Chapter: 653
Right before dinner, Erich dropped by.
I wondered what brought this guy to my place, but I was pleasantly surprised to see him wanting to greet his brother and sister-in-law right after work, instead of heading straight home. Must be seeking some wedding advice since his wedding is just a few months away.
“Hyung, are you free tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow?”
“Uh… I think I need to come to the council.”
But the moment I heard his reason for visiting, my hand jerked.
What a surprise! This dark-haired beast of a brother is dropping a huge bomb on me!
“No way! I don’t wanna be called in either, especially when I’m on leave. If it becomes a precedent for inviting people on vacation to the council, it’ll be a headache for me too.”
Yet, noticing my uneasy expression, Erich frantically waved his hands.
He was right, of course. If I, as the older brother, set a standard by attending the council while on break, it’ll put Erich, my younger brother, in a tough spot. No matter how bizarrely perceptive he might be, he isn’t oblivious to such an obvious future.
“What’s it about? Unless the deputy is dropping dead, calling in the Imperial Count is usually unnecessary.”
So, as we moved to the dining room, we carried on our conversation.
The Imperial Council doesn’t bother the Imperial Count unless the deputy is doing their job right. It’s a courtesy toward the deputy chosen by the Count and a sign of respect for those working to lead the council.
Yet now they’re breaking tradition by calling on me while I’m on leave? It must be some trivial matter. There’s absolutely no way it could be light because breaching traditions in the legislative body takes a huge commitment.
“Well…”
At my question, Erich came to a halt, glancing around as if he was worried loyal servants might hear this.
“The chair introduced a proposal to increase the number of council members.”
“What?”
It started making sense why Erich was unsettled.
“Without the secretaries, aides, or guards, it was just the members discussing it. Thirty of them crammed into the small meeting room—it was madness.”
A proposal to increase council members is noteworthy enough to rock the imperial political scene on its own.
“The chair is Count Kador, right?”
“Yeah, for now.”
I quickly racked my brain at Erich’s answer.
The chair isn’t known for being radical. He’s more of a conservative who values maintaining the status quo and tradition.
But someone like him proposes increasing council members? Breaking a tradition that’s lasted for 300 years since the Empire’s founding?
‘Could it be the Emperor?’
It would make more sense if the chair was acting on the Emperor’s orders. Count Kador may be conservative, but the chair of the Imperial Council must strictly follow the Emperor’s wishes. Whatever his inclinations or values, they’re rendered pointless in the face of imperial commands.
‘No.’
Yet that most probable hypothesis—of the Emperor’s involvement—ironically became the least likely scenario.
The Emperor hasn’t mentioned the Imperial Council or the number of members when we’ve met. One could think it’s courtesy not to bring up work in front of someone on leave, but the Emperor isn’t that considerate. If this was the Emperor’s agenda, he would have already mentioned it to me.
So this matter solely lies with the chair.
“…The idea to increase the number of Counts proposed by the Count himself?”
I muttered in disbelief. The prospect of altering the united force of thirty members that had stood for 300 years—
“Oh, he’s not suggesting we increase the Counts. It’s just expanding the qualifications for members, I think.”
That had my eyes darting to Erich’s abdomen.
This damn brother of mine should’ve led with that!
‘If it’s just about extending the member qualifications…’
Frustration aside, I understood. Increasing member counts is also a big deal, but it’s better than ramping up the Counts. After all, the members are the ones who comprise the legislative body, and it’s been long considered too few with only thirty of them.
Every administration they need to hem in could comfortably exceed thirty, so if they expand by department levels, the number would multiply exponentially.
‘Are they looking to increase members to maintain the council?’
Then it hit me why the conservative chair would take such a bold step as expanding council membership.
The chair, who values tradition, isn’t just focused on the minor tradition of the size of the council members, but on the grand tradition of the council’s very existence itself. If the solidarity of thirty crumbles, it jeopardizes the council’s future.
“Anyway, since they’re letting other people into a council that only had Counts before, they figured having you—my brother, the Imperial Count—attend would be better than just sending the deputy.”
Erich’s words caused me to nod ruefully.
He’s right. No matter how much respect and consideration they give to the deputy, a deputy is still a deputy. It would be absurd for me to snort at their argument, leaving Erich and the other counts in a pickle.
