Unraveling the Grand Dukes
Ah, I see. The Bellos Empire was set up to be incredibly vast. There were stories of regions that hadn't even been discovered yet. In short, it was established as a "filthy rich and ridiculously huge country." And naturally, it would be impossible for the emperor to rule such a sprawling territory all by himself. That inevitably led to the creation of grand dukes, didn't it?
That was the novel's setting, right?
The Northern Grand Duke who ruled the frigid snowcapped mountains, and the Eastern Grand Duke who roamed the vast seas. Honestly, it was a perfectly plausible setup. It was a cliché you'd find in just about any fantasy novel—the Northern Grand Duke was practically standard fare.
But.
"Moderation, people. Show some moderation... Leave the emperor as the male lead, and the grand dukes as male leads too?"
Even for a cliché, this was overkill. One crown prince, two grand dukes. Every key player who could shake the empire's balance was a male lead. Up to that point, it was still somewhat forgivable. People could be nice like that—what could you do?
But.
The empire's been propping up a single western kingdom from the north, center, and east... all at once.
All those male leads were ready to hand over their entire domains to her. That was something I just couldn't stomach.
Truth be told, when I'd thought about it seriously, something had felt off. Even after I'd wiped out every bit of manpower and investment the second prince had poured into Maselin and demanded repayment instead, the doom probability hadn't dropped below 70%.
So I'd suspected there was more to it. And now...
"How much slack has the crown prince been giving them for even a grand duke to send carrier pigeons straight to the crown prince's chambers like this?"
These guys preparing to sell out the country held grand duke titles. The second prince had at least gotten permission from me before acting on his own. But the Northern and Eastern Grand Dukes? They'd probably sent aid without a second thought, figuring they had final say.
But how the hell did they even become grand dukes?
From what I recalled of the founding myth, some great prophet had done it all single-handedly. How did this country end up with two grand dukes? Just because the land was vast?
The guy doesn't seem like the type to divvy up power just because the territory's big.
Was there something in the founding history? Or was it just a fantasy setting thing? There was so much I needed to figure out.
I'd wanted to take it easy for at least a day.
"Hoo."
I let out a short sigh.
"Prepare for the State Council."
I ordered the knight standing guard outside. I hated summoning nobles all the time as much as the next guy, but what choice did I have?
+++++
The State Council.
In the old days, we'd sit around the round table laughing ha-ha-ho-ho, sipping tea, casually chatting about how the country was doing. We'd ask about each other's daily lives, say we'd just missed seeing faces, and if any big issues came up, we'd hash them out together before parting amicably. It wasn't held often anyway, and even when it was, there was never any tension.
"Hoo... hoo... hoo...!"
"P-Prime Minister, Your Excellency... why are you running like that?"
"You... you think you wouldn't run? In a place where one wrong word could cost you your knees?"
The Prime Minister wiped the beads of sweat from his brow and sank into his assigned seat. Everyone else was already there. It seemed they'd arrived in order of rank, and he'd barely made it as the last one.
As long as I beat Crown Prince Highness here, it's fine.
His Highness always arrived right on time, so you had to get there early, catch your breath, and be ready to dive straight in.
Because.
"Crown Prince Highness is entering."
Clack-clack-clack-clack.
If you met the glaring eyes of the Imperial Guard Knights without having steadied your breathing...
"Ack, heh-heh, cough!"
You might end up coughing right as His Highness walked in slowly. Disaster.
Bound to happen eventually.
Ever since that day in the round table chamber when the second prince's cronies had their knees severed.
The State Council was no longer a relaxed tea party.
"It pleases me greatly that the empire's pillars have all answered this sudden summons today."
The crown prince's words dropped casually from the head seat.
"It was only our duty, Your Highness."
"To heed Your Highness's call is the very essence of serving as a minister—how could we refuse?"
"Fulfilling Your Highness's will is my life's calling."
They scrambled to chime in like they'd been waiting for it, each spouting praise. What stiff-necked central nobles? What proud ancient bloodlines?
In the end, it's all meaningless.
One word from the crown prince, and heads bowed, histories melted away. Nobles might strut among themselves, but one word from him and their legs were gone below the knee, titles stripped. They walked a knife-edge of thin ice.
Thus.
"Your warm welcome makes me want to laugh, haha. Enough chit-chat—I've called you here to get a proper grasp on the grand dukes' movements."
The Prime Minister pretended to address everyone while locking eyes with the crown prince, whose gaze was fixed on him. He swallowed hard, years of experience widening his constricted throat from tension, and slowly spoke.
"To start with the big picture... relations between the center, north, and east are quite good. The north teems with monsters, and barbarians eye it hungrily. The Northern Grand Duke repels the beasts, blocks invasions, and secures monster byproducts and rare northern resources with utmost diligence."
"And the east?"
"...The east leverages its vast maritime domain to uncover hidden relics, engage in exchanges with other nations or continents, broadening the empire's horizons. It also maintains swift mobility, ever ready to serve as the empire's feet."
"The north is a sturdy wall against barbarians, the east our far-seeing eyes."
"Yes, exactly."
The crown prince pondered briefly.
A wall and eyes.
And those roles were wholly smitten with a foreign kingdom's princess, handing over everything the empire produced. It was a miracle the place hadn't collapsed yet.
Wouldn't be weird if it had crumbled already—what the hell kind of overpowered military did they set this empire up with?
Since it was built from the start as a country to shower gifts on the Maselin Kingdom, its foundations were rock-solid, at least. Setting it up as a munchkin kingdom's princess from the get-go would've killed the growth fun. They planned to use the empire as a punching bag for handouts to drive the plot.
Not on my watch.
