🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 71
“Why should I do that?”
The council chamber buzzed with activity after Stella returned from the monster territory.
“Your Majesty, the number of monsters, quiet until now, has suddenly exploded. I believe this may be the sign of a monster wave, so I request the assembly of a hunting squad.”
Conrad, already aware of the situation from Mir’s report, nodded casually at Stella. He had expected a hunt around this time, and the knights and soldiers were already preparing.
With Regina now controlling the treasury, the budget was sufficient, so preparations were smoother than usual.
Still, Conrad deliberately kept quiet, tapping the armrest with his finger.
“It’s serious that the monsters are acting strangely. Of course, my loyal knights will step forward for the empire, but I worry about unnecessary sacrifices.”
The nobles flinched at his words, exchanging glances. Conrad ignored them and looked down at Stella.
“Did you notice anything unusual on site?”
“Some were variants I’ve never seen before. We must be extra cautious during the hunt.”
The nobles murmured. Even after many hunts, no one had reported such dangerous “variants” before, and they were clearly unsettled.
Some worried about damage to their lands, but remembered Conrad’s anger over the knights’ treatment issues, so they dared not speak recklessly.
The nobles supporting the Empress Dowager looked particularly uncomfortable. They had once mocked the knights’ dedication, and now it was awkward to request the hunt be sent quickly.
They exchanged cautious glances and nudged each other forward.
“Ahem, Lord Chancellor, perhaps you should speak?”
“Why should I do that?”
The marquis Ludvika whispered quietly to Humeros, who sat beside him. His voice was almost loud enough for all to hear, yet the other nobles pretended not to notice.
“Isn’t the Chancellor’s role important for forming the hunting squad safely?”
“…Hmph.”
Humeros glared at Ludvika, clearly displeased. Remembering everything Humeros had done under the Empress Dowager’s backing, he wanted to grab him by the collar.
‘This is the same man who criticized the knights as money-eating ghosts every time they left for a hunt?’
Now he pretended to worry about the hunt—it was absurd. Humeros’s eyes narrowed.
“If you have advice for His Majesty, why not speak yourself, Ludvika? You do it so easily at other times.”
“What…!”
Humeros spun his head so sharply that Ludvika didn’t even get a glance. The marquis’s face twisted as he looked around helplessly.
Previously, the Empress Dowager had to approve the budget, allowing him to wield unfair power, with Ludvika at his side.
‘Pathetic…’
Now the backing was gone, and he fawned like a completely different person. Other nobles avoided Ludvika’s gaze entirely.
“Your Majesty.”
Ludvika stepped forward reluctantly, bowing politely.
“The situation is urgent. Perhaps we should assemble the hunting squad and proceed without delay.”
Stella, who had been quietly observing, spoke up.
“This time, the squad should be slightly larger. With variants appearing, full preparation is necessary.”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
“Agreed!”
Even the nobles who had been reluctant agreed. The threat of monsters near the barrier united them, regardless of faction.
‘Opportunists…’
Conrad found their raised voices amusing. He spoke coldly.
“The hunting squad will be prepared, of course. But shouldn’t we first ensure that the empire’s precious swords can fully focus on the hunt?”
Previously, Chloe had manipulated the budget each time the hunt went out, with nobles silently supporting her.
Without Humeros’s support as Chancellor, supply issues would have caused multiple crises. Once Regina took over the treasury, the situation changed.
Power is like a living thing. Those seeking it instinctively flatter those with influence.
Even now, the nobles were scheming to use the hunt to rise a little higher. Conrad chuckled faintly.
“Your Majesty is right. We should deploy maximum forces from the start and overwhelm the monsters with sheer power.”
A noble near the barrier spoke up.
“But we must consider that we cannot simply pour the budget into the knights. The empire has other issues besides monsters.”
A noble loyal to the Empress Dowager, with lands far from the barrier, opposed him.
“Since these are variants, we don’t know what attacks they might use. Perhaps we should first replace the knights’ outdated weapons?”
A noble running a weapons workshop intervened eagerly. As each spoke their own opinion, Conrad rubbed his forehead.
Why did their usual behavior feel especially nauseating today? Their words contained no concern for Fredericks’ people.
‘I’ve seen this before, but today it’s worse.’
Especially the Empress Dowager faction—after losing the treasury, their obsession with money was obvious.
“Enough!”
Bang. Conrad slammed his fist on the armrest. The nobles flinched and fell silent.
“The hunting squad will be assembled promptly.”
“Then, Your Majesty!”
“But the selection of knights, budget allocation, and other supply decisions will all be made by me. As it has always been.”
His piercing gaze swept over Stella and the other nobles.
Silence fell over the chamber. Even the outspoken nobles realized where they were.
“Those who never cared are suddenly speaking up today.”
The hunting squad had always been prepared by Conrad himself. The nobles only demanded, offering no alternative plans or cooperation. Conrad had to consider everything to protect the empire and minimize sacrifices.
‘Familiar, yet today it’s irritating.’
The frantic efforts of the Empress Dowager faction were too extreme even for Conrad. He observed the nobles closely.
At that moment, the chamber doors opened, and a servant from the Empress Dowager’s palace approached politely, handing a letter sealed with her emblem.
“Your Majesty, a letter has arrived from the Grand Empress’s palace.”
It was an invitation to a dinner celebrating Princess Stella’s safe return.
‘So that’s why she didn’t attend the council.’
Chloe was likely planning to take her again, using this dinner.
The same invitation was given to Stella. She looked at it in surprise, suddenly the center of attention.
Conrad watched her quietly.
“Your Majesty.”
Stella noticed his gaze and forced a bitter smile. She could not bring herself to speak. Conrad guessed what she wanted to say and turned his head.
