Settlement (2)
Settlement (2)
"......Is this a threat?"
Maximilian felt as if the shadow of a guillotine was falling over the back of his neck.
"The Grand Duke of the South Sea wrote only a single word. What did Your Excellency think this settlement was regarding?"
The fact that Maximilian swallowed the hollow laugh surging up to his throat was an act of patience that could well be called a miracle.
He had heard the Grand Duke of the South Sea's opinion in the worst imaginable form.
As Maximilian fell silent, Leonius's low, calm voice cut through the silence of the conference room.
"This was sent by His Grace the Grand Duke of the South Sea to signify that he also agrees with my opinion."
That was not the case.
Anyone could see that the Grand Duke of the South Sea was trying to start a war, and he had delivered this letter to Leonius, the head of the Anti-Lord Protector Faction, to express that intent.
However, from Leonius's perspective as well, a war could not be started right now.
To be precise, he became certain after coming to this conference room. Now was not the time.
Until now, there were only visible threats. If a war broke out, no matter how brilliant a strategist Maximilian was, he would not be able to avoid a fatal blow.
However, now there was an invisible enemy.
There was the stench of rotten, decaying traitors.
Therefore, Leonius would not stop.
He picked up the sword he had placed on the desk and stood up.
Seated to Julian's left, he reached the front of Julian in just a few steps, knelt down, and offered up his sword resting on his palms.
"Your Majesty. I beg you to restore the Imperiani, and accept this subject as its first knight."
Maximilian knew.
In a situation like this, if it was something that elevated him and praised him as great...
"......Very well!"
That that fucking brat would never refuse.
There was no way he had the authority to stop it.
Even if he was a figurehead, for appearance's sake, the one holding decision-making authority was not the Lord Protector, but the Emperor.
In front of the other nobles, and especially with the Margrave and the Grand Duke of the Pass watching, he could not possibly go against it.
After Leonius expressed his gratitude and sat back down, Maximilian's fierce gaze fixed upon him.
"...Margrave Leonius. Where do you intend to stand?"
Leonius did not hesitate for even a single moment.
"Of course, by Your Majesty's side."
The air between the two men sank heavy. It was a weight so crushing that even taking a single breath felt arduous.
"...If that is so."
The one who broke that atmosphere was Maximilian. He withdrew his gaze from Leonius and bowed his head toward Julian.
"In accordance with Your Majesty's will, I shall proceed with the formal procedures regarding the resignation of the Eastern Margrave, the succession of his heir, and the restoration of the Imperiani."
It was a roundabout declaration of defeat.
At least, for this single move.
"Should that happen, the Imperiani will protect Your Majesty's person. I shall respect that duty."
Of course.
"However."
It was only a single move, after all.
"I believe you are aware that this incident cannot simply end with that. Now that evidence of collusion with the Norden Kingdom has surfaced, we cannot say that this is sufficient."
Leonius cut off those words addressed to Julian.
"Was there not still no connection between this incident and the Norden Kingdom?"
"That is merely regarding the assassination case of Her Majesty the Empress Dowager. The treasonous collusion with the Norden Kingdom itself did indeed take place."
It could not be denied. Everyone present had heard that evidence.
Maximilian opened his mouth without even looking in Leonius's direction.
"Securing the Imperial Capital is just as vital as guarding Your Majesty's person."
"In that case, as the representative of the Northern Grand Duke, I have something to report."
The representative of the Northern Grand Duke, Marquis Wolfgang Eberwein, who had remained silent until now, finally made his move.
"Your Majesty. Currently in the North, there are three knight orders ready for immediate deployment. The Northern Grand Duchy is prepared at any time to provide those troops for the safety of Your Majesty and the Imperial Capital."
"What on earth do you mean by that?"
At the chill felt from those words, Leonius spoke up despite himself.
"Did the discussion not end with ensuring His Majesty's safety through the restoration of the Imperiani? An army? Are you saying you intend to bring northern military forces into the Imperial Capital right now?"
Maximilian let those sharp words slip past with a faint smile and cast his gaze toward Marquis Wolfgang.
"How could that be?"
Receiving his gaze, Marquis Wolfgang answered.
"Imperial Capital Defense Forces to protect the capital under His Majesty's command. That is what the Northern Grand Duke has prepared to establish."
