Ch.253Emperor (1)

Even though I alone, as the ruler of Lotaring, have the authority to declare war on foreign nations, it didn’t really matter if public opinion grew more bellicose among the people—I could simply ignore it as the one holding power.

Of course, things had become quite noisy around me, but I couldn’t justify swallowing up another country to give to my children, forcing multiple households under one roof. Needlessly expanding territory would be pointless, so I had somehow managed to endure.

But the terrible situation didn’t end there.

[When even such an ignorant and weak individual bears the title of Emperor, how can our great Majesty of Lotaring not be called Emperor?]

[His Majesty Claude, who possesses two royal thrones, rightfully deserves to stand in the position of Emperor! However, it would be unseemly to self-proclaim the title, which is why he merely endures. If that’s the case, we, his people, must unite our strength to fulfill His Majesty’s dream!!]

That madman had gone so far as to proclaim that I should be elevated to Emperor.

No matter how powerful one might be, a noble with a lower rank cannot arbitrarily claim a higher title. For a lower-ranked noble to be promoted to a higher rank, power is certainly important, but equally essential is a legitimate justification that allows that power to be wielded absolutely.

One need only look at the Duchy of Bourgon, which, despite its imposing presence, remained merely a duchy.

If the Emperor of the Empire—that is, the predecessor’s predecessor’s predecessor who was barely managing the crumbling Empire before I assassinated him—hadn’t given me the signet ring and crown fragments of the old Kingdom of Lotaring that had fallen 200 years ago, I would likely still be calling myself the Duke of Bourgon. Or perhaps the King of Caroling that I had absorbed.

In other words, no matter how much Rudolf and the people wanted to make me Emperor, without proper justification, it would remain nothing more than a passing incident.

The problem was… once again, it didn’t end there.

[Emperor… I like it.]

[That person—my first impression of him was terribly bad, but he gets better the more time passes. Usually, first impressions tend to stick, so this is quite unusual.]

[Indeed, for Your Majesty who holds two royal thrones, being called merely a king seems beneath your dignity.]

My wife Chloe, along with Ines, Jeanne, Ellen, followed by Simon and the Duke of Aquitaine leading the loyal nobles, and even ordinary nobles—everyone unanimously agreed with Rudolf’s opinion.

I was already busy trying to quell the warmongering sentiment, and if I didn’t act, I might waste energy on a pointless title elevation that would do nothing practical. So I asked Leclerc, who had completely retired and was only offering advice, what I should do. His answer was truly remarkable.

[Stop it? Once the matter has been publicly discussed, it cannot be stopped.]

[By no means whatsoever?]

[Haha… Your Majesty always says such things, but you never employ methods that would harm your close associates or your people. It’s easier if you just give in. To think that I, once a minor noble serving a duke, would now serve an Emperor… Your Majesty, I am truly moved.]

Leclerc was already treating my becoming Emperor as a foregone conclusion. Though his voice was cracked with age, it carried all the emotions of a man who had served two Dukes of Bourgon before me, without any attempt to hide them.

In the end, I had to return from Leclerc’s residence without any progress, and now I had not a single ally left.

“Brother… why are you doing this?”

As I lay in bed deeply contemplating recent events, Chloe, sensing my mood immediately, addressed me.

“…Doing what?”

“About becoming Emperor. Why are you refusing so adamantly?”

Even Chloe, who had grown up with me and adopted many modern sensibilities and ways of thinking, was apparently unable to resist the imposing aura that came with the title of Emperor.

I had consistently explained that the timing was not good and simultaneously that there was no merit in becoming Emperor, but Chloe and everyone else simply could not understand my objections.

The title of Emperor was worth the effort it required.

In this medieval era where people would risk their lives even for the lowest rank of baronet, I was the only one who would refuse the title of Emperor merely because it required too much effort.

“I’ve told you repeatedly, even if I become Emperor, the power I can wield won’t change at all.”

“But the authority that comes with the title of Emperor itself cannot be ignored. Don’t you feel the difference in authority between when you were Duke of Bourgon and now as King of Lotaring?”

