Ch.265To the Edge of the Cliff (5)

“Late… it seems, truly… too late.”

Meanwhile, the Duke of Lorel has returned to his domain and is visiting his father, the former Duke of Lorel, who lies on a bed.

His face is deeply wrinkled, his back can barely straighten, and his hands hang limply without strength—he’s reached a state where he cannot maintain his life without someone’s assistance.

No, it’s clear to anyone that even with the most attentive care, he doesn’t have long to live.

He’s in his eighties, an age that even by modern standards would be considered a long life, but in the medieval era with its inferior facilities compared to modern times, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to keep him alive.

“Father. Please refrain from speaking. Did you not hear what the physicians said?”

“Nonsense, I’ve been holding my words back for this very moment.”

Yet his eyes remain full of vitality. Despite the cataracts that have turned his pupils white, his unwavering will pierces through that white membrane and radiates in all directions.

*Swish*

“…”

“Sigh…”

The Duke of Lorel turns his head to look at the physicians sent by his son-in-law, and upon seeing them close their eyes and gently turn their heads to the side, he heaves a deep sigh.

‘Father doesn’t have much time left. At the earliest, this week; at the latest, this month.’

For over ten years, after confirming his son-in-law’s ambition, he worked behind the scenes in the Empire to become the leader of the pro-Lotharing faction, as well as the head of the pro-Emperor faction opposing the rival Emperor.

…It’s quite remarkable how contradictory these terms sound together—now that I think about it, it’s beyond strange to the point of dizzying.

Anyway, glory and honor are fine, but because he worked so diligently and did so much, Father’s already frail body has lost all its vitality.

From the beginning, Father knows his own body best. That’s why he’s been holding back his words until now, conserving his strength.

…If that’s the case, allowing him to do as he wishes without regret at the end is a child’s duty.

“Are you satisfied? This will make our House of Lorel even more noble.”

“Yes, indeed. Now Lorel will become so magnificent that those other mediocre nobles won’t be able to look down on us.”

Father is right.

We’ve not only produced an Empress for Lotharing, the most powerful empire of this era, but even led the nobles to join Lotharing.

This alone secures significant political influence, and since we’ve provided support to Lotharing since its days as the Duchy of Bourgogne, we stand to gain immeasurable benefits—both material and ideological.

“Now we must live with our heads bowed low to avoid falling out of favor with my son-in-law.”

“Yes, that’s correct. I’m glad… I taught you well.”

“…Thank you, Father.”

However, we must not act presumptuously based on our position. My son-in-law is someone who has already discarded the Bourgogne clan, his own family, like worn-out shoes and even gone so far as to kill them for the sake of power.

It’s clear he would treat House Lorel, mere in-laws rather than blood relatives, even more harshly. If my son-in-law ever perceives that Lorel is trying to usurp his power, our house will meet its end that very day. In fact, being in-laws might make us even more suspect.

…Looking at it this way, it’s truly troublesome. Even if we have no intention of seizing power, if my son-in-law thinks otherwise, things could go terribly wrong.

“But it’s still not enough. While keeping your head low, you must also demonstrate Lorel’s usefulness.”

“…Will that really work? If we show our usefulness but my son-in-law comes to see Lorel as a threat to his power, wouldn’t he try to eliminate us?”

“That’s true, but if the Emperor of Lotharing doesn’t find Lorel useful to him, he will certainly cast us aside. What he hates most is domestic factions that provide him no benefit.”

“It will be… difficult. To demonstrate usefulness while also showing we’re not a threat to power—walking a tightrope would be less precarious than this.”

Indeed, Father is right.

Most of the people my son-in-law has eliminated weren’t just threats due to their power, but primarily factions that offered him no benefit. There are many powerful individuals who have survived intact—the former Chancellor of Lotharing, LeClerc; the former Grand General, Aras; the former Treasurer, Luca; the current Duke of Aquitaine—all powerful but still alive.

In other words, simply living with your head bowed isn’t the only answer.

…How troublesome, I’ve acquired a son-in-law with such a difficult personality.

“To show usefulness without being a threat to power… how should I proceed?”

“Hmm… I don’t know. Well, that’s for you to figure out. My era seems to have passed. I’m sorry to be so irresponsible.”

“Irresponsible? You’ve already told me more than enough, and I’m grateful. Now, please get some rest.”

“No, I think I’ll go out for some fresh air.”

“…Please take good care of him.”

“He shouldn’t go out… Yes, understood.”

