69 – Episode 69
The drawing room of the imperial palace.
“Hmm…”
Members of the opposition party in front of me.
The person who appears to be the representative among them speaks while wiping his sweat.
“I surrender.”
I say those words with a gentle smile.
“So, what are the terms of surrender?”
We received word that the Grand Air Force had arrived near Fort Huntington.
In their situation, if we drag out the war further, we will only suffer damage, so it is right to surrender.
“I will faithfully follow the Grand Duchy as the leader of the anti-emperor faction.”
I waited for a moment, wondering if they were going to say something, but I saw that they were only rolling their eyes and watching me, so I responded coldly.
“Is that the answer?”
The lawmakers who were looking into each other’s eyes noticed what I was saying and one of them stepped forward.
“We will also pay compensation.”
Looking at the disorganized looking lawmakers, I try my best to repeat what I said without making a single mistake.
“Is that the answer?”
Because only then can we instill fear in them.
“That… That…”
I say this as I see the lawmakers’ eyes meeting each other as if they don’t know what I want.
“When Valorant assassinated His Majesty the late Emperor. I understand that you are betraying Valorant. He is a traitor to the empire. But when I became Prince and went to war with Ioannes. “Where have you been?”
I look at the congressman who looks embarrassed as if he has nothing to say to me.
They will be in trouble too.
At that time, due to Valorant’s actions of crossing the line, the anti-emperor faction was like a sinking ship.
That may be why I left the anti-emperor faction, but even if I were them at the time, I would have cut off Valorant just like they did, so the anti-emperor faction would not last long.
Well… It would have been better for them if we had failed.
“However, if Valorant died and I, the rightful person, ascended to the throne, you should follow my guidance according to the anti-imperialist treaty, but you arrogantly acted individually as if you were independent and did not follow my guidance.”
For generations, my ancestors had oppressed the anti-emperor nobles and considered it the territory of the Grand Duchy.
However, it does not actually belong to the Grand Duchy.
Imperial law limits the territory of the great nobles, so although they are not part of the territory of the Grand Duchy, my ancestors have governed them under the justification that they must follow the leadership of the head of the anti-imperial faction as if they were vassals of our family.
“Hmm… But, Your Highness, I believe that the previous Grand Duke already communicated with the demons and the treaty was broken at that moment.”
“That’s right. In fact, the Grand Duchy provided guidance for the survival of our territory…”
I intentionally hit the table with my fist and shout in anger, interrupting their conversation.
-Boom!
“It seems like a long talk. I think you’re saying this because you think there’s still room for victory. Would you like to continue a little longer?”
They can’t protest when I tell them to shut up unless they want to start another war.
“First of all, I want to rule your territory as compensation for betraying us and breaking our promises when the anti-emperor faction is at its peak.”
They blink at my words and speak as if they are perplexed.
“Well… Your Highness, I’m sorry, but the conditions for handing over ownership of the territory are too harsh.”
“That’s right. “No matter how victorious you are, you cannot accept the idea of handing over your territory to a loser.”
“Uh huh… How can someone who is not related by blood to the family that owns the territory rule the territory?”
According to the culture here, one cannot claim a fiefdom unless one is related by blood to the person who owned the fiefdom.
To put it a little exaggeratedly, territory or titles are treated like personal property.
The only way to take such territory is from the lord’s immediate superior vassals, but according to imperial law, their immediate superior vassals are the emperor.
And no matter how much the emperor wants to exercise the right to deprive a person of a fiefdom, he cannot exercise the right to deprive a person of a fiefdom unless there is a serious defect in the performance of the vassal contract.
“Weren’t you originally members of the anti-emperor faction? And our Grand Duchy is the head of the anti-emperor faction. “Since you have not kept the anti-imperialist treaty without just cause, as the leader, I will exercise my right to deprive you of your territory.”
They say what I say as if they are dumbfounded.
“Your Highness… I think you are misunderstanding something. “The faction is not even a country, so there is no way the leader of the faction would have the power to deprive the territory, right?”
“That’s right. “The head of a faction has the right to leadership, but that does not mean he is a high-ranking vassal.”
Their claims are very common sense and correct, and are established by imperial law.
If it is a peaceful time, that is.
These are difficult times.
He who has power speaks with common sense and is correct, which is the law.
“It looks like you haven’t given in yet. Do you want more war?”
