episode_0145

After the cabinet meeting.

“Grandpa, then what should I do from now on?”

At my words, the grandfather takes a sip of tea and says.

“Teraya. Why do you think the Kingdom of Nicaea is strong?”

“That’s it… Isn’t it because of the vast territory and good land for farming?”

At my words, the grandfather shakes his head with a kind face.

“Of course that is true, but… I don’t know how they were able to take over that land. The Kingdom of Nicaea has placed great importance on scholars for generations. It is a country that is very interested in technology and has developed many technologies. In addition, Byzantine, the capital of Nicaea, has a deeper history than Roman, the capital of the empire.”

I nod my head at those words.

“Oh? Are you talking about talented people?”

My grandfather nods his head and says.

“You got it right. Since you currently don’t have a single talented person following you, it seems there’s no way to ask for advice. First of all, you need servants to help you and show you the good path.”

My forehead naturally furrows at those words.

“But I don’t have money to hire them? Plus, I can’t go outside as much as I want…”

Grandpa shakes his head at my words.

“This is Terra. Those who truly follow you do not follow you just for money.”

I am puzzled by those words and ask.

“Then what do they follow me for?”

My grandfather smiles brightly at my words.

“The emperor can be considered worthy of service in and of itself. Since your husband is evaluated so poorly in the empire, there are probably many talented people who want to serve you and make their mark in history. Also, since there are more than one person who has benefited from His Majesty the late Emperor, I would like to help you.”

I think about my grandfather’s words.

“People who received grace from their father?”

My grandfather laughs and says at my words.

“Knight Sir William also received great favor from His Majesty the Emperor, as did Representative Pompey and Chairman Charles. In addition, there are many nobles, citizens of the empire, and famous people who graduated from the Academy.”

I have doubts about that statement and ask.

“Then why when they need help. Is it not showing up?”

When Valorant was misbehaving and when he was forced to marry Devian. So far, I haven’t seen them appear except for Chairman Charles and Representative Pompey.

“That’s because you didn’t look for them. They say you have to go looking for talent, not just hoping for them to come to you.”

I nod my head slightly at those words.

Debian doesn’t have anyone else besides Lucius, Maximilian, and Müller.

This is a topic that is always said to be lacking in people.

“In particular, Devian is notorious, so it may be difficult to find talent in Roman, but Terra, you will be able to easily find one. There are a few people that come to mind right away.”

I ask because those words make me feel better.

“Who are those people?”

My grandfather bursts into laughter at my words.

“Haha, Byren’s Munke will also help you, and Machiavelli, a political science professor at the Academy, will also support you. Because they are both people who worry about you a lot. And it’s not just them. You also have to take the emperor faction with you.”

Emperor faction? Can we get them back?

To be honest, weren’t they the group that betrayed me?

Aside from taking them out, I’m speaking to them because I don’t think they will come under me because they are stronger than me.

“Are they… trying to come under me? It must be a strong force.”

Currently, the strongest political factions in the empire are the anti-emperor faction led by Devian, the imperial faction led by the Kingdom of Bohemi and the Kingdom of Eren despite the departure of Ioannes, and the neutral faction of the Free Cities and neutral forces.

“It is said that after this war is over, Sun Tzu will try to disband the Emperor faction. According to Eurydice, it was her grandson-in-law who caused this civil war.”

I asked, surprised by those words.

“Yes? Debian induced a civil war between the Imperial faction?”

Grandpa nods his head at what I say.

“Yes, it seems that from the beginning, they were planning to pretend to make peace by giving Epirus and Ejib and liquidating the entire imperial faction.”

Is that… what?

I don’t understand so I ask.

“That… how?”

My grandfather said with a grin at my words.

“Epirus and Ezip are huge kingdoms. What do you think would happen if all of that land was given to Ioannes under the pretext of giving it to the imperial faction?”

I frown at those words, lost in thought, and then speak in an uncertain voice.

“Isn’t the power of the imperial faction becoming stronger?”

“Hehe, in theory, that’s true. But human greed has no end. Other nobles tied to the emperor’s faction would not like the idea of Ioannes having it all to himself. Also, Ioanes would not like the fact that the imperial faction, which was weaker than him by gaining two kingdoms, was trying to take Epirus and Ezip.”

There is something I realized from those words.

