Sip.
Crunch.
Sip.
Crunch.
The quiet sounds of tea and biscuits filled the royal library.
The warm aroma of freshly brewed tea spread through the room, mixing with the faint scent of old parchment and ink.
I leaned back slightly in my chair, holding the porcelain cup carefully in both hands.
"This tea is good," I said after another sip.
Lucien Valmont, the imperial historian, gave a polite nod.
"As you say, Prince."
He sat across the table from me, his old fingers resting gently on a stack of maps and scrolls.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
The afternoon sunlight passed through the tall library windows, casting long shadows across the wooden floor.
Outside, the palace gardens were peaceful.
But inside this room…
We were discussing the slow decay of an empire.
I placed the cup down.
"So…"
I said casually.
"Where were we?"
Lucien adjusted his glasses slightly.
"We were discussing the four great dukes of the empire, Your Highness."
Ah yes.
The pillars of imperial power.
"Continue," I said.
The historian stood and walked toward the large map hanging on the wall.
His finger slowly moved toward the northern lands.
"To the north," he began, "lies the territory of Duke Ragnar Frosthelm, Lord of the Northern Marches."
The name sounded exactly like what I expected.
A frontier warlord.
Lucien continued.
"The Northern Duchy protects the empire from the barbarian tribes beyond the frozen plains."
His finger traced the mountainous northern border.
"These tribes are fierce warriors who live beyond the Frostfang Mountains."
"They raid our borders every year."
"Villages are burned. Trade routes are attacked."
"But Duke Frosthelm has held that border for more than twenty years."
I nodded slightly.
"So the northern duke is constantly at war."
"Exactly."
Lucien sighed quietly.
"For that reason, he rarely involves himself in imperial politics."
"He simply fights to protect the border."
His voice grew heavier.
"Unfortunately…"
"The imperial court has not always supported him."
I raised an eyebrow.
"What do you mean?"
Lucien hesitated before answering.
"The central nobles often block the emperor's attempts to send additional supplies to the northern army."
"They claim the treasury cannot afford it."
"But the truth…"
He paused.
"The truth is that they simply do not care."
I felt a faint irritation rising in my chest.
Men fighting and dying on the frontier…
While nobles in the capital argued about money.
Typical.
Lucien's finger moved across the map toward the west.
"To the west lies the domain of Duke Adrian Blackstone, Lord of the Western Bastion."
"His territory borders the Demon Lands."
Ah.
The western front.
The historian's voice grew serious.
"The western duchy is one of the harshest regions in the empire."
"The soil is poor."
"Farming is difficult."
"Most of the land is rocky and barren."
"But the region contains something extremely valuable."
"Mana stone mines."
I leaned forward slightly.
"Magic crystals?"
"Yes."
"They are essential for magical tools, weapons, and infrastructure."
"The empire relies heavily on those resources."
Lucien sighed.
"However…"
"The western duchy suffers greatly because of it."
"How so?" I asked.
"The central nobles and merchant guilds control most trade routes."
"They purchase mana stones from the western duke at extremely low prices."
"And sell wheat and other supplies back to him at inflated costs."
I frowned.
"So they exploit him."
"Precisely."
"Duke Blackstone has complained many times."
"The emperor has attempted to regulate the trade."
"But the merchant guilds protested."
"Trade stopped for several weeks."
"The capital nearly faced food shortages."
Lucien shook his head.
"In the end, the emperor had no choice but to withdraw his reforms."
That explained something.
Merchants controlling the economy.
Nobles controlling politics.
And the emperor stuck between them.
No wonder the empire was collapsing.
Lucien moved his finger toward the eastern territories.
"To the east lies the domain of Duke Kael Valencrest, Lord of the Emerald Frontier."
Ah.
My mother's family.
"The eastern duchy borders the great Sylvaris Forest," Lucien continued.
"The homeland of the elves."
"And beyond the forest lie vast mountain ranges."
"Trade with the elves is rare, but the eastern lands are fertile and prosperous."
I nodded slowly.
"And the emperor's relationship with the eastern duke?"
Lucien smiled slightly.
"Very good."
