162 – 166
Imperial Council.
Currently, here, they are conducting a vote on tax reform and the bill to dismantle the Emperor’s faction.
“Well then, the results of the vote on the tax reform and the bill to dismantle the Emperor’s faction are 170 in favor and 120 against.”
And the chairman Charles declares that both bills have been passed with an overwhelming difference in votes.
At that moment.
The palace guards urgently open the door to the main hall.
“T… The Emperor has arrived!”
“The Emperor?”
Theodore’s visit to the council.
Usually, it is customary for the emperor not to visit the council.
The council is where the people of the empire freely discuss current issues or make laws, so it is not ideal for the emperor to visit and exert influence unless it is a special occasion.
However, now, just before the dismantling of the imperial faction, it cannot be avoided to visit at this moment.
Or rather, when I leaked about the veto power in advance, I did instruct to do it this way.
At the words of the guards, Chairman Charles descends from his seat and walks towards the main hall.
The composed imperial faction members and Chairman Charles.
In contrast, confusion is evident on the faces of the anti-imperial faction and neutral faction members who did not receive the instruction from me.
That’s why it was arranged as I desired, ideally.
The stage is the main hall.
The leads are me and Theodora.
“Please open the door quickly!”
As Chairman Charles straightens his attire and speaks, the door of the grand main hall opens, revealing Theodora in a beige dress.
“Your Majesty!”
Chairman Charles bows his head respectfully at a 90-degree angle.
Then, he kneels on one knee to pledge allegiance.
“May peace fill the empire and Your Majesty.”
At those words, when Theodora extends her left hand.
– Page
Charles expresses respect by kissing the marriage ring of me and Theodora.
“Thank you for the warm welcome. Please rise.”
At Theodora’s words, Charles stands up from his seat.
“What brings you here today?”
With a grin, Theodora responds to Charles.
“I heard there is an important bill in the empire today, so I came to visit.”
Theodora glances around for a moment.
When her eyes meet mine, she smiles brightly like a mischievous child.
“Was the bill passed?”
In a melodious tone, Theodora asks Charles.
“Yes, it was just declared passed.”
“Good, I will now exercise the veto power over that bill.”
– Murmurs!
At this, the anti-imperial faction and neutral faction become restless.
[What… What is happening?]
[I… Is that so?]
[The Majesty is exercising the veto power?]
Perplexed expressions of the members.
Perhaps this situation was unexpected to them.
Except for me and the imperial faction, that is.
“Understood. We will proceed assuming you are exercising the veto power. The bill will not be passed to the Grand Council due to Your Majesty’s veto.”
When Chairman Charles speaks, he takes a deep breath inwardly.
It must not be acting.
Speaking as if in a fit of anger, he says, his expression distorted.
“Just a moment, please, Chairman Charles.”
I rise from my seat and head towards Charles and Theodora.
[Seems like even the Grand Duke of the world couldn’t have predicted this.]
[How amusing. The one who has been putting on airs all this time.]
Ignoring the lawmakers who deliberately speak loudly through the microphone, I open my mouth in front of them.
“Before exercising the veto, may I have a brief audience with His Majesty?”
Pretending to be unable to contain my anger, deliberately trembling as I speak… but it’s harder than I thought to make my hand tremble naturally.
Actors are amazing.
But perhaps my mediocre acting got through.
A faint smile appears on the lips of Charles and Theodora.
“Hoho, my companion, I shall grant your audience request.”
***
Since the matter is what it is, I decided to have an audience with Theodora in the emperor’s carriage.
She boards the carriage, and I follow suit.
-Thunk.
I open my mouth, my expression twisted as if in anger.
“What is the meaning of this?”
But Theodora, who is subtly smiling due to her calm demeanor, gently covers her lips with her hand and says.
“What is it?”
As if telling me not to digress.
“Why are you exercising the veto on dismantling the Imperial faction?”
Nice! Both the tone and pronunciation are accurate!
Feeling a sense of pride when I think I acted the angry voice appropriately.
Theodora gazes at me with a sharp voice and menacing red eyes.
“Didn’t I tell you before? I will ruin you.”
Pretending to be appropriately flustered.
“What… What is this about?”
Stammering as if confused, satisfied with my perplexed acting.
