Chapter 412: The Great Lord (Not a Grand Duke) of the North (4)

Marquis Barandiga, Gurt Batal of Barandiga.

Count Kaitana, Krzan Daran of Kaitana.

Count Kyrgia, Kchur Darian of Kyrgia.

Count Birs, Nevila Lutun of Birs.

Count Digera, Haral Mungerte of Digera.

Count Ikilan, Sarna Sikratiha of Ikilan.

Count Gorming, Gilke Korko of Gorming.

Count Yudher, Nachav Olan of Yudher.

Count Ramandia, Ugan Gorta of Ramandia.

Count Kital, Irad Natlan of Kital.

Count Rakar, Hokor Viu of Rakar.

Count Loromana, Enzi Araha of Loromana.

Count Charaul, Jaya Tatakia of Charaul.

And lastly, Count of Wiridia, Carl Krasius of Wiridia.

These fourteen great lords had gathered in the Wiridia County. Not just nobles, nor just titled nobles, but as great lords managing vast territories.

“The empire and the North have long been in opposition, but this was a regrettable history that occurred because the two forces failed to understand each other. There were also wicked individuals who exploited this gap to cause discord between the two forces, while wise men who sought peace could only shed tears as they were oppressed by these wicked ones.”

In the banquet hall where all the northern great lords had gathered, I raised the glass on the table and began to speak, starting with Count Kaitana.

I emphasized the regrettable conflict between the empire and the North, the traitors who caused the conflict, and the benevolent wise men who perished amidst the traitors’ mischief. The empire and the North could have understood each other and become one, but they were in conflict because of a few traitors.

Of course, there was no need to specify who these traitors were.

“But perhaps even the heavens were saddened by this conflict of blood and tears, for finally, the empire and the North have become one. Warm coexistence, not cold opposition, has come to us.”

With these words, I approached the great lords step by step. Like me, they were holding glasses and wearing faint smiles.

“This was truly possible because of Enen’s protection and the Great Emperor’s blessing, and because of the wise men who sought peace. Thanks to this, the empire has ended its long history of conflict and opened a new history of harmony and coexistence.”

Then, I raised the glass in my hand high as if offering it to the heavens or as if showing it off to the whole world.

At the same time, the thirteen great lords watching me—no, the nomads who had ended the history of conflict and embraced the empire—also raised their glasses towards the sky.

“We have opened a new history. We are leading a unique history in thousands of years of history.”

This wasn’t an exaggeration. In human history, there had never been a time when settled people and nomads truly became one. Only now, when the empire has taken control of the entire North and the nomads have offered the title of Khan to the Emperor, was the moment when settled people and nomads have become one.

“Therefore, I, Count of Wiridia, Carl Krasius of Wiridia, swear before Enen and the Great Emperor that I will move forward so that this history of peace and prosperity does not crumble. That I will become a bridge between the settled people and nomads who have finally become neighbors.”

At this declaration, the smiles of the nomad great lords deepened. I swore before Enen as a believer of the Dawn Sect, and before the Great Emperor as a noble of the empire. This was the highest oath that even death couldn’t interfere with from the perspective of nobles who valued their reputation. Iin the minds of the great lords, it was probably no different from me declaring that I will lead and protect the northern faction forever.

Of course, I had neither faith nor loyalty. However, for the sake of my peaceful life, I must live as the leader of the northern faction for the rest of my life. If I neglected the North carelessly, I’d have to deal with both the Emperor’s nagging and the rebellion of the offended North simultaneously.

Although the reason was somewhat strange, it was a peculiar oath with a perfect result nonetheless. Under that oath, fourteen great lords shouted with all their hearts.

“I, Carl Krasius of Wiridia, will not forget the friendship and cause of the friends gathered here! For the protection of the Mandate of Heaven and the order of the continent!”

““For the protection of the Mandate of Heaven and the order of the continent!””

After watching the great lords drink their glasses heartily, I also drank mine.

I hadn’t particularly built friendship with the northern great lords, nor did I know their cause—but anyway, the northern faction had been launched. I had become the leader of the North, and as long as I fulfilled my duties, the North would follow and respect my orders.

…Yes, as long as I fulfilled my duties.

This is driving me crazy.

I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly. Honestly, I wasn’t the type to frequently show my face in social circles. But from the moment I became the leader of a faction, I needed to show active social engagement. If I stayed quiet as a mouse, there was a high chance the northern great lords would look for another faction leader and defect.

Didn’t they form this faction to exert influence in the center and interact with mainland nobles? If the faction leader turns out to be a hikikomori, the faction members will feel disappointed.

The weight of a faction leader…

I closed my eyes gently. Not the weight of a family head, but the weight of a faction leader—how did my life come to this?

“Count. Let me pour you a drink this time.”

As I stood there blankly, Marquis Barandiga approached with a bottle of alcohol.

It wasn’t new, but I felt a sense of cognitive dissonance. No matter how much difference there was between mainland nobles with history and tradition and new nobles, a marquis was bowing to a count. It was embarrassing, as if we were breaking the order of the hierarchy.

