The Wind Calms the Fire - Chapter 30

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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 30
The Imperial Palace of Eterna, heart of the empire.
The First Prince, Enoch, was enjoying a gathering in the Aquatic Garden with his circle of young noble followers.
The Aquatic Garden was an indoor garden built around a massive fountain at its center.
Seats arranged in low lounging style made it ideal for indulgence without the weight of formality.
Most gatherings outside of official ceremonies were held in such open, relaxed spaces.
They ate and reveled freely, sometimes dozing off in the afternoon sun.
On days when epicurean parties were held, they would spread out every delicacy imaginable and engage in cycles of feasting and purging.
The Imperial Palace was the very embodiment of luxury and excess.
Enoch reclined at an angle, one hand caressing the body of a woman pressed against his side, the other holding a wine cup.
The young nobles seated around him were much the same.
They teased beautiful dancers and clinked glasses together with gleeful laughter.
A man approached quietly and whispered something in Enoch’s ear.
Enoch’s eyes flickered cold in an instant.
He set down his cup and spoke to those around him.
“It seems an important report has come from the Ministry of Finance. I should go before someone tampers with the ledgers.”
“While we empty our cups, Your Highness rushes off to fill the imperial treasury’s gaps.”
“You’ve scarcely a moment’s peace. How we pity you.”
“With you steadying the ship as Inspector-General of Finance, the empire’s glory is assured, Your Highness.”
The young men vied with one another to flatter and butter him up.
“Drink in moderation, all of you, and return home early tonight. I’ve no face to show your parents.”
Enoch feigned concern with a brief lecture before excusing himself.
He did not head toward the Finance Ministry offices, but rather to the Chamok Garden, his residence as a prince.
The man waiting in his study dropped to one knee the moment Enoch appeared.
Enoch settled into a chair and asked.
“The Fourth Prince is coming?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Why so suddenly?”
“According to what we’ve learned, His Majesty has issued an Imperial Edict.”
“Again?”
Enoch’s brow furrowed.
‘Why does Father keep summoning that one, who’s never set foot in the capital?’
He didn’t believe the Emperor showed special favor to Carrion.
Among the five princes, Carrion alone had stayed away from the capital for so long.
Perhaps the Emperor called for him precisely because he was out of sight, making him suspect.
“He’s consistently ignored the edicts. Why does he come now?”
“It must be that he can no longer ignore His Majesty’s command.”
A sharp click of the tongue.
Enoch was displeased with the Emperor for sending edicts so often, displeased with Carrion’s audacity in ignoring the Emperor’s orders repeatedly, and displeased that Carrion would finally arrive in the capital.
The empire recognized five princes acknowledged by the Emperor.
None of them were born of the Empress.
And the Emperor had given none of them preferential backing.
Enoch was the eldest among the five, but above him stood other imperial sons who had not been granted princely rank, so he was not truly the firstborn either.
It galled him that his own position was not so secure that no one could threaten it.
The brothers he watched most closely were the Second Prince, Rayburn, Supreme Commander of the Southwest, and the Fourth Prince, Carrion, Supreme Commander of the Northeast.
The two of them effectively held the military power of the empire.
If forced to choose between them, Rayburn troubled him more.
Rayburn, unlike Carrion, took keen interest in social networking.
‘Carrion……’
Thus far, Carrion had maintained an unwavering stance.
He kept his distance from the central court and cultivated no social connections.
‘If I could only bring that one over to my side.’
He could likely claim the throne with high probability.
“We must prepare a reception.”
“A reception, Your Highness?”
Enoch lifted one corner of his mouth in a thin smile.
“A reception in the true sense. My younger brother returns after so long—surely we must welcome him?”
He needed an occasion to sound out Carrion’s true intentions.
If he could draw him into his camp, none would be more solid an ally; but if not, he would be a threat more dangerous than any.
Perhaps even more than Rayburn.
* * *
The party pressed on toward the capital, leaving behind the border city of Lumina.
At a reasonable pace for a carriage, the journey took a good two days.
The road was broad and well-maintained, so the carriage barely swayed, and there was no need to sleep under the stars.
Villages with lodging scattered along the way, and where they didn’t exist, military personnel could use the state-run facilities.
The road to the capital held no surprises.
While waiting briefly before the capital’s gates, the guards craned their necks to catch a glimpse of the Black Carriage.
