Hibiren Flowers And Recital (4)

“That’s not…”

Duke Delian looked at Count Michel as if he was annoyed.

Seeing that gesture, Count Michel placed his hand on the Greek boy’s shoulder and began to speak.

“I’ll explain that to you.”

“Th-thank you.”

“You must be well aware that the Capital’s Concert is held on an enormous scale?”

“Yes, I’m well aware.”

“The Concert is not some dreamy place where musical skills are simply contested.”

“Huh? Then…?”

“Of course, it was originally created with that intent. But over the centuries, it has developed in a different direction.”

“A different direction?”

The Greek boy suddenly felt his mind go blank.

It’s a well-known fact among the Empire’s people that the Concert is a competition where a winner is chosen.

But Count Michel was completely denying that fact.

“Winning the Concert has significant meaning. The great nobles rotate to check the Imperial power, and the winner is entrusted with full control over half of the Imperial Central Army. This is closely related to winning the Concert.”

The Greek boy’s eyes widened.

The Imperial Central Army, also known as the Imperial Army.

It essentially means the military power of the Empire.

The Dukes’ territories naturally include military forces. Even in Greek City, there is military power, including guards.

This military power would be gathered under the command of the Duke to which they belong in the event of war.

This is the local army.

However, the Central Army refers to the Imperial Army directly under the Emperor, responsible for border defense and Capital protection.

This legion, created by the first Emperor to strengthen Imperial power, has kept the military power of the great nobles at the lowest level in the Empire.

The number of troops that can be conscripted from the territories is barely enough to guard the cities.

Military power is concentrated in the Central Army.

And there are no Margraves.

The Central Army handles border defense. Therefore, unlike other typical feudal nations, there is no system that allows the enhancement of military power for Marquises in border regions.

However, as Imperial power weakened over time, the Empire allowed one of the great nobles to govern half of the Central Army for one year to check Imperial power.

This gave them the power to appoint their vassals to key military positions.

With the commander of the soldiers being a vassal, this check on power becomes formidable.

This Central Army is the one El was conscripted into and rolled around in when he first arrived in this world.

After becoming a mage, he took on key positions in this very Central Army.

And since the secretive bifurcation of the Central Army, which has been operated half-and-half for centuries, the only exception was El.

During the Dragon War.

He was entrusted with the entire command of the Central Army by the Emperor and the Dukes. It was the first and last time a unanimous military commander was appointed.

In any case, this system was created to prevent the Emperor from seizing control of the army and becoming a tyrant.

And the Concert played a pivotal role in this system.

It was only natural that the Greek boy felt dizzy upon hearing this.

After finishing the explanation, Count Michel turned the conversation back to the Concert.

For Count Michel and Duke Delian, this was the most important part. Thus, Count Michel’s voice dropped a bit lower.

“So, the faction of the winner of the concert will seize control of half the military power.

The Dukes all want to control the military, so they need a mutually agreeable selection criterion. A physical contest would be too barbaric, and taking turns would be meaningless.

So it’s Regana. The only thing fitting, cultured, and elegant enough for our nobility is Regana.

The selection is based on that skill.

But your territory, which isn’t part of the Emperor’s direct domain, a Ducal domain, or even a Marquisate, just in a state of deferred allocation? Of course, you’re ineligible to participate as you’re unaffiliated.

The winner of the concert must come from within the influence of the four Dukes.“

Then what about Berna?

She was affiliated with a Marquisate. But she came in last.

It was said that Count Dedran was involved.

Did they deliberately make her last to crush Count Greek’s family in the preliminaries without assessing her skills?

It could be that the Marquisate’s power was too weak. Some level of influence must have been involved rather than pure skill.

The Greek boy took a deep breath.

But Duke Delian just called Berna dirty.

He knew the situation and still called her dirty.

Could such a person truly be served? No, could such a person truly embrace Greek City?

Absolutely not.

That much he could be sure of.

The Greek boy shook his head as he recalled what had happened at the mansion.

What choice should he make?

If things continue like this, they won’t even be able to participate.

Cursing his own stupidity, the Greek boy stood in front of the rented mansion, his steps heavy.

It wasn’t as soundproof as the Lord’s castle, so he could faintly hear Berna’s music.

The more he heard it, the heavier his steps became.

The Capital.

Again, the Empire’s Capital.

It’s not even new anymore.

This time, they came to the Capital to meet the Emperor.

Well, after retiring and leaving the Capital, the only reason to come back would be when there’s something they want from the most powerful person in the country.

Still, it was frequent enough to question if they had really retired.

Well, life has its ups and downs.

“You, why are you grinning like that? You look like a fool.”

“Did I look like a fool just now?”

Nod, nod.

Instead of answering, Rurin nodded vigorously.

She was hanging onto my arm, shaking her head right in front of me.

“It might be because my hair’s gone in the back because of you that I look even more foolish.”

