Chapter: 686
Erich’s worth has transcended that of a mere noble or a councilman’s representative. Though unintentional, he built a network of connections across nations during his three years at the Academy.
And these connections? They’re still intact? This means Erich is a monumental information broker at a continental level.
– I hear Lather is getting married soon?
“…What?”
Indeed, Erich casually dropped information that even the social circles of the empire and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs didn’t know.
Lather is getting married? What kind of nonsense is that? The way he said “soon” means it’s happening next year at the latest.
‘Suddenly?’
How perplexing. Lather is one of the two princes of the United Kingdom of Yuben. Although he’s not the Crown Prince, it’s certainly not a position to be taken lightly.
Therefore, if Lather is indeed getting married, it should entail a grand selection of a betrothed, flashy announcements, and a splendid wedding preparation. Yet, not a single kingdom on the continent, including the empire, has noticed any abnormalities regarding the United Kingdom of Yuben.
So, it must be one of three scenarios: Erich is mistaken, Yuben is intentionally keeping it under wraps, or they’re planning a quaint little wedding.
– It’s hard for me to believe too, but I heard it from Tannian just a while ago.
Yet with Erich’s corroborative evidence, the first possibility crumbled.
After all, no one speaks with higher reliability than the statements of the next saint. Moreover, the Holy Kingdom’s pilgrimage group has also arrived in Yuben, meaning Lather must have directly informed them about the wedding.
‘They’re not trying to hide it on purpose.’
Subsequently, the second option vanished from my thoughts. If they were secretly planning Lather’s wedding, Tannian wouldn’t have any clue, and there would be no reason to keep such secrecy in the first place. Honestly, the costs for maintaining such secrets would eclipse the wedding costs.
In other words, Lather must be wanting a small wedding…
“Who’s the bride?”
– It’s Rachel, a noble who’s a year younger than Lather. I believe you’ve met her at the Academy a few times?
“Oh, Rachel.”
The moment I heard her name, memories flooded back.
Rachel Sorta. A noble from the United Kingdom of Yuben and Lather’s childhood friend. Nothing about her stands out in skills or family reputation, but she’s a loyal companion who even traveled to another country to help Lather.
I see. She’s Lather’s bride-to-be.
“It doesn’t sound like a political match.”
That realization allowed everything to click into place. If they are getting married, it’s likely based on their mutual affection rather than political arrangement.
Of course, noble political marriages are sophisticated operations prepared from childhood. The two are brought together, nurtured in intimacy, leading to a comfortable marriage and home life. Lather and Rachel could very well be such childhood friends.
However, objectively speaking, the Sorta family isn’t one that engages in political marriages with the royal family. They probably just grew close and ended up tying the knot. That’s likely why they’re doing it suddenly and in a small setting.
– Well, since Lather proposed first, it’s definitely not a political arrangement.
I nodded at Erich’s words. It was indeed a voluntary marriage, not a political one.
“So, that’s three people getting married next year?”
I couldn’t help but chuckle. During our time at the Academy, these guys were all about negative vibes, and now they’re all turning into new grooms?
Right now, Erich is gearing up to get hitched in the first half of the year, and Ainter is also planning to marry sometime next year. Who would have thought Lather would jump in too?
– Well, isn’t it that you were holding everyone else back from getting married?
“What did you just say?”
Without even thinking, a curse slipped out. I can’t accept the idea floating out of Erich’s mouth about holding back others, of all people.
I’ll acknowledge the fact that I delayed Ainter’s wedding. It’s true that to make sure my wedding wouldn’t overlap, Ainter’s wedding with Shati got adjusted, allowing theirs to be confirmed after mine wrapped up.
But Erich? That guy wouldn’t have even been able to hold a wedding, let alone an engagement, without me. No way he would have had a proper romantic relationship either. Just look at how much I pushed for him with Sara and Zenobia!
“You would’ve gotten married later than Teresa without me.”
– No way, that’s…
Erich, who was about to rebut, fell silent. I could tell his last shred of conscience was kicking in hard.
Sure, it should be like that. If not for me, a man with a margrave title could have lived single until his forties or fifties!
“Maybe Lather, being royal, is ahead of you. He’s going to tie the knot without anyone’s help.”
– True…
Seeing Erich nodding in a somewhat defeated manner put my mind at ease.
Keeping discipline while maintaining a hierarchy with your younger brother is the duty and fate of an elder brother—
– It seems that your wives did the confessing first too. So maybe royalty has edges over nobles after all.
“What?”
That unpredictable direct hit in the gut left me momentarily breathless.
Well, yeah. Looking back, I was also in the position where the other party moved first.
“……”
– …….
We exchanged lethal blows with our words. As a result, an awkward silence enveloped the room.
“Have you thought of any congratulatory gifts?”
– Wouldn’t fur be a safe choice? Northern furs are known for their superior quality compared to other types.
“Sounds good. It’d be nice for ornamentation too.”
We shifted to another topic as if nothing happened.
Nothing transpired between us. That was our collective decision.
