Chapter 155

As the words about allowing a private meeting came to an end, all the nobles except for me left the audience room at the Emperor’s command.

In the meantime, Duke Brussels spoke to the Emperor, saying that Croilet should not have a private meeting…

“No matter how much of a regent you are, you cannot interfere with the lawful request of SIEL von Croilet, a noble of the same Empire.”

With these words, the Emperor stood up and personally escorted him to the door of the audience room.

And now, the Emperor looked down at me from the platform where the throne was placed and spoke.

“Very well, SIEL von Croilet. I have granted your request for a private meeting, so if you have something to say, make it quick. I must discuss military operations with Field Marshal Adelheit and my regent after this private meeting.”

With this statement, the Emperor declared that he did not trust me and fully relied on Field Marshal Adelheit and Regnant Duke Brussels, indicating that he would not listen to what I had to say.

If he had any intention of hearing me out, he would have made excuses like, “It’s night now, so I should be getting to bed soon.”

A person like that has already closed their ears to reasoning; even if I were to kneel and beg for trust from now on, he would not believe me.

“I will follow your command, Your Imperial Majesty.”

“Good, speak.”

“I will not ask Your Majesty to trust me, SIEL von Croilet. However, I ask that you listen to what I am about to say.”

Upon hearing this, the Emperor showed a hint of curiosity and asked.

“Typically, at this time, wouldn’t you say, ‘Your Majesty, please trust me. I truly have only you in mind’? But here you are, saying that there’s no need for me to trust you. What are you really thinking?”

What I truly wanted to say was this:

“That’s because the regent is pushing me and the nobles into war, and Field Marshal Adelheit is stirring things up, so there’s no reason for Your Majesty to trust me. Hahaha.”

However, saying such a thing would undoubtedly result in me being accused of slandering the regent…

“Unlike the other nobles, I joined Your Majesty’s faction late and have not made any direct contributions. In contrast, many nobles have risked their lives to support you since you were the second prince. How could I earn Your Majesty’s trust in such a short time among those esteemed individuals? So, I simply asked for you to listen.”

After hearing my words, the Emperor instructed an attendant beside him.

“It seems the private meeting will take a bit longer. Have those two return first.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

As soon as the Emperor’s command was given, the attendant quickly gathered the nearby aides and exited the audience room.

Now that the Emperor seemed ready to listen, it was time to begin in earnest.

“As the wise Your Majesty knows, in this war, all of us will fight with our fortunes at stake. Especially, Field Marshal Adelheit and Regnant Duke Brussels, whom you trust, will certainly do their utmost. This is an irrefutable fact.”

“Of course. Those two have been loyal supporters of mine since I was young. I can trust them, unlike other nobles…”

“Then let me ask Your Majesty. If Regnant Duke Brussels achieves great merit in this war, what will happen?”

At this question, the Emperor chuckled, looking at me as if I were talking nonsense.

“Haha, of course, I’d have to reward Duke Brussels with at least one territory in Franche. And, I suppose I would grant that young son of his an appropriate position and privileges in the Empire…”

As the Emperor laughed and spoke, he suddenly found himself unable to continue.

To entice the Emperor’s suspicions, I followed up on the words he had started but could not finish.

“The son of a duke granted a position and privileges, and the duke himself, will face relatively little damage regarding the Emperor’s central forces, as their already strong military and regent’s authority will reinforce the noble power. Therefore, Your Majesty…”

“Go on.”

“Then, you will find yourself just one of the average beneficiaries in this war, rather than the biggest benefactor.”

At my words, the Emperor’s expression began to sour.

It was only natural; it would occur to him that even after the elderly Duke Brussels passed away, his son could become a significant power in the Empire, able to suppress the Emperor in some other form.

Moreover, especially at this young age, the tendency for youthful power holders to want to become emperors and enact their desired politics, like the protagonists in Lion King, is much stronger.

Not to mention, this Emperor had successfully ended the civil war using all available resources and power despite his youth…

His desire for independence from the regent would be several times greater than that of other emperors.

He was merely suppressing that desire for independence due to a need for rationality, hoping to endure a few more years.

Even though I had laid bare his situation so candidly, the Emperor still expressed a firm trust in the regent and the Field Marshal he believed in.

“Insulting the regent and the Empire’s dignitaries I trust is intolerable. Other nobles are one thing, but those two have been loyal supporters of mine since my youth… You, the recently elevated Marquis, probably don’t understand this loyalty.”

There is a saying that when personal attacks begin in discussions or debates…

It signifies that the person making the attacks has no other means to counter my message, thus proving their logic is weak.

Conversely, this means the Emperor had already recognized that he lacked the arguments to refute my words.

Thus, I stepped forward toward the platform with the throne, seeking to persuade the Emperor.

“I do not doubt the loyalty of my vassals and retainers.”

“Well, in your territory, even the serfs are well-fed, and the nobles are indulging in largesse beyond their means… It’s only natural.”

“It is an honor. And I will say this as many times as necessary; I do not doubt the loyalty of Your Imperial Majesty and the regent for even a moment. However, if those two gain much territory and power in this war… I warn you that the surrounding nobles may follow the Brussels Dukedom rather than Your Majesty.”

Using that situation, our regent will dominate the nobles and reign as the true power in the Empire.

This is because if they do not, other families seeking the power that the Brussels Dukedom enjoys will make every effort to seize their interests.

As interests are gradually siphoned away, the livelihood of family members, vassals, and retainers belonging to that family will become strained and suffer.

Eventually, there is a possibility that they may be eliminated, starting from the lower-ranked retainers, to the point of reaching the duke himself.

“…”

“There is no need for you to feel discontent toward the regent. It’s as natural as flowers blooming in spring and the heat of summer.”

Upon hearing my words, the Emperor frowned in seriousness and asked.

“Then what should be done?”

Now he seemed a bit more ready to listen…

At times like this, it might be prudent to hold back a little to give a more thoughtful appearance, so I thought it best not to provide an immediate answer.

How far is the Emperor willing to consider my words…

Well, even if he doesn’t believe me at all, if he harbors a slight suspicion about the ‘Regnant Duke Brussels’…

I would have laid the groundwork necessary for minimizing the damage I might suffer in this war.

Therefore, if things don’t seem to go well, simply sowing doubt would be sufficient.

“If Your Majesty does not trust me, what significance is there in offering advice? I merely wished to warn Your Majesty.”

“Just answer. As an Emperor, I need the counsel of someone like you. Besides, you are a master who has led victories repeatedly, even in situations where victory seems impossible, no matter what others say.”

At that, I sighed and replied.

“You should proceed as I mentioned at the military council. Assign Regnant Duke Brussels as the commander of the western military. Then, Your Imperial Majesty, the overall commander of the central forces, should mobilize more troops to fill the gaps.”

“Doing so would indeed clarify my presence… Then, the nobles will certainly recognize me as more than simply the regent, Duke Brussels. As the overall commander of the central forces, I would achieve the greatest merit, thus gaining more territory.”

“That’s not all… Your Majesty. If you directly lead the vanguard… the Brussels Duke and other nobles from different regions will fight with all their might. In that case, wouldn’t all of that credit belong to Your Majesty?”

I am not sure how much the Emperor will accept, but what is certain is that Regnant Duke Brussels…

It seems his intention was to inflict significant losses only on me, SIEL von Croilet, and the other nobles…

If you’ve wounded the body with a knife, you must also be ready to wield your own blade.