Side Story 5 - Zeppel's Forced Holiday (1) |
Leonis retained his surname. They solidified the fact that the Hermos imperial family had disappeared and declared Cardian to be the new imperial family of the empire.
With the announcement that he would not continue the Hermos imperial family, he effectively severed the chain of corruption that had continued up until the reign of Emperor Orkan. The princesses who had married princes or nobles from other countries tried to protest, but their efforts were fruitless.
They had already abandoned the castle of Hermos and followed another castle. Moreover, since the Imperial Family had already incurred a lot of resentment, many people welcomed it.
It was Zeppel who wanted a new imperial family more than anyone else.
Leonis gave Zeppel the title of marquis and granted him some territory. He was another man who had lost his name, territory, and family to Orkhan, but he chose not to go by his former name after those things were taken away from him.
“My father was not a good lord.”
Turn a blind eye to corruption, get rich by participating in corruption, or report it or rebel against it and then die.
Zeppel’s father chose the second option.
After that, he was accused of all of his sins, and he discovered that he was in a position where he would be abandoned. Zeppel felt resentment towards the emperor, but he also felt shame towards his father, who had chosen a foolish path.
However, it was not about eating and living ‘together’. It only enriched the nobles.
Zeppel always felt guilty as he looked at the people of the territory starving to death.
“So what about you?”
“Pardon?”
Leonis asked Zeppel again as he told her about his past.
“What should I do?”
That question was the beginning of all preparation. While pursuing Leonis, learning the sword, and dreaming of a way to make the Cardian family rich… … Part of the plan was applied to the Cardian Duchy and actually made the territory wealthy.
Now it was time for the empire.
It was only natural that the existing forces would launch a counteroffensive, but unfortunately, the existing nobles who had been dealt a fatal blow by Michael were unable to put up much of a fight.
Newly emerging nobles might also easily try to follow in their footsteps, but Zeppel had no intention of letting that happen.
So there was a lot of work to be done and more people had to be hired.
His ambition was to make the empire a better country to live in. He was supported by a good monarch who stood by his side, and he was wealthy and had a large territory under his control.
It was truly a dream come true.
Zeppel thought only about work and worked all day. He does it, does it, and does it again.
✦ ✦ ✦
“I am not to blame for this.”
Leonis spoke while receiving accusatory looks from his aides. Prime Minister Zeppel collapsed from overwork. He was said to have fainted with his eyes barely open.
Because the emperor and his wife cared so deeply for Zeppel, they made it possible for him to reside in the imperial palace so that they could look after him. This puzzled Zeppel.
“For me, going back to my private residence… I’m afraid the rumours will go around.”
“The Lord also works at home. Why don’t you lie back down while I talk to you?”
Zeppel quickly looked around at Celia’s cold words. The servants, who had already received orders from the Empress, were preparing to lay down Zeppel.
Maids standing nearby with wet towels at their ready were prepared to provide care.
Because he was a young and handsome nobleman, the maids were very interested in him. Zeppel found this burdensome, but Celia only gave him a teasing look.
“I have given Your Majesty’s reprimand a great deal of consideration, and I beg you to stop sending me away. I’m going to get some rest at home.”
“Then is it okay if I send surveillance? I’d say about five.”
“…….”
Celia’s eyes turned cold when Zeppel, who only spoke like that and was about to go back to work, was momentarily silent.
“There’s no way. I’ll take a look.”
Celia then turned to the other maids, and all of them sprinted to Geppel in a panic. At that precise instant, the redness in Zeppel’s embarrassed face intensified.
“Yo-Your Majesty the Empress!”
“They won’t eat you, Prime Minister.”
The majority of management organisations had to be restructured as a result of the world turning upside down. Naturally, many young talents were recruited to the new imperial family.
Perhaps this is why there were so many young and talented people working in the imperial palace’s administrative positions. As a result of their alliance with the emperor and their subsequent rise to power, they were the most desirable prospects in the marriage market.
The most common way to approach them was through matchmaking or exchanges between families, but these were individuals whose families had previously completely disintegrated.
Therefore, some of them, like Zeppel, were difficult to access using conventional methods.
They are able to meet one another if either of them decides to become an official or a knight; however, who among them would study for the management exam and learn swordsmanship just to get married?! So the next best option was to become the empress’s maid.
Not only was this an honourable thing to do, but it was also the easiest way for a woman to gain power. It is also possible that it will result in a promotion for her husband in the near future.
As a result, many daughters of marriageable age began to crowd around Celia.
At first, Celia was surprised that they had come after Leonis, but she was relieved when she realized that their purpose was completely different.
“Oh my, oh my, who would have the audacity to challenge Your Majesty the Empress’s deep heart!?”
Some of the maids waved their hands and said that. For the people and the nobles, Celia’s deep love touched God. Celia, who heard this later, became embarrassed and asked Zeppel, but Zeppel told her that it was not his work.
“I only informed you that Her Majesty the Empress has summoned her divine beast. There’s nothing about love…”
Doesn’t it seem like a stroke of good luck that the word that sneaks a little teasing is because she had a good relationship with the emperor?
‘Hehehe, try it yourself!’
