“Have you, by any chance, married?”
“…Pardon?”
For a moment, I thought I must have misheard.
Understandably so—this was not a question that fit the situation.
I wondered if perhaps it was because of the airag, but its alcohol content was not that high.
“Beoilleo. What do you mean by that?”
“Exactly what you heard. Have you married?”
“Not yet, but…”
“Then, by any chance, what do you think of my daughter?”
“Wait, Beoilleo. Hold on.”
What was this, all of a sudden? I hurriedly cut Beoilleo off.
Wasn’t the flow of the conversation strange? Marriage, out of nowhere?
But Beoilleo reacted as if he couldn’t see what the problem was.
“Ethan, thanks to your efforts, on this day Urut has once again become friends with the Empire. Can we simply let such a joyous day pass? At the very least, as friends, we ought to add something auspicious, in the hope that this friendship will last for a long time.”
“If that’s what you mean, there are any number of other ways. Marriage is going too far.”
When I said it was too sudden, Beoilleo burst into laughter.
“Listen, Ethan. Surely you don’t think I’m suggesting we hold the ceremony immediately? They say the warriors of our grasslands are swift, but when it comes to a lifelong bond, we never rush.”
“Then what exactly…”
“There is a difference between marrying at once and simply having marriage talks pass between us. What I want is the latter. I merely mean that we should come to an understanding.”
For an instant, I almost thought, If that’s all, then thank goodness.
I am the head of House Montebello and a founding contributor of the Empire.
And the woman being mentioned for an engagement is Beoilleo’s daughter.
Neither of us stands in an ordinary position, and yet he says this so easily?
“I am an imperial noble, Beoilleo.”
“I assume you’re not about to say that a woman of a grassland tribe is unfit for an imperial noble.”
“Of course not. What I am worried about is an unwritten rule among imperial noble houses.”
As with the Founding Emperor, it is not considered a flaw for a man to have multiple wives.
If he has the ability. If he can handle it. Polygamy is entirely possible.
However, there is one thing. One unwritten rule that absolutely must be observed.
The first wife of an imperial noble must be of the nobility as well.
When I explained this part, Beoilleo drank his airag as though asking what the big deal was.
“Listen, Ethan. On the grasslands, it is no flaw for an exceptional man to have several women. Rather, the women strive to become the wife of an even greater man. Whether they are first or last does not matter.”
“Beoilleo. Even so, she is your daughter.”
“For reference, I have eight daughters. And six sons.”
“…”
Ah. Surely he isn’t saying he doesn’t have much affection for her because of that, right?
If his daughter heard such words, she might feel hurt.
“Of course, no matter how many children I have, I love them all equally. That is why I am all the more eager to proceed with an engagement to you.”
“It is difficult to understand.”
“It is an exceedingly simple matter. Before me stands an outstanding wolf who has yet to find a mate. If I can place one of our tribe’s deer by his side, should I not naturally do so?”
Having said that much, Beoilleo offered me another cup of airag.
I accepted it without avoiding it and drank it down in one go, and he burst into laughter again.
“This is not coercion, nor am I asking you to answer at once. It is not even that I insist the marriage must happen. On the grasslands, engagements can be broken at any time due to each person’s circumstances.”
“Then…”
“Still. It is something like proof that I am putting that much thought into this. There is no need to think of it so gravely, Ethan. Surely such things are not entirely absent in the Empire either?”
I agreed with Beoilleo. Political marriages were the specialty of the imperial nobility, after all.
If I thought of this engagement as something similar, it would be easier to understand.
Just before the meal came to an end, Beoilleo said one last thing.
Since I would not be leaving immediately, I should take my time and think about it.
This proposal would become a fairly beneficial transaction for both sides.
‘Benefit, huh. A transaction.’
It was a little pitiful to think he said that about his own daughter.
But in reality, even I was placing myself on the table as a stake.
My situation is that I must willingly do anything in order to survive.
If one cannot prove oneself, one falls behind, and those who are abandoned are eliminated.
