4. Summons

[The succession of the Macfeyden Empire remains uncertain due to the Prince’s lack of qualifications. The power protecting the Empire gradually weakens. A crisis will come to the Empire.]

This rumor had been spreading at an incredibly fast pace recently. Starting somewhere in the Imperial Capital, this rumor spread like wildfire across the country, passing from mouth to mouth regardless of noble or commoner status.

In this state, unsettling news that the Southern Allied Nations had begun gathering troops in the border region also started to spread.

“Is that news true? They say there might be war?”

“That’s what they’re saying. During the previous generation, they would tuck their tails just hearing our country’s name, but now look at this.”

“Is it really because the power protecting our Empire has weakened? Haven’t you heard that rumor? The Prince…”

“Ah, I heard too. They say he’s already replaced Hebeta five times? But still can’t secure the succession?”

“I heard it’s more than ten times!”

“Ah, some people are saying that pillar of light was actually warning of this Empire’s crisis!”

“What? Really? Not a new Oathkeeper?”

“What if war really breaks out?”

“This is serious. I hope my son won’t be drafted…”

People began believing the rumors as truth and started genuinely worrying about the Empire’s future. The rumors grew and transformed as they passed from mouth to mouth, eventually reaching the Imperial Palace.

“What?! How dare they wag their filthy tongues about the Imperial family! What were you doing while such false rumors spread like this, you bastard!”

The Prince raged furiously.

Crack! Something he grabbed and threw hit his aide’s forehead and fell.

“I-I’m sorry.”

“This is treason! Someone must have deliberately spread this!”

The Prince, not thinking for a moment that his qualifications might be lacking, naturally thought someone had maliciously created and spread these rumors.

And that was nothing short of treason.

“Bring that traitor before me immediately!”

“We’ve already investigated but…”

“You did? Did you catch them? Where are they? The underground prison?”

The Prince urged for an answer, expecting they would have already caught the culprit.

“Well… we couldn’t find them.”

“What?”

“We traced the origin to the slums, but given the area’s nature where people come and go without records…”

“So you couldn’t find them?!”

“…Yes. I apologize.”

“You incompetent bastard, you call this news?!”

“Ugh!”

Finally, the Prince struck out. Though the aide was also a noble, he couldn’t help feeling humiliated every time he was hit like this, Prince or not.

“Traitors, you say, what nonsense about slums!”

In the Prince’s perception, the poor were closer to beasts than humans. Since the poor couldn’t possibly accomplish something as difficult as treason, the aide’s investigation must be wrong.

“The culprit is among the nobles! Find them immediately. If you can’t find the source, arrest everyone who spread it. They’ll talk under t*rture.”

“What? There will be strong resistance…”

“Is resistance the issue here? When we need to catch traitors causing chaos in the Empire?”

Are you willing to die instead? With such a gaze, the aide bowed his head, avoiding the Prince’s stare.

“Yes…”

Clutching his torn forehead that had begun bleeding, the aide hurriedly left the Prince’s room.

“How dare these vermin question my qualifications!?”

The Prince vented his undiminished anger on a servant. The servant, beaten unconscious without knowing why, was dragged out by a knight guard.

“I am the Empire’s only prince!”

Throwing tantrums also consumes considerable mental and physical energy.

After some time, the intensity of his rampage naturally decreased.

Around then, a knock sounded at the door.

“Your Highness. It’s Beth.”

The Prince just kept panting and didn’t answer.

“I’m opening the door and coming in.”

Elizabeth entered with a gentle expression.

“Oh my, the room is in chaos. How could the servants be so lazy to risk Your Highness’s precious feet getting hurt?”

She approached the Prince, speaking as if the room’s mess was due to poor service rather than the Prince’s actions.

“Your Highness, it would be better to go to my room. I’ll have the servants make Your Highness’s room suitable again in the meantime.”

Elizabeth gently placed her hand on the Prince’s arm and spoke in an even gentler voice to soothe him.

“I heard you received unpleasant news today? I was so upset when I heard that too. Isn’t this just the malicious scheme of those trying to discredit Your magnificent Highness?”

“Ha!”

“Who doesn’t know that Your Highness is the only Prince of the Macfeyden Empire and will be the successor? They just want to disturb Your Highness’s peace of mind.”

The Prince’s brow furrowed again, still upset at the thought.

“Besides, Your Highness has the ability to silence all these rumors at once.”

Elizabeth looked up at him with a voice soft enough to melt, speaking.