I have no intention of letting go of their territory.
I plan to take this opportunity to take over their territory.
“You can do more if you want, but I promise you this one thing. Your masters and their families… Will not be treated as prisoners of war. However, if they hand over their territory obediently, we will recognize them as nobles and protect their property.”
To be treated as a prisoner of war is the same as saying that you will be treated as a noble even if you are captured during the war.
In other words, not to treat them as prisoners of war is no different from a threat that they don’t know what will happen if they are caught.
But perhaps they are interested in something else, one person comes forward and speaks as if he or she is hearing strange noises.
“How can you be a noble if you don’t have a fiefdom?”
Titles such as duke, marquis, and earl come from land.
I am called the Grand Duke because I am the owner of the land of the Grand Duchy of France.
In other words, if the land of the Grand Duchy of France is taken away from me, the title of Grand Duke will be transferred to the person who took it away.
A title is similar to the meaning of the right to rule the land or the owner of the land.
From Noble mtl dot com
In the past, a title was considered only as a contract with a high-ranking noble to rule the land, but now the title has changed to include ownership of the land as well.
So, it is true that it is difficult for them to understand that they will take the land, but their title will be recognized.
“In other words, I will recognize your lord’s title, but I will be entrusted with the land and rule on his behalf.”
I look at the lawmakers who are rolling their eyes at my words and continue.
“We will pay 10% of the tax revenue from the land of the title every year as living expenses and maintenance of dignity.”
This amount is by no means a small amount.
The cost of living and maintenance of dignity paid by the Grand Duchy to our family does not exceed 1% of the annual budget.
How much money does one household need to live on in the first place?
Personally, I think it is a waste, but it is important that I rule their territory first.
Of course, as time goes by and I take control of all the territory, from then on I will gradually reduce the amount paid and kick them out.
Do you mean to say that I pay money to play with their master just because I think he’s pretty?
Once they take control of the territory, they are useless.
“Hmm… I will report this to my lords…”
“hahahaha, please convey it well. Anyway, wouldn’t it be a bad idea to leave the complex affairs of the estate to me and enjoy life?”
I continue by looking at the people who want to say something to me but are unable to say anything.
“First, let’s deliver it to your master and then we can talk about it again.”
The lawmakers bowed as if they understood what I was saying and then left.
Look at where they were sitting and say
“Fools…”
***
That night.
Theodora speaks while lying on the sofa.
“Can’t we just take the territory?”
“No. According to imperial law, it is illegal to rob someone else’s territory by force.”
Besides, I am a great nobleman.
There will be a huge backlash from the minor nobles, and the imperial faction will not remain silent.
I think Ioanes will suppress it somehow, but he is probably also embarrassed.
They wouldn’t have thought that I would take their territory.
“Isn’t that what it is anyway?”
She doesn’t understand Theodora’s words, so she puts down her papers and looks at Theodora.
“In the end, you are going to rule that territory, right?”
I nod my head at those words.
“That’s right. But rather than incorporating, I just want to rule on their behalf.”
Of course, I am blindfolded, but there is a big legal difference between me directly owning their land.
There are regulations on increasing territory under the law, but there are no clear regulations on the area where I am delegated to rule.
This is something only merchants would think about, not nobles.
Theodora, thinking deeply about something, speaks in her pensive voice.
“Still, that’s what I think it is, but if you file a claim with the Supreme Court…”
“Those chief justices support me?”
She blinks her red eyes and opens her mouth slightly, as if she has forgotten what happened to her when she married me.
“Ah… Is that right?”
“There won’t be any legal problems anyway.”
Law basically takes the form of punishing someone for doing something.
In other words, it is the same as not being able to regulate or punish something that is not written in the law.
Even if I try to claim that it is an expedient, I have already taken control of the Supreme Court, so there is nothing I can do about it.
“As expected… It’s amazing.”
Saying that, Theodora shakes his head and heads to the bed.
“I’m just going to sleep now, so please turn off the light.”
“Can’t I… just look at this and turn off the light?”
Theodora, who turns around at my words and shows a gentle smile, speaks in a bright voice.
“No.”
I sigh at the firm and bright voice.
“Okay…”
-Clap clap!
A light ball that turns off at the sound of my applause.
Darkness blocks my vision, but I know where the sofa is.
And I end the day by lying on the sofa.