Chapter 203
In the end, it had come to this.
“Crown Prince.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
I quickly bowed my head in response to the Emperor’s summons. I could guess why I was called, and there was no way around it. This was a situation where I needed to prostrate myself to the fullest.
“It’s difficult to catch a glimpse of the Crown Prince. You only come after I call for you.”
“My sincerest apologies, Your Majesty.”
His voice was low, but the pressure it exerted made me bow even lower.
The Emperor’s earlier statement was not a warm wish for more frequent visits—no, it was a reprimand for my laziness in showing up.
Seriously? I should have seen this coming.
I acknowledged that I had reacted too leisurely to the recent developments. I thought it would take at least two or three years for a new familial faction centered around the Executive Manager to emerge.
Of course, I didn’t entertain any mad thoughts of just sitting back for two or three years to see what happened. At the very least, I aimed to devise a counterplan and report to the Emperor this week.
But then, the Mage Duchess unexpectedly flipped the script.
Who would’ve thought she’d spread her feelings everywhere like confetti?
Just thinking about the mages of the Magic Tower gossiping everywhere almost made me chuckle.
The Mage Duchess had first revealed her one-sided love at the Crown Princess’s birthday party. I figured she wanted the attendees to spread murmurs amongst themselves, but who would’ve guessed she would take matters into her own hands?
This wasn’t planned; it was just her going off the rails!
I was too quick to judge. I thought the Mage Duchess would act with some thoughtfulness, but here we were.
This felt more like a frantic act of someone blinded by love. If this was actually part of some grand scheme, I would renounce my claim to the throne and go live in the wilderness—there’s no way I could handle such intricacies!
Anyway, the Mage Duchess’s impetuous act had ignited a massive uproar in the empire. Although the formation of a new familial faction was still a long way off, her brashness was already making people in the social circles consider this new potential power.
Is it over?
At this point, it was effectively a done deal. If everyone starts to believe it’s a constant, it will become one, right?
Did I think I had two or three years left? Nonsense! This all ended before two days had passed, and before I could even prepare!
“While it is not an exaggeration to say it is a significant event for the Empire, Crown Prince, prepare adequately for this celebration.”
“I will keep that in mind, Your Majesty.”
The unprepared Crown Prince had no choice but to comply with the Emperor’s words. After all, it was better than facing the Emperor’s wrath!
Fortunately, the Emperor only showed mild displeasure and didn’t berate me too harshly. All he left me with were some customary words to pay attention to the arising changes from this incident.
After that comment, a thick silence settled around us, but I dared not be the first to leave. Moving without the Emperor’s permission would be sacrilegious!
“Krasius is a loyal subject.”
“Indeed, Your Majesty.”
After a brief pause, the Emperor spoke again.
“Ever since the Great Emperor Amanca received his mandate, Krasius has always stood with the imperial family.”
I just nodded at the Emperor’s words. This was precisely why he could maintain a somewhat calm attitude regarding the situation.
Because the affection of the Mage Duchess was aimed at Krasius, a member of an imperial noble house.
At least there’s that.
The Emperor, despite his cautious nature—let’s be honest, he could be quite paranoid—needed less suspicion toward the imperial noble families.
Was it due to his trust in loyal subjects? Three centuries of reliability? No, it had nothing to do with warm-hearted reasons. The imperial family and the noble families were now tied by inseparable bonds.
When the existence of imperial nobility first emerged, right when the Great Emperor Amanca was establishing the empire, the political scene was complicated and bizarre.
A patchwork nation.
That’s how I’d describe it. It wasn’t a complete whole but a somewhat forced union of differing powers.
Many who were formally subjects of the Emperor operated in more of an alliance capacity, just like today’s dukes and counts.
Of course, it’s true that the Great Emperor’s remarkable achievement of uniting these scattered entities and passing down a legacy is indeed commendable.
Anyway, in that patchwork, the imperial noble families directly served the Emperor, protecting the royal lineage and keeping their allies in check. This three-century political partnership essentially merged the imperial family and the noble families into one entity.
“…If Valenti and Catoban unite with Krasius, then they too are aligned with the imperial family.”
That’s why the Emperor could make such statements. The noble families, at the very least, wouldn’t dare to oppose the imperial family!
Perhaps he even felt secretly relieved. If they didn’t plan to live their whole lives as bachelors, the noble families would end up forging ties with other families anyway. If alliances are to be made, surely it would be better with the imperial nobles than outsiders.
“That is a profound observation, Your Majesty.”
In fact, blocking the marriage cards of other noble houses from entering the imperial noble families would only serve us well in this scenario.
Yes, that’s how I decided to interpret it.
Both the Emperor and I.
Thanks, Executive Manager!
Reflecting on this, the Executive Manager’s presence allowed us to thwart the maneuvers of the two dukedoms.
If that’s not loyalty, then what is? Had it not been for the imperial family, drastic measures might have fazed us.
*
I laid back down after the Crown Prince stepped out. Now, even standing for a short time had become utterly exhausting.
But this situation definitely warranted a summons for the Crown Prince followed by an admonishment. Thankfully, with the Krasius family involved, the severity of the situation was somewhat lessened; still, how could one leave the marriage alliances of nobility unattended?
How immature.
That thought sprang reflexively to mind, but I also understood that it was unavoidable.
The Crown Prince had only been officially appointed two years ago. Before his crowning, he was practically just a named prince.
He was overwhelmingly inexperienced—not to mention that this lack of experience was my doing! So who could I really blame?
