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Chapter 349
Traitor
Dwarves surged up from the ground like a burning anthill.
"Wh-what? Who are you people?"
The workers had heard that dwarves would be coming.
But armed with rage like back-alley thugs, it was hard to tell if they were allies or enemies.
"Move! You useless bastards!"
Е̄nu m а
"Anyone touches this place from now on, I'll shove 'em in a press and make 'em the same height as us!"
The dwarves shooed the workers away like bugs.
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Bewildered by their rough words and actions, the workers had no choice but to retreat.
The dwarves started rummaging through the spot where the wall was supposed to be built.
After about 30 minutes of just searching, a man who looked like an expert spoke up.
"Where are the fortress builders?"
Е̄n um̆ â
"I'm the fortress builder, but..."
"Hmm, not bad for a lanky bastard. Let's talk."
Being able to communicate with dwarves meant being acknowledged as a fellow craftsman.
It was definitely a happy occasion, yet it felt like walking into hell.
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After that, once they'd properly assessed the estimates, full-scale construction began in earnest.
Wheeled blast furnaces burst from the ground and settled into place, and centered around them, a forge was built in a mere 2 hours. An hour later, molten iron was flowing from the spouts.
Ĕnŭm̊ â .і̄d̀
Massive stones and ores kept popping up from the floor.
"It's truly awe-inspiring..."
The path to completion, which had been invisible, felt wide open.
The chased-away workers found the work progressing at such a marvelous speed that all their ill feelings vanished.
"Hey, lankies! Don't just stand there gawking, bring some food!"
"Beer and snacks!"
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"If it tastes like shit, you're out of business!"
The only thing needed was food supplies.
The workers instantly became errand boys, but even that felt good.
* * *
"Thanks to the dwarves' intervention, Frontesis's wall construction is proceeding smoothly. It looks like 50km of wall will be completed on schedule."
"I see."
Е n̄_u m̃а. іd̈
Frontesis's Wall.
Ferda had promised to leave an achievement with his help, and started by putting that achievement in the wall's name.
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It could intuitively show someone's achievement, and there was no reason for the wall's meaning to fade.
'The dwarves intervened and the wall's construction speed increased.'
It was fast enough to sufficiently block the movements shown in the Far East.
"How's the Hudret side?"
Èn̄u m å
"We succeeded in leading the Holy Nation's people, and with the South's help, succeeded in summoning a large force nearby."
Large-scale teleportation was difficult even for the Empire.
Because it required a tremendous amount of magical power, and that amount was enough to momentarily endanger a nation's safety.
The fact they endured that risk proved Hudret had capability.
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Anyway, the Western forces moved South.
Ahmed already knew Western people would come, and would join them and move to the Far East.
Wë b́ nȯv̈ ēľ Ë nu ṁ_а
Since they were building roads as a cooperative relationship, troop transport wasn't a problem.
"Regent-nim?"
Isabella came to find Ferda, holding a crystal ball.
"A message from Eugene Hudret has arrived."
An ominous premonition that wouldn't go away.
Ferda connected to the crystal ball and received the telepathic message.
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-Ferda Regent, seems like there's gonna be a problem.
"What kind of problem?"
-I knew the Empire had a lot of thorns stuck in them over you, but I didn't think it'd be this bad. They're trying to halt our advance, claiming we're participating in rebellion against the Empire.
Rebellion.
The most dangerous charge in the Empire, where no excuse is tolerated.
That wasn't just where the charge ended.
W̆ eb̃n о̀v̀ẽ l̆ Е̄ ńü m̃а̃
It could become the starting point of war, and an opportunity for the Empire, which had long hidden its ambition, to unfold it again.
"Then that means right now I..."
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-It means you've become a rebel.
Hearing that, Ferda glanced at Garnet.
She'd just gotten out of bed and was participating in the operation.
Right now, she had a face that said she had no excuse.
W̌ ӗ b́ń о̌ v̌ēl Е̌ǹŭm.а̄_
Because Garnet hadn't known that information.
'Can't be helped.'
Since Godfrey regained power, digging for internal info had become impossible.
When he killed Helus, he rooted out all infiltrated Black Bandana agents and executed them without leaving any room.
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How well they hid wasn't the issue.
If Godfrey's foresight showed a clue to those rat bastards, they were eliminated.
W̌е b̈n o v̈ё l Ӗ.ǹu̇ m̈ а́
'Rebel...'
With enemies beyond that black land, and enemies at his back too, Ferda didn't like this situation one bit.
"Regent-nim. The Empire side is trying to summon you there."
Perfectly matched timing.
They must have sent it knowing the time had come when they heard Hudret's news.
Ferda nodded, and shortly after, a gate opened.