“Ah… So you made them fight?”

“Yes, that’s it. I guess the grandson-in-law is trying to pressure the emperor faction, which has lost its strength by making them fight like that, to disband. That way, your power will become stronger. Then, your job is to prevent them from disbanding and take them under your wing to increase their power. Then it will be difficult for your grandchildren and sons-in-law to ignore you anymore.”

From my conversation with my grandfather, I feel excitement and hope in my heart.

“I will do it. I will gather great talents from all over the empire and rebuild the Emperor Sect. I have to do that… because I can make him stop.”

At my words, my grandfather pats my head and says:

“Yes, you can do that. But it’s Terra. Do you really hate your husband?”

I nod as I clearly see my grandfather speaking carefully.

“Yes. I really hate you.”

My grandfather bursts into laughter and says what I said.

“I heard that you love your husband… but is it because of that?”

I am also startled by those words.

I have no choice but to do it.

I don’t know how to explain the contradictory feelings of loving him but hating him just as much.

Until recently, I loved the moments I had with him.

The moment I shared the same bed with him felt so warm to me.

But… I got to know his cold side.

His appearance was so cold and heartless that I was confused as to whether he even loved me…

He doesn’t trust me.

However, in a situation where he could die for me, he threw himself at the assassin’s dagger without hesitation.

That’s why I’m confused.

Does he really love me?

Or do they see me as a political tool?

There is no situation as terrible as that. If the man who said he loved me acted for his own political reasons, I would want to kill him.

But the opposite thought is, if it is a political means, is there any reason to protect myself rather than my own life?

I don’t really understand him for such contradictory behavior.

I don’t really know anything about him.

What are you thinking and what do you want? What are you drawing?

All I know… is that he lives hard for the empire and that he values me?

Since he doesn’t usually reveal his true feelings, I don’t know what he’s doing this for.

That’s why I struggle to organize my thoughts and move my mouth.

“I love him. But I hate you as much as I love you.”

I try to organize my thoughts and spit out a short sentence.

I hate him as much as I love him. I don’t know if I can express my feelings better than those words.

“Do you hate me so much that I want to kill you?”

I shake my head at those words.

I hate him, but… I don’t want to see him die or get hurt.

“No. It’s not like that. Just… because he is obsessed with the regime. I’m afraid that if I discredit him, I’ll be able to find out his true feelings…”

Grandpa shakes his head at my words and says.

“Teraya. Politics isn’t that emotional. Sometimes politics is heartless even to one’s own relatives. If you don’t have a clear goal or cause, no one will truly follow you.”

“That… that.”

“It is not a problem to simply overthrow the grandson-in-law, but we also need to think about how to lead the government afterwards. What will you do with the technology investment fund created by your son-in-law? And how to do tax reform. Also, what do you plan to do to develop the empire? And if you happen to fight him, you need to have a firm resolve on how to fight him. That way, your followers won’t lose their loyalty to you.”

What grandpa said is right.

It would be foolish to simply emotionally discredit him.

“ Present a vision that Debian does not present, and meet many people and think about how you will lead the empire.”

I nod my head at those words.

“Yes! I will.”

***

The morning a few days after the cabinet meeting.

Unlike usual, several reports have been uploaded.

“This is…”

-A summary of the conversation between His Majesty the Emperor and the Duke of Jans.

A summary of the order given to the Ministry of Intelligence was posted not long ago.

-Sureuk.

Turning the page, there is a brief summary of what Theodora will do.

A story about recruiting talent…

“Hmm… Are you trying to make the emperor faction a support force?”

Not bad.

I tried to disband the Emperor faction. Should we try recycling like this instead?

No matter how emperor he is, he cannot run politics in the empire without the support of the nobles.

I was worried that even if I handed over power to Theodora, there would be no political base to support her…

It would not be a bad thing for me if the imperial faction went under Theodora.

Anyway, if the momentum is lost, the war will end and they will not be able to directly rebel against me.

Additionally, if Theodora puts a respirator on the Emperor faction, I will be able to step down and maintain good relations.

Duke Jans… I can’t help but look at you, right?

He smiles wryly at his extraordinary insight.

If only I had more talent…

First of all, naturally, we need to think about how Theodora can absorb the Emperor faction, right?

In this way, my worries about the future become lighter and I start work in a slightly better mood.