Recognizing that his father’s stubbornness cannot be broken, combined with a son’s desire to let his father do as he wishes, the Duke of Lorel permits his father to go out, even though he can barely walk without support.

The Duke receives reproachful glances from the physicians, but being as stubborn as his father, he ignores them. Eventually, the physicians surrender and prepare for the outing.

The next morning, upon hearing the news, the Duke of Lorel, despite having mentally prepared himself, cannot resist the sorrow and finally hangs his head.

……….

“Long live His Majesty! Long live His Majesty who symbolizes this era!”

“Long live the Holy Emperor who crushed the abominable heretics and protected the faithful followers of Canaan!”

“Long live the Eternal Victor! Long live!”

After signing the treaty with the Empire, I’m returning by carriage through the main boulevard of Dijon, surrounded by the praises of the people.

The people, intoxicated by consecutive victories, are raving like madmen, praising only me.

‘…How noisy.’

But I feel neither grandeur nor embarrassment.

In the past, hearing such cheers would make me embarrassed, nauseated, and uncomfortable due to the excessive attention, faith, and adoration… but not anymore.

Now they just sound like the meaningless words of lunatics who prostrate themselves on the ground and raise their heads to praise me.

“I don’t understand how people who drive the country into crisis and defy imperial orders can act so proudly.”

“…Your Majesty.”

Claudia, sitting beside me, warns me in a solemn voice that someone might hear.

…Really now, I brought Claudia to find a son-in-law in the Empire, but it was all for nothing. Why did they all reject someone so pretty and lovely?

“It’s fine, there’s only you and me in this compartment, isn’t there? Even if words leaked out… well, it doesn’t matter. What could those fools do if they heard?”

“But… even in a private setting, if you speak carelessly, it could become a habit that leads to mistakes in more important places.”

“Hmm, that’s a fair point. I was being shortsighted.”

I tend to be casual about unimportant matters, but seeing this meticulous personality reminds me so much of Chloe.

Well, it’s certainly better that she inherited Chloe’s meticulous and thorough nature rather than my casual one. That’s fortunate.

“That aside… hmm, we need to significantly calm the people’s frenzy… what do you think?”

“I’m merely a princess, how could I comment on state affairs—”

“…What does being a princess have to do with it? I just want to hear someone else’s opinion, so speak.”

My goodness, she resembles Chloe too much.

It’s like seeing the Chloe of old, who would refuse when I tried to do something for her, saying she was just a maid and shouldn’t accept.

“But…”

“Come on, you can say anything. I guarantee it on my honor.”

“…Then I shall speak.”

Oh, judging by her quick response, Claudia must have been thinking about this for some time.

Well, anyone in the palace would inevitably witness the people’s behavior daily, so it would be stranger if she hadn’t given it any thought.

I’d like to hear what my daughter thinks—

“First of all, they don’t merely worship Your Majesty.”

“…Pardon?”

What is she saying?

My mind becomes slightly confused by the unexpected words from Claudia’s mouth.

They don’t merely worship me? What does she mean?

“Of course, there are those who serve Your Majesty purely with feelings of worship. However, such people are a minority compared to those who consume Your Majesty as entertainment.”

“…Entertainment.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. They worship you while simultaneously treating you as entertainment that brings vitality to their lives. Isn’t worship supposed to be about prostrating oneself before a higher being and begging for mercy? The fact that they completely ignored your orders not to use force against other countries shows they clearly see you as a convenient tool to justify their actions, in addition to entertainment.”

“…But they certainly revere me as Emperor, don’t they?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. They serve you, adore you passionately, and follow you. However, mixed in with that is… well, the kind of emotion one might have toward a god they only call upon when convenient, or an ancient imperial gladiator, or a popular racehorse.”

I understand roughly what Claudia is saying.

So… these people don’t just see me as their sovereign, but also as some kind of popular entertainer?

Hmm… certainly, it’s possible. No, more than possible—highly probable.

Given all the showmanship I’ve engaged in—the proclamations, the speeches—this has likely contributed to such sentiments.

Of course, popularity is good to have, but if it dilutes the reverence people have for me, that’s problematic. A monarch, unlike a democratic leader, needs legitimacy and authority more than popularity.

“…What solution do you have in mind?”

“It’s simple—we just need to remind them of the majesty and fearfulness of the Emperor that they’ve forgotten.”

Claudia wears the same faint smile as before, but somehow this smile seems different.

…She didn’t need to resemble Chloe in this aspect as well.