Chapter 244 – Because There’s No Need to Hide It Anymore. (One)
Late at night, in the drawing room of the Calliope family.
There, a meeting of Calliope’s relatives was being held.
Excluding Eugene and Eddard Calliope, who are not currently in the family, only three responded to Erden’s summons.
They were Reika Calliope, Cale Calliope, and Garcia Mysha.
“…”
It was the request of the family head, so even though he attended the meeting, Garcia seemed uncomfortable at the sudden summons.
“Thank you for meeting us so late.”
Erden, who knew that, bowed his head lightly with a thank you before going to the main point.
“…Huh.”
Even formally, she seemed satisfied with the fact that she had accepted the family head’s apology, so Garcia untied her legs and opened her mouth.
“…I’m really curious about what the hell was going on and why you asked to meet at this late hour as you said.”
“A letter has arrived from the imperial family.”
At the word “Imperial family,” Erden’s eyes focused on the letter she was holding, but it wasn’t enough to make her fuss.
It was not uncommon for a great family of Calliope’s level to receive a letter from the imperial family.
However, Erden’s words were shocking.
“…The emperor has passed away.”
“Your Majesty… Passed away?”
Garcia’s eyes widened at Erden’s words her.
Everyone knows that the current emperor has been bedridden for several years and may pass away, but that doesn’t mean the death of the emperor isn’t shocking.
“That’s right. In the near future, this fact will be announced to the Empire, and Crown Prince Reingram Lumenhark will take over the throne.”
Contrary to the shocking statement that the emperor has returned, this is so natural that the reaction is not very hot.
In fact, it was widely known that the crown prince had ruled the empire by proxy for a long time, and that Liana Lumenhark, the only rival for the throne, was not greedy for her throne.
‘…In addition, according to the recent rumors, the princess is also related to the rebels…’
Just as Garcia was about to think about her as she twisted her hair, Erden spoke up again.
“Apart from that, the Crown Prince had one favor for me. It is for this reason that the kinship meeting was held.”
“… What is it?”
Garcia’s eyes narrowed.
I really hate to admit it, but the head of the Calliope family is Erden.
That doesn’t mean that all the forces Garcia planted in the Calliope family have disappeared, so the power still remains, but if it’s tolerable, Erden alone will be able to decide.
However, having to obtain consent through a family meeting at such a late hour…
That request was so important to the family that even the head of Calliope could not arbitrarily decide.
“…I want to increase the size of Calliope’s military through conscription.”
“Under! That is nonsense.”
The moment he heard Erden’s words, Garcia replied with a snort.
“Until now, the Calliope family has not been ruled by the imperial family. But no matter how much His Majesty passed away, are you saying that you are increasing the army by following the orders of the Crown Prince, who has not yet ascended the throne? That’s not even funny.”
“…That’s why it’s a request, not an order.”
“It’s even funnier if you ask me. The Calliope family already has the largest military power among the great families. But you want to raise more troops here? Do you know how much money is needed for one soldier? Or do you intend to bankrupt the Calliope family?”
“…”
“My lord. Winter is coming soon. In other words, we need to harvest grain as soon as possible and fill the barn. But to be conscripted at a time like this! Are you talking sanely!”
Then Reika continued her words.
“I agree with your mother. As you know, northern winters are harsh and firewood is always in short supply. In the meantime, new weapons and armor will be needed to recruit new soldiers. How much iron and firewood will be used to make such armor?”
“You’re right. And how strange the timing is! At this point in time when His Majesty the Emperor passed away and rebel forces appeared in the center of the Empire, you asked the head of the family who was close to the Crown Prince Isn’t the crown prince intending to use the northern army as the prince’s private organization?
Each of Garcia and Reika’s rebuttals was correct, but it was also an expected rebuttal.
Erden sighed briefly and continued.
“In the letter, they said they would send enough gold coins, food, and firewood to compensate for the damage caused by the conscription in the north. Also, the soldiers conscripted this time are meant to supplement the northern defense line and have nothing to do with the imperial family.”
“That’s something you don’t know. Since when did the imperial family start paying attention to the defense line? And the northern defenses are already solid. If you want to make the defense line even stronger here, you have to come from the imperial family, and there is no need for more northern blood to flow.”
