“No…I just felt like I saw you give a genuine smile for the first time.”
“I do smile normally too, you know.”
“Mostly just wry smiles, cold smiles, and scoffs towards me though.”
“That’s because everything you say is so dull that I can’t help but make those faces.”
“You don’t have to put it that bluntly! Granted, I may not be good at that sort of thing, but I was trying to make conversation thinking of you cooped up in the capital!”
“Yes, yes, thank you. I am grateful for that as always.”
After giving that curt response, Artesia quietly rose from her seat.
“It’s about time, let’s go, Your Imperial Majesty.”
“Ah…be prepared, the meeting will drag on today, Eisenhud.”
Switching their tones, Artesia and the others left the garden and headed towards the Imperial Palace.
Surely, it would be a long day, they thought.
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT LOCALIZERMEERKAT.PAGES.DEV
A regular council meeting between the Emperor and the Ducal houses was held once a month.
When discussing matters like national policy guidelines to be publicly announced, members of other noble houses were also invited. However, only members of the Ducal houses were permitted to attend these regular meetings.
Each Ducal house could submit agenda items in advance regarding their territories or business affairs if they had any. If not, they would discuss the recent national situation.
Observing the attendees at such a regular council meeting, Zervis clicked his tongue inwardly.
“–Ah, why does Father always burden me with troublesome things?”
A white-haired youth yawned widely, his arms folded and legs stretched out.
Avar Spiritia.
The third son of the Spiritia house governing spirit magic, he possessed outstanding talent and had already mastered the secret of “Spiritualization” even before reaching adulthood…but he had no interests besides his own magical research, having relinquished the family headship to wander freely.
The faces from the other houses were similar.
“Prince Avar, even if other houses cannot see here, this is still an official occasion with His Imperial Majesty in attendance. As the proxy head, please mind your conduct.”
“Yeah, yeah, I got it. The Holy Maiden Lucilia’s words are the words of God, right?”
Avar waved his hand casually at the golden-haired woman whose expression did not change.
Lucilia Sanctus.
The eldest daughter of the Sanctus house governing sacred magic, she currently held the symbolic role of “Holy Maiden” while preparing to succeed as the next head.
The “Holy Maiden” was an iconic existence in the “Cult of the Divine Word” believed in across the empire.
The daughter born with the most magical power in the Sanctus house was given the role of “Holy Maiden” and could receive the “Divine Word” – the words of God.
This “Divine Word” was akin to prophecy, having predicted not just famines and disasters, but even foreign invasions to avert crises.
For these merits, the Sanctus house was granted Ducal status as the “lineage producing Holy Maidens”, with many shrines and followers across the land. However–
“Say…aren’t they replacing the Holy Maiden pretty quickly this time?”
“…Are you speaking to me, Prince Avar?”
“Nah, I just heard a rumor. That the current Holy Maiden is hurrying to take over as head despite her term remaining. There’s also talk of the ‘Divine Word’ decreasing lately, her magic power waning, this generation’s Maiden lacking enough power–maybe she’s even a fake Maiden?”
As Avar smirked, Lucilia narrowed her eyes quietly.
“–Let me put it in terms even your head can understand, you third son runt of Spiritia.”
Like a transformed panther, Lucilia spoke in a rough tone.
“You might be blabbering, thinking your irrelevance excuses your words…but if you keep spouting stupid rumors, I’ll grind you down myself and send you to the divine origin.”
“Ooh, scary scary. I’d love to show that side to those who revere you as a Holy Maiden.”
“Want me to show your severed head to the followers instead?”
“Just kidding, don’t get so mad. As an apology, want me to send you some local cigars?”
“Like I’d smoke cigars. I’m the Holy Maiden, you know.”
“For real? I totally thought you smoked on the sly.”
“Tch…just because you’re a has-been doesn’t mean you can pester me. Shut up and sit there.”
As Avar guffawed, Lucilia clicked her tongue in annoyance.
And their exchange was observed from afar by others.
“Hoh…it ended quickly again this time.”
“Yeah. Loo-chan and the Spiritia heir always go at it, so these meetings are such a pain. But it’s a relief with Little Ava, it’s over fast.”
“The feud between their houses is like a tradition. Say, the Lady Ulafi has been attending lately, but is the Lord Samaniel just busy?”
“Oho, checking in on us today, Kibbil?”
“Not at all…I’m just making conversation, you see.”
“Is that so? We’re rather curious why your talented self attends every time. The Korathion house isn’t plotting something, are they?”
“Why, nothing of the sort! I simply enjoy observing the other houses.”
“Suuure you do. You’re being quite fishy today too, Kibbil.”
“Nnfufu, being called fishy is a compliment for us of Korathion.”
The bespectacled youth chuckled throatily with a sticky smile towards the woman whose light brown hair swayed as she gave a cryptic grin.
Kibbil Korathion.
The second son of the Korathion house governing bestowal magic, he was said to have ousted his older brother, the intended heir, with his abilities to become the next head.
However…in truth, he was an ambitious schemer who not only had ability, but had set traps even for his own blood-tied siblings to remove them from the succession struggle through underhanded means.
Ulafi Samaniel.
The eldest daughter of the Samaniel house governing summoning magic, she had relinquished her inheritance rights to her younger brother due to her relatively weaker magic power. Yet, she could handle the most summoned beasts of any in her lineage’s history and greatly contributed to maintaining her house’s influence through diverse information gathering and controlling factions.
And as the two probed each other–
“……………..”
As if dismissing them, a young girl in a black dress swung her legs restlessly.
Okuniria Malledict.
The fourth daughter of the Malledict house governing curse magic, she had just turned twelve based on her childlike appearance.
The reason this young girl attended as the proxy head was to demonstrate the Malledict’s stance of constant neutrality and non-interference.
By custom, the head would personally attend if they had agenda items or major reports.
However, if the Malledict house had no relation to the matters, they would send an uninvolved child who would refrain from comments or opinions and simply approve everything.
This was a signal that while they would not pry into other ducal affairs or obstruct them, any interference towards the Malledict would be met with retaliation.
The attending child was surrounded by materialized “death spirits” of Malledict curse magic that would react to any ill will or malice by cursing the source.
Moreover, even if the child could not understand the proceedings due to her youth–
“Oku-chan, do your best taking notes again today, ‘kay?”
[I’ll do my best.]
“Want a cookie? I’ve got some.”
[I’ll have one. Thank you.]
As little Okuniria moved her hands to make words float in the air…a pen in front of her busily scribbled away on the table.
In exchange for allowing the child’s attendance, the Malledict took the duty of recording all conversations through an automated spirit scribe using the death spirits.
So there was no need for the child to comprehend the talks, and as all matters would be approved, there were no issues.
[It’s delicious.]
“Mm-hmm, you just stay pure and innocent, Oku-chan.”
Watching Okuniria nibble the cookie, Ulafi smiled contentedly. While harmless without malice, it was an eerily madness-tinged act nonetheless.
That such people had gathered here…was utterly humiliating for Zervis.
Only princes and princesses attended, with not a single current head present as more than ornaments.
While the Malledict had long sent children as practice, the other houses sending proxies instead of their heads carried another meaning.
[There is no need for the head to attend such trivial matters.]
That unspoken will of the current heads was clearly conveyed.
There had been many such situations before, and when Zervis himself had missed meetings for obligations and sent a proxy instead, he was reprimanded as “a head unable to judge matter’s importance” and met with scorn.
Just for the reason of “having low achievements to be called last,” his house had long been looked down upon by the other dukes.
However–the day to avenge that humiliation was not far off.
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