Harchen grabbed and plucked the blackened grass. It came out with roots attached. There was a faint smell of earth. No other scent.

Bern struck a new match. He circled the match flame once within the emperor’s field of vision. Except for an armful of adult size, the other summer weeds had grown knee-high and were dark green.

“Poison! They used poison.”

“Who would dare.”

“When did you discover this?”

“The day before yesterday. I patrol the outer walls of the main palace three times a day.”

The emperor raised his upper body and looked around.

The spires and cream-colored pillars of White Palace were visible. It was close to the main palace. Though uncertain, it seemed not unrelated to the Diarum poison soup incident.

They had to catch the hand that had dumped part of the poison aimed at the princess here, and those behind the orders.

“Place watchers on the Bingo over there, this bell tower, and the roof of White Palace. If even a small clue is found, report to me first. I’ll handle it personally.”

“Understood.”

Harchen went to his office. When the emperor entered, about ten ministers including the foreign minister, administrators, advisors and vice commander Calip, who were sitting at the mahogany round table, stood up.

The round table meeting of the Karsik Empire began.

Officially, it was to plan the invitation and escort of Prince Patrick of the Tane Empire to participate in the royal marriage. Unofficially, it was about specific cooperation regarding the Tane prince’s request for help with rebellion.

After the official round table meeting ended, Harchen directed Calip and Bern that there would be a secret meeting.

Arrogant bastard.

Behind Lean’s letter was Patrick’s letter written in neat handwriting like a sharp crescent moon.

“Decision to plot emperor’s dethronement for peace and security of Arkan continent. Request Karsik Emperor’s assistance.

Also, believed Risha would completely captivate Harchen’s heart.

To esteemed Harchen, from Patrick.”

Emperor dethronement plot, prince’s rebellion, impressive bastard. But he predicted I’d fall for the princess? Hah, arrogant punk.

*

The foreign minister reported the investigation results on the Lasbur merchant group that Calip had ordered a few days ago.

The Lasbur merchant group that applied for gold mining rights was the family of the current Tane empress, Pamila.

“They were an insignificant family. The whole family moved to the capital, and though they accumulated wealth and a large estate, they don’t seem to have much influence, perhaps due to lack of political backing.”

“How old is the second prince?”

“He’s twenty-one this year, majoring in humanities focused on politics, administration, and philosophy at the Tane Empire Academy.”

“Almost 20 years as empress but still only a viscount title. Not given a higher rank. Who’s the current head of Lasbur merchants?”

“The empress Pamila’s eldest brother inherited from her father.”

“Send official wedding invitations to the emperor and Crown Prince Patrick. Other kingdoms can be sent now.”

“Understood.”

After Calip organized the documents related to the wedding invitations, the foreign minister flipped through a few pages and handed them to the emperor.

“As expected. Using gold mining rights as a negotiation tool…”

“Administrator. What’s the estimated scale of gold and diamonds in Kaosan?”

“Kaosan is currently estimated at G-5, G-6, G-7 for gold, and D-3, D-4 for diamonds, quite large among the lower Roche mountain range areas.”

The administrator spread out a map marking the planned mining zones for gold and diamonds centered on the Roche mountain range.

“Give mining development rights for Kaosan G-5 and D-3 as a wedding gift.”

“…! Yes, Your Majesty, understood.”

The foreign minister, administrator, and advisors couldn’t hide their surprised expressions. The area the emperor designated was the largest and closest to the capital.

Moreover, he included diamond mining rights in addition to just gold mining rights as they had expected.

As the foundation for gold and diamond mining was laid, people from neighboring kingdoms and minority ethnic groups across the Arkan continent flocked to Karsik.

The Mattis merchant group began mining in the G-1 area at the foot of the Roche mountain range, and gold veins beyond expectations gushed out. They were now preparing to mine G-2 and 3.

Commercial districts formed around the Roche mountain range foothills and Kaosan, including accommodations and restaurants for workers and mercenaries. The emperor designated the area as a special administrative district and ordered the imperial administration to plan a special department.

“Anything else to report?”

The emperor asked the foreign minister.

“Yes, Your Majesty. During the investigation of the Lasbur merchant group, we found that those who attacked the envoy carrying Your Majesty’s reply letter postponing the mining proposal were subordinates of the Lasbur merchants.”

“Hmm, as expected.”

“The actual perpetrator was one of the gang members from the back alleys of Luken Central Station in the border city.”

“And he confessed?”

“Yes, we got a written confession, and the second order was to assassinate the Tane commander.”

“Hah, not content with sending him out as an enemy general, they ordered his assassination too?”

The emperor gritted his teeth so hard veins popped out on his neck. Thinking that Patricia would have been assassinated if she hadn’t been captured by him made his blood boil.

“The empress’s goal was likely to preemptively block the secretly raised princess from being promoted to crown princess in this war.”

“She hoped I or my soldiers would kill her.”

The emperor recalled the confrontation at Tamil Valley. He had captured Patrick because it was Patrick.

If it had been Calip or another soldier pursuing and confronting the silver armor instead of himself…!

To declare a definitive victory in war, the enemy commander’s head had to be mounted on a flagpole. Therefore, regardless of reason, a severed head was needed rather than capturing the enemy general alive.

