Chapter 177 – 17. The Way of the Far North (7)
Kingdom of Gaul, Duke of Dior.
The knight Romuald was born in the most prestigious family based in the capital Lumiere. Due to his limitations as an illegitimate child, he fulfilled his assigned responsibilities while enduring all sorts of humiliation and persecution. Now that he has arrived, there is no place where he has not been active anywhere in the country.
“Yes, I think Jim can trust Baron Ardennes.”
Commonly, when evaluating someone, the most important thing is the path he or she has walked. And Rom was a man who did his best in whatever he could do as a knight despite the indifference of the royal family and the central government.
A person who always shows a consistent course of action is therefore trustworthy.
He was a man who came from a prestigious family, the core of the marrow royalists, but did not receive that privilege. However, far from being dissatisfied with that fact, he is more loyal than ever, and where is a monarch who would not fall in love with the appearance of turning the ball around? Even more so, his ability to compete for the top spot on the Black Continent.
“Prince Leclerc, I would also like to hear your opinion.”
“I believe that His Majesty’s will is an extremely right and courageous decision.”
Alain Leclerc, leaning on his cane, added a few words. Originally, a king’s advisor shouldn’t talk too much because of the weight of the position, but the timely case like now was an exception.
“Since ancient times, our Gallic national power has been in a state of disarray. Powers raging in the center and powerful clans gaining power in the provinces resulted in the leakage of power that should have been directed to His Majesty. Thus, the Duke of the East, the Grand Duke of the South, the Bishop of the West, and the Margrave of the North raised their names.”
“Not really.”
“These tragedies are all because the central government is not fulfilling its role. In other words, it can be said that it is a tragedy brought on by the disrespectful challenge of the Crown Prince and Her Highness Princess Marianne. During the reign of the previous king, the powerful families did not enjoy the same power as today…”
Of course, the root cause lies in the secret pact between Millennium Gong and the Three Tigers. Had it not been for the power achieved by sacrificing a woman of Aquitaine, Gaul would have been a two-headed chariot run by religious powers led by archbishops and feudal powers led by kings.
“Before Millennium Gong passed away, he overthrew the central authority over the course of his life and gave all the power in the capital to His Majesty. As a result, no one will dare to challenge Your Majesty’s authority in this Lumière anymore.”
Alphonse and the servants beyond the blackout managed to sympathize. It is entirely thanks to Alexandre, the head of the family, that Dior, the central house of fame, was able to rise to the status it has today. This is because he meticulously purged one by one the big names in politics like Giraseong for the sake of his lord Eugene.
Furthermore, it was also a virtue that he pretended to be devoted to strengthening the royal authority without revealing his greedy intentions. Yes, the duke’s true intention was to establish his family as an indispensable member of the royal family.
“But the local barons are different. They do not originate from Gaul, but they are a tribe that can rebel against you. In fact, even Duke Arnaud of LeBlanc did not raise the hand of an abolished prince in this matter.”
“You’re right, I know what you’re talking about.”
“Yes, Baron Romuald of Ardennes is unmistakably the supreme loyalist, judging from the context. It is certain that His Majesty selects him and uses him moderately. At this point in time when the power of the Grand Duchess of the South is at stake, the game will turn over faster than before.”
“If Jacques uses the Duke of the East as a sword, then I want the Baron of the North to be my sword.”
“There was a time when Arno, Duke of LeBlanc, was also an excellent soldier. However, now that timeless years have taken away his youth, how can he compare with the might of a knight vying for supremacy on the continent? Not to mention, the depth of his resourcefulness and loyalty is hard to fathom for a baron …”
A coy smile appeared on the king’s lips, which were always full of worries. The reason why the previous king was able to spend his busy days coveting women while achieving his reign his was thanks to the existence of a masterpiece called millennial work. But how can I not be happy that I am about to have a right arm like him.
“The Deceased Prince will gain access to hegemony through the Duke of the East and his company His, Huestveda. Her Highness Her Princess Marianne will do so with the central archbishop and upper class influence led by Lucerne. Then, His Majesty, you can respond by pioneering a trade route with Baron Ardennes.”
“The Grand Duchess of Tarn has been cooperating with me ever since they became in-laws with the high family. After the invasion of Aragon’s madman, the absence of Archduke Lucien would be particularly painful. Is it irrelevant to see that the South will naturally come into this hand gradually?”
