Chapter 134 – Audience
A being walked through the door of the audience room.
An aura that feels dignity and grace just by being there.
Even if there is no other momentum, I feel like I’m going to have a good time.
If Conrad, the crown prince next to him, was past middle age, would he look like that?
A person who is benevolent but has an inner charisma that stands out.
None other than the number one of the Charlotte Empire.
Emperor, Valois von Charlotte.
Xian bowed deeply toward Baluaga.
“Lord of Ruben, Xian. Greetings to His Majesty the Stern Emperor.”
“Prince, Conrad. Greetings to His Majesty the Stern Emperor.”
Along with Xian, Conrad also bowed deeply.
Although Conrad was the son of Valois, this was the audience room.
I don’t know if it was a private place.
In the audience room where public affairs came and went, the courtesy had to be followed.
Valuaga strode across the throne room.
Then he sat down on the throne, the highest seat, and said.
“Raise your head.”
It was only then that Xian raised his head.
Last time, at the time of the National Foundation Day event, of course.
As I entered the audience room, I caught a glimpse of it.
Valois was literally the emperor.
Overwhelming charisma that exudes dignity and grace.
Even though I didn’t do anything, there was an intangible aura that made me shrink for nothing.
Xian had never met Baloigar before.
To be precise, I had never had an audience so direct.
It was the first time I met Baloiga.
That’s why it was Balois who had an audience for the first time.
“What are you doing?”
Seeing Xian standing at a distance, Balois asked a question.
“sorry. I was not feeling well yet, so I was enduring the pain.”
Baloiaga nodded once.
Valois knows all about the situation in the North.
It was because he knew what Xian had done and what state he was in.
“He did a great job. If it wasn’t for you, the people of the north as well as the empire would have been in great trouble.”
Perhaps because of that, the atmosphere at Balois was extremely warm.
One can feel the overwhelming dignity and charisma.
It was not hostile, so it was only considered reassuring.
Sian lowered his head slightly and said.
“I didn’t do it alone. Of course, it was only possible because of the presence of the Marquis.”
“ha ha ha. Even though there is something I have seen and heard…”
Baluaga looked at Xian with interest and said,
“The Marquis praised it very highly. I’ve never seen that bearish marquee compliment anyone in my life. They even brought up the word “star of the new empire.”
huh?
Sian tilted his head slightly involuntarily.
“To think that even Lorsilt’s self-restraint would acknowledge you… Lorsilt, who is busy growling with Ellandur.”
And again, the words of Baluaga.
Xian wondered what he was talking about.
Exactly, I wondered what Baloiga had heard.
It seemed that a lot had happened during the three weeks that Xian had passed out.
“Yes, I said I had something to say to Jim.”
Baloaga said with a benevolent smile.
Sian slightly lowered his head and opened his mouth.
“Conviction. I am disrespectful, but I have one request, so I have requested an audience.”
“Say anything. I’ll let you do whatever I can.”
Baloaga said with a benevolent smile.
And I really wanted to listen to anything.
What the hell was Osley talking about?
And what else did Panat say?
What did the two of them say that made the emperor say such a thing?
‘hmm···.’
mind wandering for a while.
“step.”
In the meantime, I heard Baloiga’s words again.
“I cannot accept your request to forgive the Dark Elf Forest Keeper.”
It was a tone like a cold chill.
A view with a slightly raised head.
The warm atmosphere that had just been shown was nowhere to be found.
The soft eyes had changed sharply.
The majesty of the emperor seemed to oppress Xian.
A knife-like atmosphere that will cut you if you touch it.
The cool atmosphere spread throughout the audience room.
In the rapidly changing atmosphere, Xian unknowingly gulped and swallowed.
Resoluteness that doesn’t even show a gap where persuasion won’t work at all.
In response, the prince, Conrad, stepped forward and said.
“your majesty. However, this is not what the forest keeper did. Again, he tried to cover up the mistakes of his own people. Although the sins of the Dark Elves will not disappear, can you show mercy?”
Balois’ gaze turns to Conrad.
And those gazes were not the eyes of a father looking at his son.
number 1 of the empire.
Emperor, Valois.
“Didn’t the position of monarch look so easy?”
A low voice came from Valois.
