Extra Chapter: Empress Mia’s Trick or Treat
The empress of the Tearmoon Empire, Mia Luna Tearmoon, was renowned for her delightful and playful nature. The following story exemplifies her mischievous side, as it revolves around a prank she meticulously devised and successfully executed.
Upon completing her daily tasks, Mia, the youthful empress of Tearmoon, found herself seated at the Whitemoon Palace, savoring a leisurely afternoon tea. If you could overlook the ravenous gleam in her eyes as she poised her fork above the head chef’s specially crafted vegetable cake, one might describe her demeanor as graceful. Just as she was about to plunge the prongs into a delectable slice, a group of prominent noblemen from the central Bluemoon faction entered the room. They had come to express their grievances regarding something Mia had mentioned a few days earlier, following a courteous exchange of greetings.
“Your Imperial Majesty, we humbly request you to reconsider.”
“Oh? Reconsider what?”
“You are well aware of the matter at hand—the situation with Outcount Rudolvon and Viscount Berman.”
“My… Well, elevating Berman from viscount to count seems entirely justifiable, doesn’t it?”
“Certainly. Viscount Berman is a prominent member of the central nobility, and his domain includes Princess Town. His current title does not befit a man of his stature. His substantial contributions to the establishment of Saint Mia Academy alone merit the title of count. Your Imperial Majesty’s decision in this matter is entirely appropriate.”
Initially, they appeared to support her proposal, but then, thinking they had gained her favor, they shifted their approach. With a disdainful smile, one of them remarked, “However, the matter of Outcount Rudolvon… Raising him to the rank of count seems rather questionable, doesn’t it?”
The audacity of these individuals!
Recognizing that this was not the time to relish her vegetable cake, Mia let out a sigh and lowered her fork. But then, after reconsidering, she swiftly plunged it into a slice, tore off a sizable piece, and devoured it before finally setting down her fork.
“Mmmfmm, mmfm mm mm…” She swallowed. “Well, Outcount Rudolvon provided wheat from his own domain, which saved numerous lives from famine. Without his wheat, we would have undoubtedly suffered even greater losses. And let’s not forget his son. You all acknowledge the significance of Cyril Rudolvon’s achievements, do you not?”
The nobles exchanged reluctant glances.
“Of course, we are fully aware of these facts. However, we fail to see how they warrant promoting him to the rank of count.”
“The principle of rewarding and punishing in accordance with merit is essential for the effective governance of a kingdom, is it not?” This response did not come from Mia but from Ludwig, who stood beside her.
The nobleman gave him a disdainful look before shaking his head.
“With all due respect, Ludwig, are you certain you understand the complexities of this situation?” the noble countered. “These are, after all, matters of nobility, and you come from common birth.”
He cast a condescending gaze at Ludwig before releasing a scornful laugh.
Notably, they acknowledged Ludwig’s presence, but this wasn’t out of respect for his abilities. They were well aware that Mia held him in high regard, and they believed that openly dismissing him might leave a negative impression on her. Not that their reputation with her could have deteriorated further, considering that not only were they wasting her time with their frivolous protest, but they were also encroaching upon her precious cake-eating time. The latter, if anything, was the more egregious transgression, but regrettably, they remained oblivious to the consequences of their actions.
“I understand,” Mia responded. “So, you’re suggesting that it’s unacceptable for an outland noble to hold a title equal to that of central nobility.”
“Your Imperial Majesty has a keen grasp of the situation. That is precisely our point.”
The nobles bowed their heads in a pretense of respect, though their inherent arrogance hardly remained concealed by the mere gesture.
Well, the fact that the Bluemoon faction favored Sapphias for the throne explained their hostility toward me.
This thought was accompanied by a growing desire to transform all their objections into sweets and consume them. Her whimsical idea was interrupted by Ludwig.
“Your Imperial Majesty… How would you like to proceed?” he inquired.
“Hmm… Oh, I’ve got a fantastic idea!” Mia’s devious grin emerged. “In that case, how about we tweak the title’s spelling just a tad… and create a new one?”
