Chapter 011: The Garden in the Air

Spring in the empire had passed, and the summer sun shone down on the imperial capital, casting a golden hue over this most magnificent city in the Roland continent. Yet this color was somewhat dazzling, making it hard to look directly at.

Flowers already bloomed abundantly within the palace, and in the exquisite gardens, a dazzling array of blossoms filled the sight. Court servants dressed in splendid robes walked by, bending slightly as they passed. Some knelt on the cobblestone paths, gently wiping the dirt from the flower branches and leaves with white cloths.

Speaking of the highly respected prince—Prince Fischer, the future ruler of the Gavin Empire—these court servants revered him deeply. Throughout history, during the struggles for power, most court servants were killed to keep secrets. But Prince Fischer was different. Not only did he spare these court servants, but he also did not send in additional troops. Apart from the change in the palace guards, everything else remained almost unchanged from the time of the late emperor.

Yet Prince Fischer wasn’t without flaws. At least he had a bit of an oddity—his extreme cleanliness. Even the slightest trace of dirt in his palace would provoke his usually gentle temper. This trait hadn’t been so noticeable before, but once he gained power, it became glaringly obvious, like a flaw in white jade. One might try to ignore it, but it still couldn’t help but draw attention.

Still, compared to the bizarre and cruel habits of past emperors, cleanliness seemed like no big deal for a ruler.

The court servant on the ground sighed softly after finally cleaning the dirt from the branches. He was about to get up and check elsewhere when, from afar, a faint sound of metal clashing slowly approached.

The leader among the court servants tensed up and quickly ordered in a low voice, “Everyone, get up! It’s the prince!”

The servants hurriedly gathered at the entrance to the garden, standing respectfully on either side, not daring to lift their heads.

After another moment, several groups of Imperial City Guards, armed with golden battle axes, could finally be seen protecting Prince Fischer and the nobles behind him as they moved slowly toward the garden. These Imperial City Guards had already been replaced by Prince Fischer’s loyal followers, led by Alex—a development that had long been expected. At this moment, within the Gavin Empire, things might not be entirely peaceful, but at least on the surface, they seemed quite fine. In the south, Du Fan had created a completely new situation, while in the north, Duke Green was personally dealing with the remnants of the Bauhinia faction. So, in every sense, Prince Fischer should be in high spirits. Yet, the true ruler of the Gavin Empire showed no sign of happiness at all. Prince Fischer wore a white gauze robe that seemed utterly incongruous with his status, but it was precisely this simple robe that gave him a sense of royal elegance. If Du Fan were here now, he would likely exclaim that this was what was meant by “kingship aura.” The empire’s sole ruler frowned slightly—admittedly, given his handsome appearance, even such an expression still appeared pleasing to the eye. It was just unfortunate that a man could be so beautiful as to make women jealous. Of course, no one in the empire dared to voice this opinion. The loyal followers of Prince Fischer behind him saw his expression but dared not say anything, merely lowering their heads in silence. After a while, Prince Fischer suddenly waved his hand gently, signaling the Imperial City Guards to step back. Then he turned around with a soft smile and said, “Well, my lords, I brought you to this royal garden today so that you wouldn’t feel too constrained… Yet it seems to me that you’re even more restrained here than in the great hall.” One of the nobles quickly replied, “Your Highness, there are differences between superiors and subordinates… Your dominance grows by the day, and it’s only natural that we should feel terrified in your presence.” Hearing this, Prince Fischer suddenly wore a strange smile. After a moment, he turned back, looked at the flowers around him, and said indifferently, “You may all leave now!”

Though the words were light, they reached the ears of the palace servants and the imperial guards without fail. After all, they were not fools. Hearing Prince Fischer’s words, they quickly bowed respectfully and then withdrew swiftly.

Soon, only Prince Fischer and a few others remained in the vast garden. From the colorful flowers, whether it was mist or vapor, it slowly spread around. Occasionally, the sounds of birds and insects could be heard, adding to the serene atmosphere. This scene gave the imperial garden a touch of an otherworldly beauty.

Only after all the servants had left did Prince Fischer sigh with a faint smile and say softly, “Christopher… It’s been a few days since we last met, yet it seems to me… your flattery has only grown louder.”

The person who spoke was none other than the new Imperial Finance Minister—Count Christopher, who had joined Du Fan at the meeting between the two nations and shared the blame together.

Upon hearing Prince Fischer’s words, Count Christopher immediately wore a sorrowful expression. Without hesitation, he knelt on the ground and declared loudly, “Your Highness! This is an injustice! Every word I said came from the bottom of my heart—there isn’t a trace of deceit! As for what Your Highness calls flattery, I would never dare to do such a thing! It is Your Highness’s greatness that draws everyone’s attention! I dare not hide the truth; I merely speak as it is!”

Seeing Count Christopher’s behavior, the other nobles couldn’t help but feel deep disdain for him. But of course, these seasoned politicians would never show such feelings.

Count Christopher’s words were so heartfelt, like the cries of a cuckoo, making his silent flattery sound extremely loud.

Even Prince Fischer, a man of such stature, couldn’t help but show a puzzled expression upon hearing this.

In this world where flattery wins favor, and everyone loves those who flatter, it’s hard to say what Prince Fischer truly thought, despite his outward expression.

After taking a soft breath, Prince Fischer smiled slightly and said, “Enough. I have no intention of doing anything to you… So stop saying such things. Get up.”

Count Christopher quickly got up, his expression one of utmost respect, not daring to move at all.

Seeing his expression, Prince Fischer’s gaze shifted slightly. After a moment, he sighed softly and said, “Christopher, I’m asking you… When I sent you to the peace talks, did you ever feel a hint of resentment toward me?”
Christopher’s eyes flickered slightly, but he quickly replied, “Your Highness, if I were to say that I had no other thoughts at the time, it would surely be a lie to you… After all, with such a huge burden thrown on me, anyone would refuse to bear it… So, I did have some thoughts. But Christopher’s achievements today are all thanks to Your Highness. Your Highness has done me a great favor; even if it were ten or eight more burdens, it would still be fine.”
Prince Fischer smiled lightly. “Good. If you had told me right away that you had no other thoughts, I would have had you taken away right then… There seems to be a saying in the distant Eastern Continent: ‘Those who deceive their king shall be executed!’”
Christopher replied respectfully, “Your Highness is joking. Even if such a saying didn’t exist, I would never dare to deceive you!”
“Is that so?” Prince Fischer sneered coldly. His gaze shifted to the other nobles, and he said indifferently, “What about you? Do you have any thoughts?”
The nobles exchanged glances before saying in unison, “Of course, we would never dare to deceive Your Highness.”
Prince Fischer sneered again, unsure how much to believe their words. Suddenly, he clapped his hands gently and said, “Enough… Let’s put aside these troublesome questions for now. Since you’re all here in the royal garden, why not take a look at this legendary place?”
The nobles were momentarily stunned. After a while, one of them cautiously asked, “Your Highness, could this be the legendary… Hanging Garden?”
Prince Fischer wore a pleasant smile as he replied, “You’re quite clever. Yes, this is indeed the legendary Hanging Garden… Since we’re here, why not take a look?”