Chapter 103:

Brauder, who took a moment to understand my words, contorted his face.

“What exactly does that mean?”

“Exactly as I said. The idea is to make it a conflict between brothers so that it's no longer a political issue.”

“You're telling me to say I did it?”

Brauder, who finally understood, turned deathly pale.

He must be thinking, ‘What kind of bullshit is this?’

I even wondered if it made sense when I first thought of it.

But I couldn't think of any other way to quickly handle the matter as Blaiher requested and keep the situation on hold until I returned from Ruhindorf.

“Wh-what's the benefit in doing that?”

“You don't have to tremble so much, Mr. Brauder. Overall, it's not a bad story.”

“No matter how I think about it, it seems bad.”

It was a reasonable point.

There was nothing good for Brauder in being framed for setting off a bomb to kill his brother.

“I don't intend to force this on you, so I'll explain it step by step. First, let's sort out the current situation. Your kidnapping, the death of the assembly of well being's chairman, and the attack on Timershi are all tangled up together.”

When only Brauder was kidnapped, neither the Dukes nor Blaiher made any particular move.

Because he was literally just a playboy.

The situation is different now.

“The First Duke's strategy is simple. He intends to secure power exclusive to the Dukes, which he has been preparing for a long time, using the crime committed against the Stetten family as a pretext.”

In the original story, the so-called reform that began after ousting the former emperor was now starting.

The difference was that before, the emperor's tyranny was the excuse, whereas this time, the violence against a Duke was the justification.

“Someone is threatening the Dukes and the Empire, so they, as an important pillar of the Empire, need an official institution that can move independently.”

“So, you mean to break the foundation of that logic?”

He understood quickly, as if his head worked well in this area.

That being said, his whining didn't stop.

“Even so, telling me to take all the blame is a bit….”

“Of course, it's not an easy decision. I understand. However, it won't be a deal where you only lose.”

“Why?”

Brauder's face was filled with disbelief.

Coming from Valheit, it was a natural reaction.

I patted his shoulder as if I understood everything.

“Do you know where a Duke's family member goes when they are involved in a crime?”

“Uh, I've lived a law-abiding life, so I've never been interested in that kind of thing.”

“They are imprisoned in a jail managed directly by the Imperial Guard, no less.”

“Is that a good thing?”

“If there are people after your life like you, Mr. Brauder, it's a definite protective measure.”

“But you said I'd be fine here?!”

“Yes. But we also have our own things to do. You'll have to be dragged around here and there. Including dangerous places.”

Brauder gulped, thinking of something.

Judging by his expression, he didn't seem to have any desire to be dragged around.

“The second advantage is related to the Empire's political situation. Who do you think would hate the Dukes' proposal the most?”

“Isn't it Chartra? Since they're loyal to the Emperor.”

“They'd probably be the ones who hate it second most. The first is His Majesty the Emperor.”

“The guy. I mean, the person who ascended to the throne with the Dukes' influence? It would still be hard for him to ignore the Dukes.”

It was a cynical reaction that would have angered the Chartra people as being treasonous.

No, more than that, was he this interested in politics?

“You know quite accurately. I thought you had no interest in this area at all.”

“I have ears too. Whether you like it or not, there are always those who talk about such things.”

Brauder preened at the rare compliment.

I had been prepared to explain the basic dynamics of Imperial politics one by one, but he saved me the trouble.

“It's true that the Dukes gave His Majesty a lot of strength, but he owes them less than you might think.”

“Then does he owe a debt to you, Count?”

“Do you really need to know?”

“No, not at all. If you don't want to say it, don't, of course.”

Just by frowning slightly, Brauder's voice instantly grew smaller.

“In any case, His Majesty the Emperor does not want the Dukes' power to become too strong. That's also why he secretly ordered me to find the culprit of the theater bombing faster than the First Duke.”

“Uh, does that mean if I take the blame, His Majesty will have my back? Even so, I don't feel at ease with just that.”

“You seem to have some leeway. Seeing as you're trying to be picky.”

“No, no, of course I'm not doubting His Majesty! But then, wouldn't I, on the contrary, incur the resentment of the Dukes?”

“Normally, that would be the case. But you, Mr. Brauder, don't need to worry.”

I gave a warm smile to Brauder, who had wide eyes as if asking, ‘Why?’

“Because the Dukes have no expectations whatsoever for a person like you. Even if you are the culprit, they will just click their tongues pathetically and be done with it.”

If my memory served me right, there was a lot of heated debate even within the Council of Dukes about expanding the Dukes' power across the board.

Not because of patriotism, but because there were many complacent Dukes who didn't want to take on greater responsibility.

Although they vehemently opposed anyone encroaching on their territory.

Should I call them petit bourgeois who weren't particularly interested in the troublesome acts of governance?

However, since the most active person in expanding the Dukes' authority was the First Duke, Johann Geller, the atmosphere was one of being dragged along.

If the current situation wasn't much different from the original story, it was highly likely that this matter was also proposed by the First Duke, with the rest reluctantly following.

“If the two incidents that were used as justification end ambiguously, the Dukes won't push any harder.”

“Not many people liked old man Geller's plan, so that might be true but isn't that just a guess in the end?”

