Chapter 7: The Emperor’s Gift

I immediately boarded the carriage and headed for the Imperial Palace.

Really don’t want to go.

I was just starting to adapt to this world.

But suddenly, what is this audience with the Emperor?

“Aren’t royals supposed to be distant from each other?”

As I grumbled to myself, Miller Xavierre, the steward, spoke up.

“Normally, there would hardly be any reason to meet, but you’ve caused two major incidents, haven’t you?”

“What did I do?”

“You imprisoned one for the crime of insulting imperial authority, and then there was the territorial dispute case…”

“Ah, please refrain from assaulting me with facts.”

“Yes?”

Leaving the steward’s bewildered expression behind, I fell into thought.

It was to review the palace etiquette.

It’s best to avoid giving anyone a reason to find fault.

In the midst of that, the carriage slowly came to a stop.

Since the mansion wasn’t far, the journey was quick.

Hope I don’t make any mistakes.

Hiding my worried expression, I stepped forward.

Then, Steward Xavierre bowed politely and said,

“I wish you good fortune.”

“It’s not like I’m going off to war; why such a farewell?”

“It will probably be similar.”

“Yes?”

“Remember this. The Imperial Palace is a battlefield.”

For a moment, a sharp glint flashed in the steward’s eyes.

Seeing that made me feel even more tense.

“Ah, there’s one thing I forgot to mention. Shall I say it later?”

“What is it?”

“We’re short on manpower.”

“Aren’t we recruiting laborers? Wouldn’t 100 be enough?”

“Your Grace the Duke, could you please look at my face?”

I had felt it earlier, but his complexion was different from usual.

There were dark circles under his eyes, and he looked overall gaunt.

It must be because I’ve been overworking him lately…

“Aha! You mean we’re short on management personnel?”

“That’s right. As expected, you understand immediately.”

“Then recruit some reliable people. Three or four should suffice.”

“Hehe! Thank you.”

Miller Xavierre smiled with a satisfied expression.

Laborers’ wages weren’t much anyway.

But to entrust estate management, they needed to be at least somewhat educated.

In this era, most who were even slightly learned were nobles.

It would inevitably cost a fair amount of money.

So what? It’s not like I’m throwing parties every day.

I didn’t spend much, so there was no worry about bankruptcy.

“I’ll wait over there, so please return quickly.”

It seemed to be a separate building where guests’ attendants stayed.

After roughly nodding, I headed into the inner palace.

Immediately, knights attached themselves and offered to guide me.

“Your Grace the Duke, from here on, we will escort you. This way, please.”

“Yes.”

Following them, a magnificently decorated garden appeared.

It was on a completely different scale from the one at my mansion.

They’re overwhelming with atmosphere right from the start.

Extravagantly splendid yet elegantly refined.

No matter where you went, you wouldn’t find a garden this impressive.

Everyone who walked this path would probably meet the Emperor in a daze.

As if I’d submit to something like this?

I clenched my teeth and walked straight ahead, eyes forward.

How much time had passed?

Finally arriving at the destination, the knights stepped back.

“From here, you must go alone.”

“Thank you for your efforts.”

“Then, have a peaceful time.”

I grasped the door handle in front of me with both hands.

Then, with a serious face, I pushed it open forcefully.

CREAK!

“I greet His Majesty the Emperor!”

When meeting a superior, a powerful voice and disciplined movements are the best, aren’t they?

Entering with vigor, I immediately offered my greeting.

Precisely in accordance with palace etiquette.

Yet, an inexplicably stifling silence followed.

What’s this? Why no response?

With a puzzled expression, I raised my head.

Then, a middle-aged man smiling broadly came into view.

However, the atmosphere felt like a blizzard had struck.

His mouth was curved up high, but his eyes were utterly cold.

That man was likely Emperor Karon.

“It’s been a long time, Abel.”

“Have you been in good health?”

“Thanks to you steadfastly guarding the north, the entire empire has been at peace. Naturally, I am as well.”

“You flatter me, Your Majesty.”

In truth, I hadn’t done anything.

It was all the achievements of the original Abel in this body.

Perhaps that’s why a nonchalant response came naturally.

“By the way, you’ve mentioned me quite often?”

“I merely set an example for those who speak falsehoods.”

“Not that. The territorial dispute.”

Finally, what was coming had come.

Seeming to have a straightforward personality, the Emperor cut straight to the point.

An ordinary royal would circle around with tea or a banquet.

Eyes that seemed to pierce deep into one’s heart.

This is the first time I’ve met someone this intense.

Is this what it feels like to have a powerful presence itself?

He didn’t seem to have reached some high realm or anything.

If I showed even a slight weakness, it felt like he’d bite immediately.

I couldn’t even think of opening the profile hologram.

That was how overwhelmed I was by his aura.

I opened my mouth as calmly as possible.

Trying to create an escape route somehow.

“I merely handled it according to the law.”

“Puhuhu! What law is that full of holes. I know. What intentions you had in making such a judgment.”

Honestly, it stung a bit.

I had just sold the Emperor’s authority because I couldn’t see an answer.

