Chapter 114

After the meeting was over and everyone had left, I unfolded the guidebook for establishing an absolute monarchy in the Croilet style, which could be said to be a sequel to the Saemaul movement, suitable even for beginners.

I then underlined the parts I liked with a quill pen.

“[If you want to prevent the nobility from rebelling, bestow upon them more luxury and honor. Then they will only look to surpass other nobles of the same rank and forget about rebellion against their sovereign.]”

Though it was a statement based on the knowledge I had accumulated so far, it was truly a quote that pierces through the ages.

In fact, after Louis XIV secured immense power, he built the Palace of Versailles and emphasized hierarchy and etiquette to everyone.

As a result, they were suppressed by the king but did not express dissatisfaction.

They only worked hard to receive higher treatment than numerous nobles of the same rank, while the rest of the barons, counts, and dukes continued their efforts in the same manner.

There were various factors, but the great king Louis XIV was able to control countless nobles through luxury and honor.

Of course, I don’t intend to be like that fellow, cracking sun god jokes in front of all the nobility or exposing every private moment like mealtime…

But I agree that I should completely eliminate any sense of competition against me from the nobles.

And what if, through the Saemaul movement, I raise everyone’s standard of living?

The level of luxury the nobility pursues to separate themselves from commoners would increase, and that competition would become intense… In that case, they wouldn’t even think about competing against me.

By then, no matter how much I give to them, our nobility would be too busy competing among themselves.

However, the problem is that in exchange, I too… have to engage in excessively lavish behavior to an overwhelming degree… but I have to accept that.

Lost in thought, as I read the report in the empty conference room, I heard Captain Frost’s voice from outside the door.

“Count Your Excellency, the Baron Your Excellency has requested that you make an appearance at the ball after the meeting. What shall we do?”

Usually, I would have attended the banquet, but I wasn’t in the mood for that right now.

I had just finished a week-long break with Ela and had been cutting back on sleep to prepare this plan.

“Tell them I’ve been working hard on the plans over the last few days with little sleep, so I won’t be able to make it. And let the butler know to deliver the sword I had prepared for them.”

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

**

After changing clothes and entering the office, I was dealing with countless documents when I heard a knock on the door, followed by the voice of the old butler.

“Your Excellency, a person from the Imperial Academy has arrived. Shall I let them in?”

Due to the Succession War, the support funds sent by the imperial family and the great nobles had likely been cut off, and it seemed we had exhausted our reserves. I had requested that they send some professors and students in exchange for financial support.

Seeing that an answer had already arrived, it appears that they are also facing difficulties due to financial constraints.

“Let them in.”

With those words, the door opened, and a man dressed in a black coat with golden embroidery entered and bowed in greeting.

“I am Hernando von Draunes, the dean of the Imperial Academy. I have come to respond to your proposition.”

“Thank you for coming, Dean. Please take a seat.”

“It is an honor.”

The dean sat in the chair I offered, elegantly drank tea, and then spoke.

“The tea is truly delightful.”

I replied in a slightly sarcastic tone, layered with the grievances of having waited for him to arrive.

“It is fortunate that it meets the taste of the dean of the Academy of Elysium. As a lord far removed from that region, I’m not very familiar with trends from there.”

“Good tea does not follow trends. Moreover, since the passing of His Majesty, Elysium has lost the grandeur it once had.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, after His Majesty passed away, and a few months later, shortly after you dealt with the disgraceful Count Schwabin, the struggles among the great nobles intensified. Ultimately, there were several large-scale clashes, but it seems that no noble houses were destroyed as their strengths were nearly equal. However, aside from the imperial palace, all buildings in the capital have suffered from the war.”

I had already known about this from reports from my subordinate merchants, but judging by how he spoke, the damage suffered could be greater than the intelligence I had obtained.

I should commission an investigation from the information guild, maybe giving around 200 gold coins.

I hid my emotions and pretended to be flustered as I replied.

“No, that beautiful Great Cathedral burned and numerous nobles are in internal strife… His Majesty, resting in heaven, would surely be distressed to hear this.”

