Episode 165 Unrest in the Fallon Empire
The Faron Empire is the successor of the Faron Holy Kingdom, which was once destroyed by the Scarlet King Sherry. At that time, there was chaos due to the countless immortals, but the neighboring country, the Holy Grineer, quickly suppressed it and created a new leader.
A strong leader will rebuild a country in chaos.
The Holy Grineer established Emperor Mikado's clan, the Heiren royal family, and it became the current Faron Empire.
"Huh...don't be nervous."
A boy wearing a black suit muttered in a room of the royal palace.
He repeatedly placed his right hand wrapped in a white glove on his chest, took a deep breath, straightened his back, and exhaled. He plays with his tied-up blonde hair to make sure it's not tangled, and looks in the mirror in his room to make sure his clothes aren't weird.He's just in a hurry.
“Even though it was my master’s request, I can’t believe something like this would happen.”
It was unfortunate for the boy to be here.
However, due to some twists and turns, they ended up coming to the royal palace. It was his first time in such an official event, and he was very worried that he might be doing something wrong.
There is a knock on the door, and a chamberlain who serves the royal palace appears.
"Sink-sama, the inauguration ceremony has been completed. Please enter."
"Y-yes...yes!"
The boy, Sink, stood up like a spring.
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The Heiren royal family has a very short history, and its origins are unknown. There are various rumors going around, such as that the Holy Knights are their ancestors, that they are the survivors of a fallen royal family, or that they are superhumans created as experimental subjects of the Holy Grineer.
However, even though the history is short, the royal family is still the royal family.
A suitable bodyguard is necessary.
Today, a new bodyguard for Serua Noir Heiren, the Emperor's only daughter, was to be appointed.
"Show your face"
The cool voice of the female minister echoed, and the kneeling sink looked up.
In front of me was a beautiful princess whose silver was hazy. A gold circlet adorns her transparent silver hair. The circlet also has a large piece of jade inlaid on her forehead, and only princesses of the royal family are allowed to wear it. This circlet is an accessory that represents the Heiren royal family.
The jewels on the forehead change depending on the person's position, such as emperor, queen, prince, or princess.
I couldn't help but admire the sink.
"You are... that swordsman's disciple. And from today onwards, you will be my bodyguard."
“Eh, ha, ha!”
"Kensai-sama is a person who has been in our care since the founding of our country. I am heartened that you have such a person as your adoptive father, and that you, as his disciple, will be appointed as your bodyguard. Your father is also Kensei-sama. It seems like you were quite unreasonable. However..."
"Princess! I have other plans after this. The ceremony should be done as soon as possible."
It was the female minister who intervened.
Normally, it would have been an act that would have earned him a rude attack. However, no one blamed the female minister. Even Serua in question just let out a sigh.
Then, I regained my composure and continued the ritual.
"My new sword and shield, swear by its name."
"My name is Sink... uh... my sword and shield are for the Jade Princess, and my body is for the royal family."
Sink manages to pronounce the words he improvised and memorizes and overcomes the ritual.
Then, the maid silently moved to Selua's side and opened the box in her hands. Inside are the jade earrings that are also decorated in Selua's circlet.
Serua personally puts these special earrings on the person who will become a knight, and the ritual is complete.
Sink gets nervous as the beautiful princess approaches him, and he stiffens up. As if pursuing him, Serua whispered in her ear.
"Please don't say anything now. Please prepare a car and wait at the east gate of the royal palace. Don't let that female minister... Minister Rosetta notice."
There was no time to raise my voice.
Serua quickly put on her earrings, and the ceremony was over. And she leaves her throne room with a clear face.
The female minister, Rosetta, yelled in a voice that seemed to be sarcastic to Sink, who was dazed and trying to understand the meaning of the whispered words.
"What are you doing? Please leave early. Knight Sink, your work starts tomorrow. You should return early from the royal palace today."
“H-huh?”
"Exactly. Why did the princess choose such a dull man as a knight...Even though he is a disciple of a swordsman, he is too dull."
That's a terrible statement, and it's extremely disrespectful even though he's a minister. However, no one reprimanded the minister, nor did he even change his expression. He was acting as if this was natural.
Even Sink, who is not familiar with the royal palace situation, can tell that this is abnormal.
(A female minister named Rosetta...is there something going on?)
Not unusual black hair, unusual red eyes, and sickly white skin.
Overall, Rosetta can be considered a beautiful woman. If he became a minister at such a young age, it means that he is an excellent person. However, no matter how good he is, I don't think he will be allowed to interfere with the Emperor's family, Serua.
(There must be something after all)
I remember Serua's words again.
Actually, I was supposed to start work tomorrow, but I was given a role starting today. And the master of the sink is not a minister but a princess. She has no reason to obey the minister who tells her to go home.
However, in order to carry out Rosetta's order without her noticing, I decided to pretend to be leaving for the time being.
