Game Fortune Becomes Reality Episode 45
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Game Fortune Becomes Reality Episode 45
14. Merit Rewards (3)
A victory commemoration ceremony.
It is a ceremony commemorating the Kingdom of Rhinehearts' victory in the war against the Croysen Empire.
In truth, the war ended with both nations suffering losses and gaining nothing, but each side is proclaiming that their own country won.
That is why this war-ending ceremony is also being called a victory commemoration ceremony.
But with that victory ceremony just around the corner, a clash of auras was unfolding in the great hall of Baekcheong Palace within the Rhinehearts royal castle between two factions.
"The ceremony will begin soon, so let us finish today's meeting quickly and with mutual consideration."
At the seat of highest honor in the royal great hall sat the King of Rhinehearts, 'Kalitz van Rhinehearts.'
Flanking him on either side were the Crown Prince, Michael van Rhinehearts, and the Second Prince, Luke Win Rhinehearts.
And the nobles supporting each prince lined up before them, facing one another making it hard to tell whether this was a single nation's royal great hall or hostile nations meeting across a battlefield to negotiate.
"I am well aware of what my brother wants to say. If he does not throw a tantrum, there is no reason I cannot respect his wishes."
"Oh dear, brother. Isn't my frame a bit too large for you to be using the word 'tantrum'? If you ask me, that phrase suits you better."
The king, who had turned sixty this year, rubbed his temples as if tired even before the meeting began, urging the two princes not to quarrel.
But whether they knew of their father's wishes or not, the Crown Prince and the Second Prince were already staring at each other with battle-ready postures, trading barbs.
At that, the king shook his head and gestured with his chin for them to get on with the meeting's agenda.
"Originally, at the end of this victory commemoration ceremony, His Majesty was to welcome the emergence of the kingdom's new Archmage and Aura Master, and bestow upon both the title of Count along with landed estates."
"Indeed. Is there some problem with that?"
"No problem in particular. However, I believe the reward for the new Archmage, Adrian Lawrence, is too small, so I have requested this audience to conduct a proper merit-based reward."
Was the meeting's content unexpected, perhaps?
The king stroked his beard, its gold faded like bleached hair, and asked for a more detailed explanation.
"A Count's title is too small? What makes you think that?"
"He achieved great feats in this war. But aside from that, the Count's title would have been granted to him anyway simply because he is an Archmage, would it not? Considering his genius, his future, and his merits on the battlefield, I believe this is the right opportunity to bestow upon him the rank of Marquis."
"Not even a Margrave, but a Marquis out of nowhere..."
Through the Second Prince's argument, the king realized that he had won over Adrian Lawrence.
So he looked at the Crown Prince with a worried expression, but the Crown Prince, whose thoughts were as inscrutable as ever, merely smiled back at him.
"Doesn't that seem excessive?"
The king himself acknowledged that the Second Prince, having become an Aura Master, possessed outstanding martial prowess.
But though there were no visible achievements, he also knew that the Crown Prince possessed genius-level talent in literature and administration, and so he thought it preferable that the Crown Prince being the elder son and the offspring of the queen, carrying that tradition become king in due course.
So he wanted to shut down this topic at his own discretion, but...
"Your Majesty, it is not excessive at all! Master Lawrence is not only a once-in-a-generation genius who became an Archmage at the age of twenty, but also an expert in economic affairs who amassed a fortune of tens of trillions through his own efforts!"
"That is correct! Even just the merits he accumulated in this war would justify granting him a Viscount's title or a Baron's lordship outright! Please do take this into consideration!"
"Moreover, he has the Aura Master, Lady Arcia, as his fiancée by his side! I believe this too cannot be ignored! If Master Lawrence were to leave for another nation that treats him better, we would lose her as well, since she is of foreign origin."
Including Duke Ennheim, the foremost figure of the Second Prince's faction, high-ranking nobles of Count rank and above all bowed their heads in unison, voicing their opposition.
In a feudal state, power struggles centered on succession are common, but it was rare for nobles to unite on such a large scale to back a different prince when the Crown Prince had already been formally invested.
A chill flickered in King Kalitz's gaze, but with age having sapped his vigor, he soon sank deep into his throne and let out a sigh.
Moreover, the Second Prince Luke quietly curled the corners of his mouth and put forth an argument that was hard to ignore.
"Your Majesty, many nations have already been drawn to his genius and are attempting to approach him. In public discourse, they even call Master Lawrence a man destined to become the Second Grand Duke Lucas. To treat him half-heartedly would be to throw away a capable young man who could lead the kingdom's future."
A man destined to become the Second Grand Duke Lucas.
That was a comparison not easily dismissed.
The Grand Duke Lucas's genius was the kind that might appear only once in a few thousand years, but the impact of becoming an Archmage at twenty made this comparison impossible to simply brush aside.
The King massaged his temples once more, deliberated for a long while, and finally passed the baton to the Crown Prince.
It meant that if there were any objections, he should voice them himself.
"I am aware that there has been no case in the past five hundred years of someone rising directly from no title to Marquis. The Second Prince's argument amounts to nothing more nor less than an intent to grant him power because you have recruited Master Lawrence."
