Chapter 115
#115. The Weight of the Commander-in-Chief
Count Komode couldn't answer the sudden question. In an instant, the atmosphere in the conference room froze as if covered in thin ice.
Grand Duke Bikander's lips slowly curved upward.
"If you are too grief-stricken to answer, I'll rephrase the question. When your son was alive, what did you send him, Count?"
"R-Relief supplies! I sent relief supplies!"
It was an opportunity. The Count answered triumphantly. The nobles buzzed in agreement.
"That's right, indeed. Count Komode and Viscount Odelph both sent relief supplies and donations as atonement for sending their sons."
"That is correct, Your Highness."
At one time, sending Hepertier Relief Supplies and making a name for oneself was a trend that spread like wildfire. At those words, the Grand Duke smiled and stared at Count Komode.
"Lord Interfield."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Count Komode, who was about to answer reflexively to the gaze fixed on him, shut his mouth.
In the meantime, Baron Howard Interfield, the Grand Duke's aide, stepped forward.
He was holding two document files as thick as bricks in his hands.
"Did Count Komode ever send relief supplies to the front?"
At the same time as the Grand Duke's question, the color drained from the faces of the nobles who had claimed to have sent relief supplies. Howard answered in a calm voice.
"Once, there was."
"What was the breakdown of the relief supplies?"
"Ten sacks each of carrots and potatoes, but, ah, it's written in parentheses, 'rotting.'"
Count Komode's face turned ashen, like rotten potatoes turned into kindling. As Howard's words ended, the Grand Duke smiled in the conference room, which had become so quiet that even the sound of water seemed to echo loudly.
"Aha."
And he shrugged as if it were something new.
"The esteemed Count Komode, who is demanding the price of his precious son's life."
Each time that chillingly handsome voice echoed, the nobles were seized by the illusion that someone was roughly pressing down on their shoulders.
"Did not even send armor, a spear, or a horse to cover his precious son's body."
Even the Emperor, who was receiving the red gaze head-on, was no exception. The Grand Duke, who had risen from his seat, looked at the Emperor and continued.
"Not even a blanket to comfortably lay his body."
The face that had always reminded him of the Princess overlapped with the previous Grand Duke.
"You sent rotting potatoes and carrots."
Black hair, red eyes. A mouth that smiled as if looking down.
"It's a meager offering for a son who went to war for the glory and honor of the Empire."
Even the cynical voice.
"Well, the Empire's wealth has improved since ten years ago when it wasn't as good as it is now, when there was nothing, hasn't it, Your Majesty?"
The Grand Duke was now asking the Emperor, comparing him to the nobles.
Asking for responsibility for the death of the previous Grand Duke, who had gone to the battlefield empty-handed without any support.
The two men's eyes met in the air. The Emperor was overcome with an indescribable fear the moment he witnessed the burning hatred beneath the cool surface.
How much does he know? No, how much does he really know?
"...What do you mean by that—"
"Respected Your Majesty."
Even with eyes as sharp as the tip of a spear, the Grand Duke spoke as kindly as a tongue in his mouth.
"As Commander-in-Chief, I feel a great responsibility for the damage caused by the war."
Commander-in-Chief.
Could this be the reason? Was the reason he insisted on attending the Nobility Council to tell the nobles how noble his father's death was?
"In every way, as a human being, as Commander-in-Chief, and as Grand Duke."
As the blood vessels on the Emperor's eyes bulged, the Grand Duke's smile deepened.
"So, I intend to compensate all the Knights, volunteers, doctors, and nurses who died in the war and suffered damage, and even all the people who were about to starve to death because they couldn't get bread during the war."
Amidst all this, the nobles, who had become bright-faced, blinked and asked back.
"...Not the noble families?"
As if it wasn't even worth answering, the Grand Duke didn't even listen. In the conference room, which was getting noisy again, the nobles looked at the Emperor, Duke Elkin, and Duke Madeleine as if it were a set procedure.
As if waiting for that flow, Duke Elkin rose from his seat.
"But Your Highness, Grand Duke, there is no compensation for the Empire's share in the negotiations with Heferti. Didn't Your Highness conclude a 'peace agreement'?"