“Did you think the faction hostile to you would just dismantle itself?”
As she speaks with a cold expression and tone, I grind my teeth as if playing the villain.
“So what? Why keep the Imperial faction alive now? Are you really clueless about why I want to dismantle the faction?”
“I know. It’s to establish your absolute power.”
Theodora meets my eyes subtly.
“But I cannot stand by and watch that happen.”
As she appears resolute, I exhale heavily and say.
“Fine. Since it seems this won’t be resolved through words anyway. Let’s leave the Imperial faction aside and push through the tax reform bill.”
As if changing the behavior of quickly giving up if it seems impossible anyway…
“That won’t work either.”
Hmm? Exercising veto power even in the tax reform proposal? This is unexpected.
“As for tax reform, it’s been not long since the end of the war, and the expenses of the Erein Kingdom and the Bohemi Kingdom, which participated in this war, are too high. It’s something we should do eventually, but not now.”
I know what she’s talking about.
Of course, in preparation for that, separate funds for land development are being set up from the technology investment fund, so I nod in agreement.
“We’ll fill that with the land development fund. So, the tax reform proposal must be passed unconditionally.”
When it’s time to fix the current irrational tax structure.
The aristocrats are weakened shortly after the war ended, and I must handle it while I have temporary command.
“Still, it can’t be done.”
I say this feeling that she’s hinting at wanting something else, as she smiles subtly.
“Seeing that smile on your face, it seems like you want something different. What is it that you desire?”
Her smile deepens at my words.
“Oh, you’re really perceptive in this aspect. It would be great if you were as quick in other areas.”
Annoyed by her words, I urge her.
“Stop beating around the bush and just tell me.”
“Please deploy the Golden Knights to the capital now.”
I shake my head in response to her request.
“No.”
Words not worth replying to.
I painfully realize that placing the Golden Knights in the capital after the civil war would be a grave mistake.
Why Roland feared the Golden Knights so much, why they are considered the protectors of the empire.
Placing them in the capital with William’s exceptional command and their unreasonable level of strength and intimidating equipment would lead to a loss of my authority.
“I’d rather exercise my veto power. I’ll withdraw both bills; since you’ve exercised your veto power recklessly, I will do the same. I will paralyze the empire by vetoing all government offices, public institutions, and even the parliament.”
Exercising veto power is not just about ‘rejecting’ bills or parliament’s authority.
It means being able to veto everything politically and administratively.
For example, one could veto the opening of markets or the start of government work the next day.
In fact, some emperors have tamed the parliament in this way when strong conflicts arose.
From Noble mtl dot com
“Are you really going to act like a tyrant?”
A tyrant?
I feel somewhat unjustly accused when I’ve even handed over the empire to her… It’s a bit unfair.
“They endured hardships on the battlefield for you and me, so shouldn’t we prevent them from returning home?”
“That’s…”
Utterly sensible and momentarily speechless in the face of logic.
If I were to speak the truth as it is…
I fear the situation where the Golden Knights, under Theodora’s command, engage in a civil war in Roman.
Even if it’s not such a dire situation…
It’s absurd to deploy such a threatening force that doesn’t obey my orders to the capital.
It’s accurate to say that the situation is due to not trusting Theodora.
“My demand is to allow the Golden Knights to return to Roman.”
“No.”
Watching Theodora tightly pressing her lips together in response to my words, I get lost in my thoughts.
From Theodora’s perspective, she can only think of William and the Golden Knights who are willing to risk their lives for her.
I understand her feelings.
It’s natural for her to feel sorry for those loyal followers who cannot return to Rome.
With that in mind, I sigh and say, “Phew… not now.”
I give her a hint that she can call me in the future if I leave.
Theodora’s expression turns grim at my words.
She asks in a bright voice, “If not now, will you answer my call later?”
I nod slightly in response to her question.
“Two years. In two years, whether you call or not, I won’t bother. So, stop being stubborn.”
In any case, in two years, I won’t be here.
Whether Theodora calls me or not by then is irrelevant.
She hesitates with a skeptical look on her face and nods.
“In two years… Promise me.”
I nod in agreement.
“Okay. I’ll keep my word. Then, let’s inform Duke Charles about the right of refusal.”
Saying so, I step down from the carriage.