Ch.117Groundwork (1)

“Lord Leclerc.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Shortly after meeting Claude, Ines calls Leclerc separately to discuss future matters.

With the cooperation of Leclerc, who oversees the administration of the palace as the head steward, she could place another crown on Claude’s head regardless of his own objections.

“I need your help. What do you say we forget the past and join forces to bring glory to His Majesty the King?”

“…Are you referring to the matter of Caroling?”

“You still haven’t made up your mind, I see.”

If his lord had truly rejected the throne of the Kingdom of Caroling for unavoidable reasons, Leclerc would have done his utmost to carry out his lord’s will. However, after realizing that the reason was merely an aversion to work, he found himself emotionally siding with Ines.

Nevertheless, he can’t help feeling slightly reluctant. After all, this clearly goes against his lord’s wishes, even if it is for boundless glory and benefit.

“Your pretense is too obvious. Your face is practically announcing that you’ve been constantly imagining about Caroling all this time.”

“…”

“Hmm… Leclerc. A truly loyal servant should be able to guide their lord onto the right path. We cannot miss an opportunity to gain glory and honor, can we?”

Leclerc simply closes his mouth and gently shuts his eyes.

He is currently in a very unsettled state, with the sense of duty to follow his lord’s wishes clashing with the desire to bring glory to his lord.

Knowing better than anyone that if he listens to external persuasion now, his feelings will lean in that direction, Leclerc tries hard to ignore Ines’s words, wanting to make the decision based on his own judgment.

“Leclerc, it’s already over, regardless of your opposition.”

“…Lady Ines?”

However, his deliberate ignorance soon crumbles like wet paper. Ines has spoken words impossible to disregard, with a resolute tone suggesting that the matter has already been decided.

“Do you know how we managed to infiltrate the Kingdom of Caroling so closely?”

Having captured Leclerc’s attention, Ines says this with a triumphant smile.

“…I suppose it’s because of your exceptional abilities.”

“Hehe, thank you for the kind answer. But that’s not quite accurate.”

Saying this, Ines stretches her arm forward, holding something in her hand. Leclerc extends his hand with a puzzled expression to receive what she offers.

“…Huh.”

His puzzled expression instantly transforms into shock.

What Ines handed over was a tiny brooch, almost trivial in size, but its design was anything but trivial.

The brooch bears the emblem of the Caroling royal family.

“We had many collaborators within the Kingdom of Caroling. They were thrilled when told they would be granted the rebels’ territories and could do as they pleased with them if they recognized the throne.”

“You are… quite capable.”

“Thank you for the compliment. Ah, I didn’t do it alone. I hate to admit it, but Chloe, for a commoner, is quite skilled. I suppose that’s because His Majesty himself educated her.”

Saying this, Ines smiles lightly. There’s no trace of her previous intimidated demeanor when threatened by Leclerc.

Having gained a daughter and a son, and spending each day happily with her family, Ines’s once profoundly empty heart has become filled with happiness, bringing her not sadism but a sense of relief and stability.

“I’ve already secured promises of cooperation from nobles of both Rotharing and Caroling. Whether Leclerc decides to cooperate or not, things are already in motion.”

“…Then why do you need my cooperation?”

“Well… it makes everything much easier, doesn’t it? It eliminates various variables, making things more stable, and can even preemptively block any potential intervention from His Majesty.”

The only thing Ines fears, having already set everything up, is that Claude could immediately undo everything if he discovered the plan and wished to do so.

No matter how thoroughly she plans behind the scenes, if her husband issues a decree to counter the plan before it’s executed, it could collapse instantly. That’s the position and power of a king.

Ines is now trying to bring Leclerc under her control to eliminate even this slight possibility.

“…If I report this to His Majesty, I could help him achieve what he wants, couldn’t I?”

“Hmm… you’re saying things you don’t mean. The Leclerc I’ve observed is a conservative nobleman who values aristocratic glory above all else. Such a nobleman wouldn’t pass up an opportunity to bring infinite glory to his lord, would he? Moreover, the former dukes would be extremely pleased.”

Struck at his core, Leclerc simply stops breathing and stands still. With Ines’s final words, images of the previous Dukes of Bourgogne from his youth flash through his mind.

Those two lords who employed him solely based on his abilities when he was a nobleman in name only without any territory, who took care of him so he could live comfortably, and who showed him boundless trust.

If His Majesty were to rule both kingdoms… the two departed lords would undoubtedly rejoice in heaven.

“…Very well. You want me to prevent His Majesty from approaching this matter?”

“Hehe, yes. I’m counting on you, Leclerc.”

Leclerc hesitates no longer.

Honestly, does it make any sense to show no effort in obtaining a throne just because one doesn’t want to work more?

No. That makes no sense at all.

As His Majesty’s loyal servant, as one who has pledged loyalty to the House of Bourgogne, as one who has received grace from the House of Bourgogne, I have a duty to bring glory to His Majesty.

With Leclerc’s final capitulation, now all servants working in the palace move with a single goal.

……….

“Your Majesty, the civil war in Caroling shows signs of becoming prolonged.”

“Is that so?”

If it becomes prolonged, it will naturally only bring benefits to Rotharing.

Caroling’s capabilities will deteriorate day by day, and with such diminished capacity, they will pose no threat to Rotharing.

‘Merchants who were dissatisfied with the Holy Empire’s civil war ending sooner than expected are now very pleased with the emergence of Caroling as a new market.’

Moreover, the loyal merchants of Rotharing are penetrating Caroling’s economy, taking advantage of their weakened state.

During the Empire’s civil war, where various forces like the Crusaders were entangled making it risky to travel freely, only Imperial merchants came to Rotharing to buy goods. But now, Rotharing’s merchants can take direct action.

In Caroling’s civil war, there aren’t as many factions, making it easier to clearly distinguish between enemies and allies. Besides, the throne claimants know very well that threatening merchants would only result in a halt to trade, causing them harm.

Merchants who can now freely trade with the Empire due to the mediation treaty sell goods there without tariffs, and with the profits from these tax-free sales, they buy Imperial products to resell in Caroling, reaping enormous benefits.

They say people are buying even at inflated prices due to the urgent situation, so they’re completely raking in money. Now, if we collect taxes on that, it would be perfect.

“We need to ensure it remains prolonged. Order the merchant guilds to sell more weapons to the weaker throne claimants. The guilds shouldn’t object since we’re only dictating who they sell to, not how much they charge.”

“I will see to it.”

To drive the dagger in more firmly, Caroling’s civil war must not end quickly like the Holy Empire’s.

During the Holy Empire’s situation, mediation was necessary to silence the Holy See, but there is absolutely no reason for me to mediate Caroling’s civil war from any perspective.

Rather than just watching a fire across the river, we should be continuously launching barrels of oil with catapults to maximize Rotharing’s gain.

“Huaaaaaah…”

After hearing Claude’s orders, Leclerc bows his head and leaves the office to issue commands to the field. Claude watches Leclerc’s back while yawning, then leans back comfortably in his chair.

How peaceful.

There’s too little work to handle, and the important matters requiring my decisions aren’t that difficult, so I just need to give general directions and officials like Leclerc take care of everything.

When I first became the Duke of Bourgogne, there were countless things to deal with, and I worked incredibly hard. Now, I don’t even do a fraction of a fraction of that work.

‘Well, what’s good is good.’

Less work and more power—is there any reason to dislike it?

Honestly, working to death back then was quite unusual for a nobleman. There’s a reason nobles tend to become conservative.

I hope it stays like this for a while—no, until I die.