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Side Story of Sersiarin
Sersiarin, the former princess of the Avalon Empire, had recovered fully. She was currently sitting in the center of a garden, enjoying the sunlight while surrounded by the blooming flowers.
“Lady Sersiarin.”
Sersiarin’s head turned and her eyes immediately widened.
In the past, she had been blind, so her eyes had been blank. However, now, her golden eyes were intently focused on the man approaching her—they even sparkled now.
“Duke Tremblin!” Sersiarin shouted.
“It has been a long time since I last met you.” The Sword Emperor bowed to her.
Sersiarin quickly walked toward him. “When in the world did you come back?
The Sword Emperor looked her over for a moment and then smiled gently. “You look well.”
“Couldn’t be better.” Sersiarin raised her skinny arm and flexed her biceps, but of course, they were still almost flat. “Did Brother Kiser come with you?”
“No, he’s still traveling all around the Empire. He’s staying in the nearby inn for the moment.”
“…Is that so?” Sersiarin nodded.
Right after Joshua had become the emperor, Kiser had left the Imperial Palace for good; he said that he wanted to see the Empire that he had almost ruined with his own eyes.
In fact, it was outrageous for a prince to inspect an empire, but Duke Tremblin, the Sword Emperor, had been the first one to join Kiser on his trip. At the time, the Sword Emperor had been impressed by Kiser’s decisiveness in choosing to give up the throne.
“Recently, he’s become very happy when he sees the citizens’ faces brighten up,” Tremblin mentioned.
“Good for him. I hope he’s closer to finding his peace…” Sersiarin murmured.
Tremblin nodded. “Yes, everything has been returned to its original state. It won’t take long for this Empire to become the Avalon Empire that I knew in the past.”
“Then how are things around the continent?”
Tremblin explained the current state of affairs of the continent like a gentle teacher. In the Hubalt Empire, the Pope and the Knight of God came to the front and stabilized the Empire much quicker than anyone expected. The Swallow Empire recently made an announcement recognizing the Thran Kingdom’s autonomy. Meanwhile, the other kingdoms were increasing their power.
“…I’m a bit worried. In the end, empires weakened and kingdoms became stronger. Can’t this state lead to the start of the second Continental War?” Sersiarin asked.
“I highly doubt it.”
“Is there a reason why you think that way?”
“Lilith Aphrodite of Hubalt and the Flame Emperor Ulabis, who is now the ally of Swallow, came up with a brilliant solution.”
“A brilliant solution…?”
Tremblin explained that right after the end of the Continental War, the two empires had made a promise to compensate the kingdoms for the damages that they had suffered, but they had added a term: instead of compensating each kingdom individually, the two empires were going to pay the compensation in totality to the Kingdom Alliance. That meant the kingdoms had to decide who took how much on their own, pitting the kingdoms against each other.
“That is really clever.”
“Since the war ended, it would be a problem for the two empires if the Kingdom Alliance is too solid and tries to do something funny… Well, that’s highly unlikely, though. Hahaha.” Tremblin chuckled.
No matter how much the two empires had weakened, they were still empires, so if the Kingdom Alliance attacked them, they might work together again. Besides, there was also the Avalon Empire, where the civil war had completely ended.
“I heard the news,” Tremblin said.
“Pardon?”
“You’re abandoning your Britten name and changing it to Sanders.”
Changing her name to Sanders meant only one thing; it was why Sercarin was referred to as “Lady” Sersiarin, not “Princess” Serciairn.
“Will you not regret it?” Tremblin asked.
“…Of course not.”
“There are precedents where members of the Imperial Family with different surnames get married. On top of that, weddings for distant members of the Imperial Family with the same surname also take place from time to time. Besides, isn’t Her Imperial Majesty Lucia very fond of you?”
“That is why… I shouldn’t be more greedy,” Sersiarin answered. Her voice carried a steady determination.
Tremblin’s eyes widened for a moment, but he quickly composed himself when he saw Sersiaring’s sorrowful expression.
“I don’t want to burden those two. The Brittens are already being condemned, right? Among all imperial families, the Britten family tree is the most messed up,” Sersiarin said self-deprecatingly.
“Lady Sersiarin…”
“I don’t want to involve His Majesty nor Her Imperial Majesty in this at all, so…” Sersiarin smiled. “I’m good with becoming his sister. I’m actually his sister, right? Her Imperial Majesty is my biological aunt.”
