Chapter 121: Chapter 121
A terrible criminal act… could they really describe what the queen had done in such a manner?
Until Shan pulled out the joint petition from his breast and presented it, everyone had thought so.
“A short while ago, a group made a terrible attempt to overthrow the kingdom by piggybacking on me and my adoptive father, Count of Shedil. This is the evidence of that.”
Written on it was a demand for Cheryn to halt all the reforms made thus far and return to the existing system, as well as to guarantee the birthrights of the nobles listed in the petition.
There were even threats that if she did not, all of them would resort to force to depose Cheryn, place Conrad’s young son on the throne, and appoint Duke Velakar, Shan, as regent.
Presenting this as a coming-of-age gift was exactly according to their plan up to that point.
The only difference was the fact that Shan, rather than voicing an opinion alongside them, was acting like a third party and denouncing it.
“My adoptive father and I wished to denounce them immediately, but to secure definitive evidence, we feigned agreement to obtain the list of names. I deeply apologize for any disrespect shown to Her Majesty the Queen in the process, and I wish to offer this as a coming-of-age gift.”
“W-Wait a moment, Duke Velakar! What on earth are you talking about?!”
“Don’t tell me you intend to betray us?!”
“You honorless scum!”
The grand banquet hall fell into an uproar at Shan’s sudden turnabout.
Seeing not a single trace of emotion on Cheryn’s face, the people broke into a cold sweat as they realized that all of this had been intended from the start, entirely within the queen’s grasp.
“I have never once doubted the Lord Protector’s loyalty. Now, let us see. Duke of Ranpel, Count Kram, Viscount of Gadera… there are truly so many. Royal Guards!”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Arrest everyone on this list immediately and confine them in the dungeon. The charge is treason against the royal family. Excluding Duke Velakar and Count of Shedil, of course. Elvin will be pleased to have so many new friends.”
“We shall obey your command.”
As the royal guards clad in hydra-leather armor approached, the nobles looked around with pale faces.
The young Duke of Ranpel drew a dagger hidden in his breast and shouted frantically.
“Everyone, escape! First, join up with the knights waiting outside and… ghk!”
Before he could finish his words, Shan struck his wrist with the flat of his blade, causing the dagger to drop.
He did not sever the hand not only because spilling blood on a joyful day was considered inauspicious, but also out of concern that the carpet on the floor would be stained with blood.
As the man writhed with a broken wrist and screamed, Shan strode forward to occupy the exit of the grand banquet hall.
The other nobles looking around realized that Count of Shedil had already quietly slipped away from among them, and that the royal guards were surrounding them while protecting everyone else, causing them to lose their will to fight.
“Carrying a weapon in the Red Palace, and right in front of the queen no less. Attempted assassination has been added to the list.”
“You foolish Altoan bastard! Even so, in the end, you are nothing more than an obedient hunting dog to the queen! Just you wait! Once the hunt is over, you will be roasted too!”
Duke of Ranpel, who was being restrained by the royal guards with his wrist broken, heard Shan’s murmur and shouted, laden with curses.
As he said, no nobles would side with Shan against the queen’s tyranny in the future.
After all, was it not obvious they would only be betrayed again just like this?
It was for this very reason that the nobles had failed to anticipate Shan’s betrayal.
Unless one was an absolute fool, no one would stab others in the back while incurring such an immense loss.
Even if that Altoan bastard was like that due to being vulgar by birth and uneducated, it was truly absurd for Count of Shedil, his stepfather and guardian, to follow suit!
“I-I was just threatened!”
“Count! I… I trusted you! I trusted you!”
“You scoundrel! How dare you touch me! Let go at once! I am royalty!”
Neither Shan nor Count of Shedil paid any mind to the pleas and curses of the nobles being bound.
In any case, those who could be called principled had all broken away the moment rebellion was openly incited, and the few who blindly followed Shan out of adoration for his martial strength had already been detached in advance by Count of Shedil.
By driving a wedge into the ringleaders of the plan, including Duke of Ranpel, calling those people untrustworthy and separating them beforehand.
