He Became The Most Insane Emperor Of All Time [EN]: Chapter 158

Became the Greatest Crazy Emperor – Episode 158

Became the Greatest Crazy Emperor 158

“Governor, that’s rather sudden.”

“Is that so? I apologize if I was rude, but I still believe now is the opportune moment.”

“That is…”

It was difficult to easily refute Duke Orlant’s words.

In fact, it was already somewhat late.

Unlike countries like Joseon [ancient Korean kingdom], where marriage is a political strategy or weapon, I, being a man in the Western world, did not have an early marriage.

However, it was almost five years since my enthronement, and I was approaching 23 years old.

Even at a young age, as an emperor who needed an heir, I was late. Originally, it should have been discussed as soon as I ascended the throne at 18.

But the empire’s condition had been so poor that it wasn’t discussed, and even after the situation improved slightly, there were still many things to do, so it was postponed.

“…Of course, no matter how much I desire it, I cannot force His Majesty. However, marriage with Sarah will not be a loss for His Majesty. Above all, it will aid His Majesty’s grand plan.”

“I won’t deny that. As you said, combining with Orlant certainly has significant advantages.”

Of course, the marriage proposal Duke Orlant made was not out of pure grandfatherly affection for his granddaughter’s marriage prospects.

Naturally, it was for political reasons. In that regard, Sarah was a flawless candidate.

“Your Majesty wished for the integration of the empire to continue. However, the old empire was too decayed or had too many outdated systems for integration. The Prince-Elector system alone was like that.”

“So I eliminated the Prince-Electors.”

It wasn’t just the Prince-Electors that were the problem, but they nominally selected the emperor through voting and served as the center of local feudal powers, which only divided the empire and did not help with the absolute monarchy integration I desired.

So I eliminated them. With overwhelming military force and my own power.

“However, Your Majesty devised different methods tailored to the specific circumstances of each region. The north was made a Grand Duchy, the west was made an autonomous territory, and the east was made subordinate by placing the Archbishop as governor.”

“And the southern territory was entrusted to you.”

“That’s right. And I believe I have faithfully fulfilled the role Your Majesty expects of my family.”

“I won’t deny it.”

There was no need to deny it. Because Orlant had truly perfectly fulfilled his role.

Duke Orlant mediated between the existing vested interests, the feudal nobles who had lost their connections due to the recent civil war, and the newly emerging pirate nobles who only had nominal titles and money.

Those who were useful were kept by creating blood ties between the two or attracting friendly factions.

On the other hand, dangerous individuals, such as those who were useless or had too strong ambitions, were alienated, isolated, and killed.

He was exactly what I wanted, the coordinator of the southern territory. As a result, the surviving nobles have now become bureaucratized legal nobles who must work for the empire until they die.

The feudal nobles have now disappeared, and legal nobles like them will assist the emperor.

In simple terms, it means that the typical aristocratic system in fantasy has been completed, where they bow to the king or emperor at balls and seek power, but instead, they have to work to death.

This was the best I chose instead of the democracy I experienced in the modern era.

It wasn’t necessarily because the absolute monarchy system was better than democracy.

Of course, as a modern person, I know that democracy is better in terms of knowledge and identity.

But realizing that is a separate matter. It’s at least 100 years too early in this world. Even after those 100 years, it would only be at the crawling stage.

“But Duke, I know your efforts and loyalty, but making Sarah empress is not a simple matter. You, who are skilled in politics, know that better.”

“Of course. Surely others will object. We can consider the western territory an exception since there’s no one to put forward as a candidate.”

“…”

When the Duke says ‘others,’ he’s clearly referring to Stella and Igrid.

The atmosphere among the three of them has been quite strange recently, and it seems there has been subtle pressure on all three of them without my knowledge.

I hadn’t noticed it, and there were many chilling yet embarrassing things.

“I know that too, so I won’t resent it even if Your Majesty makes a different choice. But I only ask that Your Majesty consider Sarah a little more when making a decision.”

“Duke, I… I’m not ready to make a decision yet.”

“Huhu, Your Majesty, who commands the battlefield and is always brave, is so clumsy in these matters.”

“…That’s disrespectful. But it’s true. Huhu.”

“Hahaha, am I at an age where I’d be afraid of being disrespectful? Ah, of course, please spare me from guilt by association.”

At the last words, Orlant and I exchanged bitter smiles.

Considering that this wasn’t the relationship we had in the early days of my reign, it feels like a completely different era.

“Your Majesty, this is advice I’m giving you sincerely as a man.”

“Advice from the Duke as a man, I must listen.”

“Surely it will be difficult to decide. Even if Your Majesty is skilled in politics, the emotion of love is like a fever.”

“…”

“However, that’s why you must properly conclude it. This is advice from someone who has lived longer.”

“…I understand. I will keep that in mind.”

The time to just avoid it has already passed. The time to make a decision was approaching.

* * *

Of course, I couldn’t easily make a decision on this matter.

So, under the guise of being as cautious as possible, I didn’t make a decision immediately even after returning to the Imperial Palace.

However, the strong will of those around me, who would never let this pass quietly, didn’t allow this matter to be left alone.

-Believers of the Order! In this marriage of His Majesty the Emperor, our Eastern Territory’s Governor and Stella Archbishop must be chosen…!

-Warriors of the North, it is said that the Grand Duke’s daughter, Princess Igrid, has caught the Emperor’s eye. Recently, support is needed for the revival of the North. If she marries the Emperor…!

-Have you heard! Admiral Sarah has caught the Emperor’s eye! But there are two strong competitors! We must quickly support the Admiral! For our money!

Clearly, the secret marriage talks had spread throughout the entire Imperial Territory.

