MHHC Chapter 114

The Emperor's Seat

Valentin slowly surveyed the tribunal as if gauging the situation.

Though the Grand Duke's expression appeared relaxed, those who met his eyes instinctively averted their gazes in alarm.

That quiet fury in his eyes... Valentin waited for the assembly, which had grown chaotic at his entrance, to settle before speaking.

"I've hurried to bring a healer who can prove my wife's innocence, but..."

At Valentin's gesture, the knights who had stood guard behind him parted to either side.

Shoved forward between them was a shabby-looking man wearing a pressed hood.

Adelheid felt confused that the healer's face looked familiar, then remembered where she'd seen him.

Jürgen. The healer who had first examined Valentin after his resurrection.

Seeing that face brought memories tumbling forth in chaotic succession.

Valentin pale as a corpse, Greta dying with her throat injured, Father Padre's request and his later advice for her to seek him at 'the Tower'...

Come to think of it, hadn't he said he was heading south after the examination?

Adelheid fumbled through hazy memories. Memories barely half a year old now felt like the distant past.

'Did he persuade Jürgen? To say what I use isn't magic?'

Unlike her confusion, Valentin's voice addressing the Emperor held not a tremor of uncertainty.

"It seems testimony is already useless. Since Your Majesty has made up his mind, may I take my wife and leave?"

"Grand Duke."

"I'll finish preparations to return to Ansgar by today. Please forgive my discourtesy in not remaining for the victory banquet you've so graciously provided."

"Please listen! Hear my words before you judge. That woman... has deceived you!"

"Adelheid, your hand."

As if the Emperor's voice were inaudible, Valentin extended his hand toward Adelheid with strange gentleness.

The moment she grasped that hand in a daze, Valentin bent and caught her waist to lift her up.

Heat from embarrassment rose to her coldly pale cheeks.

Before so many people, in a posture that was practically an embrace... But her confusion lasted only briefly.

Dear God.

Valentin's body temperature and breath were far too hot. Being pressed so close against him made it even more noticeable.

At first she thought it an illusion. Hadn't she sat on that freezing floor for so long? Her own temperature had dropped, making him feel hotter by comparison.

But no matter the reason, this... this wasn't normal. With slight exaggeration, it felt like embracing heated iron.

When Adelheid fidgeted to examine him more closely, Valentin tightened his arm around her waist.

He pulled her firmly against him as if to say don't let go, then turned his attention back to the Emperor.

"I understand Your Majesty's words, of course. But if I've been deceived, it remains my personal matter—so whether to maintain this marriage also falls under my purview, does it not?"

"You are Ansgar's ruler. How could this be personal? Better to nullify the marriage and welcome talent that would benefit Ansgar..."

"Ansgar desperately needs healers, and the Grand Duchess admirably fulfills that need."

"...Words spoken in the tribunal must be valued above gold. That woman declared she would enlist!"

"Something grasped as a second choice by one cornered. Since she's innocent to begin with, it's a meaningless declaration."

"Cornered..."

The Emperor twisted his expression as if somewhat aggrieved. Displeasure at Valentin seemed to surface faintly on his wrinkled face.

The Emperor's eyes wavered between Mikhail and Valentin in turn. He deliberated considerably longer this time, but as always, enduring hatred proved more difficult.

The Emperor declared firmly to Valentin with a look that seemed to scrape together whatever affection remained at the bottom.

"Either way, I won't let her retract the enlistment. Especially now that she's demonstrated her capabilities! Normally even the suspicion alone would warrant immediate execution. Take comfort that she's kept her life until your return."

"Your Majesty."

"Some of you may know—the monsters' movements are currently disturbing."

The Emperor raised his voice toward the nobles seated left and right, as if determined to make this public now that it had come to this.

He drew from his breast a rolled parchment. On its back was stamped the reindeer head symbolizing Schleicher Territory.

Adelheid dimly realized this was the new symbol they'd adopted to assert legitimacy after seizing half of Nassau's lands.

