It was a strange thing, to feel an atmosphere in a silence. At times, a stillness could contain terror, at others, surprise or admiration. But the silence that now gripped the grand conference hall was, without a single dissenting voice, filled with pure, unadulterated bewilderment.
The officials who were the first to recover their wits began to speak.
“Your Highness, an empress who rides into battle alongside you? It is unthinkable! The Empress’s duty is to protect the palace in your stead. How can both of you be absent from your posts at the same time?”
“Yes! The citizens of Bariel will be consumed with anxiety!”
“And most importantly—”
Most importantly, which of the empire’s noble daughters could possibly ride onto a battlefield and charge into the enemy’s ranks at Jin’s side? Even for the young lords, who had been trained in swordsmanship and horsemanship their entire lives, participating in a war was a daunting, arduous affair, rarely undertaken except in the most special of circumstances. Like the empress, their duty was to protect Bariel from within.
‘I heard House Sereau participated in the Clifford-Burgos war, but did the cost not all but bankrupt them? They squandered their family fortune and gained nothing of value.’
‘That case was a bit different, ahem.’
‘Shh! Why would you even mention that family? It’s bad luck.’
The last prominent example of a noble house marching to war had ended in disaster. It was safe to assume that unless a family was truly on the brink of ruin, they would not send their own to the front lines.
And the other condition? To offer up eighty percent of their family’s wealth as funds for the war effort?
“Your Highness… is it possible that you have no intention of marrying at all?”
This was no longer a subtle, roundabout refusal to take a partner. This was an open act of defiance against the very idea.
But Jin just shrugged, as if he couldn’t fathom their confusion, and replied with a nonchalant air. “The continuation of the imperial line is a matter of great urgency. Why would I refuse a national marriage? The Empress is to be my partner and a member of the Imperial Family; therefore, her family will also be my family. For the sake of the war, what is so difficult about showing such sincerity? If I were in their position, as the head of the Empress’s house, I would have offered everything. The prosperity of Bariel is the prosperity of the family, after all.”
“Your Highness.”
“Furthermore, while it is customary for the empress to remain in the palace during wartime, she is under no obligation to do so. It is not as if I have an heir in need of immediate care. They say a married couple is one body and one soul. I desire a partner who will stand with me on the battlefield and raise the glory of Bariel high.”
“Oh, this is…”
The officials began to murmur amongst themselves, no longer bothering to hide their flustered expressions. The only candidate who came even remotely to mind was Lady Kyla of House Hollin, but her expertise was rooted in weapons manufacturing, not swordsmanship. It was highly doubtful she would meet the Prince’s standard. And that was before considering the far greater problem of whether Kyla herself would even agree to go to war.
“Your Highness, these are unconventional standards.”
“My partner is not to be chosen by my father or my mother, let alone by all of you. How can you presume to comment and set the standards for me?”
“But Your Highness, the daughters of most prestigious families are far removed from the worlds of swordsmanship and martial arts.”
“Then I shall be on the battlefield in advance. Tell any who are interested to train themselves and join me there.”
“Your Highness!” Are you joking? an official cried out, his eyes flashing.
Jin only smiled. It was a smile that dripped with a chilling seriousness, and his answer was perfectly clear.
“Why?” I am not joking.
At any other time, they might have tried to argue further. But the officials with outstanding debts simply followed the lead of the silent Minister of Magic and held their tongues. The Davion faction, now bound by the new evaluation system, also averted their gaze. Who, then, was left to cry out that the standards were absurd? The officials could only curse silently, swallowing their dismal frustration.
‘If this continues, the officials won’t be able to utter a single word of protest, even if a great crisis befalls the palace.’
‘Indeed. His Highness needs to listen to the opinions of all his subjects. Heh.’
