Volume 2 Chapter 14 (2/2)
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After Duke Gerhardt dismissed his aide, he sank deeper into his seat while brooding over the situation.
(Princess Lupis... Does she plan on taking power from Hodram?)
Such thought crosses over Duke Gerhardt’s mind.
If one were only looking at the behavior of Earl Bergston and Earl Zerev, nothing much could be a.n.a.lyzed.
And he also denied such an idea himself.
(No... That is impossible. Princess Lupis can't do something like that...)
Duke Gerhardt doubted Princess Lupis’ capability.
Princess Lupis turned 22 years old this year.
She was the leader of the royal guard chivalry order for around five years, thus he can't say that she's incompetent.
However, that is only applies to military affairs.
Though, it was natural for her to end up like that.
She had never partic.i.p.ated in any government affairs.
No matter who, one cannot do anything and expect a quality result without any experience.
When it comes to capable people by her side; the subject would not change either, since there's only Meltina who is also the deputy leader of the Royal Guard as the princess’ aide.
Moreover, Gerhardt himself recognises that people from the army are usually lacking in the brain department.
In other words, it would be impossible to maintain Rozeria Kingdom with only the princess' power alone.
(Had Princess Lupis have the total control of either military or politics, it would be different... yet again, even the military, there's Hodram. Though it seems like her power is strengthening with the support of another party. It was not her personal power.)
Duke Gerhardt himself knows what Hodram is aiming at, since they have a similar ambition.
(Even if it's slow, Hodram will eventually abandon the princess, and within three years... She will either get killed or confined… he will definitely do one of them.)
Duke Gerhardt himself has no interest in taking the throne for himself.
Because he is more concerned about profits rather than fame.
Whereas General Hodram is the type of person who cares for both fame and profits.
Although he seem only to be chasing after profits, in the future, he might seek some fame himself.
And that fame is called being the king.
(If they win, I will die, but that will also be the same for Princess Lupis. No matter who wins, she will end up dying...)
For Gerhardt who has another figurehead in the name of Princess Ladine, Princess Lupis is nothing more than a bother.
When two people want to succeed the throne, it might cause the eruption of a civil war.
However, Duke Gerhardt has a question regarding Princess Ladine’s legitimacy himself.
It's true that she does have the same silvery hair, just like the previous king, and there's also a similarity regarding her features.
Since he made use of the king's will, one can't easily call it fake either.
However, since Duke Gerhardt himself is the mastermind of the current situation and being someone who had survived through a lot of political struggle, he somewhat feels that everything about the current situation is fabricated.
The king pa.s.sed away, and an illegitimate child had been found before someone could succeed the throne.
One might say that the timing is too good.
Still, he ends up supporting Princess Ladine, since he needed someone with Royal Bloodline to fight against General Hodram.
After all, if he fought against the knight faction who has Princess Lupis without bringing any figurehead, people might put a stigma on him as a rebel.
If that happens, he might find himself betrayed even by the people from the n.o.ble faction.
Gerhardt himself thinks that all of this is stupid, but it is absolutely necessary to have a justification for wars.
Even if that justification is merely a lie.
(Well, whatever. Even if she's a false princess, if I recognize her, she will become genuine one... I can easily dispose of her if she's a fake...)
A smile appears on Gerhardt's face after thinking until there.
Now that the justification has already been fulfilled, what one needs is the war forces’ strength.
Currently, the n.o.ble faction has an advantage over numbers, and the matter of pulling the neutral faction towards them is also going well.
Even if it gets reduced a little due to the princess' faction, it does not pose much of a problem.
(The real problem is what had the princess decided to start now... It does not seem to be the idea of that deputy leader. Does that mean she has someone else pulling the strings?)
He does not mind ignoring all of it since he was still in the advantageous situation; however, Duke Gerhardt does not like the secret maneuvers that the princess' faction is making.
”…Someone!”
Gerhardt who finally got his thoughts settled, called for his aide.
”Did you call?”
”Umu... I'm slightly concerned about the princess' faction recent maneuvers.”
”Would you like to send a spy?”
”Umu. I don't care how much money you use. Hire the best person for this job.”
His aide shows a surprised expression.
After all, he knows that his master is not a generous person.
”Investigate if there's an able aide near the princess... If so, kill that person immediately!”
Duke Gerhardt who had won many political struggles has never place his hope on optimistic judgments.
He gained the power in his hands by removing any obstacle beforehand.
”Certainly.”
His aide then leaves the room after lowering his head respectfully.
”Whoever they are… if they dare to interfere with my plans, then I will kill them!”
Duke Gerhardt was ready to use anything at his disposal.In order to rule over this country named Rozeria.
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