CHAPTER 118
Maxwell's Second Office.
After the administrative meeting ended, thirty or so officials left the office.
The nobles who walked out had uniformly bright expressions on their faces.
It was as if the celebratory atmosphere of the wedding had seeped right up to the office threshold, making the air inside warm and pleasant throughout the meeting.
The meeting was deemed successful simply because the Emperor hadn’t said, “I’m in a foul mood right now.”
If the Emperor’s lips had uttered words like “disgraceful” or “displeasing,” everyone would have to rack their brains to see if anyone, even a distant relative, had committed any wrongdoing.
As the nobles walked in groups along the outdoor corridor, they began to whisper among themselves.
Of course, they didn’t forget to habitually look around—one could never know where the Emperor’s ears might be hiding.
“I wish the wedding celebration would last a month like in the old days.”
“Indeed. At least the Emperor’s mood will be good for a month.”
“For the first time, he smiled at me.”
At the young administrator’s words, everyone inhaled sharply.
Suddenly, a hush fell over the group.
One of them timidly asked, “Was it a crooked smile with one side of his mouth upturned? And were his fingers slowly drumming on the table?”
“No, no! If it were, would I still be standing here?”
The young administrator shuddered as if the mere thought sent chills down his spine.
“His lips and eyes were clearly smiling at the same time. When I reported this year’s grain export figures to Koubul, he even nodded in approval!”
At his words, everyone let out a collective sigh of relief.
“Even though the season is on the brink of winter, the palace feels like spring. The Emperor’s office is filled with warm spring energy. Ha, ha.”
“His Majesty truly does seem to be a newlywed. If only all meetings were like today’s. It’s a shame the wedding festivities are passing so quickly.”
The nobles’ figures faded away along with their laughter.
The Emperor’s second office was once again tightly sealed as the administrative ministers departed.
The Emperor’s guards stood at the entrance of the corridor, blocking anyone from passing by.
Now, only the Emperor and five of his trusted aides remained in the office.
Commander Jacob, Deputy Commander Peter, Advisor Kyle, and Secretaries Antonio and Lex.
Antonio and Lex quickly drew the thick, double-layered curtains across the twelve windows.
Not even the red sunset could penetrate the closed curtains.
In an instant, the atmosphere in the office changed.
If the office had been a warm spring just moments ago, now it was like winter, right before a savage snowstorm.
A small door behind the desk slowly opened.
Two men dressed in the livery of low-ranking palace attendants walked in silently.
Had they not entered through the secret passage, they would have looked like any other attendants.
When they lifted their heads after bowing deeply to the Emperor, the seasoned gaze of knights appeared on their faces.
Sir Chaiden and Sir Ray.
They were knights who led the shadow unit of the Emperor’s guards.
Spies who, like shadows, blended in without being noticed and gathered information.
“We’ve secured the evidence.”
Sir Chaiden raised a folded, thin piece of leather with both hands.
Advisor Kyle quickly took the leather and spread it out on the table.
“They were communicating secretly, hidden within the grain trade documents with Koubul.”
The leather contained detailed information about a secret fortress in the western sea.
Cold red eyes scanned the codes engraved on the leather.
Sir Ray, standing beside Sir Chaiden, presented a rolled-up letter.
It was sent by a spy from the shadow unit who had infiltrated Koubul’s royal palace.
“As you predicted, Koubul has begun moving in concert with the southwestern island nations. They’re busy manufacturing weapons based on the stolen secret blueprints.”
All eyes turned to the Emperor.
The Emperor’s long eyes narrowed slightly, as if amused. The corner of his red lips crooked upward. His long, knuckled fingers slowly drummed on the table.
The Emperor could probably elicit confessions from criminals with just his expression.
“They’re moving as expected. Even a useless rat performs when it’s given a place in the granary.”
At the Emperor’s words, the aides nodded.
Once again, they marveled at their lord’s brilliance.
As if they had planned it, they all simultaneously recalled the day of the third Empress selection contest.
Arabelle, who won the race with her dazzling running skills.
The stadium had been caught up in a festive atmosphere.
Everyone, including the Emperor’s guards, watched Arabelle holding the cotton ball in a daze.
All except for one.
Of course, no one was more pleased with Arabelle’s victory than the Emperor.
However, while all eyes were on Arabelle, adorned with garlands, his crimson gaze was fixed on Koubul’s princess.
“She’s not a princess.”
The Emperor murmured quietly to his shadows as he left the stadium.
As soon as the Emperor’s words fell, the shadows began to move.
They infiltrated not only Princess Reina of Koubul’s villa within the palace but also the residences of officials responsible for diplomacy and trade with Koubul, along with their relatives, and they gathered information from within Koubul itself.
The reason the Emperor’s gaze had momentarily landed on Princess Reina of Koubul during the third martial arts contest was simple.
She was one of the candidates who mercilessly attacked Arabelle.
It was when the orange-painted wooden sword held by Koubul’s princess danced across Arabelle’s dress.
The Emperor’s eyes narrowed slightly.
Princess Reina’s martial prowess, contending for the lead with Princess Lilibet of Sevilles, was indeed impressive.