"Did Your Highness, Grand Duke, say not to receive compensation...?"
With just two words, Duke Elkin turned the Grand Duke into an enemy. But the Grand Duke shrugged without showing any signs of embarrassment.
"What are you worried about, Duke? I'm trying to take responsibility as the head of Vikander."
"......!"
"But if that happens, the Grand Ducal family's finances..."
While everyone was shocked, someone slipped out a word. Superficially, they were worried about the Grand Ducal family's finances, but even in this situation, the nobles were counting the Grand Ducal family's assets.
It was said that the reason why the Grand Ducal family, which had only been a facade, was able to recover was because of the countless jewels.
It was a moment when they were looking for a way to access the Grand Ducal family's wealth, which was said to overwhelm the taxes of the five prosperous territories with just the taxes on minerals.
"The finances will become difficult. So, the Grand Ducal family of Vikander officially plans to request the Emperor to adjust the tax rate on the mineral tax currently paid."
"......!!!"
All the nobles were speechless.
The Emperor was the same. He couldn't even feel the pain from his clenched lips.
The wealthy and strong Franz Empire.
To adjust the tax rate that is the foundation of the underlying taxes. But the justification that the Grand Duke had laid out so far was to be a role model as a noble.
"That is, it's just an expression of Vikander's loyalty, isn't it? If you suddenly mention adjusting the tax rate like this..."
"His Majesty knows Vikander's loyalty better than anyone else. Isn't that right?"
At the meaningful words, the Emperor once again gripped the armrest tightly. The armrest, which had been broken once, felt precarious.
The Grand Duke spoke to the Emperor and the nobles as if he were putting on a play.
"So, if the Emperor allows it, I must now set an example as the head of the Grand Ducal family."
He was asking for the Emperor's permission in accordance with etiquette, but he looked confident.
From some point on, the nicknames that had been secretly called the Slaughtering Demon or the Emperor's Dog had disappeared as if washed away. The way he referred to himself as the head of the Grand Ducal family was surprisingly natural and dignified.
With that dignified appearance, the Grand Duke smiled brightly.
"Following the example of His Majesty, who always looks after everyone, and."
"......"
"Following the example of the nobles seated here who practice their moral obligations as nobles."
The sincerity, devoid of any sarcasm, pierced the nobles' mouths like a dagger.
Edwin slowly looked at the faces of the nobles.
Those who talked about sadness but had good complexions, those who preached the grief of losing their children but showed greed. The Emperor, who glared at him as if he would kill him but couldn't say anything.
Among them, there was a silver-haired noble who was particularly thin, but Edwin decided to ignore him easily.
Then, ah, he added as if belatedly showing off.
"Ah, please don't worry at all, Your Majesty, that the Grand Ducal family will be in danger just because my assets are a little short."
At the statement that revealed both wealth and generosity, the Emperor finally broke the ornament on the armrest he was holding for the second time.
At that disgraceful sound, Edwin laughed like a villain. His eerily red eyes flashed sharply as if repaying a long-standing grudge.
"After all, what Your Majesty will give me will not end with just this much like crumbs."
The impact of the languid remark was great.
At the sight of the Grand Duke demanding something as if he had entrusted something to the Emperor, the nobles quickly shut their mouths and looked around.
The powerful imperial authority, the wealthy and strong Grand Duke who disobeyed it.
In this place where the Crown Prince was also absent, the nobles began to move toward the Grand Duke like a tilted scale.
"Ah. I will come to receive the documents that I have not received regarding the mine tonight when setting the mineral tax rate."
As if responding to that gaze, the Grand Duke added another word and left the conference room.
* * *
"...Bring the Princess no matter what."
The conference room where all the nobles had left. At the Emperor's murmur, Duke Elkin, who was guarding his side, bowed his head, changing all his plans in his head.
With the sound of the door closing, the Emperor, who was left alone, looked down at the broken armrest ornament.
A sparkle that everyone envies. His firm position.
Duke Madeleine, who had assisted him in this position most closely, got up immediately after the meeting and headed to the Grand Duke.
Grand Duke, Grand Duke, Grand Duke...!
