Chapter 2302 – 2302. God’S Atlantis
I arrived at the Valdert mansion. From the entrance, it felt magnificent.
It was befitting of one of the five dukes of the Justia Empire, the most powerful faction in Atlantis.
The knights guarding the entrance saluted as soon as they saw me.
“Lady Yoo Jin. You’ve arrived.”
“I’m here to see Elena. Is she in?”
“Duke Valdert has temporarily left the mansion due to a summons from the Imperial Family. If there’s nothing urgent, she said she would return around evening… Please, come inside the mansion and wait.”
“I will.”
“I will guide you.”
The knight of the Valdert Duchy was courteous. As I entered the mansion, the servants stood in disciplined lines and bowed their heads.
“Welcome back, Lady Yoo Jin. We will attend to you without any inconvenience.”
I was satisfied with the servants’ utmost hospitality. It was indeed worthy of a ducal family. For reference, there was also a room exclusively for me in the mansion. It was a room that was in no way inferior to Elena’s bedroom.
“This is Arel. He is a talent who will become Elena’s adjutant. For now, treat him with the utmost respect as a guest.”
“I will treat him as an honored guest.”
The servants of the ducal family also listened well to my words. They were all elites and knew their place well.
Arel, who was next to me, nodded as if he understood something.
“Indeed. I understand the relationship between the Duke and you.”
“As expected of Arel. You noticed right away. Elena and I are very close lovers.”
“It seems to be more than that. Anyway, since this is where I will be working, I will look around the mansion. I also want to learn about the Empire and the Valdert family.”
“Ask the butler. He will tell you.”
I decided to take a shower first.
• • •
Elena walked through the Imperial Palace with confidence. The Imperial Family and the Valdert Duchy had a strained relationship due to the previous incident. The only fortunate thing was that they were not openly hostile.
Or rather, they couldn’t be. The Imperial Family also had to consider the public’s opinion. Elena had once sacrificed herself for the people, and that image had continued to this day, with the people viewing Valdert positively. No matter how much the Imperial Family was, they couldn’t completely ignore the public’s opinion.
And since the Valdert Duchy was the same, the Imperial Family and Valdert were on distant terms. They were like cats and dogs to each other. The Imperial Family always sat solemnly at the center of the Empire, and Valdert was busy fixing the declining family.
So, today, when the Emperor summoned the Empire’s Five Dukes, was a special day. The nobles who knew about this summons predicted that the Imperial Family and the Valdert Duchy would finally return to their former relationship. Because the old Valdert was a loyal family that belonged to the Emperor’s faction.
In reality, Elena, the head of Valdert, had not even a sliver of loyalty left for the Imperial Family.
If the odds were good enough, she could betray the Imperial Family and start a rebellion without hesitation.
The current her was completely different from the old her. The Imperial Family? The Empire? It didn’t matter if they fell. What was important to her now was only one man and her family.
Elena’s steps towards the conference room were lighter than ever. It was almost frivolous. A smile was on her lips, and with each step she took, her sapphire earrings swayed and sparkled.
The knights and servants working in the Imperial Palace bowed their heads in greeting as they saw her. Elena didn’t even glance at them.
The great nobles, called the vassals of the Imperial Family, cautiously spoke to Elena. On the surface, Elena seemed to be in a good mood.
“Duke Illusion, I would like to bring Valdert’s specialty wine to the Imperial Palace. Would it be possible to talk later…?”
“I am Viscount Biret, an administrator of the Imperial Family. I heard that you can restore old ruins. If you could help, the Imperial Family would offer various benefits…”
“Duke. It would be beneficial for both Valdert Territory and the Imperial Family to resume trade… Duke! A conversation! Please spare some time! Duke!”
But it was a misunderstanding.
Elena openly ignored all the vassals of the Imperial Family. It was an enormous rudeness, but even the great nobles couldn’t dare say anything. Even though they were nobles working in the Imperial Family.
