Chapter 413: The Great Lord (Not a Grand Duke) of the North (5)

Recently, I’ve spent more days in my mansion in the capital than in my territory. It’s an unavoidable choice, as even the time traveling between the territory and the council is precious in the current situation.

Yes, it was truly an inevitable and natural choice. As all officials are preparing for the Emperor’s ascension and celebration banquet, I can’t neglect those preparations as an imperial count. An imperial count should move for the imperial family more than any other subject.

Moreover, it’s confirmed that I’ll be stepping down from the position of imperial count, and I’ll completely let go of my council seat when Erich graduates. In other words, this is the last ascension celebration banquet I’m preparing as an official. Its significance can’t help but feel greater.

I’m retiring in my 40s.

I put down my pen for a moment and looked out the window. When I first became a member of the Imperial Council, I thought I’d remain one until I died. But somehow, I’ve received the gift of retirement in my 40s.

It would certainly be a lie to say I wasn’t perplexed by this earlier-than-others retirement, but my retirement is the Retired Emperor’s will for the sake of the imperial family and the empire, so I gladly followed it.

It’s problematic for a father and son to be in high positions at the same time.

And I stepped down for the sake of my son.

Carl is proving his abilities and advancing quickly in his career. Although he proved himself through the dangerous method of military service, the result ended up being good.

But for me, Carl’s father, to hold on as a current imperial count and council member? There might be concerns about a father and son holding high positions simultaneously, and there might be those who envy. So it’s right for me, the father, to step down and pave the way for Carl.

…I didn’t know it would open up this much, though.

The corners of my mouth lifted slightly. I couldn’t help but smile as I recalled the conversation I just had with Carl.

— I’m only contacting you now because I’ve been busy building relationships with my new neighbors lately.

The communication crystal suddenly glowed, and Carl’s face appeared when I picked it up.

With a somewhat tired face, Carl gave a ceremonial greeting and then continued as if complaining.

— After all, they’re new nobles, so they’re unfamiliar with the capital’s environment. As their neighbor, I decided to guide them personally.

Although he wrapped it in ordinary words like ‘neighbors’ and ‘guide’, both Carl and I knew that it actually meant faction.

It’s surprising. I gladly followed the Retired Emperor’s will to pave the way for my son’s future, but I didn’t know he’d sprint like this in less than a year. No, perhaps I had been blocking this from happening all along.

Although Carl seems annoyed by this sudden faction formation—as a father, I couldn’t be more pleased.

“They were once enemies, but now they can become closer neighbors than anyone. They approached you recognizing your character, so treat them with sincerity and friendship.”

— …Yes, Father. I’ll keep that in mind.

So, I gave Carl an answer he probably didn’t want. It’s regrettable for Carl, who contacted his father after accumulating stress. But if it’s unavoidable, then it’s only right to think of it as positively as possible.

If he treats them with sincerity and friendship, they will become his most powerful friends and shields. Or, they could become swords.

Although Carl is making a bitter expression now, someday he will recognize their usefulness and willingly utilize them.

Someday, huh.

The thought suddenly struck me. If Carl deliberately wields the faction in his hands, the title of Count of Wiridia might even become a marquis.

A marquis from the Krasius family.

It makes me want to laugh. A marquis coming from the Krasius family, which is an imperial count family—if I had heard this just a few years ago, I would have dismissed it as nonsense.

I should tell my wife, too.

I reached for the communication crystal placed on one side of the desk. I don’t think Carl, who barely contacted me, would have contacted my wife. He must be busy solidifying friendships with the northern great lords right now.

So, let’s convey this joyous news to my wife. She’s also someone who understands the power of factions well as the mistress of a noble house.

Surely my wife will be extremely happy too. What my wife worries about is Carl getting hurt in war, not gaining connections.

Time passed, and the day of the Emperor’s ascension celebration banquet finally arrived.

Damn it.

I feel dizzy. Now, I have to lead thirteen great lords and enter the banquet hall majestically. I have to show with my whole body in front of the nobles gathered from all over the empire, ‘These are my subordinates. Aren’t they impressive?’

— My kids are indeed impressive.

Please be quiet.

My head throbbed even more because of a certain goddess bragging about her nomad children amidst all this.

No, to begin with, even the priest doesn’t have faith, so what do you mean by ‘my kids’? Isn’t your compassion overflowing too much?

— I’m just trying to think of you as my priest. It makes me feel more comfortable that way.

What does that—

“Your Lordship.”

As I was about to refute the Eternal Blue Sky’s statement, which had gone beyond running a happy circuit to burning out, I hurriedly turned my gaze at the voice of the Imperial Knight Commander.

“The security check is complete, so you may enter now.”

“Yes, I understand.”

I nodded to the commander who opened the way with a faint smile.

If I had come alone, I would have passed through with a near free pass and minimal security check, but with thirteen companions, the inspection took a bit longer. Of course, even that was quick considering the number of people.

