I Became the Master of the Empress

10 – Episode 10

-Knock, knock!

At the sound of a knocking door, Agrippa and I turn our heads.

“Someone?”

I hear the voice of the guard at my words.

[Commander Charles Euijang has arrived.]

Upon hearing those words, Agrippa and I exchange glances.

“Tell him to come in.”

Before I finish my sentence, abruptly…

-Kkiik! Thud!

Charles Euijang enters, forcefully closing the door behind him.

With a face flushed with anger, he strides in, berating me with a raised hand.

“Duke! Even if you’re wicked, there should be some limits!”

Watching the loudly protesting Charles Euijang, I smile and respond.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“hehehe… Are you pretending not to know what you’ve done?”

In response to my nonchalant words, Charles Euijang snorts and pulls out a paper from his bosom.

“A verdict from the Supreme Court. Is this heinous trial not your doing, Duke?”

Shouldering indifference, I reply, “I merely requested an investigation of the Supreme Court’s unjust trial.”

Charles Euijang shakes his head in disbelief at my words.

“Lies! Don’t lie! Duke! Haven’t you threatened and pressured the Supreme Court, forcing such a heinous trial?”

-Chuckle.

“Do you have evidence? And is the Supreme Court a group that moves just because I’m being threatened?”

The Supreme Court, a high institution responsible for one of the pillars of the empire.

Even if pressured by the Emperor or the Council, it is a national institution that ranks third in the empire’s law.

If the empire is functioning properly, they cannot make a decision just because I’m being threatened.

“Hah! You’re shameless! Evidence?! You mentioned evidence? It’s been less than a week since the request for an illegal trial, and you’re talking about evidence?”

I shrug my shoulders in response to his words.

“I didn’t expect the verdict to come out this quickly either, but I can only assume that the Supreme Court made a wise judgment. If that’s the case, shouldn’t you be heading to the Supreme Court instead of coming here?”

In response to my words, he angrily tears up the Supreme Court’s verdict.

“Tsk! Rip!”

“I, as the Chairman of the Imperial Council, do not acknowledge this hasty verdict! And! The Grand Duke will regret this!”

With those words, Chairman Charles leaves.

Seeing his departure, Agrippa and I…

“Sigh!”

“hahahahaha!”

We start to laugh.

“Truly… an old man who doesn’t understand reality.”

Agrippa laughs, wiping a tear from the corner of his eye.

“Yeah, that’s for sure.”

Romano currently manages the city under my military control.

Moreover, 30% of the Imperial Council belongs to our faction.

If this negotiation goes well, even the Imperial faction’s members will support us.

Then, we will secure 70% of the council in an instant…

“The… Well, do as you please for now. And…”

I pause for a moment, looking at Agrifa.

“Tell them to listen to Representative Alexander.”

It’s time to slowly begin negotiations with the Imperial faction.

***

After that, I discuss war plans and preparations for negotiations with Agrifa.

“If a war breaks out…”

I continue, pointing to the map.

“There’s a high possibility the command center will be placed here. It’s a high ground, so our army will be visible.”

At those words, I nod.

This place is difficult to command in real-time, like modern war games.

“In that case, we’ll place a supply warehouse here.”

Then, pointing to the adjacent forest, she says,

“Then, deploy knights here and launch a surprise attack to inflict damage… It would be best to time it right and have them return on ships.”

Curious about Agrifa’s appearance, I ask.

“But aren’t you nervous?”

Agrifa, who seemed relaxed at my words, sighs and speaks.

“Sigh… I’m a little nervous.”

I nod in response to that.

“Me too…”

Right now, rather than engaging in the ongoing war, we need to somehow buy time to seize the empire. And we need time to regroup the nobles of the Banhwangje faction who left in astonishment at Valoran’s actions. For now, we have no choice but to move defensively… But I believe that if we can buy time, we can certainly defeat the Imperial faction. That’s why we need to buy time, even if it means giving up the Imperial territory. Even if it means incurring Theodora’s resentment. If that fails… only war will remain.

At that moment.

-Knock, knock!

“Who could it be?”

[A visit from Congressman Alexander.]

At that moment, Agrifa and I hastily put away the map and war plans into my desk drawer. Then, I clear my throat.

“Tell him to come in.”

As I say that, the door opens and Congressman Alexander enters.

“Did His Highness come looking for me?”

I say to Congressman Alexander, who appears relaxed.

“hahahaha, that’s correct. I heard reports that the Imperial Faction’s army is advancing towards Roman.”

Congressman Alexander responds with a smile to my words.

“Is something happening? I understand you’ve come here only to correct justice in your homeland, with no other intentions.”

Congressman Alexander, representing the Kingdom of Nicaea, has been dispatched. And considering that King Johannes of Nicaea is the leader of the Imperial Faction, they would be in contact even in such a situation.

“Is that so? In that case, it’s fortunate. How is King Johannes doing?”

I ask, and Congressman Alexander responds with a troubled expression.

“I don’t know that either.”

I remark, “Since time is short, let’s get to the point.”

In this aristocratic world, bringing up the main topic immediately may be considered uncouth, but time is of the essence now. I need to resolve negotiations without shedding as much blood as possible so that I can lead the political situation more advantageously in the future.

