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『Once upon a time, there was the Supreme King Aurelius.

He was a conqueror from the distant East, a great king who stood against the Skolots.

After a long war with the Skolots left the people impoverished, he led his followers westward.

Ah, Aurelius! Under his reign, the people of Hiberia gained their own enterprises.

Ah, Aurelius! All the petty kings of the world swore allegiance under his scepter.

When his allotted years came to an end, a comet split the sky. It looked like a fire dragon wrapped in flames.

Ah, Aurelius! Under his reign, the people of Hiberia gained their own enterprises.

Ah, Aurelius! All the petty kings of the world swore allegiance under his scepter.』

– Excerpt from the epic of Aurelius, recorded in the preface of the Hiberian Chronicles –

While the northern Gotland was still covered in the cold of winter, and Sophia was deciding the fate of the Omphalos’ terminal against the island’s spirits, a very different movement was taking place far to the southwest in Hiberia.

The death of Hiberia’s Supreme King Carlos I. All the unfolding events could be said to have started from here. Although Hiberia’s royal authority wasn’t as centralized as Franquia’s beyond the borders, the vacancy of a nation’s supreme ruler was no trivial matter.

Aragon, Asturias, Cantabria, Castile and Leon, Castile La Mancha, Catalonia, Valencia, Extremadura, Galicia, Madrid, Murcia, Navarre, Basque, La Rioja, and even Portugal.

The monarchs of the various small kingdoms scattered across Hiberia were each rulers of their own lands, but they were also vassals bound by a covenant with the Supreme King of Hiberia. With the Supreme King of Hiberia dying without naming a successor, the conditions they had to consider for their future policies became inevitably complicated.

Normally, even if the Supreme King had died, there would have been no need to worry about great chaos. According to the proper procedure, the successor to the Supreme King should have been the current Duke of Asturias.

However, coincidentally, at this moment, the position of Duke of Asturias was vacant. Before electing a new Supreme King, they first had to elect a Duke of Asturias.

Carlos, who had just passed away, was only in his late forties, not even fifty. No one had expected Carlos I to leave the world so suddenly, and thus this tragedy had occurred.

The rulers’ troubled minds naturally infected the common people they governed.

Of course, it wasn’t that they had any particular knowledge, insight, understanding, or sympathy for the traditional and formal election of the Duke of Asturias and the sensitive political and diplomatic dynamics surrounding it.

But when political, diplomatic, and security issues arise, rulers naturally tighten their purse strings, collect taxes more strictly, and control the flow of people. Securing resources, information, and mobilizable manpower was an essential resource for responding to any unfolding situation.

This inevitable outcome could become a storm that shakes the lives of the common people. Naturally, the fees for using the mill suddenly jumped several times, and unheard-of additional taxes like special taxes began to be levied. It would be strange not to react sensitively to such things.

Thus, among the people, mourning for the late Supreme King who had passed away at a young age, anxiety about various worries caused by his absence, and expectations that someone on a white horse would appear to resolve all these problems and bring new stability began to mix and drift like fog.

This buzzing atmosphere was the same in the capital of the Duchy of Catalonia, Barcelona.

“The people’s mood seems uneasy.”

While traveling through the capital’s streets in a carriage, Maria, Conra, Karl, and Brantley could observe the expressions and consumption trends of the citizens passing by.

Maria, who had grasped the subtle aspects of Muxindong, Karl, whose depth in the Heart Sword had deepened further, Conra, who had fully integrated the insights of both the Heart Sword and Muxindong, and Brantley, who had reached a state where he could manipulate the mysteries of spells with just a breath and a thought without even a hint of main strength.

Having already transcended human limits, it wasn’t difficult for the four of them to discern the common worries in the hearts of the people just by their passing appearances.

“There’s no helping it. As you’ve experienced in the empire, these kinds of political issues always involve the sacrifice of the people. It hasn’t escalated into a noticeable incident yet, but it’s only a matter of time.”

Karl shrugged in response to Conra’s observation. He was right. Coincidentally, the current situation in Hiberia was similar to the turmoil they had experienced in the empire.

The sudden death of a nation’s supreme leader, an unresolved succession plan. It was the perfect condition for chaos to erupt.

“Moreover, this country has other problems on top of that.”

Although they had been discussing the death of Hiberia’s Supreme King, Brantley pointed out that the atmosphere in Catalonia itself wasn’t exactly peaceful.

With the Duke of Catalonia, Ramon Berenguer IV, bedridden for a long time and no proper successor appointed, his nephew, Count Enrique of Barcelona, acting as regent, it was no wonder the capital’s atmosphere was uneasy.

