Published: July 3, 2025
In the northwest of the Empire, the city of Gilsbach.
Currently, the retired former emperor, Rupert the Sixth, resided here.
At fifty-five years old, he had finally freed himself from decades of a document-filled life and was living a life of comfort and ease.
However, Rupert sat with deep wrinkles on his forehead, desperately trying to solve the difficult problem in front of him with a very serious expression.
“Hmm…”
Occasionally, a groaning sound would escape his lips, precisely because it was a challenging question.
On the sofa opposite him sat Count Hans Kirchhoff, Rupert's right-hand man, calmly sipping his coffee.
“I see it!”
Rupert exclaimed quietly, moving his hand.
In response, Hans also moved his hand.
After a total of a dozen moves... the two of them played.
“Phew, I somehow managed to force a draw.”
“Well done. I thought you would be overrun as is... what a shame.”
They were playing chess.
In this match, the two had engaged in several hundred games, with Rupert managing to bring the overwhelming disadvantage to a draw.
After finishing the heated battle, Rupert sipped his coffee with a satisfied expression.
“By the way, Helmut is surprisingly small-minded. To drive you out of the Imperial Castle without being able to utilize Hans... after all, I left the castle precisely to leave Hans behind.”
“It couldn't be helped. Lord Helmut has his own aides. However, because of that, I can engage with your majesty like this.”
“Hmm, I will praise Helmut for that aspect alone.”
With that, Rupert laughed heartily.
Currently, the Emperor of the Empire was Helmut the Eighth, Rupert's eldest son.
Rupert had no intention of practicing regency; he had abdicated the throne and entrusted all governance of the Empire to Helmut, becoming a retired noble.
As part of his daily routine, he battled chess with Hans, practiced swordplay, and occasionally played with magic.
In between, he trained his body, becoming far healthier than when he was on the throne, and his physique had tightened even more than during his time as emperor.
“Speaking of which, it seems Helmut intends to send Conrad as a representative for the delegation.”
“Yes, it appears so. Lord Conrad has opened his ducal house and seems to finally be getting on track, but...”
“I see...”
Conrad was Rupert's third son and the biological brother of Helmut the Eighth.
Since Helmut ascended to the throne, he had descended to nobility with his other siblings and opened his ducal house.
“The impetus for the delegation to the Western Nations was the invitation sent from the Western Church, right?”
“Yes. It seems a famous party from the Western Nations has delivered it. It will be the first change in Pope in decades, and this time it will be the hundredth generation. They wish for a large-scale delegation to be sent to coincide with the inauguration ceremony.”
“How suspicious.”
When Rupert said this, Hans smiled wryly.
Then he asked, “Your majesty suspects there’s something behind this matter?”
“Of course. There must be multiple layers of ulterior motives behind something like this. Has the scale and escort been decided yet?”
“Yes. One hundred clerks, around twenty from the imperial knight order, and about two hundred from the Imperial Army.”
“I see... Helmut is providing a hefty escort, which suggests he thinks there might be something along the way or upon arrival.”
Listening to the conversation, Rupert nodded several times in agreement.
“However, sending Conrad... could it be a conspiracy? He’s overthinking it.”
That small murmur was just audible enough for even Hans to hear.
After a moment of silence pondering, Rupert said, “Alright, I will be the representative of the Empire.”
Hans, having likely anticipated this, shook his head slightly with a wry smile.
Despite some back and forth, Rupert managed to get Emperor Helmut to approve his appointment as the head of the delegation.
Helmut's grim expression at that moment was quite significant, but Rupert chose to ignore it.