Chapter 5

The Emperor’s death was announced to the empire.

The imperial citizens wore black clothes and gathered in front of the imperial palace, wailing for days. The nobles decorated their gates with black ribbons and white chrysanthemums as a sign of mourning. The social circles also froze under the black shadow cast over the empire.

The Emperor’s funeral was held somewhat modestly considering the wartime situation, despite his fame and glory. Everything was prepared by Duke Genoa Ivanstein, who was gaining the upper hand in the war against Reibritton, which would become the driving force for the empire’s new direction.

The nobles laid flowers in front of the Emperor’s coffin and turned away with gloomy faces, whispering among themselves.

“I heard the Duke rejected other foreign envoys citing the war as a reason?”

“The Emperor’s death by overindulgence. Isn’t it better to pass it quietly within the empire like this before it becomes known?”

“But still, it’s the Emperor’s funeral……”

“Have you forgotten we’re still at war? Who knows what might happen if we seize this opportunity. We should praise Ivanstein’s wisdom.”

There was much talk about the Emperor’s funeral, attended only by the empire’s nobles. No matter how embarrassing a monarch he might have been, the status of the Raon Empire was the honor of the nobility. The fact that the Emperor’s funeral was held so modestly was itself a blow to their pride.

Yet, no more words came out because of Duke Ivanstein.

“Everyone should understand that Duke Ivanstein becomes sensitive until the empire’s master is decided.”

“Of course……”

They looked at the man standing like a statue with an expressionless face next to the Emperor’s coffin. Since the start of the Emperor’s funeral, he had kept his mouth shut except for words necessary for the procedure.

The Emperor’s beautiful hunting dog. Duke Ivanstein. That man’s heavily sunken expression represented the solemnity of the funeral.

Since the empire’s master had not yet been decided, the nobles and the wealthy stood at a crossroads of choice. Who would lead the empire between the First and Second Princes? It was clear that which prince this imperial hunting dog would support would have a significant influence.

“What will happen to Reibritton?”

The aftermath of the war, which couldn’t be neatly concluded due to the Emperor’s death, became a topic of discussion. These days, Reibritton was the main concern of the Raon Empire’s nobles.

“There’s not enough justification, so what can we do? We have to let it go.”

“Ahem. But would Duke Ivanstein easily do that?”

“Almost all kingdoms and duchies are watching our Raon Empire. Would Duke Ivanstein dare to take on this dishonor?”

“If you think about our imperial army sacrificed in this war, other countries will understand too.”

“Understand what? They’ll see us as greedy as the late Emperor.”

The voices of the nobles exchanging opinions gradually rose. In the face of their nature craving honor and profit, etiquette and dignity were momentarily blurred.

“Ahem.”

At that moment, a small cough was heard from between the lips of Duke Ivanstein, who had been quietly presiding over the funeral. His cool gaze overwhelmed the crowd, pressing down heavily.

“……”

“……”

A silence resembling death fell over the scene where there had been some commotion. The nobles stared intently at the Emperor’s coffin without even a common cough. Only then did Duke Ivanstein’s gaze withdraw.

“Duke Ivanstein is as beautiful as ever today……”

“He must have just returned from the battlefield, but he’s still the same.”

“If only he would look this way once.”

“I might faint if our eyes met even once?”

Young ladies blushed and whispered about him. Their attitude was clearly different from the other nobles who had been frightened just moments ago. With the beautiful Duke standing there alone so loftily. What woman wouldn’t fall into sweet fantasies about him?

“If we can’t even speak a word before the funeral ends, the next chance will be at the coronation!”

Indeed, Genoa Ivanstein rarely showed himself in social circles. So much so that in social circles, it was said that while they knew Duke Ivanstein existed, he was like a god because he couldn’t be seen. The urgency of the ladies who couldn’t miss even this opportunity was indescribable.

“…and so may the great leader of our Raon Empire fold his wings and rest peacefully in God’s embrace.”

