“Please bring the coffee.”
“Yes, Your Excellency.”
In the royal palace’s reception room, just the two of us sat face to face.
While enjoying some light refreshments, the Emperor and I began a conversation no one else was meant to hear.
“First… the war has finally ended. It has truly been a long time.”
“Indeed. And in that time, I’ve grown old without even getting married.”
It had been a war of vengeance, one that had to happen.
Even so, it had dragged on far too long.
Both the Empire and our kingdom were so powerful that we exhausted endless resources and manpower, leading to a prolonged war that drained our national strength.
The price for this was paid by everyone, except for King Carl VII’s family.
The soldiers lost their lives, the common folk their wealth and families, the Empire’s nobility their taxes and private soldiers, and the Emperor his family’s honor and happiness.
Though the losses varied in type and scale, so many had lost so much.
“Now, rather than being tied to the past, we should focus on the future.”
Louis XVI, who had briefly been lost in a nostalgic look, soon turned his gaze back to me.
“What are your plans once you return to your country?”
“Well, I plan to step down from active service.”
I had already made this decision when I assigned Vaden to replace me as the commander of the front lines.
It was time for me to move away from fieldwork.
Ten years in the North and one in the center—I had endured eleven years of tough work.
It was time for a break and to handle overarching responsibilities.
Once Vaden returns, I’ll pass on the command of the central army to him.
And once General Alfred von Albrecht retires, I plan to take the position of Supreme Commander.
As long as I hold control over personnel decisions, managing the troops will be no problem.
“I want to focus more on politics now.”
Once the parliament is reformed, I will form a cabinet and take the position of Prime Minister to finish the reforms of the kingdom.
There are policies suggested by Camilla and others that were accepted but not yet implemented.
Now, with no political obstacles or factions to stop me, I can carry them out without hindrance.
The days of wasting time and energy on aristocratic factions and political games are over.
Since the plans are large and far-reaching, I don’t expect them to be completed in just a year or two.
There are also tasks such as recovering from the domestic war damages, rebuilding the Holy Kingdom, and securing control, so in total, it might take at least ten years… or maybe fifteen.
But I have no doubt I’ll be able to maintain power during that time.
It’ll be easier than managing both military and administrative responsibilities alone, like I’m doing now.
As I explained, the Emperor’s gaze grew more complex.
“So, what about after everything is over? Once all the duties are done, what will you do next?”
“I haven’t thought it through yet. Perhaps I’ll step down from the position of Prime Minister?”
Once there’s no more need for the title, I’m willing to hand it over to my successor.
But in return, I’ll use the network and influence I’ve built to operate behind the scenes.
After all, in a parliamentary system, the Prime Minister’s position isn’t as crucial.
With the support of a faction and its leaders, it wouldn’t be hard to manipulate the Prime Minister or any political figure as I see fit.
The political system in Japan on Earth runs in a similar way.
For someone in my position, it’s the perfect political strategy.
It may seem like shadow politics, but it’s an ideal approach if you’re looking to keep the real power in your hands.
“…And when you get older, you’ll pass the power to your successor, right?”
“Yes. Is there a problem with that?”
At my answer, the Emperor sighed deeply.
His reaction seemed to be a mix of frustration, regret, and concern.
“Whether that successor is one of your subordinates or a descendant, I don’t think it’s the wisest choice.”
“What do you mean?”
“You’ve left the potential risk unaddressed.”
The Emperor pointed to the crown on his head.
“Do you really think the Liudolf dynasty will let you peacefully complete the transfer of power? The ones who lost their crown prince and were oppressed because of you?”
“Even if they hate me, what can they do? I’ve already stripped them of all their power. They can’t legally interfere with politics anymore.”
“Of course, that’s true for now. But what about later? After you retire, can you guarantee that this will remain unchanged for decades?”
I couldn’t refute that.
The Emperor’s words made a lot of sense.
“The future is unpredictable. One day, there may be an idiot who wants to return power to the royal family. Of course, once they regain power, they’ll seek revenge for the past.”
“So, what should I do?”
The Emperor jabbed his finger into my chest and declared:
“It’s simple. You need to become the monarch.”
“What?”
“Did you not understand? Let me explain again. You must remove the Liudolf dynasty and establish a new dynasty.”
“No, I understand what you mean.”
I heard the words clearly, but it was so shocking that I couldn’t respond properly at first.
