Ch.242Conflict (9)

The treaty with Albion was proceeding exceptionally smoothly.

From the transfer of shipbuilding and navigation technology that Lotharing desperately needed, to various monopoly and tariff agreements designed to strangle Albion’s merchant competitors, and finally to a vassalage contract with the Albion monarch and a treaty of absolute non-interference with vassal lords to permanently fracture Albion’s politics—I can proudly say we’ve secured the greatest possible benefits despite gaining relatively little territory.

I even secured their agreement that any arbitrary breach of the treaty would constitute grounds for war without requiring a formal declaration. Since this treaty remains in effect until the Kingdom of Albion ceases to exist, if I can just solidify the current political landscape, Albion will serve as an inexhaustible piggy bank for my descendants for centuries to come.

Of course, the flow of history frequently sees the positions of great and minor powers reversed. I had planned to finalize today’s treaty with the Empire and then focus on stabilizing the succession to prevent such a catastrophe, but… things suddenly went awry.

“…Could you repeat that?”

“I am proposing to downgrade the treaty terms in exchange for enfeoffing your children as Imperial nobles.”

The Emperor suddenly suggested that when the rival Emperor dies, there will be numerous vacant fiefs and titles throughout the Empire due to the treatment of traitors. He proposed filling these positions with my children who cannot inherit my succession, in exchange for reducing the severity of our treaty terms.

“…!”

The attendants visibly startled at the Emperor’s proposal. Though their profession requires them to pretend not to hear or know certain things, this matter was too significant to ignore.

What’s worse, he made this proposal not in private but in front of all the attendants, meaning it wouldn’t take long for this news to spread throughout Lotharing.

Since reverence for land is deeply ingrained in Lotharing’s people, refusing the Emperor’s seemingly generous offer would seriously damage my prestige.

Of course, prestige isn’t the only issue at stake.

‘…Damn it.’

There’s also the matter of my wives and children.

My decision to bequeath everything to Lothar, my eldest son, was entirely my own.

While I tend to view titles not as personal property but as a state belonging collectively to the people, others don’t share this perspective at all.

Titles and states are considered the personal property of the monarch alone.

In simple terms, what I’ve done is no different from leaving all my property—land and house included—to my eldest son while giving nothing to my second and subsequent children.

Even in modern society, siblings frequently make the news for coming to blows over their parents’ inheritance. How much worse must it be in medieval society, where honor takes precedence over law?

This means that Ines, Chloe, Jeanne, and Ellen, who must leave their second and subsequent children to live as idle nobles, are likely harboring resentment toward my decision despite not showing it. The same goes for all my children except Lothar.

But now, the Emperor’s proposal has introduced a major variable. This variable has given the children hope, and if that hope disappears… I don’t even want to imagine the consequences.

“…Not all titles and territories are equal, are they?”

“Do you know how many titles will become vacant when this war you wanted ends? Most notably, there’s the current rival Emperor, the Elector of Meissen.”

“What, are you planning to grant the Electorate of Meissen?”

“Of course.”

“…”

…I made a mistake.

Unable to keep silent any longer, I had squeezed out a sarcastic remark, never expecting he would actually offer an electoral title.

With those words from the Emperor’s mouth reaching the ears of every attendant present, the option of refusal has completely vanished.

If I were thinking of the state, I should reject this offer regardless of the penalty. Even though my children would gain Imperial titles, that’s entirely separate from the Kingdom of Lotharing.

Above all, if my children gain power abroad and begin claiming the throne of Lotharing… ugh, the thought alone is horrifying.

‘But… from my perspective as their father, not as a ruler?’

I didn’t choose primogeniture because I’m some cold-blooded psychopath who values only my firstborn. I chose it because it was the only way to preserve my legacy intact and prevent bloody succession disputes among my children.

…Maintaining the kingdom’s safety at the cost of my children’s sense of deprivation—looking back now, I truly was a terrible parent.

Sigh.

“I have one condition.”

“Hmph, I’m the one at a disadvantage here, yet you speak of conditions… What is it?”

“The succession law of the Kingdom of Lotharing must be upheld no matter what. The Empire must make every effort to uphold this law, and if despite such efforts there is concern that the succession law might not be observed, the Kingdom of Lotharing will use all means at its disposal to prevent it.”

“…What do you mean? Are you threatening war?”

“If necessary, yes. Should a war break out to suppress a pretender, the Emperor of the Empire cannot, under any circumstances, intervene in the conflict between the pretender and the Kingdom of Lotharing. This includes both the duty of a lord to protect his vassal and the observance of alliance treaties—everything. Additionally, the nobles who become Imperial vassals must unconditionally receive envoys sent by the Kingdom of Lotharing every six months for the next 100 years.”

This clause is essential to prevent the terrible events that might occur in the future.

Of course, no promise is absolutely binding when national interests are at stake, and it’s likely to be broken in a true crisis. Still, it must be included because it will at least reveal whether a pretender and the Empire are showing their teeth before such a crisis arrives.

“While I can accept most of this, abandoning my duty as a lord to protect my vassals is quite troubling.”

“Then I will simply take what I want by force. Do you think I’m extending mercy out of fear of the Kingdom of Albion and the Holy Empire? If I were to push harder, I could tear up such treaties and devour everything. Perhaps you should be more aware of your position?”

I don’t particularly want to keep the Kingdom of Albion and the Holy Empire alive.

It’s just that swallowing them all at once would be too burdensome for the weak pre-modern administrative capacity, and it would create too many noble factions domestically. I’ve merely laid the groundwork for eventual conquest, leaving the glorious achievement for future generations.

But the Emperor seems to misunderstand. He’s acting as if I chose this troublesome method out of fear of being dominated by the Empire.

“…Look here.”

“Besides, those lands aren’t even yours, are they? Since it doesn’t matter who owns the fiefs as long as they pay taxes, did you think I wouldn’t realize you’re trying to reduce the burden of today’s treaty at no cost by granting those fiefs to members of the Lotharing royal family?”

This bastard, trying to take credit for something that isn’t even his land.

He’s holding his head too high for someone who’s been confined.

Captured after losing a war and forced back onto the throne by foreign powers after abdicating, yet he still treats me as an equal negotiating partner.

“…”

The Emperor’s mouth closes instantly. Apparently, I’ve hit the mark.

The attendants present wear faint smiles seeing the Emperor’s reaction. Having just been speaking so proudly, the Emperor has now been publicly humiliated by having his incompetence and circumstances pointed out, which must appear quite amusing from the attendants’ perspective.

“Well… since you understand, let’s proceed. We need to conclude the treaty so you can return home, don’t we?”

To be honest, while he deserved it, I can’t just stand by and watch the Emperor be humiliated like this.

No matter that he’s the emperor of an enemy country, he still holds a high position, and if he’s disrespected by these attendants, couldn’t that reflect back on me and my children?

“Hmph…”

I glance around with intensity in my eyes, and the attendants hurriedly bow their heads. They seem to understand what they’ve done.

…They knew and still did it?

Since LeClerc is practically semi-retired now and only offers advice, I’ll need to tell Ines and Chloe to manage the attendants more strictly and rigorously. No matter how ridiculous the Emperor may be, I cannot tolerate such behavior in my presence.

“Come, let’s go in. Finishing our business quickly would be beneficial for Your Majesty as well, wouldn’t it?”

“…”

With an expression of suppressed humiliation, the Emperor glares at me resentfully before slowly nodding.

Good grief… he started this mess with his scheming, got embarrassed when confronted with the truth, and now he’s blaming me.