The Great Wish - Chapter 40: I Can’t See an Inch Ahead (6)

A grand banquet hall, once the site of welcoming delegations, had now become a conference room.

The leaders of the Tuisia, Lama, and Hotu tribes had gathered to resolve their differences, as they had done before the founding of their nation. Although the tribal council had been dissolved after the nation’s establishment, it was revived for this one day.

Today, the throne remained empty. The king sat as an equal with the other tribal leaders, not as their monarch but as the chief of the Tuisia tribe. This was a significant concession on the king’s part, leaving the other two tribes with no grounds to refuse the meeting.

Three tables were arranged at equal distances from one another, positioned so that the leaders could face each other. The chiefs sat at the head of each table, with thirty tribe members standing behind them as witnesses to the proceedings.

Sienna sat in a neutral position, equidistant from all three tribes. After much deliberation on how to convey her neutrality, she had taken Fatima’s advice and donned the ceremonial attire of a priestess. Her long sleeves reached down to her knees, and her face was hidden by a wooden mask.

Due to the harsh desert environment, nature worship had developed among the tribes. Every tribe had a priestess to divine omens of good or ill fortune. In smaller tribes, the priestess also held judicial power.

Kuhn had declared that he would not be involved in today’s proceedings and would instead oversee the protection of the envoy. Since Rad, a general loyal to the king, had agreed to withdraw, the other two tribes had no reason to object.

Kuhn, fully armed, stood behind Sienna, while warriors and Kaligo members were strategically stationed around the room to prepare for any unexpected situations.

Next to the Lama chief, a small chair had been placed. A young boy, holding the hand of his nurse, took a seat. This was Ahin, the twelfth son of the former king and the heir to the throne endorsed by the Lama tribe.

On the table before Sienna sat a transparent box resting on a golden tray. The box, made from carved crystal, contained a branch from the sacred tree.

The expression on the Hotu chief’s face was strained. The fact that his successor had attempted to assassinate the imperial delegation put his tribe in a disadvantageous position. Now, he was forced to reveal the sacred tree branch, which had been kept secret for so long.

The meeting began with the king asserting his rightful claim to the throne.

“I managed official duties and attended state events as the heir apparent during the reign of the former king.”

The Lama chief countered by citing the late king’s will.

“The former king’s will clearly state that he passed the royal authority to Ahin, the chief of the Tuisia tribe.”

The Hotu chief supported the Lama chief’s argument.

“The king’s word is law. The late king’s will is as binding as a legal decree.”

Though it was a formal meeting, each side was merely asserting its own claims. None listened to the other, leaving them locked in a perpetual stalemate.

Kuhn watched their heated exchange with a smirk.

“At least they’re restraining themselves in front of the imperial envoy.”

There had been several similar meetings before, and they had never ended without chaos. Harsh words were the least of it—swords had often been drawn in the past.

Sienna quietly listened to the three chiefs without taking sides or intervening.

The meeting, which had started in the morning, continued without a break and had long since passed into the afternoon. The witnesses standing behind the leaders showed signs of fatigue, shifting restlessly. Even the tribal chiefs were speaking less.

As the room fell into a momentary silence, Sienna spoke.

“I understand that there is sharp internal conflict regarding the issue of succession. However, the vassal state is not a subject of the empire, and the empire does not interfere in the internal affairs of its vassal states. Therefore, the legitimacy of the royal succession is not for the empire to determine.”

The tribal leaders’ expressions turned sour. All their shouting had been for nothing.

Yet, they couldn’t suggest the empire decide on the new king, as that would imply they were willing to become a subordinate state. Doing so would violate the principle that their diplomatic respect toward the empire was only for foreign policy, while the federation remained an independent nation.

Sienna had deliberately let the tribal chiefs speak at length. Their once fierce glares had softened considerably as exhaustion set in.

“His Imperial Majesty has always been concerned about instability in the desert regions bordering the empire. His gift of the sacred tree branch to the federation was meant to encourage and support the order established in the desert by your federation. The branch of the sacred tree is a holy relic of the empire. If it leads to discord and distrust, it would go against the divine will, and the empire will reclaim the sacred tree branch. If anyone in this room wishes for that, please raise your hand.”

