novelraw Chapter 100 : Chapter 100
Chapter 100 : Chapter 100
Chapter : 100
“What are you talking about?”
The Elven King Prince-elector of Bohemia asked. At that, the surrounding nobles all looked at me.
As their gazes converged on me, I cleared my throat for a moment before speaking again.
“As I understand it, the deceased king has a wife and a young child.”
“Hmm, that’s right. She is also from the Holy Empire's imperial family.”
The King of Aragon had a wife from the same family and a young child.
The imperial family was famous for its consanguineous marriages, marrying only within their own family. Much like the Habsburgs of Austria in medieval Europe.
In fact, this family might have been the inspiration for the Holy Empire's imperial family in [Pangea Universalise].
The emperor had indeed expanded his throne and territory through various marriages.
“So what about it?”
“What is there to think so hard about? You should just marry her.”
“Pfft.”
At that, someone nearby spat out the wine they were drinking. My words were that shocking.
“Are you serious?”
The Elven King Prince-elector of Bohemia wondered if he had misheard.
To marry the man who killed her husband!
This was not something one would expect to hear from the mouth of a Margrave who was even called a saint. But absurdly enough, it was true.
The Margrave, who was rumored to be a faithful knight, had said this.
“Yes, Your Excellency. In fact, it's not that strange in the old elven traditions, is it?”
Taking the wife of the defeated.
This was something that often happened in the past when the elves were still called barbarians, before they converted.
Of course, hearing it from my mouth was something new.
“I don't know how you know our elven customs so well… but it's not that strange, from our perspective.”
The Prince-elector of Bohemia nodded with a reluctant expression.
“But will she accept? Besides, the imperial family won't approve, will they?”
It was a valid point.
But this was knowing only one side of the story and not the other.
As a seasoned player who had delved deep into [Pangea Universalise], I knew the situation in the Kingdom of Aragon very well.
The official name of the Kingdom of Aragon was actually the 'United Kingdom' of Aragon. It was a structure where three major kingdoms served one king.
Therefore, they were always sharpening their swords, ready to become independent whenever they had the chance.
In such a situation, the King of Aragon is deposed due to excommunication, and the Prince-elector of Bohemia unintentionally kills the king, casting doubt on his legitimacy?
It was a perfect setup for the old royal families of the region to run rampant, declaring their independence.
“The Kingdom of Aragon has powerful grand dukes within it, doesn't it? Seeing as they didn't provide troops this time, they must be experiencing severe internal turmoil.”
“Hmm, indeed, even the Aragonese nobles gathered here have been hostile, calling him a foreign king.”
At the Prince-elector of Bohemia’s words, the Aragonese nobles coughed uncomfortably. Of course, the Prince-elector of Bohemia wasn't one to care.
“The queen must also be anxious about the current situation. And her child is young, isn't she? A young girl who has not even been invested yet.”
“So what you're saying is that there's a good chance because I can be a strong support for the queen?”
“Yes, Your Excellency the Prince-elector.”
In that case, he would become a sort of co-king. The Prince-elector of Bohemia would take the place of the queen, who would be in charge of the regency.
“Besides, there’s no need to keep fighting with the imperial family, is there? Is there any reason to fight all the way out here? If you're going to fight, you should fight within the empire. Even with just this proposal, the emperor will be willing to compromise.”
“Hmm, that's true.”
The Prince-elector of Bohemia nodded at my words. But soon, he frowned as if something was not to his liking.
“But if that happens, won't I be just a regent? Eventually, when the queen's child comes of age, I will lose the throne…?”
The Prince-elector of Bohemia was ambitious. He had the ambition to expand his family's territory and become a powerful family like the imperial family.
And furthermore, as a Prince-elector with a vote, he even desired the imperial throne.
But if he had to give up this kingdom after just a short regency, it felt like a waste.
Of course, if he could gain a firm grip on the Kingdom of Aragon during his regency, it wouldn't be a big problem even if the throne was passed on.
But I just chuckled at his words.
“Your Excellency the Prince-elector, why are you worried about that?”
Because the solution to this was too easy.
“What do you mean by that?”
“In the southern part of this continent, a girl can ascend to the throne, but from early on, only men have been our successors, haven't they?”
“Huh? Don't tell me?”
“Yes, that's right, Your Excellency the Prince-elector. Even if you change the succession law to the continental style, who would dare to say anything? Even the Holy Roman Emperor will only protest, but he won't be able to stop it.”
“Hahahaha. You are quite… amusing!”
At that, the Prince-elector of Bohemia burst into laughter. He was very pleased with my opinion.
“Alright. As you said, I’ll send a letter to the queen right away. I guess I can just think of it as getting married again!”
***
After that.
A messenger carrying the Prince-elector of Bohemia's marriage proposal headed for the Aragonese capital of Barca.
And not long after, the queen, whose position was naturally threatened, immediately accepted.
