Chapter 62: The Cards are Falling into Place

Chapter 62: The Cards are Falling into PlaceI left my room and slowly walked down the hallway, since I was supposed to be suffering from withdrawal symptoms.

Where are you headed?

I shrugged slightly at Timona. The room was secured by the spies, so the call would be undetectable, but what should I do?

Well, I hadnt thought that far ahead.

Theyll know I was faking my symptoms if I go outside.

How about a bath? It wouldnt be unnatural for me to tell the maid that youre feeling unusually well.

I stayed in my room except for that time when I went to get the ceremonial sword. This was natural behaviour for an emperor who was under the influence of guandeleo, so Ive only been able to get my body wiped and have my head washed for the past few days.

Alright. Can you arrange my bath for me?

As you wish, I will go ahead and get it ready.

Timona went to the bathroom first, and I spoke when he was out of sight.

Do you have something you want to say to me?

Count Palatine Vedett was next to me.

No but I have something on my mind.

Something on his mind huh.

About how to get Count Chamneaux on our side?

Peoples hearts will change even if you get a convenient reply through fear, so its better to appeal to their emotions. Thats why I used the girl to persuade Count Chamneaux.

The method I used wasnt much different from what the Chancellor and the Chief of the Ministry of Ceremonies use.

I hope that was alright. The Count has no choice but to obey you under these circumstances. The problem is with your emotions not with your reasoning What Im trying to say is that you shouldnt expose yourself to your vassals too much.

Ah, the call. He was being reasonable.

I got it. Ill be careful.

Hes telling me to be like an emperor.

By the way, Count Palatine, did you spread the information about the deaths of the previous emperor and my father?

I did. Did I do something unnecessary?

Like Balthazar had told me, the citizens in the capital didnt view the emperor in a bad light because there was a rumour that the Chancellor and the Chief of the Ministry of Cermeonies had assassinated the popular Crown Prince Jean. The Chancellor and the Chief of the Ministry of Ceremonies were hated by the people, and the people are more sympathetic towards me.

No? Keep doing it but dont let them find out about it.

Understood.

I dont consider manipulating information bad. Misinformation and lies will spread without restrictions. I have seen the good and the bad of this in my previous life, and in an age where the masses have yet to be educated, it will be difficult to decide whether the information was true or not. Some degree of information manipulation was necessary so that the populace wont get confused.

Even if it was justified, people cannot forgive what cant be forgiven. I was on that side in my previous life too,

But havent the Chancellor and the others heard the rumours?

They probably have, but they understand that it will only make things worse if they punish people for it.

The aristocrats in Marquis Aquicurl-Torres fief certainly have reason to resent Lord Aquicurl Are you telling me that they have sided with Lord Warung along with the old Aquicurl aristocrats?

Yes.

Which means the resistance who were supposed to be in Aplada Kingdom are now in Lord Warungs army? Would the Aplada Kingdom, who are connected to Lord Raul, allow that to happen? No, it would be better for them to take advantage of this opportunity to expel the rebels from their nation than to have them rebel in their own land.

Then, are Lord Raul and the Aplada Kingdom not that deeply connected? This may be valuable information Ill think about diplomacy later.

Likewise, troops are coming from the former Empire fief in Rocourt Kingdom as well. They have joined up with the aristocrats of Marquis LMitedeaus fief were they your doing as well Your Majesty?

I see No wonder Fabios army is so large.

Yeah. They have sworn allegiance to me.

If Fabio can control them that is.

Then you dont require me to help you to get the army on your side.

There are too many uncertain elements in the army you lead You can just use them to defend against Lord Warungs army. In the meantime, I will seize the aristocrats in the capital and take full control.

Most of the aristocrats in the capital will participate in the coronation ceremony. If I can gain control of the ceremony, then I can seize the aristocrats. The lords troops who are participating in the battle against Lord Warung wont be able to take action easily if I suppress the aristocrats.

After seizing the capital, I will take the time to disarm or dissolve Lord Warungs army and the allied forces.

You will? Im sure Lord Warung will follow you if you get rid of the Chancellor and the Chief of the Ministry of Ceremonies with your own hand.

Lord Warung raised his army with the cause of defeating the Chancellor and the Chief of the Ministry of Ceremonies who are monopolising the government and liberating the Emperor. If I succeed in seizing the capital then Lord Warungs cause will be lost in the form of an achievement. He could have chosen to take real power as the new Chancellor if the Emperor was really powerless, but I am no longer completely powerless with Fabios army, the Atururu cavalry and the Gotilova, who are not here.

So, there are only two options he could take. Those were to obey the Emperor or not. He stated that he would liberate the Emperor when he raised his army, but he isnt crazy enough to act in such an incomprehensible way such as confronting an Emperor who had freed himself from the control of the Chancellor and the Chief of the Ministry of Ceremonies.

Well, I dont know if he will follow me forever.

You think so?

I do. He is that kind of person So, you are asking me to keep Lord Warungs army in check to buy time?

Lord Warung will probably obey me if I seize power, but it is possible that his army will act preemptively before I take control.

That is part of what Im asking you. It will take some time to bring everything under control, so I would like you to standby and not engage in battle. But I also have another request for you. I would like you to send troops that you trust to hold the gates.

I plan to seal all the entrances and exits to the capital to prevent the aristocrats from escaping. Count Palatine Vedett has already proposed a plan to seal the inside of the gate, but his plan might not be perfect, so I needed to hold the gate shut from the outside as well.

Is it enough just to hold the gate shut?

Yeah, the inside of the gate is already under my control, but I want you to hold the gate shut from outside just in case. I also want you to suppress the east side of the capital.

The east as well? Ill need to allocate more troops in that case. I understand. I promise I wont let a single person escape.

The east wall of the capital hasnt been completed, so I will have to send extra troops to the east.

Thanks for your help Count Chamneaux. These are things only you can do. I promise to reward you handsomely for your service if you succeed.

To tell you the truth, I could have asked the Atururu Cavalry to lock down the capital, but they will be in charge of surveillance this time.

Of who? Of Count Chamneaux of course.

Count Chamneaux will probably do as I tell him, but I dont know if he will follow my instructions perfectly. For example, he may turn a blind eye and let those who have a connection to him escape. Thats what Im trying to prevent.

I have faith in him, but I cant trust him.