A Ninety-Year Lease
It was the fifth day of working through the night. Finally, word arrived that the anti-Grand Duchy faction had agreed to accept our terms of surrender.
"Ninety years... We will delegate the governing authority to the Grand Duchy of Francesco for ninety years."
Ninety years. I stroked my chin, lost in thought. It wasn't a bad deal.
Under imperial law, if a sovereign loses effective control over a territory for a hundred years, they forfeit all ownership and claims to that land. Thus, a hundred-year lease was out of the question, and I had expected ninety-nine years at most.
Hmm... Well, whether it's ninety years or ninety-nine, the end result of annexation remains the same. Besides, I had no intention of letting this matter drag on into the next generation.
"That sounds acceptable. Ninety years seems quite reasonable."
Once I gave my consent, the subsequent proceedings moved with lightning speed...
"Please sign here."
The assemblymen, who had been delegated authority by their respective lords, beamed at me.
"Your Grace's resourcefulness is truly extraordinary. We never imagined someone of such brilliant intellect would emerge from the Lion family."
"Indeed, Your Grace! You are a true hero of our era."
Good grief... Are they really that desperate to keep their seats in the Imperial Diet? Well, those positions did come with countless privileges. Though their flattery left a bitter taste in my mouth, I maintained the most amiable smile possible.
"Is this not all thanks to your loyal devotion to your lord?"
Loyal devotion, my foot. They were merely corrupt politicians who used their privileges as members of the Imperial Diet to line their own pockets. The moment I promised to let them retain their seats in the Diet, they readily abandoned their lords and flocked to my side.
Once I assumed complete control over the anti-Grand Duchy territories, these men would be the very first to face the judgment of the law.
Of course, if I were to prosecute them directly, rumors would spread that I discard my allies the moment they outlive their usefulness. I'll just have to dig up enough dirt on them and have a suitable proxy bring forward the charges.
Keeping those thoughts to myself, I maintained a bright smile as I listened to them babble.
"Haha, we are deeply grateful that you recognize our efforts. Truthfully, it was no easy task."
"Exactly! As Your Grace well knows, nobles possess immense pride. To be stripped of their right to rule their own lands, even under merciful terms... It was incredibly difficult to persuade them."
At their words, I adopted a solemn expression and even bowed my head.
"Thanks to your efforts, we have prevented our citizens from shedding blood in a needless conflict. You have my deepest gratitude."
While everything else was an act, I was genuinely relieved that these parasites had helped me avoid a prolonged, drawn-out war.
"Haha, Your Grace's love for the people is truly profound!"
"How could such a magnificent ruler exist..."
Watching these old men practically move themselves to tears by my performance, I felt a bizarre sensation wash over me. What on earth... Why are they making such a fuss? Keeping that thought strictly to myself, I spoke with a bright smile.
"Thank you for your kind words. Lucius, bring it in."
At my command, Lucius, who had been standing at attention behind me, stepped out of the room. A moment later, he returned with several soldiers, carrying a massive wooden chest.
They set the heavy chest down beside us, and the soldiers withdrew with disciplined precision. That must be heavy, I thought. I had tried lifting it myself not long ago and had been surprised by its weight.
"What is this...?"
Seeing the assemblymen stare at the sudden appearance of the chest in surprise, I smiled.
"This is a small token of my appreciation for helping to bring this war to a swift end."
I rose from my seat and lifted the lid of the chest. Inside, a mountain of gold coins glittered brilliantly.
"Oh, my... You really didn't have to do this, Your Grace. We only did what was best for the empire."
"Indeed. We acted out of pure devotion to Your Grace, the empire, and Her Imperial Majesty. Please, put this away."
Anyone who actually put it away at this point had no business being in politics. I put on an expression of deep, moved gratitude.
"I am deeply touched that you hold such regard for me and the empire. This is merely a humble offering, prepared in the hope that you, the loyal pillars of our nation, might enjoy a fine meal today."
At my words, their eyes darted back and forth in rapid, silent communication before one of them stepped forward.
"However, we fear our pure intentions might be misconstrued."
"Indeed. As loyal subjects of the empire, we... Ahem..."
"I assure you, this is purely a gesture of appreciation for the assemblymen who stay up all night worrying for the sake of our country. Please do not overthink it."
Perhaps they felt they had saved enough face after my repeated insistence. The look in their eyes began to shift.
They had put on a show of being loyal subjects devoted to my cause, but this was their true nature.
"Shall we proceed with the signing of the surrender treaty, then?"
As I steered the conversation back to the treaty, they quickly agreed.
"Haha, of course. Forgive us, we got ahead of ourselves."
I signed the surrender document.
Scritch, scratch!
I slid the document over to the assemblymen. One by one, they began signing their names beneath the territories they represented.
Scratch, scritch!
Before long, all the signatures were complete.
"So... the young lion has rebuilt the Anti-Emperor Faction after all."
Yohanes was in a foul mood as he contemplated the Grand Duke, who had brought the war to an end far quicker than anticipated.
Did it even take a month?
Tap... tap...
