654 – Thirty Is Too Young – 3

As soon as the discussion was over, we went straight to the imperial palace. No, it is more accurate to say that the decision has been put on hold rather than saying that it is over. In the end, the fortunate were unable to set a standard for selecting new members.

‘I don’t want to go.’

Thanks to this, I walked away with a miserable feeling. If this happens, I have no choice but to meet the emperor.

Of course, the emperor is a b*stard who brings up unexpected tasks and gives me things when he sees me. If he goes there empty-handed, he could end up in a disaster that leaves him with both hands full.

However, this discussion is an indefinite marathon that will never end without the emperor’s decision. The more I postpone meeting the emperor, the more days I have to go to work, so it is better to be prepared to spend time with work and meet the emperor face to face.

“Huh, increase the number of good.”

And the emperor, who was puzzled by my visit, let out an exclamation as soon as he heard the reason for the visit.

“They would give up their rights to others for the sake of the imperial family and the empire. The loyalty of the imperial people is truly admirable.”

Although the members of the Imperial Council were suffering from excessive workload, their authority as one of the 30 members of the imperial legislative body was enormous. Enormous rights, authority, and honor proportional to the intensity of work belonging to the members of the Imperial Diet – that is, the Imperial Whites.

But the Imperial Whites gave up on them. He chose the stability of the empire rather than reigning as one of the 30. As an emperor, it is something that he is happy to do.

“During his reign, King Sangwang also considered increasing the number of members of the National Assembly because he was aware of their difficulties. However, it is also a fact that cannot be ignored that being a member of the National Assembly is an honor and pride for the people of the Empire. His Majesty the Sangha is unwilling to ignore the loyalty that has lasted for 300 years. Because he couldn’t do it, he didn’t touch the honor of the people of the empire.”

“I am always grateful for the royal family’s grace and generosity.”

“That makes me all the more happy.” The Imperial Whites are the first to notice the imperial family’s difficulties and are trying to increase the number of members on their own. I will gladly support the Imperial Whites’ wishes.”

After saying that, the emperor tapped the desk with his fingers.

“…But it’s a bit surprising that the minister, rather than the chairman, is talking about this.”

“The Speaker and the members are discussing the qualifications of the members in order to ease His Majesty’s worries. They will probably not inform His Majesty until all discussions are over.”

The emperor nodded at my words. If I had to use an analogy, it meant that the report was still being written.

“How far has it progressed?”

“We are considering all possibilities and discussing them wholeheartedly.”

“I haven’t even started.”

Although it was wrapped at best, the emperor resolutely unwrapped it.

Damn you. It’s true that we haven’t even started yet, but isn’t it too cold? People over 30 are trying to come to some kind of agreement.

“But I can understand. It’s difficult to decide on new member qualifications.”

Still, the emperor seemed to have even the slightest bit of recognition, and he understood and acknowledged the poor situation of the members of the National Assembly.

The task is to suddenly increase the number of people that have been 30 for 300 years, and to select a standard that will cause as little noise as possible. If it goes on easily, that’s even a stranger.

“Minister.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“The minister is also an imperial white member who constitutes the honorable imperial council. Please voice your opinion as a party.”

Hearing those words, he looked at the emperor indifferently. I am using his younger brother to act as a representative, so I am sure he will come up with an opinion. To be honest, I don’t even know how Congress works.

“I apologize for telling you this, but I am afraid that Sosin’s lack of wisdom will dare disturb Your Majesty.”

The emperor burst out laughing at his blunt statement that he had nothing to say.

“Tell me about it comfortably. Isn’t that the relationship between Jim and the Minister? No matter what I say, Jim’s feelings will remain strong.”

For a moment, a twinge of anger rose to the top of my throat, but I held it back. I can’t say more because it’s between you and me, you damn b*stard.

However, regardless of the anger, if the emperor said something like that, you should express your opinion. If you chew the emperor’s advice two or three times, you never know what big taffy will come back.

Selection of new believers who are not Imperial Baek. Selection conditions for as little noise as possible…

‘Is there such a thing?’

It’s a difficult problem. Just as dozens of seasoned nobles put their heads together with no results, this issue is not something that can be handled lightly.

If I were to pick a prerequisite, he would be a person who is very loyal to the emperor, does not think about anything else even if he becomes a member of the National Assembly, has little existing power, so he is not a threat even if he becomes a member of the National Assembly, and is unlikely to be opposed by other nobles.

I can’t help but laugh. Where on earth do you get a person like this…

…

‘Ah.’

When I think about it, there is. There are quite a few things to look at other than the title of nobility.

“Your Majesty.”

“Tell me.”

“How about having loyal local governors and city mayors in charge of the imperial territories as councillors?”

“Hoo.”

The emperor nodded as if he was satisfied with my suggestion.

“That’s an interesting story.”

Looking at the reaction, it seems like this guy has been thinking about incorporating local governors and mayors into the council for a long time. She left it alone for fear of a backlash from the Empire’s people.

‘Damn.’

The fact that my thoughts with this guy are so different is truly devastating.

Following the emperor’s order to discuss details tomorrow, I visited the imperial palace again at lunch the next day.

“Count Tylglehen?”

“Oh, the chairman was there too.”

And when I entered the emperor’s office located in Taeyangjeon, the chairman who had arrived first greeted me.

I didn’t know they would call the chairman right away. Are you planning on getting it all done today?

‘The situation seems urgent.’

I looked at the chairman with some sympathy.

