TMLP Ch. 79 — The Wolf’s Master (1)

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The days were getting warmer.

Caesar’s body had also recovered considerably, so we decided to have tea at the palace garden for the first time in a long time to enjoy the spring.

When was the last day we had such free time? I felt distant somehow. It felt new.

“By the way, Marianne Valer.” Caesar brought up the topic of Marianne first.

I didn’t think it was suitable for tea time, but I was curious about it, so I quietly waited for his words.

“It has been decided that she will be exiled to the northern tip of the empire.”

“Exile? Isn’t the punishment light for trying to harm the emperor?”

“Because she was the late emperor’s wife, there was too much opposition even to execute her. We have to listen to the opinions of the nobles to some extent,” Caesar sighed and said. It seemed he did not like this situation in which something was left behind.

“The Valers said that Marianne didn’t know anything and that they were just using her and tried to protect her until the end. Since we didn’t punish Yulika, we shouldn’t punish Marianne either.”

“That’s unexpected. Do they think that they might get a chance at reinstatement if they keep Marianne alive?”

“Maybe. Of course, that will never happen.” Caesar’s eyes were firm.

In the end, Marianne and Valer were removed from the center of power. I suddenly thought of the younger half-brother, who had lost all his backing.

“What will happen to Prince Fran?”

“I’m thinking of sending him out to his private residence. He should’ve been sent long ago but was kept in the Imperial Palace against Marianne and Valer’s objection.”

“There is no other punishment.”

“Well. I think being away from Marianne would be enough punishment,” Caesar said with a lonely gaze.

The words stuck in my mind.

He’d lost his mother at a young age. Maybe he felt similar. The old me wouldn’t have understood. But I think I could understand it now, albeit vaguely.

The sorrow of losing a loved one.

“The attendants will also leave with him as a set. Since he’s not an adult yet, it won’t be easy to live alone.”

I also nodded in agreement with Caesar’s words. Now that even Valer had fallen, no one would try to take care of Fran, who had been driven to a corner.

“It’s a very minor punishment for what they’ve done.”

“Are you disappointed?”

Caesar would be most disappointed with this result, but he looked at me with an apologetic expression instead.

“If Your Majesty is satisfied with that, I’m fine.” I didn’t want to be a burden to Caesar. I showed an unrestrained smile.

“Okay. Let’s stop talking about that. We don’t have enough time just talking about the engagement.”

“Rowena seemed busier than at the last ceremony.” This time, Rowena was burning her will to dress me up the best way.

At my words, Caesar smiled contentedly. “I picked people well, right?”

“That’s true.”

The Imperial Palace called her ‘Wolf Trainer’. It must mean that she handled Caesar, who everyone feared, well. She was certainly a well-chosen person in that respect. It didn’t make sense if she couldn’t do her job properly because she was afraid of him as his aide.

‘Come to think of it, no matter how often I think about it, it would’ve been impossible for Yulika to be the empress.’

I licked my lips bitterly as I thought of Yulika, who shuddered like a rabbit in front of Caesar. What’s she doing back in fief? I never thought he would be curious.

I was in a relaxed atmosphere for the first time in a while when one of the attendants approached and bowed her head. “My apologies. Marquis Gion wants to greet His Majesty. What should we do?”

Caesar clicked his tongue in annoyance.

“I got caught hiding. Sigh… Let him in.”

Huh? Were you hiding?

“I think he saw Your Majesty here while passing by.”

“Ha… I won’t be able to have tea time outdoors from now on.”

“I thought it was my job to bother you, Your Majesty?” I made fun of Caesar with a smile. Caesar smiled bitterly at me.

“Many things come to me with an excuse to greet me and ruin my mood these days.”

“What? Why?”

“Since Valer’s been deprived of its title, they want to take its place.”

Aha. I was convinced at once.

In the Empire, the three dukes balance each other and lead the aristocratic society. Although Garmal was a duke, he maintained a thorough neutrality, so now Peresca was the sole leader.

‘But Father is an old nobleman who has no interest in politics. When the situation stabilizes, he will want to return to the territory.’

If so, the aristocrat who sat on the vacant duchy after Valer would hold the highest power in the advisory council.

‘Does everyone like power that much?’

They wanted to sit there even after seeing Valer, who’d been drunk with power and ruined? I didn’t understand.

After a while, a man with a nice mustache approached the tea table.

“May you be in peace forever, Your Majesty. Albern Gion greets Your Majesty,” the marquis bowed in front of Caesar and greeted him. Caesar nodded, and this time he looked in my direction. “I didn’t know you were here as well. This is Gion, Princess.”

“Yes, I know. Hello, Marquis.”

“Today is a good day. It’s perfect for enjoying tea outside. You must have a good time,” the marquis said pleasantly.

‘But you’re interfering with that,’ muttered Caesar so only I could hear. When I glanced at him, I almost laughed a little because his expression was still solemn.

“I heard that your health has improved a lot. This is a small thing, but I got some herbs grown in our estates, wishing for your health.”

“Thank you for caring so much. However, there are many excellent medicinal herbs in the palace. Wouldn’t it be better to work hard for the territory’s people rather than for me?” Caesar smiled softly. The marquis’s face lit up when he heard Caesar’s words as a compliment.

“I am deeply moved that you are interested in my estate, Your Majesty…!”

No, that’s not it…! He’s telling you to shut up and mind your own business! Why are you so slow?!

