Chapter 229

To you who survived (4)

You who survived

The end of that long journey where you had to risk your life at every moment may be very different from what you thought.

What doesn’t change though is that you went through a long and difficult journey and were able to stand proudly alive at the end.

Are you happy that you survived?

Or are you afraid that you will have to continue living a life filled with pain and suffering?

Have you found your reason for living?

Was life worth living?

What have you gained and what have you lost?

What succeeded and what failed?

What did the joy when you were happy and the despair when you were frustrated make you?

Why on earth do we continue to cling to this life which will only end in vain when it ends?

What is the reason for trying in vain to change the journey in a life with a fixed end?

Why do we struggle so futilely to survive?

This book is a record of the agony over the answer.

– 『Introduction to the Wise Man’s Seal』 by Sylvania Robester

*“An event to conclude the festival will be held soon.”

The chief aide entered the throne room bowed his head and spoke.

Although it was a temporary throne room in the royal family’s quarters its luxury was comparable to that of the imperial castle.

The royal residence where Princess Fenia was staying already had many occupants who were well-versed in the royal etiquette so it did not take long to prepare a residence that complied with the laws.

The throne room was also prepared on a scale commensurate with Emperor Cloel’s authority.

Emperor Cloel who was sitting on the seat in the throne room and looking toward the terrace solemnly brushed away his long beard and looked at the spire of the Academy with his intelligent eyes.

“The level of education in Sylvania has improved more than I thought. “Compared to when Jim first visited Sylvania we can see that it has progressed to the point where you wouldn’t even think it was the same place.”

“Even Soin was very surprised. The level of students has also improved day by day with the Combat Club producing students who are proficient in swordsmanship and the Magic Club producing even the highest level magic users... “I think this is an institution worth investing in.”

“Penia has become a lot more reliable and even though it was a long distance I think it was a good idea to come and inspect it in person.”

Emperor Cloel smiled once in satisfaction but soon a dark shadow appeared on his face again.

Selaha Persica Fenia.

Emperor Cloel was already well aware that the conflict between the three princesses had been intensifying since Lindon gave up his position as crown prince.

It’s completely different from the past when Lindon was fine and was able to raise a stable family.

Now all of this conflict will only end when Emperor Cloel himself makes it clear who will be the next successor to the throne.

However even for Emperor Cloel who is said to be a rare saint it was very difficult to determine superiority among his children.

As their father Emperor Cloel knew very well the strengths and weaknesses of the three princesses.

Princess Selaha possesses leadership and charisma worthy of a monarch. She has no hesitation in her decisions she moves forward quickly in whatever she does and she is confident in her own thoughts and choices so she never wavers. These were the qualities that a monarch must have.

However he is arrogant bound by status and authority has strong self-righteousness that does not admit that he is wrong and does not respect those under him so if he makes a mistake he has the possibility of taking the path of a tyrant.

The Princess of Persica loves knowledge is passionate about studying and exploring and has deep wisdom. She knows a lot she is good at intrigues and tricks and she is a compromise politician who can take advantage of anything that is available. That’s why she always thinks of realistic solutions and she’s also a businesswoman who never makes a fuss.

However an overly compromising attitude is likely to lead to corruption. If they seize power they are likely to look out for their own self-interest rather than consider the people. As she was a girl who had no aversion to secret plots and plots it seemed likely that the atmosphere in the imperial family would become even darker and more insidious.

Princess Fenia is benevolent always tries to take good care of those under her and knows how to admit and repent for her mistakes. She is the image of an ideal monarch who always keeps her ears open and thinks of her people and is neither bound by authority nor swayed by self-interest.

However there is a high possibility that they will not be able to maintain their authority and position because they are overly understanding and sympathizing with the positions of those below them. Because he has a tendency to be obsessed with idealism he will be unable to compromise with real politics and as he struggles between the difficulties of practitioners and idealism he may give up his position and become a puppet king.

He has firm faith and tenacity as a monarch is wise but cunning enough to listen to others and has a sincere concern for his people and is not swayed by authority.

