Thirty years ago, incidents occurred where Empire merchant groups were repeatedly plundered in the border region between the Kingdom of Wynfen and the Empire.
At first, the plundering happened once or twice a year, but it gradually became more frequent. The merchant groups that had no choice but to cross that path to sell their goods requested protection, but the Emperor at the time never permitted dispatching troops beyond the mountain range, which required enormous costs and time.
The plunderers saw through this fact. The Empire won’t come. Even if they do come, they’ll be too late. Thus, the merchant groups traveling that route became easy prey for the plunderers.
Then one day, a tribute meant for the previous Emperor was plundered. That tribute was one of the treasures the Emperor had so desperately wanted. The enraged Emperor crossed the mountain range within two months, captured all the plunderers, and learned that the King of Wynfen was behind them.
The Emperor immediately attacked Wynfen’s capital. The royal palace burned, and Wynfen was granted the mercy of being left as a vassal state instead of complete annexation. In exchange, they ceded the Raven region and were required to pay annual tribute.
Thirty years had passed since then.
As time went by, Wynfen gradually declined. The incompetent king squandered the nation’s wealth on luxuries and squeezed the people to prepare the tribute to pay the Empire. Farmers had most of their crops taken as taxes, and merchants went bankrupt from excessive levies.
Though it was another nation’s affairs, Adrian couldn’t turn a blind eye to this situation.
Certainly the plundering was Wynfen’s crime, but that crime belonged to the ruling class at the time. Those suffering now were people who had done nothing wrong. So he decided to ease the tribute standards. Complete exemption was impossible. It would not only deny past crimes but would invite backlash from within the Empire. However, he could give them breathing room.
Leaving minimal responsibility while alleviating excessive suffering. That was the compromise Adrian had chosen.
However.
Wynfen had made calculations behind his back. That the young Emperor wasn’t as harsh as his predecessor. That his way of handling vassal states was moderate. Then surely he wouldn’t notice if they deceived him a little.
You saw my mercy as weakness.
Adrian’s golden eyes gleamed eerily.
He summoned Kael. When the door opened and Kael entered, seeing the chaotic desk and the Emperor’s hardened expression, he immediately sensed the situation was serious.
“Kael, bring the envoy from Wynfen to the audience chamber.”
“Pardon? Your Majesty, what has happened?”
At Adrian’s cold voice, Kael’s face stiffened. It had been a long time since he’d seen the Emperor this angry.
“Just bring them in. Right now.”
The Emperor didn’t look at him. His gaze was fixed solely on the ruined document. He was scanning the parts where the hidden letters had appeared.
Kael read the ominous atmosphere. He didn’t know why the Emperor was angry or what he intended to do. He only knew that the envoy currently enjoying high-quality wine and fig-laden cake in the annex would soon face a very terrible afternoon. Diplomatic courtesy was over.
He bowed his head. His movements were stiff.
“I will do so, Your Majesty.”
Until Kael’s footsteps disappeared down the corridor, Adrian stood rooted to that spot. Leaning against the window, he looked down at the document in his hand. The sentences created by sunlight passing through the parchment revealed their outlines again.
Adrian’s eyes slowly scanned down those sentences. Clauses written in special ink that reacted to light. Contents that wouldn’t be known until three years later. By that time, the Empire would have already completed the signature, and the kingdom would use those clauses as a shield to force favorable conditions.
The document crumpled at his fingertips. But separate from his anger, his mind was already working coldly. Wynfen must have been confident the Emperor would only learn of this fact three years later. That arrogance would become their fatal mistake.
Veins bulged in the hand gripping the paper. A bloody revenge was unfolding in his mind.
Then, a small warmth wrapped around his ankle.
When he lowered his head, the black-furred fox was rubbing its head against his leg. Its ears drooped, and its tail dragged on the floor. It seemed to think he was angry because of the tea water it had spilled.
