Chapter 155

Proofreader: somnium

News of the appointments of Cedric and Lawrence as Secretary of State spread throughout the capital in less than a day.

This was largely according to the Emperor’s intentions.

Had this news made public, there would have been an explosion of bad public opinion about Lawrence.

How many days had passed since Miraila was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment and he had already given her son an important position?

However, the capital’s newspapers focused on Cedric as if they all had promised.

Even when he stabilized the West and had a triumphal ceremony, they didn’t rave about him this much. It was as if they were trying to make a hero.

And about Lawrence, it was only in writing one or two small lines after that.

Sometimes, there were small articles that distorted his going to the South to become the Secretary of State and the subduing of pirates were out of private interests.

Some criticism could be found only in the anti-government illegal newspapers that only circulate in salons and coffeehouses.

Freil said bitterly.

“If they make a fuss like this, we won’t be able to save the real battle even if we do our best.”

“Don’t mind it.”

Even if Artizea said that, Freil grumbled.

“I was angry when I thought that His Grace was going to make a stand. They call him the shield of the empire, but they treat real people as whole shields.”

“If you are in a prominent position, you will be attacked a lot. I’m sure he will also be rewarded as much.”

“I don’t think so. Internal affairs must be done well from the beginning. Moreover, this is difficult to achieve. It’s not just about helping the victims of this case and protecting the children, right?”

Freil complained loudly.

“You were reckless. Didn’t Chancellor Lin also say that?”

Artizea smiled.

What Freil said was partly right. Chancellor Lin’s concerns were fully understood.

It is possible to get rid of the slave-distributing organizations in the short term. But it cannot be uprooted.

The reason slaves do not disappear even if prohibited by the imperial law is because the mindset that considers the human body worthless has taken root.

Lin had warned Cedric in advance.

“Don’t take it easy. If it could be resolved by just cracking down on it, I would have already done it.”

“We will improve public order and take measures to relieve victims and protect children. I’ll think about what happens after that.”

“That alone will not solve the problem at all. Because this is not about getting rid of criminal gangs.”

Lin said so.

The imperial capital was always overflowing with nomads and refugees. So no matter if a person disappeared, it was almost impossible for officials to identify and search for them.

In order to eradicate human trafficking, three steps had to be taken.

The first is to rewrite the national family register.

The second is for the officials to protect the people by working diligently to ensure that the family registers and actual families are consistent.

Finally, it was necessary to grasp the flow of underground money and bring it back within the boundaries of imperial law.

And in order to properly create and manage the family register, it is necessary to strengthen the borders between the West and the South to eliminate refugees.

In order for the officials to work properly, they must subdue the warlords in each region and then drive their administrative authority to every corner.

In order for the flow of money to move through legal channels, the livelihoods of the imperial people must be stable.

How much more work needs to be done before that.

This inevitably led to reform of the entire imperial government.

This is because improving security in some areas and using military force to eliminate criminal organizations is only a short-term solution.

If the shade itself is not removed, no matter how much it was wiped, the mold will eventually grow in the same place.

“It will definitely fail. That’s why I urge you, Grand Duke, not to openly take risks and burdens.”

Lin said so.

“This is a possibility that only arises when the Emperor decides and all the ministers above and below come together to serve the people.”

“Chancellor Lin.”

“If Grand Duke wants to wrap this up in a proper objective and complete it, it is possible. But you don’t want that, do you?”

“…….”

“Then, would you like to ask His Majesty to reform the empire? I’m sure Your Grace knows very well how dangerous it is. This is because it is no different than pointing out that the governing His Majesty has been doing so far has been wrong.”

Even Cedric was embarrassed to say that, and he couldn’t answer properly.

There was a reason behind Artizea’s decision to stop at bowing in front of the Emperor and examining the internal affairs of the empire for the time being.

Artizea was aware of all of that. But he didn’t care much about it.

As Freil said, the attack will continue.

Cedric will stand before the face of public opinion in the capital, while Lawrence safely sets himself up in the South.

But Cedric will do just fine.

He is not a person who is greatly shaken or swayed by small criticisms. In the end, Artizea believed that Cedric’s sincerity would prevail.

And once the sincerity goes through, that much reward would come back. The will is like that.

For that part alone, there was nothing she could do to help.

＊＊＊

It was in the afternoon two days later that Amalie visited Grand Duke Evron’s residence.

Artizea sat in an armchair on the terrace overlooking the garden with a normal attitude.

The warm sun was shining.

Amalie saw the bright-faced lady standing beside Artizea, reading letters and opening gift boxes.