The Emperor threw the ornament he was holding in a fit of anger. Bang-. The thrown ornament broke the floor and rolled around a couple more times.
"...Is what he wants ultimately the document about the mine?"
In order for the Emperor to protect this position, he could not let go of both wealth and justification.
That's why the Emperor had to pore over the secret documents he had once again.
Hoping that the secret the Grand Duke wanted, the leash to control him, would be inside, even if it was relying on an absurd probability.
* * *
Duke Madeleine's drawing room.
Sir Huxley, who brought the tea, couldn't believe his eyes.
The Duke is having tea with His Highness the Grand Duke.
The air in the drawing room felt sharp at this strange meeting. Numerous questions arose, but Sir Huxley knew that his life was precious.
After Sir Huxley left, Duke Madeleine stared at the color of the tea in the teacup for a long time.
The words that did not come out easily even under the Grand Duke's gaze that was testing him burst out when the tea cooled and a bitter smell rose.
"...Is she, doing well?"
The Duke spoke with great difficulty.
"Who are you talking about? I don't know who the Duke is asking me about."
Unlike the appearance of readily accepting the private meeting, the Grand Duke was playing dumb. Duke Madeleine felt strangely thirsty. And after a long time, he pronounced the name again.
"...Olivia."
"I don't know why the Duke is worried about my lady, but she probably hasn't arrived in the Territory of Vikander yet."
He didn't know that the words that drew the line would feel so bitter. The Duke hurriedly tried to say something else.
Olivia's back, who had refused even the carriage and walked alone, was vivid in his eyes.
After that, the Duke thought about Olivia for a while, and eventually realized that what he was doing was worrying.
But.
The many worries that Esella, Jade, and Conrad would have had did not easily come out of his mouth.
While the Duke was moving his lips, the Grand Duke smiled.
"I heard that the three sons took a vacation together. It seems like they're going on vacation for Father's Day?"
The Grand Duke probably knew the destination. But before the Duke could say anything, the Grand Duke spoke first.
"When you go to that vacation spot, I hope you stop thinking about my lady."
He couldn't bring himself to say that he couldn't do that. But he couldn't even claim his rights as before.
The Grand Duke, who was looking at the Duke as if it were something new, slowly rose from his seat and muttered.
"I'm glad that the Duke didn't presumptuously call himself a father today."
.
.
.
When Edwin came out of the Duke's drawing room, the Duke's aide bowed politely, and Winster seemed somehow sulky.
"I didn't expect Your Highness to accept the Duke's private meeting."
Aha. Edwin answered indifferently at the sight of him quickly revealing the cause of his sulkiness.
"I was curious about his gaunt appearance."
It was a very trivial curiosity. Among the faces with good complexions, what would a face that looked gaunt as if embracing worries say?
"Yes?"
"Well, it was absurd, but anyway, Winster, you must be more curious about the document than this, right?"
Winster quickly forgot about the Duke's affairs and lowered his voice.
"Then, 'that' secret document..."
"I told him to bring it tonight when setting the tax rate. We'll have to wait and see."
"No, did you say that precious thing out loud?"
Winster jumped up. The Grand Duke, who was watching the scene, smiled crookedly and shrugged.
"What does it matter? There's someone in this Imperial Palace who gives that precious thing away so readily."
It was a strange designation.
Only then did Winster see the Princess standing at the corner of the road.
The Princess, holding a parasol and accompanied by only one maid, smiled beautifully when she made eye contact with the Grand Duke, as if trying to arrange a meeting disguised as a coincidence.
"Grand Duke, can you spare me a moment..."
"Excuse me, Your Highness. I'm busy."
The thank-you for the foolish and grateful mistake of handing over the White Crystal Mine to Olivia was paid with a polite refusal. Edwin, who thought he had calculated it quite well, paused for a moment.
When he thought about it, wasn't the Princess supposed to be grateful to him just for not crushing her neck? Considering what she had done to Olivia, he couldn't just let it go.
At that moment when he was hesitating, Winster lowered his voice and began to report.
"Your Highness, and Maria Etel in the Crown Prince's Palace."
"Why that woman?"
"That's..."
As the whispering voice continued, the corners of Edwin's lips curved upward.
