Chapter 89 – The Deal

Anger welled up, but she had to endure it.

If something were to happen to the special envoy’s safety, they would use it as a pretext to invade. If that happened, the public sentiment, which was already turbulent, would distance itself even further from the imperial family.

Barely controlling her anger, the Princess spoke with a formal smile.

“If you want to stop the Council so much, instead of pressuring us, why not give us practical help?”

“Help?”

“Above all, the survival of the imperial family must be guaranteed. If you truly want this, rather than adhering to a hostile confrontation with us, you should at least show some measures of easing tensions.”

Eisen showed a displeased expression.

“The Kingdom and the Empire are thousand-year archenemies. Will that happen so easily?”

“Do you really want the imperial family to collapse? If the system of the Council becomes generalized in this nation, won’t the Allied Kingdom, which adheres to a monarchy, be the one hit the hardest?”

Normally, it would have been an unwelcome proposal, but from the perspective of the Allied Kingdom, which wished for the imperial family not to collapse, it was a somewhat acceptable proposal.

“Indeed, that topic did come up. The saying that pressuring us blindly is not the answer.”

His words continued.

“They say the financial pressure is considerable due to the breakup with the Guild Federation? If we take measures to ease tensions, your military expenditures will decrease significantly. If so, the chaotic situation here will also improve a bit.”

Before the Princess could even wear a satisfied smile, absolutely unacceptable words popped out from him.

“Speaking in that sense, how about Your Highness becomes a member of our royal family? I know that you have just reached marriageable age. If Your Highness permits it, the Great King will also review it quite positively. It just so happens that the Great King recently got a divorce.”

The Princess’s smile froze, and as Ryden, unable to listen further, took a step forward, Varasha stopped him with her hand.

Watching this scene with interest, Eisen hung a fishy smile on the corner of his lips.

“Of course, I know it is not an easy task. Mixing the blood of a different species into the pride of pure blood is something the imperial family would never wish for. Moreover, I think it would be even more so if it is a request to become the companion of the Great King, who has a history of divorce.”

“Did someone who knows that so well make such a proposal? It is absolutely unacceptable.”

“Then it seems the peace talks have gone down the drain. However, a chance still remains. Your Highness, considering the young Emperor, please review this proposal of mine carefully.”

Eisen did not omit to add these words either.

“If you just soften your pride a little, there will surely be a good result for both sides.”

Despite the unacceptable proposal, the Princess showed signs of contemplating slightly.

However, this was only for a moment, and once the judgment was made that it could never be accepted, her expression turned stern.

“I will act as if I did not hear that story.”

The thousand-year imperial family.

The collapse of the imperial family was also an unwelcome event, but mixing the blood of a ruled species with the noble bloodline of the imperial family was also an absolute taboo.

* * *

Arriving at work, Rashid looked at the headline articles of the newspaper placed on his desk.

[Border Defense Army Marches to Area Adjacent to the Imperial Capital… Military Emphasizes ‘Regular Reorganization’ -Imperial Capital Dispatch-]

[Reorganization, they say… Imperial Army Approaches Right in Front of the Capital’s Nose -Imperial Daily-]

The military began to move.

At the same time, the one who had handed him the magic books came to his mind.

‘He will go find the military. After all, for the revolution to succeed, he must obtain the military’s consent first.’

Why was Kaiser’s next move being drawn in his mind?

At the same time, Rashid felt that his death had drawn near.

The master of the empire whom no one welcomed because he was foolish.

The passing of Carlos XIII.

‘The Emperor’s death cannot be stopped.’

Due to his death, she would awaken.

Her awakening was not a very pleasant event, but unfortunately, the Emperor’s death was almost a forced event.

‘I tried to stop it several times, but in the end, I could not stop it.’

Why?

‘Because everyone wants it.’

No one wanted the current Emperor to lead the empire.

Even more so in such chaotic times.

Only one.

Excluding her, who shared the same bloodline.

‘The culprit is…’

Rashid shook his head.

The culprit was not important.

Because there were already more than enough people who would assassinate the Emperor for the sake of the grand cause.

The important thing was her, who would awaken after he died.

The Empress of Blood.

She was coming.

‘A reign of terror will start soon.’