The protagonist of Too Full from All the Handouts Around Me was possessed by a modern person. A 21st-century woman in a romance fantasy world, snagging the hearts of all the hot, dashing male leads around her, getting showered with gifts, and acting all flustered while taking it.
"But lately, is there a grand duke neglecting that role?"
That shtick was getting old. No more easy handouts from the empire.
If you're full, stop eating.
Why stick to "I'm just minding my own business, but everyone keeps chasing me—I'm too popular, I just want a normal life" from start to finish? It made no sense. Sure, early on, maybe, but keeping that stance forever? Weird. Later on, she wanted it too, right?
Anyway.
"...Might I ask what Your Highness means by 'neglecting their role'?"
"If the north's wall or east's eyes fail to fulfill their duties and cease aiding the empire, that's neglecting, isn't it?"
First order of business: cut loose the grand dukes hell-bent on dooming the country.
The crown prince conveyed that intent to the chamber. The nobles realized it meant stripping grand duke titles, their eyes bulging.
Revoking a grand duke's status wasn't like stripping second-prince cronies of theirs. Worlds apart.
This could spark war...
Is His Highness planning for war...? Suddenly...? Why?
Amid the stunned nobles who could barely speak, only the Prime Minister calmly responded.
"The grand duke title was granted by His Imperial Majesty precisely because the land is vast and the environments of center, north, and east differ... to enable more practical rule."
"What's your point?"
"Thus... if that practical rule becomes impractical... Your Highness may reclaim it at any time. Regardless of any damages incurred..."
"Hahahahaha!"
The crown prince burst into loud laughter at the Prime Minister's words. The nobles found that laugh terrifying—always followed by knees flying onto the table.
Indeed, as he laughed, the Imperial Guard Knights' hands drifted to their sword hilts naturally.
Lower them.
That one command, and they'd never touch ground with both legs again. To live, grovel. To walk freely, swear loyalty. No other thoughts. Devote your remaining days solely to His Highness. Stay out of sight.
Myriad fears dominated the minds of these central nobles, pillars of the empire.
"Prime Minister, anyone hearing you might think I'm gearing up for war. What damages? You've got a knack for scary talk."
"Th-this humble servant overstepped."
"Haha, no, not at all... Overstepped? You just considered the worst case."
The exchange between crown prince and Prime Minister continued, veering away from war. The nobles exchanged glances, sighing in relief.
Whew.
Yeah, no war.
Why would His Highness suddenly war with the grand dukes?
"We are grateful for Your boundless mercy."
Or they tried to.
"If reclaiming a mere grand duke title brings 'damages,' it's because they forgot His Majesty's grace... So when I reclaim it, shouldn't they accept it as due?"
"Heh-heh-hek!"
One noble nearly choked on the follow-up.
"Haha, is what I said that shocking?"
"N-no! Not at all! Absolutely not!"
"Good, good... Now, I'd like to give my empire's pillars a little homework."
"H-homework, Your Highness...?"
But the crown prince brushed it off calmly.
"I want all information on the east. Starting with their exchanges with the Maselin Kingdom and their stance there..."
Scribble-scribble-scribble.
The nobles frantically took notes, not missing a word. Those without writing tools even carved into their clothes with mana. A far cry from their usual haughty disdain for "wasting" magic on trivialities.
"...Especially, thoroughly investigate if the Eastern Grand Duke is truly serving the empire consistently in his domain."
Timing?
The crown prince pondered, then decided.
"I'd like reports the moment I wake tomorrow morning. Meeting adjourned. Those with work can leave first."
He announced the deadline and end. The nobles bolted like they'd been waiting.
"Out! Move it!"
"You think you're the only busy one? I'm swamped too!"
"Didn't you see the Prime Minister bolt? Time is gold! Time is gold!"
Watching fondly, the crown prince remarked.
"Our empire seems full of loyal retainers. Anyone not loyal isn't a noble, after all."
"Oh, right—I meant to casually ask about the Eastern Grand Duke's background but forgot. Grand Marshal, know anything?"
A brief follow-up chat.
"...Hm, not much, I'm afraid. Sorry."
"No need to apologize—that was on me for asking."
"Just something I heard: the east has terribly low spirit affinity. For some reason, no spiritists exist there, and spirits only appear if they reveal themselves directly."
"Ah, really?"
The crown prince's ears perked up. A smile hinted at intriguing news.
+++++
Meanwhile, as the empire's central nobles mobilized to probe the east.
"Your Grace! Your Grace! How can you abandon your duties for another adventure?!"
"Eh, you capable folks handle the work. What's one more from me?"
"That 'one' is the grand duke! We need to prepare goods for the empire soon."
"That? Just eyeball it. Big bro Crown Prince will understand—plenty to send to Maselin! They're in a bind right now!"
Eastern Grand Duke Kailen Marin tossed back his hair dashingly, eyes fixed on the ocean view outside.
"The sea... How wonderful it would be to see it with Mirne, right? Don't you think?"
"...Princess Mirne does love the sea, but that's beside the point—you must attend to duties!"
"Nah, don't wanna. Just... wanna explore sea ruins today! Find something rare, sneak it to Mirne!"
"Sigh... Fine, I'll handle things arbitrarily again today."
"Yeah, yeah—you're the capable one."
Kailen's interests lay not in eastern governance.
Only Mirne. Winning her heart.
Ever since that chance encounter, fate kept throwing them together—frequent meetings, contacts. Her shy refusals of gifts were utterly adorable.
Yeah, she's perfect for me—my other half.
As Kailen dreamed of a pink future with Mirne.
Shoooo...
Silpiner, the wind spirit turned silent drone, watched him intently.