I Became the Master of the Empress - Chapter 266



266 – 270

“Nice to meet you, Duke Wilhelm. I am Karl, the Minister of the Intelligence Department.”

Karl, meeting Duke Wilhelm at the behest of Emperor Theodora.

As the head of the Intelligence Department, he observes Wilhelm’s face, noting the deep shadows that suggest he has been under a lot of stress lately.

‘He seems to be quite stressed from the armed uprising.’

“Pleasure. So, what brings you here?”

Wilhelm responds curtly.

He does not regard Karl, a commoner, with much favor.

“Have you heard the rumors that an armed uprising is being planned recently?”

At Karl’s straightforward words, Wilhelm naturally shakes his head.

“Who dares to say that a armed uprising is being planned?”

Unlike during Victor’s time, Karl is now the Minister of Intelligence.

In other words, he has the authority to arrest and torture anyone on suspicion of armed rebellion, so he first denies it.

“I expected you would deny it.”

But when Karl puts on a face that suggests he knows everything, Wilhelm speaks with a look of disdain.

“Have you come to arrest me and conduct an investigation?”

“No, of course not. How could that be? I am simply here to convey His Majesty’s orders.”

Seeing Wilhelm on guard, Karl smiles bitterly.

“His Majesty’s orders, you say?”

“He requested that I arrange a meeting with Duke Wilhelm. Might I ask when would be convenient for you?”

At Karl’s words, Wilhelm strokes his beard, lost in thought.

‘It seems they haven’t come to arrest me just yet…’

The person that the aristocrats, who are trying to incite an armed uprising, fear the most is Karl.

There are rumors that Karl’s intelligence agency is exceptionally skilled at torture.

It is said that they can extract confessions through prolonged suffering.

Of course… they don’t actually torture, but that’s the rumor.

‘Is it wise to meet him?’

Recently, due to the Grand Duke’s proposal, the unity among the aristocrats has weakened.

The radicals, who cannot trust the Grand Duke, insist that they must start the uprising, while the conservatives argue that if the parliament guarantees the Grand Duke’s proposal, it could be trusted.

And there are even factions that hesitate to rise up out of fear of the Grand Duke’s proposal.

Even before the uprising has begun, the situation is already shaky, and Wilhelm feels uneasy about the meeting with the Emperor.

But… what can be done? The Emperor has requested to see him, and he cannot refuse.

Moreover, the very fact that they want to meet at this time suggests that they wish to discuss matters related to the armed uprising.

If he were to refuse this… it would bring terrible consequences for the aristocrats in Roman.

“Tomorrow… I believe I will have time.”

“Then I will take it that you will be entering the palace tomorrow.”

Wilhelm nods at Karl’s words.

“Understood.”

*

When Karl arrived at the palace, he informed them about the meeting with Wilhelm.

“Tomorrow… I understand for now.”

It’s a meeting that came too quickly, but I can’t afford to delay it for long.

There was intelligence suggesting that they might directly target his eyes.

“Yes, but Wilhelm doesn’t seem to be in good shape. It seems he’s been pondering over the proposal from His Highness the Grand Duke for quite some time.”

Well, his notoriety must have been quite high.

Wait? Could I possibly use this to my advantage?

Currently, my vassals agree that while we should do everything we can to prevent a civil war, there’s no reason for us to suffer losses while doing so.

If the aristocrats rise up on their own, we can thoroughly crush them this time and strengthen the central government’s power.

However, the kind man is concerned about the damage it would cause to the citizens of the Empire and wishes to stop them.

Even if it means giving up everything.

But…

Contrary to his thoughts, the aristocrats have no choice but to contemplate his schemes.

It’s only natural since all those who accepted his surrender met a miserable fate.

“What if we use this well?”

At my words, Karl responded with a sour expression.

“What do you mean by using this well?”

Carrots and sticks, along with a justification, can move anyone.

“Think carefully, Karl. What do you think the reason is for their uprising?”

Karl stroked his goatee, pondering before speaking.

“Well, it’s because you and His Highness the Grand Duke have formed an alliance… The aristocrats wouldn’t be able to do anything.”

The largest political factions in the Empire are divided into pro-imperial and anti-imperial groups.