“Wouldn’t it be more appropriate for me to pour for Your Lordship the Marquis first?”

“Oh my, is that so? It feels like our titles have been switched. How embarrassing.”

Anyone would recognize this as a joke, but I couldn’t laugh at all. A faction where a count was the leader and a marquis was a member was just too strange.

It was terrifying to the point where I wonder if the Emperor might say, ‘This is an unnatural phenomenon,’ and elevate the Wiridia County to a marquisate.

“…Come to think of it, it’s meaningless to consider the hierarchy of titles among friends.”

I finally spoke, pushing back the terrifying imagination of the seal in my pocket evolving into a white seal symbolizing a marquis.

The current marquises were all powerful figures boasting strong influence. Even Barandiga, who was relatively weak, was unlikely to be demoted due to the symbolism of being the only marquis in the North.

So let’s not worry too much. Count is the final line for my title.

Surely it will be.

I guided the great lords to their rooms after the banquet celebrating the formation of the northern faction.

Fortunately, there were enough rooms suitable for high-ranking officials as Wiridia was once a gathering place for northern subjugation forces. It was just ironic that northern nomads were now staying here instead of northern subjugation forces.

— It means that an era of harmony, not conflict, has arrived. I’m glad that Carl is at the forefront of this.

“You flatter me, Your Grace.”

I smiled awkwardly at the Invincible Duke’s words. As someone who got roped into this by the Emperor’s implicit order, praise about being at the forefront of harmony was embarrassingly excessive.

More like the lead slave, if anything.

Despite the bitter self-objectification, I tried to maintain my smile. I couldn’t show a gloomy face in front of the Invincible Duke, who was offering his congratulations on the faction’s formation.

The news travels fast indeed.

For a moment, I felt a sense of awe. The Invincible Duke, who was already wielding tremendous influence as a duke and leader of the northern faction, seemed to have gained an insanely fast information acquisition speed since becoming the Emperor’s father-in-law.

It wasn’t normal to receive news about the northern faction, known only to the Emperor and the faction members, and offer congratulations on the day of its formation.

Of course, the Invincible Duke wasn’t the type to use information he’d obtained first for manipulation, but it was embarrassing to think that he’d know my every move from now on—

— By the way, I suppose Carl will now be called the Grand Duke of the North.

…?

“Pardon?”

I couldn’t help but ask.

Grand Duke of the North?

It was a terrifying term just to hear. In this empire, there was only one Grand Duke title. The Grand Duchess of Cabaschleitz, given to the imperial heir, was the only one.

But despite my reaction, the Invincible Duke just burst into laughter. No, isn’t it too much to throw a bomb at someone and just laugh?

— It was my nickname in my younger days. Perhaps because my territory was in the north, I somehow got the nickname ‘Grand Duke of the North’.

“…Is it okay for a noble to have a nickname like ‘Grand Duke’?”

— Even if others called me Grand Duke, my title was still Duke. Even the Retired Emperor didn’t mind much, so don’t worry.

The Invincible Duke kept laughing, but this was absolutely not something to laugh off. Even for a duke, it was too treasonous for a mere noble to have a nickname like ‘Grand Duke’. And the Retired Emperor who was paranoid just let it slide?

It was impossible. Regardless of paranoia, it didn’t make sense for a cadet branch emperor to tolerate a duke’s rise.

Noticing my doubt, the Invincible Duke continued with a smile on his face.

— There was a character called the Grand Duke of the North in a popular romance novel of the past. It was a historical novel set in the Muno Empire era, and the character eventually submitted to the imperial family, so it wasn’t a big deal.

Ah.

I understood with those words. It wasn’t a nickname given out of serious evaluation of the Invincible Duke’s power and authority, but one that stuck because of a novel that noble ladies enjoyed reading. It would be ridiculous for the Emperor to overreact to such a nickname.

Grand Duke of the North?

I briefly looked over the Invincible Duke’s image in the communication crystal.

Brilliant silver hair mixed with white due to age, and blue clothing symbolizing the Nuren ducal family. Most importantly, he held the position of Deputy Commander of the Imperial Army, overseeing the imperial forces.

He really was like a picture-perfect Grand Duke of the North. Plus, I think I heard that the Invincible Duke was a handsome man who received many noble ladies’ courtship in his youth.

And now that’s me?

My admiration for the Invincible Duke soon turned into mixed feelings. As the Invincible Duke said, the nickname ‘Grand Duke of the North’ was about to be passed on to me.

A territory further north than the Invincible Duke’s and a faction leader commanding energetic northern nomads, with an experience of two military campaigns.

Damn it.

Unfortunately, I too was a picture-perfect Grand Duke of the North. And an active one still in his 20s at that.

…Then is the Gold Duke the Grand Duke of the South?

The thought suddenly struck me. In romance novels, instead of the cold and militarily strong Grand Duke of the North, there was sometimes a sly and wealthy Grand Duke of the South.

It was perfect. Anyone could see that the Gold Duke was the Grand Duke of the South. He even had twelve wives.

It really is a romance fantasy novel.

I once again realized the true nature of this world.

It was at strange times like this that I was reminded that this world was a romance fantasy novel.