239 – Before the Fall of the Elaine Empire (10)
When Earl Meter heard that, he was enraged and tried to pull out the sword from the scabbard, but trembled and managed to endure it.
But it wasn’t because he thought of the baron in front of him, but because he thought, ‘If I kill every baron’s vassal, I’m in danger too.’
Then, looking around to see if anyone would listen, he scolded in a small, low voice, filled with anger.
“Are you really crazy, Baron Volkin? If someone eavesdrops on it, not only you but also me will be blown away, and it is obvious that the family will be ruined. A very dangerous word. This time, I’ll do what I didn’t hear, so hurry up and go away. The next time you speak these words in front of me, I will kill you to protect your loyalty to the imperial family!”
When one is angered and threatened by one’s lord to this extent, one would normally kneel down and never say such a thing again, although one would have to beg one for doing something wrong.
Baron Volkin, instead of praying for his sins, made up his mind and spoke in an argumentative manner.
“Then what are you going to do? Would you just let go and watch your family go bankrupt? Although that may not be a bad choice for the last of the 200-year-old Count Meter family. Would it be honorable if the family were ruined like the current Emperor?”
A truly rare and precious scene was staged in which the baron bruised the count, but the party involved, Count Meter, heard Volkin’s words and fell into great confusion.
Because he had to repay the favor of the emperor who made him a count by giving him an undeserved favor when he was only a baron, he had vowed not to think of betrayal.
However, as Baron Volkin said, even if the Meter family, which has been around for 200 years, perishes like the emperor, I believe that a minimum of honor must be maintained in the process.
“His Highness, the Duke of Orléans, has sympathy for the fact that the duke was killed in battle due to Ciel von Creutel’s evil tactics. However, if you fall for a woman named Eva Green and protect the emperor who covets women even during wartime, and the family ends… Who will sympathize with us?”
Upon hearing that, Count Meter sighed, removed his hand from the scabbard, and spoke.
“Like your loyal advice, our family will be pointed at by people instead of sympathy. So, what, are you talking about deserting with the family’s soldiers even now? Certainly, if I lead the soldiers and surrender, Kreutel will accept it, and I’ll be able to keep the minimum honor.”
With that said, he swallowed the words ‘In return, my family would be completely destroyed’ and sighed.
I don’t know if Baron Volkin felt sorry for his lord who was sighing, or if he was thinking of taking advantage of this opportunity.
With an evil smile, he whispered in the Count’s ear.
“Your Excellency, there is a way for our family to survive. Would you like to hear it?”
“Tell me.”
When Volkin was granted permission, he took a deep breath, then exhaled.
“Kill the Emperor. Ending the war like that and entering the Kingdom of Creutel is the only way to keep the family alive.”
When Count Meter heard that, instead of getting angry, he waved his hand and said, looking exhausted.
“Let’s go. I won’t hear anything today, and I’ll pretend nothing happened. Go in and rest.”
“Sorry for wasting your time so late, Mr. Meter.”
Baron Volkin quietly withdrew from Count Meter’s room.
Then, as I was on my way to the room assigned to me, a man in a very shabby-looking outfit approached me.
In normal times, Baron Volkin would have drawn his sword and said, ‘How dare a beggar come near?’
Instead of antagonizing beggars, he spoke intimately, as if meeting a subordinate he hadn’t seen in years.
“Are you here already? Yes, it’s a lot of trouble. How is His Highness Kreutel doing?”
A beggar, no, the spy disguised as a beggar replied bluntly.
“There’s no way I can reply to Your Highness’ regards, can I? How did it go anyway? Are you carrying out your Highness’ edicts? Your Excellency Baron Volkin.”
“I want to ask if I can be assured of the treatment I promised before.”
The spy was dumbfounded when he heard that.
At the point where he should consider surrendering unconditionally, he just gave me some information and the fact that he’s working for His Highness…
It was because he didn’t understand why he was acting like he was going to climb up to the top of his head, not only himself, but also the king he respected.
However, since he was a person who had risen to the rank of sergeant in the intelligence department after performing his mission for several years, he killed his emotions and said.
“Youngji will not be bestowed. Instead, at least 4,000 gold coins and vassals will be given their own fields in return for their efforts, so there will be no starvation. Also, if you succeed in the order you received, the reward will increase to 10,000 gold coins, and after you have washed your identity, you will be given the title of baron as a court noble.”