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A herald in splendid armor shouted loudly.
"Ferda Valdrova! I come in the name of the Great Empire's Light, Godfrey Arken, so revere this nameplate as you would the Dragon's Face!"
It was telling him to kneel as if before the Emperor.
But Ferda didn't kneel.
He already guessed what was in that diplomatic letter.
The herald frowned at the disrespect but continued.
Ẁ еb̆n̈о̃v̇ е̂ ĺ Еn ü m а̌
"Your impious act will be reported to His Majesty."
"Just read the letter."
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"You've gathered troops in the West and South to the Far East without His Majesty's command. Furthermore, you've summoned dwarves without the homeland's approval and are unilaterally building a wall. All these acts threaten the Empire's safety, and there's no doubt this constitutes rebellion. If you wish to explain, answer the summons. This is a royal command."
The Emperor knew the situation perfectly well and was still doing this.
Ferda felt sick at the childish pettiness of wielding authority.
'Does he really not want to see me guarding this place that badly?'
W̆ѐḃ n̆о vеl Еn̂ ům̊ӓ
Who knows.
Whether he's doing this on a simple whim, or wants something bigger.
But all those deep intentions wanted one thing.
They're just waiting for Ferda to cross that gate.
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"Tell them I'll postpone the summons for later."
"This cannot be postponed. Once this gate closes, it'll be decided."
Ŵ е b̈ n̈ о̀v̀е̊ĺ Еnu m а
"Then convey this."
Ferda rolls the die.
"If not crossing that gate makes me a rebel, I'll gladly bear the stigma of traitor."
Crossing a river of no return.
The heralds wore expressions of disbelief.
"Is it really okay to convey that, Regent...?"
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"If you have eyes, look."
Ferda pointed at the wall spread out behind him.
"Is this what someone preparing rebellion against the Empire looks like?"
It was unmistakably a wall blocking the Demon's Land.
"Even this wall, stretching from North to South, can't block everything Her Highness the Gongwang has been holding back. Do you think just Hestia's people and the Far East Alliance can hold those numbers?"
The heralds shut their mouths.
Ẇ ëb n̄ о̇v̀ е̇ l̈ Е_n u m̊ ӑ
The gray-haired man with blue eyes like deep lakes had not a shred of shame.
"I don't know what you think, but right now is the Empire's most dangerous moment. If the Empire's in danger, it's a problem for the entire Serdes Continent. Yet at such a moment, the Empire ignored the Far East. I have things I must protect. To protect them, I needed the power of this wall and the people beyond the Empire."
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Ferda waved his hand dismissively.
"So treat me as a rebel all you want."
"They warned that Imperial troops will come here and suppress everything."
"Then let them. No more time to listen to threats. My front's too tough to watch my back."
Е̃ n̈ ŭ m̄а̀ . іḋ
The herald closed the letter and returned through the gate.
Ferda stared at the spot where the gate had vanished for a long time.
The surging adrenaline gradually cooled.
Reason, cornered away, kept whispering regret to Ferda.
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"Garnet."
"Yes."
Еn ü m а̊
"Should I have crossed over there?"
Garnet shook her head.
"Knowing what'll happen beyond there, would you go? It was the right choice."
"I suppose."
Ferda took a deep breath and ordered.
"Don't think anything about the rebellion matter. Right now, only monsters are the enemy. Perceive only that and move."
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"Understood."
He said not to think, but Ferda couldn't dare do that.
Because enemies might attack before monsters even come from the Demon's Land.
If a moment comes where he dies by human spears, drenched in monster blood.
Would he be able to not regret this day then?
Ferda didn't know.
Ē ń um̊а
* * *
Meanwhile, the Empire.
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The Empire's streets were filled with dirges from the imperial citizens' mouths.
The news that the Great Grand Duke, Valdemar Golt, had died gloriously in battle inside the World Tree spread to all citizens, and everyone poured into the streets to mourn his death.
At the front of that procession was Olivia Arken.
Wearing a white veil, she silently mourned his death.
Ѐnũm̂ а̊_. і̆ d̃
Olivia had returned to where the Imperial army was, crossing Gokma's Gate.
The reason for her sudden poof-appearance wasn't important.
Useless searches and suspicions stopped dead, the Princess's safety was secured, and they focused on finding Grand Duke Golt's body.
After that, securing Valdemar Golt's body, they returned to the homeland together.
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The Empire's Flower, Olivia's return.
But the citizens' expressions were complicated beyond words.
W̄ ѐb́ n̄o̊v̇ĕ.l̆ Ė n um̆а
The fact the Princess was alive, and that the Grand Duke died because of her.
