Chapter 278
In the heart of winter lies an artifact that encapsulates the chill of the harshest season—a terrifying weapon that crams the cold of an entire winter into a mere 2-centimeter sphere. Thanks to its formidable power, it proudly occupies one of the three major relics of the Magentano royal family, serving as a strategic weapon. Its potency is beyond imagination.
What happens when the chill contained within the sphere is fully released? In an instant, a cold wave surpassing an ice age sweeps through the area. In just one day, it can completely freeze a territory; in ten days, it can lower the average temperature of an area as large as Gyeonggi Province by a staggering 20 degrees Celsius. The destruction of a year’s crops is a given, and the sudden onslaught of severe cold inevitably leads to the death of both people and livestock.
Lloyd recalled a scene from the novel ‘The Knight of Iron Blood’. It was such a powerful artifact that the Magentano royal family had only used it twice in their history due to its overwhelming might.
In the middle to late part of the novel, the Heart of Winter was deployed for the third time in history. Alicia, the queen who had fallen into tyranny, used it to quell a rebellion in the west, using the Heart of Winter as a terrifying example of her reign of terror. The result was the annihilation of five territories, widespread famine across the western provinces, and a catastrophic disaster.
The aftermath was unparalleled. Countless people froze to death, and a severe famine followed. The following year saw a surge in deaths due to starvation. Such was the terrifying power of the Heart of Winter, a relic and strategic weapon.
Lloyd couldn’t help but chuckle bitterly, considering why the queen was looking at him with such a gaze.
The queen’s gaze was neither one of shock nor anger. Instead, it was filled with pity.
“Oh dear, I should have intervened a bit when you were so diligently working and living your life. It’s a significant oversight on my part.”
“People are not meant to live like livestock. They need to rest when it’s time to rest and enjoy life when it’s time to enjoy. But you, you never did. Always working hard to overcome the disasters in the east, to rebuild… That’s why, ah, that’s why.”
“But worry not. You are a meritorious subject of mine. Whether you speak nonsense, sound out of your mind, or even utter absurdities, I can understand. How could I not? After all, you’ve lived so diligently only to end up in such a state.”
“Your Majesty?”
“Go on, speak, eldest son of the Frontiera.”
“Well, first of all, I assure you, I haven’t lost my wits, nor am I out of my mind or have eaten anything peculiar.”
“Of course. It’s unheard of for a madman to declare himself mad.”
“No, Your Majesty, I am indeed in my right mind.”
“Is that so?”
“How might I convince Your Majesty of my mental soundness?”
“Would you marry me?”
“I admit my mistake.”
“Hmm, you seem sane enough.”
“I apologize.”
Lloyd’s chuckle deepened.
After a terrifyingly enlightening exchange and a quick wipe of cold sweat, Lloyd continued.
“I assure you, Your Majesty, I haven’t lost my senses. My request comes from accurate predictions, calculations, and the conclusions drawn from them.”
“So, you wish to borrow the Heart of Winter for a while?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“You do realize what the Heart of Winter is, don’t you?”
“Indeed, Your Majesty. It is precisely why I have come to request an audience.”
Lloyd bowed deeply. The Heart of Winter was, after all, a royal relic, not something one could casually lay claim to. Requesting its use was a whole other level of support.
“It’s only natural. The three great relics cannot be used lightly, not even by the monarch. They’re only deployed in situations where the fate of the nation is at stake, with the request of the monarch and unanimous consent from the noble council.”
There were exceptions, of course, like in the novel where Alicia, turned tyrant, had used it. But that was an exceptional case during her dark reign. Under her rule, any dissent, whether from nobles or ministers, was met with immediate execution. But now? Things were different.
The current queen’s sanity was intact, and the nation’s governance was solid. The balance of power between the monarchy and the nobility was well-maintained, ensuring the country’s smooth administration.
Thus, for Lloyd to receive the Heart of Winter, the queen would have to propose its use to the noble council. It would need unanimous consent to proceed.
“Sigh. Yet, you know this request will be politically burdensome for me.”
“Of course, Your Majesty.”
“And you still wish to make it?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. There is a compelling reason why it must be done.”
“A compelling, inevitable reason. Speak.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. With all due respect, the Heart of Winter is essential for implementing the freezing technique I’ve proposed.”
“The freezing technique? Your previous explanation was too convoluted for me to understand.”
“To put it simply, it involves inserting pipes into the ground and pumping through them cold air to freeze the moisture in the surrounding soil.”
“Freezing the water in the soil?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. By doing so, the ground becomes significantly harder.”
“Indeed, just as the ground hardens to the consistency of stone in the early morning of deep winter. But why, may I ask, do you intend to harden the ground by freezing it?”
“I aim to excavate a large tunnel beneath the castle.”
“A tunnel?”
Queen Alicia slightly furrowed her brows.
Fortunately, she seemed intrigued.
Seizing the positive atmosphere, Lloyd quickly responded, “Yes, Your Majesty. It’s to extract an ancient artifact known as Tauranga, located beneath the castle.”
“Ah, yes. You mentioned seeking this Tauranga artifact. And it’s under the castle?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. More precisely, it’s used within the foundational support pillars rooted beneath the castle.”
“And removing it won’t compromise the castle’s stability?”
“The implementation of the freezing technique is precisely to ensure safety.”
“Explain further.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Good, she’s getting interested.
