I Became the Master of the Empress

217 – 221

It’s been two weeks since we started traveling by carriage.

We’ve finally arrived at the Jarl Plains.

Lost in the afterglow, I gaze at the golden wheat filling the vast plains and the sunset.

It’s been a year since the civil war within the Emperor’s faction ended.

Battles raged here, but it’s hard to find any traces of war after just one year.

The place is so peaceful now, it’s hard to believe that a fierce war took place in such a short time.

As I’m lost in thought, someone calls out to me.

“Your Grace, it’s cold at night.”

Taris, the officer in charge of this operation from the intelligence department, with a cold appearance in his mid-twenties.

Quite handsome, too.

I’ve heard he’s from a baron’s family, but I haven’t inquired further.

The fact that he’s joined the perilous intelligence department says enough about how his family treats him.

“Yes. I’ll go in now.”

With that, I enter the tent prepared in advance, ready to face the locusts and demon worshippers.

As I fit the artificial skin onto my thumb, Taris takes out cosmetics from his pocket and spreads them out.

“Will it take long?”

Taris shakes his head.

“It might take about an hour. Please give me your thumb.”

As I hand over my thumb, just as Taris said, he applies various creams to the artificial skin and my finger.

The task at hand is to make the artificial skin adhere seamlessly to my own, so the boundary is invisible to the naked eye.

The artificial skin and these special cosmetics did cost a pretty penny, but my safety is paramount.

If I were to die a sudden, violent death, the empire would plunge into chaos once more.

As I pondered over the upcoming negotiations,

– Your Highness, the Archduke. I apologize for the intrusion… Two locals have requested an audience with you.

A statement that piqued my curiosity reached my ears.

Who could be looking for me? After all, no one should have expected me to be here.

Although I did travel in a carriage bearing the Archduke’s crest, it’s intriguing that someone recognized it was me among the many noble emblems.

“How interesting.”

“Pardon?”

As Thalis, who was busy working on my hand, asked back, I waved my left hand.

“It’s nothing. How much longer will it take?”

“About ten more minutes should do it.”

There’s still some time before the Locust arrives. It might be a bit of entertainment for now.

“Tell them I’ll be out shortly. Ask them to wait.”

– Understood.

As I spoke, Thalis took a small glass vial from his pocket.

Looking at the red blood contained within, he asked,

“What does the owner of this blood wish for?”

Thalis, calmly filling the syringe with the red blood and carefully piercing the artificial skin with a fine needle, replied,

“He requests a title for his family.”

The proposal of the death row inmate who would die in my stead.

Frankly, it’s a demand that makes no sense under imperial law, but I’ve decided to grant it.

His death will be a sacrifice, but thanks to him, we’ll be able to execute the demon worshippers.

“Have you decided which fief to grant?”

Thalis, having injected all the blood into the artificial skin, looked up at me as if to say, what are you talking about?

“Why grant a fief? Our intelligence department doesn’t have the authority to bestow lands.”

“Ah… right.”

Most of the empire’s fiefs are already enfeoffed.

Unless I conjure up land from somewhere, we must either reclaim existing fiefs or the emperor must grant one of his own.

As things get complicated, I say,

“When the work is done, I’ll give one of my estates in the Grand Duchy to the family.”

As I speak, Taris examines the artificial skin.

“It seems like an excessive reward.”

“It’s not excessive. It’s simply a fair compensation.”

Then, women likely to use makeup brushes dab a flesh-toned cosmetic carefully along the edges of the skin.

“As far as I know, there’s no such precedent in the empire.”

“Even if there isn’t, a promise is a promise.”

Taris, who had been quiet for a while, finally speaks.

“It’s done for now. And I will relay your command to headquarters.”

At those words, I nod and step out of the tent… and there before me are a man, a woman, and a newborn baby.

“Huh?”

“Your Grace, it’s been a long time.”

Alexander, in his humble clothes.

