"This was by no means Loren Torino's plan. ”

After carefully reading the letterhead that Conod handed to him, Metternich Leopold, the keeper of the seals, was convinced.

As the words fell, Conrad and Fitrona in the Imperial Cabinet Hall showed surprised expressions at the same time.

Metternich, whose face was indifferent, put down his letterhead, and the old man with white eyebrows and beard stood motionless, calmly and unhurriedly, not at all like an old man who was almost eighty years old.

In the empty cabinet hall, there were only three lonely shadows under the fluorite chandelier.

Unlike Eckhart II, Conod never deliberately concealed his thoughts from his courtiers, and he never "pushed" things like his deceased father, but was extremely tough and would not change once he had made up his mind.

But it is precisely because of this that Conod, who has only been in power for less than half a year, has already developed a strong dissatisfaction with the parliament that is keen on hypocrisy and recklessness, and the feeling that is completely opposite to the order in the barracks makes him immersed in anger all the time.

Even in the "smallest cabinet of all generations" left by Emperor Eckhart, Conod's real trust was only Metternich Leopold, the Minister of the Seals, and Severin de Salion, Minister of War;

The latter was a member of the royal family and was a more experienced corps commander than him, while the former had been in politics for many years, and without Metternich, Connad alone would not have been able to control the Imperial Cabinet or even Parliament.

Therefore, when Fitlonay sent the information that the Night's Watch had brought back from Byrne, Conrad summoned only the head of the Imperial Cabinet.

"Why?"

Glancing at Conod, whose face was slightly gloomy, Fitlonay was the first to ask the question.

"Because the Duke of Byrne as we know it, it is impossible for him to make such a move like a 'political compromise', Her Royal Highness the Eldest Princess. ”

Metternich's expression was indifferent, but his tone was very convinced: "If you have ever known this man deeply, you will know how arrogant he is, he carefully hides his thoughts, but he cannot hide the arrogance that he can never really bow his head to. ”

"Therefore, Loren Turin can exchange interests with you, the Celestial Dome and anyone, make some inconsequential concessions if necessary, and even sacrifice some of his own interests for the sake of the overall situation, but ......"

"The representations of both sides must be equal!"

At this, the Lord Keeper's eyes sharpened a lot.

With a low snort, Conrad looked at the ceiling with a solemn expression, while Fitlonay, who was still confused just now, nodded after a moment of silence.

Because it is.

Not to mention that he is now the Empire's premier Grand Duke, even when he was an ordinary wizard at Eberden, this guy dared to negotiate with the Night's Watch, Brandon, and even the Wizard Tower.

So I'm sure this is not a plan that Loren Turin could have come up with – at least, not what he really had in mind. Metternich said silently:

"Such a sleek, and very traditional method, is more like a true nobleman - neither humble nor arrogant, humbly retreating and at the same time very sincere to propose a union, and to His Majesty and the Heavenly Dome Palace. ”

"This letter is more like a Byrne than a Duke of Byrne... Or the idea of the Turin family. ”

"House of Turin?" the eldest princess blinked thoughtfully, "Charlotte?"

"Judging from the usual strength and skill of that countess of the Red Blood Castle, there is a possibility. ”

The Minister of the Seal bowed slightly, affirming her thoughts.

The two of them silently turned their gazes to Connod at the same time, waiting for His Majesty the Emperor's reply to his courtiers.

I saw that he retracted his chin slightly, and his solemn expression was still so indifferent.

"Neither humble nor arrogant, humble, sincere, and goodwill. Conod sneered: "A courtier of the empire, semi-forcefully brought a royal side to his domain, and then declared her marriage in this way, and ...... with a wizard"

"Lord Metternich, are you using these words to describe his almost robber-like behavior?What do you want the people of the church to think of me, and where do you place your royal dignity?!"

In the face of Conod's burning gaze, Metternich didn't react much, and even breathed a sigh of relief.

Taking the initiative to raise the issue proves that he is very eager to solve the problem - those who would oppose it will not have to think about it, it must be the royal family and the church of de Salion, and their words will only be tougher and more fierce than what Connad said.

Therefore, as Lord Keeper of the Seals, Metternich must prove to His Majesty that he has the ability to appease these two groups of people, and that he is qualified to remain at the head of the Cabinet.

exhaled slightly, and the old man with low eyebrows was still so calm.

"Your Majesty, I do not think at all what the Church thinks at the moment, for in any case, since Byrne dared to send this letter, it proves that they could persuade the Byrne Church to celebrate the wedding. Metternich said in a deep voice:

In other words, it will only end up being a contradiction between the Church of the Holy Cross and the Church of Byrne... I'm afraid that when the time comes, they will come to ask His Majesty for his support, so why care what they think?"

Fitlonay's eyes lit up, and Conod only bowed slightly, motioning for the old man to continue.

"So the most difficult thing is actually to convince the imperial family to accept this result...... Metternich paused slightly, because it involved the emperor's domestic affairs, and he didn't know if it was right for an outsider to reach out and interfere.

But Conod apparently didn't care about any of this: "There is no need to think about the internal problems of the de Salion family - I will write a letter to explain to Uncle Sevelin about Lena's marriage and the relationship with Byrne." ”

Metternich's eyes moved, and the most difficult part was solved.

Then there's the part of Connad that cares the most, the perception of the whole empire.

As we all know, the status of wizards in the Sakran Empire will also change according to different regions, but in general, they are excluded and discriminated against, especially the traditional Sakran nobles, who regard sorcerers as hidden elements.

