7. Back to the Imperial Capital (3)

The atmosphere in the Imperial Capital felt strange.

The tension continued to build as days passed where something new seemed about to happen regarding the existence of the new Oathkeeper.

In the midst of this, the proof ceremony was canceled.

Though they succeeded in bringing the Oathkeeper to the capital in haste, they failed to think about what would come after—it was the Crown Prince’s mistake.

No, it would be more accurate to say that considering the current situation, they thought they could handle it somehow but it wasn’t so simple.

The most important part of the proof ceremony was recognition from existing Oathkeepers.

Naturally, this meant the Emperor’s approval, followed by the official approval of the four dukes.

The Crown Prince wasn’t unaware of this.

However, being in a hurry, he had planned to first get individual approvals from the four dukes to hold an informal proof ceremony, then later hold a formal ceremony with proper titles after he became Emperor.

And he tried to persuade the Dukes accordingly.

But what do you know.

Should he call it coincidental?

As if the Southern Kingdoms had collectively taken some medicine, they began acting up without knowing their place.

Due to the suspicious movements of the southern allied forces, both Duke Rosedale in the southeast and Duke Francis in the southwest refused the summons to the capital.

To be precise, rather than refusing, they sent word that they couldn’t leave their territories immediately, but to the Crown Prince, it amounted to the same thing.

“D*mn it!”

Nothing was going his way.

Not only could he do nothing with just the remaining two dukes, but one of them was Duke Kramer, so it would be fortunate if he didn’t interfere.

‘How on earth can I meet the Oathkeeper?’

First, the challenge was persuading them to attend without knowing their identity. 

Even if they did show up, the issue of identifying them persisted.

‘But there must be a way.’

The Crown Prince pondered deeply.

Think, think. You’re going to be Emperor. Think…

If it were an imperial command, they would have no choice but to attend, but the situation was regrettable.

Why did Father have to fall ill so early? How much better it would have been if he had fallen ill after his son had safely completed the succession. Then he could have inherited the throne right away.

Given the situation… Wait a moment.

‘Why not?’

He could just use an imperial command.

The news of the Emperor being ill conversely meant that no one could verify its authenticity.

‘Yes. Even if Father were healthy, he surely would have ordered this.’

The Crown Prince’s expression brightened.

He jumped up and headed toward the Empress’s palace.

* * *

After finishing various matters in Delvon, Saena and Constantine returned to the Imperial Capital. As soon as they returned, an imperial messenger crossed the front gate of the Kramer townhouse.

The messenger’s distinctive attire and banner following imperial protocol made for an eye-catching appearance, allowing the central noble families to quickly realize that something bearing the Emperor’s seal had been delivered to the House of Kramer.

They eagerly speculated and guessed.

It must be a congratulatory letter for the new covenant. No, it must be about titles, and so on.

Meanwhile, the imperial banquet schedule was announced.

The nobles who had been keeping their ears open for new information brightened.

Those who had been on edge, finding the imperial movements strangely quiet compared to the bold summons regarding the Oathkeeper, began to feel expectant, saying the time had finally come.

“Let the new Oathkeeper come forth and receive His Majesty’s letter!”

The messenger solemnly called out at the portico of the Kramer mansion.

The accompanying band blew their horns. To the majestic tone, the messenger opened an elegant-looking box. Inside, laid on velvet cloth, was a letter on high-quality sky-blue paper bearing the green seal representing the imperial family’s Guardian Spirit.

“We greet the imperial messenger.”

However, it was Duke Kramer who came out to meet the Emperor’s messenger. His very fierce expression was an additional option.

The messenger felt a chill run through his body but cleared his throat with effort.

“…As this is His Majesty’s personal letter, the recipient must receive it directly.”

“Per-sonal let-ter?”

Constantine raised one eyebrow as he looked at the messenger. Even as he drew out his words as if questioning whether it was really a personal letter, no one dared rebuke him for being disrespectful.

“Y-yes, it is.”

Though it was natural to use formal speech to a Duke when coming as the Emperor’s messenger, the messenger felt very uncomfortable doing so.

“I shall receive it.”

