"I don't quite understand what you mean, Your Majesty." Laing calmly replied. He quietly walked to Suria's side and hugged her waist.
"Let's talk somewhere else." Emperor Karl-franz smiled. His expression didn't change. He raised his hand and motioned for Laing to follow him to the corner of the town.
That was the temporary palace of the Emperor, and there were many soldiers stationed there.
Laing was still hesitating, but Suria squeezed Laing's hand. "My husband, let's go together."
"But …"
"You should go, and so should I." Suria gently said, "The Emperor clearly has something to say to you. He won't hurt you."
"This doesn't seem like a friendly invitation." Laing was still hesitating.
"You have to consider the cost. The Emperor of the Empire is a mature politician. He clearly has some private matters to discuss with you." Suria pulled Laing's hand and whispered in his ear, "Clearly, this has something to do with you and Tegris."
"Understood." Laing nodded and quickly followed.
The group arrived at the garden of the Emperor's palace. The Emperor's temporary palace was a famous local Baron's mansion. However, the Baron didn't like to live here. Usually, he would live in a castle fifteen kilometers away. He would only come to the mansion to collect taxes and during the summer.
A large table and chairs were set up in the courtyard. The Emperor motioned for all the Rick guards to retreat, leaving only his flag bearer, Ludwig. An old man with a large white beard stood behind the Emperor without saying a word.
The weather was cold, and the cold wind blew. When Laing and his wife sat down opposite Emperor Karl-franz, they were immediately served hot coffee. The Emperor raised the cup with a smile on his face. "Drink. I swear in the name of the Frey Drich family that there is no poison in the coffee."
"Your Majesty, you don't have to do this. I believe you won't poison it." Laing and Suria both raised their cups and took a sip.
"Tegris's arrival surprised me. The High Elf Magi would never come to the Empire unless there was something important. His appearance made me both happy and worried." Emperor Karl sat on a wooden chair and said to Laing, "Because every time he appears, it means that something big is about to happen."
"He's here for me." Laing raised his cup.
Coffee was a luxury item in the southern kingdoms. Each kilogram of coffee cost tens of gold marks (equivalent to gold crowns and gold dinars). The Emperor of the Empire obviously drank the best coffee. The coffee was rich and fragrant. Laing looked at the Emperor's face.
There was only sincerity and eagerness on Karl Franz's face. The Emperor smiled and said, "Yes, he might have come here for you, Ryan Macado. You killed Khorne's Chosen of God, 'Red Eye' Egil Stillbjörn. This King of Skalinth brought great pain to all the races of Order. Therefore, it's not strange that he came here for you. However, it doesn't mean that Mr. Tigris doesn't have a higher and more important mission. Tegris has been in your territory for more than a month. Apart from contacting the wood elves, you must have made some kind of deal with Tegris, or even an alliance? "
"Your Majesty, you're so observant. I think you already know whether I'm right or not." Laing did not answer Emperor Karl-franz's question directly.
"It's fine if you don't want to answer. I understand, "Emperor Karl-franz continued, still smiling." You're the Chosen of the Lady of the Lake, and Tegris is the supreme mage of the high elves. Both of you are the Chosen of the Gods. I understand that some things can't be said casually. But what I want to ask is, Laing, what do you think of me? Or rather, what do you think of me? "
"Your Majesty, you're strong, confident, passionate, and determined. You're an excellent politician and general, but your ability as an emperor needs to be tested by time." Laing narrowed his eyes and gave his complete evaluation.
"Yes, you're right." Karl-franz's face became serious. "I'll ask one last question, Your Excellency Laing. What do you think an emperor of the Empire is?"
"An elected monarch, a healer of darkness, and the inheritor of all the sacred legacies of Emperor Charlemagne from the mountains to the oceans …" Laing subconsciously wanted to give a standard answer.
"That's for the civilians. Let me tell you, Laing, what is an emperor in the eyes of the Kurfürst?" Karl-franz sneered. "The emperor of the Empire is a mercenary who helps the Kurfürst in war! Just like the mercenary group called Blood Axe that you saw today! "
Suria noticed that Ludwig snorted softly.
