Chapter 41
Chapter 41
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: State Council Meeting
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The next day, at the appointed time for the State Council meeting, Yuno and Yuria made their way to the throne room together.
Of course, they had different entrances, so they were forced to part at the front. But after confirming that no prying eyes were upon them, the pair—who had embraced each other tightly like lovers—shared a deep kiss before finally pulling apart.
"Then, Mom, I'll see you tonight."
"Yeah. I'll sneak over at dawn, so when Mom wakes you up, you have to get right up, okay?"
"Of course. And don't forget our promise."
"Hohoho, I won't. Let's head in now—it looks like it's already started."
Upon entering the throne room, they found the meeting already in full swing, with heated voices clashing noisily.
True to his declaration from the day before, Emperor Carl III was nowhere to be seen, clearly intent on handing over state affairs entirely to the crown prince. The crown prince sat between the throne and the conference table, presiding over the proceedings.
"Ah! Yuno, you're here. Take a seat. I was just needing your opinion on something."
"Pardon? Brother? If you need my opinion... on what?"
Yuno's mind had been entirely occupied with thoughts of departing for his territory with his mother, so he was caught off guard by the crown prince suddenly asking for his input.
"We were just discussing the punishment for Kent Windrider, commander of the 11th Legion, and his subordinate officers who fled before the enemy during the recent expedition."
"Uh... punishment, you say?"
"Execution, naturally. Though some argue for leniency given their contributions on the eastern front. What's your take? You were the commander of the 2nd Army, so your opinion carries the most weight."
"Hmm..."
Yuno pretended to ponder as he glanced at Yuria, seated upon the throne. Kent might be a younger brother to whom she felt little attachment due to their time apart in childhood, but her eyes still wavered at the mention of executing her own flesh and blood.
"Crown Prince! What merits has that wretch earned? There's no need to even consider it! We must chop off his head as per the code! There's a limit to dragging the Windrage name through the mud! Fleeing before the enemy, of all things!!"
Even though Kent was his only son and heir, Duke Windrage ranted wildly, demanding his head.
Once the surrounding nobles had somewhat calmed the duke down, Yuno finally spoke.
"My view differs slightly. The one leading the Theseito cavalry that crushed the 11th Legion had reached the master realm. From the survivors' accounts, a group of cavalry with exceptional breakthrough power struck from the flank, slashing through the soldiers and charging straight into the main camp. And after Strebr Fortress fell, when sword aura was fired at the main gate, even I—who blocked it—felt my hands tremble."
"I've heard that story as well. But Your Highness! Even if the enemy had a master, leaving a precedent of commanders fleeing before the enemy would mean every commander facing a master could run with impunity. That would lead to the collapse of our army's discipline!"
Many nobles nodded in agreement with Duke Windrider's rebuttal.
"The duke is correct. However, I'm not advocating total forgiveness."
"Then..."
"What if we instituted a system like this? For commanders guilty of unforgivable crimes, give them one final chance. Strip them of all rank and position, throw them into the most dangerous missions alongside common soldiers or at the vanguard of battle—and if they rack up merits, absolve their sins."
'It's basically mashing together white-clad demotion and penal legions... but no one's heard of anything like that here.'
"Hmm... If it's something like that..."
"Sounds like a solid idea. They're dead men walking anyway. If we let them live that way, they'll be grateful—and from the empire's perspective, we gain one more soldier for hazardous duties. A net gain."
"Of course, some crimes demand summary execution... We'll fine-tune the details as we implement it."
"If the missing Young Master Kent can save his neck, he'll show himself. Let's post proclamations across the empire urging surrenders."
Yuno's proposal passed unanimously, and seeing Yuria breathe a sigh of relief eased his own heart a little.
The State Council continued after that. But with no agenda requiring Yuno's input, he endured the boredom by gazing at Yuria's beautiful face, lost in fantasies of the sex he'd have with his mother that night.
"Now, next up: His Highness Yuno's appointment as lord of the newly consolidated Nikana Viscountcy and Tesida Barony. This was personally blocked by Her Majesty the Empress... so we'll hear her opinion first."
At Marquis Mark the Prime Minister's words, every noble's gaze turned to Yuria on the throne. She spoke.
"I've thought it over carefully since yesterday. Whether I should send my child alone to that distant place... whether such a young boy could manage a territory... I pondered deeply. And I've reached a decision."
Yuno swallowed hard, staring only at Yuria's lips.
"Yuno Alexander Windrage von Valkan, Third Prince, shall henceforth also bear the title of Count Tesida-Nikana. And until I deem him ready, I, Yuria, shall accompany him to assist in governing the territory."
