25-298

EP.298. [Blessed by the Grace of the Emperor.] 

“Sir David, how are you here??” 

Two days later, Eugene Schneider’s group arrived in Bahad. To their surprise, they were greeted not only by the usual garrison commander Memphis and the Gray Bear Mercenary leader Nazrid, but also by a most unexpected and welcome figure: David, the deputy commander of the Alexandria Iron Cross Knights. Eugene, wide-eyed, approached with Jeanne and others who knew David. 

“Lady Vivian sent me urgently to meet with you, Sir Eugene. Rather than talking here, let’s go to the garrison headquarters and have a proper discussion.” 

As expected, David had come on Vivian’s orders, whom the Iron Cross Knights served. 

“Is that true???” 

Following David’s lead, Eugene’s group went to the Bahad garrison headquarters. There, Eugene noticed that the discipline and readiness of the garrison was even more intense than before. Soon, David delivered shocking news. 

“Yes. Emperor Louis XVI has passed away.” 

The emperor was dead. 

‘So that’s why the soldiers outside were even more on edge than during the monster outbreaks!’ 

The emperor’s death meant the empire was on the highest alert. As part of the imperial forces, the Bahad garrison was also affected. 

“Was the emperor murdered?” 

Charlotte, standing next to Eugene, asked David. Since David wore an imperial military insignia, not just that of Vivian’s private retainer, it was clear he was there as an imperial envoy. But after hearing the shocking news, Charlotte had to ask for confirmation. 

“Yes, Sister Charlotte. There was a coup, the palace was seized in an instant, and the emperor was killed by the rebel leader.” 

David began to answer Charlotte’s question. 

“And the rebel leader is...” 

Charlotte, dreading the answer but needing to hear it, asked in a trembling voice. 

“Kaiser Antoine de Sel Oblaing of the imperial army.” 

The news, which they had hoped was false, was now confirmed as reality. Charlotte’s own father, Antoine de Sel Oblaing, had led a coup and killed the emperor. 

“Ah...” 

Sway  

“S-sister!” 

Thud! 

As the reality she had hoped to avoid became undeniable, Charlotte nearly fainted. Eugene quickly supported her. 

‘So it’s come to this. I was prepared since all signs pointed to the duke, but for my sister it must be different.’ 

Due to recent stories about Alexis and what he’d heard from Marianne, Eugene’s perception of Antoine had changed. But for Charlotte, who had known her father as the imperial knight commander, the shock was immense. 

“At least the imperial seal was delivered to Lady Vivian, along with the emperor’s letter of abdication. So Lady Vivian is now acting as the interim emperor.” 

David’s presence as an imperial envoy was because Vivian had become emperor. Though the formal process was incomplete, she was effectively the empire’s highest authority. 

‘If the duke led a coup, no other nobles would step up. That’s why, despite the past, they turned to Vivian for help and entrusted her with the future. The emperor’s seat, after all.’ 

Eugene, supporting Charlotte, quietly marveled at fate. Once, Alexis Saint-Pierre was considered the vessel for the throne by the previous emperor, nobles, and the people. Though that vessel was destroyed by Antoine and Louis XV’s schemes, the throne had now returned to Alexis’s daughter. 

“When I arrived, the latest message was that the rebels had, for some reason, abandoned the palace. By now, Lady Vivian is probably moving to reclaim it.” 

Antoine, who never wanted the throne, left the palace without regret. Not knowing his reasons, Vivian’s side waited before moving to reclaim the palace. 

“If Duke Antoine led the coup and killed the emperor, then we can’t feel safe either.” 

Eugene began to speak realistically. With Antoine killing the emperor and then retreating, the Oblaing family was now seen as traitors, not a new royal family. Other nobles, watching Antoine’s moves, would likely start targeting the Oblaing family. 

“The interim emperor was concerned about that, so she sent me to Bahad immediately.” 

Vivian, having experienced political ruthlessness and gained real-world experience as a merchant, understood this well. She accepted the throne largely to protect Eugene Schneider. 

After becoming emperor, she monitored Antoine’s movements and quickly sent David as a special envoy to Eugene. 

“Given the emergency, the interim emperor plans to use her authority to suppress backlash against the Oblaing family excluding Antoine.” 

David relayed Vivian’s intentions to Eugene. 

“Next, she intends to work with the imperial household to stabilize the situation and change public perception.” 

With monsters rampant and a coup in progress, the imperial edicts were more powerful than ever. Vivian wanted to buy time, separate Antoine from Eugene’s group, and recast the Oblaing family as heroes, not traitors. 

“Stories of your exploits defeating Drake, the owlbear, and the minotaur are already being spread by the imperial court.” 

Vivian, skilled at reading the people’s mood from her merchant background, moved quickly to make Eugene a hero. For the people, whoever could protect them was the best traitor or not. 

“Currently, over 70% of the imperial knights have joined the rebels. For the noble factions of Elysium, Tyrannos is the biggest threat.” 

Vivian’s strategy for the nobles was negotiation. The nobles’ greatest rivals were the anti-empire Tyrannos alliance, whose member houses often clashed with imperial nobles. 

“......” 

Listening to David’s explanation, Eugene looked at his hand, where he held a special item the emperor’s sword. Vivian hadn’t just sent David; she also sent Eugene a symbol of the emperor’s authority. 

“Vivian, no, Her Majesty, has shown and continues to show great care for us.” 

Eugene was moved. Though Bahad and Vivian were far apart, she was looking after him as if she were right beside him, even while burdened with her father’s legacy and the duties of an emperor. 

“Her Majesty sends her deepest gratitude to you, Sir Eugene. She said that without your inspiration, she wouldn’t have been able to break out of her old mindset and make these decisions. She asked me to reassure you and your family, and not to worry.” 

Vivian’s current actions were only possible because she had overcome the trauma caused by Antoine. She was now facing her enemy Antoine directly, and even helping Louis XV, who had once sided with Antoine. Without the confidence she gained from Eugene, she wouldn’t have dared accept the emperor’s request. But she did, for the greater good and for Eugene. 

Thanks to her connection with Eugene, Vivian had become stronger. Their story was truly heartwarming. 

“I can’t believe it... Father?” 

But the situation was different for the newly established Red Fox Mercenary base in Bahad. After finishing his conversation with David, Eugene returned to the mercenary headquarters and told Jeanne about Antoine’s coup. Jeanne was nearly devastated by the news. 

“.....” 

Eugene looked at Jeanne, whose face had gone pale, unable to find words to comfort her. He had considered warning her earlier, but didn’t want to confuse the leader of the mercenaries in a dangerous situation. So Jeanne received all the shocking news at once after settling in Bahad. 

“He was so sincere about the way of the sword... He applied his strict standards to me as well... And now he’s abandoned the way of the knight...?” 

Jeanne’s reaction was different from Charlotte’s. While Charlotte was shocked and bewildered, Jeanne’s response was tinged with resentment. 

“Jeanne, do you remember our old promise?” 

Eugene sensed this. 

“You promised to answer any one question I asked, no matter what.” 

He brought up the promise they’d made as part of forming the harem. 

“What did the duke do to you?” 

Eugene was certain: Antoine de Sel Oblaing, Jeanne d’Arc de Sel Oblaing’s father, had left a deep wound in his second daughter’s heart.