A lone rocky mountain stood tall in the middle of a vast plain.
Even though its altitude was not particularly high, its presence was as imposing as any great peak.
If a stranger were to encounter this mountain for the first time, they might say the solitary rock looked lonely.
However, a citizen of Delos who knew this mountain well would never dare call it lonely. After all, the feeling of loneliness stems from a heart of compassion.
The people feared and hated the being who lived atop that rocky mountain more than anyone else. Therefore, no one could look upon the mountain with pity.
The name of the rocky mountain was Enopoi.
To the people, Enopoi was known as the Staff of Delos. Titles such as “absolute power” and “immortal authority” were often used to describe that staff.
However, that staff was now nothing more than a tool used to scourge the people.
The Staff of Delos, which had once existed to promote the development and progress of the kingdom, was now a thing of the past.
King Lonas climbed the mountain with a hardened expression as horrific sounds reached his ears.
Executions of prisoners were also carried out here, and Lonas could not bear to listen to the groans of the people.
‘I must break this cycle of evil.’
The prisoners were all nothing but skin and bones. He wondered what grave crimes they could have committed to deserve such cruel torture.
Regrettably, most of the prisoners were suffering for simple theft or unpaid taxes. Poverty led them to commit crimes, and that same poverty led them to such harsh agony.
The laws of the Elders did not apply to the wealthy. Rather, the staff protected the riches of those who already possessed them.
Although this was an era of monarchy where the King stood at the pinnacle, the Senate was a symbolic organization that had been present since the nation’s founding. It was also a body that existed to check the King’s power.
And Lonas blamed his own inadequacy for failing to stop their rampage.
Thus, the rocky mountain exuded a sense of presence today that felt as if it would never disappear.
***
The summit of the rocky mountain. The Enopoi Elders sat at a round table, looking down at the capital of Delos beyond the gallery. Across from them, Lonas stood tall in his formal attire, staring back at them.
“Your Majesty, we shall approve the amendment to the Honorary Death Reform.”
“Very well.”
Lonas replied calmly, even after hearing that chilling, eerie voice.
“Those unpleasant eyes of yours are the same as ever.”
Lonas suppressed the surge of loathing he felt toward them. The Elders also looked down at him, their eyes cold and lowered.
The words they used to address the King were polite, but their eyes told a different story.
Lonas had climbed the rocky mountain to request the amendment for the Honorary Death Reform that Dien had asked for.
He would never have come to the mountain if it weren’t for his promise to Dien. He had been avoiding this place because he hated seeing his people in pain.
‘When on earth will these bastards die?’
Since ascending the throne, Lonas had not spent a single day without wishing for their deaths. He detested the Enopoi Elders enough to grind his teeth, for they regressed the kingdom and thought only of their own interests.
Yet, these old men had not changed one bit since he saw them in his childhood—even though they had lived more than three times the average lifespan. It seemed that the flow of time had unfortunately bypassed only them.
It wasn’t simply because they lived long lives fueled by the spite directed at them.
Lonas was now beginning to doubt if the Enopoi Elders were even human.
“The Senate Hall is always dark. Why not let in some light?” Lonas muttered coldly.
The Senate Hall strangely suited their bizarre atmosphere. Lonas disliked this building, designed to block out all light, as much as he disliked the Elders.
In particular, looking at the murals painted only in red dye made him feel as if his irritation was reaching its limit.
‘What a disgusting place, perfectly suited for those wretches.’
Since these were words he could not utter aloud, he merely wore a bitter smile.
At that moment, one of the Elders seated at the round table spoke again.
“It seems the first-place entry for this year’s policy paper is too much to implement as actual policy, Your Majesty.”
“Yes, I suppose you would think so.”
It was an expected response. Dien’s paper contained points that would infringe upon their vested interests.
The Elders had rejected an excellent policy again today without a single valid reason.
“Since it has turned out this way, consider it settled.”
That was their long-standing method. Lonas clenched his fists in indignation.
However, he could not argue back right now. Though he had ascended to the throne, his power was not yet mature enough to deal with the deeply rooted, rotten Senate.
“Remember who it was that made you King, Your Majesty.”
“I remember.”
Disrespectfully, one of the Elders spoke to the silent Lonas.
Yet, Lonas remained stoic.
‘Always the same story.’
When would their power finally wane? Lonas would only be able to escape his role as a figurehead King once they were dead.
“I remember indeed.”
Contrary to his calm words, Lonas’s expression was quite fierce.
‘I can’t just keep waiting. Since you won’t die on your own, I’ll have no choice but to kill you with my own hands.’
Lonas was certain. These old men would not die until he, and even his son, had passed away. And just as they did to him, they would try to manipulate future kings.
Lonas wanted the people to live in a world that was at least somewhat fair and just.
That was why he absolutely had to kill the Enopoi Elders with his own hands.
“Your Majesty. We trust you will make a wise decision.”
Did they sense Lonas’s inner thoughts? The Elders at the round table began to mutter in an unknown language while looking toward a staircase in a corner.
At the same time, Lonas’s face began to stiffen.
Pairs of red eyes began to appear one by one within the darkness of the hall, staring at Lonas.
