network of the pirates. Although His Highness claimed to have eradicated them, remnants still remain. It’s up to His Highness to monitor their movements and bolster our defenses. However, we’ve received intelligence that all military forces related to that matter are currently being used for personal purposes.”
At Count Zelaur’s words, everyone’s expressions hardened.
“I believe everyone can guess what that ‘personal matter’ is, so I won’t bother to state it.”
Marquis Eogal clicked his tongue.
‘Tch, he said what I was going to say!’
All he had done was elaborate a little more on the paralysis of governmental affairs, yet he felt as though the most important role had been stolen from him.
Still, it was oddly reassuring that this unreadable man shared his opinion.
‘Well, of course, he’d want the third prince, Bryndel Zelaur Lornod, to become crown prince too.’
At least for now, they were on the same side.
Marquis Eogal swiftly raised his voice.
“Your Majesty! We can no longer stand idly by! Please, make a decision!”
“It’s already difficult to forcibly bring back a royal from Lornod by military means! Your Majesty!”
“Your Majesty!”
Others joined in, echoing the Marquis’s plea to the emperor.
Some among the crown prince’s faction tried to push back, but even their limited responses were disorganized and disjointed.
It was clear that there was internal strife among them as well.
‘Yes! This is the perfect atmosphere!’
Marquis Eogal recalled the grudge between him and the crown prince.
It all began during the “Selection of the Crown Prince’s Fiancée.”
If only his foolish daughter hadn’t caused that bizarre incident with the drugged tart!
‘I wouldn’t have lost the iron mine…!’
That was painful enough at the time, but he had endured it for the sake of his daughter’s honor.
Later, however, something else was discovered in that mine.
‘Salt! Rock salt!’
Salt—the most essential resource on the continent!
Who could’ve predicted that something more valuable than gold would be found there?
The greedy Marquis Eogal had begged the crown prince, foaming at the mouth, to return the iron mine. But the crown prince had refused to even look at him, saying the deal was already finalized.
‘That mine was originally our family’s! It was mine!’
Outwardly, it was said that Marquis Eogal sold the mine to the crown prince in urgent need of funds.
His acquaintances sympathized and told him to forget it, saying it was unfortunate but necessary.
That only drove him further into madness.
‘I never received a single coin!’
Because it wasn’t sold—it was stolen!
Technically, it was part of the deal, but to Marquis Eogal, it had long since become a case of being forcibly robbed.
‘Gobard Luim Lornod!’
Since that day, the empire’s most covetous noble, Marquis Eogal, regarded the crown prince as though he had murdered his parents.
He had sharpened his blade every day, dreaming of the day of revenge.
‘And now, that day has come!’
“Your Majesty, please make a decision!”
“Your Majesty!”
With inward joy, Marquis Eogal stirred the other nobles into action.
At that moment, the emperor—who had remained silent—finally opened his mouth.
“The crown prince’s actions are indeed disgraceful. He will be held accountable accordingly.”
“Yes!”
“But that is all.”
The emperor firmly drew the line.
“Do you wish for the crown prince to be dethroned?”
“!”
“……”
“Ahem.”
At the emperor’s direct question, the nobles all hesitated and glanced at one another.
Seeing their reaction, the emperor changed his tone.
“The current disorder caused by the crown prince’s absence is nothing compared to the chaos that would follow his dethronement!”
Bang!
The emperor slammed the table, eyes glinting with fury.
“Do not use the flimsy excuse of serving the empire to threaten the crown prince’s position!”
His overwhelming presence made everyone in the conference room shrink back.
Especially Marquis Eogal, who couldn’t hide his dismay.
‘Damn it. I didn’t expect him to be this firm…!’
Was it still too soon?
As the anti-crown prince faction recoiled, and the crown prince’s supporters sighed in relief—
“Then how about this!”
Boom!
The grand double doors of the chamber flung open.
And the figure who entered, bathed in light, was someone everyone recognized.
“N-No way…?”
“What’s the duke doing here?”
“But isn’t this the middle of a noble council meeting?!”
Unable to contain his fury, the man shouted.