“Ah, by the way, Your Lordship.”

Just as I was about to enter, exchanging a light nod with the commander, he spoke again.

“Whose name should I put at the top of the list?”

Ah.

Only then did I realize. Indeed, there was that issue.

I glanced at the visitor list held by the imperial knight. It’s customary to write the names of nobles and officials who pass the security check normally on the list managed by the Imperial Knight Order, and when entering as a group rather than individually, usually the name of the person with the highest title, or the faction leader, is written first.

Although the custom is divided into two, there’s no need to worry. Usually, the faction leader’s title is among the highest in the faction.

Not for us.

Unfortunately, the person with the highest title and the faction leader in the northern faction are separate. It’s enough to make one’s chest feel tight that such a rootless faction exists.

“Please write Marquis Barandiga’s name at the top. He’s the only marquis among us, so that’s appropriate.”

After a moment’s consideration, I chose the former. Everyone will know that I’m the faction leader anyway, so it’s right to take care of Marquis Barandiga’s authority at times like this—

“No. Please write the Count of Wiridia.”

“Understood.”

The list was quickly written according to Marquis Brandiga’s words.

Seeing a count written above a marquis made me want to cry.

The faction gathered around His Grace the Gold Duke has one thing in common.

“I can’t tell you how convenient it is to be able to freely move goods to the north by sea now.”

“Indeed. We’ve had such a hard time moving them by land until now.”

Even when just two faction members gather, they often talk about money. It’s inevitable since they’re all in the position of running merchant groups.

Of course, it’s not that I dislike it. Only those who enjoy discussing money and markets can move forward with the Gold Duke.

“By the way, have you all heard? Something unusual has happened in the north.”

“The north? Ah, you mean that.”

The gazes of the faction members, who had been talking about how the north has stabilized and the only imperial direct territory bordering the sea has become safe, how sea transport to the north has become active, and how enjoyable it is that those who used to charge exorbitant docking fees are now left sucking their thumbs, subtly turned towards me.

I just smiled at those gazes. After all, the northern anomaly they’re talking about is related to my future son-in-law.

It’ll be difficult to trade with the north without going through my son-in-law.

Usually, nomads traded with territories located in the north. But recently, they started flocking to Wiridia, my son-in-law’s territory, and the other markets began to lose vitality one by one.

Fortunately, it’s not yet a situation to pay much attention to. Originally, trading with nomads was the north’s responsibility, and we tend to trade with the southern and western parts of the empire, or countries to the east of the empire through sea transport. Even if the nomads have exclusive trade with Wiridia, there’s no immediate impact.

However, in the long term, it’s a critical issue. Now that vast northern region will be developed, and the nomads will absorb the empire’s resources. A huge untapped market is opening up.

And to access that market, you need the permission—or at least tacit approval—of my future son-in-law, who has formed friendly relations with the nomads.

“It seems the Minister has built quite a friendship with the northern great lords during his military service.”

The gazes focused on me began to scatter at His Grace the Gold Duke’s remark.

“I heard that the Minister personally persuaded the northern great lords to surrender, so it’s natural that they feel indebted to him.”

“I see, such a thing happened. Well, it’s difficult to get news from such a distant place.”

With those words, the topic of discussing the northern anomaly naturally faded away.

His Grace the Gold Duke’s words just now meant ‘acknowledging the Count of Wiridia’s sphere of influence in the north’. It’s no longer something for us to discuss.

“My, speak of the devil and he shall appear.”

After stating his position to the faction members, His Grace the Gold Duke turned his gaze towards the entrance and chuckled.

I also turned my head, following His Grace’s gaze, and flinched.

…It wasn’t just on a simple friendship level.

More than ten men and women entered in a group, with my future son-in-law the forefront.

Yes, at the forefront. Even Marquis Barandiga, whom I had briefly seen at the abdication ceremony, was walking behind my son-in-law. Even for a new noble, a marquis yielding the front to a count…

Before I knew it, not just mine but all the nobles’ gazes were focused on my son-in-law. The power of a faction as a group has now been added to my son-in-law, who already held formidable authority as an individual.

Moreover, it’s not just any faction. The imperial army, which hasn’t fully recovered its cavalry strength, will crave the nomad forces my son-in-law controls, and merchants will covet the vast frontier and market population. He’s grasped swords in both hands that could stir up the political world with just one swing.

He’ll become a marquis soon.

I thought as I watched my son-in-law walking as if showing off. The prestige of having the entire north behind him, and the authority as the Minister of Inspection.

This is enough to rise to marquis, surpassing quite a few marquis families. If such a figure isn’t a marquis, the minimum qualification for marquis becomes too high.

My son-in-law is becoming a marquis.

It’s nothing new, but Irina is definitely my daughter.

If not, then there’s no way to explain her skill in snatching him before he reached his peak.