Even if it was a conference with a predictable outcome, refusing to attend was not an option.

“There’s always a slight possibility…”

“To at least maintain a minimum of justification…”

Expecting a catastrophe, the envoys nonetheless headed to the Imperial embassy in Florence.

It was a magnificent sight as the splendid carriages, escorted by knights in gleaming armor and helmets, passed through the grand main gate of the Imperial embassy.

To witness the rare spectacle, the residents of Florence flocked to the area around the embassy entrance, forming a long line.

“Wow! It’s the Medici!”

“It’s the Gonfaloniere!”

Seeing the carriage prominently displaying the Medici family crest, the people of Florence cheered.

When Lorenzo de’ Medici made a brief appearance in response to the residents’ cheers, the crowd roared even more enthusiastically.

“Gonfaloniere! Gonfaloniere!”

“Long live Florence!”

“Glory to Florence!”

“Long live Italy!”

As the Medici family’s carriage entered amidst the cheers of the Florentine residents, the main gate of the embassy was firmly shut.

***

Upon arriving at the embassy, the envoys were immediately guided to the grand conference hall. The aides following the envoys were stopped by the Imperial Army.

“What is the meaning of this!”

“You must undergo a light body search.”

“What is this insolence!”

Although the aides protested vehemently, the officers commanding the Imperial troops paid them no mind.

“This is to prevent any unfortunate incidents that might occur. We ask for your understanding.”

“This is outrageous!”

“If you refuse, you will be denied entry to the conference hall!”

Faced with the firm response of the Imperial officers, the aides had no choice but to submit to a body search.

The Imperial Army’s search was meticulous.

First, all the daggers that men of that era customarily wore at their waists were collected and sealed in a separate box. Afterward, they were made to remove their ornate coats decorated with gold and silver, and then their entire bodies were swept with a wooden stick that had a large magnet attached.

Clank!

If there was any metal hidden in their clothes, the magnet would naturally stick, and these individuals were taken to a separate area for a more intensive search.

When more than three people were taken to this separate area, even the aides who had been full of complaints shut their mouths and quietly complied with the search.

‘It would be fortunate if it’s just jewelry, but if it was a weapon…’

‘We could be wrongly blamed for all sorts of things!’

Meanwhile, inside the conference hall, the envoys who had entered first were protesting to the ambassadors about the same issue.

“This is an insult!”

“They are noblemen of our nations!”

Shin Sukju stepped forward to respond to the envoys’ protest.

“And they are also men who dream of being heroes. What will you do if someone who thinks, ‘I don’t care if my name goes down in infamy, as long as it goes down in history!’ causes an unfortunate incident?”

“Well, that’s…”

“Surely not…”

At Shin Sukju’s point, the envoys were at a loss for words. The thought of ‘leaving one’s name in history, even in infamy’ was a powerful temptation. Moreover, among the countries participating in the conference, there were almost none that were on good terms with each other.

“Ugh…”

“We will definitely protest this matter later! Don’t think you can just let this slide!”

With a final “Just you wait!”, the envoys took their seats. A short while later, the aides who had passed the search entered the conference hall. The envoys’ complexions changed drastically as their aides rushed over and reported something in their ears.

“Is that so?”

“What fools!”

The reactions of the envoys who received the reports were divided.

“We’ve gained a good card before we’ve even started.”

They would look at the envoys of their rival nations with gleeful faces.

“What foolish men!”

Or they would become furious, having suffered a loss before the talks even began.

***

A short while later, the inner door of the conference hall opened, and an official who came out raised his voice.

“His Majesty the Emperor Emeritus is entering!”

At the official’s cry, everyone in the conference hall rose from their seats to greet Hyang.

Clomp, clomp.

With the heavy sound of the nails hammered into the soles of his cavalry boots, Hyang, dressed in his characteristic black uniform and military hat, entered the conference hall.

“Thank you for coming. I welcome you. Everyone, please be seated.”

At Hyang’s words, the envoys and their aides, who had taken their seats, felt their chests tighten once again as they looked at Hyang dressed in his black uniform.

‘This pressure is just…’

‘My chest feels so tight…’

The envoys, who were desperately taking deep breaths while looking at Hyang, noticed the left arm of the black coat he was wearing.

A small Imperial flag, with the Samtaegeuk[1] and the eight trigrams embroidered in gold thread on a black background, was attached to the shoulder of his left arm.

‘The national flag on his clothes?’

‘Is he saying that he is the state?’

“Then let us begin the conference.”

As Hyang announced the start of the meeting, the envoys broke free from their thoughts and began to focus.

***

The start of the conference was, as expected, Hyang’s first strike.

“I have come all the way here to Italy because of the urgent situation of our ally, Florence. I heard that our good ally, the Empire of Florence, is facing an unjust threat, and I am here to resolve this amicably.”

As the Imperial interpreter translated Hyang’s words into Latin, Louis from France immediately retorted.

“Our France is also a good ally of the Empire. Yet it sounds as if you are implying that we are exerting unjust pressure on Florence.”

“Isn’t that the truth?”

“It is not true. We were merely advising Florence to stop disturbing the peace of all of Italy.”

“Florence is disturbing the peace of Italy?”

“That is correct. Florence is making the other Italian cities tremble in fear by insisting on the ‘unification of Italy.’ It is Florence that has acted unjustly.”

