153 – The emperor gave me the duke (5)

On the afternoon of the day after meeting the Duke of Brussels, I was called to the Imperial Palace where the Emperor was.

The walls and floor were made of pure white marble, the red carpet in the center of the floor was covered with a golden throne, and luxurious chairs for numerous nobles to sit on.

The emperor hadn’t arrived yet, but the nobles who had arrived were sitting on chairs and chatting while looking at me.

“That person is His Highness, Duke Ciel von Kreuttel… ”

“It’s amazing that he made such achievements and merits at the age of only 27, but he’s tall and handsome… ”

“When the former Count of Nantes, Schwein, harassed his concubine, he beat it with his bare hands. Can’t you smell the battlefield?”

“The upstart kid… A guy who was just a baron until six years ago is a duke… Until the ancestor of our family, Braim, also received the title of count… . I have served for over 40 years… ”

Facing the respectful or envious glances of many, and the envy and envy of some, I knelt down on one knee and bowed my head at the lower tier of the throne.

It’s stupid to be doing this when there’s no emperor… but it’s customary, so I can’t help it.

After waiting for about 5 minutes, I heard a loud noise behind me.

“Your Majesty Adolphe de Elaine, Emperor of the great Elaine Empire and protector of all believers living here! Everyone, stand up and bow your heads in reverence!”

After a while, the emperor casually passed by me and said in a whisper.

“I thought he would be a clumsy opponent because he said he was the same age as me… What a pity.”

Then, as the emperor sat down, the proclamator spoke loudly.

“Nobles of the Empire, take your seats. Also, count Ciel von Kreuttel, raise your head.”

“Yes.”

Then I raised my head and looked up at the emperor.

He was a tall handsome man with golden blond hair, white and transparent skin, deep blue eyes, and a slender figure, but his golden beard, which looked to be 10 cm long, was deliberately grown to show his dignity.

It might feel like you’re looking at a comical picture of a 21st-century American pop idol with a beard on his face, but…

Perhaps because of the dignity that emanates from the young man’s eyes, actions, and spirit felt in his body, the beard, which symbolizes authority despite his young age, suited him very well.

“Ciel von Creutel, I would like to confer the title of duke on you in honor of your exploits and your contribution to defending our empire from the clutches of the French and Romanians. Also, to honor your family’s contribution to defending the empire, I will authorize the use of the eagle crest holding a shield and sword. How is it?”

If you saw me and whispered regret when passing by just before, you must be aware that the plan to entrap you by giving you the dukedom has already been thwarted.

Even so, it’s obvious that he had to say such a thing.

To the other aristocrats, since I cared for Kreutel like this, you guys are free to decide whether or not to keep him in check.

Indeed, only the emperor could take sides.

“It is an honor, Your Majesty. However, I, Ciel von Kreuttel, only fought against external enemies for my territory. He’s an inadequate bastard who couldn’t directly serve His Majesty. By the way, how can I enjoy the glory that overflows as a duke? Please take my order.”

At that, the nobles behind them began to whisper.

“It is true that Count Creutel promised to join the side of His Majesty, who was the 2nd Prince at the time, but… In fact, there are no achievements made for His Majesty, so that is reasonable.”

“If I had told you that I would become a duke, I would have turned my eyes away… ”

“That’s right. No matter how secretly we promised to stick to His Majesty’s side, who was the second prince… It’s different from us, who directly risked our family’s fate on the battlefield for His Majesty.”

No, did I say that you were trying to become independent after 5-10 years of civil war?

In preparation for such a case, they sent Wycliffe and other missionaries to Romania to openly try to induce a civil war…

Then, I thought and prepared that the nobles of Franchi and Elaine, who were blinded by the expansion of their territory, would declare war on the emperor of Romania, who was weakened by the civil war…

A large part of that whole plan was overthrown.

no… Thanks to that, the amount of blood shed by the people of the territory I had worked so hard to raise increased overwhelmingly.

“No. just accept it Thanks to you participating in the war, those who made the foolish choice to follow the first prince changed their minds in an instant. That alone has served me well enough. Also, if you feel that the achievements you have made are not enough, fill them up later. Aren’t you only 27 now?”

“I am still young, and there will be opportunities to make many achievements in the future. So why not have another chance next time? Your Majesty, please withdraw the order.”

At that, the emperor waved his hand and signaled me to put away the scepter and sword, the baton symbolizing the dignity of a duke, which were originally given to me.

The knights holding it with both hands sternly stepped back.

“Ciel von Kreuttel, if that’s what you mean, then I can’t lower the dukedom… I can’t help it… Alright, I’ll give Sir something else instead. bring it.”

With those words, the knights holding things slightly inferior to the scepter and treasured sword I saw earlier stood in front of me.

The emperor lightly put them down in front of me and said.

“Count Ciel von Kreuttel, forward.”