At Garcia’s words, Erden pressed his temple.
If he was simply spouting such words out of rebellion against himself, it would be enough to suppress him with the authority of the family head.
But if he said that out of pure concern for Calliope’s family, like now…
If you keep your mouth shut because you don’t want to hear that, it will be like the tyrant that Erden swore he would never become.
“… It seems like we only talked to each other. Cale, tell me what do you think?”
Cale, who had his eyes closed, replied as Erden looked at Cale and spoke.
“…It will depend on the amount of support promised by the crown prince, but the head of the family doesn’t seem to have a bad idea.”
“Brother!”
“Kale!”
Garcia and Myisha shouted at Cale’s unexpected betrayal, and Erden also made a surprised expression.
To be honest, I only asked because I thought dealing with Cale would be more comfortable than dealing with Garcia or Maisha, but I can’t believe I’m on this side.
“You have to be cool. Recently, the movements of the monsters are unusual enough that the barrier was breached for a while. It’s still like this in early fall, but what if the invasion of hungry monsters becomes more active in winter?”
“…So let’s accept the prince’s proposal?”
“That’s right. The Wall Guard continues to request reinforcements, but they do not have enough soldiers to send. After all, it means that conscripts are needed. In this situation, it is not uncommon for the Crown Prince to promise to provide support. Mother, this is not an opportunity to be used by the imperial family, but rather an opportunity to use the imperial family.”
At Cale’s words, Erden reflected on himself.
‘…I must have been too careless.’
Just as Eugene changed, Cale could change as much as he wanted.
Recently, a report came in that someone resembling Cale was taking a noble lady for a walk at night naked, wearing a blindfold and chastity belt, and a little suspicious…
‘There’s no way Kayle would be like that.’
Seeing Cale now, it seemed like a simple rumor.
“…My mother seems to think too negatively.”
“Isn’t Cale interpreting it too positively?”
“As I said, conscription is necessary regardless of the letter from the crown prince…”
“So those soldiers are from the center, not the north…”
“That would disrupt the command of the army. In the meantime, through that gap… “
“The leadership must be held in Calliope…!!”
“It’s just an ideal, the reality is… !!!”
“That’s why northerners have to bleed…!!!”
While Erden was impressed with Cale for a while, the meeting was getting rougher.
Watching the three of them fighting hard without even a chance to intervene, Erden remembered another letter he kept in his arms.
‘Can I really say…’
[A letter will come to the crown prince someday. Then, if things don’t work out… Use my name.]
Erden let out a short sigh.
Garcia hates Eugene more than she hates herself, perhaps because of her inferiority complex to Eugene’s lineage of hers.
Still, Erden has the status of family head, so even Garcia can’t recklessly run into it…
If he knows that Eugene agrees with this proposal, he might even turn around Cale, who is taking his side of him.
‘…But it’s Eugene.’
Have you ever had a bad time listening to Eugene?
It wasn’t.
Thanks to Eugene, he rose to the position of head of household, and his relationship with Rose Amelia, who had been sluggish, was improving at once.
‘I can’t believe that just one flower from her and one letter from her will change her from her…’
With a small nod of his head, Erden, who had regained his composure, slammed the desk.
Thump-!
“…”
“…”
“…”
As silence fell momentarily and their gazes gathered, Erden slowly opened his mouth.
“…I’m late to tell you, but this suggestion came from Eugene.”
Because she trusted Eugene, she said it, but she didn’t think it would work.
And even if this made her repulsive and Cale turned away, Erden had no intention of blaming Eugene.
To the end, her choice was her own her, and for Erden, Eugene is helpful, and apart from her words her, she is the youngest, cute and kind person.
“…Thinking about it, I think the head of the household is right. It’s an opportunity to grow the power of Calliope with the support of the imperial family, but where are these conditions? I’ll conscript you right away.”
“Right. Even if they are not ruled, it is true that the Calliope family are also members of the Empire. There’s nothing wrong with showing off to His Majesty the new Emperor. Conscripted.”
“…”
One second after I brought up Eugene’s name.
The meeting of Calliope’s kinship was concluded.