The great one's death weighed heavier than the living's burden, so she had to endure stinging gazes.
Olivia showed no reaction.
She just bowed her head and focused on mourning.
'They say Her Highness the Princess hasn't spoken a word since that day.'
'Must be the shock of captivity.'
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'She was a prisoner of those cruel demons, it's a miracle her body's intact.'
Some even doubted her purity, but those who tried to cross the line got beaten to death by the enraged populace and silenced themselves.
That she was mentally struggling was true.
But the real reason wasn't the harsh captivity, nor shock from the Grand Duke's death.
"Your Highness the Princess."
A bureaucrat bowed politely and said this.
Еn um̀а
"I imagine your heart is full of holes from the long captivity. But regrettably, His Majesty the Emperor has ended his seclusion and emerged. You must have heard the news?"
"...Yes."
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"So you must prepare immediately. The maids are preparing, so please come this way..."
The moment she entered the palace, what greeted her was the damnable corset and perfume.
An attitude that didn't care at all what she'd been subjected to during kidnapping.
Olivia accepted it as if familiar.
Enù m̂а. і̀.d
Wipe away the stained parts, polish the shine, return as the Empire's Flower, and head to the dining hall.
The door there opened, and a man sat at the end of the table.
At the head seat that even Crown Prince Alexander couldn't dream of, a middle-aged man sat.
Olivia felt a strange feeling.
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It was the first time, but defining that feeling wasn't hard.
That was blood relation.
W ёb́ n̄ ov el̆ Е̇ ǹu mӑ
"Nice to meet you. I'm Olivia Arken. It's a great honor to behold Your Majesty's Dragon's Face."
In socializing, Olivia was a textbook.
The reason was simple.
Because she had no interest in such things.
It was merely the act of remembering based on what she'd learned and outputting it repeatedly.
Because she had no interest, she could become a beauty enough to receive the name Empire's Flower from everyone.
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That Olivia was feeling it now.
The fact that the mask wrapped like a hard shell was cracking.
"Come on in."
Her father's voice, heard for the first time.
She felt her heart's shell shake at that baritone.
"Sit."
Wе̇bn ӧ vе̃l Е̃ ñ ǔ ṁ a
"Yes."
A distant dining table.
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Father and daughter facing each other.
Olivia waited for the food with hands politely folded.
Olivia's gaze turned to Godfrey.
But Godfrey didn't look at Olivia even once.
Е n̂ ùm а̌ . id
While food filled the table, he showed no reaction whatsoever.
"Let's eat."
"..."
Greeting the Family Head's words was proper etiquette.
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But Olivia didn't respond at all.
She picked up fork and knife, and elegantly began eating as if nothing happened.
Е̂n̆ u_ḿ а̌ . id
No conversation.
Only the clatter of fork and knife touching dishes, and the musicians' music filling the silence flowed.
The one who finally opened her mouth was Olivia.
"I was a little uncertain. I doubted if what I was seeing was wrong."
Olivia stared at Godfrey's appearance from start to finish.
"But now I'm sure. The person before me right now really seems to be my father."
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"Why?"
"The pig who impersonated the Emperor scanned my whole body with his eyes the moment he saw me, and licked his lips."
Those sticky eyes.
He looked so full of desire he'd have fallen for it if she'd seduced him even a little.
"At first I thought it was like a fishing rod. That the Emperor was trying to probe my true feelings."
Olivia shrugged.
Ẃ е b n̊о v̌e_l Е n ǔ mа̊
"But it wasn't. He was just honest with his own desire. One of countless men."
"So you thought it'd be really easy, huh."
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The meaning of those words, Olivia knows because she's Olivia.
Using demons and Grand Duke Golt to eliminate all Arken bloodline.
"No matter how beautiful, having impure thoughts toward my own child is ridiculous."
"That was the common view, right."
Е̂.n um̂а
Olivia smiled faintly.
"So, Your Majesty. Am I beautiful?"
"The Empire's Greatest Beauty asks that?"
At those words, Olivia choked up.
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"If you're going to say that, shouldn't you at least look straight at my face?"
Since she hadn't taken her eyes off Godfrey once, Olivia knows well.
Е̃ṅ um̈ а̃ . їd
Godfrey didn't give her a single glance.
And even while she's saying this, Godfrey doesn't raise his eyes.
"Mother died giving birth to me, Father started seclusion after that... I've never seen my parents with my own two eyes. So I was always curious, but Your Majesty doesn't seem to be?"
"..."
"You've already seen me countless times, right? Like maids and valets peeking slyly in the cracks I don't know about."
A calm smile and a not-so-calm tone.
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"Disgusting."
Rotten to the core.
"My father was this disgusting a person."