Thus, I engaged in about 30 minutes of meaningless conversation, drinking tea to gauge the intentions of the dean before me.

During that time, the dean relayed the shocking recent events in the empire, and I responded appropriately, as if keeping rhythm in a rhythm game.

The dean, being well-educated, did not reveal any gaps until the very end, and ultimately, I decided to speak first.

After all, now that he was here, the hierarchical relationship between us was already clear, so there was no need to probe for weaknesses.

Moreover, someone of his standing wouldn’t travel all this way without wanting something.

To test this, I handed him a letter sent to the chancellor of the academia in Romania and Franche.

Someone with his personality would undoubtedly be more honest when facing a situation where his interests might be threatened.

“Then I will read this, Your Excellency.”

“Take your time. I’m sure you will find it content you like.”

While the dean read the letter before me, I waited by eating the cake and tea prepared by the maid.

During that time, the dean’s face gradually turned red as he read, finally gripping the letter tightly as if he might tear it apart.

He returned it to me crumpled and wrinkled.

“Well, what do you think after reading it?”

Suppressing his anger at my teasing words, the dean replied.

“Your Excellency, you have already requested professors and students from the highest-level Academy of Elysium in Eurobia, so why have you contacted others as well?”

In his words, I detected a mix of complex emotions.

Anger at being blatantly disregarded, anxiety stemming from the fear of losing the lifeline offered to them…

In the past, he would have been rejected if he had displayed such an attitude, but now he faced a situation where that wasn’t possible, leading to despair at the thought of returning and being disregarded by the other professors.

His initial calmness and depth from when I first saw him were no longer present.

Evidently desperate, this reaction was expected, but true experts display calm reactions in such situations.

Perhaps because he was someone who only studied, his mind didn’t work in this manner, and I had won.

To dig deeper into the dean’s true feelings, I decided to compliment the academy he belonged to this time.

“As you know, I have only just become the lord of Count Schwabin’s territory for two years, and it is far too vast. Thus, we need more professors, so I require not only professors from first-rate schools but also those from other schools. And if you believe I am not suited for their level, I may have to bring in professors from other universities urgently.”

Having said something that would satisfy his vanity, his face quickly brightened.

“As Your Excellency mentioned, while the other academy’s professors and students may be slightly lower than us, they are certainly not lacking in capability.”

“As I said, we truly need many students. Please wait a moment.”

I unfolded a report on my desk that indicated the anticipated number of administrative personnel needed.

“According to current standards, we need to immediately deploy 400 academy graduates, and we require at least 20 with a doctorate or higher. This is the minimum necessary personnel, and to operate administratively normally, we would need 1.5 times this number.”

“1… 1.5 times… So, 600 graduates and 30 with a doctorate…”

“Doesn’t this nearly match the number of nobles in most count territories? However, our territory is vast and populated, so this is what we need. Furthermore, status elevation based on merit is legally guaranteed in our territory. Our Walt Count is of serf origin, who became a knight by winning a tournament, and there are also illegitimate sons with territories and serfs who achieved noble status through military service.”

Upon hearing this, the dean’s eyes widened.

“Does this mean that the students of our academy…?”

“Rather than saying it a hundred times, it’s quicker to show them directly.”

After saying this, I pulled out a bell and rang it.

“Bring in Chris Veladora.”

Moments later, the pre-arranged Chris appeared in a dress and greeted the dean.

“I am Inspector Chris Veladora. It is an honor to meet the esteemed dean of the Imperial Academy.”

“Nice to meet you, Miss Veladora.”

“Chris, you may return now. I apologize for summoning you.”

“It’s no trouble. Then, I shall take my leave.”

After saying this, Chris elegantly bowed and exited.

Despite the significant discrimination faced by women in this era, Chris had risen to the position of a department head in a company akin to Croilet in Korea. Seeing this, the dean seemed to dream of a hopeful future where his students could also reach such heights, his eyes sparkling with ambition.

“Truly, if they have the ability, will you give us the opportunity?”

He looked like a three-year-old child with candy in front of him, blinded by desire.

I then asked the man in his late forties, consumed by ambition.

“Are you perhaps interested in the chancellor position?”