But the Crown Prince Mahael's remarks were so blunt that they made both the Second Prince and even the King, who had handed over the floor, furrow their brows.
"Brother, don't you think you're going too far?"
"What need is there for pretense between us? Surely you didn't think I would readily allow it while knowing full well that he's a man who would bolster your strength?"
"What!? I do hope you understand just how unbecoming your words are for someone in the position of Crown Prince!"
At the Crown Prince's knack for grating on people's nerves, the high-ranking nobles of the Second Prince's faction raised their voices.
Yet even in the face of such reactions, the high-ranking nobles of the Crown Prince's faction merely let out derisive snickers, showing little outright opposition.
This demeanor of the Crown Prince's faction planted a sense of unease in Prince Luke, despite his own faction riding a rising tide.
But perhaps believing their arguments were more objective than the Crown Prince's side, Prince Luke left the decision to the King.
"Regrettably, my brother seems blinded by jealousy to the point that rational thought is impossible. I ask Your Majesty to make the decision."
Yet the King, for some reason, found it hard to speak even in the face of the Crown Prince's rash remarks.
This was because of the Crown Prince's point that there had been no case in the past five hundred years of someone rising from no title to Marquis.
With politics already divided, the burden of potentially setting an unnecessary precedent weighed on him.
Feeling reluctant but sensing the need to pressure the King through force, Prince Luke was about to add a word, but...
"However, if you accept our demands, I shall consent to that argument."
The Crown Prince had proposed a deal.
"Hmm...."
Prince Luke narrowed his eyes, wondering what his ulterior motive was, but those with deep experience in the political arena, including Duke Ennheim of the Second Prince's faction, wore expressions of resignation, as this was a situation they had anticipated.
They adopted the attitude of hearing what demands he would make first.
"If there are those who receive rewards, there should also be those who receive punishment, shouldn't there?"
"What do you mean by that? Surely not, Brother!"
"My demand is that the Count of Ereiven step down from the position of Marquis. Looking back at his incident with Master Lawrence, he does not seem deserving of such privileges meant for the protection of the border."
At the sudden spark that flew his way, the Marquis of Ereiven, who had been shrinking in a corner of the Second Prince's side, flinched in surprise.
In response, Prince Luke let out a hollow laugh and voiced the Crown Prince's true intentions.
"So you're saying that to gain a new force, I must give up an existing one?"
"Don't you think it's a fair proposal? The Marquis of Ereiven can retain his position as a Count, and for you, a new Marquis is added. Is that not so?"
"Brother, you truly possess the very tendencies I despise most."
"So, is the deal struck?"
The King thought the Crown Prince's proposal was reasonable enough, though aggressive.
But since the ensuing response from Prince Luke was also predictable to a father, he kept his mouth firmly shut until the end.
"Absolutely not! I could never commit the despicable act of casting out my own man for profit! If I did, who would ever trust and follow me!"
A cry that laid bare Prince Luke's unwavering integrity.
The Marquis of Ereiven was greatly relieved, and the high-ranking nobles of the Second Prince's faction, including the Duke of Anahaim, wore proud expressions as they sneered at the Crown Prince's faction nobles, as if to say this was the mark of a true prince.
"Dear brother, you truly are impressive. A real man of honor."
"Do not try to test me again!"
The Crown Prince, having expected that the Second Prince would never accept such a proposal given his nature, brought out a new one.
"Then I ask that Count Otis, who served as Master Lawrence's superior and earned great merit in this war, be appointed Marquis."
"Count Otis?"
Count Otis was a man of the Crown Prince's faction.
This meant that if they wished to gain a marquisate, they would have to give up one marquisate.
And whether or not there had been prior discussion of this proposal, Count Otis was startled and blurted out, "M-me?"
"I acknowledge that Master Lawrence earned great merit in this war. But it would not be an exaggeration to say that half of that credit belongs to Count Otis, his direct superior."
If one were to count battlefield merits to grant Master Adrian Lawrence a marquisate, then the merits of Count Otis, his direct superior, must be counted equally.
At this, Prince Luke, left speechless, looked toward his maternal grandfather, the Duke of Anahaim.
"..."
The Crown Prince's proposal carried its own justification, and seeing no grounds to refuse, the Second Prince's faction members furiously crunched numbers in their heads.
"This proposal comes while accepting your rather excessive request for a marquisate and also letting the Marquis of Ereiven's blunder slide. You must bear in mind that I am making this offer because I too recognize Master Lawrence's worth. If you refuse this, you will gain nothing from this meeting."
When the Crown Prince's smile, ever present like a passive trait, vanished, Prince Luke found himself reluctant to meet his gaze despite being an Aura Master.
In the end, the majority of high-ranking nobles, including the Duke of Anahaim, judged that accepting the Crown Prince's proposal would be more beneficial.
"Very well. No going back on it."
"Good."
The Crown Prince, with a smile back on his face, quietly asked the King, who had been watching this little play.
"Your Majesty, please render your decision."
