Empire of Mercy
Copyright© 2025 by Daelyx Len Auphydas
Chapter 22: Ivy
Captain Silent Serpent struts up to the entrance gates to the Ivy manor, flanked on either side by a pair of Royal Companions. The guards on duty at the estate quickly cross paths with the intruders to block their way, holding spears to bar passage into the estate. “Halt! State your name and-”
“I’m here on Celestia’s behalf, and speak with their authority.” Captain Silent Serpent interrupts, flashing the royal insignia. “You will stand aside and let us through. Now.” Despite the implicit threat, the chiropteran’s voice remains perfectly smooth and steady, her face serene.
Surprise flashes in the guards eyes, and he quickly bows his head. “My apologies, we were not expecting you, sir. Please, sit and wait, I will go and see if the Chancellor can make time-”
For the second time in as many attempts to speak, the guard is interrupted. “You will allow us in immediately, and we will speak with the chancellor now. We have been authorized to wield deadly force if necessary, so if you wish to bar our passage, you should be prepared to face the consequence.” Silent Serpent states icily, holding out one extended hoofclaw towards the guard. “You will tell us where we may find the chancellor, and you shall not warn him of our arrival. Any deviation from that order will be treated as an act of high treason against the authority of the Princess.”
The guard scoots back and blanches, quickly glancing at his partner who just shrugs in response. “R-right, of course, your excellency.” He stammers out after a second. “The Chancellor should be holding court right now, you should be able to find him just inside the palace.”
Silent Serpent folds his hoofclaws back with a measured swipe of his hoof, and nods. “Companions! With me.”
The Ivy estate is maybe half the size of the Canterlot palace complex, far larger than most castles in Equestria, but decidedly lacking in the kind of archaic elegance that edifice displays. A relatively recent noble family in the historically underpopulated regions east of Canterlot, the Ivy’s castle is a modern creation, built with modern power tools and modern concrete in pallid imitation of the magic-wrought stonework of older and more refined families, without a hint of originality save for the ubiquitous creeping ivy piled upon every external wall.
Not that Silent Serpent takes the time to take that in, as she blitzes across the short courtyard before bucking open the gates to the throne room just as Chancellor Ivy is galloping to reach the throne and sit upon it, looking less-then-regal in his rush. “Guards, what is the meaning of this? I was not made aware of any visitors!”
Captain Silent Serpent steps up to the throne and showcases her insignia. “We are here on the authority of Princess Celestia themself. I am afraid you are under investigation for tax evasion.” And grand conspiracy, treason, even suspicion of assaulting a royal messenger...
Chancellor Ivy doesn’t react at all, most likely having already pieced that together, as he shakes his head. “We told you already, there was a kink in the mail service and we received the updated codes late! We couldn’t very well put them into service without having all the paperwork on hoof.”
Silent Serpent nods. “But of course. Still, given recent events, you understand the need to verify the truthfulness of your claims. We will be performing an audit of all of your transactions over the past year, to ensure that you pay the full amount owed. Until such a time, we will be taking up residence here.” Silent Serpent announces, complete with a thin-lipped smile.
Chancellor Ivy stares at the chiropteran for a long moment, before sighing. “If that is what it will take to regain Celestia’s trust, then very well. We will make room.”
Not that that should be particularly difficult. Silent Serpent ponders, glancing around. The castle is transparently larger than it needs to be, given the relatively small population. “We’ll begin today. Take me to the treasury.” It isn’t likely that will show much evidence of what Silent Serpent is actually looking for, but it’s as good a place to start as any.
That’s business expenditures all straightened out. Seems awfully high compared to revenue, but they could always just be incompetent... Silent Serpent ponders, poring over pages and pages of paperwork. It is remarkably airtight, most of the time for organizations on this scale there’s at least some minor errors. Most likely, the Ivy’s have been particularly meticulous, knowing that an auditor was likely to show after their previous stunt. The tax money is all there, loaded into carriages and ready to be delivered to Canterlot as soon as Silent Serpent gives it the green light.
Of course, were she to do that, her main justification for remaining present would vanish. Already, she finds herself feeling suspicious of the results; how had the Ivy’s gotten the new land value taxes together so quickly? If they are telling the truth about receiving the tax codes late, then they should have been scrambling to piece together their evaluations; instead, they are all here, clear as crystal. Even some of the nobles near Canterlot who’d received the changes on time are still struggling to adapt.
“Are you just about done? It’s already past midnight...” Golden Ivy, one of the chancellor’s daughters, asks from where she is watching over Silent Serpent’s work. Supposedly to help the auditor with anything he might need.
Silent Serpent twists over to look at the aristocrat, the dark circles under her eyes from exhaustion. The captain can only let the slightest smirk tug at the edges of her mouth. “Chiropteran, recall? It won’t be time for me to sleep for another few hours. Go on, get some sleep if you need it. I will be here.”
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