Erich promptly passed the valuable information to the Emperor.
Considering Lather also shared it with Tannian, it implies that he wouldn’t mind if rumors spread. Royalty isn’t so naïve as to overlook the ripple effects of their words.
Regrettably, the season of 77 was simple minded to the point of destruction, but now it’s 81; four years is ample time for a washed-up A-lister to turn back into a star.
– Marriage?
In any case, the news of a foreign royal’s marriage made the Emperor frown slightly.
The United Kingdom of Yuben isn’t some backwater minor state. It’s a top three power on the continent following the empire and Armein, and if it were to shift from a coalition to a unified structure, it could soar even higher. The empire couldn’t just let such a kingdom’s joy pass unacknowledged.
No less than the marriage of the second prince, a distant relative with no claim to the throne. It’s only fitting for the empire to send heartfelt congratulations.
– I see you’ve managed to catch that information.
“By chance, isn’t the next saint visiting Yuben? My brother sometimes communicates with the next saint, and the timing just coincidentally lined up.”
– Your brother here may need to be sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs instead of the Council.
I nodded absentmindedly at the Emperor’s words.
Although Erich lacks diplomatic skills, he has connections that surpass even that. If he merely told Rutis, Lather, and Tannian to, “Please take care of my envoy,” it would make the tasks of the empire’s diplomats significantly smoother.
Thinking like this, it’s clear that Erich is genuinely a prodigy specialized in diplomacy. If I had one more adult brother, I’d have placed Erich in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs right away.
– Hmmm.
While I felt a twinge of regret for wasting Erich’s talents, the Emperor was stroking his chin, deep in thought.
– Actually, isn’t it a waste to confine the council members’ abilities solely to the council?
“What?”
Then, an unusual topic popped up.
– It might be better to give council members authority not only to check the administration but also to assist or advise them. Their knowledge and experience could benefit the administration, and conversely, seeing the administration in person may allow for more flexibility in the formation of bills.
“Your Majesty, the Imperial Council has recently undergone significant upheavals, and further changes may cause great chaos. I understand your intentions, but please hold off for the time being…”
– That’s true. The minister has a point.
Thankfully, the Emperor’s terrifying ambition was halted at an early stage.
Assisting and advising? The very reason we established the People’s Assembly would have been thrown into a trash can in an instant.
– We’ll discuss the committee organization later.
That crazy. Did you just name it too?
‘Committee…’
I unconsciously imagined Erich sobbing as a foreign affairs committee member.
The absurdity of that image became all too vivid, suggesting it was an inevitable future I could not prevent.
– But I hear Lather will be getting married next year?
“Ah yes. I’m not sure of the exact season, but it’s definitely next year.”
– That’s a pity. If Baron Hardiner were among the congratulatory envoys, it would have been perfect, but he’ll conveniently be on leave next year.
At that, I felt chills run down my spine. Just a little time misalignment, and Erich would have traveled all the way to Yuben, located on the opposite end of the continent.
That’s a disaster far beyond the incident when I got deployed to Leon while on leave. At least Leon is right on the border—getting to Yuben from the empire requires passing through several countries.
– Truly unfortunate…
As the Emperor clicked his tongue softly, I quietly averted my gaze.
If our eyes met, he might suggest I persuade Erich, which would lead to disaster.
*
After moving the image of the minister’s panicked face from the communication tube to the corner of the desk, I let out a soft sigh and racked my brain.
‘No matter how I think about it, there’s no candidate as good as Baron Hardiner.’
The minister, a key player in the empire. From the prestigious Krasius family, who has served the royal family for 300 years. A noble councilman’s representative. And a noble who has nurtured relationships with foreign royalty and the next saint at the Academy.
This is so compelling that Enen and the Grand Emperor would practically be pressuring to send Baron Hardiner. How could I possibly overlook such a candidate standing right before me?
However, going ahead with it isn’t feasible. I previously sent the minister away on a honeymoon trip and sending his brother to Yuben might just flip him out.
‘Should I send Ainter instead?’
Then came Ainter, the second-choice candidate. In fact, unlike Baron Hardiner, who plans to marry right as the new year begins, Ainter won’t be tying the knot until the summer. If Lather is marrying in the first half of the year, I could send Ainter as a congratulatory envoy.
The issue is that Ainter is already actively zipping around the capital and the northern regions. It would be hard to send him to Yuben.
‘Complicated.’
Here’s a terrific card, a genuinely useful candidate, yet it’s stuck in limbo. Such a shame.
‘…Maybe I’ll have to cut a deal.’
If things get dire, I’ll strike a bargain with Baron Hardiner.
I could extend his honeymoon, fully covering his honeymoon costs from the royal treasury—how about designating Yuben as the honeymoon destination? Wouldn’t it be fine for him to visit Yuben as an envoy, just under the pretext of personal reasons?
It probably won’t be a smooth sell, but it doesn’t hurt to throw it out there. Even if it gets refused, I’d lose nothing, and if successful, it would yield a bonus.
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