228. The Empire’s Envoy (3)
“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…
To suppress it, a tremendous amount of blood and justification will be consumed.
The chaos in the empire will soon lead to the rise of external enemies. The Sultan will not overlook this gap, and the Eastern Kingdom is not a weak vassal state that can be ignored.
Therefore, the current emperor’s scheme carries an enormous risk. But if there’s another way…
Another way. A way to eternally inherit the throne, without worrying about others’ opinions, and without damaging the empire’s national power… A way to completely swallow the empire.
That is, to be in a position to leash whoever ascends to the throne.
Count Tremule is the ‘Palace Count.’ He oversees all major and minor affairs of the palace under the command of the Minister of the Interior. And Iron Side is a master of intelligence, espionage, assassination, and sabotage. The combination of the two could make it possible.
If Count Tremule’s authority, the capital and position of Gur, and control over Iron Side are combined. Becoming the emperor’s shadow would be rather easy.
For others, it would be impossible. That level of scheming is almost an art. But the man before me. This young man, perhaps he could do it. A madness-like wisdom beyond strength and intellect.
“A man who could become emperor doesn’t desire the throne, and a man who could install an emperor has come seeking a duke. Duke Carvelier? Possible, but insufficient. To lead the charge with the justification of the emperor’s corruption, something better is needed. The center of the propaganda war will be ‘the emergence of a charming and new hero that everyone can admire.'”
“A new hero?”
“A sovereign who can embrace the people. Beautiful appearance and strong spirit. A young and dazzling hero who can sweep away the old forces. A perfect figure for political propaganda.”
Robert stroked his chin and fell silent. Under the moonlight filtering through the dense shadows of the garden shrubs, only his blue eyes sparkled.
“It seems I’ll have to discipline my subordinates as soon as I enter the palace.”
After a moment of silence, Robert spoke. His voice had become brighter and more cheerful.
“Kingmaker? That’s a laugh. In fact, that title is more of a sarcastic jab. An impressive achievement, but was it really his own ability? His personal prowess was proven when he became a Knight of the Round Table, but could that man really have controlled all these events? Is it possible? Was it not a coincidence?”
“……”
“It wasn’t a coincidence. How could the intelligence organizations be so dull? I had no idea the Inquisition Office had penetrated the empire’s situation so deeply. The church’s intelligence is more meticulous than I imagined.”
Robert smiled brightly and extended his hand. Fernandez quietly looked at that hand. It was a firm hand, one that someone born as the empire’s prince and living a peaceful life could never have.
“Meeting a new hero is exciting. Sir Sernerd.”
“It was a pleasure for me as well.”
After shaking Fernandez’s hand lightly, Robert casually remarked.
“There was one thing wrong.”
“What was it?”
“The succession of the throne, the father’s corruption, the imperial family inciting division, and the dukes splitting as they please… That wasn’t my justification.”
Robert looked at Rene.
“Because it’s not right. It’s not right for the emperor to desire the people’s blood. If war must be the driving force for the empire’s survival, that’s not right. And someone must take responsibility for the blood that has already been spilled.”
“You were an idealist, weren’t you?”
“Aren’t you the same?”
He directly intervened in the Eastern Kingdom’s situation, risking his life to prevent the federation’s division. Later, he united the Western Noble Federation and played a crucial role in the midst of war.
A mere strategist or schemer would never step onto the frontlines. An acting strategist is a non-existent monster of fantasy. From a strategist’s perspective, Robert and Iron Side’s intelligence division labeled Fernandez as a ‘lucky idealist.’
But that wasn’t the case. Not a lucky idealist, but a smart idealist. Someone with a firm ideal, the ability to realize it, and the capability to directly formulate plans to achieve it.
A monster of fantasy. And fantasy always brings admiration. Robert wasn’t looking at him with wary eyes, but with the gaze of someone looking at a hero.
Perhaps, his actions changed his ambition. Perhaps he became a monster lurking behind the emperor, craving absolute hereditary power. It’s possible.
“I like that kind of idealist. Sir Sernerd.”
“Me too. Angel.”
Looking at the two of them, Rene spoke awkwardly.
“Why does it seem like no one cares about my opinion?”
“Speak.”
“Am I just supposed to become a puppet? Did you think I’d gladly accept that?”
“No, no. Lady of Duke Carvelier. What are you talking about?”
Robert chuckled. He bowed his head towards Carvelier in respect.
“I am a man who will inevitably get blood on my hands, and the dukes are pigs who would do so without hesitation. An emperor who does not desire the people’s blood, an emperor who can take the people’s sorrow as his own. An emperor who grieves for others’ sorrow and rejoices in others’ joy but does not lose his center.”
“……”
“Sufficiently wise, sufficiently thoughtful, yet sufficiently… pure. A great emperor. You could become that.”
“When did you see me to judge me so highly, Prince Robert?”
“Three years ago, in Gur, I happened to see you helping an old woman who was passing by.”
In the midst of war, there was a social gathering in Gur. Gur and Ribue were far apart, and the ravages of war did not touch Gur.
The busy duke, embroiled in the 50-year war, had once sent his daughter as a proxy for the duke. It was an excessive responsibility for a fifteen-year-old girl, but the duke believed in his daughter.
And as he believed, she did well enough. Cleverly and wisely.
Robert saw that from a distance. The procession of dukes passing through the market alley, the narrow road. He saw the young noble girl helping an old woman who had fallen and was gasping for breath.
When he learned that the girl was the duke’s proxy, the Lady of Ribue, a noble who had never gotten a drop of water on her hands in her life.
And when he saw the young, sheltered girl flawlessly handling the role of the duke’s proxy.
Robert had a hunch. She has the makings of a hero. She doesn’t necessarily have to become the emperor. But even if there are others who meet all the perfect conditions. There’s no reason she shouldn’t become the emperor.
He abandoned the emperor’s scheme to deal with Ribue and Duke Carvelier, and the traitors within Iron Side who had betrayed him.
To stand tall amidst the duke’s death and the crumbling Ribue, to run towards the light as a hero.
When he heard rumors that the plan had gone awry, he volunteered to go as an envoy himself. To confirm the makings of a hero.
Though the result wasn’t as he had hoped, he was satisfied. The Inquisition Officer’s intervention was an unexpected variable, but the plan was not disrupted. In fact, this was better.
He slowly extended his hand. With the courtesy of a knight to a sovereign.
“May the Divine Leviathan Empire have eternal glory. Long live His Majesty the Emperor.”
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