It had been about two months since countless criminals had disappeared into the mist of the execution grounds.
In the former Kingdom of Ulranor, now the Ulranor Empire, another major event was taking place.
“All adults over the age of 20 with voting rights, cast your votes! Your choice can change the future of this nation!”
“So now we’re electing the people who run the country?”
“The new ruler sure has changed a lot. In the past, it was difficult just to get permission to observe the Three Estates Council.”
The First General Election for Parliament.
It was a nationwide vote to elect members for the newly reorganized and expanded Parliament of the Ulranor Empire.
The total number of seats was 500—200 in the Senate and 300 in the House of Representatives.
The Senate was allocated two representatives per region or territory, while the House of Representatives distributed its seats based on population.
This system was modeled after the political structure of the United States, which Carolus remembered.
“But you have to pay taxes to vote? I get the reasoning, but isn’t the amount set a bit too high?”
“At that level, most people can afford it, as long as they’re not evading taxes.”
It was still too early, both in terms of the times and public awareness, to implement universal suffrage.
However, a gender-inclusive election system was established.
As long as one paid enough taxes, both men and women could freely participate in the elections.
Having the First Empress as a major political figure played a crucial role in this.
It helped suppress any backlash from old-fashioned men who would have otherwise complained about women interfering in politics.
After all, Camilla was in charge of overseeing and managing my entire faction—who in their right mind would dare oppose her?
“But… who are we even supposed to vote for? We don’t know anything about the candidates.”
“Just look at their campaign promises and pick someone you like. Ah, but make sure to avoid Candidate #3. That bastard ran off without paying for goods from my trading company last time.”
“Then I guess I should exclude #3 as well.”
For a first-ever nationwide election, it was running fairly smoothly.
Perhaps this was because, even in the days of the Three Estates Council, there was already a tradition of electing representatives of the three estates.
Since this was the early stage of popular political participation, there wasn’t much political mudslinging, making for a relatively clean election.
Of course, a significant number of the elected officials were under my influence or outright loyal to me… but that was just a minor detail.
At the very least, there were no fraudulent elections, money-driven politics, or violent intimidation tactics.
They were elected purely based on my reputation and their past achievements.
“Alright, alright! Now that the honorable members of Parliament have gathered, let us begin the first session!”
Thus, after many twists and turns, a properly functioning imperial parliament was established.
Their first assigned task was:
“Our nation upholds constitutional monarchy, yet our legal system remains inadequate to support this framework. His Majesty the Emperor has expressed grave concerns regarding this matter. Therefore, we must establish a proper set of national laws to serve as our foundation.”
“A rule, you say… Does that mean we are to establish the very foundation of the rule of law anew?”
“Precisely. Regardless of what laws are enacted in the future, this will serve as the guiding principle for judgment.”
It was the drafting of the constitution.
“Are they managing well by now, I wonder?”
For the first time since our marriage, we had gone on a family outing.
Lying on a hillside, I absentmindedly muttered to myself, enjoying the warmth of my two wives pressed against me on either side.
“You finally took a break, yet you’re still worrying about politics?”
“That’s just the nature of being a politician. Besides, it’s not just any issue—it’s about my own country.”
“You really do work hard all the time.”
The Saint pulled my head into her embrace.
She probably meant it as a show of affection, but thanks to the sheer power of her chest, all I could feel was an overwhelming softness.
Not that I minded. It felt… really good.
Both my mind and body were surging with energy from both directions.
“Hey, could you not cling to His Majesty so casually? I’m sitting right here—what do you think you’re doing?”
“Oh, come on, it was just a hug.”
“If you know your place and still do it, then you’re doing it on purpose, aren’t you?”
On the other side, Camilla, now brimming with jealousy, clung to me as well.
The warmth of their bodies and the slight pressure surrounding me created a strangely reassuring sensation.
It was comforting, in a way.
It made me realize—these two truly love me.
Who would have thought that after ten years of suffering in the frozen lands, this would be my reward?
“But, Your Majesty… are you really okay with this?”
“With what?”
As I was enjoying the supreme comfort of softness and firmness combined, Camilla cautiously posed her question.
Her voice lacked its usual confidence.
“If this constitution is enacted, won’t that mean even you won’t be able to change things as you wish?”
“That’s right. That’s exactly why it’s being created.”
A constitution only holds meaning when it cannot be easily altered or manipulated.
Whether it’s the emperor wielding immense power or the leader of a dominant political party, no one should be able to change it at their whim.
