TGW Chapter 13 Part 3

As the door opened, the aide entered with a much more urgent stride than usual. Sienna observed the aide's flushed expression and asked,

“What’s the matter?”

“Your Highness, the regular ship carrying the envoys of the Peroh Confederation has arrived.”

Sienna jumped to her feet.

“Have they arrived at the palace?”

“No, Your Highness. They have not disembarked from the ship yet but have only sent a message to the palace.”

“What has His Majesty said?”

“Nothing yet.”

“Bring me any new information as soon as it comes in.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

The situation took a strange turn after that. The head of the envoy met with the Emperor and returned to the ship. Then, an official carrying the Emperor's orders visited the envoys’ ship. This process repeated several times, with representatives from both sides traveling back and forth.

Still, the envoys did not disembark from the ship docked at the pier.

By the next morning, rumors had spread throughout the capital. Most people had heard that an envoy from the desert had arrived at the southern pier of the capital.

The residents of the capital felt both curiosity and fear toward these unknown figures. A much larger crowd than usual gathered at the pier.

The head of the envoy met only with the Emperor. The Emperor also did not disclose what urgent matters they discussed.

Then, in the afternoon, the Emperor convened an emergency meeting. The carriages of the dukes' families arrived one after another at the palace, staggered over time. Heads of the administrative departments also entered the Sun Palace.

Sienna ran into Dian at the entrance to the conference hall. They paused for a moment, exchanged a brief greeting with a glance, and then entered the hall.

‘The Iron King can contact and meet Kuhn anytime he wants.’

Sienna was frustrated by her own situation, where she could only wait for Kuhn to visit her. The calm she had forced upon her heart stirred again.

‘Damn bastard.’

He had objected to her getting engaged, yet it had been some time since the engagement ceremony, and still, there had been no contact.

‘That bastard is deceiving me. Does he think I’ll fall for his sweet talk about liking me?’

Her feelings, which had been heavy and complicated since the engagement ceremony, had turned to anger as time went on. Now, she was deeply frustrated.

“His Majesty, the Emperor, is entering.”

The chamberlain announced. Everyone in the conference room stood up. Sienna lowered her gaze to hide her embarrassment. She felt ashamed for thinking about a man while in the conference room.

“Everyone, be seated.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

After the noise in the hall completely died down, the Emperor immediately got to the point.

“You are all aware by now. The envoy of the Peroh Confederation has arrived near the capital. The representatives of the Confederation have conveyed their demands to me.”

Duke Schultz spoke up.

“So, the head of their delegation requested an audience with Your Majesty to present their demands?”

“That’s correct.”

The conference hall instantly became chaotic. Criticisms such as "How dare they?" and "What insolent people" erupted from all directions.

The Emperor subtly raised his hand, and the room quieted down again.

“They want to make their presence known. If the Empire welcomes them, they will pledge allegiance and bow their heads to the Empire’s authority.”

“What do you mean by welcoming them…?”

“They wish to parade through the capital.”

The nobles roughly understood the Confederation’s request. It was essentially a grand display.

It wasn’t an unreasonable request. Vassals from other kingdoms often led elaborate parades whenever they came to the imperial capital. These parades were quite a spectacle for the capital’s residents.

Doug, who had become Duke of Lyman, spoke.

“If that’s all they’re asking for, Your Majesty might as well generously indulge their vanity.”

“That is also my thinking.”

The nobles shifted their eyes around, pondering what the Emperor might desire.

Duke Schultz spoke up again.

“Your Majesty, they have voluntarily offered to become subjects of the Empire. Perhaps it would be wise to show leniency to those who first bow their heads to the Empire.”

“Leniency, you say… How so?”

“Bestow gifts upon them, Your Majesty.”

“To what extent?”

“If you give them a gift larger than they expected, it will overwhelm them with gratitude.”

The nobles began to catch on from the exchange between the Emperor and Duke Schultz. The two had clearly coordinated beforehand, with the Duke playing the role of the spokesperson.

“Your suggestion is reasonable. I am thinking of granting them a large branch of the sacred tree.”

The Empire traditionally gave special gifts to vassal nations. The Emperor would personally break off a branch of the sacred tree and present it as a gift. The larger branches were given to vassal states of high strategic value, while smaller branches were given to others.

Besides its symbolic significance, the sacred tree's branches held special and mysterious powers. The name “Desert Fiends,” referring to monsters, didn’t originate from their emergence in the desert but from their ability to cause desertification.

Monsters instinctively hated vegetation. They destroyed forests and turned grasslands into wastelands. Yet, they never approached the vicinity of the sacred tree.

Therefore, the territory of the Empire, which was said to dominate the world, wasn’t as extensive as one might think. The Empire harbored no ambitions for territorial expansion. The Empire’s land was simply defined by where the sacred tree kept the desert fiends at bay.

The branches of the sacred tree also had a similar effect, though nowhere near as powerful as the sacred tree itself. Even a large branch could only create a defensive barrier about the size of a small village, and unlike the sacred tree, it withered away over time.

