episode_0117

William, leader of the Golden Knights.

When involved in the previous anti-imperialist civil war. Find the letter from the emperor you received and compare the handwriting.

‘It’s the same.’

The other thing is that it doesn’t have the emperor’s seal.

If the emperor wanted to drive out the archduke… William thinks it would be a reasonable assumption that he could not do so because the archduke did not lend his seal.

“Is it possible that His Majesty… ordered intervention in the civil war with this in mind?”

Does this mean that we should check our own handwriting and follow our true intentions?

William was displeased with the fact that the emperor, who was supposed to protect imperial law, abandoned the duty of neutrality stipulated in imperial law.

If it was a threat from the Grand Duke, the Emperor had no choice but to follow.

I ponder over the letter I received through my maid.

[If you haven’t forgotten your oath… liberate Roman for my sake.]

Attacking Roman is like hitting a rock with an egg.

Even if there were 100,000, or even 1,000,000 men, it would be nearly impossible to capture Roman, which is protected by a triple wall.

And… the moment it attacks Roman.

William had endured until now because he could foresee the dangers lurking for the emperor and his family.

But the emperor reprimands himself for doing so.

[I will bear with you even if you do not forget your oath and fail in your actions while working for me.]

‘Rather than becoming the emperor of a ruined country and surviving a pitiful life, you want to protect the empire. Your Majesty gave up your life.’

Currently Emperor Theodora and Princess Joy. If these two people both die…

The throne passes to the former emperor’s brothers.

As far as William knows, the late emperor’s brothers live in Bairen City.

It would be difficult for the Archduke Roman to do anything special.

William begins to think like that.

Although everyone in the imperial palace knew that the Emperor and the Grand Duke were on good terms, Valorant was assassinated.

William, who has never been to Roman on the Korean Peninsula since then, does not know that fact.

It would be difficult for anyone to believe that two people from opposing families could get along well after marriage.

“The Emperor’s command… must be obeyed.”

Given the circumstances, the emperor’s true intentions seem plausible, so William heads to the tent where Livia, the maid, is located.

I couldn’t believe that this letter was a lie.

***

Our party leaves Wynn, where the Grand Duke’s Palace is located, and heads to Hams Port.

Agrippa and I are riding in the same carriage to discuss future matters along the way.

“Agripa. Why are you getting married… are you becoming more and more skinny?”

Let’s say we are worried as we see Agrippa, whose complexion is poor as if he were sick…

“Haha…”

I think to myself as I look at Agrippa, who just smiles awkwardly.

Is it okay to leave Agrippa here?

Considering the war that will soon break out, Agrippa must lead troops from the Grand Duchy and join Roman.

Not long ago, I asked my maternal uncle to provide transport and escort ships from the United Kingdom, so Agrippa will soon come to Roman…

I was afraid that Agrippa might die from a sudden accident. I feel afraid.

if.

If Agrippa dies suddenly… it can’t be anything but a big deal.

I made two preparations in case Ioannes would immediately launch a mobile war and lose all the kingdoms at once.

It’s literally just a way to delay Ioannes.

To win against him, an all-out war is ultimately necessary.

“Well… I’m a little tired these days.”

I sigh and say those words.

“When I reach Roman, I will send you a unicorn horn. That would be a little more helpful.”

Agrippa says with a slightly surprised expression on my face.

“Is there something that is really precious? As expected, the imperial palace is amazing.”

To be exact, it doesn’t belong to the imperial palace, but to my mother-in-law.

That’s not important now.

“Yes, and Agrippa. If war breaks out, come to Roman like I said yesterday.”

Agrippa nods at my words and speaks as if he is worried.

“But. Is it right to take Mary too?”

I nod my head at those words.

“I can’t help it. If the opponent really has built up a force of more than 100,000, we will have to do our best.”

The Emperor’s army, the Grand Duchy, and even the troops of other lords.

A great whirlwind of war is raging on the once peaceful continent.

“But…”

“Mary is strong. It’s okay, don’t worry.”

Mary was the strongest warrior among humans before the advent of heroes.

“If you say that, I can’t help it, but…”

“And Mary will be given to you. If you think it’s dangerous, you can retreat, right?”

Agrippa is the one who will be the commander-in-chief of our army anyway.

If someone like that were next to him, Agrippa would use him when necessary and take him out when he was in danger.

Agrippa nods his head with a shy smile at my words.

“That may be true, but… I’m still worried that Mary will get hurt.”

“That’s the same for me too. But we have no time to relax now.”

The number of Ioanes’ troops is unusual.

After checking the mercenary market, I found that Ioanes had already signed contracts with mainly famous mercenary groups on the continent.

Even if I backtrack and calculate the troops, I don’t understand where on earth they came up with a force of about 40,000 to 70,000.

