49 – The Too Late Apology (4)
Count Lamotte, the influential aristocrat who holds great power in the northern region, had accumulated a lot of dissatisfaction in various ways regarding the deteriorating situation of his position recently.
Despite changing their leader, the Devil Hunters in the north still remained a thorn in his side.
Instead of gaining public support by defeating demons, the damages caused by the Devil Hunters were only multiplying like snowballs.
This not only affected the surrounding areas that caught the count’s attention, but also directly impacted his immediate territory.
Literally, the Devil Hunters in the north were showing more and more incompetence.
On the other hand, the Devil Hunters led by Eli in the central region had achieved consecutive victories.
As a result, the public sentiment of the small feudal lords and the people in the entire northern region gradually started leaning towards Eli’s faction, which included Count Lamotte, rather than the noble faction led by King Franz.
“For goodness sake, if things continue like this, it will only benefit others. I should rather talk to Duke Ocleane…”
Duke Ocleane, a significant figure who not only served as his direct superior but also oversaw the noble faction of the Franz Kingdom.
Count Lamotte sought to find a way to reverse the situation by asking for his help.
And in relation to this,
Duke Ocleane issued the following instruction.
“At this assembly, let’s propose a tax increase plan centered around the northern region… stressing the difficulties of the current situation.”
Count Lamotte was well aware that increasing taxes at this point would be challenging in various ways.
Not only in the north,
even here in Pare, where people were dying of starvation, raising taxes was equivalent to telling the people to die.
It was a reckless and brutal proposition.
However, from a political perspective, it was not a bad move.
Regardless of how much the people suffered, it was ultimately the king and the nobles who decided the country’s policies.
What was decided here became law, and it was the nature of the world that it would inevitably be enforced.
In this situation, if the tax hike law were to pass, the north would gain economic advantages,
while the grievances of the people resulting from it would ultimately be directed towards King Louis XVI, who was the ruler of this country and the nominal head of this council.
A chance to fully reap the benefits while passing on the responsibility.
On the other hand, if the bill were to be rejected, it would not be all that bad.
In this situation where there are no sharp edges, if this matter were to be overturned, it would be possible to turn the support of the lesser nobles who were leaning towards the king towards this side.
In other words, a political issue that could divide and weaken the enemies while having almost no losses.
From Noble mtl dot com
Thinking about the fact that he had the upper hand, Vicomte de La Motte couldn’t help but smile inwardly.
At that moment…
“I will never allow it! Rather than alleviating the suffering of the people, you would rather squeeze their blood! And yet, you call yourself nobles of this country!”
A middle-aged man with a particularly strong voice spoke out with firmness amid the hesitant nobles.
There was no one in this place, including Viscount de La Motte, who didn’t know who he was.
The empire’s top general, and practically the one holding the military power of this country.
General Rafael.
Among the nobles who were cautious with their remarks, he was the one who boldly expressed his opinion with the utmost determination.
“Do you all not know the situation of these people? They have reached their limits dealing with famines and demons! If there is anyone who speaks nonsense about raising taxes in this situation, I will not forgive them!”
“General, please calm down.”
“Do you think we don’t know that? If we continue like this, the country will be ruined. Let’s find a way out no matter what.”
“Haven’t the people already sacrificed enough for this country? Let’s not even think about squeezing their blood any further!”
“Huh, this is really…”
“Do you think we don’t think about the people? It’s so hard to get through to them…”
Of course, the people’s suffering was never even in their minds.
To them, the people were just livestock, obediently following their orders.
They believed that foolish beings like them were incapable of doing anything, including the Count Lamotte and the other nobles.
As the atmosphere grew even more hostile.
“We should put an end to this boring debate.”
“!”
Eli calmly opened his mouth.
But even seeing this, Count Lamotte still had not lost his confidence.
“Tch, that annoying brat has started to speak, but it’s impossible. No matter how great of a person he is, this situation won’t be easy!”
With his mind, he thought that there was no other way to resolve this situation.
The national treasury was already depleted, and there was no other source of money.
