I can see the Emperor's stats-Chapter 65
start of round 2
It was known that the Imperial Capital was named after Sharnos the Great himself.
The name, according to players, also means the city of Sharnos.
"majesty! The capital, Charnople, is now close by.”
The expression of Count Pérez, who was sitting next to him, brightened with the anticipation that this tedious march would finally come to an end.
'It took more time than I thought, probably because of the number of people'
Julius also had a lot of work to do in the capital, so he was a bit impatient, but he was also happy to see him.
“His Highness the Prince has arrived. Open the gates!”
The drawbridge was lowered, and it was also filled with enthusiastic welcome crowds.
While coming to the capital, he passed through several fairly large cities, so he was used to it and there was no great inspiration, but the triumphal procession in the capital was special to Julius.
In particular, when passing through the plaza in the central city of the capital, Julius' expression became very complicated.
'That's where I got my throat cut'
I still couldn't forget the chilling feeling of the blade of the guillotine digging into my throat.
Leaving this complicated state of mind behind, Julius walked through the city with a smile on the outside and finally entered the front of the imperial palace.
“Meet Your Highness, First Prince!”
As soon as he got off the carriage, officials from the emperor faction came out and were busy greeting him.
“Everyone did a good job while I was gone.”
After meeting with the servants like that, one of the attendants cautiously spoke to Julius.
“It would be nice to have a banquet, but His Majesty the Emperor has given instructions to come to Daejeon as soon as His Majesty enters the imperial palace... … .”
“Abama? let’s go right away”
The emperor's intentions he also guessed. He must have been thinking about asking his intentions before the full-scale match-up tomorrow.
Just like that, Julius simply dressed up and immediately went to Daejeon.
“His Majesty the First Prince has arrived.”
“Come on, tell them to come in!”
The emperor greets Julius with a smile.
“I heard about your exploits in the north through reports. However, there were a few things I wanted to hear myself, so I called them separately.”
In fact, one can only be curious about the incredible achievements that Julius made in the North. No matter how detailed a report may be, nothing is as detailed as what one hears from the mouth.
“I was really lucky, but it wasn’t my pure skill.”
“Isn’t there a saying that luck is also skill? haha."
He explained to the emperor in detail, excluding secrets that were still difficult to reveal, such as his skills and the duel with Nuada. Of course, the expression of the emperor was extremely satisfied.
'As expected, this is the only person who will succeed me.'
After solidifying his thoughts, the emperor brought the main issue to Julius.
"Your exploits, regardless of your age, will have few achievements to compare in the history of the Empire."
“… … !”
"I'd like to give you the position of crown prince if you wish this time, but what do you think?"
'Amama Mama is definitely going to make me the crown prince on this occasion?'
The emperor's tone was different from the last time he was just hinting. Judging by the firm tone, it seems that his mind has already been made up.
“Sorry, Obama, that seems difficult.”
“… … !”
The emperor looks at him with a slightly surprised expression. Then he asked in a serious tone.
"Are you saying you really don't want to take the throne yet?"
“It is.”
'Why is this guy suddenly like this?'
The emperor felt a bit embarrassed because his expectations were wrong. But in this case, it's not that I haven't thought about it.
“Is it because of the Grand Duke or the nobles who follow him?”
“You can’t say there is no relationship.”
“I read this report. I heard that the war broke out as soon as you went up to the north, and there were strange groups in the middle... … .”
Here, the emperor's expression began to take on a lifelike moment, as if the spirit of his youth had returned.
“If the Grand Duke harbors a rebellion, I have no intention of letting him live. You must have guessed to some extent.”
Julius was also slightly surprised on the inside. Would the emperor who had pushed him so hard in his previous life even risk a civil war to make him crown prince at this point?
'But that's too risky.'
He knows this well because he went through civil war during his time as emperor. A battle with the Grand Duke would never be easy, and in his opinion, at least now was not the time.
'If you're even thinking like this, I'll have to show you my true feelings to some extent.'
Julius put on a serious expression and started talking in a serious voice.
“Actually, I have something to say about that.”
“What is it like?”
"that… … .”
Only then did Julius begin to slowly reveal his plan to the emperor. It will be a rather long story.
* * *
gossip gossip
The next day, before the meeting even started, all the attention in the hall was focused on Julius.
“It is true that you have established a great major, but will you be able to ascend to the position of crown prince this time?”
“His Highness's influence is still strong, so you can wait on your own. Don't you know what's going to happen in the future?"
“Then let’s begin today’s Daejeon meeting. As you know, today's theme is a reward for the achievements of His Highness Julius, the first prince.”
With the roaring shouts of the nobles in charge of the proceedings, the Daejeon meeting finally began.
“For now, I will report again about Her Highness's major.”
Every time Julius' feat came out, the nobles of the imperial faction showed proud expressions, and the nobles of the grand duke faction seemed to be getting more and more uncomfortable, and they looked like they were chewing shit.
'I never dreamed that a situation like this would come just a few years ago, but what kind of situation is this?'
'No matter how hard it is, His Highness will somehow stop it?'
The hope of the nobles of the Grand Duke is, of course, Archduke Wilhelm. Unlike other aristocrats in the front row of the battle, he was completely expressionless.
But he was also quite anxious.
'Depending on the choices I make today, my future path will be different!'