The tribal leaders exchanged uneasy glances. Even if they thought it would be better for no one to possess the branch, none dared say so aloud.

“The branch is not a personal possession, but the right to manage it is customarily inherited. However, there is currently a dispute over who the rightful heir is.”

Everyone held their breath, focused on the envoy’s words.

“Gloriously, His Imperial Majesty has entrusted me with broad authority. In accordance with His will, I will designate a qualified manager to ensure the stability and peace of the desert.”

As soon as Sienna finished speaking, the witnesses behind the chiefs began to stir, their previous boredom now replaced with alertness.

“Yota, chief of the Tuisia tribe, and Ahin, the Tuisia heir. If there is anyone else claiming the right to manage the branch, step forward.”

No one responded. Sienna turned to the three tribal chiefs for confirmation.

“Are there any objections?”

All three tribal chiefs answered, “No objections.”

Sienna glanced around at the tribes. Though her expression was hidden behind the wooden mask symbolizing the priestess, the slow movement of the mask created a solemn atmosphere.

“The founding law of the Peroh Federation consists of a preamble and thirty-nine articles. It is said that the three tribes each contributed thirteen articles, ensuring that their individual commandments did not overlap. Together, these thirty-nine articles became the federation’s fundamental law.”

This sudden statement left everyone looking puzzled.

“In particular, the preamble was established through the tribal council, symbolizing the unity of the federation. I ask the heirs of the late king—do you know the content of the preamble?”

The tribal chiefs’ expressions varied. The king confidently replied:

“The preamble to the founding law represents the spirit of the federation. Anyone claiming to be the late king’s successor should be well-versed in its content.”

The Lama and Hotu chiefs exchanged uneasy glances and turned to the seven-year-old boy, who sat there blankly. The young boy had not only failed to memorize the preamble, but he had also yet to fully learn how to read.

“The envoy is being unfair,” the Lama chief stepped forward.

“In what way am I being unfair?”

“Who can guarantee that you haven’t coordinated with the Tuisia chief beforehand? I’ve heard you meet with General Rad daily.”

“I have a question for the Lama chief. Isn’t it true that every citizen of the federation must memorize the preamble during their coming-of-age ceremony?”

“…Yes.”

“Do you, Lama chief, not know the preamble?”

The Lama chief remained silent. If he claimed to know it, he would appear to be supporting the king. If he claimed not to know, he would make a fool of himself.

“Are you suggesting, then, that anyone who knows the preamble should be qualified to manage the sacred tree branch?”

“I made it clear earlier that those entitled to manage the sacred tree branch should come forward. You all acknowledged that the rightful heirs are Yota, chief of the Tuisia tribe, and Ahin, the Tuisia heir. Did you not?”

Once again, the Lama chief remained silent, his face contorted in frustration.

Sienna looked between the smiling king and the two disgruntled chiefs before speaking.

“Tuisia, Lama, Hotu—I declare that these three tribes united to form one.”

When Sienna spoke these words in their native language, not the imperial tongue, all the tribal members widened their eyes in astonishment.

“With the harmony of Tuisia, the wisdom of Lama, and the bravery of Hotu, we honor the will of the great prophet Peroh…”

Sienna began reciting the preamble to the founding law of the federation.

“One: The Peroh Federation respects the diversity of its tribes. Two…”

Sienna continued, flawlessly reciting all thirty-nine articles. Her pronunciation was perfect, as if she were a native speaker. Listening with eyes closed, one could easily mistake her for a person of the desert.

Her voice echoed through the silent hall, and when she finished reciting the thirty-nine articles, the room was so quiet it seemed as if no one was breathing.

“I hereby recognize Yota, chief of the Tuisia tribe, as the rightful heir to manage the sacred tree branch. According to the principle of unanimous agreement by the tribal council, if there are any objections, speak now.”

The Lama and Hotu chiefs remained silent. How could they continue to argue in favor of a young heir who didn’t even know the preamble when even the foreign envoy from the empire could recite it perfectly? Their position was indefensible, and even within their own tribes, support would likely wane.

