815 – Buds Under an Old Tree – 5

The emperor is also the father of two children. In addition, she has a crown princess who will inherit the throne, like Maria, who will later inherit the dukedom of Servet.

Therefore, the emperor also understood what I meant. I realized how I felt and what decision I made when I declared that I would become Duke of Servet.

Maybe that’s why the emperor’s expression became somewhat relaxed. Fathers share the same joys and sorrows, happiness and pain.

“But that doesn’t work.”

“Yes?”

However, unlike his relaxed expression his his, his voice his his his was extremely firm. I thought we were on the same page, but was I mistaken?

“I can fully understand the Minister’s feelings. I also have a daughter to whom I have to hand over the throne and to whom I have to give the heaviest burden on this continent. How can I not know how you feel?”

“Your Majesty, if you come to me—”

“That’s why I can’t allow it even more. Just as the Minister is worried about Princess Maria, I also can’t pass on a single element of anxiety to the Crown Princess.”

After saying that, the emperor sighed harshly and took a rough gulp of the vodka he was holding in his hand.

“Since the founding of the country, only five families have produced dukes. In order to uphold the will of Emperor Eimanca, and to respect the five contributors who helped establish the empire’s mandate.”

The emperor emptied the bottle in an instant and continued speaking in a softer voice than before.

“Of course, there are thirteen marquis, but as the minister knows, this is limited to successful marquisships. Didn’t the Marquis of Danseung appear quite a few times in the history of the empire?”

I nodded my head reflexively at those words.

There are only thirteen marquesses that can be passed on to children, but they can be bestowed as many times as you want if the title ends in a single victory. Didn’t Ainter alone receive the title of Marquis of Idrafen?

“But even that is impossible to become a duke. A duke is a title that cannot be given to the royal family, nor to a person who has made enormous contributions. This is the foundation of the empire that cannot be broken unless Emperor Eimanka is resurrected. “

“Your Majesty. I have no desire to become the sixth duke. As the head of the Crasius family, I do not covet the dukedom. I just want to hold the dukedom for a while as the wife of the Catovan family.”

“That is also unacceptable. The five dukes inherited titles only between parents and children. There was no case of a wife passing a title to her husband or a husband to her wife.”

The emperor stood up, tore open the floor next to his desk, and took out two bottles of vodka that had been hidden there.

“What the minister is claiming now is unprecedented.”

Eventually, he handed me a bottle.

“As for me, I cannot, with my own hands, create a precedent that will cause trouble for future generations, even for the sake of the Crown Princess.”

Containing a firm will never compromise. You gave me a look that said I was as worried about you as you were about your daughter.

Thanks to this, I couldn’t open my mouth. Just as I wish to carry the duchy for Mary, the Emperor wishes to prevent this bizarre precedent for the sake of her dauphin. The possibility of the Operation Committee being thrown out of the five Operation Houses, even if just for a moment, must be completely blocked.

It has no meaning that I am the wife of the Catovan family. It’s not possible, but if I divorce Trixie, my connection with the Catovan family will disappear. It’s as if an outsider is carrying the operation committee.

He cannot say with confidence that the Emperor will have nothing to worry about. I have no intention of changing my mind, but you never know what kind of guy will pop up in the future. Being a noble means engaging in all kinds of conspiracies and tricks.

‘Persuasion was not good enough.’

I sighed inwardly. Continuing the persuasion here is, ‘I don’t care what happens to your daughter.’ This is no different from saying. This means that I will throw a big variable into the reign of the Crown Princess, who is also my goddaughter.

It is not human to do such a thing. The reason the emperor responded faithfully to the bullshit about succession to the dukedom was because he knew that I was making the choice for Maria. Out of consideration for me and my daughter, he chose to persuade me instead of oppressing me with the emperor’s authority.

“I would like to apologize for causing concern to Your Majesty.”

She bowed her back, taking the vodka with both hands.

Trixie, who said the most difficult words, and Maria, who will have to carry a considerable burden in the future. I feel so sorry for these two that I can’t even lift my head, but this is not possible. The reason I’m stubborn anymore is because I want to go until I get to the emperor—

“I would have felt better if I had just acted forcefully.”

“Your Majesty?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

The emperor muttered with a sigh, walked over to the desk, and grabbed the communication tool.

“Minister of the Palace of Internal Affairs. It’s a burden.”

– Long live your Majesty the Emperor! Palace inner castle—

“It’s urgent, so I’ve said my greetings. Please come to the office with the Minister of Justice.”

– Yes, Your Majesty. I’ll go right away.

Despite the sudden summons, the Minister of Imperial Household Affairs responded without any signs of embarrassment.

Rather, it was me who was embarrassed. How dare you call the Minister of the Palace of Justice and the Minister of Justice side by side at this time? No matter how you look at it, it’s the same.

“Minister.”

“…Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Fathers who have daughters should put their heads together. I heard that the Minister of the Palace of Internal Affairs and the Minister of Justice also have beautiful daughters.”

If a strange precedent cannot be created for the Crown Princess, the will to reveal the entire 300-year history of the empire and the records of the three previous empires.

I could not say anything about the greatest concession and consideration that the emperor could show.

