Ch.141Aftermath (4)

“Thank you for today, Ines.”

Thanks to Ines, managing my image with the vassals has become remarkably easier.

Simply satisfying their material needs or showing them a prosperous Dijon wasn’t enough to improve my image significantly. Perhaps they were more impressed by my abilities and wealth rather than my character?

Anyway, that wasn’t what I wanted. I had been trying to show my vassals my diligent and kind personality, but I was struggling to find ways to demonstrate these qualities. Ines solved that problem perfectly.

“What? Thank me for what?”

“For embracing me in front of the vassals and showing affection. Thanks to you, the vassals’ perception of me has chang… ed?”

“…”

When Ines responded with an expression that suggested she didn’t understand what I was talking about, I tried to explain again what happened today to express my gratitude, but suddenly Ines’s expression turned severe.

It’s not as intense as when she fought with Chloe—her face is just stiffening a bit—but since she usually shows me only gentle expressions, even this slight hardening looks terribly frightening.

“Ines?”

“…My lord.”

Wondering what was wrong, I called out to her, but Ines’s chillingly subdued voice scraped coldly into my ear canal. The chill then spread throughout my entire body along my spine.

She’s even addressing me as “my lord” instead of “Your Majesty” that she had been using recently.

Oh dear…?

“Do you really think I embraced you with such trivial intentions in mind?”

I can clearly see Ines trying her hardest to maintain her composure. Her voice, which was merely cold a moment ago, now carries a hint of indignation.

…Ah.

This is bad.

“Of course not!”

“Then why would you say such a thing?”

“Well… you said you’d attend the banquet midway through, and when you did, you captured the attention of all the nobles. So I thought there might have been some ulterior mot— No, I’m sorry. I misjudged.”

Answering her question was the wrong choice.

Ines’s mood hasn’t improved at all. If anything, it seems to have worsened.

“I’m sorry, truly sorry! You must be tired after going out for the first time in a while. Let’s rest quickly. Yes, Marianne and Lothair should be asleep by now too.”

“…”

Despite my appeal, Ines doesn’t move. Not her legs, not her face, nothing.

Even when I gently tug at her arm, only her arm moves slightly while her legs remain fixed to the floor.

…This is dangerous. If I stay any longer, she might truly explode.

*Squeeze*

“Eep?!”

“Come on, let’s go quickly.”

Rather than pulling her arm, I embrace Ines completely and lift her up. Until just now, she had maintained a stern expression, but not expecting me to go this far, her face instantly turns bright red with embarrassment.

And that embarrassment quickly transforms into shyness and indignation as soon as Ines grasps the situation.

“I still… haven’t properly received an apol—mmph…”

Ines, who was complaining with indignation, doesn’t get to finish her sentence.

…It’s warm, and sticky.

“Mmm… mmmm…”

Ines tries to resist by twisting her body, but soon enough, that resistance fades away.

The fine hairs on Ines’s skin that had stood on end when our skin first touched are now limp and relaxed.

“Phew… Have you calmed down?”

“…I don’t know.”

About a minute later, I try speaking to Ines again, but her response comes in a sulky tone.

Of course, it’s just her words. The pointed corners of her mouth, her stiff face, and her sharp gaze from earlier have all completely disappeared, replaced by a thoroughly mellowed expression.

“Heh, let’s go.”

“…”

I carry the now-silent Ines to the bedroom. Unlike when I first picked her up, there’s no resistance now.

……….

“…So the seemingly powerful Caroling has fallen.”

“Since the throne has merely transferred, strictly speaking, it’s not a fall, is it?”

“A person isn’t a hydra who can wear multiple crowns. Do you think the King of Rotharing would be mad enough to abandon the Rotharing crown to wear Caroling’s?”

The outcome of the Caroling succession war has become gossip among nobles worldwide, with the most varied reactions coming from the nobles of the Holy Empire.

This is inevitable since the Caroling Kingdom and the Holy Empire have been fighting along their shared border for hundreds of years. Moreover, the scenario of a duchy that gained independence just two generations ago suddenly bulking up and bringing its former master to its knees is intriguing to anyone.

“Hmm… This is troublesome.”

And the Emperor of the Holy Empire feels more concern than interest in this scenario.

The Holy Empire couldn’t easily deal with either the Caroling Kingdom or the Rotharing Kingdom, and now the two have merged.

Above all, Claude, the King of Rotharing-Caroling, based on information gathered so far, seems to have a personality that readily sacrifices principles for gain.

History books record many rulers with such personalities, and without exception, they all loved to project power abroad.