“Well… for nobles who value protocol and procedure, the imperial title does create sufficient authority on its own. But my authority is already substantial thanks to my numerous achievements and the fact that I’ve managed to eliminate all the domestic nobles. Raising it further would only be self-satisfaction. Besides, right now the country is in an uproar about whether to attack the Empire immediately, and suppressing that is more urgent.”

Authority should only be elevated to a certain point—why bother with more difficult and troublesome tasks to raise it further? That’s all I can think.

Above all, as I’ve consistently said, the priority now is to quell the increasingly aggressive war sentiment. I don’t want the masses to get more excited and take matters into their own hands if I claim the title of Emperor.

Even though I have the authority to declare war, there’s nothing good about strong warmongering sentiment in peacetime. Moreover, parliament will be convening soon, and if public opinion isn’t suppressed by then, it will be a complete disaster.

“…Brother, but the authority that comes with the imperial title doesn’t just benefit you.”

“Hmm…?”

“If you become Emperor, Lother would become Crown Prince and eventually inherit your title to become Emperor himself. So wouldn’t it be better for you to become Emperor for the sake of Lother and your descendants?”

But Chloe’s subsequent words hit me like a blunt object to the back of my head, completely demolishing all the justifications I had for refusing the imperial title.

…She’s right, Chloe is correct.

I’ve done everything to make it easier for Lother to succeed me, which should be sufficient, but adding the authority of the imperial title would indeed be beneficial.

But… why is Chloe saying this?

“Chloe, are you okay with this?”

“What?”

“I hate to say this, but… you don’t like Lother.”

Of course, Chloe doesn’t subtly persecute Lother or anything like that.

They’re just distant with each other, but I can’t help but know that Chloe dislikes Lother. It shows clearly in the atmosphere.

Why would such a Chloe tell me to become Emperor for Lother’s benefit?

Perhaps there’s some other reason, like trying to make Jean-Claude the Emperor of the Empire, and if so, I—

“Hehe… that’s true. If Lother didn’t exist, Jean-Claude would have been your firstborn son, right?”

“…Even as firstborn, he couldn’t inherit Lotaring without being legitimate.”

“I know, but being the firstborn is what matters. Anyway, this has nothing to do with Lother.”

“Then why use Lother as the reason?”

“Because… I want to see you become Emperor. That’s all.”

…I didn’t expect this.

Chloe is still a child who hides her emotions very well and is also very skilled at feigning emotions… but I can tell.

Chloe’s current expression is definitely not an act.

Visually, emotionally, rationally—everything tells me that Chloe is speaking only the truth.

“Alright, I understand. Emperor it is.”

“Hehe… thank you.”

…Looking at her now, I realize Chloe and I have been together for such a long time.

Though she’s grown more mature with age, she still hasn’t lost that pure smile from her childhood.

For a moment, I felt as if I had returned to those younger days.

“But the matter of becoming Emperor must wait until after we suppress the warmongering sentiment. Parliament will convene soon, and if this topic comes up there, it will be a headache.”

“That’s… true. Well, it’s fine. As long as you become Emperor someday.”

Having obtained my firm commitment to become Emperor, Chloe nods compliantly, reacting as if she had fulfilled all her dreams and was now enjoying the rest of her life.

Now all that remains is somehow suppressing the warmongering sentiment before parliament convenes.

Although Rudolf is loyal to me, he has worked so diligently that ordinary arguments won’t have any effect. I could simply use my power and authority to force it down, but doing so would make it difficult to maintain the pretense of conducting state affairs fairly through parliamentary politics by obtaining majority opinions.

There’s a limit to dividing the members of parliament to pass policies in a favorable direction; when all members hold such unified opinions, it’s nearly impossible to make them oppose each other.

Unless perhaps a bigger event occurs that overshadows the warmongering sentiment… an event?

…The event is right here.

“No, I’ll do it now.”

“What?”

“Becoming Emperor.”

Somehow the conclusion of this matter seems to be taking a strange turn… but well, the result seems good, so I suppose it’s fine.