Chapter 523
It was truly remarkable. Even in silence, the atmosphere spoke volumes. Sometimes it carried fear, sometimes surprise, sometimes awe—but in the stillness of the council chamber now, everyone unanimously felt only one thing: sheer disbelief.
The first officials to regain their composure began to voice their objections one by one.
“Your Majesty, an Empress who rides alongside you on the battlefield? That’s absurd. The Empress should remain in the vacant palace, guarding it in your stead. How could you both be absent from the capital at the same time?”
“Yes. The people of Bariel would be unsettled.”
“And above all—”
Above all, which noble daughter would dare to join the front lines alongside Your Majesty?
Even among the young nobles trained in swordsmanship and horsemanship, going to war was a daunting and frightening prospect. Except in extraordinary circumstances, it simply didn’t happen. Like the Empress, their duty was to protect Bariel from within.
“I’ve heard that the Serro family once participated in the Clifopod-Bergos war, but the cost was enormous, wasn’t it? They squandered their entire fortune and gained nothing in return.”
“That’s a different case, though, ahem.”
“Shh. How dare you mention that family? That’s taboo.”
The last time a noble family sent members to war, the outcome was disastrous. Unless a family was on the brink of ruin, it was unthinkable for them to send their own kin into battle.
And now, what was this? Offering eighty percent of their wealth to defense projects?
“Your Majesty, might I ask… have you no intention of marriage yet?”
It wasn’t a polite inquiry—it was a blunt refusal, a direct challenge.
But Jin shrugged, feigning ignorance, then replied calmly.
“The survival of the royal house is urgent, yet how could I possibly refuse a royal marriage? The Empress is my partner and a member of the royal family; her family is mine as well. What difficulty is there in showing such commitment for the sake of war? If I were the head of her family, I would give everything. The revival of Bariel is the revival of our houses.”
“Your Majesty—”
“Furthermore, while it is customary for the Empress to remain in the palace during wartime, she is under no obligation to do so. I have no heir to care for at the moment. A husband and wife are one flesh, so I want someone who will stand with me on the battlefield and raise Bariel’s glory high.”
“Goodness gracious.”
Whispers and uneasy expressions rippled through the room. The only noble daughter who came to mind was Lady Kayla of the Hollin family, but even she was more skilled in weapon crafting than swordsmanship. Whether she met Jin’s standards was uncertain.
More importantly, would Kayla herself even accept going to war?
“Your Majesty, this is an unusual standard.”
“How dare you, who are neither my father nor mother, try to set the criteria for my partner?”
“However, Your Majesty, most daughters of noble houses are far removed from swordplay or martial arts.”
“Then they should be on the battlefield already. Those who are willing can train and come forth.”
“Your Majesty!”
Are you joking?
An official shouted, eyes wide, but Jin only smiled faintly. His gaze was sharp and deadly, leaving no room for doubt.
“Why not?”
He wasn’t joking.
At another time, he might have entertained debate, but now, those who owed debts silently followed the Minister of Magic’s lead, and the Davion faction, bound by the evaluation system, quietly averted their eyes.
Who, then, would dare loudly oppose such an unreasonable standard? The officials clicked their tongues inwardly, swallowing their dismay.
“If this continues, even if disaster strikes the palace, the officials won’t be able to utter a word.”
“Yes, indeed. His Majesty should listen to everyone’s opinions. Ha.”
“Your Majesty.”
At that moment, Ian broke the silence.
“Victory in war comes when everyone fulfills their role properly—from the soldiers wielding swords and shields to the medics and even the cooks. Considering reality, it would be wise to relax the conditions somewhat.”
Otherwise, the officials and nobles might rebel fiercely.
Ian didn’t say this outright, but Jin clearly understood his meaning.
“True. It need not be a weapon in hand. I will watch closely for anyone who participates and fulfills their duty.”
“Wise indeed.”
Ian glanced at the officials, who all reluctantly echoed in unison.
“Yes, Your Majesty. Wise indeed.”
“Then let us move on to the next matter. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall send invitations to the coronation to the nine major countries, excluding Bergos.”
Aside from Clifopod, Luswena, and Hawan, most were small northern nations.
Astana was among them.
Ian and Romandro exchanged glances, both thinking they might finally see Hasha again after so long.
The Foreign Minister nodded in acknowledgment, and the officials began discussing the exact date and order of the ceremony in detail.
“To the Hollin family.”
“To Davion.”
Meanwhile, countless notes passed under the table. Officials discreetly shared fresh intelligence with their respective houses. Jin and Ian noticed the bustling activity but pretended to focus solely on the meeting.
“But what if all the noble daughters decide to go to war? Either they pay the fortune or they all rush to the battlefield—that would be a problem in itself.”
“That won’t happen. Hollin and Davion are standing firm. It’ll be Lady Kayla or Lady Chloe. They’ll compete. Anyone who steps out of line in a place soaked with blood will be cut down.”
“True, even if Hollin’s influence has waned somewhat.”
“Yes, Lady Kayla might actually go, but Lady Chloe… I’m not so sure.”
The officials shook their heads, uncertain about what the future held. Jin’s sharp warning glance quickly silenced the room.
“Chloe, look at this dress. It just came in. Isn’t it pretty? But the color doesn’t suit me. Want to try it?”