“It’s them.”
Lonas swallowed hard at the energy emanating from those red eyes. It was an aura that made even him, a Sword Master, feel as if he couldn’t breathe. He had never felt this much pressure even when sparring with another Sword Master.
Lonas felt a vague fear toward those beings, whom he had never actually faced. He was certain that those creatures, the servants of the Elders, possessed power at least equal to his own.
“…Do not worry about such things.”
Lonas replied while avoiding the ominous red eyes. Just as he always had.
“Safe travels, Your Majesty.”
With those final words, the Elders looked away from Lonas. The red eyes flashing in the darkness also began to vanish.
‘I’m backing down today, but just you wait…’
Lonas etched the vow he made every time he descended the rocky mountain into his heart once more.
***
The mansion of the Cherbil family only revealed its form after one passed through a massive gate and traveled for a long time by carriage.
The family’s grounds were enormous enough to include everything from a training hall to an armory and barracks for the knights’ order, with every facility being perfect.
“We have guests coming today.”
“Pardon?”
After the Cherbil family’s breakfast, Persian spoke to his gathered family.
“Suddenly? Who are you talking about?”
“Is it Uncle Talmon?”
At Persian’s words, Dorothy mentioned Talmon, the Captain of the Royal Guard, who frequented the Cherbil household as if it were his own home.
“No, someone else.”
Persian tried his best to hide the widening smile on his lips. At his words, Zalz and Dorothy wore curious expressions.
Who could it be to make him look like that? Seeing that smile, the family’s curiosity grew even further.
“Who is it that you’re teasing us like this?”
Zalz had been feeling that Persian’s personality and atmosphere had changed significantly lately. Not knowing that the change stemmed from Dien, Zalz was simply curious about when this change had begun.
“The father and son of the Portran family are coming. They should be arriving at the estate soon.”
“The Portran family?”
“Yes, Baron Oren and Dien.”
“Ehh? Sir Dien?!”
“Really? Hahaha, that’s great!”
Zalz and Dorothy both reacted with shock, though for different reasons.
“Father! If Dien comes, I should show him the Cherbil training hall first. Dien is very interested in swordsmanship as well!”
Zalz was simply delighted by Persian’s words.
“Father! You should have told me that in advance! Argh! Really!”
Dorothy seemed flustered by Persian’s words and hurriedly left her seat.
“Where are you going? Dien will be here soon.”
“I have things to do!”
After checking her face in a hand mirror, Dorothy tied her hair back tightly and ran to her room.
“What’s wrong with her?”
“Hohoho, that girl.”
Unlike Zalz, Persian had expected Dorothy’s reaction and couldn’t hold back his laughter. As Persian stretched and waited for the Portran pair, a servant approached him.
“Baron Oren and Young Lord Dien have passed through the gate.”
“Hohoho, they should arrive in 10 minutes then.”
It took 10 minutes by carriage from the main gate to the mansion. At the servant’s words, Persian gazed intently toward the edge of the sprawling garden.
***
“This is incredible.”
“Hahaha, are you envious?”
“Not exactly. It was just an exclamation that came out because I realized the sheer wealth of the Cherbil family.”
Dien and Oren were conversing as they passed through the gates of the Cherbil estate.
“Dien, the Cherbil family will prosper even more in the future.”
“Why is that?”
“When you are in a high position, you can see and hear more things.”
Dien pondered the hidden meaning in Oren’s words. Like most administrative official families, the Cherbil family possessed no territory. However, the nobles of Delos called the Cherbil family the wealthiest in the kingdom. The reason was likely the intelligence they could obtain from the position of Chancellor.
Not long ago, the Cherbil family had bought up beaver pelts from all over Delos under the leadership of Persian’s wife, Stella. It was because beaver hats—the so-called “beaver hat trend”—were very popular among the imperial nobility.
And as a natural progression, the beaver hat craze hit Delos as well. As if they had been waiting, the Cherbil family released the beaver hats to noble society and reaped enormous profits.
It was a result of the preemption of information.
“Dien, don’t you want to become wealthy as well?”
“No, I am satisfied with the salary I receive.”
“Hahahaha, is that so?”
Just as he told Oren, Dien had no dream of becoming wealthy. The life he had already been given was more than enough.
Dien was satisfied as long as he had a warm home and a workplace where he was needed. Those were the things he had wished for in his previous life.
‘Dien won’t decide on a marriage just by looking at the wealth of the Cherbil family.’
Oren thought as he looked at Dien. They were visiting the Cherbil estate at Persian’s invitation. Oren had a vague inkling that Persian would bring up the topic of marriage today.
‘I’ve been avoiding it well… but I suppose I can’t help it now.’
Oren looked at Dien out of the corner of his eye. He had no intention of forcing a marriage that Dien disliked. While he was lost in various thoughts…
“Father, can I ask you something I’m curious about?”
“What is it?”
“Why does His Majesty leave those people alone?”
Dien looked at the scenery outside the carriage. He could see the Enopoi mountain in the distance.
“You’ve already started to notice them.”
Oren also gazed intently at the Enopoi mountain that Dien was looking at.