"The Kurfürst has all the military and political power in their own provinces. The Empire is unified on the surface, but in fact, every province is an independent kingdom. The Kurfürst is satisfied with their own rule. Only when they find that their enemy is beyond their control will they remember the emperor that they elected." Karl-franz continued, "Don't think of the problem too simply. As the emperor of the Empire, the only places that I can really control are the Rick Region and the important town in the south, Nur."
"I know that," Laing said softly, "but, Your Majesty, such independence is necessary."
The Empire was close to a confederation system. The army, law, diplomacy, recruitment, and finance of every province were independent. The emperor was the nominal leader of the country, but in fact, the emperor of the Empire could only command his own territory.
Emperor Karl-franz and his family were able to occupy the throne of the emperor under such a Kurfürst system because they owned the Rick Region, the richest and most powerful territory in the Empire. All the provinces were usually autonomous. Only when faced with the invasion of enormous foreign enemies would they jointly convene a parliament of the Empire. In peacetime, Karl-franz was just a "top" Kurfürst who was equal to the other Kurfürst.
The only contribution that the provinces made to the emperor was the "vassal tax", which was about 3% to 4% of the total tax revenue of a province. The tax was often "ignored" by the Kurfürst, but Emperor Karl-franz's dominance restored the tax that was ignored.
"Yes, it is necessary." Karl-franz nodded.
Why was the Kurfürst enfeoffed instead of continuing the unification? Because such independence was necessary for the Empire. It was well known that the Empire was surrounded by enemies on all sides. Countless evils and darkness were hiding in the dense forests and mountains inside. Many Kurfürst had been fighting "security wars" from their appointment to their death. One moment of relaxation, towns and villages would be destroyed, and human beings would fall before the darkness.
Therefore, the provinces of the Empire needed such independence. They needed to control their army to ensure that they could resist the evils as quickly as possible.
When a province could not resist the terrible threat, the parliament of the Empire would be convened, and the emperor would gather the Kurfürst to resist the foreign enemies together.
"The nobles are corrupt, the officials are corrupt, and the Kurfürst quarrel for their own interests. The Empire is not always united like Emperor Charlemagne or Ludwig the Savior." The emperor sipped the coffee and went on, "It is useless to only persuade me, Laing. I understand that Tegris has made great contributions in the history of the Empire, but it is not a reason to blackmail us into obeying him."
The emperor was implying that the politics of the Empire was far more complicated than everybody imagined. It was useless to only persuade Emperor Karl-franz, who could only represent himself and the Rick Region.
"The internal affairs and the schemes of the High Elves are far more complicated than those of human beings. Your Majesty Franz, I believe that Mr. Tegris can take care of everything." Seeing that Laing was silent, Suria took over the topic considerately. The female knight smiled and said, "All you need to do is to convene the parliament of the Empire."
"It is not difficult to convene the parliament of the Empire. I believe that Mr. Tegris' arrival will give all the Kurfürst a reason and an excuse to gather together." Karl-franz nodded. The emperor continued calmly, "The difficult thing is, what exactly does Mr. Tegris want? Or rather, what does he want the Empire to do for the High Elves? "
At this moment, Laing knew that if he did not bring out some "solid information", the conversation would not go on. The emperor of the Empire had already expressed his hopes and difficulties to them. Through clever dialogue techniques and environmental pressure, the emperor of the Empire had already taken the initiative in this conversation.
The root of the problem was that Laing and Tegris needed the Empire. This greatest and most powerful human country in the old world had faced the threat of Chaos since it was established and persisted for two thousand years. If it were not for the Empire, perhaps Chaos would have destroyed the world, and perhaps the green tide would have swallowed the world.
"Faced with the threat of Chaos, everybody has to unite and prepare for the next invasion. According to the prophecy, the next large-scale invasion of Chaos is not far away." Laing finally brought out some solid information.
"What a coincidence. My advisor, the great alchemist Bayershazer Gelt, said the same thing." Karl-franz nodded. "My great alchemist told me that the northern barbarians might not invade the south on a large scale for decades, but once they do under the leadership of an eternal Chosen of Chaos, it will be another terrible war comparable to the 'great holy war'."
"Now, the eternal Chosen of Chaos has appeared," said Laing calmly.
"Then … it is not difficult to understand why Mr. Tegris has come to the Empire." The emperor finally understood and nodded. "I will cooperate with you."
