“Seriously, graves, Lord Bjorn!”
“If there is no cloud in your heart, you can go out proudly!”
If the imperial family slows down, the rest is simple. Just let them know that you have no will to rebel, and ask them to resurrect the king.
‘It won’t be that easy… … .’
‘It’s worth trying if it’s an integrated North.’
After all, by then the real king would have been elected and the North would have been unified. In the meantime, there will be noise, but at least the imperial family won’t know.
As the nobles, whose faces had returned, calmed down, Bjorn sighed inwardly.
‘Honestly, I doubt it will work out that well.’
Bjorn’s ploy made sense. If you are a person capable of rational thinking, even an inspector from the imperial family would not dare to touch the north.
The problem was when the inspector was an unreasonable human being.
‘Even if it makes sense, it’s useless if you don’t intend to listen.’
How many times has that actually happened? Considering the conflict between the center and the north, the risk of war resulting from it, and the huge amount of goods that will be consumed, of course we should be considerate of the north.
However, there are people in the world who ignore all of that and go to war with a single word, ‘Dare!’ But Bjorn remembered his master.
-My lord, what should I do?
– What should I do? I just have to be honest and say it.
-If you don’t get eaten by the inspector, you’ll be in big trouble.
-are you okay. I’ll take care of the rest.
For some reason, Luke was very confident. He seemed to be able to do post-processing no matter what.
Isn’t it the lord who has never uttered a lie before? There must be something this time, so he must be so confident.
* * *
“My name is Rozier Ridgeback, the imperial inspector.”
‘He’s like a skewer.’
Seeing the inspector, Viscount Thorburn muttered to himself his first impression. Eyebrows raised as if they were sharpened on a skinny body. A straight back and an atmosphere that seems to stab you if you approach.
It was a man who looked like a sharp iron skewer transformed into a human form.
“You are quite late. You should have heard the news of my arrival right away.”
The inspector looked at the Marquis and some of the nobles who had come out as representatives of the northern nobility and coldly spat out. It was an unusual atmosphere that the cold air was blowing from the voice.
“I’m sorry. I’ve been on business for a while.”
“I understand. You must be busy conspiring against treason.”
“what… … !”
The marquis flinched at the strong choice of words. However, Rozier said without changing his expression.
“You say you elect a king.”
“exactly. Just the situation… … .”
“Treason.”
“Look! Listen to the story!”
“Where is the need to listen?”
Rozier kept interrupting the Marquis who was about to say something. It was as if he didn’t want to hear any excuses.
“It is treason to voluntarily raise a king who has already disappeared. Trying to force this on the imperial family by rallying forces is also treason.
“… … !”
The nobles opened their mouths wide. Still, isn’t that too much of a rant? It was an attitude that seemed to have come to drive him to be a traitor.
Rozier’s eyes turned to Luke when everyone was devastated and unable to speak.
“There’s even a son of the Bernstein family.”
“I am… … .”
“It’s an excuse.”
This time, Rozier cut off his words like a knife. Luke clicked his tongue and glared at Rozier.
“that… … .”
“This should also be reported to the Bernstein family. The Count will have to take care of the back too.”
“the reason is… … .”
“This is unacceptable for any reason. Rather, if there is a reason, it is only a justification for treason.”
tingling
“also… huh?”
tingling
“… … .”
Rozier’s mouth fell shut. I thought he was saying something, but Luke was just opening his mouth like a goldfish.
After a moment of silence, Luke quickly raised his voice again.
“Ding-dong.”
“thus! that, what?”
“Dingydang.”
“… … !”
Only then did Rozier understand Luke’s intentions and crumpled his face. He was teasing me by spitting out meaningless sounds, pretending to be talking on purpose.
“What are you doing!”
“well.”
Luke chuckled and leaned his back against the wall. Rozier’s face was even more distorted at his complacent appearance.
‘Damn it, getting involved in the other person’s pace.’
Rozier’s narration was simple. They keep blocking them as if they have no intention of listening to them, and act as if they are going to stigmatize them by driving them into a corner.
Then, even those who initially had reasonable theories will not be able to think normally. Eventually, the thought of making excuses disappears, and you simply ask for forgiveness.
Asking for forgiveness means that you did something wrong. It’s the same as admitting guilt, so of course you can’t have the upper hand in future negotiations.
‘But now everything is wrong.’
Luke only opened his mouth, revealing his intention to deliberately cut off his words. Turning his head slightly, he saw the cold gazes of the northern nobles.
‘I guess I was going to hang up on purpose if this guy said anything.’
‘It’s not like I was mad and mad. I did it intentionally.’
‘That son of a b*tch… play with us?’
Rozier bit his lip. There’s a world of difference between being really angry and not being able to see the front and back, and intentionally pushing.
More than anything, the moment the victim knew the intention, he could have actually exploded in anger.
‘Damn it.’
His eyes filled with resentment turned to Luke. However, Luke only returned a cold glance to that gaze.
* * *
‘This damn bastard, nice to meet you.’
Luke’s eyes at Rozier shone viciously. Roger Ridgeback. I never met him in person, but he was famous for his infamy.
‘The Crown Prince’s closest aide, Rozier the Serpent.’
This idiot prevented the crown prince from running amok because of the idea of absolute imperial authority, but still pushed his back when the golden opportunity came and hit the aristocrat.
In fact, to Luke, it could be said that he was more of an enemy than the crown prince. Because he was the one who kept raising the crown prince who would have destroyed himself if left alone.
‘I heard that this bastard also gave advice on the timing of declaring the extinction of the Bernstein family.’
