novelraw Chapter 89 : Chapter 89
Chapter 89 : Chapter 89
Chapter : 89
‘For what reason did he summon me?’
If the Emperor's envoy had gone to the city council, it was highly likely that it was for negotiations with the city.
So why was I called?
Although I had a close relationship with the city, I was strictly an outsider.
Wouldn't it be normal to meet separately?
Putting my curiosity aside, I entered the council hall, where the Emperor’s envoy greeted me with an arrogant posture.
“It is an honor to meet you, Your Excellency Margrave Bellua.”
The words themselves were not discourteous. However, the tone, the behavior, and especially the envoy’s stiff neck were.
For an envoy who had come to negotiate, it was quite a presumptuous attitude, but no one in the room pointed it out.
Making enemies in all directions, interpreted differently, was also proof of that much power.
The greatest family on the continent.
That was the reality of the Emperor whom the envoy represented.
“I have heard that you were the one who captured the magician, Lady Azella, and the knights currently being held as prisoners, Your Excellency.”
“Hmm, that’s right.”
Now I could understand what was going on. The right to the ransom for a hostage belonged to the person who captured them.
They had naturally assumed the city had captured them and seemed to be negotiating the ransom.
“If Your Excellency the Margrave respects honor and custom, His Majesty the Emperor is, of course, willing to pay the price.”
The envoy gestured behind him. Attendants, struggling, carried a box and placed it in the center of the hall.
-Thump!
With a heavy sound, the lid opened, revealing brilliant gold coins sparkling in the light.
“Oh…”
“Indeed…”
Everyone gasped in admiration at the hefty ransom.
The Emperor is truly the Emperor.
That was the thought that popped into everyone's mind. At the same time, they looked at me, the owner of this ransom, with envious eyes.
They knew that nobles made big money from ransoms, but wasn't this a windfall?
Of course, I was admiring it for a different reason.
‘Oh, that half-wit magician seems to be quite trusted.’
For such a ransom despite her known reputation. She must hold a fairly important position in the Emperor's court.
Well, that potion.
A healing potion close to a panacea by the standards of the [Pangea Universalise] era was certainly worth it.
In this era's medical standards, even minor wounds and slight colds had to be taken seriously. That potion was no different from carrying around an extra life.
“Is it acceptable? We have prepared sufficiently in accordance with custom.”
Once again, the envoy looked at me with an arrogant attitude. It seemed he didn't think for a second that I would refuse.
‘Well, refusing after receiving this amount of money would be a problem and an insult in itself.’
Having paid a fair, no, an excessive-looking ransom by anyone's standards, it was right to hand over the prisoners.
That was the custom of the nobles in [Pangea Universalise].
However, for me, who knew the Emperor's situation well, the corners of my mouth just curled up.
The Emperor of the Holy Empire was a fairly popular starting family in [Pangea Universalise].
I had played as the Holy Empire's Emperor several times myself.
Therefore, I knew well what a great strain it was for the Emperor to pay such a sum at this point in time.
The Emperor was currently managing three major fronts.
If the Kingdom of Aragon was added to this, the cost would be astronomical.
‘He must be busy hiring mercenaries and deploying them to the front lines, yet he's putting on quite a show of dignity.’
Though, in a noble society where showing off was a natural culture, it seemed like something that was bound to happen.
“Do you perhaps feel it is insufficient?”
“No. This is more than enough.”
It was not just enough; it was overflowing.
I nodded to the envoy and said.
“I will release all the prisoners on the day the envoy returns. You may return with them.”
“Thank you for your generous disposition, Your Excellency the Margrave.”
Only then did the envoy bow his head in thanks.
The envoy said he would stay for a day and depart tomorrow. A request to prepare for the prisoners' repatriation by then.
With the Prince-elector of Bohemia also returning to this city soon, it seemed he thought it was not good to stay for long for various reasons.
“Ah, and…”
Just then, the envoy spoke.
“Hmm? What is it.”
Did he have more to say to me?
As I tilted my head, the envoy did something quite interesting and yet rude.
“I would like to speak with you separately. Could you spare a moment, Your Excellency the Margrave?”
“Huh…?”
Such an obvious ploy.
But conversely, it was an overly effective method.
A private conversation for just the two of us, after dismissing everyone else. And with the Emperor’s envoy at that.
It was a setup that would make anyone have strange thoughts. Moreover, it was not a particularly unreasonable request by custom. Diplomacy was conducted between the parties involved.
“……”
Sure enough, the people inside the council hall were all looking at me in silence.
‘Interesting.’
I grinned.
It was quite effective for breaking solidarity and creating discord with the decisive battle against the King of Aragon ahead, but….
“Just the two of us? Is there any reason why I should?”
There was no reason for me to grant that.
Some foolish nobles might have accepted it at the mention of the Emperor’s proposal, but I had no intention of doing so.
“So speak here. There will be no secrets between the city council and me.”
“Ooh…. Your Excellency.”
-Tiriring!
[The Tulung City Council is moved by your words.]
[Notification: The council’s loyalty increases.]
* * *
The envoy's proposal to meet separately fell through.
My words were essentially a refusal. Thanks to that, the envoy's expression as he returned with the prisoners was extremely dark.