It is not easy for a monarch to possess all these qualities.

“Lindon... ”

After chanting the name of his son who was no longer stuck in the spire for a moment Emperor Cloel shook his head. He has to obsess over what he lost but the situation does not get better.

No matter who it is Emperor Cloel has the obligation to select a successor and raise that person to become an ideal monarch.

It is absolutely necessary to ensure that this peaceful era that our ancestors worked hard to achieve can be passed down to future generations.

──As a result Emperor Cloel was thinking of naming Princess Selaha as his successor.

I just had time to finalize my conclusions. Although it has not yet been completely concluded it is safe to say that this is a provisional conclusion.

Selaha’s arrogant attitude will naturally be corrected once he experiences a serious injury due to wrong decisions a few times.

Emperor Cloel was ready to roll up his sleeves and change the attitude of being bound by authority or treating subordinates excessively.

In the end the most important thing as an emperor is to have a sense of how to control the crowd.

Moral sense and understanding can be taught through acquired education. However the nobility and appearance of being able to reign resolutely as an emperor are not within the realm of education. To some extent you have to be born with it.

Princess Selaha’s elegance which makes her alluring yet difficult to touch is something that Persica and Fenia do not have. She attracts attention wherever she goes and has an energy that makes you feel like you can’t even touch her lowly status.

Although there is still a long way to go Princess Selaha seems to be the most suitable person to be appointed as the emperor’s daughter.

The problem is that Selaha has not yet been completely refined as a monarch.

As a father I don’t know if it’s okay to think like this but it was necessary to break Selaha’s nose which was soaring high.

There is a high possibility that Selaha’s arrogant character will one day become a major disaster for the empire. In order to prevent it in the first place a person was needed to properly educate Selaha.

But where on earth is there a person in this empire who can control Selaha?

Selaha Einir Cloel is the first princess of the Cloel imperial family and is a girl who learned from an early age how to suppress people with authority and control the crowd.

At least he bows his pride and bows his head to Emperor Cloel but that is only because Emperor Cloel has the authority to decide who will be the next emperor.

There is no way Emperor Cloel is unaware of her ambition and desire for power. In order to make the girl her good ruler she had to crush her sky-high pride and subdue her once.

It would be meaningless for Emperor Cloel to do it himself. In the first place it was natural to submit to the emperor of the empire.

So is there another person that Selaha could cling to?

It was the car that Emperor Cloel had such concerns about.

“And I don’t have any intelligence worth reporting... “I think I should tell you about Princess Selaha’s recent movements.”

“Selaha’s movement?”

yes. “Recently we have been inspecting together with His Majesty following His Majesty’s movements and it is said that we are constantly communicating with the outside world by exchanging letters at night.”

“You didn’t say anything to me but are you saying that you are keeping it a secret from me and are communicating with someone inside Sylvania?”

yes. It seems like it’s an extension of the competition for imperial power... You can investigate further. “What can I do?”

Emperor Cloel glanced at his chin for a moment lost in thought.

I knew at least that there was a conflict between the three daughters but it seemed necessary to keep an eye on their subtle movements when they came to Aken Island where Fenia was located.

Emperor Cloel does not see it as a particularly bad thing to continue healthy competition to inherit the imperial throne.

However what is worrisome is that there is a possibility that Selaha’s character may cross a ‘line’.

Like plotting an assassination or causing serious injury... Even if it is not such an extreme number movements that harm each other or leave great wounds may continue.

This is not very pleasing to Emperor Cloel who loves all three daughters.

“Just take a look.”

And the contents of Selaha’s letter which I discovered by spying on Deacon Dest... Even Emperor Cloel could not help but be shocked.

*“Oh oh oh oh oh oh brother. Oh oh oh oh oh you came..”

Upon reaching the entrance to the royal residence Tanya who had also been summoned by the emperor was trembling.

“What are you doing? “Have you been summoned too?”