“Your Highness.” It was Ian, his voice breaking the tense silence. “Victory in war is something that can only be achieved when every person performs their role to the best of their ability. The soldiers who carry the swords and shields, the medics who support them, even the cooks. Considering the reality of the situation, it would be best to relax your conditions somewhat.” Otherwise, his unspoken words hung in the air, the backlash from the officials and the nobility may become severe.
Ian knew Jin had understood his full meaning.
“Yes. There is merit in what you say,” Jin conceded. “She need not necessarily wield a weapon. So long as she participates in the war in some capacity and does her part, I will look upon her favorably.”
“You are wise, Your Highness.” That’s good enough, isn’t it? Ian thought, raising his head slightly to look at the officials.
As if on cue, they reluctantly chorused, “Yes, Your Highness. You are wise.”
“Then we will move on to the next matter. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will send invitations to the coronation to the nine major nations, excluding Burgos.” Clifford, Ruswena, and Hawan were on the list, but the rest were mostly smaller nations to the north. Astana was one of them. Ian and Romandro’s eyes met across the room. It was a chance, they both realized, to see Hasha again after so long.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs nodded in acknowledgment, and the officials began to discuss the precise date and order of the ceremony.
‘Send this to House Hollin.’
‘To the Davions.’
Even as they spoke, a flurry of notes was being passed beneath the table. The officials were relaying the fresh, vital information to the noble houses with which they were aligned. Both Jin and Ian noticed the furtive movements, but they ignored them, keeping their focus on the meeting.
“But what if they all choose to go to war instead of giving up their wealth? That would be a problem in itself.”
“That’s unlikely. Not with Hollin and Davion standing so firm. It will be a contest between Lady Kyla and Lady Chloe. Any other who dares to step into that bloody arena without knowing her place will be cut down.”
“True. Even if the Hollins are on the decline.”
“Yes, I could see Lady Kyla participating, but I am not so sure about Lady Chloe.”
The officials shook their heads, unable to predict how things would unfold. They quickly fell silent again under Jin’s sharp, warning glare.
***
“Chloe, look at this. It’s a new dress that just came in. Isn’t it lovely? The color doesn’t suit me at all, though. Do you want it?”
“Hmm. It’s nice. So bright and pretty.”
“What’s this?”
“I received it as a birthday gift, but I’ve only worn it a few times.”
“Isn’t that the one Lord Chalotte’s elder brother gave you?”
“Who gave it is hardly important. What’s important is that it doesn’t suit me.”
“True. It is a bit… Did Lord Chalotte have such poor taste? Almost anything looks splendid on you, Chloe.”
Chloe was surrounded by her closest friends, a circle of young ladies passing around gowns and jewels. Standing before a grand mirror, she was glittering from head to toe—her brilliant red hair, her sparkling earrings, her flawlessly smooth skin, her dazzling necklace. Just as she was smiling in satisfaction, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed from outside.
“My lady!”
“Nanny, I’ve told you not to cause such a commotion.” Chloe chided the reflection in the mirror. Normally, her nanny would have immediately apologized, but this time, she was panting for breath, waving her hands in the air.
“This is not the time for that, m-my lady! Gasp.”
“What is it? What’s happened?”
“His Highness the Crown Prince has announced his standards for selecting the empress! A message has just arrived from the palace!”
Chloe spun around. The other ladies, who had been lounging on the sofas, sat up, their eyes wide with curiosity. Finally, an official statement regarding the Prince’s marriage. As Chloe strode toward her nanny, her friends pretended not to look, but their ears were perked.
‘What could the standards be?’
‘I wonder.’
Even as they feigned indifference, their eyes shone with a hopeful curiosity. Though they all paid lip service to the idea that Chloe was the only suitable candidate, deep down, each one had secretly wondered if she might have a chance.
“What? Are you joking?”
“N-no, my lady, it’s no joke. The master also heard the news and is on his way home as we speak. There is to be a full family conference this evening to discuss the matter.”
“This is…”
“Chloe, what’s wrong?”
“What happened?”
