‘Could it be...?’
‘Is he also...?’
‘An Aura Master?’
If so, it was truly terrifying.
To think Wilhelm, whom they had looked down on because they assumed his martial power was weak, possessed not only money, authority, and political acumen, but also enough strength to shove down Marx von Schwarzen, an Aura Master!
Among those who witnessed the unimaginable sight, there was no one who did not swallow dryly. Those weak of heart broke into cold sweat down their backs, and some even trembled in the legs.
‘This is bad!’
Wilhelm was just as flustered.
Because his anger had surged over the humiliation suffered by his children, who were precious enough that they would not hurt even if placed in his eyes—especially Julian, the youngest and physically weakest among them—the effects of the Mana Suppressant had temporarily worn off.
“How dare you shove a Margrave of the empire!”
Unaware of those circumstances, Marx screamed in rage over the humiliation he had suffered. Yet he could not even think of charging at Wilhelm after experiencing that monstrous strength moments ago, and merely trembled with his fists clenched tight.
‘That man is certainly not supposed to be an Aura Master, so how...?’
Marx von Schwarzen was crushed by fear born from an unbelievable situation.
Wilhelm treated him like a dog that knew only how to bark but dared not bite. Without giving him a single word in reply, Wilhelm straightened his clothes and walked toward Magnus.
“Please forgive my impropriety beyond my station, Your Imperial Majesty.”
Whether he was the richest man in the empire or someone who exercised Imperial Voting Rights, damaging the barrier of status was a grave crime.
As Wilhelm knelt on one knee with his head lowered and politely asked forgiveness, Magnus von Bessen, emperor of the empire, opened his mouth with a solemn expression.
“Wilhelm Medichin, you have undoubtedly committed an impropriety in this place. Although you are fellow Electors, for one of commoner birth to insult a Margrave who protects the northern frontier of the empire is clearly a grave offense.”
“......”
“However! As a parent, as a Family Head, and as a leader, one must uphold one’s duties! As you said, if one cannot fulfill one’s duties as a parent! As a Family Head! As a leader! What qualifications would one have as an Elector of the empire?”
A smile spread across Wilhelm’s lowered face as Magnus reversed the judgment in a voice ringing with majesty, but the judgment was not yet over.
“However, it is true that the measures you intend to impose upon the Margraviate of Nodenburg-Treisen are severe. Therefore!”
Magnus’s final ruling was revealed.
“I recommend that this dispute be concluded by transferring the Imperial Voting Rights of the Margraviate of Nodenburg-Treisen to you for the next two hundred years. What say you, Consul Wilhelm Medichin?”
The mediation proposal Magnus issued was not bad for Wilhelm either.
In the imperial elections that would be held over the next two hundred years, unlike the other voters, only House Medichin would exercise two votes. That was a privilege of an entirely different order!
‘This will do. No, this is excellent.’
Wilhelm was not a man who would fail to recognize a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity when he needed authority more than money.
Moreover, Magnus, a Grand Aura Master, was aged enough that even he could not defy the laws of nature. Considering the next imperial election to come, the current ruling was a tremendous gain for Wilhelm.
Thoroughly hiding the triumphant laughter that wanted to burst from within him, Wilhelm answered with a holy expression.
“I shall gladly accept it, Your Majesty.”
“Good. Imperial assemblymen who support my ruling, raise your hands immediately in this place.”
Marx glared with a reddened face at Magnus, who was using his authority to display generosity at someone else’s expense.
“This is an unjust measure, Your Majesty! Imperial Voting Rights are the lawful authority of the Electors!”
Schwarzen, struck by a thunderbolt out of nowhere, shouted as if spitting blood. Magnus, however, responded by raising one corner of his mouth, displaying abundant composure.
“When, during the last Imperial Diet, a dispute arose because you had the sons who remained in your domain annex two countships, I respected Nodenburg-Treisen’s devotion to imperial defense and issued a mediation proposal. Have you forgotten?”
Considering that, during last autumn’s Imperial Diet, there had even been calls to expel Nodenburg-Treisen from the empire and impose various retaliatory measures, Magnus’s mediation proposal had been extremely generous. Instead of forcing them to disgorge the two annexed countships, he had allowed them to receive more than their war expenses as compensation.
“...I remember, Your Majesty. However, telling us to hand over Imperial Voting Rights to House Medichin for as long as two hundred years is...!”
“Then repay, within this year, all the money borrowed from House Medichin, as Consul Wilhelm demands. Ah! If you disobey, I will permit Consul Wilhelm to take even greater measures.”
‘I will break one of your wings on this occasion.’
At this moment, Magnus could not back down either.
Was this not the perfect opportunity to break the momentum of House Schwarzen, with whom Reinhardt, his eldest grandson who had lost his parents early, would most fiercely compete in the next imperial election?
‘Since both the justification and the power lie with House Medichin, there is no flaw in taking their side.’
Therefore.
Intervening in the current chaos was a perfect opportunity to step on the Schwarzen bastards in an entirely legitimate manner.
Magnus himself was merely passing judgment from the position of a third party.
