“What in the world is a conversation that takes this long?”
“I know, I’m dying of curiosity.”
“Stop pushing. I can’t hear a thing, even with my ear pressed to the door.”
“How long are you all going to stand there? Don’t you have luggage to unpack?”
“Do you think I came here for a holiday? I’m here to get approvals!”
“Iaaan? Iaaaaan.”
“Shh! Be quiet, Beric!”
Beric and a growing crowd of mages were pressed against the door to the Minister’s office, straining to catch any sound from within. While Jaira was a key figure in the Clifford rift investigation, her private audience with the Minister was dragging on for an unexpectedly long time. As a result, a queue of mages requiring Ian’s approval had begun to form in the hallway. Beric, whose only desire was to be lounging on a sofa somewhere, began to make a fuss, hoping to send a signal to those inside.
“Excuse me.”
A palace staff member called out to them cautiously from the end of the corridor. As every head in the huddle turned toward him, he looked distinctly flustered.
“Is there some problem with the Minister?”
“Are you also here to submit a report?” a mage asked. “Either leave it with one of us or get in line. As you can see, we’re also waiting.”
“It is an order from His Highness the Crown Prince.”
“Oh.” Well, that changed everything.
While the other mages immediately parted to make way, Beric simply clung to the doorknob, whining petulantly.
Knock, knock.
“Minister. A moment of your time, if you please.”
“Iaaaaan, it’s an order from the Crown Prince!”
The staff member hesitated, unable to simply step over the sprawling magic swordsman. With a sigh, he carefully picked his way through the tangle of Beric’s arms and legs. Just as he did, a voice from within gave its permission.
“Come in.”
Creak!
Ian was standing at his desk, sorting through documents, while Jaira was in the process of polishing her glasses. From the hallway, a dozen mages peeked their heads in, their eyes darting around the room.
“What is it?”
“Ah, yes. It is news from the delegation sent to Burgos. We’ve received a report that, due to a sudden ambush, all members have been killed, with the exception of a single messenger. His Highness the Crown Prince has officially called for an emergency conference, and the Ministry of Magic is ordered to attend.”
The entire delegation was dead.
Ian’s hands, which had been deftly organizing the papers, froze mid-motion. The gazes of the mages, which had been curiously surveying the office, now snapped to the staff member. In that single, silent moment, everyone was certain. This was the beginning of the war.
“I understand.”
“Yes, well.” The staff member bowed and retreated. The moment he was gone, Beric scrambled into the office and threw himself onto the sofa.
“Honestly, that Beric. He still wants to lie down, even in a situation like this?”
“We’ll be rolling around in the shit trenches soon enough when the war starts,” Beric retorted. “I have to enjoy it while I can. You all should get some rest, too. Oh, wait. You have to go to a Ministry meeting, don’t you? Kyahaha!”
Twitch. The mages were smiling, but they couldn’t quite conceal the irritation bubbling up from within. As they started to converge on Beric, Jaira stood and dusted off her coat.
“We’ll be providing support from the rear, so we won’t have to smell any trenches. Beric, you can roll around in them to your heart’s content.”
“Hey, is that any way to talk to your elder?”
“Why? Isn’t that exactly what you do best?”
“Ugh! Get over here!”
“Lord Ian, I will take my leave now,” Jaira said, bowing politely to Ian. “I will submit the details in a report, and we can speak again then.” As she bowed, she raised a single middle finger behind her back. It was clear that Beric, though likely unaware of it himself, was playing a crucial role in helping the mages from Ruswena assimilate.
“You little wench! I’m going to kill you, I swear!”
…She hasn’t changed a bit. In so many ways. Ian thought with a wry smile and gestured for them to leave. Beric continued to grind his teeth in Jaira’s direction, completely immobilized by a group of mages who had finally had enough.
“Lord Ian,” a remaining mage asked, “if the conference is about the attack on the delegation, what should the Ministry prepare?” To have a diplomatic delegation ambushed was more than just rare; it was unprecedented. They were at a loss as to how to proceed.
Rustle. Ian slowly turned over a document, his mind already working. Depending on who was responsible for the attack, the course of the war would shift. Was it Rutherford’s faction, or the Atan? Or could it, unexpectedly, be the royalists, or some other power entirely? In any case, the immediate priority was the coronation…
“I suspect,” Ian said after a moment, “that he will hold the coronation and the departure ceremony for the war at the same time.”