As a result, all that remained here were dregs who had mocked them in the past and only clung to them to exploit them when their own situation became urgent.
As the sounds of curses, lamentations, entreaties, and shouted faded far into the distance, Cheryn clapped her hands together.
“I have received many gifts at this coming-of-age ceremony, but Duke Velakar’s gift warms my heart the most!”
The queen, who had used even her coming-of-age ceremony as material to sweep away opposing factions, smiled contentedly.
The cheerful music of the troupe from Libert resounded brightly.
*
The banquet hall became somewhat sparse after dozens of nobles were dragged out.
Shan approached Roden and lightly tapped his chest with a fist.
“Your acting skills were superb, Lord Baron Boldran.”
“You need to practice a bit more. I thought you were just reading from a book.”
At the perfectly nonchalant attitude of the two, the chilly atmosphere from a moment ago softened in an instant.
Ravana, who was standing beside Roden, wiped the cold sweat from her forehead and spoke to Shan.
“Ah, really… the thought of having to fight Your Grace made my legs tremble beyond control. You should have at least told me.”
Until just a moment ago, Ravana’s rabbit ears had drooped low as she looked at Shan.
It was because her sense, which instinctively detected an enemy’s strength, was constantly crying out death.
Had it not been for her pride in receiving the title of Baron and becoming a royal knight from Cheryn, and her motivation to endure for the sake of her daughter’s future, she would have surely wet herself and fled.
That was how immense the psychological pressure placed upon her became the moment current Shan became an enemy.
“Her Majesty the Queen told me to keep it a secret. If you want to blame someone, you should blame her.”
“That is something I cannot do as a royal knight. I suppose it cannot be helped.”
When Shan cheekily shifted the blame onto Cheryn, Ravana chuckled and shook her head.
As the atmosphere relaxed, other acquaintances also approached, playfully scolding him for keeping it secret from them as well, or boasting that they had actually known everything from the beginning.
What interrupted them was Cheryn coming down from the upper section of the banquet hall.
“Your Majesty.”
“Lord Protector, could you please take charge of my escort during the coming-of-age procession?”
“Naturally, I shall do so.”
Shan respectfully knelt on one knee before Cheryn and kissed the back of her hand.
It was merely a pity that, because she wore gloves, he could not feel the faint bluish veins showing subtly, the soft down, and the texture of her smooth skin.
As he was recalling the sensations he had been unable to see and touch while away, Cheryn gently withdrew her hand with a slightly embarrassed expression.
Only then did Shan realize he had been holding her hand long enough to breach etiquette somewhat.
At this, Roden cleared his throat and changed the subject.
“Um, Your Majesty… do you really intend to continue the coming-of-age ceremony?”
Since half of the nobles attending the coming-of-age banquet had been thrown into prison, was it not proper under normal circumstances to suspend it?
At his question, Cheryn nodded as if it were obvious.
“Naturally I shall. Why should I halt a once-in-a-lifetime event for beings so insignificant? The citizens would also grow anxious if the schedule suddenly changed. The royal guards have already gone to arrest the knights who followed the traitors, so do not worry.”
At the words that solutions had all been prepared since the rebellion plot itself was in Cheryn’s hands from the beginning, Roden also acquiesced and nodded.
Though separately, he admired it as a truly extraordinary ambition.
A moment later, Cheryn left the royal palace as scheduled and headed toward the streets of Hasra.
She was mounted atop a white horse fitted with a side-saddle suitable for riding in a skirt.
Armed royal knights and guards protected her sides, while the nobles followed behind.
Shan held the reins of the horse she rode as her close escort.
“The Sovereign has come!”
“Long live Her Majesty the Queen! Long live Her Majesty the Queen!”
“Waaaaah!”
Citizens gathered throughout the capital’s streets cheered toward the queen atop the horse.
Their respect and worship were so intense that even physical pressure could be felt.
The citizens of Hasra loved Cheryn so much that there was no need to plant hype men in advance.
Just as Palles and the Shedil region had been before, she had enacted all sorts of reforms in this ancient capital as well.
From cleaning up thugs and rationally reforming the complex and excessive tax system to introducing all kinds of magic apparatuses to raise the capital’s living environment.
