Ch 7; Head or Tail

People always said 'life is unpredictable', but honestly, Lucas William de Heinghram has never seriously contemplate that saying. Even when the previous king made an extremely critical blunder, even when the Empire decided to exert control by pushing a hidden royal to the throne, none of it has been greatly outside his prediction. 

 

Adapting. He was a man particularly master at adaptation. 

 

Isn't it not strange that he, and unlike the other duke who lost at least half his apparent wealth due to surviving the Empire's purge, not only survived the Empire's list but also thriving? After all, not only did he escape unscatched, but also able to seize one of the ministry's seats? 

 

And almost immediately after formally becoming the Minister of Treasury, he convened a formation of oligarchs composed of those with ministerial seats and several nobles outside the government. 

 

 Plan after plan, born from tight places and crisis, has been his strength all along. 

 

This time, too, is no different. 

 

He's a natural schemer, so of course he schemed this time too. Ever since the disastrous first assembly. 

 

Using his own daughter and empathic image to evoke a resigned feeling in his own knight, he planned to make his own men as a sacrifice. Leveraging on the logic of sincerity, by using that insolent daughter-thief as a token. 

 

…though, he cannot completely lie about his own feelings. While it's true that Lucas was a bit intoxicated and ended up opening his bottled up feeling that night, in the end morning came and life goes on. 

 

The first thing deviates from his plan is the king's competence. Although it's undoubtedly a surprise, Lucas thought he must not have enough capable men to carry out his order one hundred percent. 

 

This, in Lucas's calculation, would undoubtedly be crucial in solving the country's web-like, entangled problem. With the biggest one being grains. 

 

How to solve it? Well, war. 

 

Sure, the king looks like he has an amp aversion for war, but realistically speaking, there's no other way. King Philip must know it too, since he didn't provide the answer and was just warmongering.  

 

Few simple-minded ones might have caught up in the heat of the moment but not him. However, Lucas simply judged betting on the new king would be more beneficial. For him, and the continuation of his dukedom. 

 

And, since ancient times until now, the paradigm of war always revolves around one thing: numbers.

 

Just a quick hit using an inflated numbers of allie's private army and the military. There may be some noise but he calculated it won't be that much. 

 

And won't the status of those lending their private armies acquired higher standing later, had they won? 

 

Yet who would've thought the king moved in an unexpected, bolder direction? 

 

Asking the Empire for their grain? Ha, only a fool unaware of the international situation could spout such imbecile bravery. And that was exactly his king's move. 

 

What's even more spectacular is that the Empire actually responded. They may not immediately stamp approval, but they set a negotiation table, which means they actually respond quite positively to the outrageous request. 

 

It's not just that. 

 

Weeks ago, the insolent left-hand man which he had offered as tribute, came back with a despairing news. 

 

His Majesty the king has never come out of his room ever since the meeting. 

 

Fine, I could take it. Just had to wait for him to end his self-isolation. 

 

But while waiting in days with no end, the king suddenly convened a ministerial meeting. With the first step fumbled so badly, of course Lucas became wary. What kind of move will the king pull? 

 

"There will be a re-organization." 

 

A bombshell dropped. 

 

Wha—this fat fool!!

 

In his mind, the notion that the king may be a hidden sage has been completely annihilated, replaced by his furious inner thought. 

 

He may be a schemer—no, precisely because he's a schemer who calculates based on rationale, the king's decision sounds as if he's sabotaging himself, and the whole country by extension. 

 

Waging a war against external entities to fatten up their grain is one thing. The purpose is clear, and result is somewhat guaranteed. But initiating an internal conflict? In the situation where the other country harbors the same war stance as us? That's just inviting disaster. 

 

While he wasn't particularly loud in that meeting, Lucas decided to oppose this reckless venture. 

 

Tsk… this fatty, criticizing the previous king as a crazy expansionist but the moment he got the majority, he moved in the worst way, at the worst time possible. 

