Ch.203Senate (1)

“The Clerical Senate…?”

Wasn’t His Majesty’s senate supposed to consist only of nobles?

High-ranking clergy can also obtain senate positions? This seems like it could have serious side effects.

From what we know about the senate so far, if it follows the normal process, it’s a powerful institution that can exert influence comparable to His Majesty.

If we place people loyal to the Holy Sovereign rather than to the King in such an institution… anyone can easily see that things won’t go smoothly.

Although His Majesty will personally select the clergy who oversee the church, these clerics fundamentally have hearts devoted to the Holy Sovereign. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have become clergy in the first place.

Hmm… I’m sure the higher-ups know what they’re doing, but I still can’t help feeling slightly perplexed—

“…What?”

As Hugh was thinking this while reading the proclamation, he discovered something unbelievable in it.

Information stating that the Holy See was filled with Satan worshippers and that the Holy Sovereign had fled here to Dijon.

Hugh’s eyes recognized the information, but his brain couldn’t properly interpret what he had recognized, causing him to fall into slight confusion.

That was inevitable. The Holy Sovereign not being at the Holy See? It was as nonsensical to people of this era as planting beans and harvesting barley.

Even when a massive horde of barbarians plundered the Holy See long ago, the Holy Sovereign had steadfastly remained in place. This was clearly beyond unrealistic—the word “irrational” couldn’t even begin to describe it.

‘The Holy See is filled with demon worshippers who have blinded the Holy Sovereign’s eyes and ears, so inevitably… hah.’

The proclamation was filled with all sorts of information: that a temporary Holy See would be established in Dijon, that the Holy Sovereign had declared the old Holy See a hotbed of demon worship, that the excommunication decree against His Majesty had been revoked, and so on.

With so many unprecedented events happening simultaneously, his mind’s processing speed had slowed down, but given enough time, he could certainly infer the meaning contained in this proclamation.

The key point was the revocation of the excommunication. His Majesty had committed so many offenses that even a loyal subject would have had to nod in agreement with the excommunication, yet it had been so readily canceled.

This implied that the Holy Sovereign had been forced to cancel it under pressure from His Majesty.

To summarize the current situation: the Holy Sovereign, who suddenly appeared in Dijon without any escorts or retinue, entered the temporary Holy See created by His Majesty, then declared the entire existing Holy See to be full of demons while simultaneously revoking His Majesty’s excommunication.

…Anyone could see that the Holy Sovereign had been kidnapped and coerced by His Majesty.

“Hmm… is this really acceptable?”

“That’s our King for you.”

The surrounding citizens seemed to have noticed this fact as well, each showing various reactions to the proclamation.

Exactly half, being devout Canaan followers, felt repulsed by the very fact that the Holy Sovereign had been kidnapped, while the other half showed reverence for His Majesty’s godlike actions.

I guess I’m… the latter.

‘So this is why he put high-ranking clergy in the senate.’

If one can control the Holy Sovereign like a puppet from behind, then it’s certainly the right decision to include high-ranking clergy in the senate.

Unlike nobles who switch between support and opposition based on understanding and profit, Lotaring’s high-ranking clergy would have no way to refuse His Majesty’s will when backed by the Holy Sovereign.

Above all, it’s certain that Lotaring’s high-ranking clergy will gradually be filled with graduates of Dijon’s theology department. So even if something happens later and the Holy Sovereign slips from His Majesty’s grasp, by then the Holy Sovereign will no longer be able to influence Lotaring’s political situation.

Truly, setting morality aside, His Majesty is quite an interesting person.

……….

‘Things are going smoothly.’

The work of filling the national churches with graduates of Dijon University’s theology department rather than appointees from the Holy See is progressing smoothly.

In the beginning, most church territories resisted this, banding together and acting in an organized manner, but they were completely crushed by the Faith Inquisition led by Jeanne and immediately became compliant once they learned I had been excommunicated by the Holy Sovereign.

Being excommunicated means there’s nothing more to lose religiously, and the clergy, well aware of this fact, kept their mouths shut for fear I might use even more extreme methods.

The phrase “strong against the weak, weak against the strong” fits perfectly here.

“How are the nobles reacting?”

