Chapter 78
As Ruan led the Grand Duke towards the audience chamber, he became lost in thought.
‘The special envoy’s visit is earlier than in the book.’
The visit of Marquis Elenroth, one of Emperor Volker’s close associates, to Reinke was something that had happened in “Tales of the Sirah Empire” as well.
But both the timing and the official purpose of Marquis Elenroth’s visit were different.
In “Tales of the Sirah Empire,” Marquis Elenroth visits Reinke when Louise, who has established herself as the Empress of the Holy Empire, starts to extend her influence to key figures in the Sirah Empire.
Naturally, Volker’s purpose in sending the Marquis to Reinke was to check Louise’s approach to the Grand Duke, but… he couldn’t say that outright. The official purpose of the special envoy’s visit was to commend the recapture and reconstruction of Reinke and to console those who had sacrificed during the process.
‘When was Reinke recaptured that they’re offering commendation and consolation now? Honestly, it’s laughable.’
Anyway, according to the original story, Marquis Elenroth neither comes to Reinke at this time nor brings an imperial order.
So the fact that the Marquis has come at this time, with an imperial order, means…
‘It’s because of the recent changes.’
Ruan recalled the contents of the letter he had recently received from Ralph.
‘He said the response to monster products has been explosive, and interest in Reinke has grown tremendously. He also mentioned that Reinke’s connection with the dwarves is drawing attention, and some are trying to approach Reinke through the Steiner Guild.’
Creating a starting point for change to help Reinke escape isolation, beyond just making money.
The letter, which seemed to convey Ralph’s cheerful voice, was saying that things were progressing smoothly as Ruan had hoped.
Many of Reinke’s problems stem from its isolation. Therefore, to protect Reinke from various threats, it was necessary to make many people form relationships with Reinke. And also to draw people’s attention to Reinke.
The monster product business was serving as a solid foundation for this.
While this was very good for Reinke…
There were those who would not welcome this change.
Those who wished for Reinke to remain isolated, and who were wary of the influence of the Grand Duke of Reinke, renowned as the guardian of the empire.
Emperor Volker Sirah, that is.
It was initially done to prevent the imperial family from wielding Reinke at will, and as such, Ruan had thought Volker would keep an eye on Reinke. But to suddenly send a special envoy like this, and Marquis Elenroth, who was practically his right-hand man at that…
‘An imperial order… What is he trying to do?’
The vile deeds Volker had committed in “Tales of the Sirah Empire” flashed through Ruan’s mind.
Especially what Volker had done to Reinke, and to the Grand Duke.
Ruan turned to look at the Grand Duke following behind him.
The Grand Duke, who was quietly following Ruan’s lead, seemed somehow more dejected than usual.
‘Well, it’s understandable.’
Right after the monster wave, his nemesis Volker appears. It’s not like the whole world is trying to torment the Grand Duke, but what kind of situation is this?
Ruan felt sad seeing the Grand Duke wilted, his usual majestic demeanor nowhere to be seen.
‘How could that bastard Volker do such things to this kind cat…’
Ruan, sending sympathetic glances towards the Grand Duke, steeled his resolve once again.
He would definitely protect his precious Grand Duke from the evil human trying to torment the cat.
“Your Grace.”
At Ruan’s call, the Grand Duke, who had been walking listlessly, looked at him.
Ruan gazed back at the Grand Duke with pity and spoke in a resolute voice.
“I may not be able to fight orcs or ogres.”
Having possessed ‘Ruan Daen’, who was originally weak and lacking in physical strength, he couldn’t defeat the monsters invading Reinke.
Knowing nothing about life in Reinke, despite being a possessed person, he couldn’t be of much help to Reinke and even needed assistance in basic daily life.
But.
“However, I can handle dealing with humans.”
When it came to the main story of “Tales of the Sirah Empire”… especially when dealing with people who were described in great detail as the protagonist’s main enemies, it was a bit different.
He was a possessed person who knew things about Volker Sirah that even the current Volker Sirah didn’t know.
Ruan looked at the Grand Duke with a serious face and said,
“I will definitely protect you, Your Grace.”
I have to protect our cat with my own hands.