Alain Leclerc calmly nodded his head. He didn’t think Charles Dior’s loyalty was too great, but if you ask me if that made me feel like a person who would commit betrayal like flipping a palm overnight, of course not.
So what’s left is the West.
It is a lawless zone ruled by Dominique Ravel, the second-in-command of the Gaul religious world, led by Archbishop Albert Monet of the Celestial Church. Because the endless wasteland is full of wild military figures, it is an area worthy of vigilance.
“Is the core of the pando after the bishop?”
“I can’t see it as such, Your Majesty.”
Count Beauharnais opened his mouth. While bowing his head behind the black screen, he cautiously informed me of the information I had collected, befitting a major figure who was devising policies in practice.
“According to rumors, an outlaw woman has recently come to mind as a powerful figure in West Grande Mande.”
“Apart from Bishop Gravel?”
Dominique Ravel was a politician senile enough to hear the sound of a ghost. It was hard to believe the rumor that such a great man had fallen without the knowledge of the central government. Alphonse showed interest and asked Count Beauharnais.
“Who the hell?”
“My name is Esmeralda Zapiro, a former dancer. It is a famous off-white color called the autumn stone of the West. As we closely recognized, she is also the leader of the Seokhwadan, an assassination squad, and it is said that a few years ago, she gained a confidant of a woman who handled her ax like a ghost and rapidly increased her power over her. “
“You mean Rose of the Wilderness.”
Alphonse, who lightly stroked his chin, muttered in an understandable tone. The name of the autumn stone of the west and the rose of the wilderness was a nickname he had never heard before, even living only at the court. With some pompous people counting my sister as the central Eternal, the fame of the five most beautiful women in their country was something I had to avoid hearing.
“He’s Archbishop Monet’s henchman, so I assumed the West would be against me as well.”
“Her Highness will be somewhat embarrassed.”
“If she was quick on her feet, she might have already tried to appease her.”
“However, even so, there is no doubt that this is a fight with a high chance of winning. If the ruined Crown Prince units with the East, Her Highness the Archbishop’s support his, and finally, if Baron Ardenn plays his part his well for His Majesty.”
Charles Dior, who was sent to settle the tribulation in the south, is a loyalist. Therefore, unless the grand duke returns intact, the royal family alone will benefit from the power vacuum there.
Moreover, no matter how quickly the princess Jang responds, since the West has never served a master other than the bishop, for the time being, it will be busy resolving public sentiment within the region.
“Then he is also the Baron of Ardennes.”
In short, this is an opportunity.
“It would be nice to see Jim respond to the baron’s unwavering loyalty and give him an appropriate reward.”
“I think so, too.”
“However, you always have to be careful when moving to win someone. I hope that our hasty reckless actions do not lead to an accidental test of the baron’s loyalty to his. So, ministers, from now on, give your opinion freely on how I can use him as a sword.”
Humongous, buzzing, the servants, whose white eyes flashed beyond the blackout in the dark communication room, soon followed the king’s order and started a free discussion. It’s not that there are still people who have doubts about Baron Ardennes’ actions, but he easily dismissed them and had a conversation.
“It would be good to promise at least the title of Marquis. Although the family has not been established for a long time, the title of baron is too insignificant to become His Majesty’s closest aide to him.”
“Ugh! Do you mean to make a born illegitimate child into a duke overnight?”
“Who made it there? More than anything else, given the character of the baron, he would reject such an unconventional greeting. It’s just that the situation in the center has become so complicated that at least the title of count or marquess should have been given to him.”
“Everyone, please don’t forget that what’s important is what happens after Baron Ardennes collaborates with Camag to open up a trade route to the Far North. Even if you spread rumors about His Majesty’s favor His with him, it’s stupid if you don’t have any substance.”
“He is the knight who stopped the turmoil in Eastern Fontaine. He is a hero who overcame the inferiority of various battlefields including Limousin in the southwest region and led them to victory. He even saved the Northern Territory and forged friendly relations with those who raged beyond his borders. If the man who stopped 50,000 Imperial troops without any support from the center has no substance, then who on earth has substance?”
“Why did you forget to seal the bloodline with an Aquitaine woman as my wife?”
“You’re right. Aren’t you the baron who welcomed the wife of the Marquis in his stead, in case His Majesty would be concerned about his marriage with the Winter Stone of the North? Even if it’s a ceremony outside of Amman, how easy is it to leave the young ceremony and meekly respond to politics?”
