episode_0144

The morning a few days later.

The Intelligence Department carefully holds up reports piled up in red letters indicating urgency.

“This is…?”

Just in case…

-Ik!

I quickly open the envelope and read the contents.

A report about the appearance of the Locust, the king of locusts, in Babylon.

In the Babylonian Empire, which already does not have much land for farming, many people will die due to the appearance of demons who eat agricultural products at will.

Now that I think about it… how did he die in the original?

As I recall, by the time the original story began… Locust, the king of grasshoppers, was already dead.

There is no detailed description of what causes death, but the appearance of the demon, which is truly a disaster for humanity, is described as bringing about a food shortage around the world.

“First, we decided to report to the Cabinet meeting…”

Thinking about the cabinet meeting makes my stomach ache.

Theodora…

From that day on, I avoided meeting her as much as possible.

Although they meet face to face at regularly held cabinet meetings, it can be said that they try not to talk to each other as much as possible.

So does she and me…

Because I don’t really feel the need to mix things up.

Of course, regardless of what she doesn’t say, her every move is being reported by the intelligence department.

I heard that she has been seeing her maternal grandfather, the Duke of Jans, often lately.

Duke Jans was very hot-tempered when he was young, but after his daughter became empress, he advocated neutrality and rarely participated in imperial politics.

He must have had quite a hard time as he had many people requesting favors from the late emperor and his mother-in-law’s family, who were well-to-do.

I’m a little curious about what the two will talk about when they meet.

In any case, if Theodora does something strange, things will end up being difficult.

I started today’s work by writing an order, thinking that I should send a secret order to the intelligence department just in case.

**

Cabinet meetings held regularly.

They meet periodically to discuss important issues throughout the empire.

Excluding the Ministry of Information, five ministers, the Emperor, and I participate as members of the State Council.

The current Minister of Finance, Frank, is speaking on the issue.

“If this situation continues for more than a month, the national treasury will be empty. We need to issue government bonds now.”

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone’s eyes focused on me.

I say this while calmly facing the silent gaze that tells me to solve the war because I started it.

“There is also a way to issue government bonds, but we have recently received a proposal for donations from Pieta Company and will forward it to you.”

Originally, the plan was to issue bonds and have Pieta Company receive interest, but the idea was slightly changed.

I open the document envelope next to me, write that it is a proposal from Pieta Company, and hand out the proposal I wrote to the cabinet members.

“The owner of the Pieta Company offered a large donation, saying he wanted to show his loyalty to the Empire and His Majesty the Emperor.”

Currently, Pieta Company is rapidly disposing of other securities excluding technology investment donations.

All of the State Council members except Theodora cannot hide their bewilderment at the proposal to return most of the huge profits I previously earned to the state.

“Is this really true?”

“Without going crazy… Are you saying that most of your assets will go to the state?”

In fact, what kind of commercial association would vest most of its assets just because a civil war broke out in the country?

Such a strange business association has never existed even in the long history of the empire.

I am in a situation where I need to dispose of this money quickly, so I am postponing this ridiculous situation in order to transfer the money of the company to the national treasury and manage it.

In other words, the money of the trading company is no different from black money.

Because it’s my money and not connected to me.

If that money comes into the imperial treasury, the entire amount, excluding important financial assets, will be invested into the treasury in a way that makes it easier to manage money in the existing complex way.

Moreover, if it were revealed that I was the one who manipulated the finances, the backlash would be that much greater.

Of course, this method is not the best.

They may try to tie me up with these strange circumstances, but there won’t be any evidence.

In any case, everyone will be surprised since most of the company’s assets are being donated.

“Isn’t all this loyalty to Your Majesty?”

However, Theodora shows a displeased expression, perhaps because she knows that I am the owner of the Pieta Company.

“It is not loyalty to Jim, but loyalty to the Archduke.”

I shrug my shoulders and say, looking at Theodora who speaks sharply.

“Finance Minister: Do you think this will solve the problem?”

After the Minister of Finance nodded with a blank look on my face, I opened my mouth briefly.

“A high-ranking demon has now appeared in the Babylonian Empire. As you may know, it is Locust, the king of grasshoppers.”

Although it is said that they are not powerful demons compared to the Demon King, this makes the Demon King relatively overwhelmingly stronger.

Basically, demons are tens or even hundreds of times stronger than humans, and in particular, Locust, the king of grasshoppers, has swarms of locusts that cause enormous damage to humans, so you must be prepared.

“Demon… A demon has appeared?”

At my words, the hall becomes noisy once again.