A knight stood in front of the conference room, but she ignored him and opened the door. Inside the spacious conference room, everyone was gathered except for two people. Elena’s gaze turned to the Emperor, who was at the head of the table. The Emperor looked down at Elena with sunken eyes.
“Greetings, Your Majesty. I’m glad you seem to be in good health.”
The Emperor’s eyebrows twitched. There was no respect or loyalty in Elena’s voice.
“…Duke Valdert. Take a seat. I believe you know what situation the Empire is in without me having to say it.”
“I don’t think it’s a particularly dangerous situation, but… it seems Your Majesty has a different opinion.”
Elena sat down at the large round table. Three dukes were already seated. The rarely seen Duke of a Thousand Years, Calon Brantis, the guardian of the Imperial Family, Duke Ironheart, Holind Ronmasid, and the seemingly unmotivated Duke of the Foolish Sword, Noit Arpis.
‘The Duke of a Thousand Years is still unreadable. The Duke Ironheart’s gaze is intense. He’s about to burst into flames. It must be because of the Sleeping Princess. He’s already requested a private audience several times, but I’ve rejected them all. He must be restless inside. I can use him. The Duke of the Foolish Sword is the same as ever.’
The empty chair was for Duke of the Water Robe, Eilmus Overfrost.
‘I deliberately came late to test the Emperor’s reaction… But that sly man is even later than me.’
The Duke of the Water Robe was the second most secretive man after the Duke of a Thousand Years. According to information, he was involved in cults… but in Elena’s eyes, it was not yet certain. Even if he was involved, he was not Elena’s enemy. Not yet.
Tick-tock.
The pendulum of the clock on the conference room wall swung. Everyone remained silent.
‘How boring. I thought the Emperor would react to something… Is he planning to keep his mouth shut about the last incident?’
Elena spread her palm. A blue butterfly appeared. Everyone’s gaze turned to Elena. The butterfly turned into a wine glass filled with wine.
「Dionysus’s Wine
Wine made by a god.
Mana increases by 2 upon the first sip.
Rank: A」
Dionysus’s Wine was originally Rank B. This was a wine enhanced by Sung Yoo-jin with the Light Ascension Technique and made with the Butterfly Transformation Technique. More than five years of lifespan had disappeared, but she didn’t care.
Sip.
With one sip, it felt like she had fallen into heaven. Elena smiled without realizing it.
“Duke Illusion. You are drinking precious wine. Do you see this meeting as a joke?”
“Your Majesty. I cannot live without wine. If I don’t drink wine once an hour, my hands tremble and my thoughts stop. Wine is like the water of life to me, so please understand.”
“Is the rumor that Duke Illusion is an alcoholic true…? I understand. But I am also thirsty. Duke Illusion, can you give me a glass of wine?”
“I’m sorry, Your Majesty. As you know, my ability consumes lifespan. This wine contains more than five years of lifespan.”
“I heard that you overcame your lifespan. Is that true?”
“How can a person overcome the limits of lifespan? It’s just a rumor.”
“……”
The Emperor looked like he didn’t believe it. Elena shrugged and drank her wine. Everyone here probably knew something about her lifespan. Of course, they wouldn’t know the details.
Gulp.
The blissful taste of the wine made her feel better.
About ten minutes passed. The conference room door opened, and a man with green hair appeared. The man, who had an unpleasant expression as if he had been beaten by someone, soon erased his expression, apologized to the Emperor, and sat in the empty seat.
“You all must have seen that thing that appeared when the sky broke. All the people went mad and died from its gaze, and time was revived by the system. The people don’t remember their deaths, so it’s more accurate to say that time went back.”
The Duke of the Foolish Sword opened his mouth.
“Your Majesty. It’s already over. It has gone somewhere. The system has completely erased its influence. There will be no cause for concern.”
“The gods have begun to actively intervene. Do you see that as a coincidence? I judge that the destruction of Atlantis has begun. Do not forget. This is not the first time for Atlantis, and this is our last chance. If we fail to successfully conquer Atlantis, we have no future.”