The cat’s demeanor became subtle upon hearing the words of protection… but Ruan, who had already started moving towards the audience chamber again, couldn’t know this.
* * *
Hartmann Elenroth, Marquis and Master of Ceremonies of the Imperial Household.
He was a rather complex and unique individual.
The Marquis, who had made a name for himself as a scholar, was the teacher who educated the previous emperor when he was the crown prince, and even after the previous emperor’s ascension, he remained one of his most trusted vassals.
But that was just the surface story.
In truth, he didn’t think the overly kind previous emperor was a good candidate for emperor.
The reason this renowned scholar became the crown prince’s teacher was because his lifelong goal was to create the perfect emperor to prove his theory. But he was disappointed in the crown prince who, no matter how much he was taught, failed to show the ‘qualities of an ideal emperor’.
Instead, what caught his eye was the second prince, Volker, who had become a knight early on and expressed his intention to devote himself loyally to his brother’s reign, presenting an image of simplicity and approachability.
The Marquis, who was close to the princes, noticed that Volker was actually coldly calculating situations and building power in the military while hiding his ambitions for long-term plans.
Unlike the idealistic and benevolent previous emperor, he was a person who had the boldness to use any means necessary to achieve his goals, and could bear any disgrace or dishonor.
Someone who would patiently wear the mask of a hypocrite for years if it was the most effective way to achieve his purpose.
Volker Sirah was closer to the Marquis’s idea of an ideal emperor than the previous emperor.
That’s why, while acting as a trusted vassal to the previous emperor, he continued to support Volker behind the scenes. Volker gladly accepted the help and advice of the Marquis, who was trusted by his brother and had wide-ranging influence in various ways.
Then finally, when the previous emperor died prematurely according to Volker’s plan…
The Marquis betrayed young Louise, the legitimate heir who had trusted and followed him, pushing her into an abyss of despair, and helped Volker’s succession.
All under the belief that he would create the emperor who best matched his ideals and complete his theory through that emperor’s reign.
Thus, the Marquis, who became the person Louise hated second only to Volker, lived faithfully as Volker’s meritorious retainer and right-hand man…
Until he met his death at the hands of Louise, who had returned after building up her strength for revenge and to reclaim the throne.
‘And in the novel, it’s described that I laugh the loudest while being killed by Louise.’
Happy about the fact that Louise had come closer to his idea of an ideal emperor than Volker. And that he had contributed to that.
He was truly a consistently insane character.
‘Honestly, if I could, I’d never want to get close to this type of person in my life…’
Ruan’s gaze turned to the Grand Duke standing beside him.
The Grand Duke, who had been dejected earlier, was now showing signs of displeasure from some point.
Perhaps he was getting angrier the more he thought about Volker. The sympathy in Ruan’s eyes as he looked at the Grand Duke deepened even further.
Now that madman has come to this land with his emperor’s orders. If that madman threatens Ruan’s Grand Duke cat, Ruan had no choice but to fight against him.
Determined to protect the Grand Duke from that madman at all costs, Ruan entered the audience chamber.
The main officials of Reinke, including Hans, were already in place in the audience chamber. The moment the Grand Duke entered, exuding an aura of displeasure, the officials who had been whispering among themselves fell silent.
While Ruan was answering with his eyes to the looks that seemed to say, ‘The Grand Duke seems especially ominous today, is it okay?’, ‘Just as the monster wave ended, what’s this bolt from the blue?’, ‘Even if it’s the Grand Duke, he wouldn’t behead the special envoy… right? What should we do?’, and so on…
The Grand Duke, as always, moved silently to his place at the end of the audience chamber instead of paying attention to them.
After the Grand Duke took his seat and some time had passed…
“The Emperor’s special envoy, Marquis Elenroth, requests an audience.”
The doors of the audience chamber opened.
Ruan’s gaze turned to the person entering through the open doors.
Despite having just completed a long journey over rough terrain, his appearance was impeccable without a single flaw.
An intellectual appearance that matched his neat attire.
A straight posture that seemed to show his stubborn personality.
Volker’s meritorious retainer, advisor, and teacher,
Hartmann Elenroth.
