TGW Chapter 22 Part 2

 

As soon as Patricia saw Doug, she raised her voice.

"When did I send for you to come to the palace? And yet, here you are now?"

As she angrily waved her arm, the handmaidens quickly filed out like a single body.

"I had many things to attend to."

"I told you it was urgent."

"What is it this time? What has the Silver King done now?"

"It's not just about the Silver King, Brother. Tell me about that bloodshed involving the Acheron family. What was the Duke of Acheron's daughter like? What was her relationship with His Majesty? Was she special to him?"

Doug's previously indifferent expression grew serious.

"Well, she was a favored woman, so His Majesty must have embraced her, and she likely bore him a child. But isn't His Majesty someone who wouldn't get caught up in romantic feelings? Is there anyone with a colder heart than him?"

"But she was His Majesty's first love. Does he know that Father was involved in what happened to them?"

Doug fell silent, lost in thought.

"After His Majesty ordered an investigation into the old incident, I did my own digging. It turns out there are hardly any of our family's retainers left who know about that incident."

"There aren't... any left?"

"They're all dead. Over the years, one by one. Some died in accidents, others from illness. But in my opinion, perhaps..."

"Father took care of them, didn't he?"

"Yes. Seeing how thoroughly he silenced everyone, I don't think His Majesty knows."

"...No, I think His Majesty knows something."

"What? Did you hear anything?"

"It's just a hunch for now. The reason His Majesty is revisiting that old case must be to somehow implicate the Rimone family."

Doug's face suddenly changed.

"Brother, how much do you know about what happened back then?"

"I'll find out more as soon as I return."

Doug recalled the time when their father quietly summoned him in secret.

"If something from the past ever threatens our family's future, open it."

The former Duke of Rimone had shown Doug the location of a secret safe. He had said that what was inside was not treasure but secret records that should never leak outside the family.

"If there is no trouble in our family until your heir grows up and you are near death, burn all the documents inside. I can't stop you from reading them, but don't leave them for your descendants."

Doug decided he would return and open the safe.

"And Brother, we need to keep an eye on His Majesty's movements."

"There are a few people I've already recruited."

"We need someone close enough to get into His Majesty's bedchamber."

"Are you out of your mind?!"

Doug snapped.

"Not even Father dared such a thing! Don't do anything foolish. If things go wrong, do you think His Majesty will forgive us?"

Doug spoke in a firm tone. Knowing his sister's relentless nature, he tried to put his foot down.

Patricia fell silent. Doug thought his warning had worked, but she was already contemplating something else.

‘Does Brother not know?’

Patricia had been mulling over the Emperor's words ever since she returned from the central palace a few days ago. She suddenly remembered something. Long ago, her father had given her an envelope.

"If there ever comes a time when you can't handle something in the palace on your own, seek the help of the person whose name is in that envelope. It’s a decisive, one-time assistance. He is someone under the sun, so use it wisely."

A person under the sun.

Patricia interpreted this as someone close to the Emperor. She immediately opened the envelope to check.

—Farrell.

It was the name of Doug's son and Patricia's nephew.

However, Farrell was a child Doug had late in life. He wasn't even an adult yet. So, the Farrell in the envelope couldn’t be her nephew.

"Brother, how is Farrell doing?"

"Why do you ask all of a sudden?"

Doug's expression softened. Just mentioning his son brightened his face, showing a doting father’s affection. Doug cherished his late-born son. Unlike their stoic father, Doug was enamored with his son.

"Did you name Farrell?"

"No, Father named him."

"Whose name did he take?"

In the Empire, noble families often named their children after ancestors. This was a strong tradition in the Rimone family.

"He was named after someone in our family lineage, but... not a direct descendant. And he didn't leave any remarkable achievements. To be honest, I’ve never been fond of the name."

"..."

"Why Farrell?"

"It's just that the name's been on my mind for a few days. I knew someone important with the same name, but I can't remember. It's kept me up at night."

Knowing his sister's obsessive tendencies, Doug didn’t think much of it.

"Someone with the same name... It’s not a common name, but there is someone you might know."

"Who?"

Patricia's eyes gleamed.

"The Chamberlain."

Patricia bit her lip. She almost gasped aloud.

"The Chamberlain’s name is Farrell?"

"The spelling is a bit different, but it's pronounced the same."

"Now that you mention it, I think I remember. Farrell. Yes, that was the Chamberlain's name. Thank you, Brother. I’ll sleep well tonight."

After Doug left, Patricia sat there in a daze before laughing like someone who had lost their mind.

‘You truly are incredible, Father. My admirable father.’

The "Farrell" in the envelope must be the Chamberlain.

‘Who would have thought? The Chamberlain’s betrayal.’