But it wasn’t extraordinary enough to captivate the crowd. It was just good enough to potentially secure victory among the candidates.
“She’s hiding her true skill.”
The Emperor’s finger slowly traced his sharp jawline.
She was trying to hide it, but her skill was highly refined.
Just from the occasional snap of her wrist with the sword and her footwork, it was clear she was a master.
It wasn’t the energy one would expect from a princess who had learned self-defense. It was something that could only come from someone who had narrowly escaped death dozens of times on the battlefield.
“She is the leader of the Crown Prince’s assassins.”
Sir Ray reported after completing the investigation.
The Emperor was right. The Kingdom of Koubul had sent an assassin who bore a striking resemblance to Princess Reina instead of the real princess.
She had infiltrated the palace at night, stolen military secrets, and was colluding with spies.
Just as the Emperor had predicted, one of the high-ranking officials in the administration was a spy for Koubul.
Baron Hugo, responsible for grain trade with Koubul and the southwestern island nations.
“We’ll keep watching for now. It’s more efficient to catch all the rats at once.”
The Emperor intended to uncover not only Koubul but all its secret allies.
The assassin disguised as a princess had obtained the Empire’s new weapon plans, and the spy had stolen secrets about the coastal fortresses.
Of course, these were all fakes.
After confirming the evidence brought by the shadow unit, Commander Jacob spoke up.
“Five kingdoms have formed a secret alliance. As you predicted, all are island nations located very close to the southwestern territories.”
Advisor Kyle quickly spread out a map in the center of the table.
“If these island nations open the dam gates simultaneously, it will cause massive flood damage in the southwestern region. The coastal areas will be submerged in no time.”
“If they attack the fortresses along the southwestern coast while the floodwaters are rushing in, we’ll be at a severe disadvantage. Their armies are highly skilled in naval warfare.”
The unemotional red eyes settled on the kingdom in the center of the five island nations.
“It’s not just five islands; technically, it’s eight. One kingdom controls four islands, does it not?”
The Emperor’s long fingers traced between the islands as if navigating a ship.
The natural dam connecting the four islands was crucial to the safety of the Helterde Empire and its satellite states.
A dam reinforced by nature and the Empire’s technology would remain strong for centuries—unless someone deliberately destroyed it.
The Emperor’s slowly moving fingers came to a stop over a black island.
The Kingdom of Raikanor, which had risen as a new power under King Bergen, who succeeded King Kerzo.
Raikanor, the land of wolves.
After declaring his territorial expansion plan, he quickly gained control over four prosperous islands.
“Find out how much the recent import of beech and walnut trees from Raikanor has increased.”
At the Emperor’s sudden order to investigate tree imports, no one responded immediately.
The first to grasp the meaning behind the Emperor’s words was Advisor Kyle, whose eyes widened.
Soon after, the expressions of the other officials changed dramatically.
Except for Secretary Lex, who had graduated from a university focused on arts and culture rather than the Knight Academy.
Antonio whispered an explanation to his fellow secretary.
“It’s because beech and walnut trees aren’t native to these islands and are essential for cannon manufacturing.”
Only then did Secretary Lex’s mouth drop open.
“What should we do about Baron Hugo?”
Commander Jacob asked, and the Emperor replied.
“Keep feeding him the bait. We need to catch a big fish, not minnows.”
The Hugo family, who had thrived under the trust of the previous Emperor, was at the heart of all sorts of corruption.
Their influence had noticeably diminished under Emperor Maxwell’s rule.
The Hugo family, particularly the young Baron Hugo who had succeeded his elderly father as head of the family, resented Emperor Maxwell and longed for the glory of the past. It was this longing that led him to succumb to the temptations of Koubul.
“It was utterly repulsive to see how thrilled he was when you smiled at him during the meeting,” Deputy Commander Peter said, recalling how Baron Hugo had chattered away, oblivious to the situation.
Baron Hugo, oblivious and dim-witted, was driven by nothing but greed.
He couldn’t possibly understand the Emperor’s smile.
The Emperor had smiled at the thought of eventually tightening the noose around the necks of Baron Hugo and the traitors who sided with him.
A genuine, satisfied smile formed on the Emperor’s lips as he considered the methods at his disposal.
At this moment, the Emperor looked truly delighted, his expression as dangerous as the treasonous evidence documents before him, overflowing with “betrayal,” “rebellion,” and “conspiracy.”
The problem was that the Emperor’s delight filled the air with a sense of impending dread.
No one wanted to know what the Emperor was thinking right now.
The long-serving aides at his side felt a chill down their spines.
Just then,
“Your Majesty, the Empress has arrived. Shall we escort her to the audience chamber?”
A guard’s voice called from outside the office.
Without a moment’s hesitation, the Emperor replied.
“There’s no need for that. The meeting is over, so bring her in now.”
The hands hurriedly clearing away the documents paused.
For a moment, shock filled the expressions of the loyal aides.
Their vision swayed as they beheld the most romantic-looking man in the world.
So captivating, almost seductive, that even another man would feel their heart tighten.
It was the complete opposite of the menacing aura from just a moment ago…
Somehow, this contrast made it all the more unsettling, and the aides quickly averted their gazes.
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