At that, King Kalitz, feeling somehow like a scarecrow, clicked his tongue and answered.
"I accept the requests of Crown Prince Michael and Prince Luke."
"Your grace knows no bounds."
* * *
A second consecutive day of heading to the royal palace.
But today, the purpose of the visit differs from yesterday.
"Arcia seems quite interested in the festival."
That is to say, they were visiting the royal palace to attend the victory commemorative event hosted by the royal family.
Since the victory commemorative event was a national festival, Lionel, the capital where the royal palace stood, was bustling with countless crowds.
We crossed the sky roads quickly by vehicle, so we couldn't leisurely take in the capital's scenery, but Arcia, with her keen dynamic vision, drank in the sights of the city spread out below and showed great interest in the festival.
"Should we look around for a bit after today's party?"
"That sounds good."
I let out a low chuckle as I confirmed her mood had shifted from 'curiosity' to 'pleasantness'.
"Won't it be dangerous? I hear ruffians from all over swarm to festivals."
"Mother, we are an Aura Master and an Archmage."
"So what?"
Mother still seems to see me as just a child.
Seeing Mother not understanding the situation, Father chuckled and answered the question in my place.
"It means nothing can happen to them unless a war breaks out in the city center."
"I-I see?"
"Yes."
Still, Mother seemed worried and urged us to be sure to bring guards if we were to enjoy the festival.
Since it could be said that Mother's overly anxious nature was partly my doing, I readily replied that I would do as she wished.
But even after my answer, Mother fidgeted like someone feeling out of place.
"It's my first time at the royal palace, so I'm nervous."
Father, being a noble, had visited the royal palace many times, but Mother, born in a provincial city and a commoner by birth, rarely had occasion to visit, so she seemed burdened by events where nobles gathered in one place.
"Adrian, do I look strange? Like I'm frumpy?"
Mother had always been renowned for her striking looks.
As if proving that the finishing touch to fashion is the face, no matter how difficult the situation, Mother's beauty never lost its luster.
But now that she was officially the lady of the lord's household, with a Grand Mage as her son and an Aura Master as her daughter-in-law, there was no way her attire could remain as it had been.
Mother was adorned in dresses and jewels no different from the ladies of high noble houses.
I responded to Mother's worries with a nonchalant air.
"Don't worry. I'm sure there will be plenty of young lords who ask you to dance without even realizing you're a noble lady."
And I gave Father a subtle look, telling him to take good care of Mother.
Father, who had been unable to do much for the two of us because he was always watching Anna's reaction, vowed to do his best.
"A dress would suit Lady Arcia well too…."
According to what Prince Luke had proudly informed me, Arcia and I were to receive our titles together today.
Which was why, unavoidably, I was in military uniform.
Still, brooches and insignia made of jewels and precious metals removed any plainness from the uniform, and a silk cloak added decoration so that it lost nothing in splendor compared to a dress.
Moreover, since it was tailored as a matching set with mine, Arcia's attire stood out all the more.
"I like this attire as well."
"I hope there's time to change into a dress after the merit awards and before the party begins."
Mother, who had brought Arcia's dress just in case, smiled warmly and firmly held Arcia's hand.
Fortunately, she seemed to have relaxed considerably.
"Hah… this is quite a spectacle in its own way."
We arrived at the royal palace before long.
The atmosphere today was completely different from yesterday nobles had flocked in from every corner of the kingdom, and knights who had distinguished themselves in the war were also attending, so the palace gates were thronged with crowds.
Thousands of luxurious carriages bearing noble house insignias waited in line as if entering an amusement park quite a sight to behold.
"So even among nobles, there's a hierarchy here."
"Well, unlike the viscounts and barons scattered everywhere, there are fewer than thirty high nobles of count rank or above in the entire kingdom."
But even among them, there were certain figures who received special treatment namely, the carriages bearing the crests of high noble houses.
Soon Arcia and I would belong to that group, but not yet, so we obediently waited our turn in the entry procession.
"Please show your invitation."
"Here it is."
"Hm? Gasp! W-welcome to the House Lawrence family."
But the guard managing Gate 21 had a look that said, "What are you doing here?" which made me think I should have just slapped on a brazen face and cut in among the high nobles.
"I apologize, but vehicle passage is not permitted beyond this point."
And when the carriage carrying us passed through the palace gardens, which were no less than a park, and reached the inner castle.
We had to disembark from the carriage at the guard's guidance.
-Murmur. Murmur.
Father escorted Mother, and I escorted Arcia.
At the appearance of our House Lawrence family, the gazes of the surrounding nobles flew toward us all at once.
Nothing special.
This is just the kind of attention we'll keep receiving from now on.
'Feels like being surrounded by hyenas.'
Their eyes held deep interest and the calculation of how to get close to us.
"Adrian?"
As we walked, someone called my name plainly, and when I turned my head, familiar faces came into view.
The moment I spotted them, a deep smile formed at the corner of my lips.
The reason was that they were people I had wanted to see at least once, whenever that might be.
My academy classmates, whom I could never forget even if I tried.