“Actually, I wanted to share my views with Your Majesty about the military expansion in this border area.”

“That matter has already been decided in the advisory council.”

“Yes, but it’s hard to say that many opinions are right.” It was clear from the beginning that the marquis had no intention of just saying hello and leaving. He sat down and said his intention, “How about making friends with the barbarians?”

“Friends?”

“The land of the barbarians is barren, and it is difficult to obtain food, so they will open their hearts easily if we share food.”

“Since the country’s founding, there has never been anything given to barbarians. Have you forgotten the ancestors and people who died while shedding blood because of the barbarians?”

“We can’t live forever bound by the past. So I thought of a good way. If you make me an envoy, I will negotiate with them…” the marquis began announcing his grandiose plans in a heated voice.

He chose the word ‘diplomatic envoy’, but it sounded like ‘let me work’ in the end. I laughed bitterly when I heard it from the side.

“Helena. What is your opinion?” I was watching him, thinking, “He’s such a good talker,” but Caesar suddenly changed the subject to me.

I was completely caught off guard, and my shoulders flinched lightly in surprise. “I wonder if my opinion has any meaning, Your Majesty.”

“I want to hear it. You are someone who has had experience fighting beasts on the frontier, so you must be well aware of the importance of armaments.”

Well, yes. In fact, unlike my family’s personality, I’m a military officer rather than a civil servant.

“I think armament is necessary not only for barbarians but also to prepare for demons.”

“Oh, the princess is young and shallow. Exchanges with other continents will become more active in the future, but if we strengthen armaments, wouldn’t we be seen as a closed country?” the marquis smiled at me and retorted with an instructive tone.

“All peaceful exchanges are only possible when one is strong. Without strength, you’ll just get dragged around and lose the initiative.”

“How can you interact with others with such a heart? Armaments are planned when necessary-”

“And it will be too late when you need it,” I cut off his words and refuted firmly. Perhaps finding me aggressive, the marquis clicked his tongue.

“Huh, true. The princess does not know because she has never experienced a battlefield. This is not your place to talk.”

Ah, yes. You must have thought so. I barely held back my laughter. To think I had never experienced a battlefield when I’d even wandered the battlefield as a mercenary.

“Anyway, Your Majesty. This is a choice for the Empire. I am ready to dedicate my whole body to work for the Empire,” the marquis said with shining eyes.

Caesar touched his temples as if he was troubled. Thinking these people come several times a day must be a headache. “I understand your opinion well. Please give your opinion to the advisory board. You should go home now,” Caesar muttered with a look that said nothing.

“The advisory council is no help, Your Majesty! If you believe in my loyalty just once, I will achieve amazing results!”

“Marquis.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“I definitely told you to go back,” Caesar glared at the marquis with a crooked head and said quietly.

A ‘hick’ sound came from the marquis’s throat. No matter how tactless he was, he couldn’t have not noticed the bloodthirst of a starving beast.

“You seem to be laughing at my orders.”

“T-That’s not it. I’m just loyal…!”

“Your loyalty tires me. Moreover, the sin of belittling my teacher is very great.”

“T-Teacher? W-When did I ever belittle Your Majesty’s teacher?” The marquis looked at me with a belatedly enlightened expression. It seemed he finally remembered that I was Caesar’s old swordsmanship teacher.

“I didn’t belittle- Uh, this was just to address the difference in experience-”

“You seem confident that you are more knowledgeable on the battlefield than my teacher, who subdued a large-scale monster attack, right?” Caesar grinned. Actually, I didn’t know if I could describe it as grinning. I’d never seen such a bloody smile. “Then it would be right to send talented people like you to the battlefield, wouldn’t it?”

“Oh no! I made a mistake! I was wrong, Princess! Forgive me!”

Ah… I feel sorry for you, so I can’t see you anymore. The price of being tactless is very high.

“I will forgive you. People can make mistakes.”

“Ah, my teacher is too soft.”

“I’m just trying to emulate Your Majesty’s generous nature for forgiving Brante.”

I looked at the marquis and said, “Marquis, I was actually in the middle of tea time. Would you like to join us, Marquis?”

“Oh, no. How could I-”

“My teacher says it’s okay, so I’ll allow it if you want,” said Caesar. Of course, his words and facial expressions did not match at all. His expression looked like he’d kill him if he dared to agree.

Fortunately, the marquis wasn’t so ignorant that he didn’t notice it. He vigorously shook his head. “No. I can’t disturb the private time of the two of you more than this. I’ll just go away.” After saying goodbye, he quickly disappeared. He looked like he was in such a hurry that he stumbled. Are your legs that weak?

“… Poor thing,” I muttered to the shabby marquis’s back.

Then Caesar leaned towards me and spoke in a serious voice. “Is he pitiful? Am I, whose time with Helena was interrupted, not pitiful?”

“Your Majesty will be with me to the point where you’ll get sick of it.”

At my rebuke, Caesar smiled softly. “I’ll never get tired of you, so that’s a wrong statement.”

A gentle breeze blew, and his bangs swayed slightly. I smiled contentedly as I looked at his handsome face that I would never get tired of.

“I chose one emperor well. There must be nothing I can’t do.”

At my words, Caesar laughed out loud. It’d been a long time since I’d seen him smile without hesitation, so I was infinitely relieved.

The smile of others alone made me feel relieved.