After a moment, the Sword Emperor said, “His Majesty returned yesterday.”
“…Yes.” Sersiarin nodded. “I heard the news.”
“Do you want to come with me and meet him?”
Sersiarin pondered for a moment and then shook her head. “He must have a ton of work to deal with, so I’ll go later.”
For a moment, Tremblin looked at Sersiarin. Then he turned away. “Why don’t we have a meal together later? I know a very good cook.”
“I’m always glad to dine with you!” Sersiarin beamed.
“Then… I’ll get going; I need to report something.”
“Yes, I enjoyed meeting you again, Duke Tremblin!” Sersiarin waved her hand energetically.
A smile gradually spread across Tremblin’s face. “As did I, Lady Sersiarin.”
* * *
Tremblin immediately headed to the council chamber straight away. He bowed to the throne, where Joshua sat, as soon as he entered.
“Your Majesty.”
“You’re back too,” Joshua said.
“Yes; I, Tremblin, have returned to the palace just now.”
“I’ve heard the news of you and Prince Kiser traveling around the Empire—no, you’re traveling the entire continent now, right?”
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“…That’s right.”
“You two must have gone through a lot during the trip. Is there anything I can do to help?” Joshua offered.
Smiling, Tremblin shook his head. “I don’t think we’ll need your help unless we’re getting attacked by three Stars.”
“…Haha.”
“Hahahaha.”
Joshua and Tremblin burst into laughter at the same time, as if they’d timed it.
“However,” Tremblin began, “I regret to report that I haven’t been able to finish the task you gave me yet.”
“…The woman won’t be found easily given that she was capable of summoning a high-class wind elemental spirit before she was even twenty.”
“But if her name is Grace, then…”
Joshua shook his head, cutting Tremblin off. “No, her foster father may have hailed from the imperial family of the Swallow Empire, but she has nothing to do with them.”
“Ah…” Tremblin nodded. “I understand. You said that her name is Anna bel Grace, right? I’ll report back to you as soon as I find her.”
“Yes. I’ll trust you with this matter. I… have to pay my debt to her.”
“And…” Tremblin hesitated for a moment before he continued. “Young Lord Babel has fully recovered and will officially become Duke Agnus.”
Joshua flinched. “Is that so?”
“Yes, someone has to lead the family.”
“He made a hard decision,” Joshua said.
Thanks to Joshua, the new emperor, the members of the Agnus family had avoided execution because he decided that only the criminal himself would be punished for his sins. Of course, numerous nobles had been opposed to the idea, but Joshua had subdued them by force.
“He could have abandoned his surname.” Joshua blurted.
“He said that it would be meaningless.”
“Meaningless?” Joshua repeated.
“He said that abandoning his surname won’t make his father’s sins disappear. Everyone is pointing fingers at his family and calling Young Lord Babel a traitor, but he declared that he’ll endure everything. To be honest, Babel von Agnus is a strong man, even from the perspective of an old man like me.”
Joshua nodded. “He has always been quick on the draw. Shall I help him out a little, then?”
“With your help, Young Lord Babel would surely never want for assistance.”
“Of course, he’s too prideful to take my help, so I’ll have to help him in secret.” Joshua leaned back against the throne. “I hope I can stabilize the Empire as quickly as possible as well.”
“You’re already doing it. Haven’t you involved the Magic Tower and other organizations in order to keep the nobles in check and stop them from scheming?”
“I’m far from done. I’m just taking precautions. Besides…” Joshua trailed off, his face darkening. “…I don’t have much time.”
“Pardon…? What did you say…?”
“Nothing. Duke Tremblin, can I ask you one more favor?” Joshua asked.
“What are you talking about? You don’t have to ask me a favor. If you give me an order, then I will obey without delay.”
“Then…” Joshua’s voice dropped, filling the council chamber with a hush. “Please live for a very long time. I feel like my knights won’t be enough.”
“…My. I know what I said, but this is too much, Your Majesty. I’m already old; how much longer do you plan to work me to the bone?”
Joshua grinned. “My plan is to make you work until the day you die.”
Tremblin smiled back. “Then I’ll uphold your order and live so long that I won’t be able to remember your name, Your Majesty.”