‘If things go well, I may also be able to create a fine set of in-laws for Reinhardt, so this is very much to my liking.’
Reinhardt von Bessen had grown splendidly despite being raised without parents or siblings. In Magnus’s place, he was ruling the Grand Duchy of Midenmark and the Kingdom of Hengania, steadily inheriting power and status.
If Magnus connected that grandson to Etilant and House Medichin, the wealthiest family in the empire and, geographically, the rear of House Bessen, he would have no regrets even if he left the world tomorrow.
Thus, the chaos that had erupted in this banquet hall was an opportunity like no other.
‘Damn old serpent!’
Marx, too, understood Magnus’s inner thoughts all too well.
Was this not a scheme to hand the imperial throne to that wet-behind-the-ears Reinhardt in the next imperial election? By handing his own vote over to Medichin!
However, if he refused the option of giving up his voting rights for two hundred years, he would have to accept House Medichin’s economic retaliation.
‘And if I tell them to cut me open...’
That very day, House Medichin would incite the territorial domains around Nodenburg-Treisen and tear House Schwarzen’s black wolf crest to shreds. Over the past two hundred years, how many noble houses, great and small, had disappeared after telling those medicine peddlers to cut them open?
Moreover, his immature second, third, and fourth sons had insulted the son of House Medichin, and at that, the youngest son said to possess the potential of an Archmage. Wilhelm would be willing to stake everything, even if his family’s fortunes declined, until he finished his revenge.
‘How should I beat these damned brats into shape...?’
Strictly speaking, it was Marx’s own fault for annexing not one, but two neighboring imperial assemblymen’s territories through his sons during the Imperial Diet, without any sense of fair dealing. Because of that, he had dragged his children to the Imperial Diet, and this chaos had unfolded.
However.
Humans were petty creatures who shifted blame onto others, and Marx was also human.
After agonizing while turning his fault and anger toward his sons, Marx swallowed his resentment and opened his mouth.
“Is it only the Imperial Voting Rights that I must hand over to House Medichin, Your Majesty?”
“Of course. Going so far as to restrict your candidacy would be a harsh measure, would it not? Hoho.”
Magnus laughed heartily with a generous smile, as if to say he was magnanimous. To Marx, he looked endlessly detestable.
He wanted to slam his fist into the old man’s face at once, but even though Magnus was elderly, his skill as a Grand Aura Master, one who had transcended Aura Masters, was still intact. If Marx clashed with him, he could not guarantee whether he would live or die.
Acknowledging the difference in strength, Schwarzen lowered himself by kneeling on one knee before Magnus.
“However, two hundred years is far too harsh a sentence. Please reduce it to one hundred years!”
At Schwarzen’s appeal, the imperial assemblymen who had been watching for cues, especially the noble Electors, began stepping forward.
“House Schwarzen of Nodenburg-Treisen is the bulwark of the empire, silently protecting that barren northeast, Your Majesty! Please consider their devotion to the empire, paid in blood!”
‘If this incident becomes a precedent, the Electors will lose power in the same way!’
‘We must prevent Midenmark-Hengania from strutting about any further!’
Whether it was solidarity among fellow practitioners(?) or a political calculation of checks and balances, this incident was practically the emperor’s challenge to the Electors and, further still, to the Imperial Diet.
Receiving the cues scattered by the Electors who had stepped forward with a sense of crisis, the other imperial assemblymen also cried out in one voice.
“Please show consideration, Your Majesty!”
“Please show consideration, Your Majesty!”
That did not mean everyone supported Marx. Magnus looked over the faces of the imperial assemblymen calling for consideration and those who kept their mouths shut.
‘Evenly matched.’
Having used this moment to distinguish enemies from allies, Magnus nodded with a firm expression.
“Since many imperial assemblymen request this, it is proper to follow them. Consul Wilhelm, will you accept it?”
‘Rather than increasing my enemies, it is acceptable even if two hundred years is reduced to one hundred.’
Wilhelm also concluded that he should take one step back here and answered.
“For the peace of the empire, I shall accept it, Your Majesty.”
“Good. Since all have agreed, I shall decide that the period for which Nodenburg-Treisen’s Imperial Voting Rights are transferred to House Medichin will be one hundred years.”
“I thank you for your generous mercy, Your Majesty!”
Marx had no choice but to submit to Magnus in that way.
All while engraving deep, deeper still, and so deeply that he would never forget it: once that old man died, he would burn the twin-headed griffin crest of House Bessen to ashes.
***
While the battle of wits among seasoned political operators continued for quite some time,
Friedrich, who had returned to his family with his youngest brother on his back according to Wilhelm’s instructions, witnessed a shocking scene.
‘Wh-what the hell is this?’
For some reason, Maria was huffing and puffing, unable to control her anger.
Johanna and Felix were holding her back with flustered expressions, trying to stop her.
And there was even a fellow sprawled on the floor in front of Maria, foaming at the mouth!
“Huuuh...”
As the man stretched out on the floor groaned, unable to come to his senses, Johanna was scolding Maria.
“Stop it, Maria! At this rate, you will kill him!”