The Duke of the Foolish Sword closed his mouth. Instead, the Duke of the Water Robe spoke.
“Your Majesty… Do you want us to directly participate in the conquest?”
“I know that you are fulfilling your duty to protect the Empire. But that alone is not enough now. We are actively using the exiles to minimize the damage to the Empire… but it’s too slow. You must also actively participate in the conquest of the areas. I will not discuss the method, but I forbid any wicked methods.”
“……Understood.”
It was a warning to the Duke of the Water Robe, who was involved in cults.
Elena drank the last sip of her wine.
‘So, the reason for summoning the Empire’s Five Dukes was to urge us on?’
The Emperor ordered the dukes to work as if a professor was assigning homework to students.
“Duke of a Thousand Years, tend to the garden.”
“Yes.”
Elena narrowed her brows. Garden? It couldn’t mean tending to the Imperial Garden.
“Duke Ironheart, crack down on the inside of the Empire. Punish the nobles who neglect their duties.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
A bloodbath would occur within the Empire. Elena remembered this information well. It would be very valuable information.
“Duke of the Foolish Sword, deal with the other races and inspect the borders.”
“Understood.”
The Duke of the Foolish Sword would be busy.
“Duke of the Water Robe, investigate the Empire’s environment and prepare for pollution.”
“Your Majesty. What kind of pollution are you talking about?”
“Before the end of this year, a large amount of volcanic ash will cover the continent.”
“…Yes. I will do so.”
The Duke of the Water Robe answered with a questioning expression.
Elena’s mind was complicated.
‘How did he know? Does the Emperor have the ability to see the future? …Did information leak from Helten?’
It was also strange that the Emperor was suddenly acting so proactively.
“Duke Illusion, restore the Imperial Guardian Stone in the south. With your abilities, it shouldn’t be difficult.”
Elena looked directly at the Emperor and answered.
“Your Majesty. I must rebuild my declining family.”
“…Are you saying that your family is more important than the Empire right now?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Without the Empire, your family would not exist.”
“That is not certain.”
“……”
“……”
Elena calmly met the Emperor’s gaze. It didn’t matter if she was declared a traitor. If Valdert wanted to be a traitor, she would gladly become one. Elena was confident. She had a man who was far greater than the Empire.
After a few dozen seconds of confrontation, the Emperor sighed.
“Haa. I give up. I should apologize to Duke Illusion first. I officially apologize on behalf of the Imperial Family for what happened last time. If there is anything else you want, tell me. I will fulfill your request as much as possible.”
Elena raised the corners of her lips. He should have done this from the start.
“Your Majesty. The biggest concern of the Valdert family is the lack of an heir.”
“…Hmm. Not having an heir is indeed unsettling. Do you want a spouse? How about the Crown Prince? If you have two children, all problems will be solved.”
Elena’s face soured.
“Your Majesty. I wouldn’t take that piece of trash even if you gave it to me.”
“……Trash. That’s harsh.”
“You seem calm for someone who was called trash.”
“I know about your relationship with the Crown Prince. You are enemies, so you wouldn’t say good things. I understand. What about another spouse…?”
“I already have a partner I’m engaged to.”
Actually, they weren’t engaged yet, but it would happen.
“…Hmm. Is it that man? So? Should I give him a title?”
“That’s not it. Help me with the ceremony. I want to have the greatest wedding ever. Even greater than the Imperial wedding. I want all the people of the Empire and all the gods to bless my wedding.”
The Emperor didn’t understand what Elena was saying for a moment. Suddenly, the greatest wedding ever? He thought for a moment and nodded. If the relationship with Duke Illusion improved, there was no reason not to cooperate.
“Alright. When is your wedding? It would be good if you had at least a year of leeway.”
“……It hasn’t been decided yet. I will let you know when it is.”
Elena said with a determined voice.
Right now, she didn’t care about the Empire’s crisis or anything else.