No one objected.

In front of all the witnesses, Sienna handed the sacred tree branch and the emperor’s personal letter to the king. What was expected to be a contentious temporary tribal council meeting had come to a surprisingly smooth conclusion.

***

As soon as Sienna arrived in Homan, the capital of the Federation, she sent a report to the Empire confirming the safe arrival of the delegation.

Upon receiving the news, Patricia finally felt a sense of peace. Her once worried face showed a hint of relief. Although her greatest concern had been alleviated, there were still other issues that troubled her.

A maid quietly approached and bowed.

“I’ve returned, Red King.”

Without a word, Patricia extended her hand. The maid retrieved a small pouch from her sleeve and placed it in Patricia’s palm.

Patricia pulled a piece of paper from the pouch. It was a promissory note issued by the Rad Merchant Guild. After confirming the amount, her brow furrowed, and she clicked her tongue in frustration.

“Leave.”

“Yes, Red King.”

The maid left, and Patricia once again glanced at the note before tossing it onto the table.

Since the funding from the duke’s estate had been cut off, the greenhouse’s maintenance had become a serious issue. The only solution was to reduce the scale of the crops being cultivated in the greenhouse.

However, she couldn’t bear to rip out the plants that were thriving so well. They were the result of significant effort, time, and money.

To gradually downsize the greenhouse, Patricia needed to maintain it for a while longer, which required funds. In desperation, she sold some of her personal jewelry to raise the necessary cash.

It would be a scandal if word got out that the Red King had sold her jewels due to lack of funds. To avoid such humiliation, Patricia conducted the transactions through her maid.

Since high-value jewels without a clear owner were a risky purchase for buyers, they wouldn’t pay full price.

Patricia was infuriated at having to sell her expensive jewels at a discount. More than anything, the fact that she had to worry about money was an insult to her pride.

“I need to meet with my brother and settle this once and for all.”

But Doug was still away from the capital. Even when she sent a messenger to the duke’s estate, the response was always that his return date was undetermined. And there was another matter that was getting on Patricia’s nerves.

“Why is it so quiet?”

It had been fifteen days since the Iron Queen left for the Duke’s estate. By now, there should have been some sort of commotion. Patricia had made sure to tamper with the oats delivered to the estate. Since it was difficult to tamper with the food in the palace, she had lured the Iron Queen out.

Oats were widely regarded as beneficial for both pregnant women and their unborn children. Regardless of social status, it was customary for pregnant women in the Empire to eat at least one meal of oats each day.

One of the plants in Patricia’s greenhouse produced seeds that closely resembled oats but were actually poisonous. Mixed in with oats, they were nearly impossible to tell apart.

The plant had an extremely cold nature and caused uterine contractions. After consuming it for three days, one would experience mild stomach pain, and after ten days, labor would begin.

For a woman overdue to give birth, this could serve as a medicine to induce labor. However, if consumed by someone in early pregnancy or far from their due date, it could result in a premature birth or stillbirth.

“What’s gone wrong? I was told they served oatmeal to the Iron Queen every morning.”

Patricia couldn’t figure out where her plan had failed.

What Patricia hadn’t anticipated was the secretive actions of the Iron King, which had thwarted her scheme.

Each morning, the Iron King, Dian, would visit his wife at the Duke’s estate without fail. While Violet had her breakfast, Dian would instruct a servant to bring him a cup of grain tea. This routine happened daily, so the servant began bringing the tea automatically.

Unbeknownst to anyone, Dian would discreetly prick his finger with a needle and let a drop or two of blood fall into the cup. It was an odd act, one he couldn’t bring himself to do in front of others.

Before Sienna left for the desert, she had paid Dian a visit.

“Iron King. Just in case—although I hope it never happens—if the Iron Queen shows signs of poisoning, and no medicine works, your blood can serve as an antidote.”

“My blood? You’re telling me to give Violet my blood to drink?”

“It may sound strange, but the blood of the divine has that kind of effect.”