The ministers all shook their heads in unison. At least, among those gathered here today, no one completely denied Baron Ardennes’ loyalty. For that reason, he was too consistent with his sincere actions.
“Come to think of it, the Duchess of LeBlanc is in the North right now, right? It is also the wedding of her brother, the Marquis of Le Moin. If you publicize the fact that she pioneered the snowfield trade route, I don’t think she will stand still.”
“Weren’t the Northeast sisters pretty close?”
“It is a situation where the lifeline of the family may run out, so how is it different from others? In addition, when the northern part was poor after Gerard Lemoin’s death, the eastern part was prosperous for many years. But I have never been able to help properly.”
Haha, no matter how great the affection of blood and flesh is, in the face of selfishness inherent in human affairs…”
The chatterers continued to exchange opinions. However, no one could come up with an appropriate reward or means of appeasement, perhaps because of the uniqueness of the agenda, which was unprecedented in the history of the kingdom.
And it was in the middle of that.
A young and hot-blooded newcomer, a servant who was a low-ranking government official, carefully weighed his fortunes while keeping an eye on each other.
“Well, can’t you give the lady of Aquitaine as her gift and mission her?”
“Hmm? What do you mean?”
“Baron Ardennes. For Her Majesty’s sake, she refused to marry the daughter of the Le Moin family, and she was married to her mother’s wife. Instead, as compensation, the royal family legally acknowledged bigamy, which was to be done separately with the young lady.”
“Yes, but what about that?”
“Anyway, if the baron of the frozen land opens a trade route to the far north through the snowy field like Camag. The East and West, which depend heavily on trade, inevitably hostile to the North, right? The sales of Uestveda, where the duke is a major shareholder, will plummet, and the coastal trade through the west coast will also meet a strong competitor.”
“No, is that how it is?”
“Therefore, from my point of view, His Majesty does not seem to have to take the form of a request to the baron…”
That was the logic of the younger limb. Even if you leave it alone anyway, you will have to face the checks and challenges of the surrounding area. So it’s enough if you pretend to be condescending and give out rewards without fussing.
“Roughly, why don’t you allow the baron to concurrently hold the title of Marshal, or give him an empty estate on the outskirts of the capital and promote him to a central count? And I think you can use the sergeant to give you the mission to seal the woman of Aquitaine.”
“No, how are you going to seal them further?”
“That’s right. Why are you telling the baron to get married one more time?”
A couple of servants grumbled and put the brakes on their remarks. However, after pondering the words of the lower end, the two soon came to the idea that it might be an unexpected clever idea.
“Isn’t there anything you can’t do?”
“Uh? Really?”
Like his follow-up his.
“I am the head of a young and promising emerging family. Isn’t it a body that can’t control the blood while running around the battlefield. I think I can charm the women of Aquitaine and induce them to become my concubines.”
“Her! When I heard this, I was strangely drawn to it.”
“Yes. As she sat still and thought about it, there is no need to limit her to an Aquitaine woman.”
“That’s right, if you want to show condescension, you have to pay properly.”
“I regret that your life was disturbed by patriotism in the past. So His Majesty allowed her to marry bigamy, so that any woman could be her official wife her. Something like this… ?”
The ministers, who wondered if it was just a trick, blinked their eyes. It was because there was no other approach like this after adding words one by one.
“How about doing it like an ancient early night? Whether she has a husband or a noble status, once she captures her weakness and submits to her her, the royal family approves whether she will be married or enslaved. If you do, I think the rest will take care of itself.”
“If you reveal your female color, you will be active because of that. If not, he will try to understand His Majesty’s intentions her and follow them. Either way, the fact remains that it will be a sword that will repel the unholy hordes.”
“I’m embarrassed, but isn’t Her Highness her Princess Marianne, who dares to challenge Her Majesty her, a pretty woman?”
Until then, the unexpected servants kept their mouths shut. In the midst of the awkward silence, he pointed to the person who spoke first and shouted.
“That, that’s it!”
Even the wise king, who solemnly sat and listened, exclaimed.
“It’s like Jim’s will. That’s a good way.”
The reputation of Baron Ardennes in Lumiere, the capital city, and the central political realm soared to the sky every day.
“Earl Boarne, prepare a school paper to send to the North right away!”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
Rome received soon an edict from the royal family that actively encouraged bigamy and slavery.
‘… But is this correct?’
It was strange.