There might be hope in overseas colonies, but even that was not an immediate solution.
Count Lamotte and the majority of the nobles believed that the only option left was to squeeze taxes out of the people.
“I have heard the opinions of many people. Indeed, there seems to be no other way to overcome this crisis other than taxes.”
Surprisingly, Eli seemed to agree willingly.
Upon hearing those words, Count Lamotte and the other nobles started to feel a slight relief.
Even though they believed there was no other option, they secretly harbored a suspicion that this cunning woman might have something different up her sleeve.
But…
(Note: The translation provided aims to preserve the word choice, phrasing, and atmosphere of the novel excerpt. However, without context, some elements may be open to interpretation.)
“However, despite that, I believe this matter cannot be handled lightly. The current situation is the worst it has been since the founding of the nation. Attempting to collect taxes during such a difficult time may worsen the turmoil in the country. In that regard…”
With those words, Ellie turned her gaze towards the queen sitting on the throne.
“Your Majesty, I respectfully request that this matter be discussed in the Tripartite Assembly, not just in the nobles’ assembly.”
“What… What did you say?”
“The Tripartite… Assembly?”
Ellie’s unexpected request.
Upon hearing this, the faces of the nobles, including Viscount Lamotte, began to be filled with astonishment.
The Tripartite Assembly.
A meeting where representatives of the three classes that make up this country – clergy, nobles, and commoners – gather to discuss state affairs. It is held to handle matters of even greater scale than the general assembly in the past.
However, despite such a name, the Tripartite Assembly has never been held in nearly 200 years, even though it was supposed to deal with significant matters.
The fact that it allows political participation of the common people, and the strong resistance of the nobles who do not want to allow it, has made the Tripartite Assembly nothing more than a relic existing only in the law.
And now, Ellie was proposing to reopen the Tripartite Assembly, and the nobles immediately began to oppose it.
“This is absurd!”
“The Tripartite Assembly! Are we supposed to mix our words with those commoners?”
The nobles protested loudly.
Especially Viscount Lamotte, who proposed the tax increase, voiced his opposition louder than anyone else.
“Your Majesty! This is nothing more than a waste of time! Without needing to listen to the stories of those vulgar fellows, please make a decision here!”
It was an obvious fact that the possibility of the tax increase proposal passing at the tripartite meeting was very low.
If that were to happen, naturally the people would follow Ellie, who had opened the tripartite meeting, and the king behind her, resulting in the worst outcome of giving power back to the king, which had barely been overturned.
From the perspective of Viscount Lamotte, who had arranged everything, it was an unacceptable reality.
At that moment,
“The tripartite meeting… a truly interesting story, Lady Ellie Helat.”
“…”
“Your Grace?”
Another person who had been silently observing the situation up until now.
Duke Ocleon slowly led his massive body and began walking towards the center of the conference room.
As a result, attention naturally shifted towards him.
In that situation, Duke Ocleon looked at Ellie, wore a displeased smile, and spoke.
“It seems you plan to involve those foolish people in this matter. Do you truly think that is possible? You know very well that those insignificant beings are nothing more than livestock.”
“Yes, of course, I am aware that the people are not wise. However, even so, we cannot decide on this matter amongst ourselves. After all, it is them who will ultimately be paying the taxes.”
“hahahaha, this is ridiculous. It’s as if one must respect the opinion of a slaughtered pig while eating pork… Well, that’s how it sounds at least. I never knew you were someone who had no business doing such things.”
Duke Ocleon spoke with an extremely arrogant tone,
Then, he looked at the king sitting on the throne and spoke in a cold voice.
“Unfortunately, Your Majesty, the tripartite meeting cannot be convened. I have made the necessary preparations to end everything here today.”
“What are you talking about?”
“hehehe… That’s what it means…”
– Rumble…
“?”
“What… what is this?”
The next moment, the floor of the conference room began to shake suddenly.
The faces of those in the room began to stain with confusion,
and at the same time, a hideous smile crept onto the lips of the duke.
“It simply means that His Majesty has no tomorrow.”