He had entered the palace at a young age to serve the Mad King and had risen to become the Emperor’s closest aide. He was a self-made man, often considered the hidden power behind the throne, but he kept his presence muted, acting only as the Emperor's loyal servant.

The Chamberlain was not someone swayed by the winds of change. He had no particular associations with any noble families, meaning no one had managed to align themselves with him. Even the smallest hired help from a noble house would boast if they gained their master’s trust, but the Chamberlain was cautious in everything.

The Emperor deeply trusted the Chamberlain's prudence. He was the only person who stayed by the Emperor’s side all day. Although he was a commoner by birth with no noble lineage, no one dared to look down on the Chamberlain.

‘Father didn’t recruit the Chamberlain.’

The phrase "a decisive one-time assistance" suggested this wasn’t about active or voluntary cooperation.

‘Whether he struck a deal or the Chamberlain owed him a debt, there was something between them.’

It was intriguing, but knowing the past circumstances wasn't necessary.

‘Father left the debt to me, not Brother.’

Patricia’s Red lips curved upward.

‘The Chamberlain must know something about what lies behind His Majesty’s words.’

She stood up abruptly as if she were about to rush to meet the Chamberlain but then hesitated and sat back down.

‘...No.’

She now had a powerful weapon in her hand. Should she use it for the Rimone family without any compensation? Why would she?

The Rimone family was her root, but Doug and his son were the ones who would inherit the family's wealth and honor. There was nothing in it for Patricia. She didn’t wish ill on the Rimone family. The Rimone family and the Red King were in a symbiotic relationship.

But Patricia was thinking far ahead, beyond when the Silver King would ascend the throne. Right now, she and her brother got along well, but power was not something to be shared.

‘Brother will surely try to take the lead one day.’

To avoid being pushed aside in the future, she had to press him down in advance.

‘There’s no rush.’

The Rimone family isn't going to collapse anytime soon. This card would soon become a crucial bargaining chip to pressure Doug.

 

***

 

The Imperial Assembly convened. The Emperor presided as the chair, while the members were the vassal lords.

The Imperial Assembly, attended only by the Emperor and the six dukes, was held monthly. However, the true Imperial Assembly, where all the vassal states were represented, convened only once a year, every spring.

The spring session of the Imperial Assembly was a significant event for the royal family. To attend, representatives from the vassal kingdoms arrived in the capital in droves. The spectacle of the delegations, each displaying their country’s unique culture and entering the capital, was a sight to behold.

The assembly hall was not located in the government buildings but within the Sun Palace. The high ceiling was a domed structure adorned with intricate ceiling paintings, and the marble pillars were elaborately sculpted. The hall was grand and antique.

The long, rectangular hall had a total of fifteen seats prepared, excluding the chair’s seat.

Until last year, there were twelve seats: representatives from the six ducal families and the six vassal kingdoms. This year, three more have been added.

Royalty granted the title of king by appointment was entitled to a seat by law. Beside the Emperor’s chair were seats for the Iron King and the Silver King. The fifteenth seat was reserved for the diplomatic representative of the newly added seventh vassal state, the Peroh Confederation, Marquis Raad.

As the opening time approached, members began to fill the hall one by one, taking their seats.

As soon as Duke Rouk entered, he scanned the room. The seats reserved for the dukes were all empty; he was the first duke to arrive. The duke, spotting a familiar face, approached with a pleased expression.

"Marquis Raad."

Kuhn, who was already seated, stood up.

“You came early, Your Grace.”

“I thought it might be better to come early. Arriving late would only draw unnecessary attention.”

Kuhn had visited the Rouk ducal library several times, and they had shared a few meals together.

Apparently fond of Kuhn, Duke Rouk had offered to assist him with any difficulties he might face while living in the Empire. Kuhn had graciously replied that he would serve him as a senior. Since then, the Duke’s demeanor towards Kuhn had noticeably relaxed.

“You must be greatly troubled.”

The duke sighed and shook his head. Over the past few weeks, he felt as if he had aged ten years.

“There’s been little progress. Duke Morton is incredibly stubborn.”

It wasn’t that he didn’t understand the grief of a father who had lost his son.

However, there was a defense to be made on behalf of the Rouk family as well. It wasn’t a deliberate murder but a tragic accident. The family’s honor was at stake, so the Rouk family could not stand by and let the Morton family impose severe punishment on Joseph as they wished.

“I hope you don’t take this the wrong way, but would you like me to mediate?”

“You?”

“The Iron King, Your Highness.”

“Hmm…”

The duke rubbed his chin, pondering with a look of intrigue. It would sour relations with the Rimone family, but after the broken engagement, he had gradually lost interest in them. Neither Duke Rimone nor the Red King had even offered the slightest hint of support.