“Then surely, the protector of the South—I, Duke Bobonsher—must be present as well!”
Duke Bobonsher shouted and glared directly at the emperor.
“Am I wrong, Your Majesty?!”
“…Duke.”
“I had no idea the meeting had already begun without me!”
Without waiting, the duke stormed into the chamber.
His heavy steps radiated fury.
“Duke Bobonsher, please listen. We didn’t intentionally exclude you.”
“That’s right. We just thought you might need some rest, given the distress caused by recent events…”
The nobles tried to excuse themselves in hushed voices, but Duke Bobonsher didn’t hear them.
His mind was filled with only one sound—his daughter’s cries.
“Father! I’m so angry! How dare that bastard humiliate me like this!”
“Aebwa, calm down.”
“He threw me into this disgrace! And now he’ll stroll into the capital with that mistress clinging to him?! I won’t stand for it! I’d rather die than see that!”
Her devastated cries shredded his heart.
He hadn’t arranged her engagement to the crown prince for her to suffer.
He had only wanted her to walk a shining path above all others.
He clenched his fists so hard they bled as he sat beside the emperor, in his rightful seat.
“Duke Bobonsher.”
“Your Majesty.”
Without even looking at the emperor, the duke said:
“We would like our dowry returned.”
“…What?”
“His Highness the Crown Prince unilaterally declared the engagement broken in the most disgraceful way possible. Therefore, we of House Bobonsher intend to demand full compensation.”
“Duke, are you joking with me?”
“Would Your Majesty joke while your child’s honor is at stake?”
The duke slowly turned his gaze to meet the emperor’s.
“Our dowry included a fleet of 17 ships. For the unilateral dissolution of this engagement, we demand four times that amount—68 ships. A total of 85 vessels.”
Eighty-five ships?!
The whole room was thrown into shock.
At the emperor’s furious roar, the other nobles shrank.
“Duke Bobonsher—!”
“This was discussed previously, as I recall.”
“You’re being absurd! You know the precedent was flawed!”
“Even if it was flawed, it remains an official record.”
“Duke! Must you take it this far?”
“Did you truly not expect me to?”
The two clashed in a fierce battle of wills.
After a moment of silence, the emperor changed tactics and softened his tone.
“Of course, I’ll ensure Lady Bobonsher’s honor remains untarnished. I’m willing to provide consolation and even personally oversee a new engagement.”
“The consolation for our Aebwa is 85 ships.”
“Duke…!”
“I am aware the royal family doesn’t possess 85 ships at the moment.”
He made it clear—he had no intention of negotiating.
“Then at the very least, all of the empire’s remaining fleet must be handed over to House Bobonsher!”
It was known the royal family possessed hidden ships in addition to their official fleet.
Duke Bobonsher didn’t know the exact number, but he knew enough to make such a demand.
“You dare provoke me.”
Of course, he had just struck at the emperor’s pride.
The emperor’s red eyes flared dangerously.
“Are you threatening me and the imperial family? What do you plan to do with the entire royal fleet—commit treason?”
At that chilling question, everyone held their breath, eyes fixed on Duke Bobonsher.
His next words could determine whether this escalated into full-blown rebellion.
Slowly, the duke opened his mouth.
“Your Majesty, House Bobonsher has remained loyal to the empire since its founding—without a single instance of disloyalty. And who was it that broke that trust first?”
“……”
“It was none other than His Highness the Crown Prince, the so-called ‘little sun’ of this empire.”
At that moment, Marquis Eogal’s eyes widened.
‘Wait… that tone…?’
Others with sharp instincts also perked up.
Even Count Zelaur, who had remained silent, now gleamed like a predator behind his monocle.
“To His Highness the Crown Prince, does our bond of loyalty mean nothing? Is that why we haven’t received a single word of apology?”
“It was a foolish mistake of youth. Once things settle, it will be corrected swiftly.”
“You cannot disguise the consequences of that foolishness with the word ‘mistake.’”
Duke Bobonsher shouted, voice brimming with solemnity:
“The lord we of Bobonsher will choose to serve—Lornod—would never commit such cowardly and irresponsible acts!”
