Chapter 547
The reason Rizanshtat became a pitiful collection of cities, rather than a proper domain, was simply the absence of a legitimate leader.
With the noble family that once ruled Rizanshtat gone, and no new contenders stepping up to take the Duke’s seat, and to top it all off, the king’s reputation in tatters because of a decisive defeat—what options did they really have? As a result, Rizanshtat turned into a playground for a bunch of wannabes.
“As of now, the security of the Rizanshtat area will be handled by the Imperial Army, and anyone causing disturbances will be punished under the strict imperial law.”
But as the Imperial Army stepped in with clear authority and strength, the chaos that had plagued Rizanshtat for 30 years seemed to evaporate like a bad dream.
From the Imperial Army’s perspective, this was a relief. If Rizanshtat had been operating under a single chain of command, it could have caused some headaches for the Imperial forces. Luckily, Rizanshtat hadn’t been able to unite its factions even until the Army’s arrival. In fact, they quickly bowed their heads, seemingly eager to accept the new regime.
While this might seem like cowardice, it’s quite understandable. At the start of this tumultuous era, the defectors must have burned with ambition to become the rightful rulers of the Duchy.
However, after 30 years of rivalry, those ambitions probably shriveled, leaving them as mere townsfolk wanting to safeguard their little patches of turf and live peacefully in their old age.
“But the management of Rizanshtat will respect local customs based on locals’ advice, so don’t be afraid and focus on your livelihoods.”
This is why the 6th Corps Commander hinted at securing the rights of the defectors through local counsel. Honestly, we just needed to fill the vacant Duke position; there was no need to meddle with anything below that.
If we were to wipe out all the higher-ups, filling those roles again would be a hassle. The last thing we want is for a puppet domain to become a hotbed of resistance instead of the effective territory we need—turning our hard-won control into dust.
‘Who should I put in charge of this mess?’
But ensuring defectors’ rights isn’t all sunshine and rainbows either. The new Duke of Rizanshtat will have to deal with a rabble of crazy folks who’ve been fighting like dogs for 30 years. Odds are, he’ll end up functioning more as a group project leader than a Duke.
As those thoughts crossed my mind, a nagging guilt crawled into my brain. When I chose a Margrave up north, it was a one-sided favor, and there was no need to apologize. Giving someone the Duke title here, though? It felt more like I was pushing them into hell rather than granting a favor.
‘They could even quit in the face of such pressure.’
Plus, we’ve got to brace ourselves for the worst-case scenarios—what if the Duke I pick can’t handle the stress and bolts for the door?
Whether that retreat happens in the mundane sense or in the metaphorical sense, it’s a probability we have to acknowledge.
‘…Looks like there’s only one option.’
Raking my fingers roughly through my hair, I sighed.
I needed someone cooperative with the Empire, someone who could be forced into the Duke role, someone with the ability to bring order to chaotic Rizanshtat, and most importantly, someone who wouldn’t suddenly flee the scene.
‘Dorgos.’
Dorgos, the Margrave who’s currently serving diligently with the expeditionary forces. Right now, they seem like the perfect candidate.
Considering their contributions in opening borders for the Empire and their experience on this campaign, bestowing them a Duke’s seal is more than justified. Plus, I’ve seen Dorgos within their Margraviate receive love from the locals, so there’s no need for extra vetting.
“If I can establish a royal family to lead the kingdom as a noble, there can’t be a bigger honor. Even if I’ve enjoyed everything, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say it’s mine to pass onto my son once the mission concludes.”
Just a few days ago, Dorgos was bubbling with the idea of passing down their title.
‘Something I can’t do.’
Slightly infuriating…no, I couldn’t help but appreciate their pure lack of greed.
“Ready to step down from Margrave? Plenty of time to be Duke afterward. With their son this close to the Empire’s border, they wouldn’t run away.”
So it had to be Dorgos. Even though I hadn’t met every noble since we still hadn’t set foot in Leon’s capital, if I thought about my father’s decree regarding the “slackers—kill ‘em all,” it’s hard to believe anyone more suitable than Dorgos would pop up.
‘Better set up a meeting soon.’
Of course, I wasn’t thinking about unilaterally handing over the Duke position without the person’s consent.
It’s far more civilized to reach a mutual agreement that satisfies both parties through proper discussion.
As we crossed the Gibroya River and approached Leon’s capital,
Technically, according to the treaty reached with Count Nerkaff at the Academy, the Empire shouldn’t need to cross the Gibroya River. North side Gonz and south side the Empire—each had their responsibilities.
Still, it would be strange for our expeditionary forces, claiming to establish a new royal family, to not even step foot in the capital of that very nation, right? Thus, an exception was made for the capital to be treated as a joint management zone until both parties pull their troops out.
“Welcome! I am Maynard Kluss of Iskertal, commander of the Leon Expeditionary Forces of the Armein Kingdom!”
As we entered the capital, a hulking man greeted us with a broad smile.