* * *

The car, which had been running well, came to a stop.

Kaiser looked at the Imperial Army camp spreading outside the car window.

It was a massive scale that could not even be compared with the Imperial Guard, and it was a force that originally should have been stationed near the border.

‘Leon Stout… I wonder if I will end up being used and thrown away.’

The military camp was excessively orderly to be considered temporary, and the troops were closer to a state of standby rather than rest.

To anyone looking, it was not a reorganization, but preliminary preparation for a coup.

The Propaganda Chief, who had come along, spoke in a worried voice.

“Party Representative. Although we need the power of the military for the revolution, we must not rely on them too much.”

Kaiser was also agreeing.

“I know that too. However, without their consent, the revolution will not succeed. At least tacit approval is necessary.”

As if empathizing, Brandon also nodded his head.

The two got out of the vehicle, and soon there was someone approaching them.

“Are you the representative of the Golden Age Party?”

“Yes, Wolfgang Kaiser. I am currently holding the position of representative of the Golden Age Party.”

The commander’s adjutant led him.

“Please follow me. The Commander is waiting for you.”

The commander’s tent was situated in the middle of the camp.

Unlike other tents, its thick fabric and reinforced framework caught the eye.

Armed sentries stood in front of the entrance, and upon stepping inside, the commander and his adjutants who were waiting came into view.

Commander Leon Stout.

The man who would be revered as the Father of the Nation of the Empire in the future and stand at the peak of power.

To put it simply, he was the one who would become the new master of the empire after the Empress of Blood.

‘Is he my next nemesis?’

The Commander stood behind a large operations map.

On the operations map, the imperial capital, its surrounding terrain, and troop deployments were marked in red, and traces remained of correction pins and memos being moved frequently.

“Have you arrived? Please come over here and sit.”

The Commander led the two visitors with formal kindness.

Kaiser and the Propaganda Chief sat down across the operations table from the adjutants, including the Commander.

“Nice to meet you. I am Wolfgang Kaiser, the party representative currently leading the Golden Age Party.”

“Leon Stout. I am the commander in charge of the western border in the Imperial Army.”

A three-star general.

His stubborn face looked rough and solid, as if the hardships of the battlefield were carved right onto it.

His short-cropped white hair showed that he was a soldier tempered by strict discipline, and by his presence alone, the inside of the tent already became suffocatingly quiet.

A deep and sharp gaze stared at Kaiser.

However, he did not seem to want tension.

A gentle smile spread at the corners of his mouth.

“You asked to see me. I wondered why a political party representative would seek me out.”

Kaiser, who was glancing around, also responded with his polite smile.

“General. Have you forgotten me already?”

“Were we… acquainted?”

“I returned to the embrace of my homeland through the western border that the General was in charge of. I recall meeting the General back then as a prisoner as well, but it seems you have forgotten already.”

Although prisoners who escaped from the camps were not just one or two.

The Commander recalled him without difficulty.

“Ah, was it you back then? The one who said we must overthrow the vampires.”

The adjutants also seemed to recognize him late.

Among the various prisoners, he who naturally shouted for the overthrow of the vampires was quite impressive.

“Yes, I am that prisoner from back then.”

“Although you are from the Balt Empire, you were an Iron Hill mercenary, right? That is why you became a prisoner.”

“Yes, I recall persuading you in that manner back then too.”

One of the adjutants whispered to him.

The Commander’s face froze coldly.

“They say you are suspected of being a spy?”

“Since I was a prisoner who escaped from the enemy nation, a spy suspicion would naturally have been attached. However, it was concluded as groundless back then, and now that I have become the party representative, I am being attacked with a story that is already over. Of course I am not a spy. If I were, I would not have become the representative of the party that the Allied Kingdom dislikes the most. Doesn’t the Allied Kingdom also dislike the Council?”

The adjutant conveyed several more words, but the Commander raised his hand to stop it.

“What is the reason you asked to see me?”

Kaiser organized his thoughts.

Although he was the representative of the largest political party at the present point.

His influence could never reach him.

Even more so considering his status, which would be revered as the Father of the Nation in the future.

Kaiser recalled the advice that Rashid, who had received the three magic books, had given him.

