A Mage Reborn: Legacy of the Fallen Emperor
Chapter 68: Golden Decree

Chapter 68: Chapter 68: Golden Decree

The atmosphere among the ministers heading to the Council Meeting was heavy. Word had spread that both princes, who’d been sharpening their knives since the hunting incident the previous day, would be attending.

"What’s the meaning of this? Both Prince Marive and Prince Gale attending together?"

"They usually only attend the afternoon sessions..."

"I hear it’s about the Lord Appointment Right for the former Bratz territory. They’re clashing."

"Has that worthless land been gilded in gold or something? Why the sudden obsession?"

"Have you heard anything?"

"Rumor has it a Recommendation Letter was submitted, and the candidate is Derga’s illegitimate son. Apparently, he’s a Spellweaver, which is why Prince Gale is interested."

"A Spellweaver, you say?"

"That’s just what I overheard. Let’s go in. We’re late."

The ministers, with heavy steps, had no choice but to enter the grand hall. Usually, the atmosphere was boisterous, almost jovial, but today was undeniably different.

Thud.

"Prince Gale has arrived."

"Your Highness, welcome."

Gale, with a casual air, swept his tousled black hair back and smiled.

"Everyone’s so diligent this morning."

"You flatter us, Your Highness."

His active participation in politics, despite being pushed out of the line of succession, was a silent threat to Marive. Besides, the Council Meetings were entirely the ministers’ domain; there was no particular reason for him to attend. At least, until a few days ago.

"Prince Marive is entering."

"Your Highness. Good morning."

"...Take your seats."

Marive, arriving at the meeting hall, glanced briefly at Gale before taking his seat at the head of the table. A heavy silence descended as the Council Meeting began. Several agenda items passed, with both princes remaining silent, merely listening.

"Now, next is, then..."

The Chairman’s hesitation spoke volumes.

Here it comes.

"The matter concerning the former Bratz territory. Romandro, who was sent as an advisor, has sent a Recommendation Letter. The candidate is Ian, the illegitimate son of the executed Derga."

"The illegitimate son of a traitor... Wouldn’t that make reinstating him as lord meaningless, considering the family’s extermination?"

"However, it was Ian himself who reported Derga to the Imperial Palace. He severed the ties with Bratz first. And most importantly, he was never officially registered, so he never legally held the Bratz name."

The ministers, reviewing the relevant reports, offered their various opinions. Gale was the first to speak.

"By all rights, he should be a slave. To make him a lord is preposterous."

"He’s the only Bratz who can form an alliance with the Great Desert bordering the territory. Reducing the military’s size will reduce costs, and taxes will increase."

"Didn’t he bring in foreign powers? That could be considered treason."

"But he seems to have considerable support from the local populace. He fulfills all the conditions we considered when we initially postponed the appointment. And, I hear he’s a Spellweaver."

"Ah, yes. So I’ve heard."

The ministers began to murmur again. As if anticipating this, Marive handed a piece of paper to a servant. The paper, received with a bow, was delivered to the Chairman.

"For these reasons, I also submit a Recommendation Letter supporting him. While a count is usual for border territories, a viscount would be appropriate in this case, given the circumstances."

Romandro, and now Marive, had both submitted Recommendation Letters. At this point, there was no real reason to object. The ministers exchanged silent glances, all the while keeping an eye on Gale.

He seemed to attend this meeting to oppose the appointment, but he’s strangely silent.

"Once he’s appointed lord, what will become of him? A Spellweaver should serve in the Imperial Palace. Can a family head afford to be away from his territory for so long? He’ll be busy rebuilding his family."

"That is for the family head to decide. Once the territory is granted, it’s not a matter for the central government to interfere in."

"That’s right. The current issue is whether Ian is qualified to be a family head. As long as the taxes are paid properly, we shouldn’t concern ourselves."

Especially in border territories, autonomy had to be strictly respected. There were cultural differences due to the distance, and, most importantly, that autonomy was the very force that kept the borders strong.

Thwack!

"Taxes, you say? You speak well."

"...What do you mean?"

Gale, snapping his fingers, seized on the word, causing Marive to frown. It was a signal to behave appropriately in a formal setting.

"He’s the illegitimate son of a traitor, who should have been a slave. Since he’s a Spellweaver, making him a slave and keeping him in the Imperial Palace would be more beneficial in many ways. Wouldn’t you agree, Minister Wesley?"

"That could be argued, yes. The median annual income of the Magic Department is 200 gold coins. Even those with little experience receive at least 100 gold coins."

"If Ian were to be appointed as a mage, we would have to pay that price, but if he were demoted to a slave, it would be a net gain."

"There has never been a case of a mage being enslaved!"

"How can the head of the Magic Department, who knows this better than anyone, say such a thing?"

The ministers were aghast, raising their voices. Mages were considered sacred, believed to be closest to the power of the gods.

That’s why, despite having the fewest members, the Magic Department received one of the largest budgets in the Imperial Palace.

Wesley smiled lightly, a gesture meant to calm them.

"I was merely stating the economic cost that this Ian would bring. I never said anything about demoting him to a slave."

"Prince Gale, what is it you wish to say?"

The Prime Minister intervened, holding up his staff. Gale looked at Marive and spoke.