A member of the Nicaean Imperial Council and a talent who has engaged in diplomatic battles with me for a long time.

How saddened I was, thinking he had died in the civil war of the imperial faction?

Now, he’s a talent as coveted as Sabinellus under Theodora.

The fact that such a talent is alive and has come to find me lifts my spirits.

“Ah! If it isn’t Councilor Alexander? To meet you here! The gods must love me.”

As I resolve to throw a grand banquet to win him over after the negotiations with the Locusts are done.

“I’m overjoyed to hear you say that. But before we clear the air, may I introduce this person to you?”

Only then do I look at the woman standing next to Alexander.

She appears to be about my age or younger, a woman with luscious purple locks.

Seeing the newborn cradled in her arms, I gladly say,

“Yes, I would welcome an introduction to such a beauty. Please, go ahead.”

Would the introduction of a woman be an issue when the master of diplomatic battles, Alexander, is in my embrace?

“This lady is Olivia, and the child is Darko, son of His Highness Joannes and Lady Olivia.”

“What? The son of His Highness Joannes?”

As far as I know, all of Joannes’ sons have grown up and live in Byzantion.

But now, unexpectedly, the son of Joannes appears as a newborn, and I am taken aback.

“Yes, even though I am a criminal of the empire, I have come to ensure the safety of Lord Darko.”

Will the conversation be longer than expected?

I wish I had the time to chat and laugh with them, but the arrival of Locust is imminent.

There’s so much I want to ask right now, but there’s hardly any time.

“Senator Alexander, I apologize, but I have an important appointment. Could you please wait for me in my carriage?”

At my words, Alexander nods.

“Ha, I’ve been quite rude to someone who’s come on business. Understood, Your Grace.”

So says Alexander.

He then speaks to a woman named Olivia.

“Lady Olivia, please come this way.”

As the woman named Olivia meets my eyes, she nods in gratitude and follows Alexander inside, leaving me lost in thought.

Everyone has a child but me.

When I retire and go to the new continent… I find myself wanting to meet a suitable woman and get married.

***

Locust leads Amon, Beta, Theta, Delta, and their demon-worshipping followers across the Yarl Plains.

“We shall meet the Grand Duke soon.”

Locust can hardly contain his excitement.

Once he meets the Grand Duke and signs the blood contract, the resurrection of the Demon King is only a matter of time.

“If you sense anything suspicious, you must kill them immediately.”

Beta and Theta, unlike Amon of noble birth, give sincere advice, and Locust nods in agreement.

“Haha, coming here signifies joining us. You know, don’t you? That such forces cannot stop me!”

The discussion about the negotiation site between the Grand Duke and Amon was fierce.

Amon vehemently opposed any involvement of the Holy Knights and wizards and demanded a limit on the number of soldiers.

Well, guessing that Devian would do the same, I offered a compromise like a favor.

We’ll take a small force, but we’ve agreed to install eavesdropping magic at the negotiation site so that if I’m in danger, the intelligence and military departments can respond immediately.

“Still, you never know. No one who has allied with the Grand Duke has met a good end. Please consider why he overthrew the emperor and seized control of the empire.”

“Don’t worry. The blood contract is perfect.”

Locust trusts the contract created by the ancient high demons after long research.

Even he is nothing compared to the ancient high demons.

‘So, it’s not a spell that can be thwarted by mere humans.’

However, the contract that Devian gnawed and tasted.

Strictly speaking, it’s not that he found a way to ignore the blood pact.

He simply discovered the conditions that trigger the blood pact and prepared for them.

“However…”

“You fool! Do you take the power of the demons lightly?! If so, tell me how you plan to break the blood pact and survive!”

Of course, there’s no way Amon, Beta, Theta, or Delta could figure it out.

“That is…”

“We also…”

Watching them unable to answer, Locust snorts in disdain.

‘They worry even though it’s impossible for them too. Indeed, humans are incomparably foolish.’

Thinking of the Grand Duke he will soon meet, Locust smiles.