Execution of the Nine Clans
Prye City, Broomflower Royal Palace, the magnificent main Council Chamber.
The weekly morning assembly was underway, but the atmosphere was unusually relaxed and strange.
The young King Sigmund leaned languidly against his heavy, solid gold throne, which was inlaid with countless jewels.
He looked no more than fifteen or sixteen years old, his face still bearing the innocence of childhood, but his eyes were filled with a spoiled arrogance and restlessness.
What's even more striking is that he was openly embracing a scantily clad and flamboyantly made-up court lady.
The lady-in-waiting giggled and occasionally fed the King a peeled grape or a slice of melon with her slender fingers.
The young King, while chewing, carelessly kneaded and stroked the lady-in-waiting's ample waist and breasts, emitting ambiguous low laughs, completely ignoring the courtiers below.
The kingdom's high-ranking officials and nobles standing below seemed to have taken this for granted, showing no surprise or dissatisfaction on their faces, and simply reporting on their respective affairs as if it were a routine matter.
Because they knew perfectly well that this nominal King was nothing more than a puppet placed on the throne, and that real power was held by the woman sitting on a slightly smaller but equally imposing gilded chair behind the main throne.
In the hands of Empress Dowager Katerina von Eisenberg.
Empress Dowager Katerina wore a deep purple gown with gold trim, a symbol of supreme power, and a small yet majestic crown. Her face was well-maintained, making it impossible to tell her exact age, but her sharp eyes, like those of a hawk, calmly scanned everyone below as she listened to their reports.
She would occasionally nod slightly or ask a precise question or two, demonstrating her thorough knowledge of the kingdom's affairs and her absolute control over them.
"... In summary, the Sauron on the northern border have not made any large-scale disturbances recently, but small groups continue to harass them. As for Fran City, Earl Rochefort reports that the construction of the standard road leading to Carnford is progressing smoothly." The Minister of War bowed and reported.
Katerina gave a curt "hmm" and offered no further comment.
Another minister in charge of etiquette and court affairs stepped forward and announced in a calm voice, "Your Empress Dowager Your Majesty, we recently received official documents from Carnford in the Northern Territory, confirming that Princess Louise arrived safely this month and has completed her wedding with Baron Karl von Schmidt."
"However, according to the accompanying steward Albert, the wedding was not held on the auspicious day calculated by the astrologer, as Her Highness was unwell due to the fatigue of Her Highness the Princess journey and was postponed by one day."
Upon hearing this news, Sigmund, King simply waved his hand impatiently to indicate that he understood, his attention still focused on the lady-in-waiting in his arms.
A fleeting, almost imperceptible glint of coldness flashed in Empress Dowager Katerina's eyes, but she quickly regained her composure.
She slightly raised her chin, her voice steady and authoritative:
"Understood. Now that the Princess is married, it is a joyous occasion for the alliance between my Goldflower Kingdom and the Lord of the Northern Border, symbolizing the unity and stability of the kingdoms. A slight adjustment to the schedule is harmless and should be left to her. Instruct Albert to serve the Princess diligently and to closely monitor Carnford's movements and report back promptly."
For her, as long as Princess Louise got married and was far away from the center of power, her political threat would be greatly reduced.
As for the wedding being postponed by a day, such a trivial matter is nothing more than insignificant dust on her grand chessboard.
With Albert firmly in place, she was confident she could maintain control over Carnford and the border Lord.
When it was the Lord Seal Minister' turn to report, an old minister from a collateral branch of the Eisenberg Family, known for his rigid and upright character, stepped forward, his voice loud but filled with suppressed anger:
"Your Majesty, Your Empress Dowager! I have a report to submit! In recent months, the Duke Schmidt family of the South has been using the pretext of marriage alliances with the royal family and Baron Karl's marriage to Princess Louise to expand their influence extensively in the southern provinces!"
"When their family's caravans passed through checkpoints, they often used the excuse of 'acting on the Royal Decree's orders' or 'procuring goods for Her Highness the Princess ' to request tax exemptions, but in reality, it was mostly for the family's private gain and to line their own pockets!"
"Such actions not only severely disrupt market order and damage the kingdom's tax revenue, but also overstep the bounds of royal authority, which is utterly disrespectful! We beseech Your Majesty and the Empress Dowager thoroughly and issue an edict to strictly restrain such behavior, so as to set an example for all!"
Before the Lord Seal Minister Empress Dowager react, Sigmund, King Katerina, who had been jolted awake from his reverie by the beauty, seemed to have only heard the keywords "great disrespect" and "strict restraint." Coupled with his annoyance at having his pleasure disturbed, he flew into a rage!
He slammed his hand on the armrest of the throne, though not with much force, because he had no strength, and roared in a shrill voice:
"What! How dare they act recklessly in the name of me and the Empress Dowager? Rebellion! Truly rebellion! Guards! Proclaim my decree! Deploy... deploy my maternal grandfather, Duke Eisenberg's Blackstone Cavalry Regiment south! Raze the Schmidt family's castle to the ground! Capture that old bastard and bring him to Prye City to be punished! Execute his entire clan! Let's see who dares to be so insolent now!"
This seemingly childish roar instantly silenced the entire Council Chamber; you could hear a pin drop.
The ministers looked at each other, their faces filled with astonishment, absurdity, and a hint of barely concealed contempt.
Even the Lord Seal Minister was impeaching the minister was speechless, his mouth agape.
Execute his entire family? Duke Schmidt is your brother-in-law Karl's father. Executing his entire family would mean including your sister, Princess Louise, and even yourself, the King.
Moreover, who doesn't know that the Schmidt Family has been entrenched in the South for many years, deeply rooted, possessing a powerful navy and fortified coastal defenses?
Duke Eisenberg's Blackstone Cavalry were indeed elite, but they were land warfare aces. Sending them to attack the south, a region riddled with rivers and fortresses, which even the Sauron couldn't conquer?
This is utterly delusional and self-defeating.
Empress Dowager Katerina, who was sitting behind her, instantly turned grim.
She glared at her son, her eyes filled with disappointment, anger, and a hint of helplessness.
This idiot is utterly useless, except for eating, drinking, having fun, and throwing tantrums! But she couldn't let the situation spiral out of control.
She coughed softly, her voice low but carrying an undeniable authority that instantly drew everyone's attention.
She looked at the Lord Seal Minister, her tone calm yet carrying a profound meaning:
"The Duke Schmidt family has been loyal and virtuous for generations. This marriage further demonstrates the unity between the royal family and its subjects. Although there may be some improprieties in the actions of their family's merchant caravan, their intentions are clear. They are presumably doing so to better prepare for Her Highness the Princess's expenses and to transport supplies to the border town of Carnford."
"It's such a trivial matter, there's no need to make such a fuss, much less resort to violence and damage the harmony."