"The garrison currently stationed in the Imperial Capital numbers fifteen thousand at most. Three knight orders would easily exceed ten thousand in number. Whatever the justification, the moment a force exceeding half of the capital garrison crosses the gates armed with swords and military banners, that IS an army!"
"And who would be the one actually issuing orders to that army?"
As if ridiculing Leonius's words, Maximilian's voice overlaid them.
As though pre-arranged, Marquis Wolfgang answered.
"Needless to say, His Majesty the Emperor."
"Indeed. All orders shall be issued under His Majesty's name, and their details recorded beneath His Majesty's seal."
Maximilian's back lightly touched the backrest of his chair.
"Are you claiming they will take orders solely from His Majesty the Emperor?"
"Since His Majesty cannot command everything directly, a new defense commander must be appointed. However, that person too will be appointed directly by His Majesty."
Leonius's fingers tapped against the table—tak, tak.
"...How far do you intend to bring them in?"
Maximilian's eyebrows twitched minutely.
"How far, you say?"
"Up to the gates and the outer wall? Or to the outer precincts of the Imperial Palace?"
Leonius's sharply honed, low tone was closer to an interrogation than a question.
"Or do you mean to bring northern military banners right up to the inner palace and the front of His Majesty's quarters?"
Receiving that sharp gaze alongside Maximilian, Marquis Wolfgang unwittingly averted his eyes.
On the contrary, Maximilian responded as if even that question was entirely within his grand scheme.
"That will never happen. Should the three knight orders arrive, one order will be tasked with the capital gates, main roads, and bridges. Another will guard the outer capital, armories, and major government offices, while the final knight order will remain as a reserve in the barracks outside the city walls."
"Does that mean you will not bring soldiers inside the Imperial Palace?"
"Indeed. Is not the Imperial Palace and His Majesty's safety the jurisdiction of the newly restored Imperiani?"
It was a concession that left no opening for rebuttal.
Leonius closed his eyes. Drawing a deep breath into the depths of his lungs, he barely suppressed the fury boiling up inside him.
The figure who had been watching this scene intently finally opened his mouth, which had been firmly shut throughout the entire meeting.
"By the way, how do you plan to supply the rations to feed those troops?"
It was the Grand Duke of the Pass.
Maximilian slowly turned his head to look at the Grand Duke of the Pass.
"Does the Grand Duke of the Pass oppose the dispatch of the northern forces?"
"I do not oppose it."
The Grand Duke of the Pass answered nonchalantly.
"However, if three knight orders enter the Imperial Capital, it will not be just knights coming."
The Grand Duke of the Pass had a gleam in his eyes.
"Squires, coachmen, wagons, and horses will follow. They will require food, hay, firewood, and encampment sites every single day."
"We shall procure them from the Imperial Capital."
"The Imperial Capital does not harvest food, Lord Protector Excellency."
"The North can also send a certain amount of military rations along with them."
Marquis Wolfgang hastily tried to supplement, but the Grand Duke of the Pass shook his head from side to side.
"The amount needed for the initial march might be possible. But surely you do not intend to send supply wagons from the North every single day to feed three knight orders for months on end."
The Grand Duke of the Pass looked at Maximilian.
"Are you going to have them purchase military rations from the capital's markets? Are you going to burden the common people with quartering them? Bringing three knight orders into the Imperial Capital takes only a single command. But feeding and quartering them does not end with just a word."
"It seems the Grand Duke of the Pass has another plan in mind."
The eyes of Maximilian and the Grand Duke of the Pass collided head-on.
Before anyone knew it, the smile had vanished from Maximilian's face.
In its empty place, a faint smile spreading across the lips of the Grand Duke of the Pass filled the void.
"The Stafford Earldom."
A brief silence flowed through the conference room.
"It is not far from the Imperial Capital, and there are plenty of plains to train troops. It lacks large-scale grain granaries, but that is simply a matter of constructing them."
"Are you suggesting we confiscate the earldom when a verdict has not even been delivered yet?"
"I am proposing that we temporarily utilize only the necessary facilities. That way, the northern forces can move immediately when needed without entering the Imperial Capital. There will be no need to burden the citizens of the capital, either."
Maximilian and Marquis Wolfgang were calculating.
The Stafford Earldom. It was not a bad choice.
It was not land so valuable that it was a waste to use for stationing knight orders, nor was it far from the Imperial Capital.
About three hours on horseback. Ten hours for a regular soldier's march. Neither too far nor too close.