Despite it being called a personal letter, the Duke showed no concern.

“B-but directly…”

“I will take responsibility.”

“……”

“The Oathkeeper has said they don’t wish to show their face before the proof ceremony. Please convey that we ask for understanding. Don’t worry, I will deliver the letter to the Oathkeeper immediately.”

“……”

Though it seemed he would get scolded by the Crown Prince if he returned like this, there was no choice.

It wasn’t comfortable being before the Duke either. The creeping chill made him feel like his head might fly off at any moment, making it difficult to hold out any longer.

“Then at least tell me the answer. They wanted a reply right away.”

“His Majesty did?”

The Duke stared at him intently as he asked again.

“Y-yes indeed.”

“Hmm… Very well.”

Though it was clearly a staged play, Duke Kramer turned around with an attitude of ‘well, if you insist.’

“I will bring back the reply soon. Please wait with some tea.”

“…Understood.”

“Show the messenger to the reception room.”

After leaving instructions with the head butler, the Duke went inside the building.

Unlike the Duke’s disrespectful attitude, the butler’s manner was extremely courteous, but somehow it felt equally uncomfortable. The messenger drank his tea, unsure why he felt that disconnect.

Meanwhile, Saena opened the letter Constantine handed her with a letter opener.

“What does it say?”

“…It’s an imperial command.”

“Not just a personal letter but an imperial command?”

“Right. But with the Emperor’s seal so clearly stamped here, we must consider it an imperial command.”

Constantine pressed his temples and sighed lightly.

“It says I must attend the imperial banquet.”

“An imperial banquet without even going through the proof ceremony…”

“I wonder why they insist on attendance when they don’t even know what I look like?”

“If it were really His Majesty, he could find out even without knowing your face.”

Since Oathkeepers can detect each other, that would make sense.

“If it were His Majesty, yes.”

But His Majesty would currently be close to a comatose state, right? Meaning he wouldn’t be in any condition to make judgments with awareness and stamp seals.

It’s an unspoken truth that the Emperor’s seal is with Her Majesty the Empress.

So this must be the Crown Prince’s intention.

“He must have some way to find out, to act like this.”

And Constantine could think of only one method.

‘That is…’

“Whatever it is, it’s clear the intention isn’t good.”

“Probably, no, definitely… that’s right.”

While Constantine was lost in thought, Saena wrote a brief reply.

In any case, the Emperor’s seal was real, and accordingly, Saena had only one possible answer. She put the letter containing an acknowledgment in an envelope and sealed it with wax. As she couldn’t reveal her identity, she didn’t stamp a seal.

They would think about countermeasures later.

Constantine took the reply and headed to the reception room.

The messenger got goosebumps again upon facing the Duke and hurried back to the palace as soon as he received the reply.

* * *

A letter too brief to be properly called a reply to the Emperor’s personal letter.

Though someone not properly educated in letter writing might write like that, the Crown Prince focused on the handwriting.

‘Such elegant handwriting couldn’t belong to a commoner.’

Though they might have written briefly to pretend to be a commoner, the handwriting itself was wrong for that.

Moreover, the impression from the handwriting was gentle. This again confirmed his conclusion that the Oathkeeper was female. Though not the round writing style commonly used by women, it had a characteristically lyrical and elegant hand.

He definitively concluded that ‘the Oathkeeper is a noble woman.’

Thus came the day of the banquet.

The imperial palace’s grand banquet hall began bustling as if every noble in the capital had gathered.

The Crown Prince, who normally should appear fashionably late, was already present in the banquet hall early. Though he was inside the second floor railing where he wouldn’t be noticed.

“Let me know right away when you find them.”

And the Crown Prince wasn’t alone.

“Yes, I shall.”

A man with a mole under his eye smiled brightly as his eyes curved.

“It seems Duke Kramer has deceived an Oathkeeper who doesn’t know anything yet and trapped them under his control. If we leave him to increase his family’s power this way, it’s clear other ducal houses will suffer damage too. It’s unfair.”

The Crown Prince continued speaking, thinking his companion couldn’t help but agree.

“Hmm. Indeed. I wonder why he’s being so protective?”