“That is right, Sister! Do as Mother says! Can you not see that he fainted because you slapped him with Aura? What are you going to do if we really end up holding a funeral?”
“Let go of me, Felix! That slick-looking bastard insulted not only our parents, but even our father’s family and our mother’s family! And you want me to endure it? Huh!”
Maria’s face and eyes were flushed red with anger as she shouted sharply, the sleeves of her dress, which should have come down to her wrists, rolled up.
‘It was not a kimchi slap, but an Aura slap... My sister’s marriage prospects are finished, tsk.’
At Maria’s temper as she glared at the man sprawled on the floor and cursed him with relish, Friedrich smacked his lips with an absurd expression.
Even then, Maria stretched her upper body toward the unconscious man while Felix held her arms, pouring out fiery curses.
“If I politely refused to dance with you, you should have gone looking for another woman. Why did you insult my parents and my family too? Do you think you can do anything you want just because you are the eldest son of the Count Palatine of Sütern? You half-baked bread dough of a bastard!”
‘I knew my sister’s personality was not ordinary, but...’
To think she had knocked out the eldest son of the Count Palatine of Sütern with an Aura-wrapped slap across the face.
Perhaps because of the shock of the Aura slap, the man was still stretched out unconscious. As Friedrich looked at him with pity and muttered inwardly, his eyes belatedly widened.
‘That guy is Herman von Zeiss? Good grief...’
As if he had completely forgotten that he himself had wrecked House Schwarzen, Friedrich shook his head at the fact that his sister had knocked down the eldest son of the Count Palatine of Sütern.
To make matters worse, a thunderous shout, sounding like his father’s voice, drove straight into Friedrich’s ears.
“My child! My family! My homeland! I will never tolerate the insult of those three! What parent! What Family Head! What leader would tolerate such an insult? Could you tolerate it? Marx von Schwarzen!”
After his father’s furious roar echoed so loudly it seemed to burst his eardrums, Friedrich heard the loud sound of something rolling and squeezed his eyes shut.
‘This is driving me mad! That Schwarzen man is supposed to be an Aura Master!’
Friedrich, worrying first that his father might have been hurt, quickly put Julian down.
“Where are you going, Eldest Brother?”
“To Father! Stay here, Julian!”
Without even realizing that cold sweat had gathered on his face and back, Friedrich ran to his father. However, when Friedrich arrived at the scene, he was dumbfounded.
‘Huh? What is this?’
Seeing Marx, not his father, sprawled after rolling far away, Friedrich blinked in surprise.
‘D-did Father do that?’
Friedrich swallowed dryly and looked around. When he saw that everyone gathered nearby was looking at Wilhelm with terrified eyes, Friedrich’s eyes widened.
‘Really...?’
Wedged among the people, Friedrich blankly watched the scene as Wilhelm asked the emperor’s forgiveness and awaited his disposition, and then as Marx knelt on one knee and grovelingly pleaded over the emperor’s ruling.
‘My father is a real man.’
To Friedrich, Wilhelm Medichin had usually appeared only as a capable administrator who cleared towers of documents in the mayor’s office as though playing Tetris, and as a Merchant Magnate who commanded the enormous Medichin Konzern.
This new side of his father left a powerful impression on Friedrich.
‘Serves you right, Schwarzen. With this, our family will exercise two votes in the imperial election for the next hundred years, hehe.’
This incident had originated from the trouble the Margravial family of Schwarzen had caused last autumn. As Friedrich sneered with satisfaction at Schwarzen being trapped by his own actions, someone’s voice reached him.
“Is your throat all right after being squeezed by His Excellency the Margrave, Friedrich?”
At the voice that worried over him and addressed him politely, Friedrich turned around.
“You are the person from earlier...?”
“There was no time earlier, so allow me to introduce myself again. I am Reinhardt von Bessen.”
“R-Reinhardt von Bessen means...?”
“The grandson and heir of His Imperial Majesty, who was lawfully elected. At present, I rule Midenmark-Hengania as His Majesty’s representative, while also undergoing my Heir’s Education.”
Reinhardt, with silver hair and dressed in neat white formal attire, was so handsome that even Friedrich, another man, found his mouth falling open.
“You look as though you would not notice even if a fly flew into your mouth, haha.”
“M-my apologies, Lord Reinhardt. I am Friedrich, eldest son of Consul Wilhelm Medichin...”
As Friedrich introduced himself and tried to kneel on one knee, Reinhardt took him by both arms and raised him up.
“There is no need for that. The imperial assemblymen attending this gathering all stand on the same line, and we, as the children of those imperial assemblymen, also stand on the same line.”
Even at Reinhardt’s consideration, shown with an easygoing smile, Friedrich did not let down his guard.
‘House Bessen has annexed territories under the pretext of political marriages. Moreover, that man became an Aura Master at only twenty and even brought the Close Aides of his own court under his control. Do not let your guard down, Friedrich.’
Friedrich raised his vigilance toward Reinhardt, the heir of House Bessen, which was rumored to be sinister.
However, just as he had done in his officer days, when he had learned to leave his pride and scruples at home, he thoroughly hid his inner thoughts and began dealing with Reinhardt.