“Hahaha! A masterpiece, a true masterpiece! You!”
As soon as Fernandez finished speaking, Robert burst into laughter, slapping his knee. He laughed heartily for a while, then wiped away a tear and looked at Rene.
“Lady of Duke Carvelier, what do you think?”
On the other hand, Rene was frozen stiff. A storm was raging in her mind.
‘Kingmaker? Making a chieftain? Supporting King Vicente? What, he’s a founding hero of two kingdoms, a Knight of the Round Table, an Inquisition Officer, and a high-ranking priest? This man is around my age, right? Why is he such a big shot…?’
She had thought of him as a man as solid as a rock, like granite hiding precious jade. That’s why she had the desire to polish him and make him shine.
Rene suppressed her confusion and looked at Robert with trembling eyes. The man before her was the one she should be most wary of. The head of Iron Side, performing assassinations, intelligence gathering, sabotage, and other special operations right under the Emperor’s nose.
Though he claims to be at odds with the Emperor, who knows if that’s just another trap set by the Emperor. She forced a smile and spoke.
“Those are the excessive words of a narrow-minded foreigner.”
It felt like walking on a blade. The shadow of a guillotine loomed over her neck. But Robert just chuckled and said.
“Don’t say things you don’t mean, my lady. I’ve told you before, I don’t like wasting time. Fine, if you’re so scared, I won’t press further. Sir Sernerd, why do you think that way?”
“Your Grace, you have no interest in the throne, do you, Angel?”
Fernandez spoke without a hint of hesitation. Robert shrugged.
“Why?”
“The easiest way for a royal who can command Iron Side to become Emperor is not to directly confront the dissatisfied princes.”
“Hmm… Is that so? Then what other methods are there? I was quite confident about this plan.”
“Support the princes’ rebellion, provoke the Emperor, sow discord among the princes, assassinate the princes at the critical moment to manipulate the victory, build a reputation as a hero, and finally kill the Emperor and Empress.”
-Chills.
Rene shivered at the calm tone. If someone who perfectly controls Iron Side holds the sword hilt… If the Empire’s top intelligence organization and masters of assassination and sabotage operate behind the scenes of war…
From that moment on, war is just a formality, an extension of strategy. If the command is entirely ambushed at the most critical moment of war, no strong army can win.
Thus, a hero is born. Defeating the Empire’s rebels. Sowing discord among the princes, boldly cutting off those who don’t move according to plan. Establishing puppet governments in each principality. And at the final moment… killing the Emperor and Empress and inheriting the Tremule Palace.
After that, the Elector’s Council convenes. If the throne is legally inherited, the Empire enters the era of hereditary royalty.
“That method is certainly attractive. But shouldn’t we also consider why other Emperors haven’t used it?”
“Legitimacy.”
Other Emperors also had Iron Side. And they too wished for their power to be eternally inherited by their family.
But why couldn’t they execute that plan? The answer is simple. Legitimacy. No conspiracy in this world can conceal an operation of that scale. Someone will inevitably find out during the execution.
For example, the Inquisition Office, Shaksisi, the Inner Circle, or the Phaeirn Royal Intelligence Bureau. Or traitors within Iron Side. Variables exist no matter who it is.
That plan only works if there are absolutely no variables in any event. Otherwise, it won’t end with just the Emperor’s dethronement and the family’s destruction. The Empire will surely fall.
“A legitimacy that remains honorable even if the conspiracy is disrupted or leaked.”
A safeguard to prevent the destruction of a family, the fall of a venerable Elector family. Legitimacy. The most powerful force that moves the nobility.
“What would my legitimacy be?”
“The Emperor’s corruption.”
“…Did the Inquisition Office anticipate that far?”
This time, Robert’s expression hardened. If the incident in Ribue was orchestrated by the Imperial family, it’s not hard to anticipate their corruption.
But the young man before him was dispatched before that incident surfaced. The starting point of the operation predates the Emperor and Robert’s schemes. He was outmaneuvered. As the head of the intelligence agency, Robert felt a chill.
“That I have no interest in the throne… well, let’s say that’s true. No one would believe a prince who overthrows a corrupt Emperor. Fine, that’s excellent. Then why Lady Carvelier?”
Fernandez looked at Rene after hearing that. Rene’s trembling eyes were looking at him. She’s clever and strong but still young. Still too pure.
No matter how perfect the foundation, even if in her past life, Ribue and Duke Carvelier’s status surpassed Tremule.
Could that woman have defeated the beast before her and seized the throne through political maneuvering alone? No, probably not.
It’s not speculation. It’s simple elimination.
-It’s nearly impossible to defeat all the Electors and that man through mere political maneuvering to seize the throne.
‘Even I couldn’t do that.’
-Therefore, Rene became Emperor because that man also desired it…
‘The fact that a man who could usurp the throne at any time came directly to Ribue.’
Elimination by someone who knows the answer and the future.
“Your visit to this territory seems to be the answer.”
“Me?”
“As I said before, you have legitimacy, power, and information. But you didn’t use them. Coming directly means you won’t do so in the future. It’s less risky to operate right under the Imperial family. You don’t want the throne.”
“…So?”
Rene’s trembling eyes and Robert’s interested gaze focused on Fernandez.
-In this past life period, that guy made some kind of agreement with Duke Carvelier or Rene Philippa.
‘In exchange for supporting the throne, he must have secured some kind of benefit.’
-Probably Iron Side.
It’s not speculation but certainty. Unless all Electors are forced to their knees by force, the throne must be elective. It cannot be inherited beyond one generation. And forcing all Electors by force…