Nevertheless, the branches of the sacred tree provided comfort to the people and were immensely powerful in securing the public’s support.

“Does anyone have any other opinions?”

No one responded to the Emperor’s question.

‘There’s been a deal.’

Everyone had caught on. The Emperor and the Confederation’s envoy had likely already reached an agreement. The Emperor seemed satisfied with the benefits he had secured through this negotiation.

“Your judgment is wise, Your Majesty. If you reward those who bow their heads first without wielding force, it will elevate the Empire’s dignity.”

As Doug promptly gave the model answer, everyone else rushed to agree.

“Your decision is gracious, Your Majesty.”

The Empire was completely safe from the threat of monsters. The more one has, the greater the fear of loss. The people of the Empire believed that if the sacred tree disappeared, the foundation of their lives would collapse, and darkness would descend upon the world.

Thus, the Emperor, who was the only one able to touch the sacred tree, wielded absolute power, and the royal family was considered divine. This was why the imperial citizens worshipped the royal family as if they were a religion.

Having achieved his goal, the Emperor left the rest to be handled by others and departed.

Now the remaining nobles began discussing the protocol for welcoming the envoy.

“It’s been a long time since the last ceremony of bestowal, hasn’t it?”

“Come to think of it, just how long has it been?”

All neighboring countries to the Empire had pledged themselves as vassals and received branches of the sacred tree.

The branches of the sacred tree took anywhere from a few years to several decades to wither. Therefore, the bestowal ceremony wasn’t a frequent event. It had been a very long time since a new vassal state had joined.

“It would be wise to show sincerity, wouldn’t it?”

“But we still don’t know the temperament of those from the desert…”

“I’m concerned they might disrupt the established diplomatic order we have built with the Empire.”

“If we offer them excessive special treatment, the other vassal states might express dissatisfaction.”

“Neglecting them isn’t what His Majesty desires either.”

A debate arose about the diplomatic status of the Confederation and where it should be positioned. The timing, location, and scale of the bestowal ceremony were also critical matters.

‘I won’t gain anything by staying any longer.’

Sienna stood up from her seat. As she left the conference hall and walked down the corridor, she heard a voice calling her from behind.

“Silver King.”

She turned to see Dian approaching.

“I know it might seem strange to call you here suddenly and say something like this, but…”

Dian said awkwardly.

“Would you like to go on an outing?”

“An outing?”

“Oh, I don’t mean just the two of us, of course. Violet and my fiancée would join us as well.”

Sienna thought of Lady Grossi, who had a gentle and pure expression.

“She’s been wanting to invite you, Silver King. It won’t be far. We won’t leave the palace grounds. You can, of course, bring your bodyguards.”

Anyone with even a basic understanding of imperial politics wouldn’t propose an outing with the Iron King and the Silver King. Yet, that was what the Iron King’s fiancée had done.

Violet was largely unfamiliar with the outside world due to her minimal social engagements. Raised solely under her grandfather's one-sided affection, she was unaware of people’s malice. She thought the relationship between the Silver King and the Iron King was just awkward because they weren’t close.

But Dian found his fiancée's naive innocence utterly endearing. He was doing this foolish thing just to make her happy.

“When?”

“We haven’t decided yet.”

“Alright.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

Sienna thought it might be fine to associate with Violet. She didn’t seem like a shrewd person.

“Perhaps…”

“Yes?”

Sienna hesitated, wanting to ask about Kuhn but changed her words.

“Can I bring my chief maid with me?”

“Of course.”

“Please let me know when the date is set.”

“Certainly. Are you heading back to the palace now?”

“Yes.”

“Let’s go together. Our paths overlap midway anyway.”

The two walked out of the Sun Palace together. Watching Dian’s shadow move alongside hers, Sienna felt a strange sensation.

‘It’s so strange. At the beginning of this year, I never could have imagined this.’

She was walking with the Iron King like a close acquaintance. It was awkward, but not uncomfortable.

“Iron King, have you ever met the rebels in person?”

“I’ve had the misfortune of running into some of the more radical ones a few times.”

As expected, the Iron King knew about the anti-Empire forces, unlike herself.

‘The Iron King will be a good Emperor.’

If his reign were chaotic, her future self wouldn’t have stood in front of the portrait, uttering a monologue full of guilt.

Sienna had always believed she was the only one qualified to succeed the Emperor. She had thought legitimacy was secondary and had been certain that Dian didn’t have the qualities needed.

That was an arrogant prejudice. She had judged without truly knowing what kind of person Dian was.

‘But that doesn’t mean I am lacking compared to the Iron King.’

On her way back to the palace after parting with Dian, Sienna steeled her mind, which had been wavering all along.

‘Iron King, if you seize the throne that should come to me through underhanded schemes…’

If what her mother had said, coughing up blood in the dream, were true…

‘I will never step down quietly. I will fight with everything I have.’

However.

‘If you ascend to the throne according to the natural order, then that would be Arr’s will.’

How could a mere human go against the will of the gods?

Having reached this conclusion, she felt as if a heavy burden had been lifted from her shoulders. She smiled faintly.

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