At those words, I straightened my back, climbed the stairs carefully, got down on one knee right in front of the emperor, and bowed my head.

The emperor drew his sword in front of me, then burned the back of the sword on the left and right sides of my shoulder as if appointing a knight, then removed it and said:

“As the shining sun of the Elaine Empire and the representative of Deus, I, Adolf de Elaine, declare. I commend the exploits of Count Ciel von Kreuttel, who fought for me against the mighty enemy of the frontier. Accordingly, as the legitimate emperor of this land, he is bestowed with the title of ‘Shield to Protect the Empire’ and the title of Marquis at the same time. From now on, as long as I live, no, even after you die and return to Deus, your family will continue to remain as a shield protecting the eastern side of the empire.”

You couldn’t make me a duke, so you made me a marquis…

It’s much better than taking the Dukedom as it is and creating an excuse to be attacked, but…

Now that this has happened, I have been offered the title of duke, but I will not receive sympathy for staying as a count, swallowing tears for His Majesty…

Because I refused anyway, but the emperor showed mercy by coming up with a compromise plan considering my achievements.

“It’s an honor. As long as I and my family survive, Kreutel will be the eastern wall of the Empire.”

“Very well, Marquis Ciel von Kreuttel. Then leave.”

“Long live the Emperor.”

When I returned to my seat after thanking the emperor, applause resonated throughout the palace.

However, almost all of the nobles seemed annoyed that someone who hadn’t joined the second prince faction was given the title at will…

The facial expression is already crumpled like a crumpled sock.

After leaving those people behind and sitting down, the emperor sat down on his throne and said.

“Even though the country was disturbed by rogues, princes and nobles who abandoned their duty for the past five years, my empire is now at peace again thanks to Deus’s kindness and the dedication and efforts of my lords. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your dedication.”

With those words, the emperor rose from his seat and slightly bowed his head toward us.

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Me and the other nobles followed suit, getting down on one knee and bowing our heads in salute.

And soon after, the emperor and we sat down again.

“However, even if the interior of the empire is stable… Outside, many dangers lurk. The Romanian Empire, playing with His Holiness the Pope, who is neither holy nor legitimately the successor to great Romania, has sent bandits to the domain of my vassal, the Marquis of Creutel. Again, the evil emperor of the French Empire supported Duke Architel to defeat him. Of course, Marquis Creutel defeated them all, but… .”

The Emperor looked at me and said with a meaningful smile.

“You never know when they might come back and threaten our peace. So, for the safety of all my vassals and the Empire, I intend to put an end to my worries before they attack. Marquis of Creutel, what do you think?”

The one the emperor is trying to hit right now must be Franchi.

Also, the emperor must be conducting this expedition to cut down the power of the great lords who have great power like me.

That way, the emperor will put the great lords like me in the vanguard, and he will intervene at the best timing while watching us die in the rear.

Then, at a good timing, the Duke of Brussels, the emperor’s closest aide and regent, intervened… We will secure as many of Franchi’s good territories as possible.

That way, we will secure an absolute advantage over the nobles who sided with the emperor.

In addition, the Emperor of France also had to win another war to bring honor, ability, and benefits to his vassals, thanks to Duke Architel, whom he supported, being defeated by me.

Literally, it’s the worst situation where each other wants war… .

In return, he will ask for a lot of blood loss, and the emperor will throw the manor, like throwing a bone with meat attached to a dog.

No, even if we were completely defeated, the Emperor would not suffer any losses.

Of course, those who had received an enormous amount of territory from the current emperor and who had joined the emperor before the civil war would not doubt the present emperor at all…

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More important than that, the emperor’s intention is to reduce our forces as much as possible by setting me up as the spearhead of the most devastating and terrible battlefield.

However, if I shout out against this war, the emperor’s loyal nobles will use all sorts of tricks to bite me and drive me to be a traitor.

Then you may have to deal with Elaine in the west, some Elector Counts of Romania in the east, and Francis in the south.

However, if you stick to the side of your father-in-law in the north, there is a limit to the soldiers your father-in-law can provide…

In the end, I have to be prepared to handle the volume of supplies coming from three directions by myself…

That also shouldn’t happen.

So, grinding my teeth, I quietly recited the name of the person who would have suggested this ploy to the emperor.

“Duke of Brussels, you damn bastard… Concocting a plan to gain the upper hand by consuming me and the other great nobles in the war… ”

Given the historical context, war was often used as a way to strengthen one’s own power and in this way weaken the power of one’s potential rivals…

I never imagined that even those who actively supported the Duke of Brussels would be thrown into the same hell as me at this timing…

Of course, even if I cry out that I am cowardly here, nothing will change the nightmare-like reality in front of me.

Do you think you will succumb to a crisis like this… ?

“Long live the Emperor! Your Majesty’s will is my will.”

Now that this has happened, the only thing left to do is to ruin the board the Duke of Brussels has laid out as much as possible.