The ministers of the Palace Ministry and the Ministry of Justice, who rushed to the office in an instant, sighed at the emperor’s explanation.

“There is no way.”

“As far as I know, it is impossible.”

And he gave an immediate answer as if there was nothing to discuss.

“The Servet Duchy should only belong to the Catovan family. Even if the Minister of Inspector General is Duke Majong’s wife, it is definitely Crasius. This is impossible.”

“Of course, there are cases of a person with a changed last name being adopted and inheriting a title. However, that too was formally a succession between parents and children. A minister cannot be the adopted son of Duke Ma, right?”＜ Br＞

They also cried out for reasons similar to those we were concerned about.

After all, what people think is right there. No, is it correct to say that this is not a problem like that, but a problem directly related to the common sense of the imperial people?

“It is not that I doubt the minister’s dedication and loyalty to the imperial family and the empire. However, if the minister sets a precedent, there will be people in future generations who will only look at the precedent without thinking about the minister’s achievements and loyalty. The Duke of Five Families If something terrible happens where I lose my life, how can I die to see the great emperor?”

Suddenly, the Minister of Justice fell to the floor and shouted.

I understand. The Minister of Justice is the position that ultimately manages all matters, including the laws, customs, and etiquette of the empire. From the perspective of the Minister of Justice, does something happen that could dent the duke’s authority? Even during his term of office his? He probably feels like he wants to bite his tongue and die.

“Your Majesty, if you wish to repay the Minister’s loyalty, please grant him the title of marquis. First, grant him the title of Marquis Danseung, and later, raise the title of Count Wiridia to the rank of Marquis.”

Eventually, a deal was made to ask if it would be okay to appoint the Marquis instead of the Duke’s Committee. How desperate do you have to be to say something like that?

“A non-Catoban may represent the Duke of Servet, but he cannot become the Duke of Servet!”

Now the Minister of Justice’s forehead has touched the floor. He said he couldn’t give up even if he died…

“Agent?”

“Did you say assistant manager?”

The emperor and I opened our mouths at the same time.

It’s only for a short time, but I feel like I can see a way forward.

***

As expected, calling the Minister of Justice was the correct answer.

“There is a precedent for exercising authority as a proxy rather than completely inheriting a title. If the existing title holder is deemed unable to act due to personal circumstances, the proxy takes over the rights and obligations of the title.”＜ Br＞

“If you are the agent of the title holder, isn’t it no different from the head of the house or the head of a small household?”

“It is similar, but different. The head of the deacon and the head of the household have the authority to act in their respective positions, but the representative is a position in itself. When the title holder officially designates a representative, the head of the deacon and the head of the household have priority authority over the head of the deacon and the head of the household.”

I sighed inwardly while listening to the conversation between the Minister of Inspection and the Minister of Justice.

In the midst of a difficult road, light began to appear in discussions that were thoughts to leave no room for compromise. There could be a beneficial outcome for both the Crown Princess and Princess Maria.

“Should I call this fortunate, there is a similar case with Duke Seolgeom, the first Duke of Servet. His son was very young, so he designated a representative in his will. The representative left behind by Duke Seolgeom was active for about seven years until the heir grew up. I remember doing it.”

“You mean in a situation where the Operation Committee is vacant?”

“Yes. So, it is possible for the Minister of Inspector General to act as the Duke’s representative until Duke Majong resigns from the Dukedom and Princess Maria takes over…”

The Minister of Justice, who spoke up to that point, sighed softly.

“Is there really a need to go that far?”

“Unfortunately, we need to tone down Trixie’s presence. Anything that allows her to take a backseat and allow me to come to the forefront is fine.”

The Minister of Judiciary touched his forehead in response to the Minister of Inspection’s firm reply.

When I saw that, I felt sorry. To call me out of nowhere and have us discuss such a complex issue. The Minister of the Ministry of Justice will not have any troubles like this.

“… A deputy enjoys minimal authority over the title. When the Minister of Inspector General becomes a deputy, he is treated as a duke, but is unconditionally lower among the five dukes.”

“Of course it’s something I’ll take on.”

“While acting as an agent, you temporarily have a title as your middle name, like Carl Serbet Crasius of Tyglehen.”

“It is unfortunate for a noble to have a middle name, but if it is a custom, I will accept it.”

“Huh.”

As if wondering if this was really true, the Minister of Justice looked at the ceiling with a distraught expression.

Let’s not mess with the Minister until he gets his mind together. If done incorrectly, the talented person responsible for managing the judiciary may collapse from mental shock.

“Now, the Minister of Inspector General will have to be ranked according to the imperial hierarchy, not the administrative hierarchy.”

Meanwhile, the Minister of the Palace of Internal Affairs, who had been silent, opened his mouth with a laugh.

That is correct. The Minister of Inspection and Inspection ranks 7th in the executive branch. When it comes to the empire as a whole, he is quietly pushed back, but now that he becomes the acting duke, he is officially at the forefront of the empire.

Even more than the Minister of the Palace of Internal Affairs, who is equivalent to the head of the executive branch.

‘Has the implicit hierarchy become official?’

There were already many people who considered the minister to be the second in command of the empire, but now it seems like that will become a reality.