Adrian bent down and picked up the fox. The fox whimpered softly and licked the back of his hand. The sensation of its tongue released the tension in the hand that had been clutching the paper.
The corner of his mouth faintly rose. People say they feel at ease when with animals—perhaps this was what they meant. The rage that had been boiling enough to make his head throb subsided. He stroked the fox’s back.
“It’s not your fault.”
The low voice was as peaceful as if all the previous anger had evaporated. Only after the Emperor’s touch flowed down its back did the trembling of its body gradually subside. The fox burrowed deeper into his arms and rubbed its wet nose against the back of his hand.
“Thanks to you, I avoided disaster.”
When Adrian spoke, the fox raised its head and looked at him. Its blue eyes blinked as if puzzled.
“It’s true. If not for you, I would have been in trouble.”
The fox still wore an expression of not understanding. Instead of explaining, Adrian set the fox down on the floor and spoke.
“Since you did well, shall I give you honey as a reward?”
At the word honey, the fox’s tail swayed left and right. Though it didn’t know what had happened, it was glad not to be scolded, and even better that it could eat honey when it wasn’t even snack time. The fox excitedly spun round and round in place.
Adrian opened the cupboard beside the bookshelf and took out a small honey jar. When he scooped an appropriate amount with his finger and put it on the fox’s dish, the creature immediately rushed over and began licking.
“I’ll be gone for a bit, so eat slowly.”
He stroked the fox’s head once, then unfolded the crumpled document and checked it again. The hidden phrases reflected in the light were clear. The evidence was perfect.
Adrian put the document inside his coat and left the study. As he opened the study door and stepped into the corridor, the smile disappeared from his face.
Now. It was time to make those who had tried to abuse his goodwill pay the price.
***
It was that night when the Kingdom of Wynfen’s envoy returned.
Adrian had reverted the tribute amount to the standards from the previous Emperor’s era. There was no room for negotiation. What the envoy took back along with the letter saying that if they didn’t comply, he would send cavalry, was his own severed right index finger. The envoy, who had the price of betrayal carved deep into his bones, clutched his bandaged hand and crossed the border.
The Kingdom of Wynfen would no longer confuse generosity with weakness.
***
Rumors spread like wildfire. Wynfen’s foolishness was the topic in every salon of the Empire. Some applauded saying it was satisfying, some clicked their tongues saying it was excessive, and some resolved to be even more careful going forward.
But the Emperor at the center of it all was surprisingly peaceful.
The fox, no different from usual, tore into the roasted pheasant meat the maids had served as a combined breakfast and lunch. Though its snout was covered in grease, it didn’t care, and after finishing eating, it sat in front of the honey bowl and flicked its tongue. Even though sweet honey stuck around its mouth, the fox licked its fur with a satisfied expression.
After finishing its meal, the fox would have jumped onto Adrian’s desk like before, stepping on documents or running off with a quill pen in its mouth.
However, after the incidents of spilling the inkwell and cold water, Adrian had changed the routine. After feeding it, he would take it to the garden and let it play to its heart’s content. The fox that spent all morning chasing butterflies and rummaging through grass returned exhausted without fail. It would no longer interfere with work.
After playing in the garden, the fox slowly climbed up onto Adrian’s lap. As if finding a familiar spot, it spun around a few times, covered its nose with its fluffy tail, and smoothly closed its eyes. Shallow breathing continued regularly.
After confirming the fox was asleep, Adrian picked up documents with peace of mind.
The warm heat was still felt on his lap. Today Adrian slowly stroked the docile fox’s back. Soft, fluffy fur flowed along his palm. The warmth transmitted from its body strangely calmed his mind.
Outside the window, the court would be running busily. They would be discussing follow-up measures regarding the Kingdom of Wynfen and conveying warning messages to other vassal states. But this room was an island removed from all that commotion.
It was an afternoon that suited the word peaceful.
However, the peace didn’t last long.
