Meeting The Emperor Of The Moria Empire

Psssh—!

As the locomotive released steam upon arrival, many passengers began disembarking. However, soldiers were lined up in front compartments, and even a military band could be seen.

Bam-ba-da-bam! Doodoom!

To the sound of trumpets and drums, Ian stepped off the train. He did so as a prince of the Polia Kingdom. In front of him stood a middle-aged man in formal wear, likely a diplomat, who greeted him as soon as he fully disembarked.

“Welcome, Prince Ian. We are honored to have you in the Moria Empire. (in Moriaan)”

“Thank you for the warm welcome.”

The interpreter beside him translated the exchange. In truth, the scale of the welcome wasn’t overwhelming. Had the King come in person, the greeting would likely have been much grander. Still, there was a proper reception, with some citizens also present.

As the greetings continued, Ian noticed a lovely blonde girl stepping forward with a floral necklace. She approached to present it and spoke cheerfully.

“Welcome to the Moria Empire, Prince Ian of the Polia Kingdom!”

“Thank you, young lady.”

Ian thanked the girl as she placed the floral garland around his neck. He felt genuinely pleased to be treated with such courtesy. Before long, they took photos together — likely to appear in tomorrow’s issue of the capital’s paper, Morisys Daily.

After the welcome ceremony, they headed outside the station to a waiting diplomatic vehicle designated for state guests. It was an elegant, high-class car, and the opened rear door welcomed Ian and his aide, who boarded together.

Four vehicles, front and back, moved in convoy. Ian commented on the treatment with a nod of approval.

“They’re treating us quite well.”

“Well, we did fight fiercely against the Doicheun Empire. They must have taken notice of our nation’s strength.”

“That makes sense.”

Indeed, the Polia Kingdom’s national standing had risen sharply in recent years. Not only had they soundly defeated the Nubea Kingdom, but they had also held their own in a grueling battle against the Doicheun Empire. From the outside, it looked like they had fought admirably.

It reinforced the perception that Polia could hold its ground even against an empire. As such, no empire dared to treat the kingdom lightly anymore. Even if they could win, the cost would be too high — making Polia a nation one approached with caution.

Their motorcade made its way to the Imperial Palace. The wide roads and towering buildings reflected the scale of a true imperial capital. Ian couldn’t help but note how much larger and grander it was compared to Pullea, his own capital.

“If this is the smallest of the empires, how incredible must the others be?”

Normally he didn’t think this way, but the comparison stirred a sense of inadequacy — and with it, frustration. It was like when he criticized his homeland, it was fine, but when others did, it stung. At that moment, his aide commented in admiration.

“As expected of a metropolis with millions of residents. So many unfamiliar and impressive things.”

“Doesn’t our capital have over a million people too?”

“Well, yes, that’s true.”

As Mardin nodded and looked out the window, the palace finally came into view. The imperial palace was vast and imposing — even larger and grander than Polia’s. Though Polia’s royal palace was by no means small, this one exuded overwhelming scale and presence.

Soon, their vehicle entered the palace grounds. A sizable crowd awaited their arrival, standing ready. A red carpet had been rolled out, signaling a formal reception. As the car came to a halt, a man opened the rear door from the outside.

“Welcome to the Imperial Palace of the Moria Empire. (in Moriaan)”

The tone and greeting were formal. Though Ian couldn’t understand the words, he got the gist and nodded as he stepped out. Rows of imperial guards lined the entrance, dressed in uniforms accented heavily with white — so much so that Ian thought they looked like white-obsessed fanatics.

“Not just their uniforms — is the whole palace exterior white? Hopefully the inside isn’t all white too. That would be maddening.”

His doubts were interrupted when a man stepped forward to greet him — the Second Prince, who introduced himself. Despite the presence of the Crown Prince, sending the Second Prince meant the empire was showing equal diplomatic rank. The man looked to be in his mid-30s, with a beard covering his face and eyes full of imperial pride.

He gave Ian a curt nod and spoke.

“Welcome to the Moria Empire. (in Moriaan)”

“Thank you for the invitation. This palace is magnificent — I can’t help but be impressed.”

“Ha ha, is that so? You have a good eye. (in Moriaan)”

Ian’s compliment seemed to please the Second Prince. Their exchange continued through the interpreter. Following the greeting, Ian was escorted into the palace, where he would soon meet the Emperor.

The thought of meeting an emperor stirred a bit of nervousness in Ian.

“What kind of person will he be?”

Surely a man brimming with authority, as expected of an emperor. Even his own father — for all his faults — carried a certain royal dignity. As the Second Prince led him inward, Ian couldn’t help but notice the palace’s breathtaking decor.

Streams ran through the palace gardens, surrounded by various flowers and trees. Maintaining such a space in this heat required serious dedication. As they walked through the halls, Ian couldn’t help but think the interior was dazzling.

“I thought everything would be white, but clearly not.”

Unlike the all-white exterior, the interior featured ornate patterns and rich colors — reds and greens in elegant combinations. The walls and ceiling were masterfully decorated, and the floor was lined with a plush, luxurious carpet.

They walked down a corridor where even footsteps made no sound. Eventually, they reached a grand door. Clack — the imperial guards opened it.

The room beyond was even more spectacular than the hall. As Ian stepped inside, Mardin stopped outside to wait. Ian proceeded alone with the Second Prince. The floor was paved with golden-hued marble.

