Became The Son Of The Final Boss [EN]: Chapter 175

175.

“It is true that the Crown Prince has made significant contributions.”

Everyone held their breath at my father’s words.

“If someone else had made the same contributions as the Crown Prince, bestowing a direct territory and the title of Frontier Count might not seem like a great reward. Considering that adding territory to a noble and that the bestowed territory borders the Kingdom Alliance, the title of Frontier Count itself is not a reward but rather a great responsibility.”

The nobles each pondered.

It seemed the atmosphere was shifting in favor of granting my request.

The noble faction nobles looked grim, as if they had steeled themselves for a fight.

“The capital and surrounding areas of the Pyreon Kingdom are granted to the Crown Prince as a direct territory. Furthermore, the title of Frontier Count will be bestowed.”

Just as the noble faction nobles were about to speak, my father continued.

“This is not merely to check the Kingdom Alliance, but to entrust the northern front of the Empire to the Crown Prince. As the Frontier Count of the North, the Crown Prince shall not only prevent the invasion of the Kingdom Alliance but also bring an end to the Kingdom Alliance, thereby elevating the glory of the Empire.”

My father went a step further than my request.

‘To single-handedly withstand the war with the Kingdom Alliance… it’s worth a try.’

I bowed my head to my father.

“I will do my best.”

“Everyone makes an effort, so bring results. If you fail to do so, you will bear the corresponding responsibility.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Once my father made up his mind, there was no use in the noble faction nobles opposing him.

After all, my father still held the power of the Empire.

Duke Beregon finally spoke.

“Your Majesty, I believe the reward bestowed upon His Highness the Crown Prince is a fitting compensation for his contributions.”

I looked at Beregon, surprised that he was taking my side.

“Your Majesty has bestowed a direct territory and the title of Frontier Count and demanded results accordingly. However, the longer it takes for His Highness the Crown Prince to produce results, the more people will question His Highness’s direct territory and the title of Frontier Count.”

As expected of Beregon.

Demanding results without setting a time limit is meaningless.

If I only benefit from receiving the direct territory and the title of Frontier Count and focus solely on defense, my power and influence will only grow, while I bear no risk at all.

The Kingdom Alliance has rarely launched preemptive strikes against the Empire. In some small-scale local wars, the Kingdom Alliance did attack the Empire, but it did not lead to a full-scale war.

“Several nobles are already handling border defense. There is no reason for His Highness the Crown Prince to also serve as Frontier Count and defend the border. If Your Majesty intends to bestow a reward that exceeds His Highness the Crown Prince’s contributions, it is only right to give him corresponding responsibilities as well.”

Beregon concluded softly.

“Rather than passively checking the Kingdom Alliance through border defense, it would be more appropriate for His Highness the Crown Prince to take the initiative in changing the border with the Kingdom Alliance based on his direct territory. Now that His Highness the Crown Prince has celebrated his coming-of-age ceremony, shouldn’t he completely stabilize the northern front of the Empire within at least five years?”

I smiled at Beregon’s words.

‘To destroy the Kingdom Alliance within five years, he really knows how to put it mildly.’

My father said.

“Duke Beregon’s words are also appropriate. Crown Prince, can you occupy the capital of the Kingdom Alliance within five years?”

I replied briefly.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

After answering my father, I met Duke Beregon’s eyes.

‘Occupy the Kingdom Alliance within five years! Yes, I should bear that much.’

I didn’t expect to receive the direct territory and the title of Frontier Count easily.

“Everyone seems to agree with Duke Beregon’s opinion. The Crown Prince has accepted it, and my thoughts are not much different. There is no point in bestowing a reward if there are no results after receiving the direct territory and the title of Frontier Count.”

Duke Austin stepped forward.

“Your Majesty, while the distribution of rewards for this war is important, the more important issue is the matter of the evil witch Lillian.”

I leaned back comfortably in my chair.

‘There have to be tackles from all sides.’

That’s what makes it a great war council.

The noble faction nobles perceived my growing influence as a strengthening of the imperial family’s power and considered it a threat to themselves.

They tried to find fault with me in any way possible.

“Lillian! I received the Crown Prince’s reports from the battlefield and after returning to the Imperial Palace. Why is it a problem that a quite excellent magician has naturalized to the Empire?”

“She violated the taboo of magicians and…”

My father cut off Austin’s words.

“She just needs not to violate it from now on. We cannot cast out someone who has returned to the embrace of the Empire for past mistakes. Moreover, all the evidence that she violated the taboo is only the claim of the Pyreon royal family.”

“Lillian did not defect to the Empire but became a personal subordinate of His Highness the Crown Prince.”

My father rose to his feet.

In an instant, an immense force covered the great war.

“Whether she defected to the Crown Prince or to Duke Austin’s family, she defected to the Empire.”

Duke Austin’s face hardened as he realized the meaning of my father’s words.

Duke Austin’s body began to tremble slightly as he directly faced my father’s force.

“Am I wrong, Duke Austin?”

* * *

‘The matter of the secret organization is something to report to Father separately.’

Duke Austin’s problem was easily resolved, making the promise I made with Andre feel futile.

‘Ugh, I’m still sweating. Is he even human?’

I shuddered, recalling my father’s force in the great war.

It seemed I didn’t have to worry too much about Lillian.

‘Still, there are many uses for Andre. If I can somehow influence the selection of the next head of the Riverhill family, the benefits would be considerable.’

Dividing the enemy from within is an excellent strategy.

I didn’t care much that the Lillian issue didn’t become a major topic at the great war council.

In any case, it was resolved in a good direction, and the promise with Andre was still valid.

