The Prince Wants To Retire

33. Death of the Emperor (2)

With the death of the emperor, black flags began to be hung all over the empire.

At the same time, the gates of the capital and the imperial palace were opened.

It revealed the will to not block anyone who came to pay condolences by opening the door.

And the war that the empire was in progress also stopped.

The advance of the subjugation army was stopped all at once, and the war with the coalition of small countries also stopped for a while.

Following the order of the new emperor, Kariel, the empire stopped everything at once and only mourned the death of the emperor for ten days.

The southern kingdoms, which had been showing hostile movements, also stopped their military movements.

As the empire first stopped military movements and retreated, all the countries of the western continent also stopped fighting and began to organize envoys.

Due to Kariel’s decision, everyone gathered in the capital to commemorate the emperor’s death, as if it was a lie that he had been hostile until recently.

As the Empire bowed first and sent a letter to everyone to commemorate the emperor’s death, he had no choice but to send an envoy for a cause.

In the end, thanks to the emperor’s funeral, the western continent was at peace for a short time.

“Your Majesty, the subjugation forces have arrived.”

Two days after the emperor’s death, the main figures in each region began to arrive one by one.

The Dukes of Wilkshire, the Dukes of Davey, and the Marquis arrived in the capital.

At the same time, major envoys from the southern kingdoms and holy countries also came.

As at the Continental Congress, when envoys from major powers in the Western Continent arrived, the emperor’s funeral began in earnest.

“It looks like it will start soon.”

“Branch.”

At the words of the old waitress, Kariel nodded slightly and got up from his seat.

The chaplain who served the Emperor is now serving Kariel by his side. At the same time, Kariel’s office was also moved to the Emperor’s Palace.

Nevertheless, looking at Kariel living like my own house, the valet said quietly.

“I’m glad you got used to it faster than I thought.”

At the words of the valet walking next to him, Kariel’s eyes widened and smiled.

As it was a palace that he had used countless times in his previous life, he was using it without any sense of discomfort, but it seemed to be adapting quickly to the chief servant.

“your majesty.”

“The envoys from other countries?”

Kariel asked Tharion, who had rushed to him.

“Located in a hotel near the square.”

“Did the Small Country Alliance come too?”

“It arrived this morning.”

“What about the rebels?”

“I don’t think it will come.”

At Tarion’s report, Kariel nodded slightly.

They were envoys who came to attend the emperor’s funeral, but in reality they were not.

It was to decide whether to redefine relations with the Empire or see an end to it.

The guests who came for the final negotiations with the new emperor, Kariel, gathered for the funeral.

Kariel wanted to give them one last chance, as he did to the nobles.

“Is there only one sure ally of the principality?”

As Kariel spoke with a bitter expression on her face, Tharion and the chaplain, who followed, quietly bowed their heads.

After the funeral to honor the death of the emperor, the empire will enter a period of chaos in earnest.

Originally, he would have tried to reestablish order in the West Continent by suppressing the rebels and conquering small countries, but the situation was not good.

“your majesty.”

“your majesty!”

The two younger brothers who had left for the battlefield approached Kariel.

“Good job.”

“sorry.”

“I should have finished sooner… … .”

Kariel shook her head as she saw her younger siblings blaming themselves for not finishing quickly.

Because time was running out to completely quell the rebels.

“The report was received. Stop blaming yourself for knowing that your Majesty had no choice but to pass away sooner than usual.”

Saying that, he sighed.

The situation was twisted because neither the rebels nor the Alliance of Small Powers had been able to complete it properly.

That’s why it was so important after the funeral.

“After the funeral, you guys should return to war immediately.”

At Kariel’s words, the two brothers nodded with firm expressions.

“Iron is not serious.”

“Are you very serious?”

At Seriel’s question, Kariel nodded slightly.

“Maybe there will be a large-scale revolt there. The Roteon is helping the rebels.”

“then… … .”

“We should help the pro-imperial faction.”

At Kariel’s words, Seriel’s expression hardened. Because I knew what this word meant.

“Is it a proxy war?”

“That will be the beginning. But it will be confirmed soon.”

It was not the southern kingdoms to watch the full resurgence of the Empire. It is because they think that they will be the next target of the empire that has swallowed up all the small countries in the current situation where they are already paying huge reparations.

That’s why they were thinking of bringing Iron into their power and putting pressure on them.

Seongguk was also showing signs of pulling out a knife little by little.

“The Holy Kingdom and the Southern Kingdoms have already signed a secret agreement. So, in reality, only Iron is left.”

The future direction will change depending on who eats the iron.

If Iron is added to the alliance of the secret kingdom and southern kingdoms, the empire will fight a difficult battle, and if it is swallowed up by the empire, the western continent will become the empire’s world.

“Isn’t there any possibility to stop like this?”

At Luffiel’s question, Kariel grinned.

“It might be possible if the Federation of Small Powers becomes a vassal of the Empire and the Southern Kingdoms stop doing what they are doing to Iron. But is that possible?”

The two princes’ complexions darkened at Kariel’s question.

“I have already crossed the irreversible river. Meeting this time is just to let the other person know what we think.”

After saying that, Kariel held the two younger brothers by the shoulders.

“So we need to finish it as soon as possible.”

“Yes.”

“yes.”

Kariel, who emphasized to her younger siblings once again, nodded her head slightly before heading to the place where the emperor’s coffin was.

After passing through the gate of the imperial palace and arriving at the plaza, he spent a day there, passing through four gates from the north gate to the cemetery where successive emperors were buried.

Whenever the emperor’s coffin moves, Kariel and the main officials move together.