“Is that really true, Archduke?”

I nod, looking at Theodora and the ministers with surprised faces.

“Yes. It is said that there is currently extensive damage to the agricultural lands of the Babylonian Empire. First, we have to wait a little longer, but we need to prepare for the agricultural lands within the empire.”

There are no pesticides here, but I remember reading in the original that they are vulnerable to holy water because they are swarms of locusts controlled by demons, so I plan to purchase holy water from the Vatican and spray it on farmland.

You’ll lose a lot of money again… but there’s nothing you can do about it.

“Demons… I don’t know if a demon lord will really appear like this.”

When Victor said he was worried, I nodded.

“It is definitely not a coincidence that this demon appeared. Right now, at this moment, demon worshipers are probably dreaming of the resurrection of the demon king.”

If you look at the fact that Amon actually approached the protesters, it would seem that he was trying to secure a sacrifice to summon the devil.

“I’m definitely worried. If there is any new information related to anti-aircraft technology, please report it.”

I nod my head at those words.

“As soon as we receive a report on demon worshipers, we will forward it to all cabinet members above the minister.”

After what I said, I almost had a good day today.

If only Theodora hadn’t caught me after the meeting.

“Grand Duke, I have something to talk with you, so please stay for a moment.”

The other State Council members looked puzzled for a moment at her words, but soon left the meeting room.

-Quang…

As the heavy conference room door closed.

She looks at me with red eyes and says.

“There was no report on the status of the war at the Cabinet meeting. Why is that like that?”

I shrug my shoulders and say that.

“Because it is confidential, it is still reported privately to the War Committee of the Imperial Council.”

In fact, it is the only place where I have an obligation to report on the war situation.

“No, as the emperor of this country, I have the authority to audit the Grand Duchy. I need to know what the current situation is.”

I nod my head at those words.

“Then, did you personally come to the Ministry of Education and thank you?”

I’m already tired because there’s so much work to do.

The work that Theodora was in charge of before the fight has also been transferred over to her, and she is having such a difficult life that all she sleeps for is two hours each.

Theodora makes a provocative look at my words.

“Are you calling me Archduke?”

Without thinking much, I nod my head at her words.

“Yes. Come and do something…”

At my words, Theodora glares at me with cold, cold eyes.

“I will discredit you.”

huh?

“And I will take away all the power you are sitting on. But are you still going to call me Grand Duke?”

I was a little surprised by her unexpected words.

Doesn’t it feel like you’re declaring war on me?

I think about what she said as if she was planning on calling me there even though she was going to get me kicked out of office.

Anyway… I’m leaving in two years?

In order to avoid a power vacuum, such as a fall from office, it is better for her to be in the Grand Duke’s Office.

Plus, you have to gain experience.

To that end, as soon as she was crowned emperor, didn’t she bring her to the Grand Duchy and have her work there?

Hmm… it’s actually not that bad.

It would be impossible for Theodora alone to overthrow me.

We need to build up a minimal force and have good exchanges with them.

To be honest… unless you’re going to rule for a short period of time like me, it definitely helps to have a good relationship with them.

If a person stays in power for a long time, there will be many situations where nobles with conflicting interests will arise.

Sometimes you will have to appease them and sometimes you will have to take a hard line, because doing so will help your own faction.

When she thinks that if she builds a good relationship with them and transfers power, a stable and efficient transfer of power will be possible.

“Why? You must be scared now, right? You come out like this…”

She must have thought I was going to tell her not to come out, so she laughed at me and interrupted what she was saying.

“Come out. Come out and try to overthrow me.”

Theodora probably doesn’t know that it’s actually helpful to me.

Those thoughts leave a bitter taste in my mouth.

After saying that, I turned around and was about to leave the conference room.

“Do you think I… can’t kick you out?”

I say to her angry voice.

“I guess it depends on you. Whether you kick them out or displace them, eat well first. It looks like you lost weight while we weren’t looking.”

In fact, every time I see her recently, she seems to have lost a little weight.

She’s already on the thin side, so if she loses more weight and gets sick… she’ll be in trouble later, so she says that and leaves.

***

“I feel like I lost weight…?”

His unexpected words.

Recently, I lost weight because I couldn’t eat well.

It’s something my family doesn’t know about, so I’m a little surprised that he notices after seeing me for the first time in a while, but I quickly change my mind.

Does he think I can’t get him out of office?

Hmm… let’s wait and see. Because I will definitely take away all your power.

Because it was originally my power. Let’s see how long I can afford to be like that.

I leave the empty conference room.