“They seem surprised that the senate isn’t open only to them. But they’re not expressing any complaints to Your Majesty.”

Now this is unexpected.

Although I didn’t lie, I didn’t tell them that the number of senators would increase, so some must have felt betrayed. Yet they’re not expressing any dissatisfaction about it.

I had prepared various carrots in anticipation of nobles causing disturbances, but those preparations now seem unnecessary.

“Why? Judging from the nobles’ attitudes so far, I would have expected them to be quite vocal.”

The nobles who have resisted me at every turn are now so docile it’s hard to imagine.

If they had been this docile from the beginning, I wouldn’t have had to take such extreme measures as revoking their dominion rights and would have just let them continue playing king in their own territories.

“Isn’t it obvious, Your Majesty? Since they’ve lost the means to resist Your Majesty, no one will express complaints.”

“…Ah.”

As I was thinking this, Leclerc’s words hit me like a blow to the back of my head.

Leclerc is right.

I’m the one who made those nobles docile.

I’m the very person who forcibly implanted manners chips in the nobles’ brains to make them behave, yet I didn’t realize why they had changed… this is rather embarrassing.

“Ahem, I momentarily forgot. But just because they’re not expressing complaints doesn’t mean they don’t have any. Let’s issue special gifts to the nobles to neutralize their dissatisfaction.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Will you bestow them personally?”

“Yes. Moreover, since not only a Clerical Senate but also a Commoner Senate will be added, I should explain to them the necessity of commoner senators while bestowing the gifts.”

It will be more of a notification than an explanation, but since I’ll be explaining it to them personally, it’s clear that no one will openly complain.

Some might hint that giving senate positions to commoners is going too far, and since there’s hardly anyone in the palace who could handle them except me, I must go myself.

“And implement the formation of the commoner senators that we’ve been postponing. Now that we’ve started forming the clerical senate, there’s no need to drag things out to divert the nobles’ attention.”

“I will do so.”

Being commoners, they will likely be quite inferior in hierarchy to the nobles and clergy, but we’ll select individuals with the highest possible status. City mayors, professors from Dijon University, and the like.

Of course, nobles and clergy might be greatly displeased that commoners have the same voting power as them… but that can’t be helped. The only solution is to select fewer commoner senators than each of the noble and clerical classes to satisfy them.

Or we could include fallen nobles in the commoner senate to satisfy the pride of the nobles and clergy.

……….

“…Senator?”

“Yes, according to carefully selected criteria, from today, Sir Hugh, you qualify for the position of commoner senator. If you wish to decline the position of commoner senator, please refuse now.”

What is this about?

Why would I be a senator?

Early this morning, someone suddenly knocked on my door, and when I came out, a well-dressed official was saying strange things.

It sounds so absurd that I thought he might be lying, but the official’s attitude is so respectful that such thoughts don’t even cross my mind.

“Me, a senator? Why?”

“It’s the result of the commoner senator selection process. You possess excellent scholarship and wealth, and above all, having nobility within two generations of your family, you meet the conditions to become a commoner senator.”

“…”

What? How did they know?

The “within two generations” refers to my grandfather, who lost his title before I was even born.

Apart from that, how did these officials know something that even I barely know about?

I’ve heard that the administrative power is thorough, but I didn’t know it was this thorough… it’s almost frightening.

“Even so… I’m now just an ignorant commoner.”

“That’s precisely why you’ve been designated as a commoner senator this time. Will you accept?”

“That’s why I was designated as a senator”? I’m even more confused.

Isn’t the senate supposed to be a gathering of noble individuals? If someone like me, who has lost his nobility, goes there, it’s obvious what will happen.

Hmm… should I refuse?

It’s clear that many troublesome matters will be involved.

Yes, I already have enough wealth to live comfortably, so—

“All commoners who become senators will receive treatment equivalent to a junior baron, and since you, Sir Hugh, are a descendant of fallen nobility, according to senate regulations, you will receive treatment equivalent to a baron.”

“…Baron?”

“Yes, only while maintaining your senate position, but please consider it as a measure to maintain equity with other senators.”

Well… I guess I have no choice then.

Wealth and title are not separate issues, are they?