The Extra Wants To Live

There was now only one man there who had declared that he would be the supreme ruler of a great empire, and another man whom he needed. The fact that their ages were at least 40 years apart did not matter at all.

"I don't want to die."

"…"

"No matter how hard I try, it comes back to me."

"For just that reason…?"

"Yes. For that simple reason."

Carl still looked up at the night sky outside the window and whispered softly.

"I will destroy, kill, and take possession of everything that threats me in this world, and I will reign over the unshakable castle and make everything mine. For that reason alone."

If you say it's narrow, it's narrow, and if you say it's big, it's big.

It sounded like the ramblings of a complete lunatic.

"I will hand over authority over customs with Tumaria. For t years after I become Emperor."

"…"

Govan fell silt at Carl's casual remark.

Matters concerning customs in the Hardion Empire were decided solely under the authority of the Emperor.

No one knew better than Marquis Govan of Davron how much gold was pouring out there.

They were so desperate that they dured Tumaria's provocations to maintain trade with those they considered pagans.

For t years?

"In addition, we will increase the troop limit for changes."

"…what…"

Govan hesitated and stepped back in embarrassmt.

The Hardion Empire had a ctral army that resided in the imperial territories but mostly maintained its military power through troops from each territory.

Therefore, the law limited the number of troops the lords could have to the extt that they posed a threat to the imperial family.

This was the most basic law that maintained the empire and protected it from rebellion.

Only the imperial territories and the principalities recognized as autonomous despite being part of the Empire were free from this law.

But Carl was saying he would increase it just to change it? Was he really crazy? Or, did he have any certainty?

Was he sure there would be a war?

"Of course, it will be difficult right now, but after I become emperor."

Ev after meeting eyes with Carl, who was looking back at him with a leisurely smile, Govan couldn't bring himself to op his mouth.

"His Majesty the Emperor is looking very far away now. I think Brother Aric is a little weak to see the scery that he is looking at."

"…What are you looking at?"

"Your Majesty, Davron, that doesn't matter. What do you care what I see?"

Carl smiled like an angel and whispered like a devil.

"Choose. Either a coward who throws away his sword and says he can rule the world with his p, or a warrior who draws his sword and says he will take control of the world with force, without fear of blood or death."

Carl's voice struck Govan with a strange resonance, and ev after the sound had died down, something still lingered, as if floating.

A pair of emeralds shining ominously among the dazzling gold, shaking Govan like a curse.

Govan seemed to have smelled blood so foul that his nose twisted.

Everything in the world was drched in blood and turned bright red.

That red must surely be the light of glory.

And if someone were to appear in the cter of a world soaked in blood, seeking glory alone, he would surely be a madman.

He was a really, really attractive lunatic. At least, that's what Govan thought at the momt.

***

Carl spt a few days in Davron and th set out for Himmeln. During that time, all Carl did was have light conversations with nobles and go for walks on horseback. On the surface.

Carl had many conversations with Catherine, Harmon, and Howell, who had experice as an administrator in Himmeln, and he was able to make good use of this to negotiate a more detailed secret agreemt with Govan.

In the process, Harmon was astonished at Howell's competce, for this young man from a fall family showed remarkable insight by fully utilizing his wide knowledge and ke intellect.

There was just one thing that was concerning.

Howell was a man of strong convictions about his own ideas, and he was also deeply dissatisfied with the administrative system and personnel arrangemts that had become the political ara of the modern empire.

Howell, who was born of humble origins and had his path to promotion completely blocked, protested and was repeatedly demoted until he could no longer bear it and resigned from the position of administrator.

Carl was also well aware of this.

"Your Majesty became the emperor because of your own outstanding ability, not because of some meaningless bloodline. Just like this lowly wretch can order a noble nobles with just a word."

This is what Howell said in the original wh he was in front of Emperor Adrian, saying that the elitism ctered on the aristocracy must be brok down.

It was such a crazy statemt that it was a crime worthy of death for insulting the legitimacy of Adrian, the direct descdant of the royal family.

Of course, Howell was not executed. Adrian accepted this, and thanks to this, he was able to create a foundation for a strong ctralized system that could keep the nobles in check.

And the same was true of Carl. After Carl became emperor, he needed to increase his army in preparation for war, but at the same time, he had to be prepared to break the heads of the nobles so that they did not dare to raise their heads.

Therefore, Carl intded to strgth his relations with the border regions and increase their power, while at the same time taking away power and rights from the nobles within the empire and strgthing the imperial ctral army.

The border regions might rebel or claim indepdce. So, to maintain balance, he needed to strgth the ctral army and prevt the border regions from doing anything stupid.

Howell seemed very impressed by Carl's plan.

Prince Carl, the most noble prince in the empire, wanted to break away from elitism.

This was not a childish commt saying,

"I think this would be a good idea,"

but a conclusion reached after cool-headed judgmt with a clear vision and specific plan.