‘I should push Andre moderately. He was like a mouse in front of a cat in front of Father, but Duke Austin and the Riverhill family are pillars supporting the Empire. It would be difficult in many ways if they were to check me.’

I couldn’t suppress Duke Austin with force like my father.

I arrived at the Crown Prince’s Palace before I knew it.

“Your Highness!”

Ken greeted me.

“Perfect timing. We successfully completed the expedition, so let’s have dinner together for the first time in a while. We also need to introduce Lillian.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Ah, send someone to the White family to see if Olivia can come too.”

Ken smiled.

“Understood.”

* * *

In the Crown Prince’s Palace dining hall, servants were busily preparing the meal.

Me, Gale, Ken, Riorden and David, Hamilton, Soris whom I hadn’t seen in a while, and finally Olivia and Lillian.

Looking around at those gathered, I felt a sense of reassurance.

‘I have accepted truly capable people.’

Soris, who is in charge of all administrative affairs, is someone I can trust to take care of the Crown Prince’s Palace.

Gale was the commander of the Crown Prince’s direct knights, and Riorden and David, who were deputy commanders, also proved their abilities through this war.

Hamilton once again became a war hero, and his title rose to Count in the distribution of rewards.

His title was rising at a truly astonishing rate, unprecedented in the history of the Empire, and in terms of title alone, Hamilton was the highest-ranking noble except for me.

And I asked Lillian.

“Is the residence prepared in the Imperial Palace satisfactory?”

“Good.”

“That’s a relief.”

With Lillian joining, I had almost secured all the leaders of the organization I had envisioned.

I raised my wine glass and toasted to the success of the expedition.

The atmosphere softened, and Lillian also assimilated with her colleagues more easily than I had expected.

“The plan for the future is simple.”

Everyone focused on my words.

“To select a new place name in the capital of the Pyreon Kingdom and make it function as a direct territory, a trustworthy person must reside there.”

There was a suitable person.

“I would like you to take charge of the capital of the Pyreon Kingdom while building the magic tower at the same time. Is that okay?”

It was Lillian.

It might seem like I’m entrusting a new subordinate with a big task, but I trusted Lillian.

I didn’t need to doubt her loyalty because I had made a mana oath with her, and her abilities were undoubtedly outstanding.

“I heard that you said you would conquer the Kingdom Alliance with the power of His Highness the Crown Prince within five years. I think you should focus more on stabilizing and growing the direct territory than building the magic tower, and I can’t do it alone.”

I turned my gaze to Hamilton.

“Hamilton will be the lord of the direct territory. Lillian hasn’t received a title, so that picture will be better.”

“Your Highness, I already have a territory…”

“It doesn’t matter if you have two territories.”

Hamilton, who had suddenly become a Count governing a vast territory, was flustered.

“I wish everyone could leave the Imperial Palace and grow the direct territory, but it’s not good for the Crown Prince to leave the Imperial Palace.”

I said before Hamilton could decline.

“Let’s have Hamilton and Lillian go to the direct territory. Once it’s stabilized, I plan to spend half of the year in the direct territory as well. It’s a temporary direct territory concept. If we don’t inflict significant damage on the Kingdom Alliance within five years, Father will not only take back the direct territory but also hold us accountable beyond that.”

The atmosphere became heavy for a moment.

I smiled and continued.

“And the West. Through this war, I have definitely become closer to the Vukan Merchant Guild. I have to keep the promise I made with them. Riorden, David.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

The two answered at the same time.

“We need to start developing the West in earnest now. Take charge of that part with the Vukan Merchant Guild.”

The fact that I had received oaths of allegiance from the western lords was very reassuring.

“The noble faction nobles are mistaken about the West. They can’t imagine that the West has become my base. They just think I’ve increased my influence with the achievements I’ve made in the West.”

I had established a solid base in the eastern and western parts of the Empire.

“The West is an area with as much potential as the East. It doesn’t have a large granary, but it has the Dark Forest, a monster paradise, and it’s also a place where purification water is produced.”

Monster specialties and purification water will make the West wealthy.

And as the influence of the West grows, it will directly benefit me.

“Soris, support Lillian and Hamilton, Riorden and David. And Hamilton.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Consult with Ken and start investigating the secret organization.”

“Yes.”

I turned my gaze to Lillian.

“The leader needs to help a lot. We are ignorant about that organization. Maybe they will start to be wary of me because we touched them this time.”

Personally, wasn’t it the enemy of my mother?

“Probably. Their goal was the Emperor, but this time His Highness the Crown Prince has also been listed as a major person of interest. They will try to check you in some way.”

“You need to be careful about your tone, at least in the Imperial Palace.”

Lillian shrugged at Olivia’s quiet words.

“I will try.”

Lillian didn’t strongly clash with Olivia either.

Lillian requested one thing as if she had just remembered.

“Emperor… no, I want to meet His Majesty the Emperor.”

“Father?”

“Yes. He’s someone who is looking at the realm beyond the 8th Circle [a high level of magic]. I can’t grasp the clue of the 9th Circle, and I’m even searching the ruins of the Reinhard family, but the Emperor isn’t like that. I want to talk about magic with His Majesty the Emperor, who has transcended humanity. Until now, he was an enemy, so we only fought.”

Lillian added.

“Not just fought, but accurately, I only ran away to avoid confronting him.”

I nodded.

“I’ll suggest it to Father, but it’s not something I can decide.”

I didn’t bring up the story about the Reinhard family’s magic book that I had promised Lillian in front of everyone.

Lillian didn’t urge me either.

She seemed to think that I couldn’t deny it because there was a mana oath [a magical binding contract].

Just as the friendly dinner was about to end, a servant hurriedly approached me.

“Your Highness, someone has come from the great war.”

I got up.

‘It’s time to have a private meeting with Father.’