episode_0069

The drawing room of the imperial palace.

“Kuhm…”

The members of the opposition party in front of me.

The person who appears to be the leader among them wipes his sweat and speaks.

“I surrender.”

I say that with a gentle smile.

“Okay, what are the terms of surrender?”

We received word that the Grand Air Force had arrived near Fort Huntington.

In their situation, if the war drags on even further, it will only result in damage, so it is right to surrender.

“I will faithfully follow the Grand Duchy as the leader of the anti-emperor faction.”

I wait for a moment, wondering if they’ll say something later, but I see them just rolling their eyes and looking at me, so I reply coldly.

“Is that the answer?”

The lawmakers who were looking into each other’s eyes noticed what I was saying and one of them stepped forward.

“Compensation will also be paid.”

Looking at the disorganized looking lawmakers, I try my best to repeat what I said without making a single mistake.

“Is that the answer?”

That way you can instill fear in them.

“That… that…”

I say this as I see the lawmakers eye contact as if they don’t know what I want.

“When Valorant assassinated His Majesty the late Emperor. I understand that you are betraying Valorant. He is a traitor to the empire. But when I became Prince and went to war with Ioannes. Where have you been?”

I look at the congressman who has a perplexed expression on his face, as if he has nothing to say to me.

They too will be embarrassed.

At that time, due to Valorant’s actions of crossing the line, the anti-emperor faction was like a sinking ship.

That may be why I left the anti-emperor faction, but even if I were them at the time, I would have cut off Valorant just like they did, and the anti-emperor faction was in a situation where it would be difficult to last long.

Well… it would have been better for them if we had failed.

“However, if Valorant died and I became the legitimate Grand Duke, you would have to follow my guidance according to the anti-imperialist treaty, but you arrogantly acted individually as if you were independent and did not follow my guidance.”

For generations, my ancestors had oppressed the anti-imperialist nobles to regard it as Grand Duchy territory.

However, it does not actually belong to the Grand Duchy.

Imperial law limits the authority of the great nobles, so although they are not part of the territory of the Grand Duchy, my ancestors have governed them under the justification that they must follow the leadership of the head of the anti-imperial faction as if they were vassals of our family.

“Hmm… But, Your Highness, I believe that the previous Grand Duke already communicated with the demons, and the treaty was broken at that moment.”

“That’s right. In fact, the Grand Duchy provided guidance for the survival of our territory…”

I intentionally hit the table with my fist and shout in anger, interrupting their conversation.

-bang!

“It seems like a long speech. I think you’re saying this because you think there’s still room for victory. Would you like to continue a little further?”

They can’t protest when I tell them to shut up unless they want to start another war.

“First of all, I want to rule over your territory as compensation for betraying us and breaking our promises when the anti-emperor faction is at its peak.”

They blink at my words and speak as if they are perplexed.

“That… Your Majesty, I’m sorry, but the conditions for handing over ownership of the territory are too harsh.”

“That’s right. No matter how victorious he is, he cannot accept the idea of handing over his territory to the loser.”

“Uh huh… How can someone who is not related by blood to the family that owns the territory rule the territory?”

According to the culture here, you cannot claim a territory unless you are related by blood to the person who owned it.

To put it a little exaggeratedly, fiefdoms and titles are treated like personal property.

The only way to take such territory is from the lord’s immediate superior vassal, but according to imperial law, their immediate superior vassal is the emperor.

And no matter how much the emperor wants to exercise the right to deprive a person of a territory, he cannot do so unless there is a serious defect in the performance of the vassal contract.

“Weren’t you originally members of the anti-emperor faction? And our Grand Duchy is the head of the anti-emperor faction. Since you have not kept the anti-emperor faction treaty without just cause, I will exercise my right as leader to deprive you of your territory.”

They speak as if they are dumbfounded by my words.

“Your Majesty the Archduke… I think you are misunderstanding something. Since the faction is not even a country, there is no way the leader of the faction would have the power to deprive the territory, right?”

“That’s right. The head of a faction has the right to leadership, but that does not mean he is a high-ranking vassal.”

Their argument is very common sense and correct, and is established by imperial law.

As long as it’s a peaceful time.

These are difficult times.

Those who have power speak common sense and are correct, which is the law.

“It looks like you haven’t given in yet. Do you want more war?”

