The Midas Baron (3)
Chrome's policy regarding Bern Midas's filial piety sightseeing tour to the back room was rock solid. A military coup was the worst possible move among bad moves. It was something you only resorted to when no other options remained. Anything else was off the table.
Ligret asked bluntly, "Can't you just cut down the family head or whatever and hand the seat over to your brother? End of story, right?"
"It'd be the end for me, sure. But the losses would be massive."
Anyone could see that from how the Second Prince had crumbled the moment the First Prince issued a single order. No matter how much people talked about succession battles or fighting over shares, if the current power holder decided to crush you, it was incredibly difficult for the younger generation to overturn it.
Of course, you couldn't directly compare Bern Midas—a mere merchant family head—with the First Prince, who held more authority than the current emperor himself. Still, even a back-alley thug held some weight in his own neighborhood. The Midas Merchant Group was an organization Bern Midas had built and grown from the ground up. His influence within the company was enormous.
If the transfer of power followed a 'proper' process, that would be one thing. But if Chrome simply killed him and declared himself the new head, the backlash would be catastrophic. In the worst case, the entire merchant group could splinter into pieces. Even if that didn't happen, the moment the organization wavered, outside forces would swarm in like piranhas.
In the original story, the Greedy Prodigal who had seized power through similar means had only managed to obtain a pitifully small faction compared to the current Midas Merchant Group.
"But if it's a power struggle instead of force, doesn't that mean the family head still holds the strongest position? Can you actually win?"
"Under normal circumstances, it'd be impossible. But the situation right now is special."
Fiore answered Ligret's question.
"At this point, Brother Theo is already close to the number two position within the company. And more importantly, the longer time passes, the more advantageous it becomes for Brother Theo. Because our ally, Brother Chrome, will soon become an imperial noble and a lord."
The members of the merchant group had eyes and ears too. There was no doubt that Chrome was a rising sun. If they saw that Chrome was supporting Theo Midas and pushing Bern aside, they would have no choice but to start worrying.
As long as they didn't recklessly wield violence and create fear and resentment, people would gradually start switching their allegiance to Theo. And once that current began, it would only accelerate—it would never slow down.
Or do you prefer to slowly wither away?
In the face of this courteous 'discussion,' there was only one way for Bern Midas to survive.
"The New Royal Family faction. If we can prevent them from joining hands with the family head, victory is ours. That's probably why Brother Theo called us here—to ask for exactly that."
The Midas family had begun by striking at the Old Royal Family faction from its very origins. Bern Midas had also chosen to bite at the Old Royal Family side as a means of making money. As a result, their relationship with the opposing New Royal Family faction wasn't bad. The only reasons they didn't openly laugh and chat together were Bern's commoner origins and the Midas family's notoriously vile reputation.
Especially in this particular matter—since Princess Lyla had already shown herself getting close to figures from the Old Royal Family faction, drawing the New Royal Family's wariness—there was plenty of room for Bern to exploit that and form an alliance.
"That's why we need to make the first move. Fortunately, we already have a connection with Marquis Magnus, a key figure on the New Royal Family side. We'll appeal to them. Something like: 'Her Highness the Princess is absolutely not trying to join hands with the Old Royal Family faction to push you all aside. She simply has a kind heart and wants to build friendly relationships with people from all over, not just the empire. In fact, from Her Highness's perspective, wouldn't the New Royal Family faction be far more approachable than those Old Royal Family brats who oppose the empire at every turn?'"
Even the New Royal Family faction wouldn't happily join hands with a mere merchant while being hostile toward the imperial royal family. They were only lending strength to the opposing side because the situation made it look like Princess Lyla was growing close to the Old Royal Family. If they could simply present another option besides the binary choice of enemy or ally, Bern Midas's value would plummet.
"…But weren't you the one who set up the connection between the princess and those Old Royal Family guys in the first place?"
At Ligret's words, Chrome answered confidently.
"The New Royal Family people don't know that."
"……."
And so began the negotiations with Marquis Magnus.
"Hahaha! To think I would meet the hero who distinguished himself in the empire like this. I was planning to invite you if the chance arose, but for you to come find me first—what a delightful turn of events."
I already know exactly what you're after. You're the one in need here, so watch how you behave.
"It is truly an honor to meet the respected Marquis as well. In fact, when I visited last time, I wanted to greet you properly, but it seems meetings between people don't always go as one wishes. Now that we can finally converse like this, how could I not be overjoyed?"
Last time you wouldn't even look at me because I was a commoner without any title in the company branch. Quite the change, isn't it?