It is a current that occurs as commonly as eating during the extreme chaos of the early founding period.
Unfortunately, I did not read the entire novel, so I do not know the far future.
But one thing. I know for certain the relationship between the Founding Emperor and Beoilleo.
Was this merely a story added to flesh out the past?
Or was it a piece of groundwork for some other incident in the future?
If it is the latter, then establishing a foothold on the grasslands would not be bad.
‘I don’t know.’
Nothing is certain. And right now, it is time to focus on the mission.
Improving relations with the Urut tribe has been successfully concluded.
One might think I could now return immediately, but that is not the case.
If that alone had been the goal, I would not have come here in the first place.
I must continue staying here and create a friendly atmosphere.
Not only with Beoilleo, but with the people of the tribe as well.
In addition, I also intend to look into other nearby tribes.
I will gather more detailed news, stories, and information about them.
Beoilleo is not young either. He will soon reach fifty.
We have confirmed our friendship, but there is no guarantee it will continue forever.
In preparation for the future, I must confirm and record the relationships among the tribes.
‘It’ll take at least a few months. If I had my way, I’d like to return quickly, but… I have to do what must be done.’
When I return to the Empire half a year from now, will something have changed?
Thinking that, I decided to focus on my duty as an envoy.
*
Turning back time, to when a month had passed since Ethan left the imperial capital.
The Empire once again grew noisy internally over the matter of the Crown Prince.
“Six years have already passed since His Majesty opened a new heaven in the name of the great Founding Emperor. And yet, for the seat of Crown Prince to still remain vacant makes no sense. We must establish the Crown Prince as soon as possible and further solidify the authority of the imperial family.”
The forces supporting the Eighth Prince brought up the matter of the Crown Prince day after day.
Even in meetings meant to discuss affairs of state that had nothing whatsoever to do with the Crown Prince.
“See here. This is a meeting to determine the Empire’s operating policy. Matters regarding the Crown Prince should be discussed later, with time set aside…”
“What absurd nonsense! Filling the vacant seat of Crown Prince is the most important matter in the operation of the Empire! For the sake of the imperial succession, it must absolutely be done!”
“That is why I am saying it is premature!”
Everyone knew. They knew who was currently most suited to the position of Crown Prince.
The Fifth Prince. Whether in ability or in the merits he had established, it had to be the Fifth Prince.
Since the principle of succession by the eldest son had already been broken, no one could deny it.
Then why, despite such certainty, could they not mention the Fifth Prince?
Because the one strongly pushing the Eighth Prince as Crown Prince was the Chancellor.
And the one subtly supporting the Chancellor from behind was none other than the Founding Emperor.
Even knowing this plainly, it was difficult to openly support the Fifth Prince.
The Chancellor had already begun the practical work needed for the appointment of the Crown Prince.
First, he gave command over the soldiers training in formations to the Seventh Prince.
Until now, this had been held by the princes born of the Founding Emperor’s first wife.
But he took it all back and handed it to the Seventh Prince, the elder brother of the Eighth Prince.
There should have been opposition, but it was quiet. This, too, was the will of the Founding Emperor.
When the Emperor trusted the Chancellor, who would dare open his mouth before him?
At this rate, it seemed as though the Eighth Prince might ascend to the seat of Crown Prince at any moment.
However, by heavenly fortune for some, and misfortune for others.
The political situation made it impossible for the Empire to cling to the matter of appointing the Crown Prince.
“Your Majesty. A rebellion has broken out in the frontier region from the days of Condor. They are moving to break away, saying they cannot acknowledge the Empire.”
The Empire is a flower that bloomed atop the massive corpse called Condor.
It absorbed many things, but there are still many things it has yet to fully consume.
The western frontier is one of them, and in particular, many Condor loyalists reside there.
If left alone, the Empire might lose its entire western territory at once.
The ministers insisted that an army be raised immediately to suppress the rebellion.
The Founding Emperor, too, as one who had spent a long time in the military, believed that was correct.
