novelzi Chapter 195 : Chapter 195
Chapter 195 : Chapter 195
“Th-Then… I shall read the letter sent by His Majesty the Emperor!”Swoosh—.
The envoy unfurled the scroll and began to read its contents.
“To celebrate the seventieth birthday of the g-great Emperor! The Emperor of Iron and Blood, His Majesty Caturos, wishes for the King of Plank… no, Your Majesty, to personally attend the celebration. Furthermore, he wishes for the knight Jereuth, who fought alongside me on the old battlefields, to attend as well.”
“…”
“Th-That is all.”
After reading the scroll, the envoy glanced at me cautiously.
‘It's different from the content in the
In the
But it was different now. He was clearly respecting me, and I was the main invitee. Jereuth felt like an addition.
It seemed that pressuring the envoy had been a success.
“I shall participate. By when must I arrive?”
“Ah, yes! O King of Plank, His Majesty the Emperor's birthday is in two weeks. But before that, there are banquets and festivals, so—.”
“The Emperor's birthday is only two weeks away, and you are only now inviting me? I also have things to prepare before going on a long journey.”
“…”
“It feels as if I was not even considered in the first place. As if it doesn't matter whether I come or not, and only Jereuth needs to come.”
“Th-That's…! That is not it! A-Actually, I departed from the empire early, but the sea route was rough, so it took twice as long as scheduled—!”
“So you originally intended to give me four weeks. Time to make all preparations and go to meet the Emperor. Isn't that also a short time? Even a village festival takes four weeks to prepare.”
“…”
“Frankly, I am displeased.”
I continued to pressure the envoy.
Since I had been pressuring him all this time, it would be strange to change my attitude now, and besides—.
I had already told the knights and vassals. That I would stand on equal footing with the Angla Empire.
‘The officials were a bit worried, and the knights cheered.’
Perhaps because they were knights in the military, they seemed to like their master taking a confident stance.
On the other hand, the officials seemed to be scared. If they stood on equal footing with the Angla Empire, the strongest nation on the continent, and the Emperor took offense, the aftermath would be considerable.
However, since I was the absolute ruler of this kingdom, no official could oppose it.
In the first place, the head of the officials, Olivia, had even said to me, 「“If the King has judged it so, then I believe it is a wise judgment.”」
While I was briefly lost in thought.
The envoy was rolling his eyes, not knowing what to say to me. He seemed quite afraid of me.
Well, it was understandable. As soon as he arrived at the port, he saw a ship three times larger than the one he came on, with knights on Griffons flying around it, and all the way from the port to the royal capital, Chomsky had been continuously testing his ‘unnecessarily powerful in explosion’ Madans.
‘Should I stop the pressure here?’
“Well, fine. Still, since His Majesty the Emperor has invited me, I shall go.”
“Ah… yes! A wise decision!”
“Are you evaluating my decision? An envoy?”
“…”
“It's a joke. I like this kind of joke.”
“Ahaha… H-His Majesty the Emperor also likes such jokes. Somehow… if I may be so bold as to say, the King of Plank seems to have similarities with my master.”
The envoy’s voice trembled as he spoke, but his voice clearly contained sincerity.
The sincerity that the Emperor of the Angla Empire and I were similar.
“Then I shall take my leave. The Emperor's birthday is not far off, and I too have much to prepare upon my return to the empire—.”
“Then let's return together.”
“Pardon?”
“Let's go together. I can't be late for the Emperor's birthday either. The star of the party can't be late, can he?”
“…O-O King of Plank. The star of the party is—.”
“I know, I know. His Majesty the Emperor. This is also a joke.”
“…”
“You are fun to tease.”
At my words, the envoy seemed a little offended.
It was understandable. No matter how much of a king I was, he was the ‘Emperor's envoy.’
In other words, in this place, he was representing the Emperor.
Nevertheless, since I was acting not just confidently but arrogantly, it was only natural for the envoy to be offended.
Ssk—.
I rose from my seat and spoke to the knights and officials.
