Rakuin no Monshou:Volume2 Chapter1

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Chapter 1: Endless Battle

Part 1

Upon finding that Kaiser had been imprisoned, Fedom Aulin jumped up. Kaiser Islan was a noble who once served as a member of the Imperial council.

One week earlier. According to an assessment by Mephius' emperor, Guhl Mephius, the Dragon God shrine would be relocated and undergo a large-scale reconstruction. The shrine built 200 years ago to worship the Dragon God, would be placed in the basement under the imperial capital Solon's renowned [Black Tower]. It would be moved towards to the vicinity of the palace, and made into a marvelous structure.

Of the sudden comments, a good number of nobles graciously offered flattery, but Kaiser alone had directly expressed his feelings of opposition. The amount of gold and people required made it far from being precedent. Now was the time to fix the relations between Mephius, Garbera and Ende, though of course, the situation wasn't all that optimistic. To start with, in the festivals dedicated to the Dragon God that are already held several times a year, practically none of the people even showed up, in other words it had become a thing of the past.

"There should be more critical issues at hand. Forgive my insolence, but please reconsider."

"Is that so," was all the emperor said. And then the talk was over.

Kaiser was well into his mid-fifties, and held a long standing relation with the emperor. And with that, no one paid the conflict another thought. But, five days later, Kaiser had heard through one of his evening parties, that the king's political measures had been formally reproached. "Recently, his majesty suddenly passes over whatever he says when he shouldn't," he grieved to the close friends he had invited over while he was drunk.

Normally, this would not have warranted any special course of action, but this time in particular, the emperor for some unknown reason entered into a fit of rage and declared, "Those are the thoughts of a rebel!" and all of a sudden Kaiser's residence was surrounded by troops, and with that he was arrested. "I'm being sudden in what I'm doing" — and Kaiser's own actions had unexpectedly become evidence against him.

Unease soon spread within Solon on whether his majesty planned on executing Kaiser. Three days and nights passed. Kaiser was located underground, put in a prison unfit for a noble, and not allowed a single meeting with his family.

Fedom had jumped, in response to being struck by a seemingly mixture of shock and dread – he had personally voiced his opinion to the king having seen an opportunity to hasten peace negotiations with Garbera – and there was something else; something completely different. His chest filled with a feeling of delight nearing excitement.

It might be my turn at last

Emperor Guhl Mephius will once more put his plan of strengthening his own authority into action, and after earning the hostility of his surroundings, was when he would put his own plan into practice and the testimony of that day draws closer. That is, in support of Prince Gil Mephius, the foundation of a new political power will be formed within the empire. It was a large ambition. If he could just bring to light even a little of those inner feelings, regardless of whether it was the same as Kaiser's, no, at this rate his stern eyes would doubtlessly expose him. And at that,

"Lord Fedom."

Down the Main Palace's hallway, as he greeted Zaat Quark

I met a troublesome fellow, he thought.

"Have you heard of Lord Kaiser's circumstances?"

"Immediately so"

"Just what is his majesty planning? This has gone too far for a joke. You must tell me your thoughts. I will take it with me to my grave."

Fedom responded vaguely as he passed by Zaat who displayed signs of labored breathing. Zaat Quark was head of the so-called anti-imperial faction. Of course, it's not as if he walked around with a sign hanging on him stating what he was. Like Fedom, he followed a similar train of thought, and in remonstration before the emperor who was so insistent on fighting to the bitter end, helped in convincing him to promote peace negotiations. He also held the title as a member of the Founding Imperial Council and it became evident that there was no way they would harbour positive feelings toward the man who was emperor in name only.

In this sense, Zaat considered Fedom as a comrade. Or at least, he should have.

"There haven't been many incidents that have become too serious, though it seems to have had the opposite effects. For this reason, our intentions are to spread idle chatter of this 'joke', which will instead become truth. This is a secretive matter. You know fully well of the king's temperament."

"How are you so calm? This is treason against the king. And did you know? Just the other day, the king met with a messenger from Ende and—"

"Pardon me. I have some matters to attend to."

"Lord Fedom," Zaat knitted his deep black eyebrows, "This isn't like you. Worrying over the country's future in earnest to this extent, you're even prepared to face his majesty's judgement. Surely, the affair regarding Lord Kaiser hasn't left you losing your wits.

"Mind your words, friend." Fedom fixed a sharp glare at Zaat. Age-wise, Fedom was 10 years older.

"How rude of me. But lately, you've been acting strange." Strange, probably referred to how he was recently sticking to Prince Gil Mephius all the time. Leaving the still insistent Zaat, Fedom hurried along. For Fedom who should have been on the very same anti-imperial faction, there was no other way but for him to seemingly change his allegiance.

That damned Zaat, curses! Making a face as if he knows everything, he plans to test me, eh?

To start with, Fedom never held any good will towards Zaat. There were plenty of competent intellectuals around, but for Fedom's knowledge alone, many big-shots had clearly come to him for favours. In the case of peace talks, after unfastening a historical document, [That country's precedent was so and so] [According to former traditions, this and that should be done], and one by one brought out old information that left the others quite dumbfounded.

Of all things, to be treated as a coward.

Far from it, Fedom had crossed a far more dangerous line in voicing his concerns to the emperor than Zaat ever had. In terms of risks alone, his plan was immeasurably more dangerous. And this plan was finally about to enter the stage where it could be implemented. Thinking about it left him lost in thought, but

"What's wrong?" Orba asked, staring at Fedom as he gave off a creepy expression.

"While wondering why you suddenly went quiet, your complexion turned blue, then red. You seem very sick."

"Shut up," Fedom cursed out in embarassment. They were in the prince's room within the Main Palace. For the time being, he received ‘get-well presents’ from feigning injuries, though Fedom behaved slovenly in spite of this.

"That aside, what about you? If you keep going out to check on the current situation, you won't be able able to recover. You don't have all the time in the world. Dinn, how do you explain this sorry state?" Precisely because the finally time drew nearer, he must not be impatient with Prince Gil's education to guarantee success. He aimed the brunt of his frustrations towards Dinn, the page in charge of his education.

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