The Wind Calms the Fire - Chapter 17

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 17
From early morning, Poema’s garrison bustled with activity.
Mattio, the garrison commander, woke his soldiers far earlier than the usual muster time and assembled them.
Today was the day the Supreme Commander would leave the garrison, and the day Mattio would reclaim command authority over it.
He could afford to give the Supreme Commander no excuse for delay.
From the moment the Supreme Commander arrived at the garrison, all command authority had passed to him.
Commander Mattio had quietly relinquished his authority and held his breath for the duration.
For the past twenty days or so, he’d had to wake early and abstain from drink.
Forcing himself into proper living was torture.
“Commander.”
Hearing his adjutant’s report that the Governor had emerged, he hurried over in surprise.
“Governor. I trust you slept well last night.”
Markel regarded Mattio’s obsequious bow with an unblinking stare.
From the perspective of someone who’d barely cheated death the night before, Mattio’s greeting sounded like mockery.
Without much perception and rather lazy—but not a bad sort, really.
This narrow-minded Mattio, who concerned himself with nothing more than petty bribes, was perfectly suited to be commander of Poema’s garrison.
“I heard the Supreme Commander would be departing soon. I’ve come to pay my respects.”
“If you’ll return inside, I’ll inform you just before his departure.”
“Not at all. The Commander has as good as saved Poema by suppressing the wildfire early. How could I refuse to see him off properly? You must understand, Commander, that we are fortunate to fall under the Supreme Commander’s jurisdiction. You should strive to manage the garrison well in ordinary times, and report all matters promptly to the Commander when he visits. Do you understand?”
“Of course, sir. I shall take it to heart and act accordingly.”
Even as he answered, Mattio felt confused.
He had heard not long ago that the Supreme Commander was merely passing through, and he should know who the true ruler of Poema was and conduct himself accordingly.
‘What’s gotten into that sly old dog all of a sudden?’
“Then shall we move to another spot to wait? Heuksong will be standing by over there.”
“Heavens, no. Having come to see him off of my own accord, how could I trouble the departing Commander by moving about? I’ll remain at the main gate, so mind you remember that. There’s no need to tell the Commander separately.”
Mattio watched the Governor’s departing back toward the garrison’s main gate, uncertain.
‘Is he sincere, or just talking?’
He muttered to himself, “Oh, what does it matter,” and went to inspect the soldiers’ readiness.
Shortly after, an enormous black carriage appeared.
The Supreme Commander’s carriage, Heuksong, was less a means of transportation than a small fortress mounted on wheels.
It was more than twice the length of an ordinary carriage and towered higher as well.
Its body was encased in black iron plating, reinforced with thick leather above.
Six massive war horses were harnessed to it, their reins and tack all in dark hues.
Its very appearance commanded an instinctive awe—a wordless certainty that one must not touch this carriage.
“Whoa……”
Peni’s eyes went wide as she whispered to Lea.
“I’ve never seen a carriage like that. Who knew a carriage could look so frightening?”
Lea smiled and nodded in agreement.
‘This is the first time I’ve seen Heuksong up close like this.’
As the Northeast Supreme Commander’s fame grew, his traveling carriage had become a symbol of his power.
Lea had glimpsed Heuksong pass by in the distance a few times.
The sight of the jet-black carriage flanked by the Guards in flawless formation looked like an impregnable fortress even from afar.
“The authority it radiates is extraordinary,” Kasim observed, his eyes full of admiration as he gazed at Heuksong.
The entire Zephyros delegation stood assembled in advance, waiting for departure.
Peni murmured softly.
“That must be the carriage we’re going to ride in.”
Three carriages approached and came to a halt before the assembled group.
A man sitting on the coachman’s bench of the foremost carriage descended and approached Lea, bowing his head respectfully.
Peni quietly sidled closer to Lea.
The man’s frame was intimidatingly massive.
Lea recognized this bear of a man.
She had seen him when she faced Carrion in the conference room, and again this morning at dawn.
But they had never formally introduced themselves.
“I am Luke, Captain of the Guards.”
“Should I address you as Sir Luke?”
“Yes, please call me that. During our journey, I shall oversee the movement of your carriage.”
“We move only under the command of our delegation’s representative.”
Kasim spoke firmly, determined not to lose face before an imperial knight.
“I mean no attempt to usurp command authority. I only intend to ensure your carriage doesn’t stray from the column.”