“So that’s the Black Carriage we’ve only heard rumors about.”
“I saw it leave several years back.”
“The craftsmanship and finish are extraordinary. To my eye, it’s far more striking than the Red Carriage.”
The Red Carriage was a gift from the Emperor to the second prince, Rayburn, Supreme Commander of the Southwest.
The Black Carriage, crafted from ebony, and the Red Carriage, made of scarlet wood, lived up to their names in the stark contrast of their hues.
The party passed through the gates of the capital at the appointed hour.
The inspection official examined their Travel Permit, though it was merely a formality.
The Black Carriage itself was as good as any Travel Permit.
Penny pressed her eye against the gap in the carriage curtains, utterly absorbed in the view beyond.
“Your Highness. There are so many people walking these streets.”
“Of course. The imperial capital is the most prosperous city on the continent.”
The carriage continued on.
Even at this measured pace, what felt like nearly an hour had passed.
Penny spoke up.
“Your Highness. We already entered the city—why do we keep going? Is the capital really this vast?”
“The capital is large, yes, but it’s the unusual structure that accounts for it.”
The imperial capital was divided into nine districts in total.
Nine districts spiraled outward from the Imperial Palace at the center.
To travel from the outermost District 9 to District 1 near the palace, one could not go in a straight line.
Instead, one had to follow the districts in a spiral, boring inward like through the shell of a snail.
Just after passing through the gates, pedestrians had crowded so thickly they bumped into one another, but as the district numbers decreased, the streets grew quieter.
The appearance of buildings, the atmosphere of the streets, and the social standing of those who could reside there all shifted with each district.
“How do you distinguish between the districts? Are there walls separating them?”
“There are no walls, exactly. Up to District 6, there’s no strict control—only differences in property values.”
“District 6 must be the most expensive, naturally.”
“Quite right. And from District 5 onward, Patrol Guards regularly circulate to maintain order. The density of patrols varies by district. Starting from District 2, you’ll need to show identification to enter.”
“My, Your Highness truly knows everything.”
After hearing the explanation, Penny could not help but marvel.
Lea smiled.
The memory of her first arrival at the imperial capital in her previous life surfaced.
It had felt so immense, so overwhelming.
Before she could even begin, the sheer weight of it had threatened to crush her.
The experience from her past life would become a precious asset in this one.
Experience made all the difference, no matter how trivial the matter—it was the difference between heaven and earth.
At last, the carriage slowed its pace.
It turned into a grand estate and came to rest in the courtyard.
Just as Penny reached to draw back the curtain, she heard a knock on the door and started, quickly straightening in her seat.
Lea, watching Penny’s nervous tension, smiled and answered.
“Yes. What is it?”
“We’ve arrived.”
It was Cedric’s voice.
“His Highness would like a brief word with you.”
“Now?”
“Yes, though there’s no need for you to step outside. His Highness will board the carriage. Is that acceptable?”
“Of course. Please show him in.”
Lea turned to Penny and said,
“Penny. Would you mind stepping away for a moment?”
“Of course.”
Though her answer was obedient, Penny descended from the carriage with a dubious expression on her face.
Standing near the carriage and waiting, she watched as the prince and Cedric approached from the other direction.
Penny lowered her head and jutted out her lower lip.
‘Why does he keep trying to be alone with our princess?’
Lea sat across from him.
I hadn’t noticed it when Penny was here, but with him in the carriage, it suddenly felt cramped.
For the first time, I thought the carriage was too small.
Carrion spoke in a low voice.
“This is my estate in District 3. It’s been empty for a long time and maintained only by a skeleton crew, so the condition of the house likely won’t be perfect.”
Lea also lowered her voice reflexively.
“I’m hardly in a position to be particular about such things.”
She asked him.
“Why did you come here? Wouldn’t it be easier to talk if I took the Black Carriage?”
“There are people watching from the Imperial Palace.”
“Really? Who? Why?”
“Nothing grand about it—think of it as an early greeting. If they see the princess board the Black Carriage, they might take an unwelcome interest.”
“I see.”
“I’m going directly to the Imperial Palace. I need to report to His Majesty about the Zephyros Kingdom delegation.”
“Yes.”
“I’m leaving Orbin here. If you need anything, tell him.”
“All right. Oh, would it be all right if I bought some clothes?”
“Clothes? Do you need my permission?”

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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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