“But where did they gather so many troops? Could it be that they brought in mercenaries from the Babylonian Empire?”

Agrippa shakes his head at my words as if that doesn’t happen.

“No way. Would Ioanes, who has such a strong pride, do something like that?”

Hiring mercenaries from the Babylonian Empire, who are regarded as barbarians by the Empire, is not a good option.

The Babylon Empire, which was qualitatively inferior to the empire in the first place, prefers a quantitative offensive, so it is qualitatively inferior… a lot.

The empire provides quilted armor even to its lowest-ranking soldiers.

Because the climate there is hot, people don’t prefer to wear armor.

Important troops wear armor, but general infantry rarely wears it.

Plus, considering the impact of the current magic war. The Babylon Empire’s war style without wizards is too advantageous for us.

It is truly short-sighted for an enemy to not even be able to use barrier magic in a battlefield where enemies are exploding with powerful firepower.

“I think so too.”

-Squeak

The carriage suddenly stops.

-Your Majesty the Grand Duke has arrived at the port.

“Well, please follow the plan first.”

Saying that, he opens the carriage door and goes out.

***

Right now, at this moment, the Grand Duke’s three musketeers are dying.

Victor, Lucius, and Müller looked at the summons from the Imperial Council and exchanged glances with each other.

“Hmm… Lucius, aren’t you the most senior member of the Archduchy? Please go and resolve the lawmakers’ doubts.”

At those words, Lucius waves his hand and says.

“No, Minister Victor. This didn’t happen while I was working, so how can I get there?”

An investigation into the previous secret agreement between Devian and the Emperor faction began, and the National Assembly began to summon witnesses on behalf of the Archduchy through a witness investigation.

If the Archduke had been there, he would have exercised his veto to block it… but since the Archduke is currently in the Grand Duchy, there is no one who can protect these poor civil servants.

Victor says, clearing his throat.

“Hmm… Then the Congress sent a subpoena. Who are you sending it to?”

At those words, Lucius steps forward and speaks.

“In that case, Minister Victor, who is the representative of His Majesty the Grand Duke, should go.”

In general, when a subpoena is sent to an administrative agency, the minister or vice minister usually goes to the National Assembly.

If the content is sensitive enough to warrant a subpoena in the first place, it is natural for the minister and vice minister to respond.

“I… I’m a deputy! Besides, I don’t know anything about this sensitive issue, so I think it would be right for you, Lucius, who has been around for a long time, to go!”

But now, Victor, who knows better than anyone else that if he visits the National Assembly on this issue, he will be torn apart by angry lawmakers, he absolutely does not want to be summoned to the National Assembly.

Of course, Lucius, who knows that fact, has absolutely no intention of being summoned to the council.

He says this in order to somehow get out of this situation because a commoner like himself might not just be picked on but also caught up in a strange group.

“I don’t know about that agenda either. And I understand that in such cases, a minister in charge of wealth usually visits.”

Victor shakes his head and says those words.

“Secretaries of the Grand Duchy in all areas can be considered as ministers or vice ministers. So go with peace of mind.”

In the imperial administrative system, it was not specified whether the secretary of the Grand Duchy actually had the rank of vice-minister.

In the first place, it is a department that was recently established…

However, I often meet with ministers for work purposes.

“That… Where is that? Do you really think the imperial lawmakers will believe that?”

“No. The Prime Minister’s Department is functionally similar to the Grand Duke’s Department. It is clearly stated that the secretaries of the Ministry of Finance are at the level of ministers and vice ministers. You can also be considered a minister. Also, don’t you get a ministerial salary?”

At those words, Lucius spoke hurriedly with a thoughtful expression on his face.

“No. Where is that law? I can’t admit it!”

Victor grins and says those words.

“Although the Prime Minister system disappeared 10 years ago, if you look at the imperial protocol hierarchy, excluding the imperial family, you are the Imperial Chairman, then the Prime Minister, and then the Prime Minister’s Secretary. If we apply it to the Archduke Ministry, which is similar to the current Prime Minister system, the Archduke will be followed by the Archduke Secretary.”

Lucius, who guessed that if he continued like this, would end up in a limb without being able to remove it or put it back on, he hurriedly spoke.

“Wait a minute. Minister Victor. Currently, there are two secretaries in the Archdiocese, myself and Müller…”

Victor’s eyes light up at those words.

“Was Mueller also the secretary?”

Mueller, who was watching the two people’s argument while eating popcorn, said that he thought something big had happened.

“No, why? Do sparks fly this way?”

Victor says that.

“Anyway, either Lucius or Müller, someone should respond to the summons to Congress.”

When Lucius spoke to Müller, Lucius looked at Müller and addressed him by his title.

“Mr. Müller? This is an order from my senior secretary. Respond to Congress’ summons.”

“Huh?”

That’s how Mueller responded to the congressional subpoena.