As the other party proved unexpectedly courteous, Kasim’s expression softened.
“If that’s what you mean, I’ll cooperate.”
Luke spoke while looking at Lea.
“The representative should board the carriage.”
“But the Supreme Commander hasn’t come out yet…….”
“He’ll depart the moment he arrives. He dislikes delays.”
That much seemed to match his character.
Lea nodded and spoke to her companions.
“Come on, everyone into the carriages.”
After everyone had boarded, Luke climbed up to the coachman’s seat of the foremost carriage where Lea rode.
The Guards knights glanced at him as though nothing unusual was happening.
Luke had originally taken over the coachman’s position for Heuksong.
‘Heh, heh.’
Luke wore a knowing smile.
He had pressed Orbin hard to secure this seat for himself.
After witnessing his lord and the princess exchange words in the conference room last time, he had seized Orbin by the collar and shaken him relentlessly.
He needed to extract every detail of that first meeting between them.
‘Why should I be left out of something so entertaining!’
Cedric had seen it too!
Luke couldn’t bear the indignity of being the only one absent from that moment.
But that grievance had been resolved by last night’s events.
He alone had witnessed the lord and princess on their midnight outing.
He hadn’t mentioned to Orbin and Cedric that he’d seen the princess last night, and he’d also silenced the Guards soldiers who had been with him.
‘I’ll monopolize all information about the lord’s romantic affairs.’
He had resolved to stay close to the princess throughout the journey to the Capital.
Whatever happened, the front seat would be his.
The Supreme Commander’s entourage, numbering some forty people, finished their preparations for departure.
Soon Carrion emerged from the residence.
The garrison soldiers standing in formation straightened their spines even further.
Carrion spotted Luke sitting in the coachman’s seat of the carriage carrying the Zephyros delegation.
His brow twitched, then he turned his head away.
‘Well done.’
This had been a concern anyway.
Aside from his closest few, none of his men knew the delegation’s true identity.
His attendants all bore some resemblance to him in character.
They valued efficiency and spoke with stiff courtesy.
They would treat these unexpected hangers-on like mere cargo.
But with Luke attached and looking after them, none of his entourage would dare treat them roughly.
Following Heuksong’s departure, all the carriages and the party began to move.
The Zephyros delegation’s carriage followed at the rear.
Just before leaving the garrison, Lea quietly opened the carriage curtain and spotted people bowing deeply.
‘Have they come to see off His Highness?’
The moment the man standing foremost raised his head, she saw his face.
‘The Governor of Poema?’
When Lea had met him, it would be ten years from now, yet he looked little different.
Lea smiled and closed the curtain.
Since waking this morning, she’d been desperate to know how Carrion had handled the smuggling matter.
She was aware that she had crossed a line last night and hadn’t dared to ask.
Seeing the Governor of Poema bow so deeply in farewell that his nose nearly touched the ground suggested it had been resolved favorably.
‘Whether it was pragmatism or compassion, either way I’m grateful.’
* * *
The Finance Ministry of the Imperial Capital.
The Finance Minister rose immediately upon seeing the golden-haired young man enter his office.
Though the youth held the rank of Finance Audit Commissioner, technically subordinate to the Finance Minister, his status transcended any hierarchy of office.
He was the Royal Blood itself—the First Prince.
After exchanging pleasantries, the First Prince Enoch asked a question.
“Now that I think of it, last year’s tax accounts must be nearly complete. Have revenues increased?”
“They’re at much the same level as two years ago.”
“Much the same? Didn’t reports say last year was a bumper crop?”
“The Empire is so vast, Your Highness. Some regions enjoyed abundant harvests while others barely managed to gather enough to feed themselves.”
“Then what does that have to do with the taxes owed to the realm?”
“There are… discrepancies in tax collection from certain regions.”
“Do you have the ledgers?”
Enoch skimmed through the ledger the Finance Minister handed him, his brow darkening.
“There’s a region where taxes haven’t been collected for three years.”
“Yes. It’s Heketia, which belongs to the vassal state Selene. They’ve suffered drought and plague for several years now. The governor of Selene requested a reprieve, but as it’s stretched beyond three years, I was preparing to report it to His Majesty soon.”
“There’s no need to trouble His Majesty with such trivial matters. I will handle this myself.”
“Your Highness will?”
“Those who steal from the empire.”
Enoch’s pale blue eyes gleamed with cold light.
“A great empire cannot endure on mercy alone.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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