Chapter 192
Chapter 192
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 192
Chapter Title: The Emperor's Surprise Promotion
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The venue had devolved into utter chaos, all thanks to His Majesty the Emperor pulling off a surprise prank despite it not being his own birthday.
Normally, it might have caused some embarrassment, but nothing worth plunging into pandemonium. The real issue was that the Emperor's right-hand man was on the list.
Nobles weren't exactly thrilled at the prospect of piling even more prestige onto a house already rivaling the dukes in influence.
After all, power wasn't infinite. It was a zero-sum game—someone's gain meant someone else's loss.
"Haa..."
In that subtly tense atmosphere, Father blinked rapidly for about three seconds before letting out a deep sigh. He covered his face with a weary expression and made his way to the dais where His Majesty stood.
"Father."
"You're not Earl Hume yet. No need to come up."
"Yes, sir..."
He even maintained his composure while calmly sending back Big Brother, who had snapped out of it a beat later than Father and hurriedly followed.
"Wow..."
I couldn't help but let out a gasp of admiration.
If it had been me—suddenly called out by His Majesty the Emperor, under the scrutiny of countless nobles—I'd probably have stood there dazed, staring blankly at the sky for a good five minutes.
Yet here Father was, sorting through his emotions and taking action in mere seconds.
Not for nothing had he endured as the Emperor's right hand for nearly twenty years.
"Hmmm..."
Relieved that he was still alive, I stared blankly at Father's retreating back. Before I knew it, all ten nobles had ascended the dais, lining up neatly to His Majesty's left and right.
His Majesty surveyed them one by one, letting out a nasal hum and a chuckle.
"Surprisingly, not a single one missing. What a pity."
"......"
Having barely pulled themselves together to answer the sudden summons, the nobles on the dais could only muster awkward smiles at the culprit expressing disappointment over their full attendance.
Especially since it was the Emperor doing the trolling—they couldn't laugh heartily or show displeasure. Must have been torture.
"—"
I caught Father speaking on behalf of the stiff nobles, but he was too far from the mic for me to hear clearly.
Judging by His Majesty's impassive expression, it was surely some textbook humility.
"Well, as loyal retainers ever ready to serve Us, it's no wonder you appeared so promptly. Truly, the empire's great blessings."
With that, His Majesty duly praised the nobles before taking the sword proffered by the approaching chamberlain.
"We shall bestow awards in the order called. Suffolk Earl, step forward first."
The moment His Majesty raised the sword, the awarding ceremony began in earnest.
Suffolk Earl, called first, stepped forward slowly, knelt before His Majesty, and bowed his head.
"Suffolk Earl..."
What followed was a rather tedious rundown of merits and awards.
Not that anyone was dying to know who'd done what, and the rewards were modest—baronies or viscountcies tacked on. Most watched with mild indifference, clapping politely as recipients rose.
Everyone knew the real main event was Father's award.
"Very well. Finally, Earl Hume, step forward."
As the main dish arrived, His Majesty and the chamberlains shifted gears.
Unlike before, where one chamberlain handed over seals and crests, two now emerged for Father, bearing his items.
His Majesty even smiled as he regarded Father.
"Earl Hume's merits lie in serving across generations as the empire's sword and shield for stabilizing the northern plains. As a mage, he has brought boundless advancement to the realm of magic. And when We faltered in delusion, making misguided judgments, he steadfastly supported the Crown Princess, offering unwavering counsel to uphold the proper order."
"Ooh..."
It was gilded from the start.
Painting even performative loyalty as life-risking advice—what on earth was he building up to? It was downright intimidating.
"For this retainer who burns body and soul day and night for the empire, We bestow upon Earl Hume the eastern territories of the Pontos region and the Pontic Countship."
Pontos?
The southeastern grasslands of the northern plains, flanking a vast lake yet too rain-scarce for farming—prime pastureland.
From our family's lands, it was beyond a single barony, reaching into two nomadic tribes' domains. A straight shot took three days.
Considering horses doped with magic or holy power could gallop nonstop, that was considerable distance.
A modest prize compared to the lavish buildup.
Thus, everyone held their breath, awaiting His Majesty's next words.
"Furthermore, as Earl Hume bears the duty of managing the plains and surrounding eastern steppes, We promote him to Margrave of the Border. To fulfill this adequately, special authorities shall be granted."
Managing the plains.
One might think it was Father's job all along, but officially, His Majesty had been the one granting titles to the nomads and communicating directly.
Father's role was monitoring and checking their movements.
Distance made his direct involvement inevitable, but now it was outright handing him full authority.