In fact, the Prince-elector of Bohemia, who had been worried about what to do if she didn't accept, was relieved.
I heard that the Holy Roman Emperor, upon receiving the proposal, welcomed it with open arms and immediately approved it.
Thanks to that, the Elven King Prince-elector of Bohemia was able to hold a triumphal ceremony in the capital, Barca, with a triumphant air.
-Waaaaaaah!
-Welcome to the Regent of the Kingdom of Aragon, the King of the Elves, and the great Prince-elector of the Empire!
It was quite ironic that they welcomed him so enthusiastically, even though he was essentially the enemy who had brought down their king.
But looking at it coldly, from the perspective of the people of Barca, both the previous King of Aragon and the current Prince-elector of Bohemia were just foreign rulers.
In fact, with the Prince-elector of Bohemia becoming regent and promising many privileges to the people of the Kingdom of Aragon, his support was soaring even higher.
“Hmm. Quite interesting.”
“What is, Magician Agpiel?”
“The current situation. To think it would go so smoothly. I actually thought a lot of hostility would form. In that sense, your stratagem seems truly miraculous. How did you think of it?”
“Well, you just have to think of it from a different perspective, don't you?”
“Hehe, but that’s not easy. Excellent.”
At Magician Agpiel's words of admiration, I laughed awkwardly and shrugged.
In fact, it was hardly a miraculous stratagem.
In [Pangea Universalise], where the goal was to create the best family, such methods were extremely common.
This particular stratagem was one I had often used when conquering the Kingdom of Aragon. For me, it was no different from watching the situation with the answer sheet open.
‘Hmm, actually, I was thinking of suggesting something a little different, like infiltrating the Prince-elector of Bohemia's family into the imperial family…’
It was a kind of [Cuckoo Operation].
If a child was born between the queen and the Prince-elector of Bohemia, they would have rights to both the imperial family and the Prince-elector's family.
Through that, using the longer lifespan of the elves, they could have swallowed the imperial family whole.
‘Of course, if I said this out loud, they’d call me a complete madman.’
So I couldn't bring myself to say it. Even in the barbaric [Pangea Universalise], there were certain lines one didn't cross.
No, rather, such things had to be done in the shadows, without anyone knowing.
“Hmm? What's with that expression? It seemed very evil…”
“A-ahem. It's nothing, Magician Agpiel. I was just thinking about the future.”
“Reeeeally? Hmmmm…”
As he looked at me suspiciously, I quickly turned my head away.
The old man was really quick on the uptake.
“By the way, when are you planning to go back?”
“I was just about to leave. My business here is all done now.”
The excommunication war was over, and the Prince-elector of Bohemia had essentially ascended to the throne. There was no reason for me to stay here any longer.
“The Prince-elector of Bohemia seems to want you to stay here longer, though?”
“That’s alright. I’m busy tending to my own domain. It's time to stop my travels and focus on internal affairs.”
“Hehehe. That's right. Many nobles forget that and fail to maintain even large territories.”
Magician Agpiel smiled with satisfaction. Knowing when to stop being greedy was a truly difficult virtue to possess.
“However, I plan to stop by the city of Figueres on my way.”
“The city of Figueres? Ah, you mean the city you were promised by the Prince-elector of Bohemia?”
“Yes. I plan to put it in order and then connect it to my domain's trade network.”
Starting from the city of Figueres, to the city of Tulung, the city of Mangtong, and then to the relay market of my domain.
If the four cities were connected, a trade network that could not be ignored in the south would be formed.
“Excellent! So when is he giving you the city?”
“Hmm, I heard he’ll give it to me as soon as the wedding is over.”
“Tsk tsk. He must be trying to hold onto you somehow. He should just give it to you quickly.”
“Haha, I guess he must really like me.”
I shrugged and said so. This is why being popular was so tiring.
And not long after.
After the splendid wedding was over, I was able to receive the right to rule the city of Figueres, as promised by the Prince-elector of Bohemia.
“Do you really have to go? If you stay here, I could even give you the position of Count Palatine?”
“Your Excellency the Prince-elector. I am also a Margrave of the Elang Kingdom, am I not? I appreciate the offer, but I have many things to do on my own.”
“Hah… is that so.”
At my words, the Elven King Prince-elector of Bohemia lowered his pointed ears.
The position of Count Palatine was tempting, but I couldn't be swayed.
The Great Famine was about to occur.
If I wasn't in the Elang Kingdom when such an important event happened, I would be helpless.
The place I needed to be was the Elang Kingdom.
After building up my power there, I would expand throughout the continent.
With that thought, I bid farewell to the Elven King Prince-elector of Bohemia.
It was now truly time to go back.
***
And not long after.
I arrived in the city of Figueres and received a fervent welcome.
“Your Excellency the Margrave of Bellua. Welcome to the city of Figueres!”
“Our city council fervently welcomes Your Excellency’s rule.”