“I want King Johannes and reinforcement.”

Congressman Alexander makes a puzzled expression at my words.

“Your Highness… that’s truly unexpected.”

“What do you mean?”

In response to my words, Congressman Alexander, who seems even more puzzled, says, “Well… isn’t Your Highness a member of the renowned Lyon family known for its roughness?”

The Ryan Family…

There’s a strong belief that our family has always been cowardly and prone to retreat or negotiation.

In reality, many ancestors fought bravely without fearing death, bringing honor to our family.

Perhaps… that’s why the head of such a family is requesting reinforcement like this.

It’s hard to believe this situation.

“Yes, but isn’t it better for both sides to gain rather than incur losses unnecessarily?”

My words elicit a chilling smile. And…

“hahahaha… I heard the Duke has a good advisor. To think that the impatient head of the Ryan Family is dragged into the negotiation room.”

Then, looking at Agrippa, he says,

“I will remember you.”

He responds with a skeptical expression.

“But as the Duke knows, his family killed the Emperor. Moreover, they are trying to force a marriage with the Crown Princess, which is clearly crossing the line. Considering that they even violated imperial law and oppressed the Supreme Court…”

He pauses for a moment, then looks at me sharply and continues,

“In my opinion, negotiations won’t be easy.”

The Imperial Faction is a group that claims to serve the Emperor.

But… are they really doing it for the Emperor?

Or is it for the benefits the Emperor provides?

I naturally think it’s for the benefits.

That’s why I believe their thoughts will change depending on what I can offer.

“Is that so?”

Looking at Alexander smiling at my words, I also smile and say, “If that’s the case, I understand. Let’s go all the way.”

Alexander seems amused by my words and says, “But… I’m personally curious about what it means for us to mutually benefit.”

Seeing Alexander, who seems to be speaking as if he’s only curious and not related to the homeland, I smile inwardly.

I should act carefully.

“The Emperor intended to hand over the Epirus Kingdom owned by the Emperor to the Emperor’s faction, and also specially grant war permission to the Nicaea Kingdom.”

At my words, his eyebrows twitch slightly.

“Your Highness… How can you grant the Emperor’s personal territory?”

I calmly respond to Alexander’s words, whether he’s pretending not to know or trying to see my intentions.

“If I marry the Crown Princess, she will become the Empress, and in this era, women cannot refuse men’s words, isn’t that the destiny of this era?”

With this statement, my intentions should have been clearly conveyed.

If I marry Theodora, it’s a threat to make her an empress puppet and give you land.

Seemingly interested in my words, Alexander continues, “hahahaha… In that case, Your Highness, are you okay with your descendants receiving scorn for generations to come?”

Descendants receiving scorn?

History is written by the victors.

The ultimate victor wins and gains the honor of the losers.

That’s why.

I can endure any current criticism and ridicule.

Blocking the Demon King’s advent… If it can bring peace to this place… I’ll swallow any insult.

“The lineage… for nobles like us, lineage is the most important.”

It might sound like a cliché response, but Alexander thought it conveyed enough meaning.

“Lineage… well…”

Alexander, deep in thought, cautiously opens his mouth.

“A lineage is eternal. Thank you for the interesting proposal. I will convey it to Lord Ioannes.”

As Alexander rises from his seat, I smile and speak.

“I trust Lord Ioannes’s wise judgment. If…”

I pause for a moment after saying that. And then, in a chillingly composed voice, I continue.

“If there is no negotiation, we will show why our lineage is called ‘Lion,’ and why our Grand Duchy’s army is the best in the Empire.”

He responds to my words with a relaxed expression.

“Be careful with that. Well, then, I will take my leave.”

Alexander leaves like that.

“Will this be enough?”

What lies ahead… only the gods know.

***

Alexander heads to his office.

A building in the massive circular dome.

Arriving at the personal office of a member of the Imperial Council, where laws of the Empire are made, he starts a fire in the fireplace.

“Unexpected.”

The grand Lion family, who never thought about the word “negotiation,” are a fearless breed.

“Come to think of it…”

Devian Lion, currently in the grand hall, was a man known as the disgrace of the Lion family. Of course, only Valoran called him that.

The recent encounters with the grand hall were quite different from those with Valoran and his grandfather. They exuded a charisma that overwhelmed their surroundings.

In contrast, Devian was not as strong a knight as they were, nor did he possess something as strong as they did.

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“A mere ornament…?”

With that thought in mind, Alexander pours tea into a cup and sits at the desk.

– Scribble –

Alexander scribbles on the paper with a fountain pen. He starts writing in a neat and sophisticated handwriting.

[The grand hall proposed reinforcement. They offered to grant war authorization to our kingdom, surpassing the Ephirus Kingdom, and suggested a way to build trust.]

While writing this, Alexander mutters to himself in contemplation.

“Hmm… I feel like there’s more to unravel…”

With that thought, he adds a little more to the note.

[The grand hall still seems inexperienced in politics and diplomacy, so there might be more advantages to gain. Need to verify if negotiations can commence.]

He puts the note into an envelope and seals it with Alexander’s seal.

“hehehe… If this goes well… I might become the chief diplomat.”

Alexander is thrilled at the thought of becoming the diplomatic envoy to the Kingdom of Nikea.