And Count Enrique of Barcelona, due to the ambiguity of his birth, was secretly ostracized by the court nobles and the citizens of Barcelona…

“It’s a total mess.”

Maria, who had been quietly listening, suddenly voiced her thoughts. Brantley chuckled silently at her words.

“That’s right. It’s definitely a total mess. But it’s not all bad. For example…”

Perhaps out of respect for Maria’s status? Brantley, despite her young age, was guarding the anti-communist front.

Brantley slightly lifted the curtain of the carriage, pointing to the scene of people buying and selling goods at a market on the side of the street. Naturally, Maria’s eyes lit up as she observed this, and the court poet smiled proudly.

“How is it?”

“The prices aren’t as high as I thought.”

“Right. Do you know why?”

At Brantley’s question, not only Maria but also the other companions in the carriage fell into thought.

Common sense dictated that when a country entered a state of fiscal austerity and wartime mobilization, the effects would inevitably show in the market. Taxes that weren’t collected before would start being levied, and various administrative supports that were normally provided would be halted, directly impacting the people’s livelihoods.

Add to that the psychological unease the people themselves were feeling, and it was inevitable that they would resist releasing goods to the market.

Anyone who suffers a loss would naturally seek ways to compensate for it. If this creates a vicious cycle, inflation could occur as one of the results. This wasn’t a difficult concept for those who understood the ways of the world.

From this common-sense perspective, the fact that Catalonia’s prices hadn’t risen as much as expected suggested that the variables that could deepen this vicious cycle might be partially missing.

“That’s it! The internal instability of Catalonia has paradoxically slowed the response to external problems.”

Karl exclaimed as if he had just realized, and Conra and Maria also nodded as if something had clicked in their minds.

While they were discussing these things, the carriage carrying the group continued to move through the streets.

“By the way, Adrian, was it? We owe him a lot. To help us this much, how did you get to know him?”

Suddenly, Karl, who had been thinking in the carriage, asked Conra. It was Conra who had taken the lead in negotiating with Adrian and secured all this help.

“Ah, him?”

In response to Karl’s question, Conra hesitated for a moment before letting out a deflated chuckle.

Between Conra and Adrian, a clear hierarchical relationship had formed after a certain incident involving Maria in Valencia.

After all his prepared means were thoroughly crushed by Conra and he was subdued, Adrian had undergone torture that could be considered traumatic, including bone-breaking. The memories of Conra were vividly etched in Adrian’s mind like a brand.

Moreover, the land Adrian was trying to settle in now was none other than the capital of the Duchy of Catalonia, Barcelona.

That’s right. If the past events Adrian had schemed through Maria were to come to light, it would be a big problem.

‘Thanks to that, we received more cooperation than expected.’

The carriage they were riding in now, and the arrangements to meet with the person they were going to see, were all entirely due to Adrian’s support.

Although Barcelona was the capital of Catalonia, the actual management of the city was handled by separate positions. These were the ‘City Administrator’ and the ‘City Judge.’ The authority exercised by the Administrator and the Judge, at least within the city excluding the royal palace, surpassed even the royal family and the Count of Barcelona, who held a claim to the city.

Among them, excluding the Judge whose authority was strictly limited to legal judgments, the City Administrator, who managed the city’s administrative demands and supplies with one hand, could be called the city’s most powerful figure.

Without any immediate connections to the royal family and unsure whether they would be friends or enemies with the Count of Barcelona, the City Administrator was the best connection they could think of.

And somehow, through Adrian Guillermo’s arrangements, the group had the opportunity to meet the City Administrator of Barcelona. For making this happen, they couldn’t help but express immense gratitude to Adrian Guillermo.

While the group was chatting, the carriage had already passed through the city’s streets and entered a quiet residential area. Realizing they were nearing their destination, the group gradually stopped their chatter and began to adjust their attire and appearance.

After traveling a bit further along the residential street, the carriage finally arrived at a side gate in the wall of a mansion.

“We came through the side gate to avoid attracting official attention… Hmm, can you even call it a side gate? It’s almost the size of a small mansion’s main gate.”

“Indeed, the second most powerful person in the city… It shows even in a place like this.”

While the group marveled at the size of the side gate, the guards patrolling the mansion glanced at the emblem on the carriage, exchanged a few words with the coachman, and then opened the side gate.

Passing through the opened side gate, the carriage soon arrived in front of the mansion’s main entrance and stopped. At the main entrance, a neatly dressed man who had been waiting greeted them.

As the group began to disembark from the carriage, the man bowed and greeted them.

“Welcome to the Samaranch family mansion. His Excellency is waiting in his office.”