Oblivious to this, the half-wit magician Azella seemed overjoyed to be returning to the court.
“Ohoho. I was right, wasn't I? Your Excellency. I told you I was quite trusted in the Emperor's court.”
‘Hmm…? I thought she said she was a trivial magician herself.’
It seemed there was an error in my memory, but I didn't bother to say anything.
Since we were parting ways, there was no need to nitpick and ruin the mood.
“Yes, my apologies. The next time we meet, I will treat you accordingly.”
“Thank you for just saying so, Your Excellency!”
‘Hmph, we’ll never see each other again. If I see you again, I’m a dog!’
Although she spoke with a smile, Azella's eyes could not hide her true feelings.
She was probably cursing me.
I inwardly clicked my tongue.
Being so careless, I was truly worried about how long she would last in the brutal Emperor's court.
‘I must have grown fond of her over this time.’
It was true. To think I would worry about Azella just as I looked at the goat beastman, Bishop Marco.
“I will be on my way now, Your Excellency.”
“Hmm…. Yes. Go and be careful from now on. Ah, and take this.”
“?”
I handed a small pouch to the puzzled Azella.
Inside the pouch were many high-purity gold coins minted during the ancient empire era.
It was a farewell gift for Azella, who had worked hard during this time. Considering Azella's personality as I had seen it, there seemed to be no better gift.
Sure enough, my thoughts were spot on.
“Woooow? How much is this? One, two, three…. Oops? Right.”
“……”
Azella, surprised and delighted, scanned the gold coins in the pouch.
Such a consistent behavior, shall we say?
Then, realizing her unseemly behavior, she laughed awkwardly.
“Ho, hoho. I got carried away without realizing it.”
“There are 150. I’m returning a portion of your ransom. You dedicated yourself to my barracks during this time, so I couldn't just send you away.”
“Woooow…!”
At my words, Azella was greatly surprised.
She had expected me to just wipe my mouth clean and pretend not to know. Most nobles had done so, and in fact, the Emperor would not bother to dig up past events to reward her.
On the contrary, he would have made all sorts of excuses not to give her anything.
‘He’s a jerk, but in his own way…’
For a moment, Azella was touched.
There was nothing more pleasing than having one's talents accurately recognized and treated accordingly. Especially for a magician.
So, without realizing it, she prayed for a blessed future.
“I hope your journey is always full of hardships and adversity.”
“???”
Of course, to me who was listening, it didn't sound that way.
“Are you cursing me right now?”
-Sreureuk!
“Hic! No. No, Your Excellency!”
“Then?”
“It’s a phrase of blessing, Your Excellency! Please put your sword away. It meant that you should become a great person who will achieve numerous accomplishments.”
“Hmmm. Is that so?”
“Yes, yes! Please believe me. No, damn it! You can just ask that magician.”
So much for being touched.
Azella thought that they really didn't get along.
* * *
“What? Such a thing happened? Hahaha. Those words are truly a prayer of blessing.”
“Hmm…. For that, isn't it too much like… a curse, Magician Agpiel?”
“Hardships and adversity that pour down on the unprepared may seem like a curse, but hardships and adversity that pour down on the prepared all become great accomplishments.”
Looking at the flabbergasted me, Magician Agpiel chuckled.
“A magician’s advice is always like that. Fickle and picky, just like the priestesses in charge of prophecy during the ancient empire era.”
“Hmm….”
Hearing that, I felt it was like the oracle of the Temple of Delphi in Greece. The more you dig, the more twisted it gets, and in the end, the subject of the tragedy turns out to be yourself, that oracle of the Temple of Delphi.
Of course, I wasn't thinking about it too seriously.
“By the way, it must be a bit of a shame.”
“What is?”
“The magician who left. It seems you thought quite highly of her talents.”
“Well, it can't be helped.”
She had followed him because she wanted to, so I couldn't stop her. And if Azella had stayed, that would have been a problem in itself.
If he was willing to pay such a ransom, wouldn't the Emperor's obsession with Azella be on an enormous level?
‘Still, it's a shame.’
Thinking about the various healing potions Azella had made, I felt a sense of loss. They had been very useful in many ways.
Then, Magician Agpiel smiled faintly and opened his mouth.
“Don't worry. The thread of fate has been connected, so the time will come when your paths cross again. Whether that will be good or bad, I don't know.”
“?”
I felt that it was not simply a word of comfort, but something with a meaningful power.
“Is it a prophecy?”
“Indeed. When a magician reaches my level, they can see short and crude, but rough omens of the future. It seems you will reunite in a similar way.”
“Hmm, I doubt that.”
I replied with a chuckle.
We might meet again, but I didn't think we would reunite in a similar way again.
Then it wouldn't be fate, but a real misfortune.
“Ahem, I have a feeling. I don't usually give prophecies like this, so you should be grateful.”
“Haha. I understand, Magician Agpiel. Thank you.”
“Hmph. It’s like getting a bow while lying down.”
And as we bickered like that, a welcome guest we had been waiting for arrived.
“Margrave Bellua. It’s been a while. Have you been well?”
The army of the elf king, the Prince-elector of Bohemia, leading the southern heretic subjugation force, had finally arrived in Tulung City.