At least he’s got talent!
Luckily, his talent and efforts compensated for this lack of experience, and that gap should resolve with time. He wasn’t quite perfect as a successor, but he was acceptable.
…To be fair, compared to Dorgos, he’d be a shining star, right?
It reflects poorly on me!
But that was hardly something to point fingers at anyone else for. This was merely the inadequacies of someone carrying the grand title of Emperor.
I wanted my successor to be different from me. I hoped for a solid maternal family supporting the imperial authority, and that was why I chose the second prince, Dorgos.
But aside from being my legitimate heir, Dorgos utterly lacked the virtues of a ruler. The Asilon family, who should’ve supported the imperial authority, took a place against it and rattled the stability of the empire instead.
When my patience finally reached its limit, they crossed line after line until their actions brought about disaster.
I suspected this would ultimately lead to the same conclusion.
Regret washed over me. I lamented not making a quick decision.
Perhaps I should’ve given up on the legitimate heir and swiftly eliminated Dorgos. Or perhaps I should’ve sacrificed the Crown Prince to solidify Dorgos’s succession.
Neither option was too complex. Based on Dorgos’s qualities, inevitably, I’d have chosen the first route.
I took a path that could’ve been simple but made it unnecessarily complicated, shedding blood that didn’t need to be shed and wasting time that didn’t need to be wasted.
Thus, the Crown Prince mustn’t…
The Crown Prince, shaped by the sacrifices of the royal family, cannot fall for nothing.
It’s my responsibility to act when his vassals hesitate to voice their concerns.
He must be molded into a flawless monarch.
This is my mission for the noble imperial family and the great empire; to fulfill my destiny initiated by the Great Emperor Amanca.
The foundation mustn’t buckle.
And thankfully, it seems the Great Emperor is smiling upon us—there’s a talented young individual supporting the Crown Prince!
Had the Executive Manager been older, the Crown Prince might have found it difficult to manage him. But the Executive Manager is younger, making him easier for the Crown Prince to handle. A talent who could dedicate decades to the empire!
Furthermore, he’s even marrying into a ducal family!
Such fortune! If only I can secure the Executive Manager properly, we could maneuver both noble houses together.
What luck that all this is happening while I’m still alive, with the Executive Manager being young!
The era of the Gold Duke was terrifying!
Bringing back those memories from decades past makes my head throb.
In the blink of an eye, his wives multiplied as if someone hit the ‘double’ button! By the time I regained my bearings, the Gold Duke had already taken twelve wives, translating to twelve new families entangled with him.
Thinking back to the chaos of that time still makes me dizzy. The Gold Duke’s power expanding rapidly to become the top contender…oh, dear!
Two is manageable.
Though it’s regrettable that they belong to dukedoms, it’s just two compared to twelve!
It’s something to keep an eye on, but certainly not something to lose sleep over!
*
I summoned Lady Louise and Lady Irina to my office. While I’m usually hesitant to direct nobility around, the importance of the situation left me no choice.
“…And so, that happened.”
As I recounted the events from the banquet, the two young ladies seemed at a loss for words, only exchanging glances.
I understood their silence. Just witnessing the Mage Duchess trying to snatch Carl away had terrified me—how must they feel hearing all of this? No doubt their bewilderment outweighs any anger they might have.
But this conversation was vital. We are allies, after all. Allies standing together next to Carl, prepared for anything.
If the Mage Duchess decided to take Carl all to herself, we’d just be standing there, helplessly stamping our feet and whining.
“Uh, um, Senior… about the Mage Duchess… um…”
Lady Louise finally managed to speak, although she still stuttered, caught in her daze.
A sight not fitting for a lady, but I understood how she felt. Unlike me, who was part of a ducal house, Louise belonged to a barony. The pressure must be overwhelming!
Even Lady Irina, who hailed from the higher ranks of nobility, seemed slightly intimidated by the title of ‘Duke.’
“That’s right. She’s one of only five dukes in the empire!”
These words brought tears to Louise’s eyes.
“And I’m also from one of those five ducal houses.”
With that, Irina’s eyes widened in surprise as I spoke with surety.
“Love knows no rank. Even if it did, I belong to a ducal family, just like the Mage Duchess. I am not inferior to her in any way.”
Of course, I was inferior! How could a mere member of a ducal family compare to a duke?
But still, I spoke with conviction and pretended to be unfazed.
This isn’t just about me anymore.
If I falter, then both of them would surely drift aimlessly into despair.
They respected me and sought my approval, recognizing me as the first choice and being fine with whatever came next.
But surrendering this first position to someone else—especially to a potential monopolizer of Carl—simply wouldn’t do!
That would be betrayal, both to Lady Louise and Lady Irina.
And also to my love and convictions.
I absolutely won’t let Carl be taken away!
The sword belongs to me! No matter the duke opposing me, I won’t step back!
“So don’t worry. We’ll simply march forward together.”
I reached out and grabbed the hands of Louise and Irina firmly.
“But since we have an unexpected competitor, we should probably act swiftly!”
At that, both young ladies nodded like they were under a spell.
I wore a slight smile at their responses. The feelings they have for Carl were undoubtedly there, and the sudden emergence of a powerful rival would surely draw them closer to him now.
Three on board now!
Not two but three! Even if one of us is holding on to his hand, there’s still one remaining!
Even if she’s a Duke, could she really dare to approach Carl when the three of us are surrounding him?
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