episode_0073

It’s been 5 days since I worked all night like that.

News came that the opposing principality faction had decided to accept surrender.

“90 years… I will delegate governance to the Grand Duchy of France for 90 years.”

90 years.

I rub my chin and get lost in thought, thinking it’s not that bad.

Imperial law stipulates that if a person loses effective control of the land for 100 years, the ownership and justification for the land disappears.

So, 100 years is impossible and I expected a maximum of 99 years.

Hmm… Anyway, the merger will happen in 1990 or 1999.

I have no intention of ending this with the next generation.

“That would be good. I think 90 years would be about right.”

Once I agreed, everything from then on went smoothly…

“Please sign.”

The council members who have been delegated authority by each lord smile brightly and talk to me.

“Your Majesty’s resourcefulness is truly outstanding. I never thought that someone with such extraordinary intelligence would come from the Ryan family.”

“That’s right! His Majesty the Grand Duke. Your Majesty is a hero of the times.”

what the…

Do you really want to remain a member of the Imperial Assembly?

Actually, I have a lot of privileges.

Although I am not very happy about their flattery, I say it with the kindest smile I can.

“Isn’t this all because you are loyal to your master?”

Loyalty is shit.

They are just corrupt politicians who use their privilege as members of the Imperial Council to enrich their wealth through self-interest.

When I told them that I would later call them one by one and allow them to maintain their positions as members of the Imperial Council, they simply abandoned their masters and came to me.

If I fully rule over the territory of the opposite principality, they will be the first to be judged by the law.

Well, if I report it directly, there will be rumors that those who surrendered are being vomited to death.

I think it would be a good idea to dust it off and file a complaint through an appropriate agent.

With that in mind, I keep a bright smile while listening to their words.

“Haha, thank you for recognizing our hard work. Actually, it wasn’t easy.”

“That’s right! As you know, Your Majesty the Archduke, don’t nobles have strong pride? Although he is merciful, he cannot rule the territory as a noble… It was really difficult to convince him.”

At those words, I bow my head and speak with a serious face.

“Thanks to this, we prevented the people of the empire from needlessly shedding blood. Thank you so much.”

Everything else is just pretense, but I’m glad that thanks to those bastards, we were able to avoid a situation where there would be a long and unnecessary war.

“Hehe, His Majesty the Archduke has a strong love for his people!”

“How could such a great monarch…”

It makes me feel strange to see these old people now shedding tears because of my actions.

What… why are you making such a fuss?

I keep those thoughts to myself and speak brightly.

“Thank you for saying that. Lucius, bring that.”

Lucius, who had been standing up behind me, went out the door…

Soon, he comes in with the soldiers holding a large box in both hands.

I think to myself as I watch the soldiers retreat with a restrained movement, leaving a large box next to us.

It must be heavy.

I also listened to it once a while ago and was surprised at how much heavier it was than I expected.

“This is…?”

I smile and say this to the lawmakers who are surprised to see the box that suddenly appears.

“This is my reward for helping us end the war quickly.”

When I got up and opened the lid of one of the boxes…

The gold coins filled inside are shining brightly.

“Hehe… Why are you giving me all this? It’s only for the empire.”

“That’s right. We did it selflessly for the Duke, the Empire, and His Majesty the Emperor, so please keep it in mind.”

The person who is really putting it here shouldn’t be involved in politics.

I say this with an expression on my face that shows I am impressed by them.

“Thank you so much for thinking so much about me and the empire. I have prepared a small meal in the hope that you, the seniors who are loyal subjects of the empire, will have a good meal today.”

At my words, their eyes quickly exchanged glances, and one of them came forward and spoke.

“However, I am afraid that our loyalty may be distorted.”

“That’s right. We are truly loyal subjects of the empire… hmm… ”

“I have prepared this simply for the sake of the lawmakers who are up all night worrying about the country, so please do not overestimate it.”

Is it because they think they have saved some face by recommending this much?

Their eyes change.

At first, he pretended to be a loyal subject and pretended to act for me.

This is probably their true intention.

“Then shall we have a surrender signing ceremony now?”

Let me turn things around like that and move the conversation to the signing ceremony.

“Hehe, we were out of our minds.”

I sign the surrender document.

-Sleep, swoosh!

After handing the surrender documents to the lawmakers, they begin signing their names under the fiefdoms they each represent.

-Srurk!, Srurk!

Soon everything was signed.

***

“Yes… In the end, the young lion restored the anti-emperor faction.”

Ioanes feels uncomfortable thinking about the Archduke who ended the war faster than expected.

‘Did it take about a month?’

-Thump… thump…

I tap my fingers on the table in nervousness.