He tapped his fingers against the table in anxious agitation.
He had acquired Epirus and Egypt, quietly consolidating his grip on them. Yet, he was still far from ready to wage an all-out war against the Emperor Faction.
Though he was secretly hiring mercenaries and raising an army, his forces had only just managed to match theirs in numbers.
Furthermore, their geographical positions were highly unfavorable. While Epirus was close to Nicaea, allowing for swift reinforcements, Egypt was a different story. One had to either take a fast ship or make a massive detour by land.
This was why watching Deviang filled him with such intense anxiety and unease.
Thud!
"Damn it..."
There was no way the young lion would sit idly by while Yohanes took over the Emperor Faction. He would undoubtedly find a way to intervene in their internal factional war.
Just as his anxiety was reaching a fever pitch—
Knock, knock!
"Who is it?"
"The Count of Lazio has arrived."
At the announcement of Savinelli's arrival, Yohanes spoke.
"Enter."
The door opened, and the young count stepped inside.
"You summoned me, Your Majesty?"
The young Count of Lazio, Savinelli. He had originally been the heir to a minor county within the Emperor Faction, but Yohanes, recognizing his brilliant talent, had sponsored him to imprison the previous count and take his place.
"Have you heard the news from Roman?"
Savinelli smiled at Yohanes, whose anxiety was plain to see.
"Your Majesty, you seem deeply troubled."
"Sigh... How could I not be? The young lion ended his war far too quickly. Even with Epirus and Egypt in our hands, I cannot bring myself to wage war with such a formidable Anti-Emperor Faction looming right beside us."
For Yohanes, the prospect of the Anti-Emperor Faction intervening as enemies in his civil war against the Emperor Faction was the absolute worst-case scenario.
Reading his master's anxiety, Savinelli stepped forward.
"There are two main paths we can take."
Yohanes eagerly urged him on.
"Tell me."
"The first is to abandon our ambitions for the empire. We content ourselves with Epirus and Egypt and give up on taking the imperial throne. After all, once Princess Joy marries the crown prince in two years, another opportunity will eventually present itself."
Yohanes sighed at those words.
"Do you think it is that simple? The moment the high nobles of the Emperor Faction realize I have seized Epirus and Egypt all for myself, they will declare war immediately."
Using Princess Joy's succession rights to strike when the young lion and the current Empress let their guard down was certainly a viable strategy.
Considering how they had been suppressed by emperors for centuries, even that waiting period would feel like a mere blink of an eye.
But of course, that was only possible if he hadn't accepted Epirus and Egypt in the first place. Or at the very least, if he had shared them with the Emperor Faction immediately upon receiving them. But now that he had consolidated his grip on those lands, there was no way they would sit idly by.
Yohanes had promised to share Epirus and Egypt with the Emperor Faction once he acquired them. However, he had broken that promise and swallowed the massive territories whole. Given the delicate balance within the faction, the consequences were as clear as day.
"If worst comes to worst, we can use the Grand Duke as an excuse to persuade them. But there is no need to worry too much. If they do declare war on us, it might actually work in our favor."
Yohanes furrowed his brows, falling into deep thought.
If a civil war breaks out with the Emperor Faction, Deviang is bound to intervene. What on earth is Savinelli talking about?
Just then, a sudden realization struck Yohanes.
"Hmm... I see. Since those territories were given to me by the young lion himself, we can strip him of any justification to intervene."
Yohanes had ruled as king for a very long time. Proving that his years on the throne had not been in vain, he hit upon the exact answer.
"Exactly. If a civil war erupts over the very lands Deviang handed to us, what right would he have to interfere? If he tries to step in regardless, he will lose all honor and credibility."
Indeed. If he refuses to back down, we can simply expose the documents we received at the Roman cafe.
Imperial politics were ruthless. Deviang would be branded with the infamy of deliberately sowing discord within a faction by handing over territories just to eliminate his political rivals.
Once that happened, no one would ever trust the young lion again.
It is laughable to speak of honor and trust in politics, but at the very least, any move Deviang makes will be viewed with deep suspicion by everyone.
No foolish noble would ever negotiate with a man who couldn't be trusted.
Deviang might want to support the Emperor Faction, but once they realize he was the one who handed Epirus and Egypt to me, they will turn on him. The neutral faction will turn hostile toward him as well... In the end, even if he controls the empire, he will receive absolutely no cooperation from anyone.
As his thoughts reached this conclusion, Yohanes's mood brightened, and he let out a hearty laugh.
"Indeed... That is how we shall deal with the Emperor Faction."
Yohanes spoke with renewed cheer, but Savinelli merely wore an enigmatic smile.
"Your Majesty, since relying solely on that leaves some room for uncertainty, why not employ another method as well? It is far more difficult to pull off than the first, but if it succeeds, this entire empire will be yours."
Yohanes's eyes gleamed as he stared at his vassal.
"A better method than this? What... what is it?"
Savinelli leaned in, his expression turning sinister as he whispered.
"Use the assassins we previously planted in the Imperial Palace to assassinate the current Empress. Once she is dead, the young lion will lose everything."