A luncheon between the Polant royal family and the prime minister was not a strict convention of the empire, yet it was one of the informal forms of meeting within the Polant Empire's constitutional democracy.
A private lunch provided an informal setting where the monarch and the prime minister could discuss imperial affairs and policy matters in a relatively relaxed atmosphere.
Under the constitutional framework of the Polant Empire, the reigning sovereign, Empress Khesia, played an important ceremonial role, while actual executive power rested primarily in the hands of the prime minister and parliament.
Even so, Empress Khesia maintained a profound interest in and influence over national affairs.
Regular briefings by the prime minister on governmental affairs were an established part of the Polant Empire's political traditions.
The imperial capital of Polant, Salem Palace.
Originally constructed by a certain duke as a grand townhouse, it had later been acquired by the royal family and gradually expanded into the palace it was today.
Lanqi's footsteps echoed through the halls.
Unrushed, he followed the lead of the steward.
Today, the building was not only the residence of the Polant Empire's monarch, but also a symbol of national identity and royal tradition.
After departing the Parliament Building, Lanqi had been brought by his secretary to Salem Palace for his audience with the Empress.
It was now noon, right at lunchtime.
Soon, he arrived in a magnificent dining hall filled with the subtle aroma of antique furnishings. Tall windows admitted soft, natural daylight, reflecting off the royal tablecloth and fine silverware.
"Lord Wilfort, please be seated."
Empress Khesia gestured toward a seat the moment she noticed Lanqi.
Her posture was dignified, noble, and aloof.
"Thank you, Your Majesty Khesia."
Lanqi took his seat on the other side of the long table and looked up.
The young empress across from him carried an air of modesty in her demeanor. Her silken brown hair was plaited in intricate braids woven with glittering gemstones and pearls, and her bright, vivid blue eyes shone with wit and discernment.
Yet she seemed slightly tense and wary.
A long silence fell between the two.
They seemed to be waiting for the attendants to serve lunch, and equally seemed to be lost in thought.
Aside from the appointment ceremony when he took office as prime minister, the two had shared almost no prior interaction.
Today was their very first luncheon together.
In theory, luncheons like this or similar private meetings served as a platform for the monarch and prime minister to exchange views. The prime minister could take the opportunity to brief the monarch on the direction of parliament's policies, major domestic and international developments, and the challenges and considerations shaping decisions. For the monarch, it was a crucial channel for staying informed about the machinery of government and the state of the nation. As such, convention dictated that the prime minister speak first.
Furthermore, these gatherings helped foster a personal rapport between sovereign and prime minister, maintaining smooth communication between parliament and the royal household. Although Empress Khesia took no direct part in policy decisions, she served as a symbol of the nation and its unity; a healthy working relationship with the sitting prime minister was vital for national stability and public trust.
The problem was that Empress Khesia remained fundamentally reluctant to endorse Wilfort's appointment as prime minister.
In her eyes, Wilfort was a man with a less-than-spotless record, fluctuating loyalties, and an inscrutable nature. Many around her even referred to him as a madman.
Yet at this critical juncture, no one else had dared shoulder such a crushing burden.
"By the way, are you hungry right now, Your Majesty?" Lanqi suddenly asked.
The question caught Empress Khesia completely off guard.
In Lanqi's shadow, Boss Cat froze as well.
*Do you treat every woman like she's Tata?!*
*Hey, that's an empress! Could you at least pick a different icebreaker when talking to her?!*
"Are you not feeling hungry yet, Lord Wilfort?" Empress Khesia inquired after pondering his motives for a moment.
"No, I am quite eager to dine with Your Majesty as soon as possible. My morning duties have left me utterly lightheaded," Lanqi said with a shake of his head, offering a faint, weary smile. "I merely assumed Your Majesty might not be fond of talking while eating. If I didn't take this moment to exchange a few casual words, our entire meal might pass in absolute silence."
Asking a question entirely unrelated to pressing affairs sometimes helped ease tension and redirect attention.
It worked especially well on a certain lady.
"Indeed," Empress Khesia nodded.
She truly was not the type to talk over food, and Wilfort seemed accustomed to the same habit. Establishing that upfront meant that when they quietly ate their meal later, there would be no awkwardness.
"To be frank, I believe Your Majesty is already well acquainted with the state of the Polant Empire. I have no intention of recounting tedious details you already know. Should there be anything you are curious about, please feel free to ask at any time. I will answer everything to the best of my knowledge," Lanqi continued at a steady, unhurried pace, seeing that the Empress had visibly relaxed.
"..."
Empress Khesia gave a quiet nod, fixing her gaze on him. "Lord Wilfort, viewed not as a political ally but as a friend, you are far more approachable than I imagined."
What she had anticipated to be an agonizing ordeal of a lunch had suddenly grown far more comfortable. She could remain silent, or she could choose to discuss only the subjects she wished to broach.
At last, she had a quiet moment to observe the black-haired, green-eyed man seated across from her.
Yet to her surprise, this man she had feared appeared to regard her with equal reverence.
Though dressed in a crisp, neat suit and maintaining impeccable respect and etiquette, his eyes still revealed humility and sincerity. It was obvious he placed immense value on this private audience.
"If I had my wish, I would never have to employ my talents at all," Lanqi said candidly. "A Polant Empire that has no need of me is the best kind of Polant Empire."
"Did you know? The conservatives already deeply regret backing you as the new prime minister, all because of your speech this morning."
Khesia could tell that, unlike most imperial nobles, he possessed a sense of duty without ambition. That was likely why he drew jealousy and ostracism from certain quarters.
Of course, many had also banked on precisely this trait: once Wilfort saw them through the empire's crisis, he would have no attachment to power and could easily be escorted from office.
"And yet, expressing my true convictions was imperative," Lanqi replied firmly.
"You should not have misled the public."
Empress Khesia had not originally intended to bring up a topic that might sour the atmosphere and lead to an unpleasant end to the meeting. Now, however, she sensed that Wilfort was not a petty man, and that there were matters best discussed with frank openness.
She was referring to how Lanqi had withheld from the public the news that the Horning Empire had launched a formal assault on the northern border of the neighboring Kingdom of Bliss the previous night. Instead, he had proclaimed that should Horning ever threaten them, the Polant Empire would launch a full-scale counteroffensive, refusing to allow Horning's talons to touch the ancestral lands their forebears had defended for generations.
"Yet doing so rallies public morale and stokes their will to resist. We cannot surrender before the battle has even begun," Lanqi said to Empress Khesia, his voice dropping slightly.
"..."
Empress Khesia, who had intended to press him further, found the words catching in her throat.
She watched Lord Wilfort deliver the most unyielding words with the meek posture of a child admitting fault. An ache of pity stirred within her for this poignant humility, the loneliness of a man bearing the weight of the realm entirely on his own shoulders.
To reproach him now would only make his burden heavier and his path harder to walk.
Upon reflection, his words held truth; he was merely resolute in his determination to mount a fierce defense.
"Forgive me, Lord Wilfort. I failed to consider your position."
Looking into Lanqi's weary eyes, an overwhelming pang of guilt rose within her.
Boss Cat: "???"
In just a few short minutes, every trace of Khesia's initial guardedness toward Lanqi had vanished.
In fact, she was the one trying to bridge the distance between them!
With Hyperion not around, this guy had completely let loose. The peak power he had wielded back in the Northern Continent—he had probably already recovered half of it!
Chapter 538