Etna Volcano (3)
The man the Senate recommended as husband for Princess Euresia was Senator Valentianus, a knight-class noble who had just turned forty this year.
Valentianus had served as provincial treasurer and governor in the frontiers, but he had no military experience.
In a way, that background might have given the Senate confidence. After all, if someone with influence in the military married into the imperial family, they might set their sights on the throne.
The emperor jumped at the Senate's proposal. He tried to use me as a shield to brush it off, but I had already finalized negotiations with the Senate.
"Your Majesty, Senator Valentianus has wide connections and a solid reputation. Marrying Her Highness Euresia to him would build Your Majesty's support base in the Senate."
"He's too old."
The emperor pointed out Valentianus's weakness. Of course, I too thought the senator was a bit too old.
Euresia, still in her late teens, was more than twenty years his junior.
But in politics, that hardly mattered. The only question was whether it brought gain or not. Wasn't that what political marriages were all about?
I clasped my hands together.
"Of course, the senator is older than Her Highness. But finding her a better match won't be easy."
"Are you saying my sister is lacking in some way?"
"Who would dare say Her Highness is lacking? It's just..."
"Just?"
"The rumors swirling in the palace are tarnishing her reputation."
The emperor cleared his throat awkwardly at my words.
Those rumors were about his improper relationship with Euresia.
"So before the talk spreads further, hastening Her Highness's marriage would benefit both Your Majesty and her."
"We can just punish those spreading such rude gossip."
"Punishing them would only make people believe the rumors are true. There's no need to fan the flames. Your Majesty, make the right decision for the empire."
Once I endorsed the Senate's proposal, the emperor looked troubled.
"If I send my sister to the Senate, won't that put you in a difficult position, General?"
"I'm fine."
I answered calmly.
The emperor bowed his head.
"I'll consider it. Give me time to think it over with my sister."
"Understood. And I have one more request."
"What is it?"
The emperor's voice rose slightly, as if offended.
"I ask that you grant the Senate the position of Imperial Regent."
"The Senate as Imperial Regent?"
Alexius looked shocked.
Imperial Regent!
The regent could handle the empire's affairs in the emperor's stead. Handing that authority to the Senate meant I, who had wielded power as the emperor's proxy, was stepping back from the front lines.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"But the affairs of state are yours."
"Me handling state affairs was already against imperial law. It's not good for the Praetorian Prefect to control the government in so many ways."
"Has the Senate somehow gotten a hold on your weaknesses?"
The emperor asked.
Otherwise, he couldn't understand why I'd hand power to the Senate.
"No. I'm simply letting things follow their natural course."
As I answered the emperor, I defined my own position.
In truth, the Praetorian Prefect dominating state affairs was problematic.
Not that handing it to the Senate was necessarily better, but it wasn't good for the long term.
Someday, I would have to step away from governance anyway. It was just happening a bit sooner.
I bowed to the emperor.
Once the Senate was officially granted the position of Imperial Regent, they finally heaved their heavy asses into action.
They added their hoarded gold to the imperial treasury and released their stockpiled grain onto the market.
It was less than I'd hoped, but their response eased the empire's near-fatal strangulation from the Etna volcano eruption.
Confirming the Senate had kept its word, I withdrew the Praetorian Guard from the capital.
This reduced my forces inside the capital to less than half.
With my authority as the emperor's proxy weakened and the Praetorian Guard's might diminished, the politicians who had aligned with me began tentatively cozying up to the Senate's mainstream faction.
Well, I'd expected as much.
Politicians flocking to power like butterflies to nectar was only natural.
Since I was stepping away from politics anyway, I moved my household outside the capital. The new home was a quiet villa owned by a fallen noble.
As I relocated, I freed all the slaves.
Until then, I'd kept several slaves in the capital for appearances, but there was no need anymore.
When I personally tore up their slave documents, the slaves gasped in surprise and prostrated themselves.
"M-Master. What have we done wrong?"
"Forgive us if we've erred. We want to serve you."
"We'll correct whatever needs fixing."
They banged their heads on the ground.
I understood why they were anxious about my actions.
A stable life.
They feared leaving the comfort of slavery.
Maximus. Those who took up arms with you were special, weren't they?
I smiled bitterly and told the slaves.
"It's not that you've done wrong and I'm casting you out. I just want to free you from slavery."
"Th-Then, can we keep working here for you?"
They lifted their heads, gauging my reaction.
"If you wish, yes."
"Thank you!"
"Thank you, Master!"
They bowed to me again.
This defeated the purpose of freeing them.
No. I can't call them foolish. In this harsh world where survival is hard and tomorrow is uncertain—a world and empire I've helped create—it's my fault. I can't blame them.