It had spread mainly through the newspapers that had recently begun to be created, and now even the rural villages were buzzing with this marriage talk.

Moreover, the way they were buzzing was quite ridiculous.

“Who will he marry? Of course, it’s Stella Archbishop! She’s the purest, most beautiful, and most chaste of the three!”

“What? You don’t know anything. The empire’s queen must also be strong. So, of course, it’s Igrid!”

“You’re all fools. Sarah is not lacking in appearance, money, or lineage, and she’s passionate-”

“What! You guys, it’s a duel!”

“I’m not afraid! Let’s decide today who the legal wife will be!”

No, they’re deciding on the legal wife over someone else’s marriage. Besides, the word ‘legal wife’ sounds like they’re assuming I’ll have concubines?

Anyway, for the empire’s people, who had little to do and were extremely bored, my marriage talk involving three women was an extremely interesting topic, and even duels were being fought over the legal wife debate.

Fortunately, no one died, but the problem was that this wasn’t just a happening.

“I, a warrior of the North, swear that the Emperor’s legal wife is Princess Igrid, the princess of the battlefield.”

“That’s insulting. The Emperor’s seat is naturally for Stella, the vanguard of the Imperial Church and the apostle of purification. You impious thing!”

“I swear on the honor of a sharpshooter that His Majesty will definitely choose Admiral Sarah! Because, of course, it’s the most beneficial!”

“You don’t know anything! It’s war! No, it’s a holy war!”

“You crazy bastards! Are you going to start another civil war!”

The powers of the Northern, Eastern, and Southern Territories were in a state of conflict with each other, and it was becoming increasingly headache-inducing.

Even more absurd was that even the Western Territory, which I thought would be quiet, sent a letter from Van Horn, the leader of the Western Territory Rangers, saying, ‘Do we need to send a candidate too?’ which made it even more difficult.

Well, it’s not just Van Horn, but miscellaneous nobles are sending letters to the Imperial Palace with portraits of their family’s daughters attached, as if to ‘stab in case you don’t know [a Korean expression meaning to try one’s luck].’

“Ugh, I can’t just smash all their heads.”

Originally, I would have solved other problems by smashing heads as much as possible.

But I can’t just scold the kids who are doing it because they like me, can I? Of course, I’m appropriately reforming those who go too far.

Moreover, there was a reason why I couldn’t arbitrarily punish this matter.

“That means His Majesty’s marriage is urgent. Please get married to any of the three soon!”

Because the person who deliberately spread this marriage talk was none other than the Empress Dowager.

It turned out that my mother had put wind in the sails of all three of them. Mother! Why are you doing this!

“Why else! How can you be 5 years into your reign at a vibrant age and not have a child! Originally, you should have at least 10 illegitimate children!”

Oh, what terrible things are you saying, Mother. 10 illegitimate children? My Confucian dragon [referring to his moral compass] inside me won’t allow that.

“…But honestly, it’s hard to choose one of you three.”

But paradoxically, I found it difficult to choose one of the three. The Confucian dragon is what it is, but I have special relationships with all three of them in front of me.

“I understand Your Majesty.”

“Um, I’m okay.”

“…I guess so.”

Fortunately, Stella, Igrid, and Sarah all understood. Although the reactions were slightly different.

“It’s not just because of my friendship or affection with you. All three of you are strategically important to me.”

This is not a joke.

For example, Stella is the person who makes the Eastern Territory completely loyal to me. As long as she is the governor and archbishop of the Order, they will not betray me. No, they won’t even think about betraying me in any case.

The same goes for Igrid. If I marry her at the point when she has already been chosen as the successor to the Northern Grand Duchy, the long-standing conflict between the Northerners and the Empire will be resolved.

Sarah goes without saying that she gives the greatest benefit. It’s just that the other two are no less important, so I can’t ignore them.

“But what I’m most worried about… is that my decision won’t hurt you.”

I have to choose only one person. I like them all, and all three of them like me.

Then the person who is not chosen might get hurt….

“Emperor, but why do you have to choose only one person?”

“Huh? Because there’s only one empress.”

“Why not have concubines? You’re worrying about a simple problem that can be solved by choosing the remaining two as concubines.”

“Ah.”

That’s right, Igrid is from the North, so there’s a concubine system.

Igrid herself is a child of a concubine. I forgot about that.

“But that’s the way of the North. The culture is different from the South.”

“Even if the culture is different, you, as the emperor, have no reason to be bound by it. Culture is just something that is needed.”

“W, well, that’s true. But there are definitely doctrinal issues too….”

“Don’t worry about that!”

At that time, Stella, who had been quietly, raised her hand.

“I’ll take responsibility and make sure no one says anything! My voice is firm on the Order’s side! Even if you bring in 100 concubines, no one will be able to say anything!”

“Ah, no, Stella, that’s….”

“Of course! I’m fine with being a concubine too! I’m… originally a clergyman… and… it’s enough if Your Majesty is happy….”

“Stella….”

Stella was fidgeting with her fingers at the end, looking shy. Frankly speaking, it was a lovely sight.

“A, aren’t both of you fools? How can you… no matter what….”

Ah, I see… it seems Sarah is having a hard time. Well, even if you institutionalize and create concubines, it means you have to watch the person you love have two other women. So there’s no way she’d like it….

“I have to be the legal wife! I can’t give up on that!”

Ah, was that the problem?

Somehow, no one seems to be making an issue of having concubines….

“I don’t necessarily need the legal wife position either. You take it. Instead, I need a son too.”

“W, well, I’ll have to revise the doctrine so that clergymen can marry in special cases.”

“Okay, then I’m satisfied too. But! I won’t allow anyone other than these two as concubines!”

No, why is everyone suddenly like this….

Somehow, my life seemed to be heading to the grave regardless of my will.