The man’s polite demeanor made the group exchange glances.

‘What did Adrian say to make them welcome us so politely?’

‘Indeed, it’s a bit overly polite for welcoming mere outsiders.’

But whispering among themselves with just glances wouldn’t yield any answers. The group eventually hid their questions and followed the man into the mansion.

After walking through the stairs and corridors for a while, they finally arrived at a large door that seemed to lead to the office. The man who had been guiding them announced their arrival.

“Your Excellency! The guests you mentioned have arrived!”

“Let them in.”

In response to the man’s announcement, a seasoned voice replied from beyond the door. With the host’s permission, the man nodded and opened the door.

“Please, come in.”

Before entering, the four looked at each other. This meeting could be considered the first step in all they intended to do in Barcelona. Suddenly, a tension akin to that of new soldiers before their first battle enveloped them.

Nod.

After nodding to each other, the four entered the room.

As the group stepped into the office, the wooden floor creaked. Hearing the sound, the middle-aged man who had been buried in documents at his desk looked up.

For a moment, the man’s wandering gaze fixed clearly on Maria. In that instant, Maria felt the man’s pupils tremble.

But that feeling lasted only a moment. Soon, the man returned to an inscrutable, profound gaze and welcomed the group.

“Welcome to my mansion. I, Juan Argones Samaranch, will not neglect your visit.”

After saying this, the man paused briefly before continuing.

“Even if your intentions are not ordinary.”

“!!!!”

The meaningful response, as if he knew everything, made the group quickly exchange glances.

‘What’s going on? Does he already know our situation?’

‘Adrian, just how much did you spill?’

Regardless, the City Administrator of Barcelona, Juan Argones Samaranch, who had revealed himself so, leisurely rose from his seat and invited the group to sit.

“Why don’t you sit down? It seems like it will be a long conversation.”

What does he know? As the group was bewildered by the unexpected demeanor of their host, the sound of a chair scraping against the floor was heard. Naturally, their gazes turned to Maria, who was sitting calmly on the chair with an inscrutable expression.

Soon, Karl and Brantley’s gazes turned to Conra. Unconsciously seeking judgment from Maria’s senior, Conra, at the boldness of the youngest girl in the group.

But at that moment, Conra was greatly admiring his junior’s bold action.

‘Indeed, in such a situation, just being cautious and wary would only lead to being swept along. My junior accurately read the situation and took a bold step.’

At the same time, he could subtly sense a thread of Maria’s thoughts. That slight tremor undoubtedly carried a hint of her hidden anxiety and hesitation.

What it meant was clear.

‘Our youngest member was the first to act among us. Overcoming her own unspoken hesitation.’

Though she had hidden it with the rationality of mind and body achieved through Muxindong, it couldn’t escape Conra’s eyes, who had reached the pinnacle in both the Heart Sword and Muxindong. Conra looked at Maria with pride and then, as if to show off, sat down in the chair after her. Seeing this, Karl and Brantley, as if realizing something, exchanged glances and followed suit.

Once the group was seated, the City Administrator of Barcelona, Juan Argones Samaranch, approached the table and asked.

“Do you like tea?”

“We don’t dislike it.”

Conra, who had subtly observed Maria and the group’s reactions, answered on their behalf. The Administrator, as if pleased, lifted the corners of his mouth and said.

“That’s good. The guild association just sent some good tea leaves.”

As he spoke, Juan Argones Samaranch began to prepare the tea himself.

From a cabinet in the corner of the office, he took out a tea set, placed a teapot on a lit lamp to boil water, and steeped the tea leaves in an oriental-style teapot. The process was so熟练 that it flowed naturally, like water.

The sound of boiling water from the teapot was brief, and soon the Administrator poured the steeped black tea into the prepared teacups and sat down, exhaling deeply.

“Now, please enjoy.”

“Then, we won’t refuse.”

The group sitting around the table silently began to sip the tea. As they took a sip, the first thing that filled their nasal passages was the fresh aroma of muscat or apricot, followed by bamboo, orchid, and a subtle smoky fragrance that stimulated their nasal membranes.

Simultaneously, a slight astringency, a savory taste, a subtle sweetness, sourness, bitterness, and a complex umami began to envelop their tongues.

‘This is definitely good tea.’

The harmonious blend of the tea’s aroma and the warm taste in their mouths created a subtle flavor. It was a good tea that couldn’t be matched by mediocre low-grade products. Naturally, the expressions of the group, who had been sipping the tea, softened compared to before.

Just then, the Administrator spoke.

“You really resemble Her Majesty the Queen, Princess.”

At that moment, the air in the room froze.

 

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