While the ladies were stomping their feet impatiently, the Archbishop’s blessing ended. With the Archbishop infusing holy power into the Emperor’s coffin to bless the repose of death, the funeral was now in its final stages.

The nobles came out one by one again to kiss the Emperor’s coffin, then returned to their seats after giving eye greetings to Duke Ivanstein. This was the moment the ladies had been longing for. But their turn never came. Because the First Prince of the Raon Empire, Rihast Raon, approached Ivanstein first.

“The Duke’s face looks quite good.”

He appeared with his magnificent golden hair, a spitting image of the dead Emperor, cut short. Despite wearing all black mourning clothes, he didn’t look plain at all due to him flaunting his gorgeous features.

“Is that so.”

For the first time, the lips of Duke Ivanstein, who had been keeping his mouth firmly shut throughout, curved up in a pleasing arc.

There’s a story in ancient classic mythology. A story of a sculptor who loved a statue and wished to a goddess to make it human. When the statue, an inanimate object, began to breathe and transform into a human, that scene was said to be incredibly beautiful. Those who were watching Duke Ivanstein could now experience that moment when the protagonist of that story fell in love.

“Thanks to Your Highness’s concern, I was able to overcome my sorrow and stand here.”

“Yes, how could I not know that you were the one who worked hardest after my imperial father passed away like that.”

“Your Highness’s pain of losing your imperial father must be even more severe.”

“What a truly kind word.”

Duke Ivanstein’s face, as he conversed amicably with the First Prince, wore a smile rarely seen.

This was why Duke Ivanstein was called the Emperor’s beautiful hunting dog. He never becomes this kind to anyone who isn’t from the imperial family. All the past Dukes of Ivanstein were the same. Hence, the nobles came to call the Ivanstein ducal family hunting dogs that only wag their tails for their masters.

“By the way, how’s your body? Didn’t you get injured during the war?”

“I’m fine.”

“How could that be? With Duke Ivanstein’s kind nature, the war must have been really tough.”

“It was bearable.”

The conversation between the First Prince Rihast and Duke Ivanstein seemed friendly at first listen. But there was no one here who didn’t notice the subtle undercurrent flowing between the two.

The topic Rihast wanted to discuss was the war. He was trying hard to bring up the subject of Reibritton, which they hadn’t fully subjugated. But as Duke Ivanstein smoothly deflected it, Rihast’s brow was gradually furrowing.

The Reibritton war was a crucial matter that would determine the future of the empire. Just showing the scene of discussing this crucial matter with Duke Ivanstein at the Emperor’s funeral, where all the nobles were gathered, could stir the hearts of the nobles.

But Duke Ivanstein, uncharacteristically, wasn’t allowing it. Rihast’s heart naturally grew anxious.

“Please stop bothering Duke Ivanstein, Brother. How can you keep such a busy person like this?”

At that moment, the Second Prince Rudrich Raon, who had finished talking with the Archbishop, approached with an expressionless, sunken face. Tall and broad-shouldered, he looked more like a knight than a prince. His difference from Rihast was that his golden hair was slightly curly, covering his ears, and his features were more masculine and rugged.

“……What did I do to bother people so much again.”

As the Second Prince Rudrich appeared, Rihast furrowed his brow and stepped back. Looking relatively weak in front of his three-year younger brother was the First Prince’s complex. So he tried to avoid standing side by side with Ludrih as much as possible.

“I greet Your Highness, the Second Prince.”

Duke Ivanstein didn’t bother to deny Rudrich’s words and gently bowed his head. Rudrich approached the Duke and spoke in a cold voice.

“Why are you here when you should be dealing with the matters left by my imperial father?”

“Ah, of course. But how could I, as a subject, not attend His Majesty’s funeral?”

“Doesn’t Duke Ivanstein find peace anywhere as long as he’s covered in blood? If you keep swinging your sword on the battlefield as usual, you’ll soon forget the sorrow of losing my imperial father.”