“Thank you for the grand welcome. I am Josef Leonard, commander of the Leon Expeditionary Forces of the Krasius Empire.”
The 6th Corps Commander initially stiffened at Iskertal’s introduction but quickly regained his composure and returned the friendly gesture.
‘Looks like I’m a step behind.’
Although the 6th Corps Commander initially wanted to act quickly, the reality was that Leon’s capital was situated dangerously to the north. It was only natural for Armein to enter first unless they suddenly developed the ability to crawl.
Regardless, the 6th Corps Commander was keen to rush because he knew there’s a significant rank gap between him, a Baron, and Iskertal, a Marquess. If the two commanders met, the sheer difference in status might leave him feeling pinned down, so he wanted to get a leg up by being the first to stake a claim in the capital.
And judging by the mood, it seems like Armein just made it in too. So by a hair’s breadth, the 6th Corps Commander narrowly missed out on being ahead in the game, which must be galling for him.
“Expedition Inspector, Kal Krasius of Tailglehen reporting.”
But that was just when the 6th Corps Commander was going to face Iskertal alone. Thankfully, someone else was here to deal with Iskertal.
“Oh.”
It seemed like Iskertal had been waiting for me, as he expressed mild surprise at my introduction and reached out for a handshake.
“I never expected to meet the continent’s best sword in a place like Leon. I’m quite taken aback.”
“I too did not foresee that a Marquess who once commanded an entire army would be here,” I replied.
We exchanged the usual compliments, but neither of us was smiling.
Iskertal’s previous statement translated to, “Isn’t it unfair for someone of such stature to come this far into the outskirts of the Empire?” While I responded with, “It’s perfectly fine for an ex-commander like you to bully a Baron, though, right?”
“Haha, well, I didn’t know, but what can one do? A soldier serves at the King’s command!”
After a brief silence, Iskertal chuckled again and shook his head.
His presence here was solely due to orders, and
“I think perhaps even the best sword can understand…”
He was suggesting we’re both in the same boat.
“Whether we’re officials or soldiers, we’re all just pawns in this game.”
“Ah, that’s a rather unfortunate situation.”
My response appeared satisfying to Iskertal, as he loosened his grip on my handshake.
Okay, this little back-and-forth was enough. It wasn’t like we were formally enemies, so no need to scratch up a serious fight.
“For now, let’s not just stand around; let’s head to the royal castle. Given the sorrow surrounding the Crown Prince’s death, we ought to offer some condolences to the grieving.”
“Certainly. As tributes, it’s the least we can do.”
“As tributes, you say?”
At that comment, Iskertal’s eyes widened in surprise, clearly taken aback by the implication that our military was turning into a tribute mission.
“Indeed! We have come to pay our respects!”
Apparently, my comment struck a chord, as he began to chuckle heartily once more.
…But I felt a little odd. When a guy similar in size and age to the Executive Minister laughs like that, it’s like getting mocked by a minister.
These crafty Armein folks. Could this have been intentional?
The top brass of the expeditionary force headed toward the royal court, passing the various ministers, royal chamberlains, and guards of Leon, all of whom seemed intent on avoiding our gaze or disregarding us entirely. After all, their loyalty couldn’t lie with a figure that no longer existed in any meaningful capacity.
Now, of course, the King was still alive. Though the whole continent was buzzing about the demise of the Astoria royal family, the one who had died was the Crown Prince, not the King.
But what does that matter? Ever since that last defeat, the old man had been half-crazed, lingering in a position he could hardly rule from, for 30 years no less. He couldn’t even manage to stop foreign armies from crossing borders, and here we were, right in the capital.
“Ah, esteemed guests have arrived.”
Perhaps that’s why, even though we were in the presence of a foreign king who spoke first, I felt no excitement. To me, he resembled a mannequin devoid of value or will.
“As condolences for the tragedies of Leon and Astoria, we’ve come to pay our respects. I hope we haven’t encroached upon your time?”
It seemed this sentiment was mutual, as the 6th Corps Commander had no qualms in addressing the king informally.
“My clock hasn’t ticked in a long time. Don’t give it a second thought.”
“Glad to hear that.”
Yet, the old, weak king wouldn’t even think to point out the rudeness in that comment.
“So, feel free to stay or leave whenever you like. No need to sacrifice the greater purpose to cater to this soon-to-die old man.”
“Thank you for your consideration, Your Majesty.”
He turned his gaze away from the intentions of his own nation, merely accepting our intrusion as though he was guiding an incoming royal family to claim his throne.
Wait, could he even call Leon his nation any longer? A king without rights, duties, or desires—could a person like that even stake a claim as a national leader?
‘What a king that is.’
Spending time around the Emperor and the other leaders here made everything feel a bit unfamiliar. I had always thought that a ruler in this world would possess talents and capabilities far beyond those of mere mortals.
With those complicated feelings toward the King of Leon, I quickly shifted my focus.
He wasn’t someone I wanted to engage in a meaningful conversation with. Any dealings with that old chap should probably be left to the 6th Corps Commander.
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