If the emperor makes Julius the crown prince, he will unleash all the foundations he has cultivated and cause a civil war. In case of emergency, independence is also in mind.
'I heard that the empire divides itself, but in fact there is no country I hate?'
Isn't there a saying that other people's misfortune is my happiness? In fact, if the empire is in chaos, the national power will decline, and then, of course, it will be difficult to control other kingdoms.
The Grand Duke never looked down on the emperor, but he had absolute confidence that if he had prepared, he would be able to leave the empire even in the worst case.
'It would be nice if things went well in the empire, but I'm a person with a snake's head better than a dragon's tail. Your Majesty the Emperor!'
He had been preparing for it for decades and was looking for an opportunity. He just thinks that if he raises the 2nd prince as emperor, he will be able to wield the power of the empire, which is unique in the continent, and if not, it is better to take this opportunity to become independent.
“This concludes the report on the achievements of His Highness the First Prince.”
While I was thinking about that, the report ended and the emperor's congratulations continued.
“First Prince Julius! Needless to say, the four majors in the North this time are very big. so… … .”
At this moment, all eyes in the hall were focused on the Emperor and Julius. The emperor was finally about to say that.
“You can say that you are still too young, but you have proven your ability enough, so I don’t think it matters. Do you want the position of crown prince?”
Only then did the Grand Duke bite his lip. He also thought that there was no way Julius would refuse.
'It looks like he made a decision.'
It seems that the emperor is determined to get rid of himself at this opportunity. The Grand Duke hardens coldly. But before he could think of the next thing, Julius' voice rang in his ears.
"I'm sorry, but it doesn't seem like I'm ascending to the position of crown prince yet."
“… … ?”
For a moment, everyone in the hall made absurd expressions.
'what is this sound?'
There is a certain degree of refusal to eat. It wasn't even the name of the person who held the title of Imperial Crown Prince.
At this moment, the Emperor and Julius exchange invisible glances. The emperor opened his mouth again with a look of surprise.
“Huh… What do you mean you won't accept it?"
“Leonhard hasn't even become an adult yet. And I think it's against fairness to decide on a crown prince with just one major.”
'It's not very wrong, but what is the intention?'
When everyone has doubts, the emperor also asks for help once again.
“I understand how you care about your younger brother, but I also made a decision after thinking it over. Do you really intend to refuse?”
“I apologize.”
“Tsk… … .”
The Emperor clicks his tongue and sighs. The emperor's servants are also making sad faces. On the other hand, the Grand Duke was looking at Julius with a calm expression.
'What's your intention?'
Aren't those reasons just excuses? As if answering that, the emperor continued his words, clicking his tongue.
“If that's what you think, we'll postpone the installation of the crown prince. However, you should definitely receive a reasonable reward for your major. Is there anything else you want?”
Here was Julius' aim.
“Huang Gong Ha, there is one thing I want.”
The reward I wished for even refusing to install the crown prince! What is it like? Jang Nae's attention is once again focused on Julius.
“Give me permission to create an order of knights.”
“… … !”
The moment of war is locked in silence. In a way, it was because this condition was as difficult as the installation of the crown prince.
At this moment, the Archduke realized Julius' intentions.
'Instead of giving up legitimacy by right of succession to the throne, you're asking for benefits, right?'
The crown prince's greatest authority was to represent state affairs through legitimacy. In addition to leading state affairs in the absence of the emperor, he can also create his own forces.
Julius was asking him to take away the right to create a personal force here.
The emperor seems to be pondering here for a while, then turns his gaze to the grand duke.
"hmm… What do you think of the Archduke as Leonhard's guardian?"
The Archduke rarely seemed to think for a moment.
'Half of the shadows have already been lost. Anyway, since I've achieved my goal of preventing him from ascending to the position of crown prince, I'm not willing to take any more risks here.'
“I think the credit that Her Highness, the First Prince, has made this time is enough to deserve that level of right.”
“I think so too, if you don’t object, I can accept this.”
At this moment, an unspoken negotiation was established between Julius, the Emperor, and the Archduke.
But the Grand Duke was grinding his teeth inwardly.
'If you want to eat the whole empire, are you saying you're going to make a concession here?'
He is also in a situation where he has already suffered quite a bit of damage from his chivalry, so it cannot be an easy decision to start a civil war. However, the goal of preventing Julius from ascending to the crown prince has been achieved.
Here, depending on one's ability, it is also a provocation to try to suppress or eliminate Julius even with an invisible secret method.
More importantly, it was the person who carried out this provocation.
'The emperor is the one who will engage in an all-out war with me, and he will never think like this.'
It was only then that the Archduke realized that this idea had come from Julius' head.
'Are you trying to compete with me in earnest?'
At first glance, it seems like a very reckless decision. Although he gained some support in the north, Julius was still just a child in the eyes of the Archduke.
'But if you get the protection of the emperor, it's a different story'
The Archduke interpreted it as Julius' intention to create a personal force and put pressure on him little by little.
'If His Highness, the first prince, challenges you, I will accept it. But you will regret it!'
At this moment, the Archduke acknowledged Julius as his adversary for the first time. It's hard to believe that he's a 20-year-old kid already, given that he'd given himself up in the North.
Julius also smiles as he feels the gaze of the Archduke staring at him.
'It's the first match for you, but for me, this match is the second match! This time I won't be easily defeated.'
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