Round pillars stood in rows, and some appeared to be gilded. Both Polia’s and Moria’s palaces used gold heavily in decoration.

“Still, the culture is definitely different.”

The Emperor was not seated on a throne but on an ornate rug adorned with intricate patterns. Around him, many others were also seated on cushions of moderate height, gazing at Ian. They appeared to be ministers of the Moria Empire. But what stood out most was the presence of women in this audience hall.

“Wait… isn’t this a formal audience chamber? Why are there women here?”

The women’s attire was almost scandalously decadent. Their bodies were barely covered — only their chests and lower halves concealed — and thin, flowing veils wrapped around them. Their faces were half-covered as well, and the sharp fragrance lingering throughout the chamber added to the thick, sensual atmosphere.

‘This culture really is shocking.’

Ian thought many foreign dignitaries must have found this deeply jarring. As he stepped forward toward the Emperor and stopped at the cue, a voice rang out.

“This is Prince Ian of the Polia Kingdom! (in Moriaan)”

All eyes turned to Ian with curiosity and intrigue. It felt almost like he was being judged or appraised, which annoyed him slightly. But he reminded himself that this was simply how things worked in other countries. He turned to observe the Emperor, a man who looked to be in his mid-to-late fifties.

‘He’s quite handsome for his age.’

Whether it was due to heavy makeup, his eyes were darkly lined, and his well-groomed beard added to his striking appearance. Compared to his own father — the King, who had recently started gaining weight — the Emperor appeared to take excellent care of himself.

‘Seems like he maintains himself well.’

“Welcome. I am Zimora di Moris, Emperor of this land. (in Moriaan)”

“I am Ian di Polia. Thank you for inviting me here, Your Majesty!”

The dialogue between the Emperor and Ian was translated through an interpreter assigned to the audience hall. During their exchange, the Emperor didn’t speak much of the recent conflict involving the Nubea Kingdom. Instead, he emphasized the importance of properly handling the battleship purchase.

Since Ian had already been briefed before arriving, he responded positively.

“It is an honor for us to purchase a battleship embedded with the Moria Empire’s advanced technology.”

“If that’s the case, how about purchasing one more? I’ll offer it at a very low price. (in Moriaan)”

Upon hearing the Emperor’s words via the interpreter, Ian wondered why the man sounded more like a salesman than a monarch. Then he recalled how aggressively the Moria Empire pursued trade. Due to limited arable land, trade was essential to their economy.

Perhaps the imperial family, too, prioritized trade incentives over royal prestige. But suggesting a second battleship? Knowing how astronomically expensive such vessels were, it was hardly worth considering. Especially since the Polia Kingdom had already begun large-scale construction of its own fleet.

“Regretfully, our nation has already begun construction on several battleships and is currently unable to afford additional purchases.”

“Hmm, that is unfortunate. (in Moriaan)”

The Emperor stroked his beard with visible disappointment, and Ian internally acknowledged that the refusal, while awkward, was inevitable. If the ship had offered excellent performance, it might have been considered — but it wasn’t worth the cost for an inferior model.

‘Should I try to increase affinity with him and push it through?’

The thought crossed his mind but was quickly dismissed. While it might be effective, it was also extremely risky. Ian still didn’t fully understand this world — especially its magic.

‘If there’s something akin to mental manipulation here, there might also be safeguards protecting the Emperor’s mind.’

Deciding it was best not to take unnecessary risks, he let the conversation continue. But it was mostly just formalities at this point. The Emperor, seemingly bored, nodded and spoke again.

“May it become a prosperous deal for both our nations.”

“I will do my utmost to make it a success.”

“Then, to honor Prince Ian from a distant kingdom, I shall hold a banquet this evening. Enjoy it to your heart’s content.”

“Thank you for hosting a banquet in my honor. I am truly grateful.”

It seemed banquets were customary in every nation. Perhaps this one was to celebrate the visit of a foreign prince — though Ian suspected it was also for the local nobility to enjoy themselves. After all, banquets were prime venues for aristocratic socializing.

After leaving the audience chamber, Ian reunited with his waiting aide and was guided to a guest room within the palace to rest. That evening, word came that the banquet was beginning. Ian changed into a ceremonial uniform he’d packed for the trip and headed to the banquet hall.

As a prince and a soldier, Ian wore his military dress uniform — the same ornate one he had donned during the war with the Doicheun Empire. He had packed it precisely for occasions like this.

At the banquet, Ian encountered a scene unlike anything he’d seen before. The venue was lavish and grand, far surpassing Polia’s Hall of Waves. Many nobles of the empire had gathered.

What stood out most was the openness. Attire was far more revealing, and behavior far more relaxed. Ian didn’t know where to look — up or down — and found himself constantly adjusting his gaze. Moria nobles, however, seemed to find his awkwardness amusing.

They must have seen many foreign guests react the same way. Still, Ian managed to greet many attendees. As the guest of honor, they all addressed him with courtesy.

Though some gave off airs of arrogance, no one outright dismissed him. Likely because of the high regard the Polia Kingdom now commanded. If a prince from a weaker nation had arrived, he would’ve been met with basic politeness at best — and little genuine interest.

Ian received a fair amount of respect that night. After the banquet ended and morning came, it was time for the negotiations regarding the battleship sale. Ian attended alongside the Polia ambassador stationed in the Moria capital — whom he’d spoken with during the banquet the night before.