The Water Magician

Time rewinds a little.

The Duchy of Rubine has territories spanning from the eastern part of the Empire to the southern part.

During the reign of Former Emperor Rupert the Sixth, many influential nobles were stripped of their titles, which allowed the remaining nobles to possess quite an expansive territory.

At the time of the ascension of the current Emperor Helmut the Eighth, one of the duchies was opened due to the descent of nobility status.

This duchy was established by the fourteenth child of Former Emperor Rupert the Sixth, the eleventh princess.

That duchy is the Duchy of Rubine.

The head of the family is Duchess Fiona Bolnemissa.

She was the former commander of the imperial mage brigade.

Currently, the imperial mage brigade has been disbanded.

Due to Helmut's military reforms, only twenty armies, ten magical armies, and the royal guard knights remain.

Even though the imperial mage brigade has been disbanded, the brigade members became part of the mage brigade of the Duchy of Rubine.

After the disbandment was decided, six hundred brigade members came to Fiona, who was about to open the duchy, and requested employment.

Of course, Fiona hired them all.

These were some of the elite members of the Imperial Army who had come to her, and they were her subordinates whom she had personally nurtured.

There was no way she wouldn't hire them.

In the first place, once she opened the duchy, she would inevitably have to maintain the military power associated with it.

Military strength is necessary for maintaining security within the territory… that is unavoidable.

If that is the case, it is overwhelmingly better to have those who are familiar rather than unknowns!

Thus, the former imperial mage brigade became the core strength of the Duchy of Rubine's army.

“Master, did you hear? Brother Conrad has been charged with high treason.”

“Fiona… that way of addressing me. Well, it’s fine. I’ve read that report as well. I wonder what His Majesty the Emperor is so anxious about…”

Answering Fiona's question was Oscar.

He is Fiona's husband.

Yet, he occasionally calls her "Master"...

It seems that old habits are hard to break.

“Oh, I’m sorry, I just… Anyway, I’m going to the imperial castle.”

“I’ll go too. I don’t think anything will happen… No, if Brother Conrad has been imprisoned, there might be something. Marie, inform Jurgen that all authority of the Duchy’s army will be granted to him in our absence.”

“Understood.”

In response to Oscar's words, Marie, who is both Fiona's head maid and aide, replied.

Conrad Bolnemissa, the Duke of Stein.

He is the third prince of Former Emperor Rupert the Sixth, a full brother of the current Emperor Helmut, and also Fiona's brother.

During the ambush at the garden party in the Naitorei Kingdom’s Whitnash, he was also a target alongside Fiona.

That Conrad, upon Helmut's ascension, had descended in nobility and opened the Duchy of Stein.

Now, he is suspected of treason against the emperor and has been imprisoned.

This is not a trivial matter.

However, historically in the Debuhi Empire, such events are not unusual.

Former Emperor Rupert the Sixth himself, after ascending to the throne in his twenties, caused many of his siblings to meet their demise.

He preemptively acted because of the potential for rebellion… Rupert has answered that way both then and now.

But Fiona couldn’t easily accept it.

As soon as Fiona and Oscar arrived at the imperial castle, they requested an audience with the emperor.

“I’m sorry. His Majesty is busy right now and cannot meet with you.”

“That’s ridiculous!”

Fiona instinctively shouted at the response from Regent Martina Denaer.

“Fiona.”

Oscar called her name slowly and calmly, trying to soothe her.

That brought Fiona back to her senses.

“I understand. Please tell His Majesty that Fiona will return to the territory.”

“Understood.”

That exchange was all that happened.

But for those who have survived many life-and-death situations, that was enough.

“Brother Helmut is seriously intent on killing Brother Conrad.”