A Calculated Peace

Knock, knock.

At the sound of the rapping on the door, both Agrippa and I turned our heads.

"Who is it?" I called out.

Agrippa and I exchanged a look.

"Let him in," I said.

The words had barely left my mouth when—

Creeeak! Slam!

Speaker Charles burst into the room, throwing the door shut with violent force. His face was flushed crimson with rage, and he marched toward me, pointing an accusatory finger.

"Grand Duke! Even for a man of your reputation, there must be a limit to your wickedness!"

Faced with the Speaker's thunderous shouting, I simply offered a mild smile.

"I haven't the faintest idea what you are talking about."

"Ha... Are you playing innocent now?" At my relaxed response, Speaker Charles's nostrils flared. He pulled a crumpled sheet of paper from his breast pocket. "The Supreme Court's ruling. Was this rushed trial not your doing, Grand Duke?"

I shrugged.

"I merely petitioned the Supreme Court for a judicial review of the law's constitutionality."

Speaker Charles shook his head in disbelief.

"Lies! Do not lie to me, Grand Duke! Did you not threaten and coerce the Supreme Court into railroading this sham of a trial?!"

"Do you have any proof? Besides, is the Supreme Court really an institution that would bend to my whims just because of a few threats?"

The Supreme Court was a prestigious institution that served as one of the pillars of the Empire. Though often overshadowed by the Emperor and the Parliament, it was legally the third-highest state organ under imperial law. If the Empire were functioning normally, they would never have handed down a verdict tailored to my tastes just because of some threats.

"Ha! How utterly shameless! Proof?! You ask for proof? It hasn't even been a week since you filed the petition, and they've already handed down a verdict! This is preposterous! And you dare ask for proof?"

I shrugged again.

"I admit I didn't expect a ruling so quickly either, but I can only assume the Supreme Court made a wise and decisive judgment. In any case, if you have an issue with their decision, shouldn't you be taking this up with the Supreme Court instead of coming here?"

Furious at my response, he grabbed the court document and—

Rip! Rrrriiiip!

He tore it to shreds with savage fury.

"As the Speaker of the Imperial Parliament, I refuse to recognize this sham of a ruling! And mark my words, Grand Duke—you will regret this!"

Slam!

Having said his piece, Speaker Charles stormed out, slamming the door behind him.

Agrippa and I stared at the door for a moment before we both burst out laughing.

"Pfft!"

"Hahaha!"

"What an old fool... completely detached from reality," Agrippa said, wiping a tear of laughter from the corner of his eye.

"Tell me about it."

Roman was currently a city occupied by my army and ruled under my authority. Furthermore, our faction already held thirty percent of the seats in the Imperial Parliament. If the upcoming negotiations went well, even the Emperor's Faction would support us. We would secure seventy percent of the parliament in an instant... turning the legislature into nothing more than our rubber stamp.

"Well... let him do as he pleases for now. And," I paused, looking at Agrippa, "tell Representative Alexander to come in."

It was time to begin negotiations with the Emperor's Faction.

Afterward, Agrippa and I went over our military strategies and prepared for the negotiations.

"If war breaks out..." Agrippa pointed to the map. "They will most likely set up their command post around here. It's high ground, which gives them a clear view of the entire battlefield."

I nodded. In this world, unlike modern war games, it was impossible to command forces while viewing the battlefield in real-time.

"In that case, they'll place their supply depot over here." He pointed to the forest adjacent to it. "We should station our knights in these woods, launch a night raid to cripple their supplies, and then have transport ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠ships ready to evacuate them right on schedule."

Watching Agrippa lay out the plan so calmly, curiosity got the better of me. "Aren't you nervous?"

Despite his composed demeanor, Agrippa let out a soft sigh. "Whew... I suppose I am a little tense."

I nodded in agreement. "Me too..."

Rather than letting a war break out right now, I needed to buy time to consolidate my grip on the Empire. I also needed time to rally the Anti-Emperor Faction nobles who had fled in horror at Valorang's tyrannical madness. For now, we had no choice but to play defensively... but I believed that if we could just buy enough time, we could easily crush the Emperor's Faction. To do that, I was willing to hand over the Emperor's personal territories. Even if... it meant earning Theodora's resentment.

If this negotiation failed, war would be our only option.

At that moment—

Knock, knock.

"Who is it?"

Agrippa and I hastily swept the maps and war plans into my desk drawer. Clearing my throat, I called out, "Let him in."

The door opened, and Representative Alexander stepped inside.

"You wished to see me, Grand Duke?"

"Haha, indeed," I replied to the smug-looking representative. "I recently received reports that the Emperor's Faction's army is marching toward Roman."

Alexander smiled smoothly. "Is that cause for concern? I assure you, they are merely marching to restore justice to the capital. There is no other motive."

Alexander was the representative dispatched to Roman on behalf of the Nicaea Kingdom. Since King Yohanes of Nicaea was the leader of the Emperor's Faction, the two of them were undoubtedly keeping in close contact even now.

"Is that so? Well, that is a relief. And how is King Yohanes faring these days?"

At my casual probe, Alexander's expression stiffened slightly. "I wouldn't know."

"Since time is short, I will get straight to the point," I said.

In aristocratic society, cutting straight to business was considered uncouth, but we didn't have a moment to waste. Resolving this through negotiations with minimal bloodshed was the only way I could secure a dominant political position in the future.

