Chapter 261: Who Should Hold the Emperor’s Position?

“Astarte, do you still think Maxine is worthy of the emperor’s position?”

That was Anastasia’s question.

I answered her honestly.

“Honestly, things are a lot smoother as they are. In my guess, we’ll end up needing the power of Maxine’s clan. To actually stand up to the Mongols, we’re short on troops—and her presence fills that gap.”

The imperial clan.

Their honor had once been tarnished by a relative’s betrayal.

Nonetheless, they’re the family that climbed all the way to the supreme rank of emperor.

With just one call, thirty thousand soldiers can be rallied.

And it’s not limited to troops within the Holy Gusten Empire.

They might negotiate abroad and even hire soldiers from other nations.

Hiring mercenary companies or knightly orders for money, or even turning another country into an ally.

Given all that, usurping the emperor’s position from Maxine would’ve been a terrible move.

“Even Katarina would say, ‘If Maxine’s motivated, I don’t care if she stays emperor.’ But Maxine herself has no drive—that’s the real issue. Can someone with zero willpower wage war as emperor? That lack of spirit will spread to her commanders. Battles we could win will slip away.”

Anastasia said this, propping her chin on her hand at her desk.

Documents were piled on her desk like a mountain.

If even one preparation—securing funds, arranging personnel—for the succession ceremony as Elector of Anhalt is neglected, it’ll cause a heap of trouble.

It would destroy our noble façade—for both hosts and guests alike.

That’s why Anastasia will be tied up for a while.

For the time being, she’ll be holed up in this office.

“What killed her father was the title of emperor. She’s grown disgusted and distant from that demonic status that drove her kin mad. Honestly, I can’t fault her feelings. There are times I feel like abandoning everything and running off abroad with Faust. But as a noble, I’d never actually do it.”

Even if I were in Maxine’s shoes, I’d probably avoid the emperor’s position too.

As if to say so, Anastasia stared up at the ceiling.

After reading document after document, her eyes might have been slightly blurred.

“Now then, I hear Valiere and Faust have been summoned. Should we just stand by and watch?”

Anastasia’s question.

I replied with a smile.

“I plan to go along. Officially, I’m temporarily lent out as part of Valiere’s retinue, right?”

“That would be most helpful. Support my sister, please. She’s certainly grown, but her shortcomings remain.”

“Understood.”

At first, I only intended to stay until the Council of Citizens was wiped out.

Anastasia let out a wry laugh and rose from her chair.

She stretched dramatically.

“Let’s take a short break. Could you ask someone to prepare tea?”

“Certainly.”

I knocked on the door and asked the attendant who appeared to bring tea.

The attendant readily agreed and stepped away.

“Now—what do you think the emperor’s aim is?”

“What do you mean?”

“Calling Valiere is obviously for commendation. She carried out what the emperor desperately wanted: the massacre of the Council of Citizens. He’ll probably give her some reward for that. But Faust? Why summon him?”

Well.

I tilted my head, though I knew I couldn’t fool Anastasia.

Resigned, I put my head back and answered honestly.

“Well, it addresses a concern for Maxine’s clan. It might be the solution. Of course he’d call him.”

I said it in a roundabout way.

To be frank, I didn’t want to upset Anastasia.

“Blood of a superhuman, perhaps? A rare bloodline. In other words, he wants a child with Faust.”

She drew that conclusion with displeasure.

Anastasia let out a deep sigh.

“Does she intend to carry a child with that scrawny frame?”

“I suppose so. She’d probably think it worth dying herself if it meant bearing a child.”

“Absurd. That Maxine likely doesn’t even know what first love is.”

An insult to the emperor.

She spoke with the tone of mocking some young girl.

She didn’t even try to hide it, snorting with laughter.

“She must have no intense love for Faust like I do. After all, she’s been so busy she hasn’t bothered to court him properly.”

Originally, I came to this imperial capital for the elector’s succession ceremony.

Aside from that, another purpose was to woo Faust.

But that plan was put on hold due to circumstances.

As if recalling it suddenly, Anastasia murmured.

“I guess I’ll express my feelings after the succession ceremony. There’s still time.”

“Yes, that’s how it will be. Until then, focus on your duties and do your best.”

I said that to comfort her.

I thought our conversation was over, but Anastasia suddenly frowned.

“Astarte.”

“What is it?”

“Don’t tell me you’re expecting Maxine to fall in love with Faust?”

She’d caught me.

I tried to brush it off with an evasive smile, but that failed.

“You’re really thinking of luring the emperor with romance? Plotting a honey trap on her? Is this for real?”

Anastasia looked at me with eyes that doubted my sanity.

As for me—

“Well, who knows? I think it’s one possible tactic.”

I answered vaguely.

Honestly, I’m not entirely sure myself.

I don’t know if that’s even possible.

“Make Faust fall for her, motivate him. Since she’d hate sending the man she loves to certain death, she’ll be driven. Ridiculous. Does dangling a carrot really guarantee the horse will run?”

“True.”

Disgust.

Anastasia clearly showed her disgust and dismissed it.

But she understood, no doubt.

“…”

“…”

A strange silence filled the air.

She must understand.

For an ordinary man, it would indeed be impossible.

No matter how handsome the bait, a honey trap would never work.

But in Faust’s case, there might be a chance.

Faust von Polydoro.

A lordly knight, two meters tall and over 130 kilograms of pure muscle—hardly what Anhalt’s standards would call beautiful.

In fact, not even the whole Holy Gusten Empire would call him handsome, except for Villendorf, the nation of martial valor.

If it weren’t for Villendorf, most would deem his appearance ugly.

He’s far too rugged.

But.

His heart is genuinely kind, painfully earnest.

He desires money and power, but not for himself—for the people of his small Polydoro domain.

He has no real interest in personal advancement, patronage from the powerful, or luxury.

He refuses to be bound by anything beyond his domain.

For some people, his very existence is nothing short of demonic.

“I can’t stand it—using Faust as bait.”

Anastasia admitted honestly that a honey trap could succeed.

Because she’d probably fall for it herself.

He’s a man she’s truly fallen for.

How could she say no other woman would be interested?

“Well, I said I don’t know how it’ll turn out. It’s just one option. We’ll show her the new weapons prepared by the Cologne faction and have her talk with Martina. While dangling various carrots, we’ll slowly rattle her.”

Anastasia was troubled.

With a bitter expression, she still reached a conclusion.

It was the answer befitting an elector.

“Do as you like. I hate it, but I recognize it as a valid tactic. However, if you truly want Maxine as emperor, it can’t just be for show. She must be driven to fight with every ounce of strength. If that doesn’t work, then give it up entirely.”

“That’s the plan. If nothing else works, I suppose we’ll just have Katarina become emperor.”

Even so, I intend to negotiate to have Maxine’s clan provide troops.

Astarte said as much.

For now, she breathed a sigh of relief that she had secured the permission.

“Well—let’s see how it goes.”

She had the blessing of Anastasia, her beloved relative and liege.

That was good, but even Astarte couldn’t predict what would happen next.

Would she be convinced by the Cologne faction’s new weapons?

Would her conversation with Martina shake her resolve?

Would Emperor Maxine be captivated by a man like Faust?

And even if Emperor Maxine somehow got motivated, how far could she truly unite the Holy Gusten Empire?

There were so many uncertainties.

But, bit by bit.

I felt like the pieces of the puzzle for winning the war were slowly coming together.

And I certainly didn’t feel unhappy about that.