“That’s right. You’re a fool.”

“Hey! Who’s the fool? If you keep saying that, I’ll shave your head too!”

“No! Absolutely not. No way! Hair is not something just anyone can cut!”

Rurin had the expression of someone who had just encountered a bandit demanding they hand over everything from head to toe.

She looked at me warily, clutching her head with both hands.

“You can adjust it anyway, right?”

“Oh, is that so?”

“Oh my, has the Great Being become completely human these days?”

“Hehehe, well, that’s fine too. No, wait, being human is not fine!”

Rurin responded coolly that it would be fine to become human, but then suddenly turned serious.

“If it’s not fine, then why not?”

“I wouldn’t be able to follow you wherever you go. I need to be able to teleport!”

“Are you a stalker?”

“Stalker?”

“Yeah, something like that.”

“I don’t know what that is, but it must be something great like me. A stalker.”

“No…absolutely not. It’s more like the opposite.”

“You.”

“Yeah?”

“For some reason, I’m angry!”

Rurin suddenly turned her head and started stomping forward.

So I started stomping in the opposite direction, and she quickly turned back towards me.

“Ughhh!”

She stomped her left foot on the ground, puffed her cheeks out, and eventually scurried back to my side. Her rebellion didn’t last even two seconds.

“By the way, why is it taking so long?”

“It annoys me. That human mage. And the Emperor too. They should come running to welcome me!”

Well, she does have a point.

Of course, in this case, we came secretly, and the Emperor doesn’t know we’re here, so it’s not like he could welcome us.

On the contrary, I’m probably the only human in the world who can confidently barge in without being summoned by the Emperor, so isn’t that enough respect?

A moment later, Medlinne came rushing up from below the magic tower. Lately, Medlinne feels a bit like my personal servant.

“Today, His Majesty is in the Imperial Palace study.”

“Really? Could you quietly guide us there?”

“Yes, understood!”

With Medlinne’s flustered guidance, unlike last time when we caused a ruckus catching assassins, we were able to peacefully reach the Emperor.

The purpose of coming to the Emperor is just one thing.

It’s for the Hibiren flower.

For Selly’s well-being.

Reincarnation, or whatever that legend is, I don’t really believe it, but I still want to do what I can and wish for that child’s peace.

Even if it’s a one-in-a-million chance, if that legend is true and when we eventually have a child, if even a bit of Selly’s spirit is with us, wouldn’t that be a truly happy thing?

According to Sereina’s report, the Hibiren flower, which is needed for that, is kept in the Imperial Palace’s treasure vault.

When rare items are discovered on the Continent, they’re usually presented to the Imperial Palace, so there’s a high chance that Sereina’s report is true.

I don’t know what kind of amusement she indulged in, but if she stayed in the Imperial Palace, maybe I’ll get to hear about it later.

The Imperial Palace and Sereina.

The lavishness and slyness of it seem to suit her well, as one might expect.

I confidently entered the study with Medlinne. Since Medlinne had already informed the Emperor, there were no soldiers to stop us.

“It seems we’re meeting too often, Your Majesty.”

“Have you finally decided to rule this country?”

The Emperor, who had been looking through several old books in the study, stood up and dismissed the attendants.

Once the door closed, the Emperor approached Rurin and bowed.

“Emperor of humans, it seems you’ve been disrespecting us too much.”

“How could that be?”

But even so, Rurin grumbled at the Emperor as if something displeased her.

Startled, the Emperor involuntarily spoke in formal language.

Before the dragon who surpasses humans, the Emperor couldn’t help but feel insignificant.

Especially since this Emperor has experienced the Dragon War, he’s not foolish enough to try to capture a dragon that reigns over humans.

It’s said that there were a few instances in this world’s history where such attempts led to a nation’s downfall.

“Bow to El as well. El is greater than I am.”

What displeased Rurin was how I was being treated.

She seemed annoyed that I was being disrespected, her gaze intense.

“Of course, I naturally think so.”

The Emperor accepted Rurin’s words as if they were obvious and looked at me.

“But he said he doesn’t like that.”

“You did?”

Rurin quickly turned her head to look at me.

I shrugged and nodded.

“Is that so.”

“There’s a reason for it. Thank you, but please step back for now, our dear Rurin.”

“Hmph.”

Rurin turned her head away.

Then, as if she had lost interest in the Emperor, she hopped off towards the study and started pulling out books here and there.

It wasn’t her first time here, so why the sudden curiosity?

Well, it’s not a bad feeling that she doesn’t like seeing her man disrespected.

“That aside, I’ve come today seeking your help again.”

“What sort of help?”

“I heard that the Imperial Palace’s treasure vault holds a rare item called the Hibiren flower. If it’s just being stored without use, I would appreciate it if you could let me have it. I’ll make sure to compensate you adequately.”