"However, if that happens, would it not be difficult to protect the safety of the Imperial Capital?"
Therefore, Maximilian probed at that point.
"A portion of the troops can quarter in the Imperial Capital and rotate in turns. Although housing ten thousand men all at once is unreasonable, a portion can easily be accommodated in the capital's barracks. Above all, would doing so not prevent any 'misunderstandings'?"
Misunderstandings.
The very word that had come from Maximilian's mouth during the previous Birthday Banquet had now come from the mouth of the Grand Duke of the Pass.
"However, the food in the earldom alone will not feed the remaining personnel for long."
"Of course."
The Grand Duke of the Pass answered Maximilian's statement without taking even a single breath of pause.
"Therefore, the necessary military rations, hay, firewood, and wagons must be purchased in the name of the Empire. Fair value must be paid for the army of His Majesty the Emperor, not at anyone's arbitrary command."
"Are you saying that Your Grace will undertake that procurement?"
At that question, the Grand Duke of the Pass raised the corners of his mouth leisurely, as if reeling in a fishing line.
"I am merely pointing out the fact that my territory and merchant guild possess the nearest supply chain."
From the very beginning, the Grand Duke of the Pass had no interest in anything other than his own gain.
That was why he quickly cut off anything likely to cause a loss, and snapped to bite the moment an opportunity for profit arose.
"If you can procure them cheaper and faster from elsewhere, you are free to get them there."
How was it that this man was able to remain in his position to this day?
Why was he called a bat among some of the nobles?
No one could open their mouth right away.
Supplies from the South and West gathered in the territory of the Grand Duke of the Pass. Buying from the East was out of the question from the start.
Since the Stafford Earldom was located in the southwest of the Imperial Capital, if supplies were sent from the North, they would ultimately have to pass through the capital or detour around it.
"However, there are a few things that must be made clear."
The Grand Duke of the Pass raised three fingers.
"First, submit a roster accurately recording the number of troops and horses.
Second, all purchases and requisitions must be co-signed by imperial and local officials.
Third, whenever troops are moved outside the earldom, a military order stamped with His Majesty's seal must be left behind.
......Only then will there be no misunderstandings between us, will there not?"
"A stationing time limit must also be set."
At Leonius's voice suddenly cutting in, Maximilian shifted only his eyes, redirecting his gaze from the Grand Duke of the Pass to Leonius.
"......Until the safety of the Imperial Capital is secured, I presume."
"And who makes that judgment?"
"...His Majesty shall decide."
"Then it is only right to include that in the document as well. The authority to decide not only when to bring in troops, but also when to withdraw them, rests with His Majesty."
Leonius likewise did not miss an opening.
"If it is His Majesty's army, that is only natural."
The Grand Duke of the Pass quietly added.
Maximilian, Leonius, the Grand Duke of the Pass. The gazes of the three men locked together in midair above the table like blade tips.
Not a single one yielded even a single step to the others.
"............Very well."
Finally, Maximilian's voice flowed out low.
Maximilian bowed his head toward Julian.
"The three northern knight orders shall be stationed in dispersion across the Stafford Earldom, and that territory shall be placed under imperial management until the trial is concluded. The troop rosters, procurement records, and movement orders will all be logged under Your Majesty's name, and the end of stationing shall likewise solely follow Your Majesty's command."
Each had gained benefits, but there were just as many shackles attached.
Even so, feeling that it was sufficient for now, their opinions became one.
The eyes of everyone in the conference room turned toward Julian.
After Julian blinked his eyes that had been staring into empty space for a moment...
"......So be it."
And so, it was done.
When the meeting ended and they left the conference room, night had fallen before anyone noticed.
Julian returned straight to his bedchamber without a moment's hesitation.
There was no one to stop him, nor were there any nobles who wanted to tend to an emperor whining from fatigue.
Julian returned to his quarters as usual and collapsed onto his bed as usual.
And then, he smiled.
Although it was hard to judge them as definite allies, he had gained a direct imperial guard that Maximilian could not easily tamper with.
Maximilian's plan was thwarted, preventing all ten thousand soldiers from occupying the Imperial Capital.
The authority over that army was also Julian's, even if only nominal, rather than Maximilian's.
And above all, a clear crack had formed in Maximilian's power, which until now had been seamless.
It was a precious victory gained through his mother's life.