Like making him the nomads' leader, akin to Countess Tigres among the beastkin. The weight was immense.
It came with the right to mobilize nomads in emergencies.
Militarily speaking, "Northern Archduke" wouldn't be amiss.
"—!"
The nobles grew restless at granting Father—who already wielded strong regional military power—nomadic wings.
Northern nobles with past raid grievances looked particularly grim.
So long as our house stayed on good terms with His Majesty eternally, fine. But any rift, and nomadic archers plus mounted mages could race into the Imperial Capital side by side.
And when that happened, the north would be plundered first, naturally.
In this mess, the worst face belonged to none other than Father.
"......"
Even before His Majesty, Father failed to mask his expression, grimacing and bowing his head deeply.
He'd planned to pass the title to Big Brother in a year—or one quarter now—and spend leisurely days with Mother, doting on grandkids.
I'd heard he'd even bought villas across the empire's four corners for jaunts. Now he'd have to sell them all.
And tumble on the plains for years to boot. No wonder it horrified him.
"Earl Hume, raise your head and receive the seal and crest We bestow!"
Blind to such human longings for a comfy retirement, His Majesty tapped Father's shoulder with the sword and shoved the items forward, urging him to take them.
"—!"
Taking the seal and crest with trembling hands, Father bowed and bellowed his thanks.
His Majesty gazed contentedly before gesturing for him to withdraw, then turned to us watching from below the dais.
"Should another noble emerge who serves the empire and Us with utmost loyalty, We may bestow awards like today's at any time. Let all heed this and never forget your devotion to empire and sovereign! That is all."
Openly hinting at more to come, His Majesty lowered the mic slightly, waved dismissively as if bored with speeches, and turned away.
"Long live His Imperial Majesty! Long live the great Platteatnet Empire!"
The nobles' resounding cheers marked the end of the enthronement ceremony.
All that remained was the banquet in the palace.
His Majesty had dumped a massive headache; Father's and Big Brother's path of toil lay wide open.
_
"Your Majesty... If you were planning something this big, a heads-up would have been nice. Don't we need time to prepare?"
No sooner had the speech ended than Border Margrave Hume—trailing Us instead of heading to the banquet hall—shoved his weary face close and vented his complaints most irreverently.
"Ha, prepare?"
Not giving prior notice as a "surprise gift" was Our fault, sure. But demanding warning for preparations? Laughable.
"We merely formalized what you were already doing and handed over a few authorities. Aside from some lush pastures, has anything really changed?"
It was just clarifying your existing role with a slight title tweak. Why so sensitive...?
"It's an official change in hierarchy. At minimum, shouldn't I coordinate with Alf Count of the Plains? We've been on equal footing till now, but suddenly I'm his superior."
"You've been talking down to him informally already. And how do you coordinate with a guy holed up on the plains, barely showing his face?"
"That's exactly why you should've said something beforehand..."
"Tsk tsk..."
I clicked my tongue, eyeing the Border Margrave's persistent backtalk with displeasure.
My wife's family had pulled strings specially for the cigars, yet here he was, making a fuss.
Ah, perhaps the gift was too small?
If so, Our pride demanded We couldn't let it stand.
"Well... if the margraviate displeases you, We could pass it on."
I offered a subtle smile, feigning retreat.
"Really?"
Border Margrave Hume's face lit up.
I watched it a moment, shrugged, and added,
"In exchange, We might slot you into a vacant ducal or marquisate seat from twenty-one years ago. Sound good?"
"......"
Overwhelmed by the ducal or marquisal bait, Border Margrave Hume fell silent, squeezing his eyes shut.
"The margraviate will do..."
"Hm, modest indeed."
Yet when offered the big prize, he balked from the burden and picked the original.
Why play hard to get if he'll take it anyway...?
Howard Baron was the same; father and son alike, pestering Us.
Hmm... Time to bump Howard Baron up a notch too, but one plains gig feels shaky...
"Margrave, soon I'd like to promote Howard Baron as well. Toss him some suitable task."
"A task, you say? But those in uniforms are mostly military..."
"That's for you and the other ministers to figure out. Come May, he'll be a viscount no matter what—make the justification."
"I'll do my best..."
"Mm."
With insurance laid for contingencies, he'll surely get promoted around Elizabeth's birthday.
"Ha—"
Really, where else is a mother-in-law doting on her daughter's in-laws like this?
Had Hume Margrave and Howard Baron saved a nation in a past life?
What a blessed house.
They seem oblivious, but Our magnanimous self shall understand.