“Ah, that’s a possibility. His Highness is very determined to participate in the war himself.”
“It would be for the best. With the war imminent, setting a date for the coronation has been somewhat delicate. And for boosting morale, there is no better event.”
“Then the Ministry should focus on preparing for the ceremony. It is also an opportunity to show that the Ministry of Magic is a force to be reckoned with once more.”
Ian smiled a bleached-white smile. With just a single, short hint, his mages had grasped his intent. Though the most important piece of the puzzle had not yet been revealed.
By inviting foreign dignitaries, we can gauge the stance of each nation.
And would they only gauge their stances? To hold the coronation and the departure for war simultaneously meant that they could effectively hold the key figures of any opposing nations hostage within Bariel’s borders. Most countries would likely take this into account and either send members of their own opposition factions as representatives or decline the invitation altogether. The former presented an opportunity to make contact with those who opposed their current rulers; the latter could be used as a pretext, a justification based on their blatant disrespect for the empire.
Though, if a nation refuses to attend at all, we will simply meet them on the battlefield. I suppose a pretext will hardly be necessary then.
“Prepare the dispatches to be sent to the foreign powers,” Ian instructed. “And inform the Mana Stone Management Department to conduct another thorough inspection of our reserves.”
“Yes, understood!”
Clifford was a firm ally, but he couldn’t be certain how Ruswena, Hawan, and the other smaller nations would react. It was highly likely that the countries in the northern regions were already part of Rutherford’s faction.
“Furthermore—”
“Th-there’s more?” a mage who had been about to leave froze in his tracks.
“Relay a message to the Dera. Tell them to submit their conventional weapons for quality inspection. House Hollin will use every trick in the book to protect what remains of their business rights. For them, this is the final battle.”
“The final battle?”
“Yes.” Becoming an empress versus becoming a crown princess. Which is the easier path? Before Jin could ascend to the throne, the struggle to secure the seat beside him would intensify. If a clear winner did not emerge from the conflict between the Hollins and the Davions, then hands from the houses below them, and the houses below them, would begin to reach upward.
But, Roberside… that dream is still so strange. The being who had acted as Jin’s guardian since childhood had shown him a new person in his stead. He suspected she might be Jin’s fated partner, but he had nothing to confirm it.
Ian unconsciously picked up his pen and began to lightly sketch the woman he had seen that day. He hadn’t gotten a clear look at her, so the image was blurry…
“Hmm.”
As Ian stroked his chin, lost in thought, the remaining mages in the office snuck a peek at his drawing. In unison, their jaws dropped.
‘So, Lord Ian does have a human side after all…’
‘His drawing skills are on the exact same level as Prince Jin’s.’
‘Is that a drawing? Are we sure it’s not some foreign language we don’t know?’
‘I think it’s supposed to be a person. See? Eyes, nose, mouth.’
‘It looks like food that’s gone off and started to sprout.’
‘…Indeed, the gods are fair. Truly.’
The mages exchanged furtive glances, their eyes darting back and forth to the tip of Ian’s pen. Ian, sensing their stares, looked up with a questioning expression.
“You are all dismissed.”
“…Ah, yeees!”
“Our apologies!”
“Um, Lord Ian—”
“Stop spouting nonsense and get out!”
BANG! A mage who had been about to offer some clumsy praise for the drawing was unceremoniously dragged from the room by his colleagues. What is wrong with them? Ian stared at the firmly closed door for a moment before turning his focus back to his work.
***
“How dare they attack a delegation from Bariel!”
“Are they mad? We must show them the consequences of their actions at once!”
For the first time in a long time, the atmosphere in the grand conference hall was one of unity. The bitter factional squabbling from a few days ago seemed a world away. In the face of a common enemy, all that remained was their shared identity as citizens of Bariel.
Thud.
Jin tossed a report onto the table. His eyes were so cold that anyone could have guessed the depth of the Crown Prince’s fury.