“Mercy is a virtue that a ruler should possess. To deceive the people, to betray others, to play with them, to treat them coldly. A monarch can become a king in this way, but never achieve glory.”
gaze.
“In that sense, Conrad. You are truly a merciful monarch, and you can see that you have the qualities to be a glorious monarch.”
However.
“Compassion is only a ‘virtue’.”
Valois continued to speak.
“A ruler cannot be only good. If you think that resentment can be cleansed by giving merciful grace, you are mistaken. A ruler must also know how to become evil if necessary.”
If you look at the facts alone, the Dark Elves are sinners.
if you forgive them.
Who will represent the pain of the sacrificed northerners?
And Baluaga is the emperor of those northerners.
A monarch who takes care of all the people of the empire.
“And the Dark Elf Forest Keeper is the Dark Elves’ lord. Mistakes committed by the people are the responsibility of the ruler. Conrad, someday when you sit here.”
Baluaga looked at Conrad and spoke softly.
“Remember today’s events and don’t forget your responsibility as a monarch.”
“·······”
Conrad said nothing.
As if words were stuck in his throat, Conrad was speechless.
In the end, he just lowered his gaze and stepped back.
Baloiaga’s gaze turned to Xi’an again.
“Tell me why you asked for an audience.”
And Baluaga’s spit out words.
The coolness was gone, but the majesty of the emperor was there.
Xian slightly lowered his gaze.
A criminal who endangered the people of the Northern Empire.
Baluaga seemed to have no intention of forgiving Aslandis, the Dark Elf forest keeper.
And I knew it to some extent.
It was guessed from the fact that Conrad could not convince Balois.
Although Xian was not a monarch.
He could not or should not have been called a monarch.
Lord of Leuven.
It was because he was a mere lord in charge of a territory located on the periphery in the dark forest.
On the other hand, Balois is the emperor.
The first person in the Empire who controls the entire Charlotte Empire.
Xi’an did not dare to discuss being a monarch.
But even though it can’t be compared to Baluaga.
Still, to the ‘responsibility’, to the ‘responsibility’.
Xian was able to realize and understand.
That’s why I understood Baloi’s feelings.
That’s why Xian had no intention of asking Aslandis to forgive him from the start.
just.
“Please punish your convictions together with the forest keeper.”
I was thinking of carrying the sins of Asrandis and the sins of the Dark Elves.
“······ what?”
At Xian’s words, Baloiga’s eyebrows twitched.
“Now… what are you saying…?”
Conrad also looked at Xian with a look of considerable surprise.
Xian didn’t say anything.
She calmly lowered her eyes and waited for Balois to speak.
In his downward gaze, Baloiga was invisible.
However, Xian could feel the emperor’s gaze toward him.
sinking silence.
“Do you want me to punish you like a forest keeper?”
After a while, the silence was broken and Baluaga’s voice was heard.
“That’s right.”
“What is the reason?”
At Baluaga’s question, Xian slowly raised his head.
The look on Baloiga’s face showed doubt and a little bewilderment.
Those two feelings were there.
Xian lowered his head again and said.
“As Your Majesty said just now.”
“What did I say?”
Xian nodded slightly and said.
“With all due respect, I am a lord who rules a small territory.”
Baluaga nodded slowly.
A manor called Ruben.
I had heard that Xi’an was the lord of that territory.
“How is it?”
“I will not dare to speak of the virtues of a monarch like Your Majesty and Your Highness. However, I think the lord is also a person in charge.”
Baluaga also nodded.
There is only a difference in degree and scale.
The position of lord was no different from that of a monarch within a territory.
“So, I just thought that the crime committed by Yeong Ji-min was a problem that the lord should embrace.”
However, I couldn’t nod my head at Xian’s words that followed.
It’s not that I don’t agree with the words themselves.
However, it was because that was not the reason to punish the forest keeper and Xian at the same time.
And is he aware of such doubts of Balois?
Xian spoke again.
“Aslandis and the Dark Elves are the people of Ruben.”
“what?”
“Hey, what is that…!”
Balois and Conrad both shouted in surprise.
A rare sight in which both the emperor and the prince were amazed.
I wondered for a moment where I could go and see such a sight.
And what…
I knew why he was so surprised.
That the Dark Elves are the territories of Ruben.
Because that was the first time.