I have no intention of letting go of their territory.

I plan to use this opportunity to take over their territory.

“You can do more if you want, but I promise you this one thing. Your masters and their families… will not be treated as prisoners of war. However, if you hand over their territory obediently, we will recognize them as nobles and protect their property.”

Being treated as a prisoner of war means that you will be treated as a noble even if you are captured during the war.

In other words, not to treat them as prisoners of war is no different from a threat that they don’t know what will happen if they are caught.

However, as if they were interested in something else, one person came forward and spoke as if he had heard a strange noise.

“How can you be a noble if you have no fiefdom?”

Titles such as duke, marquess, and earl come from land.

I am the owner of the land of the Grand Duchy of Francesco, so I am called the Grand Duke.

In other words, if the land of the Grand Duchy of France is taken away from me, the title of Grand Duke will be transferred to the person who took it away.

A title is similar to the meaning of the right to rule the land or the owner of the land.

In the past, a title was considered only as a contract with a higher-ranking noble to rule the land, but now the title has changed to include ownership of the land as well.

So, it is true that it is difficult for them to understand that they will take the land, but their title will be recognized.

“In other words, I will acknowledge your lord’s title, but I will be entrusted with the land and rule on his behalf.”

I look at the lawmakers who are rolling their eyes at my words and continue.

“We will pay 10% of the tax revenue from the land of the title every year as living expenses and maintenance of dignity.”

This amount is by no means a small amount.

The cost of living and maintenance of dignity paid by the Grand Duchy to our family does not exceed 1% of the annual budget.

How much money does one household need to live on in the first place?

Personally, I think it’s a waste, but it’s important that I rule their territory first.

Of course, as time goes by and I take control of all the territory, from then on I will gradually reduce the amount paid and kick them out.

Are you saying that I am giving them money to play with their master just because I think he is pretty?

Once they take control of the territory, they are useless.

“Hmm… I will report this to my lords…”

“Haha, please convey it well. Anyway, wouldn’t it be a bad idea to leave the complicated work of Youngji to me and enjoy life?”

I continue by looking at the people who want to say something to me but are unable to say anything.

“First, let’s deliver it to your lord and then we can talk again.”

The lawmakers bowed as if they understood what I was saying and then left.

Look at where they were sitting and say

“Fools…”

***

That night.

Theodora speaks while lying on the sofa.

“Can’t we just take the territory?”

“No. According to imperial law, it is illegal to rob someone else’s territory by force.”

Besides, I am a great nobleman.

There will be a lot of opposition from small nobles, and the imperial faction will not remain silent.

I think Ioanes will suppress it somehow, but he’s probably embarrassed too.

They wouldn’t have thought that I would take their territory.

“Isn’t that what it is anyway?”

I don’t understand what Theodora is saying, so I put down the document and look at Theodora.

“In the end, you are going to rule that territory, right?”

I nod my head at those words.

“That’s right. But rather than incorporating, I just want to rule on their behalf.”

Of course, I am blindfolded, but there is a big legal difference between me owning their land directly.

There are regulations on increasing territory under the law, but there are no clear regulations on the area that I am delegated to rule.

This is something that only merchants would think about, not how nobles would think.

Theodora, thinking deeply about something, speaks in a thoughtful voice.

“Still, I think that’s it, but if you file a claim with the Supreme Court…”

“Those chief justices support me?”

Her red eyes blink and her mouth opens slightly, as if she has forgotten what happened to her when she married me.

“Ah… Is that right?”

“There won’t be any legal problems anyway.”

The law basically takes the form of punishing someone for doing something.

In other words, it is the same as not being able to regulate or punish something that is not written down in the law.

Even if I try to claim that it is expedient, I have already taken control of the Supreme Court, so there is nothing I can do about it.

“As expected… it’s amazing.”

While saying that, Theodora shakes her head and heads to the bed.

“I’m just going to sleep, so please turn off the light.”

“I… can’t you just look at this and turn off the light?”

Theodora, who turns around at my words and smiles softly, speaks in a bright voice.

“No.”

I sigh at the firm and bright voice.

“Okay…”

-Clap clap!

A light ball that turns off at the sound of my applause.

Darkness blocks my vision, but I know where the sofa is.

And I end the day by lying on the sofa.