Virgin Knight Who Is the Frontier Lord in the Gender Switched World - Chapter 231

“The City Council and Valierre, the second child of the Elector, are on the verge of conflict. The newspapers have already been set on fire.”

“Yes.”

A girl so emaciated that her ribs stood out from her thin frame. This girl, called Emperor Maxine, dipped a piece of bread into her soup and took a bite.

“Tasty.”

For the emperor, this was welcome news. She cast her words toward her attendant as if seeking confirmation.

“This situation is personally beneficial to me, don’t you agree?”

“Indeed.”

The Imperial City Council was a thorn in the side of the emperor. It was the City Council that had imprisoned her and her father in the royal palace, which had become a prison in all but name. She had been rescued by Reckenberg—or more accurately, she had seized an opportunity to escape the prison with the help of relatives.

Even then, it couldn’t be said that she had killed all of those responsible for imprisoning her and tormenting her father to the point of starvation. She had only managed to kill a few of the leading members of the council. Reckenberg had offered no further assistance and returned to Virendorf.

Thus, the tale of revenge for Maxine, the girl who called herself emperor, was far from over.

“The City Council had planned to sell out the country anyway. The fact that the Council is now being ‘outplayed’ by Mongol is just a bonus. Up until now, I hadn’t found the right opportunity to exact my revenge—but witnessing this firsthand is something else entirely.”

She snapped her fingers. Her bony fingers made a sharp sound.

“Should I offer Valierre my support?”

“Well… given that the Pope has already been defeated, I suspect that Anhalt, Virendorf, and Mainz are conspiring to depose you from the imperial throne as we speak. Will you still offer your support?”

“They can have it if they want it—the imperial throne, that is.”

As if the very idea was some kind of punishment, the girl who held the title of emperor scoffed in front of her attendant. It was meaningless to her—entirely meaningless. If Lord Inotsuki or Duke Temeraire had wanted it so desperately, she would have gladly handed it over.

At this point, the best option would probably be to give it to Virendorf.

“However, even if I don’t want it and simply give it away, it won’t be that easy.”

The transfer of power was never simple. Even if the emperor declared her intent to give it away, if the recipient wasn’t worthy—or even if they were—any shift in the balance of power would inevitably provoke opposition from vested interests.

Thus, if Maxine were to relinquish the imperial title, it would have to be through force, by being dragged down from her position.

“I have only one goal—to secure the peace of my family. To dilute this cursed bloodline, bear children, and escape from this sinking ship of an empire. This has always been my plan. Do you have any objections? I’ve confirmed it multiple times. The entire family agreed, did they not?”

“That is correct, Lady Maxine.”

The attendant nodded. Selling the capital to Mongol. They didn’t live in the imperial capital by choice anyway. Their family had its own city, and that was the only place they truly considered their homeland. As long as they could protect that, nothing else mattered. At the very least, that woman, Seora, had ensured they kept it safe.

“… She was captured, though.”

Seora had been captured. The betrayal of the Pope and the extraordinary feats of a man known as Lord Polydoro were said to be the reasons. At this point, no one could predict how events would unfold. The situation had spiraled out of control, and no one was in command anymore.

In the worst-case scenario, they might have to flee, taking their family fortune and seeking refuge in her father’s distant homeland, a maritime nation.

—Perhaps that wouldn’t be so bad.

With rebellious Electors, feudal lords, and citizens all refusing to cooperate, Maxine had grown tired of rowing this sinking ship of an empire.

“Heh.”

The girl emperor chuckled as if finding the entire situation absurd. She was also somewhat intrigued by this man, Lord Polydoro.

A towering giant, standing over two meters tall and weighing more than 130 kilograms, with a face that was handsome enough. Yet, his hands, calloused from wielding swords and spears, were rough and ugly in contrast.

That was her assessment of him.

Apparently, the man was Valierre’s fiancé.

“For the first time in a while, I feel like eating. Is there any more bread?”

“Y-Yes! I will fetch it immediately!”

The attendant hurried off, panicked, and called out to the servants.

Yes, she was enjoying the situation. Maxine was aware of this. No one could control the events now. She dipped the bread into the soup, her mind whirring as she tasted it. Yes. Yes…

“Let’s meet with Valierre… It might be amusing to attempt personal contact. Let’s also invite her fiancé, Lord Polydoro, to join as her partner.”

“Even if you, Lady Maxine, express a desire to meet, that doesn’t mean they will come.”

“I don’t have any hidden agenda. Just tell them I’d like to help harass the City Council. The three Electors won’t openly interfere either.”

It might seem suspicious that she sought personal contact with Valierre, but they’d likely chalk it up to the emperor’s whimsy. She muttered this to herself.

“Now, from what I’ve heard, they attacked the newspaper, seized the printing press, and kidnapped the master printer. I wonder what their next move will be.”

“Not even you can predict their actions, Lady Maxine?”

“I have some idea. They’ll likely spread slander about the City Council for now.”

As a form of intimidation, it wasn’t a bad tactic. Especially since Valierre’s victory conditions were obvious to anyone, negotiations would be straightforward. If the City Council paid the ‘appropriate’ amount for the goods they imported, this would all be over.

Of course, it wouldn’t be that easy.

“However, that alone won’t be enough to bring down the City Council. While the Landsknecht technically works for me, I’m only paying them barely enough to survive. I’ve ordered them to earn the rest on their own. Many of them have sworn loyalty to the City Council.”

So, what would Valierre do next? That was what really intrigued her.

Surely, they wouldn’t try to intimidate the capital, with its population of 400,000, with just 3,000 men.

“I’m truly curious. That’s why I want to meet. I want to hear what they have to say.”

Maxine dipped her bread into the soup again. She repeated the act of eating until her small stomach was full, for the first time in a while. Her satisfaction brought her attendant to tears of joy.