There were many nobles that the ladies who came in as maids were targeting, but Zeppel was number one among them. Not only did he have a good-looking face, but the fact that he was the closest confidant of the emperor and that he was both intelligent and capable also seemed to pique the interest of the ladies.
Next in rank was Nile, captain of the imperial guard.
When Nile found out that he had come in second place, his expression changed from one of subtle joy to one of contentment.
“…Do you think that my dissatisfaction with my high ranking is due to the fact that I’m a shady person?”
Celia knew it was because Nile’s crush was focused on seducing Zeppel, but she pretended not to know.
“Why am I not the number one woman they want to marry?”
Mirine became angry after seeing the rankings within the imperial palace related to marriage. Miline was angry, calling it discrimination against her, but everyone was silent.
‘Because Sir Will is with you?’
What only Miline didn’t know was that Will, the leader of the 2nd Imperial Knights, liked Miline. It was quite famous in social circles that Will would kill the flies hovering around Miline with a scary face.
That’s why they couldn’t cast a vote for Mirine in this vote.
Despite his innocent-looking face, Will was a man of tenacity who would definitely find the target.
“I didn’t build the imperial palace for this purpose.”
Leonis cast a curious glance towards the door that was already shut and wondered aloud why they were in someone else’s home. The romance of his close associates was probably a good thing for him.
Unless he becomes unhappy after meeting a strange human.
For other power-related issues, there were many methods that could be used, even if they did not necessarily have to be that way. The happiness of those close to him is as important as his own happiness.
“…Please intervene in an appropriate manner.”
Before leaving with Leonis, Celia said this to the servant standing outside the door. The attendants answered yes and bowed their heads.
✦ ✦ ✦
“You need to rest for at least two weeks!”
Zeppel was given the information by a member of the Imperial Council, who spoke to him in a serious voice. That also meant that Zeppel had to stay in the imperial palace for two weeks. Under the observant gaze of the empress’s servants!
‘I appreciate your help, but…’
There was a lot of work he had done himself. New good talents were also recruited, but trusting them all was too much for Zeppel now.
Emperor Leonis was also a very accomplished administrator, but he disliked being off-hours or doing more work than was necessary.
So, the person who had become the emperor’s new aide was happy about the sharp work hours. On the other hand, Prime Minister Zeppel’s aide’s complexion is becoming increasingly dark.
‘I did do a lot of work.’
Even things that were not immediately necessary were placed in his hands. Even though Leonis saw him and advised him that there was no need to rush.
However, if the imperial administration was delayed, its influence in the duchies was even slower.
“There are a lot of things that could go wrong if you rush.”
The Empress also gave similar advice. The new system was likely to receive a lot of backlash. Not everyone loves the change.
If someone suffers a loss, it means that there may be others who benefit from it.
Zeppel let out a long sigh and looked to his side. Fortunately, the servant sent the maids out appropriately.
“But two weeks is too long…”
Sighing deeply, Zeppel rolled over on the bed.
✦ ✦ ✦
Zeppel, who was able to get out of bed for the first time in four days, was spending time in the training field, eating and exercising. Since Leonis gave permission to use the imperial family’s practice field, he was able to use the large space without hesitation.
‘It’s not the time for me to be like this… No, I collapsed because I had poor stamina! Your Majesty….’
Even after working overtime for two days in a row, he had the stamina of a monster. Whenever he saw the Empress, he couldn’t resist dragging her into bed with him. Zeppel quickly erased his thoughts.
Even if the Emperor didn’t know, it would be blasphemous to advance such thoughts against Her Majesty the Empress.
It wasn’t while they were battling a monster that the person who learned how to use the sword passed out; rather, it was while they were struggling with some paperwork. It was embarrassing.
It was his responsibility that the matter was brought to the attention of His Majesty the Empress. In the event that it had been resolved in His Majesty’s favour, it’s possible that he would have been dragged into hell and trained.
Zeppel’s thoughts drifted to the maids who had offered to look after him for a while but were ultimately dismissed them. He had some concerns about what might have transpired had they remained there, but he was relieved when the servants arrived and took everyone away.
‘I guess Her Majesty was secretly teasing me.’
Even so, invitations and marriage proposals from various nobles were piling up in his house. These days, it has become unfavourable for a woman to send a marriage proposal first.
Rather, since he was an aristocrat, there were many reactions as if there was something to be ashamed of since it was a union between families anyway. The majority of marriage proposals were sent to the lady regardless of whether or not she was interested in marrying.
It was a marriage proposal that Zeppel would never read anyway.
He had no intention of getting married anytime soon. He has so much work to do.
Their Majesties told him to take it slowly, but Zeppel was impatient.
‘…Am I really going to rush?
Suddenly, Zeppel put his sword down and began to reflect on something. He then handed the sword to the servant, and while holding out the towel, he wiped the sweat off his face with it.
Following a prosperous year, the empire had already reached a state of stability for the time being. This was a fairly quick change, but the people seemed to already accept it naturally.
‘I don’t think it was stable because I was in a hurry.’
That was an arrogant judgment.
It was a feat achieved through a combination of the fact that the Cardian family had so much influence, the fact that most of the corrupt power lost their lives due to Michael’s trap, and the fact that the saintess and the divine beast were highly effective in stabilizing public sentiment.