Baron Volkin must have liked that comment, he said as he shook the man’s hand, which was covered in soot and grime.
“I have almost convinced Mr. Meter. Even though he mentioned the assassination of the emperor, he didn’t get angry, he just sent me away saying he was tired. Sooner or later, if old Adolf gets into a worse situation, he will probably take action himself.”
After hearing that, the mole raised a lot of ratings for the man in front of her, and then thought.
‘I’m no longer a person I can handle. I’ll leave it to Lieutenant Wilson or Lieutenant Peppermint. Also, if this plan goes well, I’ll be given a special promotion to the 2nd class as well as dozens of gold coins.’
“It would be great if it stayed as it is, Your Excellency Baron. I will also pass on the orders from Your Highness. ‘If the Emperor is killed by Count Meter, immediately mobilize your troops to open the west gate of the Third Wall and send a signal through smoke.’ His Highness believes in you.”
**
“According to the reports of my intelligence battalion members, Baron Volkin, whom I have known for quite some time, has almost convinced Count Meter. Your Highness the King.”
I was dumbfounded when I heard that.
Of course, if the emperor is killed by the nobles of the Elain Empire, especially the count, the aftermath of conquering Elysium will be easier.
Because in this world, after an empire or a kingdom is destroyed, there are a bunch of rebels who want to seize all kinds of opportunities.
They will frantically glorify the leader of a fallen nation and create a cause for reconstruction, plotting a rebellion.
However, until the moment the empire collapsed, he enjoyed pleasure in her office day and night with a woman named Eva Green. If he promised to revive the state of the emperor who was being killed by his retainers, no one would agree and throw stones. I will.
But what I originally intended was for the emperor to feel the danger that he might be killed, and distrust even the nobles who follow him, further intensifying the infighting.
That’s why he didn’t order the assassination of the emperor to the nobles he was intriguing with.
Anyway, my intentions went astray, but it’s not bad because it’s beneficial for post-processing.
“I’m stumped, I’m stumped. It must have been worse than what I was told.”
Major Short laughed when he heard that.
“In any case, isn’t that a good thing for our kingdom? Also, the citizens just can’t raise an uprising because they’ve had a failed experience in the past. With the slightest provocation, it is ready to raise an uprising at any time. The ‘Operation to Destroy the Will to Rebuild the Eline Empire’, which Your Highness ordered our spy unit, has already achieved its goal completely, no, more than the desired results.”
“… It’s absurd, but if the emperor is so behind me, I’ll do something about it. Yes, did you deliver the treatment for the nobles who surrendered in advance as agreed with his father and the counts a few days ago?”
“As you commanded, we did not grant lands to them, but instead delivered them a court nobility title based on their achievements. I know that the vassal also inherits the status of a subordinate in proportion to the achievements of the master he serves, but… Are you really okay?”
If the guy in charge of intelligence and intelligence tries to interfere in politics, he’ll go beyond his authority.
You can look at it at least once today. Because, it seems really nonsensical to grant titles based on merit to those who are in the know.
Considering the contents of that guy’s mission, you might have doubts about it.
So instead of scolding him, I said it with the intention of cutting him off.
“That’s none of your business. Intelligence, spying, and disruption are your domain. But politics and governance are the work of me and the nobles. But don’t worry, I have my own thoughts.”
Short bowed his head and quietly withdrew.
Then, I muttered in the barracks.
“I have to give the confidant aristocrats some way to live so that they won’t make a fuss about rebuilding their lands and families. Furthermore, when I fight a similar kind of war with other countries in the future… Those guys will serve as a model for me to succeed if I betray.”
**
For a week like that, the Kingdom of Creutel and the Empire of Elaine continued to clash at the wall.
The kingdom’s soldiers finally succeeded in breaking through the first wall.
After hearing that the first wall had been breached, the emperor, who ordered a meeting, was discussing future defense policies and how to deal with refugees with the nobles…
On the other hand, there was Count Meter, who was making up his mind by secretly holding and releasing the dagger hidden under his clothes.
“Then, from now on, I will open the gates of the 2nd wall and accept only citizens and soldiers. Everyone, go back to your seats and work on defense.”
From Noble mtl dot com
As the words announcing the end of the emperor’s meeting were ringing out, Count Meter, who had approached at some point, shouted right behind the emperor.
“Your Majesty, you must govern more broadly and in accordance with the cause!!!!”