Abandoned by my Childhood Friend, I Became a War Hero chapter 85

85 – Imperial Palace Meeting

Imperial Emperatos.

A white palace towering in the middle of the wide land of Islands Sangria.

The Palace of Emperatos, built with dragon technology hundreds of years ago, boasts a grandeur that cannot be matched by human technology, and arouses the greatness of the empire and respect for the imperial family.

The empire has experienced numerous crises for hundreds of years since its founding, but this imperial palace, Emperatos, is an indomitable fortress that has never allowed an enemy to invade, and is one of the symbols of the empire’s greatness.

People look up at the imperial palace, which towers high as if reaching the goddess, and imagine that the royal family living there live noble lives as if they exist in the sky.

However, to Elizabeth, this imperial palace felt like a den of rats, no different from the back alleys of the capital.

Early in the morning, Elizabeth set her foot in Emperatos Palace for her meeting.

The garden of the imperial palace, where exotic flowers bloom splendidly, usually excites the viewer, but to Elizabeth, it just felt like a smoke screen trying to somehow hide the stench emanating from the palace.

When she arrives at her meeting room, her attendant loudly announces her position.

“The noble little sun of the Empire, 3rd Princess Elizabeth von Galatea, is entering!”

Most of the bureaucrats were already gathered in the meeting room.

Prime Minister Valier of the Imperial Administrative Office, Marquis Eisenfeld, head of the local nobility, Lieutenant General Elias, head of the Imperial Military Police, Sir Ludwig, head of the Royal Guard, Prince Runhard and his daughter, chief wizard Greta….

High-ranking aristocrats and officials boasting unparalleled status and power from all over the empire gathered in this palace, and as soon as the princess entered, they bowed politely to honor her.

In response to their greeting, Elisabeth bowed her head with her back straight. This is because the imperial family should not bow down to anyone.

Elizabeth entered the conference room and the first thing she looked at was her chief of staff.

It is not strange that the throne is empty. The emperor is in poor health due to his old age, and recently his health has been flagged to the extent that he cannot even attend meetings.

This fact has not been officially disclosed to the outside world, but everyone here already knows.

The problem is that under the throne, even the seat of the first prince is empty.

Elizabeth looked at the empty chair and opened her mouth.

“Older brother again?”

“… I’m sorry. Majesty.”

“I see. Since we don’t know when he will come, shall we start the meeting first?”

What she said wasn’t particularly uncommon, and it was exactly what she usually did.

As Elizabeth sat down in her chair, the meeting began immediately, as if she had been waiting for her words. The main content of the meeting was, of course, about the ongoing victory festival.

How many tourists have increased compared to the average year because of the festival, what is lacking and what is needed… As each official started talking, Elizabeth, as the representative of the imperial family, expressed her opinion in detail on each agenda.

“Restrict the passage of horses and wagons, and allow the movement of goods only at certain times. As much as possible, the central road is left empty for tourists, and other logistics use the waterway of the Tethys River.”

“For the military police and knights, mobilize all reserve personnel and increase the number of patrols to more than 50% of the current level. Crimes against tourists are unending, and this is also connected to the face of the empire. Even if you are a foreigner, let them be judged by the strict imperial law.”

“I understand, Her Highness the Princess.”

The meeting went smoothly thanks to Elisabeth’s uninterrupted leadership.

At that time, the door to the conference room suddenly opened and the attendant shouted loudly.

“The Great Little Sun of the Empire, His Highness, First Prince Wilhelm von Galatea, is entering!!”

The door swings open and a man steps into the conference room.

With silver-white hair and red eyes like Elizabeth, the man arrogantly glanced around and walked confidently through the meeting room.

Then he calmly sat down in his empty chair and leaned his back proudly on his chair.

“Never mind, continue the meeting.”

From his appearance, there seemed to be no awareness of being late for the meeting.

Someone could interpret that majestic attitude as confidence as the next emperor, but Elizabeth saw something different in her eyes.

Her clothes and hair looked roughly tidy, but they were still disheveled, and her eyes looked a little dazed, half-open.

