7 Years later
Aeris leaned back in her chair as she watched the other Southern nobles bicker among themselves. She looked at them with a bored expression, wondering how long this banter would last this time.
Their last meeting, where two nobles had relentlessly attacked each other's sore spots, had dragged on for six hours. She still remembered the exhaustion that followed and hoped this gathering would end far sooner. As she quietly considered when to step in, the nobles suddenly stopped arguing, and their gazes turned toward her.
"Your Grace, I think it is time for us to open the South. If the South continues to close itself and remain isolated, I fear that His Majesty will believe we are trying to oppose him and establish our own kingdom." Aeris shifted her gaze toward the speaker. It was Lord Raziq Zarki, the Marquis of house Zarki.
Marquis Zarki was the one who had started the earlier dispute with the other nobles. Now, however, his attention had moved to Aeris instead. The other nobles present were clearly anxious. They were in a difficult position, and they needed Aeris, the Duchess Ambroise, to finally make her decision.
"Your Grace, as much as I despise this old man, I agree with Lord Raziq. We need to open our gates. It has been seven years since we closed our regions and allowed no interference from outside. We isolated ourselves and stayed away from the Empire's affairs. If we continue like this, I fear it will not only anger His Majesty, but our people as well. I do not wish for a riot to happen." Another noble spoke, his voice cautious but firm. He looked at Aeris with a hesitant gaze before finally voicing what had been on his mind.
"Your Grace, House Ambroise is not the only family in the South. We hope you can understand our situation." He bowed his head immediately after speaking, his gesture filled with restraint and unease.
Aeris' eyes grew sharp as she glared at the man before her. He was Count Henley Vuarter, a noble known for his blunt manner and careful choice of words. His words were precise and straightforward, spoken without hesitation or disguise.
Because of that, it was impossible for Aeris not to grasp the meaning hidden behind them. Count Vuarter was clearly asking her to stop using her authority for what he believed were her own selfish intentions.
It was seven years ago, after the death of her parents, that everything had changed. As the new Duchess Ambroise and the ruler of the Southern region, Aeris Ambroise had made a shocking decision that stunned both the nobles and the Imperial family.
She ordered the closing of all gates and borders throughout the southern region of the Ankaa Empire. Ignoring the strong reactions of the Imperial family, Aeris declared that the South would isolate itself completely and enter a period of mourning.
No one from the other regions of the empire could enter, nor would the South accept any foreigners. The borders were sealed without exception, and the message was made clear to all who heard it.
Since then, the South region had begun to operate entirely on its own. The nobles of the South were no longer able to attend the Royal Conferences, and their absence was keenly felt.
The Empire state affairs and its growing problems were handled solely by nobles from the other regions. House Ambroise, the ruler of the Southern region, withdrew completely and refused to involve herself in any imperial matters.
For seven years, the South focused only on its own land and people, neither offering help to others nor seeking assistance in return. After all, the South had always been the most prosperous region compared to the others, rich in resources and stable in governance.
Aeris' decision was not opposed by the other nobles at the time, as they all knew she was holding a deep rage that threatened to erupt. No one was willing to become the scapegoat and face her wrath, so they submitted to her command without resistance. That was why the South had been able to live peacefully on its own for the past seven years.
But they could no longer hold on as they once had. The nobles could not spread their influence beyond the South, and the merchants were unable to expand their businesses. Gradually, doubt began to take root, and everyone's opinions started to waver. Therefore, they now needed Aeris to open the gates once more.
Aeris remained lost in her thoughts, unaware of the heavy tension she imposed upon everyone in the room. After a while, she slowly nodded her head and shifted her gaze toward Marquis Zarki, her expression unreadable.
"Well, you are correct. I have made your businesses suffer by closing the regions for the past years. It is time to open them. But Marquis, do you have a plan on how to spread this news to the civilians and everyone across the Empire? We cannot simply open the gates all of a sudden." Aeris spoke in a flat tone. Her eyes drifted across the room, carefully observing the expressions of her fellow nobles.
Marquis Zarki exchanged a brief glance with Count Vuarter. It seemed that their patience over the past years had finally been rewarded. Now, all that remained was to ensure that Aeris would fully agree with the path they had prepared.
"Your Grace, I believe it would be best if we host the Annual Swordsmanship Tournament in our region this year," Marquis Zarki suggested. His words were followed by nods of approval from the other nobles present.
"Swordsmanship tournament?" Aeris murmured softly.
The Annual Swordsmanship Tournament was a well known event throughout the Empire. As the name suggested, it was a grand competition held each year under the authority of the Imperial family. Its main purpose was to select outstanding swordsmen and recruit them into the Imperial Knight Order, a chance sought after by many.
"Yes, Your Grace. The tournament has always been held at the Capital. Participants from every region of the Empire gather there each year. If we host it in the South, it will naturally draw their attention," Marquis Zarki continued.
"As for the noble families, we could also arrange a hunting competition after the tournament. Invitations can be sent to the Imperial family and the other nobles. If His Majesty attends, or even if he sends the princes in his place, the rest will surely follow."
Marquis Zarki went on to explain his plans in greater detail. He spoke of suitable locations for the tournament grounds, the forests that could be used for the hunt, and the banquet that would follow afterward. It was clear that this was not a suggestion made on a whim, but a carefully thought out proposal.
Aeris nodded slowly, a faint look of satisfaction appearing on her face. It was obvious that Marquis Zarki had put great effort into preparing this plan to convince her. Turning away from him, she shifted her gaze toward the other nobles, her eyes questioning.
"Do any of you have other ideas?" she asked.
"Your Grace." A middle aged woman spoke, immediately drawing the attention of everyone in the room. She looked directly toward Aeris, her posture straight, and expressed her thoughts without hesitation.