The emperor, who had many other duties, summoned the chairman in one day? We can guess how serious the manpower shortage in Congress is. Even if we postpone other matters for a while, we must first resolve the parliamentary issue.

“The minister is here too. Come and sit down.”

As the chairman and I briefly exchanged greetings, the emperor at the head of the table made a gesture.

“Chairman. I heard in the council that Jim made a big decision without his knowledge. It must have been a difficult decision, but it is truly surprising.”

Then he turned his attention to the chairman sitting on the left. With a fairly gentle and warm voice.

“That’s an excessive compliment. Rather, I should have made a decision sooner for the sake of the Empire and the Assembly, but I feel sorry for putting pressure on Your Majesty due to the stubbornness and shortcomings of my beliefs.”

“How can it be stubborn to follow 300 years of tradition, and how can the loyalists who supported the National Assembly for 30 years be called incompetent?”

“I am so sorry.”

The emperor nodded as if satisfied with the chairman’s answer and continued speaking with a smile.

“Yesterday, the minister came to visit me. He must have been concerned that he could not help the National Assembly even though he was a member of the same Empire, so he explained to me in detail the loyalty of the members.”

Then the chairman looked at me with eyes filled with trust and gratitude. As if they were thankful for conveying their pain to the emperor.

“I also talked about surprising ways to solve ‘concerns.'”

“Yes?”

“Your Majesty?”

Both the chairman and I could not help but be surprised by the emperor’s words

The chairman was surprised that I went beyond my role as a messenger and helped solve the problem, and I was surprised that the emperor sold me out.

Confusing. No matter how much the talk about incorporating local governors and mayors came out of my mouth, honestly, that was the agenda you thought of first. Isn’t it without conscience to put me forward?

‘Damn you…’

My teeth were grinding, but I could barely bear it. The emperor probably wants to make it not ‘the imperial family directly expanded the qualifications of allowed’, but ‘some of the imperial people expressed their opinions on their own’. Even if it is the same agenda, who proposed it first is very important in establishing justification.

“Instead of titled nobles, the imperial family’s provincial officials and mayors will be elected as elected. Isn’t this a truly groundbreaking idea?”

“Yes, that’s right, Your Majesty. It’s a plan that those of us who lived trapped in the council would never have thought of in our lifetime.”

The emperor looked even more satisfied at the sight of the chairman quickly bowing his head.

“However, I have no intention of making all local governors and mayors members of the National Assembly. I have no intention of putting them in the same place as the imperial subjects who have given their loyalty for 300 years.”

With those words, the emperor stood up, walked over to the desk, and picked up two documents.

“Read it.”

And he handed one sheet to me and the chairman.

[ Plan to expand the number of members of the Imperial Diet and make it two houses. ]

‘What is this?’

The title was such an unusual document that I swallowed my saliva without thinking. Expanding the number of generous is something that imperialists also agree with, but what does this bicameralization mean?

[ 100 new members of the Imperial Council are selected from among the local officials who manage the imperial territories and the mayors of cities under the direct control of the emperor. This selection process is handled by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and requires the final approval of the emperor. ]

[The existing Imperial Council of 30 members is called the ‘House of Nobles’, and the 100 new members constitute the ‘House of Commoners’. The head of the House of Nobles is called the ‘Prime Minister’, and the head of the House of Commons is called the ‘Tribe’.]

[The House of Commons and the House of Commons are institutions under the Imperial Parliament, and the Prime Minister of the House of Commons concurrently serves as the Chairman of the Imperial Parliament. ]

However, the more I read the contents of the document, the more my doubts were not resolved, but rather my mind became dizzy.

Unable to increase the number of members, another parliament was created.

***

Yesterday, under the orders of His Majesty the Emperor, business in the Diremain region was handled.

Today again, I patrolled Diremain following the orders of His Majesty the Emperor.

Tomorrow, I plan to follow the orders of His Majesty the Emperor and inspect Diremain’s stockpiled supplies.

I lived day by day, spending today the same as always and tomorrow the same as today. As a provincial governor who received the favor of the imperial family, he worked for the peace of Diremain and the happiness of his subjects.

It’s a happy and rewarding thing. It is certainly an honor to be a local official of His Majesty the Emperor.

‘It’s not like it used to be…’

However, at some point, the fire that had been burning my heart slowly subsided. I could no longer awaken the passion of the past.

Nevertheless, I held on, holding on to my body that was slowly aging. Because there will be no more income when I retire. Unlike titled nobles who own fiefdoms, all I had was a salary as a local governor and a small farm.

I have to work harder for my children and grandchildren to live without anything lacking. In order for our family, not nobles, to survive, we must earn while we can.

Thinking like that, I held the heart that had turned to ashes in my arms.

[The provincial governor of Diremain, Arlen Müster, is appointed as a member of the House of Commons of the Imperial Parliament. ]

That was until the Imperial Palace suddenly sent an order from His Majesty the Emperor.

‘…Seo Min-won?’

As soon as I saw that command, my head hardened in disloyalty.

What is Seo Min-won? I pride myself on being well-versed in imperial history and organizational systems, but this is a name I’ve never heard of?

‘Member of the Reichstag?’

And what does it mean to be part of the Reichstag? So does that mean I am also a member of the Imperial Council?

‘Me?’

Even though I have a last name… Am I embarrassed to even be called a noble?

Am I the one who has nothing to pass on to my children but a superficial surname called Müster and a small fortune?

“Hot…”

Before I knew it, laughter leaked out.

I threw away the ashes in my heart and took out a new heart.