"As for what Mr. Tegris wants to talk to Your Majesty and the Kurfürsten about, it has nothing to do with me. But please believe that Mr. Tegris will definitely consider the big picture," said Laing in a deep voice. "Everyone in the mortal world has to face the threat of Chaos."
"Of course I believe that Mr. Tegris will consider the big picture. He and what he has done in history have proved that he is a noble person. But the big picture of elves is not the big picture of humans, Mr. Laing." Karl-franz put away his seriousness and smiled again.
"The big picture of the Empire is not the big picture of Brittany either, Your Majesty." Laing retorted. "I know what you want to do."
"Hahaha! Then I think we have something to talk about. You have your position, and I have mine. We will fight against evil together. That is what an alliance is." The Emperor laughed and did not dwell on this issue anymore. "Okay, I will fully support you and Tegris."
The conversation with the Emperor of the Empire made Laing feel the pressure. The Emperor in front of him was wise, decisive, passionate and full of faith. This was not Brittany, where Laing could challenge the king with his strength and the blessing of the Lake Fairy. This was the Empire. As the most powerful human country in the old world, the Empire never had to listen to others. It was also because they firmly stopped Chaos from going south that Brittany could be relatively peaceful.
"Your Majesty is really humorous," said Suria with a smile.
"This is all forced out. In the court of the Empire, you have to learn to smile. A smile can make your allies confident in you and make your enemies uneasy." Emperor Karl-franz relaxed a little. He had already gotten the information he wanted. The Emperor turned to Laing. "Lord Laing, sometimes I feel that it is a pity. You know, the Empire is your home."
"I already have a home." Laing smiled and hugged his wife's slender waist. "This is my home."
"Sigh, when I passed you by in Mjölden Haven, I have always felt very regretful. An excellent warrior was poached by the Kingdom of Knights. Actually, with such a magnificent feat, I can also bestow upon you the title of count." The Emperor shook his head regretfully.
"I only had this series of feats because I was blessed by the Lady, not because I had a series of feats. When I was in a critical situation, it was the Lady who helped me." Laing thought that the Emperor was also here to poach him.
"Yes, that's right." Karl-franz knew that Laing had made up his mind. The Emperor was asking for a snub. He continued, "That's why I have high hopes for you, Lord Laing."
"I also have high hopes for myself, Your Majesty."
"No, you don't understand. I have high hopes for you, just like how your maid has high hopes for you." The Emperor was still smiling. There was only playfulness in the eyes of the ruler of the Empire. "I have high hopes for you to become the King, the King of Brittany."
"…" Laing's face changed slightly.
"I know a lot of things, Lord Laing. I know everything."
… …
Coming out of the courtyard, Laing shook his head with a bitter smile. "The Emperor of the Empire is really not simple. Compared to him, Richard is simply a tinker. He knows human nature too well. He knows when to advance and when to retreat, when to persist and when to compromise."
Suria held her husband's arm. The female knight's ocean-blue eyes rolled. Suddenly, she said, "I think, this trip to the Empire, you will all gain a lot."
"Why do you say that?"
"Because you need each other." Suria continued, "Tegris needs you because you are the hero of human beings, Laing Macado, who everybody in the old world knows. With you as the mediator, it will be easier for human beings to understand and accept the suggestions and ideas of the High Elves. Tegris has brought you with him because he wants you to be the 'guide' and open the gap for him."
"You need Tegris because Tegris' prestige and identity in the old world will allow you to accomplish a lot of things easily. With the banner of Tegris, my husband, it will be beneficial for many of your plans in the future."
"Emperor Karl-franz needs the two of you. Your arrival will add two glittering diamonds to his throne of authority. Your arrival and his recommendation to the Kurfürsten will be a powerful weapon for him to increase his leverage in the parliament of the Empire and strengthen his power and position. You and Tegris will both be subconsciously considered as Karl-franz's allies by the Kurfürsten."
Suria briefly concluded. "In such a way, a solid triangle will be formed. You need each other and help each other. You have feelings for each other and interests. This is a perfect alliance."
Laing laughed so hard that tears were flowing out of his eyes. "Suria, it is truly my honor to marry you. I feel that I can't leave you anymore."
"Me too, my husband."
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