"I hear that the taxes Derga embezzled were enormous. And the central government even provided support funds to the border territory, didn’t they?"

"That was a humanitarian measure, perfectly justified."

"If we combine Ian’s potential economic opportunity cost and the missing taxes, I believe it would be acceptable to everyone if he repaid a certain amount to the Imperial Palace."

Marive almost burst out laughing. Ha! So, since they couldn’t stop the appointment through Molin or the investigation leader, they were resorting to money.

It was customary for the Imperial Palace to confiscate a territory if the lord failed to pay his public debts, including taxes, within a certain period, using the proceeds to cover the losses. It was an opportunity that wealthy upstarts eagerly sought to increase their status. If an auction were held, Wesley would most likely be the highest bidder.

’Typical of the Magic Department...’

It was impossible to estimate how much wealth Wesley, the head of the department that received the largest budget in the Imperial Palace, possessed. Seeing the gold gilding every corner of her mansion, some even said she had mastered alchemy and was stacking gold like sand.

"Honestly, isn’t such a condition reasonable for the bloodline of a traitor? After he’s appointed lord, one year. If he fails to repay the debt within that time, then it would be appropriate to demote him to a slave."

"How much...?"

"10,000 gold coins."

"Good heavens."

"I believe that’s a reasonable amount."

The fact that he demanded it so confidently meant it was a thoroughly calculated amount. A grounded figure.

But 10,000 gold coins.

That was an amount that could barely be met by handing over all the taxes collected from the Bratz territory without spending a single coin. He would likely have to sell off the mine or part of the land to maintain his position as lord.

If that happened, his family’s power would dwindle, and he would lose his own strength. Gale’s intention to create an opening for himself to step in later was transparent.

"What do you all think?"

"I, I don’t think it’s a bad idea. He should pay that much to create a public justification and, most importantly, to quell the opposition from the nobles."

"I agree. Even if he is a Spellweaver, he is still the bloodline of the former lord, which is unsettling."

"But isn’t a year too short? There will be trials and errors when he becomes lord. He should be given at least three years..."

"Isn’t he already acting as the family head in Bratz? After this winter, next winter will make it two years. That’s sufficient."

The ministers, searching for a compromise, glanced at Marive, seeking his agreement. He tilted his head, seemingly deep in thought, but Gale’s proposal didn’t seem entirely unfavorable.

"Very well. Then, appointing Ian as lord should be the first step."

"That’s right, because he needs to generate income through management..."

"Very well. I have no objections."

As Marive nodded readily, the ministers breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, we’ll be able to have afternoon tea.

Gale and Wesley, on the other hand, exchanged surprised glances.

’I thought he would protect him more aggressively.’

At least, to extend the period, or reduce the amount.

Or even object to Gale’s claim altogether as nonsense. Marive, whether he knew their thoughts or not, urged the Prime Minister.

"It seems we’ve reached an agreement. Let’s move on to the next item."

"Ah. Yes. We will do so. Then, we will submit a proposal to the Emperor to conditionally appoint Ian as the family head of the former Bratz territory."

"Very well."

"No objections."

Thud! Thud! Thud!

The Chairman struck his staff, concluding the agenda item. Marive smiled and turned to the next report. In truth, whether Ian was in debt or not was of no concern to him.

His primary goal was to prevent someone from Gale’s faction from becoming lord. Besides...

’Somehow, I feel like he’ll pull it off.’

He’d never even seen his face, but he had a strange feeling that Ian would manage it without any problems. It was baseless and unrealistic, but that’s how he felt. Perhaps it was because, as a third party, he found the situation intriguing.

But, if he really managed to gather 10,000 gold coins...

’I’m looking forward to it.’

"Let’s move on to the next agenda item."

A small peace had settled over the grand hall, which had seemed on the verge of a storm.

Wesley leaned in and whispered something to Gale, who nodded in acknowledgment. Marive simply watched them calmly.

Fifteen days later.

Romandro had developed a habit of checking the window first thing in the morning. For some reason, the carrier pigeon he’d sent to the Imperial Palace showed no sign of returning.

If the Recommendation Letter had arrived safely, there should have been a reply confirming its receipt...

"Hm?"

Just then, in the distance, an unfamiliar carriage climbing the hill caught his eye. A gold carriage, adorned with a magnificent flagpole, seemingly bathed in sunlight. Romandro rubbed his eyes vigorously, then, with a gasp of astonishment, he rushed outside.

"Kyaa! L-Lord Romandro?"

"What is it?"

"Ian, Ian, quickly!"

"Huh? Lord Ian is in the garden..."

Romandro, rushing out in his pajamas, shouted excitedly.

"A carriage is coming from the Imperial Palace!"

"What?"

The servants, pale with fear, remembering the nightmare of the investigation leader and fearing punishment for the imprisoned Molin and his group, were the opposite of Romandro.

"It’s a gold carriage! A carriage carrying the Emperor’s decree!"

What could be the Emperor’s decree after sending a Lord Recommendation Letter? Romandro rushed to the garden, his mind racing. He found Ian, crouched down, covering something with soil.

"Ian!"

"Lord Romandro?"

Ian, bewildered, dusted off his hands and slowly stood up. He couldn’t see the approaching carriage, hidden by the mansion walls, but he could feel Romandro’s emotions fully.

"The Lord Appointment Decree is coming!"