"Respect is laying it on a bit thick. Won't you soon be a baron as well? Since we'll both be nobles, let's speak comfortably from now on."
No matter what noble title you obtain, if a mere baron tries to act as my equal, it won't be pleasant.
"The same noble? For someone like me who has received excessive honor thanks only to Her Highness the Princess's grace, those words feel far too heavy a burden."
Do you really think an imperial baron and a Spero baron have the same value? You must know who's standing behind me, Marquis.
"Hahaha."
"Hahaha."
The atmosphere was so warm and friendly that those unaware of the undercurrents relaxed. On the other hand, those who could guess the true meaning behind the words stiffened their expressions.
The first to play a card was Marquis Magnus.
"Now that I think about it, have you met with your father recently? He seems quite busy these days. Perhaps he's preparing a gift for his son. I always thought of him as a man without blood or tears, but it appears he has more humanity than I gave him credit for. As a father myself, I feel a certain kinship."
I've already received an offer from Bern Midas. It was quite an attractive proposal. It seems joining hands with him wouldn't be so bad?
"Oh my, is that so? Somehow I'm feeling more fear than anticipation. He's always been such an eccentric fellow. Could you give me just a small hint so I can prepare my heart in advance?"
Why would you want to get close to a man who's already on the verge of becoming obsolete? Why not do business with us, the rising power instead?
"Among Spero's old proverbs, there is one that says, 'Do not speak with those who carelessly reveal the latter parts of a book.' How could I do something so uncouth?"
You seem quite close with the Old Royal Family. Wouldn't it be awkward to join hands with us empty-handed? Unless there's some appropriate compensation, of course.
"I wasn't aware of such a proverb. My lack of learning is truly embarrassing. If there is any other advice you could give that might be of help, please do so. If it is within my power, I will put it into practice immediately."
What exactly do you want? As long as it's not too unreasonable, I'll consider it.
"It's nothing too grand. 'Keep your promises.' 'Treasure your family.' The simpler the words, the harder they are to follow."
Remember what I said before about my daughter's faction? Make it happen. Not in that half-hearted 'it'd be nice if it works' way like last time—do it seriously.
"The simpler the words, the harder they are to follow. Truly wise advice. I would like to pass this on to Her Highness the Princess as well."
I'll discuss it with Her Highness first and get back to you.
"I'm afraid you might think this old man is just spouting nonsense. Please speak well of me."
I don't have much time left at my age. Don't make me wait too long.
After Chrome Midas left, Marquis Magnus organized his thoughts.
'He thought that if he threatened me with becoming enemies with the princess, I would have no choice but to yield? How naive.'
It was true that if you weighed Bern Midas against the imperial royal family, the latter was overwhelmingly heavier. But in the current political climate, could the princess openly treat him and the entire New Royal Family faction as enemies? What would she do if they then aligned themselves with another imperial royal?
No matter how much people called her a rising sun, in the end she was still a newborn faction that had only just taken its first steps. If they were insignificant upstarts without any real power, it might be different. But from the perspective of Marquis Magnus—who served as the central pillar of the New Royal Family faction—there simply wasn't enough merit to justify throwing himself at her in a frenzy.
'For the princess to continue embracing that Midas brat, she needs the cooperation of our New Royal Family. However, making my daughter the central figure of Spero would provoke dissatisfaction from the Old Royal Family side. In other words, the princess must choose between the Midas brat and the Old Royal Family.'
If she chose the Midas brat and truly pushed out the Old Royal Family, then the New Royal Family could simply take their empty seat. Having once cut off her own forces, the princess would have no choice but to treat them favorably.
On the other hand, if she chose the Old Royal Family and abandoned the Midas brat, the New Royal Family would lose nothing. They could simply accept Bern Midas's proposal and suck the Midas Merchant Group dry.
No matter which side she picked, it was nothing but a loss for the princess. In truth, this was the princess's own self-inflicted wound—having dragged both the Old Royal Family and the Midas family, who were bitter enemies, into her camp at the same time.
'Still, how on earth did the princess manage to pull in those Old Royal Family bastards who are hostile to the empire? …Perhaps she built a personal connection with the eldest son of the Betua family within the academy.'
Marquis Magnus's reasoning was extremely rational.
"Hey, Alphonse. The New Royal Family side is going to hand over a few people who aren't cooperating with us. In exchange, play along with our side a bit."
However, in this world, there were always wicked people who thought, 'Rational? Does that taste good?'
This was the moment when a plan to forcibly integrate a certain clueless young lady into high society began, all atop a board where two publicly sworn enemies were secretly working together.