She twirled her finger in the air, feigning contemplation. After a moment, she raised her finger as if she had an epiphany. “What about… ‘marcount’? Change ‘out’ to ‘mar.’ It sounds better this way, and it could almost be seen as a promotion, right?”
Her proposal elicited pursed lips from the nobles. However, Ludwig momentarily froze, his eyes widening in shock. He quickly composed himself and adjusted his glasses to conceal his surprise.
“‘Marcount’…” mused one of the nobles. “Interesting. ‘Mar’ is the old term for fringes, I believe? It does retain a certain rustic charm… But will it really suffice?”
“What do you mean? Of course, it will. It’s all about the technicalities in these matters. If we keep him as an outcount, it contradicts the principle of due reward, but we can’t promote him to count either, so this is the only option, right?” She flashed another sly grin.
“I see… Very well. Your Imperial Majesty’s brilliance never ceases to amaze.”
Satisfied with her response, the nobles left the room. Mia watched them depart with a smile. Once they were out of earshot, Ludwig leaned in.
“Your Imperial Majesty, if I’m not mistaken, ‘marcount’ already exists…”
“Oh, I see that you’re aware.” She steepled her fingers and leaned back. “Exactly. The rank of ‘marcount’ already exists. It fell out of use long ago, though. And since it’s a foreign title, I can’t blame people for not being aware of it.”
In essence, what had just transpired was a ruse. Or perhaps, it was a form of retaliation. Mia’s way of giving those vexing nobles a taste of their own medicine.
The title of marcount wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment creation; it had a well-established existence, or at least it had existed in the past. This title held a unique significance, as it was a variation of a count, but not exactly. The term “mar” was not derogatory; instead, it was derived from “march,” signifying “borderland.” Marcounts ruled domains along the kingdom’s borders, tasked with defending against invasions and serving as the shield of their nation. Often granted to individuals of royal lineage or the most trusted vassals of a ruler, there were times when the marcount title equaled or even surpassed marquesses in prestige.
This title had its origins in the powerful Kingdom of Sunkland, where it had been discontinued but still carried its former glory. Among the Sunkland populace, the title of marcount was spoken of with reverence, akin to the way kings were held in high regard.
Having learned about this historical aspect during her classes at Saint-Noel, Mia felt a sense of contentment.
“Hah,” Ludwig chuckled. “So their protest certainly had an impact, but ultimately to their disadvantage. I wouldn’t want to be in their shoes when they discover the truth.”
“Mmm hm hm, that’s what they get for interrupting my cake-eating time. If anything, they got off lightly with a prank like this,” Mia said with a mischievous grin, before delighting in a whole slice of cake.
It was a clever trick, and Mia savored her well-deserved treat.
Some time later, news of Outcount Rudolvon’s promotion to the rank of marcount created ripples among the central nobility. Those unaware of the title’s history were astounded to learn of its existence in Sunkland. Their amazement turned to anxiety as they realized that it rivaled the standing of a marquess.
Meanwhile, those close to Mia, including Sapphias, Esmeralda, Ruby, and Citrina from the Four Houses, could only shake their heads with wry amusement. They presumed that certain members of the central nobility, driven more by pride than sense, had incurred Mia’s displeasure. Sapphias, however, found his amusement short-lived when he discovered that the culprits were part of the Bluemoon faction. Rumors suggested that he visibly paled upon this revelation.
Over time, the central nobility’s agitation subsided.
“Th-Then again, at the end of the day, it’s only symbolic… The truth remains that the rank of marcount never existed in the empire, and he hasn’t gained any additional territory or power. It’s not a real issue.”
This was how they consoled themselves.
Unfortunately for them, their solace would prove short-lived, as a subsequent development would send shockwaves through their ranks. Their jaws would drop in astonishment as they received news of… The engagement of Marcount Rudolvon’s daughter, Tiona Rudolvon, to the young king of Sunkland, Sion Sol Sunkland.
Author’s Note:
Belated Happy Halloween…
Same here. Belated Happy Halloween.