I waved them away.
As they retreated, Erenia approached, her skirts trailing.
"You freed the slaves?"
"I did."
"But..."
Erenia, having watched the farce, glanced toward where the slaves had gone.
"Why aren't they leaving?"
"They're afraid."
"Afraid? Living as someone's property is dishonorable, isn't it?"
Erenia looked puzzled.
Raised as a warrior tribe princess, she couldn't understand—or live by—the slaves' mindset.
Even I might have said the same if I hadn't given slaves a choice in the past.
"It's dishonorable. But if they think they can't get tomorrow's bread, they might hesitate."
"You're joking, right? I'd starve to death before living as a slave for bread."
"You would. They wouldn't."
Erenia flashed a cold glare—not at me, but at the slaves.
"Pathetic. Not even men. Are all the empire's slaves like that?"
"No. Many had courage. Like Maximus, the one I named."
"Maximus?"
"A slave who guarded my back. No—a brave comrade."
"That's what normal is."
"He was special."
I took her hand and strolled the garden. Chickens herded their chicks through the grass.
"More importantly, how did you end up yielding to the Senate?"
"No funds to recover from the Etna eruption's aftermath, so I shared power with them."
"You could have strong-armed more money out of them."
"That's the northern way. Force it in the capital, spark backlash, and we'd spill unnecessary blood in the empire. I've already killed many eagles under the guise of protecting the empire. I don't want more bloodshed."
"Maybe just a little blood."
Erenia tested me.
"Maybe."
"Then—"
"But."
I cut her off.
"Gambling the empire's fate isn't right. Risking civil war for my position—my fallen comrades wouldn't allow it. I've gained enough honor, power, and status."
Erenia looked disappointed. But the matter was settled.
Arm in arm with her, I wandered the garden in the afternoon sun. The warmth felt especially sweet after laying down power.
Princess Euresia's marriage proceeded smoothly. With the Senate and Praetorian Prefect aligned, the emperor had no choice.
The young emperor yielded to our will and consented to his sister's wedding. The condition was that Euresia could refuse if she didn't like Senator Valentianus.
I wondered if the marriage might fall through. Valentianus was just that ugly.
Compared to the beauty Euresia, he was beastly at best.
I felt a momentary pity for her.
"!!!!"
Sure enough.
In the emperor's presence, upon first seeing Senator Valentianus, Euresia's face froze stiff.
I'd never seen the princess so aghast.
She covered her mouth, then glared at her younger brother.
"Your Majesty."
Her eyes screamed protest: This is too much.
Alexius, seeing Valentianus's face, looked a bit flustered too.
"Ahem."
As Alexius cleared his throat, I stepped in.
"Senator. Greet Her Highness."
Valentianus grinned at my words. The princess's face soured at the sight.
"I am Valentianus. Meeting such a lovely Highness opens my eyes and ears."
Euresia clamped her lips shut instead of replying. She didn't even want to acknowledge him.
But Valentianus pressed on undeterred.
Marrying into the imperial family would elevate his knightly house to prominence overnight. A little cold shoulder wouldn't faze him.
Watching their "bizarre" first encounter, I sensed the marriage wouldn't be easy.
After the meeting, as Senator Valentianus and I left the throne room, Princess Euresia called me.
I sent the senator ahead and approached her.
"You called?"
"Fix this marriage."
Euresia pleaded pitifully, unlike her usual self.
I gave a wry smile at her request.
"That's difficult."
"Why?"
"As imperial family, Your Highness knows: position comes with duty. The empire wants you to marry Senator Valentianus, and you have the obligation to comply."
She snapped back sharply.
"The empire? Or the Senate!"
"The Senate and the people are the empire."
"Ridiculous. I won't pair with that bear of a man. You saw him."
True. But my promise to the Senate outweighed that.
We weren't close enough personally for me to risk helping her.
I refused coldly.
"I have eyes. But political marriages aren't about looks."
"You'll really do this?"
"I can't help you, Your Highness."
She clutched her skirts tightly, wrinkles forming in the long fabric.
"Grant my request, and I'll be your mistress."
An imperial princess offering to be the Praetorian Prefect's lover. Unthinkable for her pride and station. But she hated this marriage that much.
"I'll take that as a joke."
"Don't you covet the throne?"
The princess crossed a dangerous line.
My face hardened instantly.
"Stop there. Cross the line further, and..."
Instead of words, my hand went to my waist. Seeing it on the scabbard, Euresia's body trembled lightly.
She glared at me a moment, then vanished down the corridor.
I removed my hand from the scabbard.
(To be continued in the next chapter)