"This is a report Count Schleicher submitted months ago upon discovering suspicious monster activity. Monsters are gathering on the old Nassau lands."

"..."

"The first signs appeared last winter, and after sending a separate investigation, the monster forces now number five brigades. Beyond the northern barrier, massive magical explosions too large to handle are observed almost daily."

Murmurs of disturbance arose at the mention of five brigades.

Only two in the tribunal seemed to maintain composure.

Valentin and Mikhail. While Mikhail stared at Valentin and Adelheid with hatred-filled eyes, Valentin didn't even glance in Mikhail's direction.

"There are even widespread rumors that the 'Dragon of Bitzleben' is awakening. I cannot stand idly by while my people live in anxiety."

Only then did Adelheid turn her gaze from Valentin's face to the Emperor.

Understanding began to dawn dimly.

Thinking back, it had been strange from the start.

Though called a victory celebration, the unprecedented summoning of each house's private troops, the provision of accommodations down to emptying palace annexes for all those knights, and—

"For this reason, I've decided to advance this year's annual subjugation order somewhat and increase the subjugation force's scale by adding central troops to the private forces. I've conscripted every available healer, but... those damn Tower bastards even at a time like this."

The Emperor glanced at the healer Valentin had brought and fell silent.

The Emperor couldn't quite finish, but his meaning was clear. The Tower had demanded exorbitant payment for deployment.

"In any case, we're short every hand we can get."

Adelheid barely swallowed a hollow laugh. They'd opened the tribunal with intention to use her this way from the start.

Planning to conscript her to the battlefield by forcing any crime upon her.

Whether she lacked ability or possessed it... whether she was demonic or not had never mattered.

If she didn't die, Ansgar would gain a hero as Grand Duchess; if she died, there'd be no need to trouble over annulment.

Either way, it was the optimal choice for 'the Grand Duke of Ansgar' if he coveted the throne.

'Unless it's treason... after three years of faithful service, I could appeal the unjust verdict.'

Adelheid bit her lip bitterly.

'If I supported the northern barrier garrison, I could have seen Valentin once a week.'

More boldly, she'd even calculated on preventing Valentin from pursuing the Emperor's position. Couldn't we just live together peacefully in Ansgar as we are...?

But demonstrating healing arts had been the trap all along. No one in the tribunal cared about her innocence.

The nobles merely intended to entangle the Grand Duchess somehow and stuff even the Grand Duke of Ansgar into the northern forces. And the Emperor...

"To prevent Nassau's tragedy from repeating in any form, we've blocked half of Nassau's land—where the 'Dragon of Bitzleben' supposedly sleeps—with the northern barrier. And thirty years later, what I feared is happening."

"..."

"I view this as a national disaster. And historically, whenever crisis came to this land, a hero appeared. We may all be considered descendants of those heroes."

Ah, so that's why... Adelheid barely swallowed a sigh. The Emperor's intentions, which had been impossible to fathom, were finally becoming somewhat readable.

A silence descended upon the tribunal so profound that even a falling pin could be heard.

Beneath the surface, each person's calculations churned noisily, while on the surface they maintained the smoothest pretense of refinement—like themselves.

"..."

Glances and glances, gestures and gestures passed soundlessly.

The longer the Emperor's silence stretched, the tauter the tension wound. Finally, as if bursting the swollen air, the Emperor made his sharp declaration.

"To whoever resolves this problem and brings the dragon's head—regardless of guilt or innocence, regardless of status—I will gladly cede the Emperor's seat."

"Hurry."

"Valentin, wait, just a moment..."

"The knights will take good care of Margaret, so focus on me now. No, just—"

Adelheid stood dazed, then swallowed a startled breath as Valentin's hand slipped beneath her thighs to support her.

So flustered she instinctively wrapped both arms around his neck, she felt Valentin release a soft laugh.

"Too... hasty... What kind of discourtesy is this?"

"Sorry Adele, but following your own words, I'm truly in a hurry."

Valentin whispered in her ear, still wearing that smile.

His slightly trembling voice and eyes revealed urgency and desperation that even laughter couldn't conceal.