Finally, the official event ends when the coffin is buried, and all funeral schedules end with lighting a fire at night for the emperor for three days.

“let’s go.”

At Kariel’s words, the coffin containing the emperor’s body was lifted up and slowly moved toward the plaza.

As the coffin at the head of the procession moved, everyone raised their black flags and bowed their heads as the procession moved accordingly.

Thousands of people lined up on both sides to make room for the procession to move.

Eventually, the coffin landed in a place prepared in advance in the plaza.

Then envoys from each country came first and laid flowers on the coffin of the emperor, followed by countless people putting flowers on the square to commemorate the death of the emperor.

When everyone was commemorating the death of the emperor, the envoys who placed flowers first came to Kariel.

“Meet Your Majesty.”

“Is it Roteon?”

“That’s right.”

“Is that Talos?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Seeing the death of the southern kingdoms, Kariel entered a secluded building and bit everyone.

“First of all, I mourn the death of His Majesty the Emperor.”

At the death god’s words, Kariel accepted the greeting while bowing her head slightly.

“Why did you come to see me?”

“I ask you to stop the war.”

When the messenger of Talos bowed his head and asked, Kariel turned his eyes to see the messenger of Roteon.

“You must be well aware of the prank the small country alliance played on the empire, right?”

“Yes, so I would like to mediate.”

Having said that, the envoy from Roteon faced the envoy from the small countries who were eagerly watching from afar.

Then Kariel saw the death of Talos.

“Did you come here for this matter too?”

“That’s right.”

“What if you stop? Do you intend to pay reparations on behalf of a small country? Or territory?”

In response to Kariel’s question, the two gods of death quietly showed what the small country alliance had prepared. It was part of the territory, a small amount of reparations, and finally a pledge to become a thoroughly neutral country.

The oath contained a promise not to take any side as a neutral country between the southern kingdom and the empire.

At the same time, the southern kingdoms also showed a document that the empire would lower taxes on imported necessities.

“I hope the empire takes a step back for peace on the continent.”

Kariel smiled when she asked them to step back since they had done this much.

Documents that look plausible.

However, if you look closely, it was the same as telling the empire to stop now.

“It’s just a small piece of land and a compensation the size of a rat… … . Will you lower tariffs on necessities there?”

Kariel laughs as if it’s absurd.

Anyway, the small country alliance will soon be destroyed, and then all the land and wealth will be owned by the empire.

In addition, as long as the Empire only ate Isar in the East, essential goods imported from the East Continent did not have to go through the Southern Kingdoms.

“Don’t refuse. If you want to stop the war, ask for more.”

“It is impossible to ask for more. If you want more than this… … .”

“If you wish? Do you want to go to war with the Empire?”

Kariel, who spoke coldly while looking at the god of death of Roteon, showed her strength.

Then, the pattern on the forehead naturally revealed.

The two death gods who saw it swallowed their saliva.

As long as the pattern of the imperial family reappeared, there was no reason for the empire to be shaken.

This is because everything moves according to Kariel’s will.

That means that what Kariel is seeing right now is the direction the Empire will go in the future.

“Are you trying to turn Roteon into an enemy?”

“You talk as if we sinned. Aren’t you the first to play around with the small country alliance? More than anything… … If you really wanted to stop the war, you shouldn’t have messed with Iron.”

As if she knew everything, Kariel smiled and said.

“You know very well that opinions will not be narrowed down anyway. Aren’t they here to confirm each other’s positions?”

“… … .”

“… … .”

“I know that you and the Holy Kingdom have made a secret agreement.”

Kariel bangs the table. he said as he descended.

“Tell your king. The Empire’s next war zone will be Iron, so let’s stick together.”

After saying that, Kariel got up from her seat.

“Thank you for coming all the way here for His Majesty. Considering that, I will stop putting pressure on you for 15 days after the funeral.”

With those words, Kariel escapes from the building and returns to the imperial palace.

“It ends up like this.”

“after… … It’s a war with the Empire… … . It won’t be easy.”

The power of a united empire has been keenly felt for hundreds of years.

That’s why all the countries of the Western Continent have been encouraging the empire to divide by pouring huge funds.

Even though the nobles of the empire knew that, they had been divisive, preoccupied with the money in front of them.

But now, the emperor who would bring the empire together had declared war against the southern kingdoms.

“I’ll have to go report it.”

“okay.”

Envoys from two countries close to each other rose from their seats to report to their kings.

Then, as if it had suddenly come to mind, the envoys of Roteon looked at the envoys of small countries.

“They are over now.”

“We have to work hard so that we don’t end up like that.”

At the words of the Reaper of Roteon, the Reaper of Talos sighed.

Roteon’s reaper nodded slightly.

In effect, the emperor’s funeral was like the last rest before the start of the war on the Western Continent.

From the moment the funeral is over, the southern kingdoms and holy kingdoms will be busy, and the empire will also slowly move its great power to the west.

* * *

“Tarion.”

“Did you call?”

“Call the ambassadors secretly.”

“Yes.”

After giving the order to Tharion, Kariel sighed and looked up at the sky.

Things turn urgent.

“Retirement might be over… … .”

After muttering that, Kariel sighed.

If he had taken a step back, he might have lived a comfortable life as an emperor. But the pride that remained in my heart wouldn’t allow it.

If you haven’t done anything wrong, why are you backing down?

“Good. Now, let’s pay back what happened in our previous life with interest.”

After muttering that, Kariel tried to repeat that it was better.

However, his tightly clenched fists were already shaking. This decision is because his retirement is infinitely far away.