Chloe stared blankly into space for a moment before turning to her friends. An unreadable emotion swirled in her golden, topaz-like eyes.
“What is it?” they pressed. Tell us! What kind of partner is the Prince looking for? Family? Beauty? Or education?
“I… I don’t know what this means.”
“What?”
“He said he will look favorably upon a candidate from a house that either contributes eighty percent of its family wealth to the war effort… or one who will participate in the war alongside him.”
In an instant, the sparkle in the young ladies’ eyes died. What kind of insane conditions were those?
“Perhaps the information is incorrect?”
“That’s right. Matters of marriage are often distorted by rumor—”
“I doubt it,” Chloe said, sitting down at her vanity table. “The message came through a direct channel.” The rebuke was clear: Your families, with their tenuous connections to the palace, may have to rely on rumors, but the information of House Davion is certain.
Her friends exchanged uneasy glances, then leaned back against the sofa. “What are you going to do?”
“My father has summoned a family meeting for this evening.”
“But the conditions are… strange. They seem to be advantageous for Lady Kyla, don’t they? Could it be that the Crown Prince has already set his heart on her?”
At this, Chloe’s gaze snapped to her friends. They could only offer awkward, placating smiles.
“Well, it’s true, isn’t it? Lady Kyla is knowledgeable about weaponry and is said to be skilled in swordsmanship. It makes more sense for her to go to the battlefield than to give up eighty percent of her family’s fortune. It’s not as if His Highness would put a Duke’s daughter on the front lines, so all she would have to do is go and endure a little hardship. Compared to the wealth they would have to surrender, that path is far better.”
“That’s right. And being by His Highness’s side, there will be opportunities for private conversation.”
“Chloe, let’s be honest. You wouldn’t go to war, even if they asked you to. You should speak with the Count when he returns. There might be another way.”
“Yes. In so many ways, you are far more suitable than Lady Kyla. I don’t understand why His Highness would set such conditions.”
“A royal marriage is no joke, is it?”
“It is a little absurd. He might as well just postpone the marriage, instead of causing all these rumors.”
Clack.
Chloe took off one of her earrings and set it down on the vanity with a sharp, deliberate sound. Then, she turned, a brilliant, dazzling smile on her face.
“As you have all said, I have no intention of going to war. But how can we, mere subjects, dare to fathom His Highness’s intentions? Let us all refrain from such disrespectful remarks.” After all, her unspoken words hung in the air, he is the man who will be my partner for life.
Chloe believed that Jin possessed a deep wisdom, and therefore, he would ultimately choose her, not Kyla. The conditions seemed disadvantageous on the surface, but she was certain there was a hidden meaning within them. Her friends could only wink and smile in agreement, and the conversation died in an awkward silence.
It is best to assume that giving up the family fortune is not an option, Chloe thought, her mind racing. That is merely the minimum qualification. It is far wiser to hold onto the family’s power, in case of future trouble.
Which meant the only path remaining was to go to the battlefield. But no matter how she considered it, it was impossible. She, who had never so much as lifted a heavy teapot in her life, what could she possibly do there? She would not only be useless, but she would be a liability, a hindrance to their own side.
“…If I cannot go,” she murmured, her voice barely a whisper, “then I will simply have to make sure Kyla cannot go, either.”
“Hm? What did you say?”
“You know,” Chloe said, her voice turning sweet as she moved closer to her friends, “there is something I need you to find out for me.”
“W-what is it?”
We are friends, are we not? Chloe’s smile was enchanting as she leaned in to whisper. “Go to the Hollin estate and see what the atmosphere is like. And there is something that has been bothering me for some time. The jeweled ornament Lady Kyla wore on the day of the coming-of-age ceremony. I want you to get it for me.”
“H-how are we supposed to do that, Chloe?” her friends asked, their faces pale with distress.
The smile vanished from Chloe’s face, replaced by a look of pure, cold steel.
“By any means necessary. My friends should have no problem with a simple task like that.”