They have taken over Epirus and Ezip, and are taking control without a word.

It is still not enough to go to the front with the Emperor faction.

Although they are secretly hiring mercenaries and training an army, their numbers are only now comparable.

Also, the topographical location is not very good.

Epirus is close to Nicaea, so relief troops can be easily dispatched, but this is not the case in Epirus.

Either take a boat and go quickly or take a long trip back to land.

So, I feel anxious and anxious while watching Debian.

-thud!

“Damn…”

There is no way the young lion will sit still until he takes over the imperial faction.

It is obvious that he will somehow intervene in the factional civil war.

Nervousness… When you feel extremely anxious.

-smart!

“Who?”

-The Count of Lazio has arrived.

Ioanes speaks on Savinelli’s visit.

“Come in.”

At those words, the door opens and the young count enters.

“Did you call me?”

The young Count Savinelli of Lazio.

He was originally the heir to a small county of the imperial faction, but Ioannes, who appreciated his talent, sponsored him and imprisoned the previous count and installed Savinelli in his place.

“Have you heard any news from Roman?”

Savinelli smiles and says at the words of Ioanes, who seems nervous at first glance.

“Your Majesty, you seem to be worried a lot.”

“Phew… How could you not be worried? The young lion ended the war too quickly. Even if I gained Epirus and Egypt, I don’t dare go to war with such a strong anti-emperor faction nearby.”

The assumption that the anti-emperor faction would participate as enemies in the civil war against the imperial faction was nothing short of the worst situation for Ioanes.

Savinelli must have read that nervousness and comes forward and speaks.

“There are two main methods.”

Ioanes speaks with a happy heart.

“Tell me.”

“The first thing to do is to give up the empire. Taking over the empire by only eating Epirus and Ezip is a way to give up. Anyway, if Princess Joy marries the Crown Prince in two years, the opportunity will come someday.”

I sigh at those words.

“Does that really work? If the great nobles of the emperor faction find out that I have taken control of Epirus and Egypt alone, they will immediately start a war.”

Certainly, it would not be a bad idea to use Princess Joy’s right of succession to overthrow the young lion and the current emperor when a gap arises.

Considering the history that has been oppressed by emperors for centuries, even that moment may be fleeting.

Of course, that’s possible if you haven’t received Epirus and Epirus.

No, at least I could have divided it with the imperial faction as soon as I received it, but there is no way they would remain silent since I have already taken control.

Apparently, Ioanes promised to share Epirus and Egypt with the imperial faction once they were obtained.

However, he did not keep his promise and single-handedly devoured a huge territory, which is obvious when looking at the situation within the delicately balanced faction.

“If that doesn’t work, you have to use the Archduke as an excuse to persuade him. However, you don’t need to worry too much. If they start a war, it would be better for us.”

At those words, Ioanes furrows his eyebrows and becomes lost in thought.

‘If a civil war breaks out with the Imperial faction, it is obvious that Devian will intervene, so what is Savinelli talking about?’

At that moment, Ioanes realized something and spoke.

“Hmm… I see, at least this is the territory that the young lion gave me. It might be possible to block the young lion’s cause to intervene.”

Ioannes has reigned as king for a long time.

He gives an accurate answer as to whether he was a king in vain during that period.

“That’s right. A civil war broke out because of something he gave to Debian. Is there really any justification for him to intervene? If you try to intervene, you will lose both faith and credibility.”

‘Yes. If you do not want to admit it, you can submit the documents you received from Roman Cafe.’

The politics of the empire are not easy.

By giving territory, you will suffer the stigma of creating strife among factions and eliminating political opponents.

If that happens, no one will be able to trust the young lion.

‘It’s funny that faith and trust exist in politics, but at least if Debian does something, everyone will look at him with suspicion.’

No foolish noble would negotiate with such an untrustworthy person.

‘Debian will support the Emperor faction, but if they find out that Debian handed over Epirus and Ezip to me, they will be hostile to Debian. Neutral factions will also be hostile… Then you will not receive any cooperation after taking control of the empire.’

Thinking about that, Ioanes was in a good mood and laughed out loud.

“I see… That’s how we can sort out the imperial faction.”

Ioanes says he is in a good mood, but Savinelli just smiles inexplicably.

“Your Majesty, that alone is a bit unsettling, so try another method. It is more difficult to succeed than the method mentioned above, but if successful, this empire will be yours.”

At those words, Ioanes’ eyes shine and he looks at his retainer.

“Is there a better way than this? Is that… what method?”

Savinelli spoke softly with a sinister look on his face.

“Assassinate the current emperor with assassins previously hidden in the imperial palace. If that happens, the young lion will lose everything.”