(As for the car...is it okay to use the old, worn-out car I have?)
That was the only sink I was worried about.
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The car is parked on the road facing the east gate of the royal palace, and Sink waits for the princess. If that's the tone, it means that he wants to secretly leave the royal palace. Even Sink knows the extent of that.
“If I didn’t have a car, how would I have it prepared?”
While waiting, a question suddenly occurred to Sink.
The roads of this Faron Empire have been maintained at a huge amount of national expense. Smooth asphalt-paved roads began to be laid even before automobiles became popular, and it is said to be the greatest imperial decision in the country's history.
The capital Adibara is located near the sea of trees that sealed the Scarlet King, but a highway has been built that surrounds the sea of trees in a circle, and from that highway there are straight roads leading to each city. Therefore, the Faron Empire has advanced transportation capabilities. Naturally, people's lives have become richer. There is no citizen who is not satisfied with the result, which is made to feel like the result is more than the tax invested.
Along with this, the automobile industry that uses roads has also flourished, and the Fallon Empire is also thriving in automobile production.
Nowadays, if you have a little money, you definitely have one.
Sink also had a driver's license and a car in order to serve as the driver for his master, Kensei.
"Master... am I okay?"
His master, the swordsman, was often requested by the royal family to lend his strength. Sink, who lived with the Kensei as his adopted son and disciple, knows this well.
If I had known that there were such troublesome circumstances in the royal palace, I would not have agreed to become a bodyguard, even though it was my master's request. Of course, there was also a problem with Sink, who responded twice when he was asked to introduce a job.
As I was agonizing over it, two figures appeared from the east gate.
Both of them were wearing long robes, with their hoods pulled deep to hide their faces. After exiting the gate, the two hoods looked around several times before running towards Sink's car.
"It's me, Sink."
“Are you sure you are a princess?”
"I'll give you a ride."
"yes"
Sink gets out of the driver's seat after checking on Serua who lifts the hood a little to reveal her face. Then he opened the backseat door.
"please"
"Yes, thank you."
Serua gets in first, and the other person briefly checks the surroundings before getting in. Sink closed the door and climbed back into the driver's seat.
"Thank you for preparing the car. I will discuss the details while we are on the road. So please get out of the car first. Our destination is the Cathedral of the Sea of Trees."
"The Cathedral of the Sea of Trees...? That one on the south side of the Sea of Sealed Trees?"
"Yes. Hurry."
"I got it"
Sink starts the engine and slowly steps on the accelerator. Since he was carrying a princess, he started driving while being conscious of safe driving.
Our destination is the cathedral on the south side of the Sea of Trees that sealed the Scarlet King, so first we head to the main road.
Meanwhile, Serua and the other person removed their hoods and showed their faces. The other is a sharp-eyed woman with jade earrings in her ears. In other words, she was a knight of Serua, just like Sink.
"First of all, let me introduce her. She is Kanon, a knight who also takes care of me. She helped me escape from the royal palace."
"My name is Kanon. I heard that Mr. Sink will be my colleague from now on. Thank you."
"Ah, yes. Thank you. This is the sink."
Kanon looked annoyed as Sink gave a lazy self-introduction.
However, Serua controls her with her eyes.
"First, let me explain. In conclusion, this country is in crisis."
“Huh? Huh? Oh, by any chance, that minister named Rosetta?”
"I don't know. It's definitely the most suspicious thing, but my belief comes from another source. I have a magic outfit that allows me to sense danger. This magic outfit has been passed down through successive generations of the royal family... ...It is said to be a magic weapon used to detect the resurrection of the Scarlet King. That's why I was convinced that something would happen on this day."
“Do you think the Scarlet King will be revived?”
I was so upset that I almost drove erratically, but I managed to stay calm. If she hadn't trained her mind through sword training, it would have come out. Sink secretly thanked his master.
"It's understandable to be surprised, but it's true."
“Does the Emperor know about that?”
"I told my father, but he doesn't listen. He should also be able to sense this crisis... why..."
“Sink-dono, to tell you the truth, there are almost no allies of the princess in the current royal palace. Ever since that minister named Rosetta appeared, most of the bureaucrats have been at her mercy. Her power has grown, and now even the emperor has absolute trust in Rosetta.I can only think that this is strange, as the chief butler and I, who arranged the escape, are definitely on the princess's side. You are the only one who has just taken office.”
"It's pathetic, but Kanon is right."
Sink is confused by the information that appears one after another.
As expected, without sword training, he would have had trouble driving.
Serua spoke quietly.
"Sink, first let's go to the Cathedral of the Sea of Trees. There should be a guardian of the Roka tribe who has put up a barrier around the Sea of Sealed Trees and continues to seal away the Scarlet King. If it's the guardian, then he's gone crazy. I’m sure the royal palace too…”
In any case, Sink hurried the car towards the cathedral.
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