Chapter 108 (2/2)

[“Think again. Unless you want to be the dog killed after the hunt*.”]

After receiving Artizea’s letter a few weeks ago, she traveled alone.

She met Artizea in a small town north of the capital, three days away. This is the time when the returning party from Evron Grand Duchy had not yet reached the capital.

Amalie retorted, embarrassedly, within minutes of the conversation.

[“Did you say a dog killed after the hunt?”]

[“Brother Lawrence is a person who doesn’t know how to thank others. He takes it for granted when others give him something. Because he has lived that way all his life.”]

Artizea said in a gentle voice.

[“There is no need to say in principle that loyalty isn’t meant to be appreciated. I know why you chose Brother Lawrence.”]

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There are two reasons why the Emperor’s favourites, including Amalie, supported Lawrence.

First, the Emperor’s will is with Lawrence.

There was an ambiguous side in the Emperor’s attitude. He never directly mentioned the successor to the chief court officer.

It was because he couldn’t bear more of the political burden. Even if the Emperor had no deficit, it was already a heavy burden to support Lawrence, his illegitimate son.

However, because of the Emperor’s character, it was obvious that he would try to pass the Crown on to a close bloodline.

The wiser the Emperor’s supporter was, the better he was aware of it.

Second, the members of the Grand Duke Roygar’s faction and the Emperor’s favorites are like water and oil.

Emperor Gregor chose talented people from the local nobles and commoners while keeping the great nobility in check. They only needed his favor and trust to become powerful.

When Grand Duke Roygar ascends to the throne, he will be supported by the great nobles who have only ever seen them as eyesores.

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Even with the Emperor’s support, it will be almost impossible to be recognized for achievements among the powerful nobles, including Marquis Gayan.

Unlike the great nobles, they did not have the strength to endure under the pressure of the imperial power for decades.

[“But you have to think the other way around. Whether it’s Grand Duke Roygar or Brother Lawrence, they’ll try to elevate the imperial power after they’re crowned. It is public confidence. My brother will not tolerate anyone who tries to get in his way by using their past credits.”]

[“You are speaking very confidently.”]

Artizea smiled and did not respond to it.

And she said, not just Amalie, but referring to all people in her position, as a group.

[“The biggest problem with ‘you’ is that the moment Brother rises to the throne, grabs the crown, and gains authenticity, the power to stand against him completely disappears.”]

[“That doesn’t mean I have other options, doesn’t it?”]

Amalie knew that when considering after the ascension, there was a possibility of being appointed to Grand Duke Roygar.

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Eventually, when fighting against the great nobles who will become contributors, including Marquis Luden, they will need a person who will come to the forefront and become the Emperor’s lieutenant.

Just as Emperor Gregor has done.

Nevertheless, Amalie did not choose Grand Duke Roygar. It was because until then, she had no guarantee that she would survive.

[“All the power and authority that ‘we’ have come from His Majesty. Knowing that, I decided to become a servant of His Majesty, not a warlord in the West. Forming power at that time means that I have already given up.”]

[“You don’t mean to speak of loyalty…”]

[“It means that you cannot have real power without someone to look behind you. There is a reason why the lords in the past did not try to hand over their land to the Emperor no matter how poor their territories are.”]

Artizea smiled.

[“Do you regret the choices you made when you were younger?”]

[“I do not regret it. I’m a soldier, Grand Duchess Evron. I listened to the orders of others and gained tactical victory in an environment provided by others.”]

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[“This is the possibility of a tactical victory that Brother Lawrence’s thinks of Dame Harper.”]

[“That’s right. Because Grand Duke Roygar is a trader and a politician. I can’t trust anyone other than Sir Lawrence.”]

[“It’s a tactician’s limit.”]

At that, Amalie looked at Artizea with a serious face.

[“Why do you say that? Grand Duchess. Sir Lawrence is the real brother of Your Grace.”]

[“The Emperor’s seat is not light enough to support him unconditionally because we are siblings.”]

[“It is difficult to say that Sir Lawrence will be a great king, but he is not foolish. It is more common for a monarch to revel in pleasure than otherwise. He is arrogant and cruel, but it is only a personal flaw. Governance is a separate matter from that.”]

[“My brother feels inferiority and resentment.”]

Artizea also had a time when she thought like Amalie. She believed that even more because he had similar features to Emperor Gregor.

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[“He thought he’d been robbed of the crown prince’s seat that he should have won. So he doesn’t appreciate anything he gets. Because my brother feel that the world should be his.”]

If he was born as a real prince, Artizea thought he might not have been so twisted.

[“The more wise people say, the less he will listen, the more meritorious they will be, the more respectful he will be, and the more he will stay away from those who have a legitimate position. Eventually, after consciously gathering up the vassals, he will enjoy wielding everyone with whims and feeling that he is superior not only as a position but also as an individual.”]

[“So, then, is Your Grace’s intention to support Grand Duke Roygar? Does His Grace Grand Duke Evron wish the same?”]

Amalie thought of this meeting as if Artizea was trying to give her a chance to change the line.

But Artizea looked at Amalie and said softly.

[“There are people who repay as much as they have been devoted by loyalty, give proper honor for the achievements, are not jealous of their subjects, and never betray their faithfulness, even if there is no need to do so.”]

Amalie was thrilled.

—

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Note:

(*) Killing the dog after the hunt: An expression used to indicate the situation of using something when necessary and throwing it away unsympathetically