As soon as Louis finished speaking, the envoys from Spain and the Habsburgs also spoke up in succession.

“That’s right! That is why those who were trembling in fear asked us for help, and we merely responded to their request!”

“It is Florence that has acted unjustly. What is it if not an unjust act to shatter the peace of Italy that has continued until now?”

“Hmm…”

At the envoys’ words, Hyang leaned back in his chair and smiled mysteriously.

Seeing this, the ambassadors simultaneously felt a chill run down their spines.

‘Ugh! That expression! The one I never want to see even in my dreams!’

‘If he clicks his tongue now…’

‘Ugh… Just thinking about it gives me the chills…’

“Tsk!”

Along with the tongue-clicking sound that made the Imperial officials shudder, Hyang began to counter them one by one.

“From what I have heard, Florence is not the only one who has advocated for the ‘unification of Italy.’ I believe Milan, Genoa, and Venice have all made the same claim. So why is only Florence unjust?”

“Uh… that’s…”

“How is that any different from saying, ‘If someone else has a child out of wedlock, it’s a ‘dirty bastard,’ but if I do it, it’s the ‘beautiful fruit of love’?'”

“The analogy is a bit…”

At Hyang’s words, the envoys blushed and looked embarrassed. They were at a loss for words at the analogy that pointed out the European aristocratic society, which was overflowing with all sorts of affairs and scandals.

Hyang’s attack continued.

“And, those who have lived without being united since the fall of the Western Roman Empire have now come forward to become one again. I see no reason to stop this.”

“If that happens, the peace that has existed until now will disappear!”

“Peace for whom?”

At Hyang’s question, Maximilian I from the Habsburgs raised his voice.

“It is peace for Italy, no, for all of Europe!”

“Tsk!”

Hyang clicked his tongue once more, and Maximilian I flinched for a moment, then fell into confusion.

‘Why? Why! As soon as I heard that tongue click, why? Why!’

Regardless of what Maximilian I was thinking, Hyang immediately countered.

“The people of Italy want unification, but you tell them to endure because it harms the peace of Europe? Is this not truly an unjust thing? What is this if not the arrogance of the strong?”

“A small sacrifice is necessary for the sake of peace!”

“Does the Habsburg envoy want peace, or the protection of interests disguised as peace? No matter how much you cry for peace, do you think the Italian people walking those streets will believe you?”

“…”

As Maximilian I fell silent, at a loss for words, this time the envoy from Spain stepped forward.

“Didn’t the Empire also send its army to Italy to gain benefits?”

“Tsk, tsk, tsk… Let the Spanish envoy answer. What benefit is there for our Empire to gain Italy?”

“…”

At Hyang’s counter-question, the Spanish envoy fell silent with an embarrassed expression.

As Hyang had pointed out, there was almost no benefit for the Empire to gain from acquiring Italy.

The Empire was already reaping enormous profits through Suez. From the Empire’s perspective, obtaining Italy was not particularly beneficial.

‘No, in fact, it might only result in losses…’

Watching the Spanish envoy furiously racking his brain for an answer, Hyang continued.

“The Italians living in Italy will establish a single Italian nation. It was because this will of Florence was beautiful that the Empire decided to help them. I ask the envoys gathered here. Is it wrong for the Italians living on Italian soil to live as citizens of a unified Italian nation? Why? The French live as citizens of France, and the Spanish live as citizens of the United Kingdom. But why is it not possible for the Italians?”

“…”

The ministers could not answer Hyang’s words immediately.

‘This can’t go on, not like this!’

In the end, Louis of France stepped forward and spoke to Hyang.

“Since this is the first day, how about we stop here for today? It seems there are some envoys who were not properly prepared as it is the first day.”

“It’s common for the first day to be just for introductions, so that’s understandable. Then, we shall stop here for today. How about we resume the meeting the day after tomorrow?”

At Hyang’s suggestion, Louis stepped forward and answered.

“That seems to be a very appropriate interval. The other envoys will surely agree.”

At Louis’s words, the other envoys looked uncomfortable.

‘The two of them are running the whole show.’

However, it was also awkward to refuse. Excluding the Empire, the strongest country present was France. And they needed time to formulate a logic to counter Hyang’s.

In the end, the other envoys had no choice but to agree.

“Then, let’s meet the day after tomorrow.”

As they left the embassy in their carriages, the envoys let out long sighs.

“Hoo~. This opponent is too much to handle.”

***

Before the sun set that day, the envoys realized they had been defeated once again.

“Something terrible, something terrible has happened!”

The junior officials and attendants who had gone outside sought out the envoys with pale faces.

“What terrible thing? Did the emperor suddenly die or something?”

“No! The record of today’s meeting has been posted on the wall of the Imperial embassy!”

“What!”

The envoys who received the report rushed outside in astonishment.

At the same time, Hyang was receiving a report from the ambassadors.

“A large number of Florentine residents have gathered to see the large-character poster on the wall.”

“Is that so? Have the flyers been prepared as well?”

“Yes. As you commanded, 200 copies were printed and put outside. But isn’t 200 copies too few?”

At Seong Sam-mun’s question, Hyang smiled faintly and answered.

“No, it’s just right. Any more than that would be clearly intentional, but that amount can be passed off as an old man being stubborn.”

“Yes…”

After dismissing the ambassadors, Hyang, left alone, looked out the window and muttered.

“This is what you call a propaganda…”