I couldn’t confirm the authenticity, but it must be true. Because the timing is really awesome. As a result, the Bernstein family went extinct, and Luke died unjustly.
‘I’ll show you hell today.’
The fact that Rozier came here means that the prince moved. And even more so, if that role was an inspector, it was clear what he was up to.
And Luke intended to use it to send Rozier into the abyss.
“Kuhmm, let’s get the story back.”
When the situation turned against him, Rozier cleared his throat and brought the story back to square one. However, even the chilled atmosphere did not return to its original state.
“The Emperor is very concerned about the current situation.”
“hmm.”
Some nobles groaned. This was a natural thing, no doubt about it. The birth of a king not recognized by the emperor. It would be uncomfortable for any emperor.
The important thing is what the emperor will do in this situation. Rozier lowered his head and said.
“From my point of view, I don’t think the noble lords of the north would have decided this. It must have been the trick of that wicked barbarian in all likelihood.”
“… … .”
The faces of some nobles hardened. Rozier’s meaning was simple.
‘I’ll put all the responsibility on the barbarians. So leave it to you as well. Don’t they like each other that way?’
It was the simplest and most basic solution. There are no major side effects. From the North’s point of view, it’s just going back to the way it was before the Platinum Conference.
However, the nobles could not easily nod their heads.
‘It is an opportunity for integration that has barely come. Let’s miss this opportunity and growl at each other again?’
‘How much more so is the newly appeared chieftain a normal person?’
‘Above all, the current situation in which the imperial family holds and shakes food won’t change.’
Then there is only one thing left. As Bjorn suggested, everyone must unite against the Imperial family. However, the mouth did not come off easily.
It was because he saw Rozier’s tough attitude just now.
‘What if they really do fight?’
‘It’s the worst when an emperor with an overturned eye declares war.’
If it was the current emperor’s personality, there was a high possibility that he would obediently listen to the North’s request as Bjorn had said. But maybe this time, he decided to take a tough line.
If an inspector of this nature had been sent for him, the aftermath could have been unbearable. Seeing those nobles, Rozier smiled thinly.
‘Fortunately, the other intentions seem to have worked.’
Nine out of ten, their confidence must have come from the weakness of the current emperor. However, as Rozier came out exceptionally strong, he planted doubts that he could use a hard line.
That alone is half the success. Even more hesitating because there is someone right next to him to whom he will pass on the guilt.
‘Unification of the north, it’s impossible.’
Even for the sake of his master, the Crown Prince, the growth of local lords could not be tolerated. The North had to be held on a leash with the imperial trade as it is now.
The moment Rozier laughed as he watched the lords on the verge of being divided leisurely.
“Are you trying to alienate the North now!”
Luke’s booming voice echoed everywhere. When everyone turned their heads in surprise, Luke shouted even louder.
“Then what reason would you have to be loyal to the imperial family! Lords of the North, gather an army! War!”
“… … !?”
The jaws of the aristocrats dropped at the unexpected declaration.
* * *
Of course, the northern lords have no desire to revolt. The imperial family was also thinking of preventing a situation that would lead to a real rebellion.
A situation neither side wants. Luke’s words were a claim that could not be well received in the first place.
‘Is that guy crazy?’
Rozier looked at Luke, half dazed. Looking at the reaction of the surrounding northern lords, it was clear that they did not intend to rebel in the first place.
‘Tsk, did you say something you shouldn’t be drunk with excessive confidence? stupid… … .’
There is often such a guy. A guy who easily gets a good response from those around him, so he can’t distinguish the line and crosses it. To Rozier, Luke was that type.
However, Luke didn’t care about the cold reactions around him.
“Inspector General, Rozier Zirbeck!”
“What is it, traitor?”
Rozier showed this and smiled. It was none other than the son of the Bernstein family who said that. How much can you entangle that mighty aristocrat with this pretext?
I felt better when I thought of the gains from that idiot’s remarks. Until Luke’s next words.
“I know you!”
“what?”
“You are the prince’s henchman! I don’t know if His Majesty the Emperor knows this, and I don’t know who recommended it. If you have to, you might be able to quietly say the prince’s intentions, not His Majesty’s!”
“… … !?”
how is that guy It is a fact that only a small part of him knows that he is the prince’s henchman. At the frightened Rozier, Luke shouted in a sigh.
“How can that be! That’s the sin of impersonating Hwang Myeong! Even if he is a blood-mixed son and heir to the throne, it is a mortal sin that cannot be avoided! It deserves to be decapitated!”
“… … .”
“So this is the will of His Majesty the Emperor! It is the will of His Majesty the Emperor, and the will of the Imperial Family to humiliate us and divide the North! How deplorable! How can you continue to be loyal to an empire like this!”
With a bang, Luke hit the wall next to him with his fist.
“Treason! We will rebel! Nobles of the North, assemble an army! And send a letter! If this is Your Majesty’s will, we will become independent! Great war! Stack tons of corpses, shed blood, and fight the Imperial family! We won’t stop until all the northerners are dead!”
It was a messed up speech of madness. Far from boosting morale, the listener’s motivation hits rock bottom.
No one could incite rebellion by such an argument. But no one laughed at this speech.
All nobles could read between the lines of words.
‘The crown prince manipulated the emperor’s name by using his confidant.’
‘But if there is a sign of rebellion in the northern part of the country that gets angry after recognizing this as an imperial order… … .’
Everyone swallowed dryly and muttered to themselves.
‘The prince will most likely be decapitated.’
The bluish Rozier trembled like an aspen tree.