“…According to the messenger’s report, the incident occurred at approximately five in the morning. Though the dawn was breaking, it was still dark. The head of the delegation was killed instantly in his carriage during the surprise attack. The guards resisted, but they were overwhelmed by a vastly superior force and were killed without being able to mount a proper defense. The other members of the delegation were captured as they fled and were beheaded on the spot. The messenger was the only one to escape, and he reported that he had the distinct impression he was allowed to get away.”
The deceased were all long-serving, respected officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Minister, his face contorted with a rage that mirrored Jin’s, added, “Based on the method of attack and the witness’s testimony, we believe the perpetrators to be the Atan chief, Efdiram, and her clan head, Veno.”
“Is the chief not a mage? Did she use magic?”
“Not directly. It is presumed to be the work of Veno. Traces of a magic sword were discovered at the scene. The body of the head of the delegation was found bisected, along with his carriage.”
A wave of revulsion went through the officials as they imagined the gruesome death.
“If the Atan were the ones who harmed our delegation, then there is no need to hear their side of the story.”
“I will never understand those people. If they had simply remained in the north of Bariel, they could have feasted on demonic beasts without lifting a finger.”
“Can we accurately gauge the Atan’s military strength?”
“The Ministry of Magic has been submitting regular reports from the northern rift zone. While not exact, we have a general understanding of their capabilities.”
“So, are we to assume that the anti-royalist faction of Burgos—that is, Rutherford—and the Atan have formed an alliance? Are there no other powers involved?”
“That is—”
Just as the Minister of Foreign Affairs was about to speak, Jin held up a hand. Ian bowed his head slightly, awaiting the Crown Prince’s declaration.
“There have been no overt diplomatic movements from other nations as of yet,” Jin announced. “But we will use the coronation to ferret them out.”
As expected. Ian’s lips curved into a satisfied smile. They had not discussed this directly, but in this, as in so many things, their thoughts were perfectly aligned. Several of the officials, however, looked as if they had been struck by lightning.
“Use the coronation, Your Highness? I am not sure I understand.”
“If we hold the coronation and the departure ceremony for the war together, we can not only gauge the currents of foreign politics, but we can also keep the key dignitaries of each nation here, in Bariel. There is no better opportunity to create an advantage.”
“But Your Highness, the coronation is a great and solemn event for the empire. To hold it in conjunction with a departure for war is—”
“If there is a reason why it cannot be done,” Jin cut in, his voice like ice, “speak now.”
The officials began to murmur amongst themselves. The coronation was a matter directly tied to the emperor’s authority. It was supposed to be a grand and magnificent ceremony, an event designed to announce his power to the world. If Jin himself was suggesting they combine it with the war departure, there was truly no reason to stop him. The officials who had been about to protest were quickly silenced by their colleagues, who shot them sharp glances and subtle shakes of the head. Keep your mouth shut. Let the Prince have his way on this.
“There are no objections.”
“Yes. To hold the coronation and the departure ceremony together will be a great boost to the morale of the empire’s citizens.”
“In that case, Your Highness, will you be departing for the front immediately after the ceremony?”
“If I do not take the lead,” Jin retorted, “will you?”
“Ah. N-no, I was merely asking.” The official who had spoken stroked his beard awkwardly, blushing at the prince’s sharp reply.
At the same time, a gleam appeared in the eyes of many others in the room. If the emperor was to be absent from the palace, then someone would be needed to guard his seat. Someone like, for example, an empress.
“Your Highness, in that case, would it not be wise to welcome a crown princess before the coronation, to solidify the inner court?”
“I strongly agree and recommend it. While Your Highness is away from Bariel, we need someone who can firmly protect the palace in your stead.”
“Time is short, so I would recommend a simple engagement ceremony for now. After the war, you can hold a grand national wedding, along with the victory celebrations.”
Jin looked up, his expression one of utter boredom. He had known this was coming. But it was a matter that had to be addressed. The seat beside him was important not only to him, but to the future of Bariel.
“I have decided to set a few standards of my own,” he announced.
“Yes. Please, speak, Your Highness.”
“First, her family must be willing to contribute more than eighty percent of its total wealth as funds for the defense industry.”
Huh? What did he just say? What kind of mad family would ever agree to that? The officials’ eyes went wide, their mouths hanging open in disbelief.
“Alternatively,” Jin continued, a dangerous glint in his eye, “I would prefer a woman who will ride into battle with me.”