Artizea alternated between fried fritters drizzled with sauce and ground sour fruit. She had a tired complexion, but it wasn’t really bad enough to say it was in bad shape.

Amalie walked up to her and greeted her.

“Thank you for allowing me to visit you, Your Grace.”

“I am glad that you’re here. Dame Harper, have a seat.”

Amalie pulled a chair close to Artizea and sat down. She then held out the box she brought as a gift.

Lysia took it from Amalie’s hand.

“Congratulations on your pregnancy.”

Artizea motioned at Lysia.

Lysia opened the box slightly. What was inside was the dried petals of a large flower growing along the southern coast of the South Sea.

Just by half-opening the lid, the bright scent spreads.

“You can put it in the bath water and use it. I brought it with me because I remembered that it was helpful for having a baby. There is no other meaning.”

“Thank you.”

Artizea answered with a dignified attitude.

It wasn’t that she was suspicious of Amalie or anything that made her open the box on the spot. It was because she was wondering if there was any significance to it.

Amalie knew that, so she said there was no other meaning.

Lysia put the box away and she poured tea for Amalie.

Artizea picked up the fruit again with a spoon and took a bite of it.

When she ate the cool fruit because her mouth was hot and she couldn’t stand it, she wanted something warm and strong.

So when she ate hot food, this time she was craving for something sweet and cool.

Amalie smiled at her as she watched Artizea snacked in succession.

“You seem to have less morning sickness; I’m glad.”

“I’m sorry.”

Artizea placed the spoon she was eating with. It was because she suddenly felt that it was rude.

But her mouth kept watering.

“Eat more. I was just interrupting your rest. More than anything else, it’s time for Your Grace to build up your strength.”

Artizea let out a small sigh.

“It’s not a good time.”

“It is very important to have a strong heir. You may think that it is too early for Your Grace, because you are young, but from the point of view of Evron Grand Duchy, it’s a blessing.”

“…….”

“There is nothing better if an eldest son who inherits the wisdom of Your Grace is born. There are times when I don’t realize the importance of legitimacy as desperately as I am now…….”

Artizea was not very pleased about the birth of a child who resembled her.

But she could not help but agree that legitimacy was important.

In fact, that was the most troubling thing.

“Are all those gift boxes sent to celebrate your pregnancy?”

“It’s like that.”

“I heard that Sir Lawrence sent you a present.”

“He did send it. I’m sure the butler must have chosen and sent it.”

“You don’t seem to care. About Sir Lawrence.”

Artizea beckoned Lysia to stay away.

It was because she noticed that Lysia’s hand had stopped, which was sorting out the read letters and putting them back into the envelope.

Lysia flinched for a moment. But she hurriedly swept the letter and put it on the tray. And she politely bowed to Artizea and went away.

Artizea looked at Amalie with a quiet face. She knew well enough what Amalia was here for.

Contrary to popular opinion, the most important topic for politicians was not that Cedric had become the Secretary of State. It was that the Emperor had begun doing various things for Lawrence.

Lawrence and Grand Duke Roygar have been mentioned as possible successors to the Emperor.

However, in fact, this was the first time that the Emperor had openly expressed his intention for Lawrence to ascend to the throne.

It’s not that he never talked about his successor. But it was all indirect.

He used to tell his servants that although he had lost the children from the Empress, he still had a younger and healthy brother.

Or, he indirectly indicated by putting the Emperor’s Crown on young Lawrence’s head and letting him play with the national seal.

Sometimes in private, he told Lawrence he would pass on his last legacy to Lawrence.

Every time that happened, the top and bottom were all buzzing.

In short, the Emperor has used his successor candidates as a hand to strengthen the imperial power and move his subjects.

He had been avoiding speaking directly out of his mouth so that he could reverse his decision at any time.

This time, however, he indicated that he would personally work behind the scenes for Lawrence.

All nobles interested in the succession to the throne, including Grand Duke Roygar, were concentrating on this.

Among them, the Emperor’s servants were most concerned.

Amalie said that everyone except Alphonse had backed out and he was effectively alone.

“Gayan will faithfully follow His Majesty’s orders. And he will succeed in pacifying the South.”

“Yes. He would. Sir Gayan is capable, and His Majesty’s army is very strong. In fact, the imperial borders are chaotic not because the empire is weak, but because the internal affairs are chaotic and it is impossible to focus all energy on the outside world.”

So, as long as the emperor properly supports him, he won’t fail.

Moreover, the original purpose was not to eradicate pirates. It was enough for him to achieve a plausible level of achievement that could be called meritorious.

It wouldn’t even be necessary to have such a dramatic outcome.