“Hmm, it’s lovely. Bright and beautiful.”
“What’s that?”
“I got it as a birthday gift, but I haven’t worn it much.”
“That’s from Lord Charlotte’s brother, isn’t it?”
“Who gave it doesn’t matter. What matters is it doesn’t suit me.”
“True. I wonder if Lord Charlotte’s taste has gone off. Chloe looks good in almost everything.”
Chloe sat surrounded by her closest friends, sharing clothes and jewelry.
Standing before the mirror, Chloe was radiant from head to toe—her crimson dress, earrings, flawless skin, and necklace all gleamed.
Her satisfied smile faded when heavy footsteps thundered outside.
“Miss!”
“Nanny, please don’t make a fuss.”
Chloe scolded the nanny through the mirror. Normally, the nanny would apologize immediately, but she was panting heavily, waving her hands.
“This isn’t the time—oh, no, it’s nothing. Huff, huff.”
“What’s wrong? Is something the matter?”
“The Crown Prince has announced the criteria for the Empress’s appointment. An urgent message just arrived at the palace.”
Chloe whipped her head around, and the ladies lounging on the sofa looked at the nanny with curious eyes. Finally, an official statement regarding the Crown Prince’s marriage had come.
Chloe strode toward the nanny, while the others pretended not to watch but pricked up their ears.
“What kind of criteria could it be?”
“Who knows.”
Their eyes sparkled with a mix of curiosity and hope. Though they loudly claimed Chloe was the only suitable Empress, secretly, they wondered if it might be one of them.
“What? This has to be a joke.”
“No, it’s not. The mistress is on her way home urgently after hearing the news. There will be a family meeting tonight to discuss it.”
“What on earth…?”
“Chloe, what’s wrong?”
“Is something wrong?”
Chloe stared blankly into space, then turned to the others at their call. Her golden eyes, like topaz, held an unreadable emotion.
“Why do you look like that?”
“Tell me quickly. What kind of partner is the Crown Prince seeking? Family? Beauty? Intelligence?”
“I don’t understand what it means.”
“What?”
“He says either the family must give eighty percent of their wealth to defense projects, or the partner must be someone who will fight alongside him.”
The sparkle in the ladies’ eyes quickly dimmed. What kind of insane condition was that?
“Maybe it’s a misunderstanding?”
“Right. Marriage rumors often get twisted—”
“This came straight from the palace.”
Chloe sat at her vanity and declared firmly, silencing their whispers. “Unless your family has ties to the palace, you wouldn’t know. Davion’s information is reliable.”
They leaned back on the sofa, arms crossed, looking at Chloe.
“What will you do?”
“My father has already called a family meeting.”
“But the conditions seem to favor Lady Kayla. Could it be that the Crown Prince has his heart set on her?”
At that, Chloe glanced sideways at her friends. Her eyes were sharp enough to devour them, and they responded with awkward smiles.
“No, think about it. Lady Kyla is knowledgeable about weapons and skilled in swordsmanship. Wouldn’t it make more sense for her to take to the battlefield herself rather than just handing over eighty percent of the family fortune? Surely His Highness wouldn’t put the duke’s daughter right on the front lines, and it’s only a little hardship for Kyla to go out there. Compared to the wealth we’d be giving up, that’s a far better option.”
“Exactly. Plus, being close to His Highness means there might be private conversations, insider information.”
“Chloe, let’s be honest—you wouldn’t go to war if asked. When the count returns, try talking to him. Maybe there’s a way around this.”
“Yeah. In many ways, you’re more suited than Kyla, but I just don’t get why the crown prince set these conditions.”
“A political marriage isn’t something to take lightly, right?”
“It’s a bit ridiculous. He might as well have postponed the marriage instead of stirring up all this fuss.”
Clack.
Chloe took off her earrings and set them down with a sharp sound. Then, she smiled brightly and replied, “Like I said, I have no intention of going to war. But who are we to presume to understand His Highness’s wishes? Let’s all be careful not to speak out of turn.”
After all, he was the man who would become her husband.
Chloe believed Jin had insight, and if that was true, he would surely choose her over Kyla. Though the terms seemed unfavorable at first glance, she was certain there was a deeper meaning behind them.
The ladies exchanged knowing winks and smiled, and the conversation stalled awkwardly.
‘Paying the family fortune is non-negotiable. It’s just the bare minimum qualification. If any problems arise, it’s wise to hold the family’s power firmly.’
That left only one thing: going to the battlefield.
But no matter how she thought about it, it was impossible for her. She had never even properly lifted a teapot in her life—what could she possibly do out there? Contributing anything was out of the question; she might even become a burden or worse, hinder her own side.
“…If I can’t go, then Kyla shouldn’t go either.”
“Huh? What did you say?”
“Listen, there’s something I want you to check out.”
“What is it?”
We’re friends, right? Chloe approached the ladies and sat down, whispering gently.
“Could you go to Holinga and get a feel for the situation there? Also, there’s something that’s been bothering me for a while—the jeweled accessory Kyla wore on her coming-of-age day. I want you to get that for me.”
“W-what? How are we supposed to do that, Chloe?”
When the ladies showed hesitation, the smile vanished from Chloe’s face.
“Use whatever means you have. If they’re my close friends, that shouldn’t be a problem.”