There was no particular intent.

But he saw through that?

The Emperor felt more and more like a monster.

But the following words were quite different from my expectations.

“Are you still dissatisfied with the imperial family?”

No  No, what is this now.

When did I ever?

Ah! He’s talking about the past?

As royalty, there must have been opportunities to exchange words with the Emperor.

It seems relations were not good back then.

“The imperial authority has already been rightly established, so there’s no need to worry. Haven’t I taken the throne?”

Only after hearing Emperor Karon’s last words did I grasp the situation.

There must have been a time when the imperial family’s power was weak.

He thinks I generously donated the land to the imperial family to lend it strength?

This made things a bit easier.

At least the Emperor viewed me favorably.

There probably wouldn’t be major repercussions.

However, the next moment, a completely unexpected statement burst out.

“So, the land you gained this time—take it for yourself.”

“Such grace is overwhelming…

Yes?”

“There’s no way you didn’t understand. Are you defying my command?”

“No, how could that be? I must follow with utmost loyalty.”

I nodded vigorously for now.

But at the same time, I wondered if this was right.

Then what does that make me?

A judge turned the disputed area into imperial demesne.

Yet the Emperor transfers it back to that very judge?

What kind of insane deal is this.

Anyone would see it as royals colluding!

For a brief moment of incredulous eyes, I forcibly hid my inner thoughts.

Only then did Emperor Karon nod with a satisfied expression.

“Yes. That’s right. It’s whose command; how dare there be opposition.”

“Your words are most just.”

“Manage it well. I hear it’s good land for farming.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Soon, the Emperor waved his hand casually.

Business was done; now get out.

I quickly scurried out of the chamber.

Once outside, it felt like my chest opened up.

I hadn’t even breathed properly until now.

“Phew! Glad there was no big trouble.”

I had feared that monster-like man might discover my true identity.

Of course, there was no way he’d detect that souls had switched.

Though we were both royals, we had little interaction.

He was direct lineage, I was collateral.

Anyway, it felt like I could live a bit.

But recalling what just happened complicated my mind.

Wait, isn’t that area a real headache?

***

Returning to the mansion, I spread out a map and let out deep sighs.

Steward Miller Xavierre also wore a troubled expression.

“Unfortunately, it connects to the Carius ducal territory. This makes it seem like you planned from the start to swallow noble faction land…”

“I know, so stop talking.”

“Yes.”

I couldn’t precisely know the Emperor’s intentions, but one thing was certain.

He was trying to screw me over indirectly.

If not, it was just a spiteful prank.

Why give me such troublesome land to make things difficult. I turned it to the imperial family precisely because I hate headaches.

It seems my intentions were seen through.

How else could he pinpoint and trouble me like this.

“But we can’t just leave it unattended. His Majesty didn’t exempt the taxes, after all.”

“We’ll have no choice but to start some business, but will both sides stay quiet?”

“Count Brayden’s side will probably be moderate.”

“The Sierre noble faction again, that’s the problem.”

When did it all go wrong?

I really regretted messing with Baron Parbiant for nothing.

No matter how much I tried to uphold justice…

No? Even if I went back, I’d make the same judgment.

Anyone could see that guy was in the wrong.

And wage arrears, of all things!

Where is there a madman who does such a thing.

Perhaps because I was once on the receiving end of a salary, the empathy was excessive.

I glared at the map with burning eyes.

How to develop that disputed area without backlash?

“If we build a farm as originally planned, what then?”

“Interference would be severe. Frost is basic; they’d ruin the fields too.”

“Security deployment costs would exceed the yield.”

“Interference would likely happen at night, after all.”

A farm was definitely out.

In fact, my current lands were sufficient for crop cultivation.

Considerable time passed, but no answer came.

Moreover, Steward Xavierre couldn’t devote much time.

He had an enormous amount of work.

We needed to recruit management personnel urgently.

“I’ll take my leave now.”

“Yes, please push hard just for a while.”

“A few days are no problem. Haha!”

The steward retreated with a forced smile.

I couldn’t help feeling sorry.

I’d been buried in work quite a bit myself.

It would be good to divide the tasks soon. Wait…

A sudden idea.

Division of labor was essential for efficiency.

It was the same in my part-time jobs, office work, and police life.

If done haphazardly, even doable things fail.

That’s why I made the duty roster right upon arriving.

Farming was hard to divide, so I clearly separated rest days.

Sufficient stamina is needed for good work.

But a factory is different.

And it’s a smaller area to guard than a farm?

It was a good idea.

If I built walls like a fortress, no need to worry about sabotage.

Decision made, I immediately set out for market research.

To find what goods had the highest demand.

Of course, excluding food.

“Cloth?”

A natural result.

It’s one of the essentials of human life: clothing, food, shelter.

Moreover, demand was high, but supply was lacking.

It seemed because it required so much labor.

But can I do it well?

I’d done sewing machine part-time work.

I could handle a sewing machine quite well, but what use was that.

This was a medieval fantasy world without a single machine.

But I had no intention of giving up.

“Anyway, there’s plenty of labor.”

We could do it by handcraft.