“Yes yes... Suddenly a call came from the royal family’s quarters... After finishing all my work I was rolling around on the sofa with a sense of freedom... Why now... ”

“... “Why are you shaking like this?”

“Didn’t you hear the news? I heard that Emperor Cloel himself summoned you. Considering that he even summoned his brother it seems like it’s related to the Ross Taylor family... I was nervous because I was told that I had to meet Emperor Cloel a rare saint right in front of me... ”

Since I am in a position where I have to give speeches in front of large crowds whenever I get the chance I would have never thought that I would have the temperament to get unnecessarily nervous in these areas.

The princess’s fiancé. He is also the fiancé of the 1st princess Selaha who is said to be closest to the emperor’s position.

It was truly like a highway toward success that would lead one to join the ranks of the most powerful men in the empire.

Usually this is the time to shed tears of joy or bow in gratitude.

This is because it is a position that everyone dreams of and in fact it is an opportunity to join the ranks of the royal family’s most powerful people.

This is probably a position that most officials are drooling over.

In addition it may be possible to straighten out the declining fortunes of the Ross-Taylor family.

Tanya’s plan which was gathering the power of noble families to take down Princess Selaha can also be stopped for now. Then since there will be a lot less work for the family you will be able to escape to some extent from the hellish work swamp.

It is an offer that cannot be refused in every way. That destructive offer to make you a member of the royal family has the power to overturn all interests in the world.

– Bang!

At that moment Princess Selaha came in forcefully opening the throne room.

“Abama!”

Now that I heard the news I rushed out of my room.

The sight of her running with the hem of her dress slightly lifted was eye-catching. The way she was out of breath made me feel like she had sprinted out of the room at once.

“Abama how could you do something like this without even telling me... !”

The moment Princess Selaha entered the throne room saying those words she made eye contact with Ed Rosstaylor.

The fact that he is here means that he has already heard the whole story. Princess Selaha was conscious of the look in Ed’s eyes for a moment and then with her mouth tightly closed she spoke to Emperor Cloel.

“Abama! If you allow a person like this to have the blood of the royal family... !”

“Thank you for the offer but I’m fine.”

Just before Princess Selaha continued Ed Rosstaylor spoke with his head down.

At those words the air in the throne room froze.

Emperor Cloel’s proposal. Ed Rothtaylor rejected the proposal which was practically an order.

“If someone like me steps into the sacred blood of the royal family it will be a big disaster.”

Words of humility that humble oneself. But that’s just finding a reason for rejection.

Finding the reason for rejection in one’s lowly status is a more perfect justification for rejecting Princess Selaha who is tied to her status. Even if they are lowly they are the best duke family on the continent.

“And becoming engaged to Princess Selaha here would be a betrayal of Princess Fenia to whom I have given my allegiance.”

“... ”

“Sincere loyalty is the most basic quality a subject must have. Even if you were to betray someone you were loyal to and fall into the arms of Princess Selaha would that be considered honorable? “I think they are just bats moving with the flow of power.”

Ed Rosstaylor just continued his story calmly.

“Once loyalty is engraved in your heart you will keep it until the day you die. I think that is the duty of a subject. Therefore the engagement with Princess Selaha... “It cannot be uploaded.”

The person who opened her eyes the most at those words was Princess Selaha herself.

If it is an order from the emperor even Selahah cannot resist it. Once Emperor Cloel makes up his mind he listens to no one.

Therefore for Ed Rothtaylor it would have been a unique opportunity to step into the royal family.

Even in this situation where even Selaha who can control everything in the world can’t do anything...

Ed Rosstaylor... He refused to accept Selaha even going so far as to go against the royal command. It is impossible unless it comes from the heart.

you... ”

Selaha glared at Ed in disbelief.

“You kicked me?”

Selaha’s life has always been looked up to with reverence since childhood.

A person who has been in a position to kick someone. It was a life where I never had to be dumped by anyone.

no. Princess Selaha. “My humble status is just not enough to become a member of the royal family.”

Ed Rosstaylor humbles himself like that and gets away. But that is still just a justification.