Crucially, when Wilhelm sat next to her, she smelled of her thick perfume and alcohol.

If such a prince, more interested in his own amusement than important meetings, becomes emperor, at least he doesn’t seem to be concerned about his successor.

Her Elizabeth’s eyes narrowed slightly as she looked at her own flesh and blood. It was a subtle change in emotion that no one noticed.

“Haam….”

Wilhelm was already bored, no matter how long he had been in the conference room.

The person sitting in that seat was supposed to be someone who listened attentively to all the people, but while Elisabeth or the chancellor led the meeting, Wilhelm just sat there with an annoyed look on his face.

While the meeting continued, Sir Ludwig, the head of the Royal Guard, who had been waiting for the right time to speak, cautiously spoke to the prince.

“Your Highness the Prince. Actually, vice-captain Frieda was seriously injured. He told me instead that he would not be able to attend the parade.”

“What?”

At those words, emotion appeared on Wilhelm’s face, which had been expressionless until now. It was clear anger.

“Frida is hurt? What the hell happened?”

“… That’s it… He is said to have fallen off his horse and rolled.”

“You fell off her horse? A master class? Are you telling me to believe that now?”

Sir Ludwig shut his mouth in apologetic manner.

Wilhelm’s expression contorted into even more intense anger.

“Oops… Stupid b*tch! Even if it is useless, there is a degree! Of course, at such an important time!”

Unable to contain his anger, he insulted his colleague for a long time in this public place.

All the nobles and officials present in this room pretended not to hear the prince and kept their mouths shut and bowed their heads.

“… ….”

Elizabeth thought for a moment. I have already heard from the Imperial Intelligence Agency that the iron-blooded knight was defeated by an unidentified man in the arena.

As much as she knew, the intelligence department must have reported it to Wilhelm as well. But his attitude was as if he had heard it for the first time.

Of course it was obvious. He might have heard the report, but not really paid attention. He was presumably engrossed in pleasure and did not care for any report, not even reading the reports that were left behind.

After the war, I heard that Frieda often relieved her stress in the arena. However, he did not expect that he would come back after being defeated so terribly.

It made sense for her to excuse herself by saying she fell off her horse and was injured. Those in the know must have heard the news, but they wouldn’t be able to lift her face out of shame. She wouldn’t even want to come out to the parade.

However, Wilhelm was not the kind of person who understood that. Wilhelm, who had been violently expressing his anger for a long time, shouted in a tone that did not subside.

“Charlotte!!”

At those words, the saintess Charlotte, who had been sitting in the corner of the conference room silently, raised her head.

“Fix Frieda somehow, bring her back to normal before the parade.”

“… ….”

Charlotte was silent as she stared blankly at the prince. The one who answered his words instead was Adele, the chief nun of the court who served on her saintess.

“Your Highness the Prince. I’m sorry, but the saintess has already treated Frieda.”

Even if she was originally a senior nun, it was an unprecedented event for a nun who was neither a bishop nor a cardinal to attend an imperial palace meeting.

But Saint Charlotte suffers from aphasia, so she couldn’t communicate with anyone, so she needed someone to convey her words instead.

The person who played that role was Adele.

“Already treated? Then what’s the matter?”

“I seriously injured Frida’s face, and her brain was also damaged. The brain is a very sensitive area, so treatment with magic must be done with care. If she treated her unreasonably, there is a possibility that she will develop a permanent disability that cannot be cured with divine power….”

“Tell me the main point. How long will that careful treatment take?”

“That, at least a week is-“

“One week!? Under! There are two days left for the parade right now, but it’s a week? It can’t be. Unconditionally, make it fine until tomorrow.”

“With all my presumption, Your Highness, that is impossible. There is a risk that Frida will have memory damage or become an idiot.”

“Shut up and bring me back before the parade no matter what the aftereffects are! From the outside, all you have to do is look fine!”

Lord Ludwig’s complexion hardened at the word to bring his nephew’s head back, even if it was an idiot, and Adele’s complexion, who had to deal with the prince’s wrath in front of him, also turned pale.