“I accept the invitation of the Emperor of the Angla Empire. Finalize the departure preparations and the list of attendees within today, and we will depart for the western port early tomorrow morning. Send word to the western port as well.”
—Yes!
—Yes!
“!”
As the officials and knights on both sides answered in unison, the envoy flinched in surprise.
He seemed to be quite tense.
“Then, Envoy, why don't you have a meal with me. You must be tired from your long journey.”
“Ah… I-It is alright. As I mentioned earlier, I do not have much time, so I intend to return immediately.”
“You won't be able to leave the western port without my permission, though.”
“…”
“This is not a joke.”
At my words, the envoy immediately bowed his head.
“Ah, I understand. If you invite me, I will eat with gratitude.”
***
Time passed quickly.
After receiving the envoy from the Angla Empire, I departed from the western port for the Angla Empire with him, and now I am at sea.
‘This is the first time I've sailed in earnest on the Griffon Aircraft Carrier, and it feels really smooth yet heavy.’
Although I hadn't been on many ships, I knew the feeling of being on a ship. It was rocking, shaking, and somewhat unsettling.
But the Griffon Aircraft Carrier was different. It felt like riding an electric car—no, an electric bus.
Even when waves hit the ship, it didn't shake, and the sound of it cutting through the sea was constant, making it very comfortable.
‘It's fast, and the interior is sturdy too.’
The interior design of the Griffon Aircraft Carrier was done by the Dwarves. However, I had a direction I wanted.
Utility, utility, and more ‘utility.’
The purpose of the Griffon Aircraft Carrier was combat, so I asked them to focus solely on that.
And the Dwarves accurately reflected my request and even designed the interior.
As I was inwardly satisfied with the performance of the Griffon Aircraft Carrier.
Hagen, who was next to me, spoke.
“Your Highness, it seems we will arrive at the Angla Empire's port in half a day.”
“Mm.”
“I will confirm one last time, but should we really proceed as ‘instructed’ as soon as we enter the port? It could provoke the Angla Empire's army.”
“It doesn't matter. That is also the purpose.”
It was just my guess, but.
Probably in other kingdoms, if a king said his purpose was to provoke the Angla Empire's army, the knights below him would have a reaction and expression like, 「“Has our king gone mad?”」
But my knight was different.
“Understood. Then I will make it as spectacular as possible.”
He even went one step further.
His loyalty to me was almost like a religion.
“Is the empire's envoy's ship following well?”
“Yes, well… rather than following, we are pulling it along well. It couldn't keep up with the speed of our Griffon Aircraft Carrier and escort ships, so we are pulling it with a rope.”
“The Emperor will be impressed by our consideration.”
“Haha… yes.”
Ssk—.
As I waved my hand as a signal for him to leave, Hagen bowed politely to me and headed somewhere.
I also looked at the sea for a moment before going back inside the ship. Since we would be arriving in the Angla Empire in half a day, I intended to reread the
“Are you going inside, Your Highness?”
Elly, who was outside with me, asked.
“Yeah. I'm going to rest a bit before we reach the port.”
“Understood. Then may I also be excused for a moment? I have something to prepare personally.”
“Prepare? Alright.”
I didn't know what Elly was preparing, but I didn't need her right now, so I told her she could be excused.
Just before returning to my room, I finished my thoughts while looking at the sea.
‘Every little thing I do in the Angla Empire will be directly linked to the future of the kingdom. Let’s do well.’
***
The important cities and facilities of the empire were all named after the Emperor.
For example, the name of the imperial capital was ‘Caturoplis,’ and the name of the port was ‘Catumar.’
Among the names of the territories ruled by other nobles, many were also named after the Emperor.
That was how strong the Emperor's power was.
It's just that no one knew what would happen after the powerful Emperor's death.
But for now, it was peaceful. Of course, like most countries, there were power struggles among the nobles, collusion among merchants, plunder by bandits, and monsters causing problems.
In the eastern port of the Angla Empire, ‘Catumar,’ countless ships and people were now gathered.