Ed Rosstaylor is not engaged to Selaha. He simply sacrificed the rest to carry out his will.

“What are you... Do you reject me? At best I am only the eldest son of a failing duchy but in front of me Selaha Einir Cloel... ! Even if I could just grab his ankle and ask him to look at me just once it wouldn’t be enough but I... !”

Selaha widened her eyes and strode over to Ed putting her face in his face. Ed Ross lifted Taylor’s collar and looked her in the eyes but Ed’s expression did not change at all.

“Why do you have such peaceful eyes? Why do you always look like everything in the world is okay... ! Why don’t you throw your head on the floor in embarrassment! this person... A lowly bastard... ! On a subject without authority or dignity... !”

“... “Princess Selaha.”

“Even though I gritted my teeth and wrote the letter he didn’t budge. At the end of every word Fenia Fenia... ! Mine is much more promising... Even though they say they will give you everything you need... ! Why do you have such motionless eyes... !”

In the end Selaha couldn’t hold back his anger and ended up spitting out the words.

“On my side... “I guess you could just take a look at it at least once..!”

Those words may just be an expression of Selaha’s resentment who is full of arrogance and pride...

“Your Majesty is watching.”

“... ”

It had a completely different meaning to Emperor Cloel who was watching the scene.

It is not common for Selaha who is full of arrogant pride to lose his temper and get angry like this.

Selaha who had lost her senses to the point where she even forgot for a moment that she was in the presence of Emperor Cloel finally took a deep breath and lowered her head.

“It was disgraceful. “Abama.”

The atmosphere in the throne room was completely cold.

A man from a simple ducal family refuses to obey the emperor’s orders and the first princess is losing her mind right under the emperor’s nose... From the emperor’s perspective he must have felt like his authority was being challenged.

Selaha closed his eyes tightly as he waited for the emperor’s next shout.

haha.

However Emperor Cloel’s reaction was completely different from what was expected.

Rather a satisfied smile came out.

Everyone could not help but be confused by that sight. It was a situation in which anyone could see that they had to be angry at the sight before their eyes that had flouted the authority of the emperor.

However Emperor Cloel smiled with satisfaction as he looked at Ed Rosstaylor.

Ed Rosstaylor.

A man whom Princess Selaha is strangely obsessed with Princess Persica is strangely wary of and is favored by Princess Fenia.

In fact this man who had a wide influence on the three princesses was someone who was deeply involved in this competition for imperial power.

He has met all three princesses and has been evaluated in his own way. Plus to see Selaha behaving in such an indecent manner... Emperor Cloel saw a new possibility.

“Ed Rosstaylor. I won’t make unreasonable demands on you right now. Instead I thought of another suggestion. Would you like to hear it?”

Cloel a rare star knows very well how to use a man like Ed Rothtaylor. He only needed to apply very little force to swing the Selaha.

“There are still many shortcomings in Gwain so I am still contemplating which of my three daughters to consider as the next successor to the throne.”

“It’s a big issue that will determine the future of the country so it’s natural for you to be worried.”

“So I would like to hear your opinion after meeting all of my daughters. From what I hear he is a wise man so he must have deep thoughts. Although she supports Selaha her loyalty is to Fenia and it feels like she is at odds with Persica. “I think you would give your opinion without hesitation.”

A person who can advise the emperor about the next successor to the throne.

Considering Emperor Cloel’s tendency to judge everything on his own it was safe to say that there were virtually no such people within the imperial family.

“After today’s festival would you like to play a game of chess in my room?”

“I’m not sure if I a fool can get involved in discussions about the future of the country.”

“Don’t worry too much about it. “I just want to talk to you once.”

In this way Emperor Cloel ended the story in a satisfied manner.

Cold sweat was flowing from Princess Selaha who had her head down.

A person who can speak into the emperor’s ears. In fact I am now in a position to influence the selection of the emperor...

As a result the position of Ed Rothtaylor the man bowing his head next to him changed completely.