Even the prince of the original empire shouldn’t do such a depravity to the saintess. Like Frieda and Greta, who originally should have been there, the saintess only temporarily participated in this meeting because of the parade.

No matter how much she was a colleague, the saintess was not the prince’s servant like the others in this conference room. She, who is protected by her law, should not be treated as if she were giving her orders to her subordinates.

So, Adele tried to muster up the courage to protect her saintess. But before that, there was a soft hand on her shoulder.

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As Adele looked to her side, she could see Charlotte shaking her head silently at her. Adele couldn’t say anything.

“… ….”

Charlotte met Wilhelm’s eyes and nodded her head reluctantly. Understanding that it meant that she would cure Frida, Wilhelm’s anger subsided a little.

As the prince’s anger subsided, the meeting was barely able to resume. Various agendas continued through the mouths of the officials, and the meeting proceeded normally amidst Wilhelm’s indifference.

Shortly, on the day of the parade, it was said that there was a need for personnel to manage and supervise the airship.

Dr. Brown would be present that day, but no one agreed that another site manager was needed in case something happened.

At that time, Wilhelm, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke in a nontrivial tone.

“That would be for my dear brother.”

“… What do you mean by that, brother?”

“Oh, Elizabeth. It’s a pilot operation of the airship that the people of the empire, no, the people of the whole continent expect. Of course, someone with the right level should watch the scene. Wouldn’t it be nice if you also experienced riding in an airship?”

“… ….”

Elizabeth immediately doubted Wilhelm’s intentions.

Although praised as a warrior of light, 1st Prince Wilhelm has divided opinions among people. And the second princess, who doesn’t show herself outside at all.

In place of them, it was the young 3rd Princess Elizabeth who had been practically taking the place of the sick emperor until now.

That’s why Elizabeth also received a level of public support that could not be ignored.

It was clear that the intention of a man who would not be strange if he was originally banned from participating in the parade at all, to place himself on top of the most notable airship in the system was not pure.

However, Elizabeth did not reveal that she was suspicious of the prince’s intentions. She just pulled up her red lips and gave a pretty smile as if painted in a painting.

“I will do as you say.”

“Good.”

Wilhelm nodded his head in satisfaction at that gentle and obedient attitude.

***

After the meeting, Elizabeth calmly left the meeting room.

Soon her loyal knight, Katarina, followed her like a shadow.

Then she delivered her secret message to the princess.

“Your Highness. Lord Ludwig wants to meet her princess.”

“Unbeknownst to anyone, avoiding the eyes of others?”

“Yes.”

“Okay. Oh, it’s an unfair pilot operation. Can you look into the details again?”

“As long as it’s the princess’s order.”

“Yes. Anyway, thanks for the good news, Katarina.”

Until now, no matter how much he tried liver, the reaction had been sluggish, but when he said that it didn’t matter if she made her real nephew an idiot, it seems that even he, who had always been a part of the 1st prince, couldn’t help but react.

Of course, this wouldn’t have already made the conversion clear. However, looking at the word to meet, unlike before, it was clear that at least it was a more positive reaction than before.

In this way, Elisabeth smiled prettily in front of Wilhelm pretending not to know anything, but behind her, she systematically increased her side.

To fulfill her ambition someday.

However, her forces were still no different from a sandcastle. Rather than those who genuinely supported her, most of them had no other choice because they thought that Wilhelm should not be her emperor, or because she hated her first prince.

A weak force that is sure to crumble if a strong wave rushes at it even once.

So, in order to build this sandcastle more firmly, it was not enough to act under the water like now. The Emperor’s health is deteriorating day by day.

It is a common contest for the throne if he supports himself while the emperor is still alive, but it is treason for Wilhelm to take the throne as emperor and then support himself. So while the emperor was alive, he had to fight.

Suddenly, a person came to Elizabeth’s mind.

“Ion Graham….”

A man who might be the only one who can solve all his problems right now.

“… Instructor.”