“Do you really think people will accept me on the throne? How can a man of humble origins, who ousted a family that had ruled for centuries, be allowed to govern the kingdom?”
“Why not? You’re a hero. A war hero with immense accomplishments.”
The Emperor raised his hand and began to count on his fingers, one by one.
“You held the snowy fields, prevented the collapse of the western front, suppressed the rebel forces, crushed the greedy aristocrats, purged the clergy, and even conquered two nations, incorporating them into your kingdom.”
“You’ve accomplished feats that rival those of the founding emperor of our United Empire. Who would dare oppose you? If you say you want the throne, people will bring it to you willingly.”
Had I really achieved that much?
Looking back, I did a lot.
I fought for political influence, gained the people’s trust, and stirred up various sectors.
But taking the throne never crossed my mind.
I was always a commoner at heart, and such grand ideas never reached my mind.
“And you see, Your ascension to the throne is not just for you, but for the future of the entire kingdom.”
The Emperor seemed intent on delivering the final blow to my wavering thoughts.
He continued to try to sway me with his words.
“…What do you mean by that?”
“What will the Liudolf dynasty do once they regain power? Naturally, they will destroy the current system. They’ll erase all the accomplishments built by the traitors and rebels, and they’ll try to return the kingdom to its old state.”
One of the classic methods for a new power to establish itself is to negate the old regime.
They’ll label the previous system and its laws as flawed and inefficient, to build their own “accomplishments” by destroying it.
I destroyed the feudal system and implemented a constitutional monarchy/parliamentary system, but the royal family would want to reverse that.
“I’m an outsider, so I don’t know exactly, but I’ve heard that you’ve made reforms in many areas—administration, taxes, religion, the entire social structure.”
“Do you really want to return the country you and your subordinates worked so hard to build to the pitiful past?”
Louis XVI was pointing this out to me—saying that if I didn’t want all that I had done and would continue to do to go to waste, I had to make a wise decision.
“Think of the future of your loved ones and family. If the royal family is revived, the first targets of their revenge will be your subordinates and family.”
“Are you telling me to consider the safety of my family?”
“You’re a man too. You’d want to get married, have children, and raise them well. Then, you must remove any potential threats to your children beforehand.”
I fell silent for a moment, drinking cup after cup of coffee, trying to sort through the complex thoughts swirling in my mind.
The Liudolf dynasty would inevitably become a threat if left alone.
But to remove that threat, I would have to take the crown.
That meant bearing the heavy burden of being the ruler of the nation and its people for the rest of my life.
What was the right choice for our future?
“…What’s the reason you’re telling me all this? I’m nothing but an enemy general from a rival nation.”
“I like you. You’re capable and loyal, just like I was in my youth. You lack a little in decisiveness, but…”
At my question, the Emperor shrugged casually.
“And also, I don’t want to deal with those Liudolf bastards. To be honest, this is my true intention. If you ascend to the throne, you won’t have to continue interacting with those vermin who ruined my daughter’s life.”
When the Emperor indirectly promised support for my ascension, I couldn’t help but let out a bitter smile.
It seemed that I was trusted more by the Emperor of the enemy kingdom than by the king of my own country.
I couldn’t bring myself to feel good about that.
“Hah…”
I took a deep breath to clear the air and calm myself.
I had considered this countless times, and I knew that the only answer I could give at this moment was already decided.
“Thank you for your offer, Your Excellency. But I’m afraid I can’t give you an answer right now.”
This wasn’t a decision I could make alone.
There were too many people involved in this.
At the very least, I needed to consult with others and gather opinions before making a final choice.
“That’s fine. Take your time to think it over, and send your answer through the envoy later.”
Huh? He accepted that far too easily.
“Why the sudden change?”
“I thought you might give me a definite answer right here and now.”
“How could I be so rude to a guest from a foreign country?”
The Emperor smiled subtly, his expression filled with hidden meaning.
“Regardless, even if I don’t press you, there will be plenty of people in Ulranor who will do it for me.”
“What does that mean?”
What is he talking about?
Meanwhile, back in the kingdom…
“So, if it becomes an Empire, the monarch’s consorts can number up to three, is that correct?”
“Yes. That removes the reason for any rank-based infighting among us.”
“Then, if we each take the first and second wives’ positions, we can keep the others in check…”
The future wives were conspiring (in a double-meaning way).