But in the midst of this, one man began offering a slightly different opinion.
“Your Majesty. I am ashamed to speak, but if we raise an army in this situation, we will only cause the seeds of rebellion to sprout further.”
“Your Highness the Fifth Prince. What do you mean by that? A rebellion has broken out, and yet you say we must not raise an army?”
Everyone gathered at the imperial council could not hide their bewilderment.
However, the Fifth Prince, Ishmael, was not the least bit cowed and continued speaking.
“Your Majesty. What we must do now is not raise an army, but swiftly send people to the neighboring kingdoms and prevent them from forming alliances with the rebel forces in advance.”
“Your Highness. What in the world…”
“The western frontier is chaotic in many ways. It is true that there are many loyalists from the days of Condor, but if you ask whether all the people there are loyal to Condor, that is not the case. Rather, there are many who went there to make a living. Many went because they were told taxes would not be imposed.”
It was true. In fact, Condor had chosen such a method to develop the west.
If idle land was turned into farmland, taxes would not be collected from that area for a time.
For that reason, countless people volunteered to cultivate the west again and again.
It was certain that those dissatisfied with the Empire had established themselves in the frontier.
But if one asked whether that applied to everyone, absolutely not. At most, it would be about thirty percent.
“The neighboring kingdoms are also well aware of the majesty His Imperial Majesty displayed on the battlefield. They know full well how strong and brave the soldiers who fought under him are. They, too, have many reasons to be wary of fighting our Empire while its momentum is at its peak.”
“Then what Your Highness is saying is…”
“Condor lost the hearts of the people and collapsed long ago. Even if they rise up, they will not last long. The only thing they can rely on is support from the neighboring kingdoms, but if we cut that off diplomatically, they are certain to crumble on their own.”
If a punitive army is led there at once, everyone in the frontier will be frightened and band together.
But if we cut them off entirely from the outside, put up a fence, and wait.
In the end, those who are afraid will come out first, and the rebel forces will collapse on their own.
“That is far too optimistic, Your Highness.”
The Chancellor immediately refuted the Fifth Prince’s opinion.
“If a rebellion has occurred, we must respond immediately and forcefully. When we ought to show the solemn authority of the imperial family and the might of the Empire, what easy words are these?”
“Then you intend to turn the entire frontier into a sea of blood, Chancellor.”
At the Fifth Prince’s words, the Chancellor was briefly flustered and lost what he was going to say.
He tried to quickly open his mouth before the atmosphere was taken from him, but—
“Fifth Prince.”
Before that, the Founding Emperor responded to his son’s opinion.
“I understand well that you wish to minimize sacrifices. But for that to be realized, the kingdoms must be persuaded. Who could possibly bring that about?”
“I will go. Your Majesty. Please appoint me as special envoy to be sent to the kingdoms. I will surely return with diplomatic results.”
“Your Majesty! That must not be. To send a prince as special envoy—this is…”
The Founding Emperor raised his hand, cutting off his subjects’ words.
Then he gazed at his fifth son, Ishmael.
“Are you confident?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“If, by any chance, you mishandle this matter, you too will not be free from the fault of failing to suppress the rebellion at an early stage.”
“If I fail to persuade the kingdoms, I will gladly accept any punishment.”
The Founding Emperor accepted the Fifth Prince’s will. He appointed him as special envoy on the spot.
He ordered him to depart for the kingdoms at once and ensure that they did not intervene.
He also told him to be prepared for punishment if things did not go as intended.
“Your Highness the Fifth Prince…!”
The surrounding supporters worried for the Fifth Prince, but he was exceedingly composed.
Rather, inwardly, he was even smiling as he drew an even larger picture.
‘You take care of matters in the east, younger brother. In the meantime, I will settle the west.’
Ethan Montebello. He would surely bring back a satisfactory result.
If Ishmael wished to once again stand proudly before him and ask if he would not become his man,
then it was only right that he himself achieve another feat worthy of that.