That’s why I had advised the assembly to include a clause requiring the approval of at least 70% of both the Senate and the House of Representatives for any amendments.
“Doesn’t it bother you to restrict your own power? Right now, you could control the entire nation as you please.”
“So, should I turn back to absolute monarchy now? That’s not something I’d expect to hear from a republican.”
“N-no, please don’t misunderstand! I was just curious why Your Majesty is willing to relinquish power even after rising to the throne…”
“Because it’s necessary for the future.”
I gently stroked my lover’s head, making sure not to mess up the hairstyle she had likely spent a great deal of effort perfecting.
Despite the roughness of my scarred hands, she smiled brightly, as if simply being touched by me made her happy.
“Even that bastard Carl I executed last time said it—there’s no guarantee my descendants won’t be fools who ruin the country. I’m doing this to prevent that from happening.”
I am not an optimist.
I don’t naively believe that my future sons and daughters will automatically inherit my abilities or surpass me.
Of course, regardless of their intelligence or talent, I intend to love my children.
But that’s entirely separate from evaluating them as successors.
To prevent my house from following the same doomed path as the Riodolph royal family, I have to put institutional safeguards in place.
“You want your children and their descendants to live happily too, don’t you?”
“Of course I do.”
“Then I need to make sure they can’t do anything that would lead to ruin.”
Even if my children aren’t particularly capable, surely, they won’t be so incompetent that they can’t even serve as figureheads.
All they need to do is leave the complicated administrative work to their ministers and focus on looking dignified and upholding their authority.
As long as they maintain appearances, they should be able to rule safely without being overthrown—for a long time, at least……probably until technological and societal advancements bring about an era where I’d have to start worrying about a communist revolution?
“I’ll gradually relinquish more of my remaining authority as well. By the time I reach old age, I want to remain as nothing more than a respected elder of the nation.”
That includes myself, of course.
As long as I control the majority of the parliament and wield influence as I please, this can hardly be considered a true constitutional monarchy.
I need to gradually dissolve my faction and let them learn to govern on their own.
The only things the imperial family should retain are the honor of the monarchy and a comfortable fortune—just like the British royal family in 21st-century Earth.
To avoid criticism that maintaining the imperial family is a drain on the national treasury, they must possess real estate and tangible assets.
A few palaces, some forests, a handful of mines, and prime urban properties should be enough.
Buying up properties already on the market would only invite backlash, so I’ll just confiscate them from the remaining nobles once I finish purging them.
“…You really are incredible, Your Majesty.”
“All of a sudden?”
After hearing my plans for the future, Camilla looked at me in admiration, her eyes filled with satisfaction.
“Plenty of people know what’s right, but only a few actually put it into practice.”
“That does tend to be the case.”
“But you’re different. You had everything in your hands, yet you willingly chose to give it up.”
She expressed her gratitude, saying that even as someone who had believed in republicanism, she would have struggled with such a decision.
Then, she left a lipstick mark in the shape of her lips on my face.
Smooch.
“Thank you, Your Majesty. You’ve never made me regret choosing you.”
“C-Camilla! You can’t just do that alone!”
And then, the Saint followed suit.
Before I knew it, both of my cheeks had turned completely red.
Watching the two of them express their affection so openly, I finally made up my mind.
‘Yeah. If not today, then when?’
“Hey, both of you—could you close your eyes for a moment?”
Gently, I got up and knelt before them.
Then, I took out the small package I had hidden in my pocket.
“You can open your eyes now.”
“Huh? What’s this all of a sudd—oh?”
“Why are you acting so—huh?”
Camilla and the Saint both stopped mid-sentence.
And for good reason.
What I held out to them… was none other than three rings.
“I know—it’s ridiculously late to be doing this after the coronation and everything else. But even so, I wanted to say it now. Thank you both… for choosing to stay by my side.”
I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and recited the words I had prepared in my mind.
“I may be a clumsy old man, ten years your senior and in my thirties… but I promise, you’ll never regret this for the rest of your life. I love you.”
One for each of their ring fingers.
I slipped the rings onto their hands—matching in design, identical for both.
A symbol of our engagement, even if it came a few months late.
“Do you like how they look? If not, I can have them remade—”
“Your Majesty!”
I didn’t even get to finish my sentence.
Both of my empresses threw themselves at me, wrapping me in a tight embrace.
“Thank you… for making us this happy.”
“We’ll stay by your side forever. In life, and even in heaven—always together, the three of us.”
Feeling the warmth of my empresses, I made up my mind.
No matter how chaotic and eventful my life had been, meeting these two was a blessing.