Of course, Xian was also a first-timer.
Because I didn’t get the consent of the Dark Elves.
But it wasn’t without thought.
No, it wasn’t that I didn’t think about it, I wanted to.
Of course, after saying this, the Dark Elves said ‘Huh? We’re not Ruben’s territories.’ If this was the case, there was nothing to say.
In a word, it was a form of just committing and watching.
“Do you know what that means?”
The words of Balois came soon after.
Sian nodded slowly.
In fact, there were things I didn’t even ask for Dark Elk’s opinion.
The biggest problem was Baloiga’s decision.
If Balois says ‘Good. I’ll listen to your request.’ If you punished me while doing this, I really had nothing to say.
That’s why, to be honest, I was a gambler even as a cyan.
It wasn’t a gamble.
Still, there was no corner to believe.
“I know the meaning.”
Xian waited for Balois to speak with her eyes slightly lowered.
And Valois, who was looking at such a poem.
Valois really had nothing to say.
It was embarrassing.
Of course, there was no change in wanting to ask the Dark Elves for their sins.
And if Xi’an is their lord.
I also had to ask Xian for his sins.
Because that was the justification for punishing Asrandis.
Aslandis is a forest keeper and the lord of the Dark Elves.
It was because he wanted to ask Asrandis for the sins of the Dark Elves.
However, if Xian is their lord, then Xian must be punished with the same principle.
But there was a problem.
Xi’an was said to be the best contributor to solving the situation in the north.
Marquess, of course, Lorseult’s Panat did not spare high praise.
It was even mentioned as a star of a new empire.
And let’s hear the report…
In fact, it was safe to say that Xi’an alone had resolved the crisis in the north.
Literally the best contributor.
Punish such the best contributor?
What nonsense is this?
Nongonghaengsang must be certain.
This was also a virtue as a monarch.
Sin is surely punished.
The ball is definitely appreciated.
However, to punish the guilty, the meritorious must also be punished.
But if you don’t punish me, I can’t do anything.
“……”
Baluaga was really in trouble.
“The punishment handed down to the forest keeper is beheading. Did you mean that you would be punished as well?”
“That’s right.”
Sian nodded without hesitation.
There was not even a hint of hesitation.
It seemed that he was really willing to fulfill his responsibilities as a lord.
It showed a bold yet sharp spirit.
And it was quite similar to the dignity of a monarch.
Baloiga looked at Xian with sharp eyes.
Unspoken momentum erupted, weighing heavily on the air in the audience room.
Xian didn’t say anything or show any reaction.
Conrad watched the situation with a slightly embarrassed face.
How much time had passed like that?
“under.”
Baloiga’s laughter leaked out.
“They say it’s the madness of Elandur. After all, rumors are unbelievable.”
Valois continued to speak.
“No matter what, I will not forgive the forest keeper’s sins.”
“Haona, Your Majesty…”
Conrad stepped forward and opened his mouth.
But Valois raised her hand and interrupted Conrad.
“However. That’s why you can’t behead the star of the new empire.”
Baluaga shook her head slightly and said.
“I will moderately commute the forest keeper’s crimes.”
It was only then that Sian lowered his head deeply and spat out the words.
“Thank you for your Majesty’s grace.”
Then Balois snorted and said:
“Eun-hye-ra… If it was grace that played in your palm, then it must be grace.”
Sean didn’t say anything.
Valois also didn’t ask much more about him.
And again, the words of Baluaga.
“Do it. Is that all you want to ask for?”
Xian lowered his head and looked up.
Baluaga said to Xian.
“Although the forest keeper’s crime was commuted, that alone is not enough to praise him for his greatest contribution to solving the northern case.”
Also, the emperor is the emperor.
Is a king a king?
“If you have anything more to ask, say anything.”
The distribution was really different.
What if… others.
‘No. I am satisfied with the grace you have already given me.’ He must have shuddered with humility.
But you’ve already done it like you did.
What would be different if I tried more here?
Xian spoke immediately without hesitation.
“I’ll tell you without rudeness, but if it’s possible, could I get some gold…”
“gold? You mean money is what you want?”
Sian nodded slowly and continued.
“As I said, Sosin is the lord of a territory. However, it is not usually necessary to spend money to run the territory… Besides, the fact that we borrowed a lot of money while dispatching troops to the north this time has caused a serious blow to our finances.”