“What?”

“Give me Your seed. Plant Your strong seed in me.”

Elizabeth smiled while sensually touching the Prince’s chest.

“Right. Once proof of succession appears, they’ll all shut up!”

“Of course. You’re the only one who can be this country’s master, Your Highness.”

“You’re the only one who understands my feelings.”

“Hoho. Am I not Your Highness’s companion? It’s natural.”

Elizabeth led the Prince to her room.

“Receive my seed and get pregnant quickly.”

“Ah– Your Highness!”

Once again, the Hebeta’s palace fell into pleasure even in broad daylight.

‘What if this Hebeta can’t bear proof of succession either? I’m worried. We need to quickly summon that Oathkeeper or a direct female descendant of the Oathkeeper to the Imperial Capital. After that…’

‘What happens if I can’t get pregnant? I need insurance for unexpected situations, but what would be good…’

However, their minds were thinking different thoughts about their own interests, separate from their bodies.

* * *

A summons fell from the Imperial Palace.

With the Emperor’s seal stamped on it, it became an imperial edict and began to be announced nationwide.

[Macfeyden Year 985.

An auspicious light signifying a new covenant illuminated the northeastern sky…

…omitted…

The Oathkeeper shall promptly enter the Imperial Capital to receive a title and swear to use that power for the Empire.

Furthermore, Duke Kramer, master of the Northeast Territory, is commanded to safely guide the precious Oathkeeper to the Imperial Palace.

Under the Duke’s guidance, the Oathkeeper shall enter the Imperial Capital by the end of next month.

The Imperial Palace will prepare a grand banquet to celebrate the birth of a new Oathkeeper who will participate in the Empire’s bright future.

…end…]

And that edict also came down to Castle Cream where Saena and Constantine stayed.

“By the end of next month…”

Saena frowned slightly while reading it.

“About two weeks remain.”

He continued her sentence.

“How are we supposed to get from the Northeast Territory to Phaesle in two weeks?”

The Empire’s territory was vast, befitting an empire.

Yet they wanted them to come from Kramer Territory at the northeastern end to Phaesle, the Imperial Capital, within two weeks?

“They mean to use the warp gate to come immediately upon finding the Oathkeeper.”

Right. That could only mean ordering Duke Kramer to open the warp gate and personally escort them. Apparently, both finding the Oathkeeper and safely bringing them to the Imperial Palace were all dumped on Constantine.

“It must be the Prince.”

“Probably.”

Though the Emperor’s seal was clearly stamped on the summons, it likely wasn’t stamped by the Emperor himself. No doubt the Prince had persuaded the Empress.

“Do they know I’m the Oathkeeper?”

“Probably not.”

“Then why…”

“Various powers have been working tremendously behind the scenes to discover the Oathkeeper’s identity first.”

“…Really?”

“Yes. But no one has succeeded yet.”

“Then why did such an urgent summons come down?”

The content seemed deliberately aimed at Constantine. Naturally, such questions arose along with worry.

“Rather, it proves they couldn’t find out anything at all. They must have gotten desperate when digging yielded nothing.”

“You did something, didn’t you?”

“Well, yes…”

Constantine answered with a reassuring smile.

“They probably realized something was being blocked from this side. So they openly pushed it to us.”

“Ah…”

“A new Oathkeeper after 500 years is certainly a momentous event.”

Constantine didn’t mention what could have happened if she had been a commoner or lower noble.

Since it wouldn’t happen anyway.

Saena had focused on reuniting with Yuri and repairing her relationship with Constantine, not thinking about her position in political and external matters.

“Once it’s revealed, things will get very busy around us.”

“I see…”

Now that he mentioned it, that was true. Come to think of it, the situation was serious enough that it seemed strange she hadn’t thought of it until now.

“We can’t keep it hidden forever, but we need preparations on our side too.”

“By preparations, you mean…”

“Since it came up, shall we go make those preparations?”

Constantine stood and extended his hand to her.

* * *

‘I must have more to learn.’

When he led her toward the office, Saena naturally thought so.

“Oh! Ohhhh–?!”

But what’s this?

Saena’s eyes gradually grew round, and her mouth fell wide open.

There was a secret space hidden in what she thought was just an office. As he pushed Guardian Spirit power into the jewel embedded in the center of the decoration carved on top of the bookshelf, the bookshelf began to turn, and Saena couldn’t hide her amazement.

“My goodness.”