‘…Reform is needed. Larger and more radical reform than what we’ve done so far.’

Since the end of the Holy War, the Emperor has been struggling to integrate the nation, discarding what needed to be discarded and gaining what could be gained.

Having successfully repelled the invasion, the outcome of the Holy War can be considered a victory for the Empire, resulting in many nobles who participated in the Holy War forces losing significant power within the Empire.

Thanks to this, the imperial authority, which had weakened over centuries, has somewhat recovered, and with the establishment of the Imperial District as an administrative body, the Holy Empire has begun to regain its form as a nation.

But that’s not enough. Despite various reforms, the current Holy Empire still strongly retains the character of a coalition of territorial nobles, making the Empire extremely vulnerable to individual defiance from lords.

And the Emperor found the answer to this vulnerable structure in the neighboring country of Rotharing.

“Divide… and rule.”

……….

“Is that… true?”

Duke Lorel is doubting his ears, wondering if he heard correctly.

He’s not in denial. He’s genuinely dumbfounded.

“Without a doubt, Your Grace! Despite swallowing Caroling, the King of Rotharing’s ambition hasn’t diminished at all!”

The envoy’s words were shocking.

Rotharing, having finished off Caroling, is now turning its blade toward the Empire, with plans to devour Lorel first.

“Isn’t that an excessive interpretation?”

“No! It was clearly a hint to abandon your fealty to the Holy Empire and come under his rule!”

The envoy’s point is simple.

The King of Rotharing indirectly suggested that if the Duke wants factories, he should become his vassal.

Of course, such a major decision as vassalage can’t be made just for factories, but the envoy claims it was merely a facade, as directly demanding vassalage would look improper.

“Hmm… Well, I haven’t personally met my son-in-law face to face, so I need to respect your judgment. But respect doesn’t mean acceptance.”

“Your Grace…!”

“As I understand, he hasn’t even disbanded all the troops he mobilized yet. Would he really attempt such a thing? Besides, he granted all requests except for the factory.”

Duke Lorel makes a reasonable assessment of Claude’s intentions.

The envoy feels frustrated with the Duke for making a sensible judgment about someone who isn’t sensible, but the Duke has read numerous letters from his granddaughter and isn’t greatly swayed by rumors. Though he is somewhat influenced.

‘Using such a mere building to curry favor is quite vexing, but from the perspective of royal authority, it’s not entirely incomprehensible.’

The Duke ignores the whining envoy and begins to assess Claude’s actions.

If a monarch who established laws breaks them, he becomes a complete laughingstock. While in a nation, the word of the ruling monarch is law, the situation is different if that law has been codified.

Laws, if misused, can diminish a monarch’s authority, but if used well, they can elevate it, and this clearly falls into the latter category.

If a monarch is widely seen adhering to even the most trivial laws, the people will follow suit, leading to increased control over the populace, which is equivalent to a rise in the monarch’s authority.

“Of course, it could be that he spoke with the intention you suggest.”

“Indeed…!”

“So what if he did?”

“…Pardon?”

The envoy is initially delighted that the Duke seems to be listening to his argument, but that joy quickly turns to confusion.

“Whether I pledge loyalty to the Emperor or to the King, what difference does it make? No, I suppose pledging to the King would bring more benefits.”

“What on earth…”

“It means that as long as the rights of House Lorel are guaranteed, it doesn’t matter who becomes my lord. Oh, come to think of it, wasn’t the Duchy of Lorel once a vassal state of the First Kingdom of Rotharing?”

Leaving behind the envoy who can’t follow the conversation, Duke Lorel seriously begins to consider changing his allegiance.

If that were to happen, as the family that produced the queen, they could wield significant influence in Rotharing, and if things go well, they could secure various privileges.

Of course, if he were to change his loyalty from the Holy Empire to the Kingdom of Rotharing, the Emperor wouldn’t stand idle, and the Duchy of Lorel would become the frontline, which would be problematic.

‘If my son-in-law truly spoke with such intentions… it’s not yet time.’

If his son-in-law is contemplating conflict with the Holy Empire, it’s more advantageous for Lorel to remain attached to the Holy Empire for now.

No matter how much the current Empire has become more like a coalition of various states rather than a single nation, borders and nationality remain important factors that cannot be ignored. The difference between what can be done from outside a country versus inside is like heaven and earth.

He needs to prepare as much as possible using the advantages of being part of the Holy Empire until his son-in-law reveals his true intentions.

If his son-in-law didn’t speak with such intentions… well, he can use what he’s prepared for himself.