abcnovels
Chapter 452
Chapter 452
Chapter 452
"Prime Minister Arnold, I wish you well for the future."
With these words, the noble who had thrown the banquet handed over a box. Upon opening it, it was filled with a large amount of gold coins.
I exaggeratedly nodded several times, then spoke up.
"You're thoughtful. I'm not as pure as Leo. I know that strong nobles are necessary to maintain the country. If you respect this, I won't treat you poorly."
Having said this, I received the box from the noble.
What I'm doing now is exposing the nobility. Naturally, the people here are also targets. They are the types from whom dust flies when you hit them. But their numbers differ from the nobles of the frontier.
If I glare at them, it's over. They know this, so they flatter me.
They excel at discerning who holds power. They are ever vigilant for their own survival.
With these thoughts in mind, I drank my wine.
After the enjoyable feast ended, I returned to the castle by carriage.
Then, in my assigned room, I let out a deep sigh.
"You seem to be having a hard time."
"I'm not struggling. It's just that the wine I drink with those guys tastes awful."
A voice came from nowhere.
When I looked, Sebas was standing there, appearing out of the blue.
"Do take it easy. Holding back is harmful to your health, you know?"
"There's just a bit more to go. Besides, the national treasury flourishes just by going along with these feasts. Why wouldn't I do it?"
"If you say it's okay for yourself, then I don't mind... But Lord Traugott will be saddened, you know?"
"Somebody has to do it. I can't stay in this duchy forever. I must return to the capital. The quickest way to consolidate royal power is to make enemies. If there's a king who has chased away a giant enemy, the nobles will start to recognize Traugott. In the process, if the duchy improves even a little by exposing all its pus, that's worth it."
"So you're drawing the short straw then?"
"It's too late now, isn't it? Plus, causing trouble in the duchy and getting sent back to the empire is the quickest way home. I can't keep dilly-dallying as the chancellor in the duchy. Recently, there's been increased activity in the kingdom."
"You choose to sacrifice your reputation to return home faster? Can a brother who returns with disgrace truly help his younger brother?"
"There are many ways to do things. Besides, my reputation has been rising too much. I need to bring it down a bit now."
While laughing, I received the documents that Sebas handed over.
In it was information about the gatherings of the nobles I arrested.
"It seems they're all just complaints, huh?"
"Just as you predicted. It appears they're all thinking of some way to eliminate you."
"That's a good trend. They want to eliminate me, but I'm the imperial prince and chancellor. As long as the empire looms large, they cannot eliminate me. If they anger me, it's over. That's why a king who can ignore this is needed. The only one who can eliminate me is Brother Traugott. The nobles of the duchy have no choice but to rely on him."
"For Lord Traugott too, ignoring the empire's intentions carries risks. The duchy's nobles understand that as well. Hence, if Lord Traugott still acts for the sake of the duchy, he will gather admiration. Is that your plot?"
"All that's left is to bring down the highly influential nobles. They can't talk their way out of this. There are dealings with me after all. From the moment they cooperated with me, their fates were sealed."
As I was laughing triumphantly, a different voice echoed in the room.
"There you go again, laughing like a villain!"
"It's not 'like a villain.' I am the villain."
With that, I turned my eyes to the new guest.
They must have entered through the window.
The window, which should have been closed until just now, was open.
It was quite a rogue-like way to enter.
"You've worked hard on your reconnaissance, Mia."
With these words, I acknowledged the scowling girl, Mia.
Just as I had Sebas investigate the nobles who harbored resentment towards me, I had Mia search for something as well.
"I wasn't thrilled about it, but here's the list."
"This is also for the sake of the duchy. Bear with it."
While saying this, I looked through the list.
I had Mia investigate the nobles who still refuse to acknowledge Trau nii-san, their fraudulent activities during the reign of the previous king, and their hidden assets.
For Mia, who had been targeting corrupt nobles during the time of the previous king, it was a piece of cake to investigate such matters.
"I've said this many times, but most of them only committed wrongdoings because they had no other choice. If they didn't, they wouldn't have been able to protect themselves or their territories..."
"I understand. Even if they're caught, Trau nii-san will release them. It won't come to a major issue."
"But, is there a need to involve their families..."
"It's to make Brother Traugott feel indebted. The nobles of the duchy, perhaps remnants of the previous king's time, are mostly individualistic. They lack a sense of cooperation or gratitude. So I will forcibly make them feel indebted to Trau nii-san and unite them against the enemy. I am sorry, but we're short on time."
"I understand... It's the prince who's pulling the short straw the most..."
Mia lowered her eyes in a disheartened manner.
There might be better measures if we had more time.
But, not everyone has that luxury.
"The fiefdom will improve. There were talented people who were buried. If they have a country where they can move freely, things will naturally change. It might be forceful, but I'll establish that structure. Even if it means drawing the short straw, it doesn't matter. It's also for the sake of protecting my brother. Don't worry about it."
After telling Mia this, I started checking things off my list.
Not just anyone would do.
Nobles who truly care about their territories.
Nobles who possess abilities, though not involved in the central politics.
Those are the kind of nobles who must feel indebted to us.
Someday when I leave this country,
These are the nobles who will support my brother.
"Well then, shall we depart tomorrow? We're running out of time."
"That seems to be the case. Our close allies are showing signs of reaching their limit. They've begun to coordinate with nobles from various places."
"That's how it should be. Mia, you've done enough scouting of the frontier nobles. Investigate the movements of our close allies in the royal capital. Sebas is my bodyguard. We can't guarantee that there won't be hot-blooded folks out there."
"If they dare to attack the prince of the empire, they should know that they'll be watched by the empire."
"They may understand it intellectually, but emotions may not catch up. Resentment is a scary thing. It can rob you of your calm judgment."
That's why it's better to be cautious.
With that said, I found myself grinning.
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