Ch 4; Gamble
As the saying goes; 'Great minds think alike'. Or, in this case, 'desperate men think alike'? It should be no surprise that other lords, especially those in the minister position, waive a white flag like my liege and send their trusted subordinates one by one.
But I was still shocked to see familiar faces in front of His Majesty's residence.
"Sir Vass…? You..."
"Grim. So His Excellency the Duke also thought the same, huh."
"Yes… My Liege…—"
"No need to elaborate. I roughly understand."
In the Kingdom of Vedora, if you had to name three knights most powerful as of today, Sir Vass of House Verdian would undoubtedly be spoken. Although the era where one knight could dominate an entire battlefield had passed, knights are still a strategic weapon capable of dealing damage akin to a siege weapon, in the form of detached units.
While my existence was that of a hidden blade, Sir Vass is an actual living spear and shield. Meaning the Marquis of Verdian won't just move his cherished blade thoughtlessly.
"Ah, so you both are here too."
And it's not just me and Sir Vass.
One by one, I could see around six people, each representing their affiliation, gathered in front of His Majesty's abode. Likely with the same objective as I. The others must know it too. That more or less our objective is the same.
"...well, stealing glances at each other like this won't solve anything, isn't it?" at the words of that fox-like smiling representative, we outwardly agreed and quickly informed the Inner Palace Chamberlain of our intention.
Still, each one of us had their own thoughts. I maintain a poker face to hid the others from knowing my inner turbulence.
There's a high chance that I would die by hanging or beheading after this ordeal. After all, I'm essentially a spy, and I am here partly to confess that I'm a spy. Would a monarch just let my existence slip just because this country is in shambles?
No way.
If anything, I would be made an example to deter anybody else to attempt.
…though, maybe this is the best ending for me. The Duke has given his approval, and in my last moment, I may fulfill an impossible dream of wedding Lady Mary. However, when I was once again reminded of my inevitable death that would happen shortly after, my heart tightened.
What a tragedy it would be. Of marrying your loved ones and seeing his death in the gallows days later.
Thus, I was trapped in a limbo; for the sake of her, should I propose, knowing my inevitable death?
But before I could resolve my inner turmoil, a more bleak future stood in front of me.
"Apologize, gentleman. His Majesty had refused all visitors. His Majesty didn't even come out of his room..."
The worst situation has descended.
***
Ever since I borne upon that damned report, I was half conceded and already counting my days. Ten years is definitely a long time, and although it was a life full of social degeneracy—handing off all management to other loyalists and playing with courtesans from morning to next morning—it was undoubtedly fulfilling.
Living a rich, carefree life with no worries like that was exactly my dream.
Ha… now that I think about it, is that the world's method to ignite a survival spirit in me in preparation for this day?
After failing to fall asleep for the first time in ten years, I was plagued with various negative thoughts. But as if slapped by miracle, my brain started to find a way to break through.
No matter how experienced I am with the world of management thanks to my old job, I just can't find a clear answer no matter how much I thought all night.
In the first place, governance and management is not the same, isn't it? Though, it could be said that management is a part of governance but ultimately, my specialized knowledge was far from enough.
However, what is this world? A medieval era where everything was simpler.
It's not like the 21st century where the intricateness of the international society has evolved to a level where a little lapse in grain production won't pose much danger except for the immediate fire. Where the implosion of civil war in the neighboring country which results in massive illegal immigrants could be dealt with without harming the core of the country.
But, in this medieval world, a massive displaced mob could very well become a disaster in itself.
Thinking about this, I was reminded of why the Empire took no further action after the huge effort of helping me 're-claim' my seat of royalty from The Tyrant Ezhar III, and expend a huge propaganda to rally a massive force of citizens to recognize this fact.
Fighting two fronts, plus they had to be wary of the expansionists of the West. It didn't matter if the Northern Front was a half-phony war. It would still be a full disaster had they failed to quell the Eastern in time. However, what if chaos erupted in the South when they cannot expend any more attention elsewhere?
If I was the Empire, I would tear out my hair.
The fact that they did not waste any more time here, when it would be a perfect time to commence operation to make the whole South region their satellite state, means that either; they believed it could be done later, or they simply had no more capacity to spare.
And my guts strongly reacted to the latter.
This is…
An opportunity. And also, a massive gamble.
"Can I… do it?"
To put out the immediate fire, the fastest and easiest way is to bring a massive amount of grain from outside. And in this whole region, the only entity capable of granting such an unreasonable request is the Empire.
Then, how would I get the grain huge enough to fed the whole kingdom from the reluctant Empire?
Blackmail.
'Trouble spills over the fence', they say. If the first time they pacified the South by straightforwardly curbing our military might, then what happened if another war, entirely absent of the Empire's handiwork, broke in the South and countless people were displaced? And what if by the end of that war, the South would once again point their spear at the Empire, at that?
That would surely be a terrifying notion for the Empire.
However, if the threat fails, I would certainly draw their aggro and could ended up like Latin American countries in the cold war. Like how the US played with various countries in the Cold War, staging a coup here and there, there's no assurance the Empire would be incapable of pulling such tricks. And receiving their grains is not the end, nor would it be able to solve all problems.
It's merely a stopgap, after all.
In the end, to actually normalize this kingdom, I need to collaborate with local powers, i,e. nobles.
But would they volunteer?
As if.
Although I'm confining myself in my room, I am not blind nor deaf to the situation outside.
Already, there's talk among the surviving members of King Ezhar faction to form their own coalition and break from the kingdom. Of course, thanks to the Ministry of Interior, such movement was caught and currently observed, but this marks the inevitability of a subservient element growing in the middle of the crisis.
Initially, hearing about this movement, I thought clinging to the Empire's coattails would be the best choice. It would be essentially selling out my own kingdom, but the immediate survival came first. Then, using their power, wielding it as a tyranny to subdue those cancer-like elements would be ideal.
If I had to say the biggest drawbacks, it would be that; 'Absolute power, corrupts absolutely'.
After all, I've been living a very consequence-free life. Even if I managed to line a clear cut of what I define as do and don'ts thanks to my previous life moral compass, I'm still a man capable of harboring ambition.
And living as a moderate degenerate for 10 years means I could do much worse had I truly let go of this shackle.
Regret always comes late, so I'm trying to avoid any regret.
However,
"Six… huh."
Before I pushed the button, a new path emerged. Offering a more peaceful and risk-less option than tyranny.
"So, Duke of Heinghram, Duke of Vartlass, Marquis of Verdian, Marquis of Henya, Count of Tylass, and Baron of Jediah." In which, from the six of them, five took a seat in my administration's ministry as the minister. Add the Ministry of Interior which now reported to me, their allegiance effectively grants me authority needed for the next step.
What a luck.
It seems they're anxious. After realizing their overreach would result in a disaster more disastrous outside their capabilities, they must've bet their chance on me, who accurately pointing out future predictions as if churning out prophecies. But, do you really think I would just accept it like that?
If they voluntarily offered to be leashed, then of course I had to make sure that leash tightened properly around their necks. So they can't pull some funny stunts later.
But, I'm glad.
"At least I don't have to choose an extreme route like tyranny."
With this, the essential element had been achieved.
"But seeing those oldies bit their tongue and gamble on me, man, it's definitely motivating." It would be a shame if I lacked grit than those old fools.
Fine, fuck it. Whatever happens, happens.
"Someone!"
"Yes, Your Majesty?"
"Call the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and have them convey my message to the Empire. Then, convene a meeting for all ministers, except for the Minister of War currently in house arrest, three days from now."
"Understood!"