The throne room erupted at Yuria's declaration.
"Absolutely not!! The Empress leaving her post?!"
"Your Majesty, this has no precedent! The Mother of the Empire abandoning Adria Castle?!"
Yuria silenced the uproar with a raised hand and continued.
"If there's no precedent, does that mean we can't do it? Besides, His Majesty is already considering succession—that's why he's entrusted the crown prince as regent. I agree. I trust the crown princess can fulfill my duties adequately."
"But!!"
"Moreover! My health hasn't been great lately. I wish to rest a bit in the clean air of the Monster Mountains. I'll discuss this directly with His Majesty and obtain his approval, so the ministers should accept it as well."
The crown prince fell into deep thought at Yuria's bombshell.
'If Her Majesty steps aside, it'll make it far easier for me to seize control later. But... will Hilria be pleased with the empress position? She... loves Yuno. And the woman I love—could she accept this?'
But since union with the one he loved was impossible from the start, Franz gritted his teeth and spoke.
"Very well. I accept Her Majesty's words. Upon His Majesty's approval, the crown princess shall assume Her Majesty's duties. Starting today, she will reside in the empress palace for the next month to prepare."
"Thank you for indulging my unreasonable request, Crown Prince."
"Not at all. If Her Majesty needs rest, how could I object? Please look after Yuno well."
The emperor, lately obsessed with his new concubines from last year, had no interest in the empress's movements, so approval was expected to come easily—and it did.
"His Majesty has approved this matter. He said Her Majesty should do as she wishes, but to install a teleportation magic circle connected to the capital in the county just in case."
At Marquis Garcia the secretary's loud proclamation of the emperor's approval, the room shifted to general acceptance.
"Well, if His Majesty permits it..."
"Her Majesty rarely interferes in politics anyway, so it should be fine."
"Promoting it to a county warrants a teleportation circle. Plus, there might be urgent need for Her Majesty and the Third Prince to return to the capital..."
In this atmosphere, Yuno inwardly cheered "Nice!" while Yuria sighed in relief and gently rubbed her lower abdomen, where her womb tattoo was hidden.
'Heehee... In Yuno's territory, we can have free reign with Yuno every night... Ahhh.'
Imagining the lewd life ahead made love juices seep from her secret place, so Yuria crossed her legs to stem the flow trickling down her thighs.
However, after a few more items, an unexpected bombshell hit Yuno.
"Now, the final agenda for today. A proposal from Leon Kingdom to marry Second Prince Heinrich to their Rachel Second Princess. As you all know, His Highness Heinrich lost his wife five years ago and remains without a princess consort—this seems a fine opportunity."
"Indeed. With the mortal enemy Theseito out there, we must maintain stable ties with Leon Kingdom. Let's forge an alliance on this occasion."
At the ministers' resounding support, the crown prince closed his eyes briefly before asking.
"Hmm... Heinrich! What's your take?"
Heinrich Second Prince, who had been chatting with his faction in one corner of the throne room, replied.
"I'm fine with it. As a prince, I can't decide my marriage freely anyway."
"Then there's no strong reason to object."
"However... if the marriage proceeds, they've also requested the return of their Eliza Third Princess, currently studying abroad."
At Foreign Minister Marquis Brollo's follow-up, Yuno shot to his feet.
"Eliza? No way!!"
"Ah... the Third Prince, Your Highness..."
As Marquis Brollo faltered awkwardly, the crown prince and other nobles burst into loud laughter.
"Kuhahaha! Yuno, you can react like that too? The fierce general who toppled Strebr from the vanguard!"
"We know the Third Prince is quite close with Princess Eliza. Heh heh heh."
"Even so, this is a matter of state... Please wait a moment, Your Highness. You're an adult now, but perhaps a bit young for a political marriage... hahaha."
In the end, two weeks later, Heinrich Second Prince's wedding to Princess Rachel was confirmed, with Eliza's repatriation set for after the ceremony.
Faced with the unavoidable loss of his close childhood friend, Yuno pouted his lips and slammed his head onto the conference table.
Yuria watched her sulking son with eyes half-jealous, half-expectant.
'Tch! I knew Eliza liked Yuno, and I planned to pair them later... but Yuno must feel something too. Master Aragon, now Eliza. Hmph! Naughty boy. If he doesn't properly comfort Mom tonight, I won't forgive him!'
With that, the State Council adjourned, and Yuno rushed back to his palace to meet Eliza.