“Uh… I mean, you're asking me to become the dumbest and worst younger brother in the Empire…. I need a bit more… um, a definite guarantee.”

Brauder, who took my silence as annoyance, began to make excuses eagerly.

Contrary to his expectation, the reason I had shut my mouth was because he was more knowledgeable than I thought.

At this rate, wasn't he originally interested in politics?

Seeing him continue to spew lame excuses while sweating profusely, I wasn't quite convinced though.

“Of course. There's no way I would hand you over so vaguely, Mr. Brauder.”

“Oh, is that so?”

“I will erase all charges related to Vestol.”

“You seem to have misunderstood something, I may be a playboy, but I'm a patriot. I don't know what you're talking about, hahaha.”

Brauder, who was muttering an awkward and unconvincing lie, immediately changed his attitude upon seeing my straight face.

“Are you really going to erase everything?”

“Of course.”

“The things I did in Kranacht because of my debts too?”

“That is probably the biggest charge….”

“Will you also overlook the fact that I leaked a bit of the political situation to Vestol?”

“I also, um arranged for a good test subject for a person named Professor Zain, that too?”

My lips twisted slightly as I looked pathetically at Brauder, who was listing off crimes I didn't even know about.

He talked about being a patriot and all that, but he's just a spy.

If Werner found out about this, he'd probably flip out and snap his neck.

Deciding to keep it as my own secret, I managed a smile.

“Yes, all of it.”

Even after hearing my answer, he contemplated for a long time, so I squeezed his shoulder slightly, and Brauder shrank back completely.

“You'll keep your promise, right…?”

“Of course.”

Brauder seemed to want to ask something more, but he must have sensed the atmosphere I was giving off, as he didn't say anything further and nodded his head vigorously.

***

Blaiher frowned as he looked at the newspaper extra that had just come out.

It contained the news that Brauder Stetten had turned himself in to Werner, claiming to be the mastermind behind the theater bombing incident.

When Blaiher looked up, he saw a smirking Valheit and Werner, who had his mouth shut and his head bowed.

“Is this true?”

“That Brauder turned himself in? Of course, it's true.”

“Not that.”

As Blaiher stared accusatorily, Valheit laughed out loud as if amused.

It wasn't a pleasant-sounding laugh.

“Are you asking if this idiot is the real culprit?”

“Count, watch your words in front of His Majesty the Emperor.”

“Well, it's not like I'm wrong. It's a well-known fact that Brauder Stetten is a useless playboy.”

Werner didn't refute that statement either.

Anyone who had met Brauder even once would think so.

Blaiher had also met him when he was invited to Timershi's domain.

It was a very stiff event meant to show the formal relationship between a Duke and the Emperor, yet Brauder stood out.

Mostly in a bad way, but the man didn't seem evil.

He was just a person who couldn't stand rigid constraints at all.

It was unbelievable that such a person would try to blow up his own brother.

“As I recall, he is not the type to do such a thing.”

“You saw correctly. He is a man who could never do such a thing. Of course, he’s not the real culprit either.”

He admitted so lightly that he had framed him that it actually left me speechless.

Werner, who had been bowing his head like a sinner, cleared his throat and intervened.

“I respect Your Majesty's dedication to justice. But please remember that this matter is politically sensitive.”

“To the point of imprisoning an innocent person?”

“For now, it is the best option to counter the Dukes' threats to hand over power in order to fight against the forces threatening the Empire and the Dukes.”

Werner, saying so, also had a reluctant expression.

There was no way the annoyingly upright Werner would have proposed such a thing.

“Teacher, please explain.”

“As Mr. Werner said, it is a good way to counter the Dukes' excuse of an external enemy. Besides, it's not a bad story for Brauder either.”

“Being framed?”

“That would be unpleasant, but Mr. Brauder has his reasons right now. His life is being threatened by the real culprit.”

Not only Blaiher but also Werner stared at Valheit.

Werner's angry voice echoed.

“You clearly said you didn't catch the real culprit….”

“Yes, I didn't. That's why I used Brauder as a stand-in, isn't it. But that doesn't mean I haven't found the real culprit.”

“Who is it?”

“The Grand Duke of Leitche.”

“What?”

At the unexpected name, Werner's mouth fell open.

Blaiher unknowingly frowned.

It was a name that wasn't well highlighted, overshadowed by Vestol.

“Of course, there is a separate perpetrator. The fun-loving Duke wouldn't come all the way here.”

“You mean you know who the perpetrator is too?”

“Yes, I've even met them face to face.”

“Then you should have caught them!”

“Could it mean that I couldn't due to diplomatic issues.”

Unlike the furious Werner, Blaiher maintained his composure.

He began to understand a little why this extreme method was said to be the best.

“Are you saying you let it go because it could become a diplomatic issue?”

“Something like that. We can't let Leitche be completely handed over to Vestol, can we.”

Is he saying not to provoke Leitche, which is delicately walking a tightrope between Vestol and the Empire?

He understood the logic, but he was suspicious of Valheit's true intentions.

Could there be some relationship between the old snake and Leitche?

As if he had read the suspicion on Blaiher's face, Valheit waved his hand.

“Please do not worry. Those bastards will pay the price.”

“How and where?”

As Werner growled with a snort, Valheit gave a faint smile.

“In Ruhindorf.”

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.