What would happen to the Empire’s politics if those two factions formed an alliance?

If I were to classify my husband Devian’s political inclination, it would be closer to anti-aristocracy.

Policies that limit the power of the aristocrats and promote centralization.

But the fact that even I, who was keeping him in check, decided to side with Devian…

It signifies the collapse of the aristocrats’ world.

“What if I were to win them over… the story would change significantly, wouldn’t it?”

Karl responded with indifference.

“Do you think they would be swayed?”

At Karl’s words, I nodded my head.

“It’s going to work. It has to work.”

They move for the sake of their family.

Yet, planning an armed uprising in such a disadvantageous situation means that even if they commit treason, their family will not disappear.

But I intend to warn them.

If they rise up this time… I will send their family, their friends, all of them to the execution grounds.

Of course, I will be called a tyrant, but I think it is fitting for those who dared to touch my husband without fear.

“Carl… if an armed uprising occurs… I intend to execute the families and friends of all participants… can you prepare for that in advance?”

Carl’s face contorts in horror.

“Y-You mean to say you will massacre their families and friends? Then the Holy See and the Empire’s citizens will rise up…”

I cut off Carl’s words as he mentions the facts I already know.

“I know too. That punishing the families of the guilty is a great sin.”

Punishing even the families of those who have not sinned is a direct affront to the first emperor’s will.

But I am prepared to bear that disgrace.

The Empire was born from such decisions.

“That’s why I want to warn them. It won’t just be them who die; their family, their friends, all will perish.”

At Theodora’s words, Carl felt a wave of fear.

*

It has been a few days since I ordered Victor to make contact with the aristocrats, but I am worried because he has not come.

So, reluctantly, I summoned Victor to the honeymoon suite.

“I apologize. The aristocrats have not provided a clear answer.”

Victor’s awkward voice pulls me into thought.

Why is there no response?

If the content is ambiguous, it could delay the negotiation process.

But this is not vague; it is almost equivalent to waving a white flag.

Thus, unable to understand the current situation, I asked Victor again.

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“Why is there no answer?”

“W-Well? Doesn’t His Grace the Duke know as well?”

Victor’s awkward words made me wonder.

“Is it because of my political reputation?”

My political reputation is very poor.

If I were to hand something over, there would be quite, no, a lot of people who would suspect it to be poison.

It must be because of Joannes and the Locust.

To be honest, I know I might be overstepping a bit.

Especially since the biggest damage was done to the Imperial faction when competing with Joannes.

I think the delay in belief from the aristocrats, who are mainly gathered in the Imperial faction, is because they find it hard to trust, so I contemplate other measures.

Realistically, the proposal I can offer is to bring it to a vote in the assembly and receive the Emperor’s approval to legislate it, but…

What if they refuse?

To be frank, if this proposal doesn’t work, then there’s no choice but to arrest all the aristocrats in Romane.

I still can’t grasp what kind of conspiracy they are plotting.

“Is it not that they fear the wisdom of His Grace the Grand Duke?”

To put it nicely, it’s my wisdom, and to put it harshly, they might think it’s insidious, but Victor makes an effort to speak well of me.

Since he has been a vassal of our family for generations, it might be natural.

“First, please convey once more the message that we will ensure the assembly and receive the Emperor’s approval to legislate.”

“Legislate, you say? However… You do know that this means you can never return to the political arena, right?”

I nodded at Victor’s words.

“It cannot be helped, can it? It is for the Empire and its people.”

A moment of silence followed my words, but then Victor responded.

“…I will convey that first.”

Watching Victor retreat, I can’t help but smile inwardly.

Now, Theodore will have no choice but to accept it.

I’ve thought of various ways to appease the aristocrats until now, but it seems there were no sharp solutions.

In other words… there’s no way other than this.

Retirement! I can retire.

With that thought, a smile unconsciously rises to my lips.

Hehe. If I retire this time, should I go somewhere for a trip?

Since I haven’t been able to travel since coming here. I began to think that traveling would be nice.

Should I visit Nicaea? Or the United Kingdom?

The Kingdom of Nicaea, where culture has continued since ancient times.

Or the affluent United Kingdom ruled by my uncle.

Both are countries I’ve wanted to visit at least once, so I would like to travel there.