 

Lucas could easily deduce what the king was thinking with this move. Most probably he thought of quickly consolidating his own forces since six of the most influential nobles voluntarily came to his lap. That in itself is not wrong, but the timing is too impractical. 

 

Typical of royal family, Lucas thought. 

 

But, when the negotiation with the Empire revealed, his thoughts went blank then feels as if there's a light bulb inside his head. Suddenly, everything just clicked. 

 

Again, Lucas never thought of internally consolidating power before tackling tasks as a bad move. On the contrary, it's natural. But, doing that always causes chaos whatever the method used. And the most beneficiary from internal chaos is always an external enemy. 

 

However. What would the other nations' reactions be, when they see the Vedora Kingdom in the negotiation table with the Empire? Moreover, it is a grain negotiation. A core problem for Vedora Kingdom and the surrounding nations. Seeing the Empire even provide such magnanimity support, doesn't it mean Vedora Kingdom became the de facto allies for the Empire? 

 

Well, even if it's not entirely accurate, that's what Lucas thought regarding the surrounding nations. And he's well aware none of these nations are mad enough to open a conflict with the Empire's sole southern allies. 

 

Or even, they would beg for us to be included too. Either way, it's a welcome reaction for Vedora Kingdom's viewpoint. 

 

Killing two birds with one stone… no, three? Including the recently emerged separatist movement, we could justificially plunder their assets to enrich the treasury. Huh. Such…

 

A masterstroke. There's nothing else capable of encapsulating the brilliance of King Philip's plans. 

 

"I won't waste you all time so I'll make it quick. The Ministry of War will be disbanded and a portion of it will be under the Ministry of Military. Accordingly, the Ministry of Military will have to expand its branch, consisting of: logistics, personnel management, and war readiness."

 

Immediately after, a commotion erupted in the assembly and this time, the opposition's voice became more urgent. 

 

This is the third time Philip completely went off rails from Lucas's imagination. In the current international climate, to merge an institution solely for war is kind of foolish. Aside from worries that the Ministry of Military may be bloated, there is so much to do in the process of merging institutions that the associated institution would be half-paralyzed. 

 

"Silence." with a haaaa, King Philip then passes his irritated gaze to the members of parliament who vehemently disapprove his decree seconds ago. 

 

"There's time and place for everything, you dunce. If there's something you disagree with, or anything you want to comment on, keep it to yourself and make a fuss after I laid down everything. Anyone who did that again, I will throw you into prison for a week you fuck."

 

Some ministers mouthed rude with their lips, some glared with dissatisfaction but the king didn't even glance at them. But none refute the king's wish. For all his profanity and sailor's way-of-talk aside, few clever ones like Lucas, read the genius underneath. And these clever ministers are the spearhead of each faction. 

 

When their shepherd says nothing, the lamb behind will naturally follow. 

 

"Now, I'll continue—"

 

knock knock

 

"E-Excuse me, sirs."

 

Suddenly, a messenger appeared in the middle of the meeting. The king, already irritated by the opposition's antics, was about to unleash his rage but one look at the messenger's hurried appearance, he repressed his wrath and questioned him. 

 

"Explain."

 

The ministers also still bore dissatisfaction in their face, clear as day. Yet they also want to hear what makes the messenger look so stressed and in a hurry. 

 

But the messenger did not loudly announce the message. Instead, he quickly moves beside the king and whispers in his ear. 

 

Not even a second later, King Philip widened his eyes and wordlessly questioned the messenger. Lucas could see shock, and bewilderment in the king's visage, indicating that whatever the messenger whispers, it ought to be that much of an emergency. 

 

"You may go," after low-voicing his permission, the messenger bowed once and bolted out in that instant. And the king did not waste anymore time in this assembly. 

 

"Meeting adjourned. We'll discuss the rest in the next meeting."

 

With that, he also bolted out. His steps quicken outside the meeting hall, almost running. 

 

It was only after Lucas came home and read Grim's letter from a specific channel for urgent matters, did he understand. 

 

'The negotiation team from the Empire has come'. 

 

—two days earlier than scheduled.