“How long do I need to show up?”
“Just come in the morning. Since they are inviting someone on leave, they’ll adjust to when you arrive.”
Well, that was at least some good news in this bad situation.
Of course, the best option would be not to get summoned at all, but I can’t ignore matters affecting the Imperial Count’s position while being on leave.
It seems this is my first time attending the Imperial Council not as a mere visitor but as a relevant party.
“Welcome, Count Tailglehen. I deeply apologize for summoning you, who should be enjoying marital bliss.”
“Don’t mention it. It’s for the council’s stability and the Empire’s prosperity, after all. As an Imperial Count, I must fulfill my duty.”
I discreetly bowed my head to the chair, who greeted me at the main entrance of the parliament.
To be greeted and led through the doors by the chair of the council… that’s some rare treatment.
*
Twenty-nine current Imperial Counts and one deputy. With one Imperial Count serving as a deputy, thirty-one members gathered in the small meeting room to commence discussions.
“The fact that we’ve managed to endure until now is a miracle. Thirty—just thirty. Not a minimum of thirty, but thirty as the absolute maximum for 300 years is astounding.”
“Just in the administration alone, there are plenty of teams with thirty members. Even in the judicial system, a large court can easily surpass the council.”
“The Imperial Council exists to oversee the administration and uphold imperial mandates. It’s certainly regrettable that one of the pillars supporting the Empire is so flimsy.”
Overall, the members responded positively. Some traction had already been gained in yesterday’s discussions to expand the council, and sustaining the council with only thirty was a hard task for the members.
However, proposing to expand the council would be met with skepticism about breaking a 300-year tradition and losing rights and privileges to share with others. Because of this, nobody dared to speak up, merely exchanging cautious glances—
“If the chair speaks, then…”
“Ah well, it can’t be helped! Since the chair initiated it, we may as well take it positively.”
“Agreed. If we, the members, aren’t backing the chair, then who will even trust and follow him?”
As I unexpectedly stepped up to take the lead, everyone eagerly joined in, cheering me on.
This was the result I had anticipated, and it made me chuckle wryly. It’s amusing how they keep sounding off about the chair, trying to lighten their own burdens.
‘If I were in their shoes, I’d probably do the same.’
Of course, it’s common sense to climb aboard with someone dealing with a sensitive topic. If the members had shown distaste, I would’ve been the one caught off guard.
That said, the concept of expanding council membership did resonate with the members.
“So, what do you think about the conditions for membership? Discussing adding more Counts isn’t worth it, and limiting it to specific titles would leave too many candidates.”
“Even combining Dukes and Marquises, their numbers would still be fewer than Counts, but we can’t burden already busy individuals with the duties of council members.”
The debate surrounding new membership criteria continued without interruption.
This is the crucial problem. Simply assigning the council position to specific titles presents too many complications.
Dukes and Marquises are already very powerful—and giving them council privileges risks disaster. Should we consider Counts, Viscounts, and Barons instead? There are simply too many of them, which opens up the potential for disputes.
A council position should always serve as a shield and arm for the Emperor. Even the most loyal nobles aren’t fit to hold council membership without the pride and sense of duty comparable to an Imperial Count.
‘What a headache.’
Gazing around the bustling small meeting room, I sighed softly. We had run around in circles like this yesterday too, and ended up with nothing.
‘You’re the only hope, Count Tailglehen.’
Therefore, I took a quick glance at Count Tailglehen, who remained silent.
I didn’t expect Count Tailglehen to toss out great ideas for debate, nor did I think it fair to demand that from someone dragged in while on leave.
Still, Count Tailglehen’s mere presence here would be beneficial. With him here to witness the discussions firsthand, he’s more likely to relay the situation to the Emperor. After all, Count Tailglehen is no less than the Emperor’s top confidant.
‘Then a decree from His Majesty might follow.’
As the members brave enough to consider relinquishing some of their rights moved to expand the council, hearing this, His Majesty might choose to intervene given their patriotism and loyalty.
Please, please let it be so. Otherwise, this discussion might drag on for weeks…
*
That night, there was a heated debate.
[The chair has summoned you to the Sun Palace post-lunch tomorrow.]
His Majesty’s decree had been delivered.
I believed in you, Count Tailglehen…!
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