Queen Cheryn, who already deserved praise simply for ending the civil war, was now hailed as a wise ruler unmatched in Pendia’s history.
“Our Queen!”
As Cheryn smiled contentedly while looking toward a woman’s cry, the little child beside her shouted excitedly.
“Mom! The queen smiled at me!”
“No, it was at me!”
Walking out in front while holding the reins of Cheryn’s horse, Shan felt strangely proud at the sight.
For had he not taken Cheryn’s hand, and thus had either Conrad or Elvin become the master of Pendia, this was a sight that could never have been seen.
Seeing this spectacle brought him renewed conviction.
Pendia could advance further into the future only if Cheryn personally took the helm and led it forward.
As Hasra was vast, the city procession continued for several hours.
Music containing Pendia’s unique sentiment (though not as skillfully played as by the musicians at the royal palace) resounded from all directions, and the rough singing of the citizens could be heard continuously.
Among them was “The Red Knight of the Black Mountain,” which sang of Shan’s great deeds, as well as embarrassing love songs singing of the romance between him and the queen.
On a normal day, such things would be severely punished, but given the special occasion, the royal guards did not go down to track down who was singing such songs either.
By the time they finally finished the procession and returned to the royal palace, the sun was already setting.
The final order of the coming-of-age ceremony was an outdoor ball held in the garden.
Magic heaters installed in all directions to drive away the freezing winter wind emitted warmth, causing heat haze to shimmer.
While people looked at one another to dance the first dance to the musicians’ music, Cheryn reached her hand out toward Shan and spoke.
She had now removed the crown and veil that were uncomfortable to move in, dressed in more comfortable attire.
“Would you please be my first dance partner, Lord Protector?”
Originally, under Pendia’s etiquette, it was proper for a man to request a dance from a woman, but the queen reached out her hand first without minding.
At this, Shan slightly raised his eyes, then smiled and respectfully took her extended hand.
“It is merely an honor, My Queen.”
Everyone’s eyes gathered upon the handsome man and beautiful woman who stepped into the center of the garden.
The first dance of the queen, the protagonist of today’s coming-of-age ceremony, and the young duke who had cooperated with her to sweep away the kingdom’s opposing forces.
Considering the significance carried by the first dance of a coming-of-age ceremony, it was a deeply meaningful sight.
Holding hands, the two moved their feet to the music.
Though she had received a degree of dance instruction, Cheryn was somewhat stiff due to being a natural klutz, so Shan skillfully guided her.
Thanks to his senses that perceived the flow of force generated whenever all things moved, Cheryn was able to dance quite plausibly just by entrusting her body to Shan.
‘So warm…’
Shan, who had taken off his cuirass upon entering the garden, was dressed in a black formal suit, and as they stayed close for the dance, her body felt as if it were heating up from the body warmth emanating from him.
When Cheryn clung closely to him at this warmth, Shan unconsciously closed his eyes slightly and turned his head away.
Otherwise, he felt as if he would wrap the hand placed on her waist further inward and pull her into a tight embrace.
As the dance sped up and slowed down in accordance with the tempo of the music, the gap between the two repeatedly widened and narrowed.
Each time their bodies pressed closely together, they drew in a sharp breath.
As the song neared its end, unlike Shan, Cheryn had to struggle to control her heavy breathing.
Would it be better to increase her exercise time a bit after all?
Looking at Cheryn’s lips as she rapidly inhaled and exhaled, Shan barely suppressed the urge to kiss her and let go of her hand.
“It was an honor to take Her Majesty’s first dance.”
“I, too… enjoyed it, Lord Protector.”
Cheryn replied, trying hard to cool her face flushed with the heat of the dance.
*
Since Cheryn’s coming-of-age ceremony was on the last day of the year, the next day was naturally the first day of the new year.
The atmosphere in the royal grand council hall marking the start of a new year was quiet.
It was because they had to handle the aftermath of the incident that occurred during the coming-of-age ceremony just the day before.
“Duke of Ranpel and twenty-eight others have violated their oath as nobles of Pendia not to rebel against the royal family. In accordance with the ancient laws…”
The magistrate recited their charges and listed one by one the punishments that could be inflicted according to custom.