-Just accept it. Since keeping him in check is practically impossible.

With what confidence had he tried to keep him in check.

Once he met him in person, he realized it was impossible, and this soon made a sharp turn to swallowing his pride.

“You have probably heard with what intention we are conducting our political party activities.”

The Commander listened to his words silently.

“Our intention is clear. To overthrow the imperial family and drive out all the vampire nobles from this land. The imperial family is incompetent, and has already lost the ability to lead the current empire.”

Several explanations followed, but what Kaiser wanted was simple.

“We will lead the revolution. In return, we need the full support of the military.”

The Commander was also not ignorant of the situation in the capital or the overall flow.

Public sentiment was with the Golden Age Party, not the imperial family, and if they led the revolution, the possibility of public sentiment supporting them looked high.

It did not take very long for him, who had been contemplating for a while, to open his mouth.

“Are you asking me to support treason now?”

“Treason…”

Kaiser recalled a famous saying.

“If it succeeds, it is a revolution; if it fails, it is treason. However, we will succeed unconditionally. Then we will remain as revolutionaries who opened a new era. And the General will remain as a great historical figure who helped those revolutionaries.”

The adjutants stirred greatly.

“The revolution will be led by our Golden Age Party. General, please just make a declaration of support.”

Crossing his arms, the Commander showed a displeased expression.

Because he did not fail to understand that meaning.

Kaiser subtly made a proposal to him.

“General, if it is alright, would you talk with me in private?”

The adjutants tried to dissuade him, but under the Commander’s permission, Kaiser came to have a private meeting with him.

Once the two of them were left alone, Kaiser was also unrestrained.

“Then I will speak comfortably as well.”

“Do so. Since I was the one who spoke comfortably first.”

“We will lead the revolution proactively. Naturally, I will stand at the vanguard.”

“I do not doubt that. Because your eyes are telling me so right now.”

Kaiser smiled slightly and asked.

“The Commander must be curious about that. The price for supporting us.”

His solemn expression softened a little.

Toward him, who was sparing his words, Kaiser continued speaking.

“First, the financial support of the Guild Federation will follow. At this point, the Guild Federation has broken with the imperial family, but maintains a very close relationship with us. Currently, we even command a paramilitary organization slightly inferior to the Imperial Guard. It is all thanks to the support of the Guild Federation.”

“Is that all?”

“No. The empire always needs a master. Someone must come and fill the empty seat.”

“If so, do you think that is you?”

Kaiser shook his head.

“I have always said this, but I am a drummer. A person who beats the drum to awaken everyone. However, the drummer does not lead everyone. The leader is someone else. It is someone like you, Commander.”

“Are you not leading the revolution?”

Kaiser spoke words he did not mean at heart.

“I will be satisfied with welcoming the new era. There is a position called President. It is a position similar to the Emperor, but one difference is that it is elected by the votes of the citizens.”

“President?”

“The head of state.”

It was a title whose concept itself was foreign in this world.

“The Council system must be maintained. It is an unavoidable choice in order to have the Guild Federation continue to perform its role as a strong supporter of the empire. And the title that best suits the Council system is indeed President. Power elected by the citizens. How does it sound?”

“An Emperor elected by the citizens… Is that how I should see it?”

“Exactly. However, unlike the existing Emperor, you will not be able to make laws at will. Because making laws is what the Council will do. You can see it as the separation of the legislature and the executive.”

The Commander showed signs of contemplating.

Because to him, the concept of an Emperor looked more familiar and comfortable.

“Commander. In the new era, a new system is needed. And if the President possesses the right to dissolve the Council and emergency order powers that are no different from law enforcement, it is practically a position no different from the Emperor.”

“Anyway, you will give that position to me?”

“Yes, I intend to hand that position over. If you support our revolution, that is.”

“Hmm…”

“First, join the Golden Age Party. We will fully support you, General, in the inaugural presidential election.”

“Are you not going to run in the election?”

“Yes, I have no intention of running.”

One question occurred to the Commander.

“Do you truly want nothing? You are the ringleader of the revolution.”

“That is not it.”

Kaiser wanted only one thing.

“Give me the Prime Minister position instead. I will form the cabinet that will lead the new era.”