"I believe we should not only focus on attracting the nobles," she said. "We must also consider the commoners. For the past years, our people have patiently waited and abided by your rules. They mourned alongside us and endured the isolation without complaint. We should do something for them as well."
Viscountess Freya Everheart bowed toward Aeris, respectfully asking her to accept her suggestion.
Mourning. An excuse given by Duchess Ambroise to the Emperor. And not even once during those seven years had the commoners and merchants of the South shown dissatisfaction or raised complaints. To them, the late Duke and Duchess of Ambroise were rulers who had treated and protected their people well.
They had been great leaders of the South. Because of that, the commoners never went against Aeris' decision to close the gates. They understood that although the declaration of mourning was merely an excuse, how could they possibly protest it?
After all, their new leader had just lost her parents. Without discussion or planning, everyone made the same choice to accept and support Aeris. They would mourn for as long as she needed. They knew that as the Duchess of Ambroise, she could not truly do so herself. She could not mourn her parents openly while the burden of leadership rested upon her shoulders.
Aeris agreed with Viscountess Everheart's suggestion. She knew well that her people had endured in silence and continued to support her decisions throughout the years.
"What do you suggest we do?" She leaned forward slightly, showing her interest as she waited to hear what Viscountess Everheart had in mind.
"Why don't we organise a celebration festival?" Viscountess Everheart said. "We can allow local merchants to set up their stalls without charge. Commoners who wish to do business can also participate. We can prepare various activities and performances to draw both our people and visitors from other regions. In this way, we can stimulate the economy and help the locals earn income for themselves."
Her words caused a change among the nobles present. Some nodded in agreement, while others frowned in displeasure.
"Viscountess, what you propose is not practical," a noble spoke in opposition. It was Viscount Vesper Pendleton. "How does allowing commoners to set up stalls for free benefit us? We must spend money to organise the festival. We also need to focus on the swordsmanship and hunting competitions. All of this requires funds."
He could not understand why attention needed to be given to small merchants and commoners. In his view, it was far better to focus solely on the nobles.
Aeris rubbed her forehead lightly. It seemed another argument was about to break out.
"You cannot say that, my lord," Viscountess Everheart replied without hesitation. "The merchants and commoners never complained when their livelihoods were cut off after the gates were closed. The least we can do is organise this festival and allow them to celebrate as well."
She glared at him with sharp eyes. The two had never liked each other since their youth, and that dislike had only deepened as the years passed.
"No matter what, we never let them suffer either for the past seven years. We helped enough already. So why should we waste more money just to bring a smile to their face? Not to mention that their livelihood was cut off because the South region was closed. It wasn't our fault—"
"Enough, Viscount Pelion!" Marquis Zarki yelled, cutting him off mid-sentence. As if suddenly realising what he had just muttered, Viscount Pelion's face turned pale. He tremblingly turned to the head seat, meeting Aeris' cold eyes.
"Are you blaming me, Viscount?" Aeris questioned. Her voice was icy, matching the sharpness of her stare.
"Y-Your Grace," Viscount Pelion stammered. He knew he had committed a grave error. How dare he outrightly put the blame on Aeris?
Marquis Zarki sighed at the sight of his nephew trembling with fright, a hint of disappointment in his expression. He dared to speak nonsense yet lacked the courage to face the consequences. Was that truly a trait befitting the Head of a family?
Standing, Marquis Zarki bowed deeply to Aeris. His action drew the nobles' attention, prompting a collective sigh at Viscount Pelion's blunder. It seemed the viscount had been saved by his maternal uncle once again.
"Your Grace, please forgive my nephew for his misspoken words," he pleaded, keeping his head bowed.
Seeing a man in his late fifties willing to humble himself for his nephew, Aeris lost all interest in punishing Viscount Pelion.
'Argh, what a dramatic family,' she thought.
"Since it is you who asks for forgiveness, I shall not take his words to heart," Aeris said, signaling Marquis Zarki to rise. She then turned her gaze back to Viscount Pelion.
"You need not worry, Viscount. I have seen how much you have done for the people these past seven years. I shall not trouble you any further." Without waiting for his reply, Aeris turned her gaze back to Viscountess Everheart, who remained patiently awaiting her approval.
"You may proceed as you plan. The cost for this festival will be borne by my Ambroise Duchy. Once you have finalized your proposal and completed the necessary preparations, you may submit everything directly to my office. Do not cut corners in an attempt to save money. We are not lacking in wealth." Aeris' words landed heavily in the room, leaving no space for doubt. The nobles were reminded of the Ambroise Duchy's greatest advantage: its wealth.
Generations of careful rule had allowed the duchy to build riches enough to last far into the future. That same abundance, however, made Ambroise a constant target within the empire. Many coveted what it possessed, and even the imperial family, beneath their formal courtesy, kept a close eye on the duchy's fortune.
After Viscountess Everheart nodded her head as a response, Aeris rose from her seat. Her gaze moved across the meeting hall, settling on the fifteen nobles before her. They were the heads of the families who helped govern the South under her authority
"I take it that none of you oppose the decision to reopen the South region, and that you all agree with the proposals presented. The swordsmanship tournament will be entrusted to you, Marquis Zarki. As for the hunting competition, Count Vuarter is the most qualified, given his family's knightly background, so you will oversee it. Viscountess Everheart will handle the festivals. The rest of you are to lend your support and assist them as needed. Should any issues arise, you may report directly to me. Once we receive approval from the Emperor, you may proceed as planned. Until then, refrain yourselves from spreading unnecessary rumors. Dismissed," Aeris finalised her decisions before she headed out.
"Yes, Your Grace." The remaining nobles bowed their heads and waited until she had fully departed before finally straightening. Only then did they release quiet sighs of relief.