"I wish to negotiate a peace treaty with King Yohanes."

Alexander looked genuinely bewildered. "Grand Duke... that is highly unexpected."

"What is?"

"Well..." Alexander studied my face, searching for a catch. "Is the Lion family not famous for its ferocity? I was under the impression your house considered retreat or negotiation to be the domain of cowards."

The Lion family... For generations, my house had maintained a fierce culture where retreat or compromise was viewed as a coward's path. Many of my ancestors had indeed brought glory to our name by fighting bravely without a single fear of death. It was only natural that he found it hard to believe the current head of such a house was actively seeking peace.

"That is true. However, is it not far more logical for both sides to profit rather ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠than engage in a conflict where both lose?"

A sly, chilling smile spread across Alexander's face.

"Haha... I had heard that Your Grace possessed an exceptionally talented advisor. To think you managed to drag the hot-tempered head of the Lion family to the negotiating table..." He turned his gaze to Agrippa. "I shall certainly remember your name, young man."

Then, looking back at me with lingering suspicion, he continued, "But as you well know, Grand Duke, your family assassinated the late Emperor. Furthermore, you are attempting to force a marriage with Her Imperial Highness, the Crown Princess. These are clear transgressions. When you add your violation of imperial law and your coercion of the Supreme Court to the list..." He paused, locking eyes with me. "In my personal opinion, I believe negotiations will be exceedingly difficult."

The Emperor's Faction claimed to rally under the banner of loyalty to the crown. But did they truly care about the Emperor? Or was it about the immense benefits the Emperor provided? I knew, without a doubt, it was the latter. Therefore, I believed their stance would shift depending entirely on what I could offer them.

"Is that so?" I looked at Alexander's smug grin and offered a matching smile. "Very well, then. We shall see this through to the bitter end."

Amused by my response, Alexander spoke up. "Though... purely out of personal curiosity, I must ask: what exactly did you mean by a mutually beneficial transaction?"

He was acting as if he were merely asking for his own amusement, completely detached from his home country, but I smiled inwardly. I hope you take the bait.

"I was planning to cede the Kingdom of Epirus—which is currently owned by the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠imperial crown—to the Emperor's Faction. Furthermore, I intended to grant the Nicaea Kingdom a special charter for sovereign warfare."

Alexander's eyebrow twitched. "How could you, a Grand Duke, possibly hand over the Emperor's personal fiefdom?"

Whether he was genuinely ignorant or simply testing my resolve, I couldn't tell. I replied calmly, "Once I marry the Crown Princess, she will become the Empress. And is it not the destiny of women in this era to never defy their husbands?"

That would be more than enough to convey my intentions. Once I married Theodora, I would coerce her into being a puppet ruler and carve up her lands to hand over to them.

Intrigued, Alexander leaned in. "Haha... but if you do that, Your Grace, your name will be reviled for generations. Are you truly prepared for that?"

Reviled for generations? History is written by the victors. The ultimate winner claims the spoils and dictates the honor of the defeated. Therefore, I could endure any amount of criticism and condemnation. If it meant preventing the descent of the Demon King and bringing peace to this world... I would gladly swallow all the insults they could throw.

"The family... For nobles like us, the preservation of our house is paramount." It was a cryptic, riddle-like answer, but I knew the meaning would be fully conveyed to Alexander.

"The family... Hmmm..." Alexander fell into deep thought before speaking cautiously. "Indeed, a house is eternal. Thank you for this intriguing proposal. I shall convey it to His Majesty, King Yohanes."

As Alexander rose from his seat, I smiled.

"I trust in King Yohanes's wise judgment. However..." I paused, letting my smile fade. When I spoke again, my voice was cold and heavy. "If there are no negotiations, I will personally show you why my family is called the Lions—and why the army of our Grand Duchy is hailed as the finest in the Empire."

Alexander maintained his composure, though his smile was slightly strained. "I shall certainly keep that in mind. Now, if you will excuse me."

With that, he took his leave.

"Will this be enough?"

Only God knew what lay ahead.

Alexander made his way to his office.

Located within the massive domed building of the Imperial Parliament where the laws of the Empire were forged, he entered his private chambers and began brewing tea.

"How unexpected."

He had never imagined that the proud Lion family would ever utter the word 'negotiation.' They were a breed that knew no fear ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠of death.

"Come to think of it..."

The current Grand Duke, Deviang Lion, was once called the shame of the Lion family. Of course, Valorang was the only one who had ever openly referred to him as such. Having met the Grand Duke a few times recently, Alexander found him quite different from Valorang or his grandfather. Those men possessed an overwhelming, suffocating charisma. In contrast, Deviang was neither a powerful knight nor did he possess that same raw, terrifying presence.

"Is he an oddity...?"

Lost in thought, Alexander poured the fully steeped tea into his cup and sat at his desk.

Picking up his quill, Alexander began writing on a sheet of paper. His handwriting was remarkably neat and elegant.

Alexander paused, tapping his chin. "Hmm... I think we can squeeze even more out of him..."

With that thought, he added a few more lines.

He slipped the letter into an envelope and sealed it with his personal signet ring.

"Heheh... If this goes well... I might just become the Minister of Foreign Affairs."

The thrilling prospect of becoming the Foreign Minister of the Nicaea Kingdom sent a shiver of excitement down Alexander's spine.