All had gathered to celebrate the Emperor's birthday.
From most kingdoms, the king himself had responded to the Emperor's invitation. It couldn't be helped; if the Emperor invited a king and the king ignored it, what would happen?
It was obvious they would incur the wrath of the Angla Empire.
And there was no foolish king who wanted that.
—Ahem!
—Ahem!
—*Hmm, hmm…….
Nevertheless, the kings and entourages of each kingdom put on airs. They didn't want to be looked down upon or ignored by other kingdoms.
And above all, a ‘rumor’ had been circulating recently. A rumor that 「“The Emperor of the Angla Empire intends to marry his daughter to another king to obtain an outstanding son.”」
They didn't know if the rumor was true or false.
But if it was true, this was a huge opportunity.
‘If I can take the Emperor's daughter as my wife… our kingdom will prosper greatly.’
‘Those Partan Kingdom bastards who keep crossing our eastern border won't dare to cross it anymore.’
‘I heard the Emperor's daughters are all peerless beauties without exception…’
‘If I have a son with the Emperor's daughter, that kid will be the next emperor. Then I will be the emperor's father!’
Thus, the goal of all the kings was one.
To catch the Emperor's eye, get his daughter, marry her, and have a child.
To do that, they first had to establish a hierarchy among themselves. They had to pretend to be as tall as possible, as rich as possible, and the knights and soldiers they brought had to give off a strong impression.
Only then would that become another rumor and reach the Emperor's ears…….
It was then.
“Wh-What is that ship?”
Someone pointed at the sea and said.
At those words, the royalty and envoys who were puffing out their chests as much as possible looked at the sea.
And what they saw was—.
“…It's huge.”
“It has no sails.”
“No oars either.”
“The ship being pulled by a rope behind it… it's flying the flag of the Angla Empire.”
“Th-Then which kingdom does that ship belong to?”
“It’s a flag I've never seen before…?”
“No, I think I've seen it before. During the war with the demonkin… I think I saw it a lot…?”
While the people were murmuring, the ship that was quite far away entered the port.
The ship was so large that it could barely dock in the port.
As the ship entered the port, its majesty was even greater.
Every side of the ship was painted pitch black and boasted beautiful streamlines, and despite having sailed, there was not a single bit of damage to the ship.
It looked like a ship that had just had its launching ceremony.
Next to that huge ship, a relatively smaller—but still larger than the ships of other kingdoms—ship was attached like an escort.
It was a great display of power. Truly.
—…….
—…….
—…….
As everyone was looking at that ship.
Something even more surprising happened.
—Screeeech!
—Screeeech!
—Screeeech…!
—Screech!!
Winged ‘monsters’ flew up from the huge ship.
But… there were people riding on those monsters. Fully armed knights wearing truly magnificent armor.
The appearance of unusual beings.
At that, the knights and soldiers guarding the port hurriedly gathered.
“Make way!”
“Move, move!”
“Don't get too close to the ship! As long as we don't know their purpose, we could be ambushed!”
“Shield bearers to the front!”
“Archers, why aren't you getting in line?!”
Suddenly, the port took on a wartime atmosphere.
It couldn't be helped, as an unbelievable presence—knights riding monsters from a huge ship they had never seen before—had appeared.
But then.
Someone shouted loudly from the ship flying the flag of the Angla Empire.
“You crazy bastards…! I am Konstan of the Banbolio family, an envoy of His Majesty the Emperor! These are esteemed guests from the Plank Kingdom who have come to celebrate His Majesty the Emperor's birthday! Will you not lower your weapons!!”
—…!!
At the envoy's words, the knights and soldiers were startled and hurriedly lowered their weapons.
Because Konstan of the Banbolio family was one of the vassals the Emperor trusted the most.
There was almost no one in the empire who did not know his fame.
The people from other kingdoms did not know of this envoy's existence, but they were surprised nonetheless.
Because…….
‘The empire's envoy is wary of the Plank Kingdom's reaction…?!’
That was clearly felt.