Lloyd wet his lips, ready to explain.
“Frozen ground becomes much harder than usual. This hardened state itself will act as a strong support, preventing the vertical shaft we’ll drill beneath the castle from collapsing. Furthermore, even after extracting Tauranga from the foundation’s support pillar, this will buy us some time to insert a replacement rock.”
He explained smoothly, without hesitation. His words were all factual, based on the freezing technique developed in mid-19th century Britain, originally intended to prevent collapse during vertical shaft excavation. The technique is still used today to connect tunnels or excavate near important structures without damaging them.
This was why the technique was perfect for the Tauranga extraction project. It could prevent the castle foundation from sinking due to the horizontal and vertical shafts that would be drilled, and it could reduce the stress on the foundation’s support pillars during the artifact’s replacement.
This was Lloyd’s plan, derived from theoretical calculations and the use of simulation options after numerous experiments.
‘Please, Your Majesty! Just this once!’
Lloyd hoped for a favorable response, to ease the construction process.
He looked up at the queen with eager, puppy-dog eyes.
Queen Alicia, in turn…
“Ha.”
She couldn’t help but let out a chuckle and shake her head.
“You truly are a brazen one.”
“Your grace is boundless, Your Majesty.”
“Hmph. I haven’t approved your request yet.”
“My apologies, Your Majesty.”
“Indeed. It’s outrageous yet somehow compelling, this bold request of yours, making it difficult for me to outright reject.”
“Your grace is truly boundless, Your Majesty.”
“I haven’t granted permission yet.”
“But Your Majesty, your eyes have already consented.”
“Dare you presume to know my mind?”
“My apologies, Your Majesty.”
“Hmph. If only I could smack you.”
“Excuse me?”
“Never mind. I was merely voicing a small wish. Forget I said anything. However, I have one question for you.”
“Please ask, Your Majesty.”
Lloyd bowed, awaiting Queen Alicia’s question.
“If you use the Heart of Winter for this freezing technique and extract the Tauranga artifact from beneath the castle, can you promise it won’t harm me or the royal family?”
“Absolutely, Your Majesty.”
“Very well. I grant my permission.”
“Really?”
Lloyd looked up in surprise, meeting the queen’s approving smile.
“You have made a promise, and I choose to trust in that promise. Is there anything more to say?”
“No, Your Majesty, nothing more… except…”
“Except?”
“It’s just that… your swift approval makes me feel as if I’m taking advantage, as though I’m some sort of villain.”
“A villain, huh? Not at all.”
“Your Majesty?”
“Never mind. If you intended harm, you wouldn’t need to go through such elaborate measures. I trust your intentions are good. Now, leave. I’ll handle convincing the noble council.”
“Your grace overwhelms me.”
Finally, Lloyd had the queen’s permission!
Bursting with joy yet maintaining decorum, he quickly took his leave, fearing the queen might change her mind.
After Lloyd departed, Queen Alicia could only sigh and shake her head.
“Ha.”
The bustling atmosphere had vanished with Lloyd’s exit, leaving the office feeling eerily empty.
“Such cunning and guile, unparalleled.”
Lloyd of Frontiera. If only she could keep him close, utilize his talents to build a lasting foundation for a thousand-year kingdom. But, alas, he was like a wisp of smoke, always slipping through her grasp.
He had grown too large, too influential, to be easily contained. At times, it seemed as if the roles were reversed, with her being led by his designs rather than leading as queen.
And now was one such moment.
Her desk was already drowning under a sea of paperwork, and Lloyd’s request had only added to the mountain. Convincing the noble council to approve the use of the Heart of Winter would be no small feat. It would require not just convincing but cajoling, negotiating, and perhaps a touch of arm-twisting. The preparation alone seemed daunting.
“To think he could use me in such a way, and yet only show up when in need of a favor. Truly, the mark of a bad man.”
Queen Alicia’s mutterings filled the room, a mix of annoyance and admiration for Lloyd’s audacity.
♣
Ten days had passed, and Lloyd had been anything but idle. He prepared meticulously for the implementation of the freezing technique, gathering materials, recruiting workers under the royal patronage, and conducting precise surveys for the excavation site. The preparations were thorough, covering every aspect of the construction, from the positioning and installation of the freezing pipes to the layout of the excavation.
Queen Alicia, too, had her hands full. The Heart of Winter, one of the royal family’s most precious relics, required the noble council’s approval for its use. Initially, the proposal met with skepticism. The artifact was meant for dire national crises, not maintenance work, even if it was for the castle. The idea of deploying such a powerful relic for construction purposes seemed, to many, absurd.
Skepticism turned into opposition, and the queen found herself facing an uphill battle. Yet, as days turned to negotiations, opposition softened into consent. Whether through persuasion, political maneuvering, or the strategic use of favors, one by one, the council members came around. Eventually, a unanimous decision was reached, and the Heart of Winter was entrusted to Lloyd, guarded by royal magicians and the elite guard.
In Lloyd’s hands, the artifact lost its menace. A weapon capable of inducing an ice age became a tool for construction, its monumental power repurposed for freezing soil. Thus began the excavation for Tauranga, with none aware of the deeper resonance beginning to unfold.
Within the specially designed containment box, the Heart of Winter started to resonate in an unseen harmony with Lloyd’s heartbeat, a connection as profound as it was unforeseen.