They would lose the titles they held in name and the maintenance stipends attached to them, as well as the right to attend and speak in the royal council.
Not to mention that the parties themselves would be sentenced to death.
Naturally, no one claimed that such punishments were excessive.
Those who currently led the Pendian court were all people who followed Cheryn and had gained power and honor through her reforms.
There was no reason whatsoever for them to show goodwill to those who had tried to go directly against it.
Their execution was set for sometime after Elvin’s upcoming execution by burning.
As a bonus, discussion followed regarding how to handle Conrad’s son, whom the rebel faction had conspired to place on the throne in the future, but Cheryn offered a surprisingly moderate opinion on this matter.
“What does an infant know that we should punish him? Let him live peacefully with his parents. Of course, he must not leave his place of exile.”
Of course, Shan played a significant role in Cheryn showing such leniency.
In truth, given her personality, she would have been anxious to leave even an infant alive and might have resorted to behind-the-scenes schemes, but she felt Shan would dislike such things.
Though her knight was sometimes surprisingly cruel, he was fundamentally of a compassionate nature toward young and weak things.
Having thus completed the disposition of the rebel forces, they proceeded to discuss kingdom policies in the ordinary manner.
When topics such as paving new roads or building educational facilities in various places were brought up, Baron Lavayan raised his hand to obtain the floor.
Originally the royal deputy chief steward, he was a figure who had proven the most outstanding capability among court officials and risen to the position of prime minister.
He was also the person who had permitted Shan’s participation in the jousting tournament in the past.
“Your Majesty, I regret to report that the budget seems insufficient to execute the proposals you mentioned. The state finances consumed by past reforms are already considerable.”
“There is a way to cover it. Ransom payments are scheduled to arrive from the Southern Continent before long.”
“If you say the Southern Continent…?”
“Word reached us recently from the families of the Southern Continent mercenaries Elvin brought along. The ransom they provide will be sufficient, so do not worry.”
The Southerners who had joined Elvin’s army in the past to invade Shedil and were detained were private soldiers of quite wealthy families over there, and as a result of negotiations, a considerable ransom could be promised from them.
Thanks to accounting even for the cost of providing meals and lodging for several years, that amount was by no means small.
As Baron Lavayan, having received the letter, agreed and nodded, Cheryn shared her thoughts on how to establish educational facilities across the land and whom to employ as educators.
Rather than accepting their monarch’s words blindly, the subjects presented their own views and debated, but most of it went as Cheryn said due to the gap in logic.
After talking for a good while, she glanced subtly around her surroundings for a moment and spoke carefully.
“Come to think of it, now that I have reached adulthood, I ought to find a spouse as well.”
As a sensitive topic came up, everyone wore a tense expression.
For did the queen not already have an immensely powerful and terrifying lover?
One who had even danced the first dance of the coming-of-age ceremony with her.
Setting him aside, who was the brave soul that dared claim the position of royal consort for himself: that was the first problem, and if such a person existed, what political changes that would bring was the second problem.
To the subjects unable to answer, Cheryn unexpectedly brought up a different topic.
“And as I felt through this incident, Duke Velakar’s heart as a loyal subject of the kingdom is truly admirable.”
“…That is so.”
“Had he recklessly used the formidable rights granted to him and his personal martial strength, it would have turned out truly troublesome.”
At the words spoken in a roundabout manner uncharacteristic of the queen, the subjects wore puzzled expressions.
Don’t tell me she means to keep Duke Velakar, who just dedicated himself for her sake, in check?
Even so, that would be far too cowardly…
But that was only for a moment; the faces of some subjects who realized the meaning turned rigid.
That was especially true for those who were enlightened enough not to join in the rebels’ conspiracy, yet far too stubborn and elderly to accept an Altoan royal consort.
“Therefore, my ministers, deliberate. Devise a way for Duke Velakar to remain an unwavering loyal subject of the royal family.”
The preceding topic and the subsequent topic did not match at all, but to those who knew the inner workings, it was blazingly obvious.