Recalling the image of her about to throw herself down Tamil Valley, his heart shriveled and crumbled painfully. It still made him dizzy just imagining it.

The emperor smoothed his straight forehead and tapped his temple with his index finger.

“He’s currently in the underground prison in Pana Castle. Should we bring him to the capital?”

“No, leave him there. Ensure strict protection of his person. He might harm himself.”

“Understood.”

“What’s Emperor Kazan’s current condition?”

“Nothing has been confirmed.”

“We’ll need to observe the emperor closely at the wedding.”

“We didn’t send an invitation to the empress. Won’t the emperor come alone? I don’t think the empress will come.”

“The empress will come as the emperor’s companion even without an invitation. She’ll want to check the Kaosan gold mine and be desperate to make mining plans.”

Harchen recalled Emperor Kazan coming to occasionally observe the academy’s swordsmanship classes with a haughty smile. Sharp hostility seeped heavily into every corner of his veins.

A heartless father who put armor on his princess at the tender age when she should be wearing fluttering dresses and being gently cared for, and dragged her to the battlefield.

As much as he wanted to invade and behead him with one stroke, he’d yield to Patrick.

Well, put that on hold for now.

“Foreign Minister, add a few conditions to the mining rights agreement document. Tane will construct a railway to Kaosan, and Karsik Empire law will be followed in case of disputes.”

“Your Majesty, I strongly agree with having Tane construct the railway. Should we set a time limit on the mining period?”

“Let’s limit the mining period to 5 years, as a long period can lead to greed exceeding ability.”

“Your Majesty, is there no possibility that Crown Prince Patrick will provoke a war?”

“Patrick will absolutely not start a war.”

Harchen, when I take the throne, I’ll grant independence as kingdoms to the duchies the emperor took by force. Please lend your strength then, Harchen.

Rebellion! But what kind of rebellion? I’ll find out when we meet, Patrick.

May your twin sister’s efforts and sacrifices to seduce me, the Karsik Emperor, to make you emperor not be in vain, Patrick.

“If Patrick becomes emperor, Arkan’s peace won’t be threatened. It’s taking a step back for the continent’s peace and development.”

“We humbly receive Your Majesty’s will.”

“Understood.”

“Scribe. Summarize and record today’s meeting contents.”

After Calip spoke to the scribe, he declared the meeting adjourned.

“Departure time for Tane is 6 AM, 5 hours from now.”

Calip saw off those leaving the office.

Click.

Calip locked the office door from the inside.

Calip and Bern approached and sat down near Harchen, who was seated at the mahogany round table. Harchen unfolded Patrick’s letter that Conrad Ryu had brought.

“Ah, Y-Your Majesty. This is.”

Calip unconsciously grasped the sword at his side.

“We’ll decide on specific methods and plans when Patrick arrives. Calip and Bern, and Lean when he arrives, will join. Move the shadows below as mercenaries in advance.”

Harchen tore the letter in half and gave it to Bern. Bern struck a match, lit a wax candle, and burned the letter. As the fire on the letter died down, black ashes scattered.

Calip unlocked the office door he had locked.

Shortly after, the head servant entered the office and informed the emperor that the head chef was waiting in the reception room. The emperor took the sword hanging on the wall.

Going to the reception room and sitting in a chair, he drew the sword from its scabbard and held it to the chef’s neck.

“Make your repentance or excuses before you die.”

“Your Majesty, I’m deeply sorry. I have no regrets even if my life ends now. But suspicions must be cleared.”

“That’s why I ordered you brought here. Go on.”

“I’m puzzled too. That day, I dipped an argentum rod in the leftover soup and salad for others besides the princess, but the color didn’t change.”

“Who set the food?”

“Your Majesty, I personally carried and set the food on the table myself.”

“Your logic is that someone sitting at the table quickly poisoned the food placed there?”

“Regrettably, that’s correct.”

The emperor slowly withdrew his sword. He sheathed it. The head servant who quickly approached took the sword.

“Return to your post as White Palace chef. From tomorrow, personally prepare and manage meals only for the princess.”

“Your Majesty’s grace reaches the heavens.”

The chef clasped his hands, bowed as low as he could, and backed out.

“Your Majesty, shall we go to the bedroom? Shall I have a bath drawn?”

“No. A little later.”

The emperor went to his office and out to the terrace. He descended the outdoor stairs and walked to the garden. He sat on a bench under a lilac tree.

White Palace was dark overall with lights out. He shifted his upper body to look towards the princess’s quarters, but couldn’t see the bedroom, only dim wall lights in the reception area.

Patricia.

Recalling her bright smile with clasped hands against her cheeks made his heart flutter.

It was the first time in his life he’d seen a smile that made one’s heart clang. He wanted to make her smile like that. He missed her, wanted to hold her, touch her.

He thought about going through the terrace to the princess’s bedroom to watch her sleep for a bit.

Or should he go to the main entrance to check if the knight guards were keeping good watch.

It was too late. It was nearly midnight.

He stood up from the bench, broke off a branch of clustered lilacs, and smelled their fragrance.

First love, the beginning of love. Why does it feel so tender?

He tossed the broken lilac onto the bench and headed towards the outdoor stairs.