‘They’re the type to turn their backs as soon as things get difficult. He doesn’t have half the guts his father had. The former Duke of Rimone didn’t raise his children well.’

Duke Rouk critically assessed Doug’s character.

“You’re saying His Highness the Iron King would intervene?”

“I haven’t spoken to him about it yet. I wouldn’t decide on matters concerning the Rouk family without discussing it with Your Grace first.”

Duke Rouk was subtly moved by the marquis’s considerate approach.

“I’m sure the Iron King will be happy to assist. As you know, he isn’t biased towards either family. I believe the Morton family would readily accept his mediation, and they would hesitate to make enemies of the Rouk family over this.”

The duke nodded firmly, his eyes already showing signs of being convinced.

“Hmm. Go ahead and proceed. If this matter is resolved well, I won’t forget your efforts.”

“You’re too kind.”

Duke Morton entered and, upon spotting Duke Rouk, paused in his stride.

Duke Rouk greeted him with a silent bow. However, Duke Morton merely cleared his throat with a curt cough and walked past coldly. Duke Rouk, embarrassed, returned to his seat in silence.

The members gradually filled the room. Only the successor of the Bless family attended in place of the duke, while all other families had the dukes themselves present.

The oppressive atmosphere of the assembly hall was likely due to the icy expression of Duke Morton.

“I’ve long heard the cliff formations there are quite the spectacle. I must see them before I die.”

“You are always welcome, Your Highness. We would host you as an honored guest.”

Engaging in a cheerful conversation, two people entered: the Iron King and one of the representatives of the vassal states. The Iron King surveyed the hall. Despite all eyes being fixed on him, he showed no sign of nervousness.

“My, everyone’s so diligent. It seems I’m a bit late.”

The Iron King first approached Duke Morton. The duke caught off guard, stood up.

“Duke Morton, I understand your grief. He was an outstanding young man. It’s a shame we lost someone who could have been a pillar of the Empire. May he rest in peace.”

Duke Morton was deeply moved. Everyone had been careful with their words, simply watching for cues, but no one had formally expressed condolences.

“…Thank you, Your Highness. What can one do? It was his fate.”

“Putting personal tragedy aside, I commend your resolve to fulfill your duties as a duke by being here today.”

Duke Morton bowed his head in a gesture of modesty.

Afterward, the Iron King greeted the dukes and the representatives of the vassal states. Some responded awkwardly, while others reciprocated warmly.

Unlike the dukes, who were familiar with the Iron King’s affable demeanor, the representatives of the vassal states were taken aback. Having only seen the cold Emperor, they had assumed all the royals were the same.

Doug’s expression hardened as he observed. He was displeased that the Iron King had taken the initiative.

‘It’s unbecoming for a royal to be so frivolous.’

He resented the Iron King for overstepping his bounds, dismissing the threat as beneath him.

Kuhn stood back quietly, letting Dian have his moment.

‘That guy sure has a lot of nerve.’

How did such an anomaly emerge from the Imperial family? The more Kuhn watched Dian, the more curious he became.

Most of the seats were now filled. For a while, Kuhn had been turned toward the entrance, waiting for someone.

Finally, Princess Sienna, the Silver King, entered. Kuhn, who had been leaning back with his chin resting on his hand, straightened up.

He had met her yesterday and helped with her sword practice. Even seeing her again after just one day made his heart race wildly. Her beauty was breathtaking. She perfectly embodied the image of the “divine race” that the people of the Empire envisioned.

But something about her felt unfamiliar. It wasn’t just the formal attire she wore instead of her usual armor. Her expression was different. It was perfect and firm. Cold enough that it seemed to exude a chill.

‘Ah…’

Kuhn suddenly realized. She must have looked just like this the first time they met.

‘There’s a certain expression you only show in front of me.’

What he had once thought was her stiff demeanor now seemed incredibly rich and soft compared to her current look. Foolishly, he hadn’t noticed her change. He felt overwhelmed, wanting to confirm that it wasn’t just his imagination.

The murmurs faded. The princess commanded the atmosphere with her mere presence.

Sienna was entirely unfazed by the stares and the brief silence. She was used to it. Without acknowledging her surroundings, she went directly to her seat. The two royals, the Iron King and the Silver King, each asserted their presence in different ways.

Separated by the Emperor’s chair, the half-siblings sat on opposite sides. Those watching them alternately had peculiar expressions. The siblings seemed both alike and different.

A chamberlain announced:

“His Majesty, the Emperor, is arriving.”

Everyone stood in unison. The Emperor entered and took his seat.

“Be seated.”

“Glory to Your Majesty.”

The Emperor surveyed the fifteen members with a solemn gaze and spoke gravely.

“I declare the session open.”

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