"After all…"
"The Empress herself is the daughter of Duke Valencrest."
Of course.
Family ties.
The historian continued.
"The eastern duchy has remained loyal to the imperial throne."
"They support many of the emperor's policies."
That meant my father had at least one powerful ally.
But that still wasn't enough.
Lucien's finger moved south.
"To the south lies the domain of Duke Leonhardt Valerian, Lord of the Southern Gate."
His voice became quieter.
"This region connects the empire to the southern trade routes."
"And borders the powerful Solaris Empire."
"So he guards the empire from foreign invasion," I said.
"Yes."
"But…"
Lucien hesitated.
"The southern duke has never been particularly friendly toward the imperial court."
"Even we do not fully understand his motivations."
"He rarely supports imperial reforms."
"And often votes with the central noble faction."
I leaned back in my chair.
So that made the situation clear.
One duke loyal.
One duke distant.
One duke exploited.
One duke constantly fighting.
A perfect recipe for political disaster.
Lucien turned away from the map and looked at me carefully.
"Your Highness."
"The emperor's authority depends heavily on the support of the great dukes."
"But unfortunately…"
"He currently lacks strong alliances."
"And without at least two dukes firmly supporting him…"
"His ability to enforce reforms is limited."
I sighed quietly.
No wonder my father struggled.
But Lucien wasn't finished.
"Then," he said slowly, "we must discuss the central nobles."
His expression darkened.
"The true rulers of the capital."
I noticed the irritation in his voice.
"Careful with your words," I said calmly.
"There are ears everywhere."
Lucien quickly bowed his head.
"My apologies, Prince."
"I became emotional."
"Continue," I said.
He took a deep breath.
"The central nobles are powerful aristocratic families who maintain residences in the capital."
"While they technically govern their own lands…"
"They rarely return there."
"Instead, they leave their territories in the hands of their children or stewards."
"And remain here in the capital."
"To influence imperial policy."
I frowned.
"So they sit here all day interfering with the emperor's decisions."
"Exactly."
"They have formed a political faction."
"A powerful alliance between noble houses and merchant guilds."
Lucien continued.
"The merchant guilds control the economy."
"They dominate trade routes, grain distribution, and taxation."
"And the nobles protect their interests."
"So together…"
"They effectively control the empire's wealth."
I nodded slowly.
"And the emperor cannot simply oppose them."
Lucien shook his head.
"If he does…"
"The merchants stop trade."
"The nobles refuse to approve imperial laws."
"And the empire falls into chaos."
He sighed heavily.
"The emperor tries to balance all sides."
"But the system itself has become corrupted."
I leaned back in my chair again.
"So that's the situation."
Lucien nodded.
"Yes."
"The empire is divided."
"The nobles are selfish."
"The merchants are greedy."
"And the emperor stands alone."
For a moment, silence returned to the library.
The tea had grown cold.
The afternoon sunlight was fading.
Finally, I spoke again.
"Tell me something else."
Lucien looked at me curiously.
"What is it, Your Highness?"
I tapped the table lightly.
"The Labyrinth City."
His eyes widened slightly.
"That city…"
"Yes."
"I want to know about it."
"In the game—"
I stopped myself.
"In the stories I've heard…"
"It's called the Criminal City."
Lucien slowly nodded.
"That nickname is not entirely inaccurate."
He walked toward another map.
A smaller one showing the southern regions of the empire.
"The Labyrinth City lies far from the capital."
"It was originally built centuries ago around an ancient underground structure."
"A massive labyrinth beneath the earth."
"Over time…"
"Adventurers, criminals, mercenaries, and smugglers all gathered there."
"Eventually…"
"The city became something entirely different."
Lucien's voice grew serious.
"A place where the empire's laws hold little meaning."
I smiled faintly.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Because if I remembered correctly…
That city would soon become the starting point of the hero's journey.
And perhaps…
The beginning of my own plans as well.
Lucien folded his hands behind his back.
"If Your Highness wishes…"
"In our next discussion…"
"I can explain the full situation of Labyrinth City."
I nodded slowly.
"Yes."
"Do that."
Because I had a feeling…
That city would soon become very important.