Valuaga nodded, as if asking for something big.
“good night. Let’s talk to the Imperial Treasurer. Talk to the treasurer and get it.”
The finances of the imperial family, which governed the entire empire, were like an inexhaustible sea.
A few pennies of gold.
It was clear that it was given as a reward for meritorious work.
Rather than making an unreasonable request, it was cleaner to finish with gold.
however.
“your majesty!”
Conrad didn’t look like that.
Conrad appeared frightened.
There was no other reason.
“You can’t leave it to the treasurer!”
Because Conrad knew!
For an instant, Xian’s gaze turned to Conrad.
Conrad, however, struggled to turn a blind eye.
Of course, there was no change in the fact that Conrad would help Xian.
But this wasn’t it.
It wasn’t like this.
Valois could have said such a thing because she did not know.
“I think it is right that His Majesty should clearly determine the amount of compensation!”
If I did something wrong, the pillars of the imperial palace could really be pulled out!
Conrad desperately stopped Balois.
But Valois did not listen to Conrad.
“Instead, there are conditions for that.”
There is only one condition.
“your majesty. I say this despite disrespect, but it is not a problem to set conditions or the like!”
Nevertheless, Conrad desperately stopped.
No matter what condition, no matter what.
Don’t leave it to Xi’an!
Conrad’s mouth opened wide once again to Balois.
but.
“I thought the prince was saying useless things.”
The words of Balois continued.
“Meet Elena once.”
Conrad, who was about to leave, closed his mouth.
#
After the audience, Xian went straight to meet Aslandis.
Although Balois had told her to meet with Elena.
Elena was away for a while.
So what can I do to wait quietly.
Before that, Xian turned around to meet Aslandis.
Aslandis was none other than imprisoned in the prison of the imperial palace.
To be precise, it was not the imperial palace, but a prison governed by the imperial palace.
It was a concentration camp called Altraz.
A prison where only the most heinous criminals of the empire are housed.
Crimes related to the general well-being of the Empire, mainly treason.
Or a terrible heinous crime that you can’t even imagine.
It was the worst prison in the Empire where only those who would commit that kind of crime were accommodated.
Of course, security and defense were ironclad.
In the first place, the warden was the leader of the Royal Knights.
It was as if the master’s knight was the chief warden.
That’s why even if you’re not a criminal, it was a place you couldn’t enter.
“Your identity has been verified. Please go in.”
However, Xian did not receive any other restraint.
A situation where he received permission from the emperor, not from anyone else.
“I will accompany you in case of an unexpected situation.”
Far from being restrained, they were escorted by the warden.
“Ah, you don’t have to.”
“Then I will only guide you to where the sinner is.”
However, Xian politely refused the guard’s escort.
The warden accepted without saying anything else.
In fact, the warden only stepped forward with the permission of the emperor.
There was no reason for Master’s knight to step out.
It’s literally just preparing for the unexpected.
Everywhere in Altraz was put under strict surveillance.
Leaving behind the departing warden, Xian headed to the place where Aslandis was imprisoned.
Altraz’s prison is either dark or dirty inside.
It was not an image that people usually imagine when they think of a dungeon.
A feeling of a normal family home with a little process mixed in.
Although it is a space where heinous criminals are accommodated.
On the one hand, it was also a space where the Royal Knights stayed.
Of course, the space where the criminals stayed was a dull prison.
How far did you go like that?
“This way. Then I’m done.”
After escorting Xian into a prison, the warden took another step and left.
After looking at the back of the departing warden, Xian turned his gaze forward.
A prison where you can feel a strange magical power along with a somber atmosphere.
It seemed that there was a device suppressing mana that made breathing difficult.
Apparently, it seemed to be a prison dedicated to criminals who use magic.
Inside such a prison, a limp, sagging existence was sitting.
A figure chained to a wall and chained to it.
His black-haired hair was disheveled and matted.
Because the face was covered, it was impossible to accurately determine whether it was Aslandis or not.
However, the two pointy ears seen from the side indicated that it was an elf.
Xian slowly approached the prison.
Then Aslandis slowly turned his head at the presence he felt.
haggard look.
“······ you?”
Aslandis, who found Xian, slowly opened his mouth.