But in Metternich's eyes, this is simply the most inconsequential part – the kind of thing that can be guided and influenced, and as long as the propaganda is in place to ensure that the ideas of the majority are ensured, the very small number of "dissenting groups" are not worth mentioning at all.

Youngster... No matter how much you hide it, you will care a lot about what others think of you.

Secretly looking at Conod and Fitrona, the Lord of the Seals sighed secretly.

"Your Majesty, and Her Royal Highness the eldest princess, both of you must know very well that when something is done, someone will definitely benefit, and someone will definitely suffer. Metternich said softly, "So we just have to make sure that there is a balance between losses and gains." ”

"Marrying a member of the royal family to a wizard is indeed appalling, but it is not so appalling - the group of wizards, a group of fugitives and heretics who had just been pardoned during the reign of His Majesty Eckhart I, and 'loyal' subjects of the Empire by the time Brandon I the Sage ascended to the throne. ”

"By the time of your father, His Majesty Eckhart II, one more wizard became a member of the Cabinet, and another became the Archon of Ebonden. ”

Thus, over the course of the fourteenth generation of the Empire, the status of the wizards rose gradually, not through the mercy of a particular majesty or the generosity of the Church, but rather as an almost regular change. ”

Metternich patiently explained, "It may be shocking to marry a wizard from the royal sideline, but it is less shocking than to make a wizard a member of the Imperial Cabinet or appear in the Knights of Edgeworth, alongside the dukes. ”

Hearing this, Fitlonay, who wanted to stop talking, turned his gaze to Conrad behind him.

"What's more, the loss of prestige can be compensated elsewhere. Metternich also looked up at Conod and whispered, "Once this news spreads, the wizards in the empire will surely rejoice and swear allegiance to Your Majesty!"

"Compared to hundreds or thousands of wizards who have raised money and even joined the army, a few rumors are nothing - if Your Majesty agrees, I can order the city defense troops in the imperial capital to patrol everywhere, and arrest and behead anyone who dares to slander the royal family!"

When the words fell, the old man's already gray eyebrows showed a bit of fierceness.

Fitlonay blushed slightly, it was the first time she had seen this usually gentle minister of the seal, showing such a ruthless face.

"Beheading... Wouldn't it be too ...... if it's just a discussion?"

"Your Highness the Eldest Princess, do you know that your brother, the late Emperor Eckhart... How did you deal with the evil gods and heretics in Ellemont?"

Metternich, who didn't blink, interrupted sharply.

Fitronay, who pursed her lips, didn't say a word.

"The House of Wirtz in Ellemont is loyal to the Crown, and Ellemont was the first nation in history to pledge allegiance to the Empire... But even so, Emperor Eckhart was unrelenting, and sometimes the entire village was burned down in order to catch a heretic, leaving no chickens and dogs behind!"

Even so, the Wirtz family never complained. The old man's voice became heavy: "Because they know that the more ruthless the methods of the empire, the more it proves how much the royal family takes Ellemont." ”

Fitlonay frowned, and simply twisted her head.

Metternich didn't care, and turned his gaze to Conod: "Right now is a state of total war against the Azorean elves, the Empire... Your Majesty, in particular, must not allow any undermining or influence of your authority, and any dissenting voice, negative or deliberate act against it, must be suppressed with the utmost severity. ”

"The more decisive, the more aggressive, the more merciful and loving you are to your people, and it is precisely because of this understanding that the Imperial Cabinet is so supportive of you and His Highness Brandon in their counterinsurgency against East Sackland. ”

The last words of the Minister of the Seals can be regarded as the last statement - as long as it is something that maintains the authority of the empire and is beneficial to the Azorean elf war, at least some nobles in the imperial capital absolutely support it.

Although they are keen on infighting, they at least know where their privileges come from, and if the Heavenly Dome and the Emperor lose their proper authority and become irrelevant, then as "imperial nobles", they will be on an equal footing with the rural nobles of any principality.

Compared to such a tragic end, the slightest concession and the death of a few "poor relatives of East Sackland to the countryside" are simply not worth mentioning.

Facing the indifferent but resolute old man, Conod lowered his gaze to eye level with him, and his expression was equally firm:

"Are you sure?"

"No, but ......," Metternich said calmly, "if it ends up unmanageable, I can take the blame for you—cutting off my head and replacing it with a new Lord of the Seals will appease the wrath of the nobles." ”

Obviously, although Cheng Zhu is in the chest, he is also prepared for the worst.

"If you die, who has the ability to run the cabinet?" Conod's eyes were like swords, and he looked at the old man: "Do you have a suitable candidate in mind?"

"Yes. ”

Metternich graciously admitted.

"Who?"

"I can't tell you – because it's the worst for you or for him. Metternich shook his head: "You will not trust the loyalty of the person I recommend, and he will not be able to serve you with all his heart and soul when he is suspicious. ”

"To run the Imperial Cabinet, you must be a person of absolute confidence in the Emperor, and Your Majesty, like your father and previous Emperors, must choose for yourself a man who is both capable and loyal. ”

"Capable and loyal at the same time... It's so easy to say. Conod sneered.

"If you really don't have a choice, then a minister who is absolutely loyal to you, or who must be loyal to you, is also an option. The old man said respectfully:

"Whoever holds the authority of the emperor is more foolish than loyal. ”

Fitlonay snorted coldly, obviously not too convinced by this "loyal statement".

Conod looked intently at the indifferent old man, and his solemn expression seemed to be making up some kind of determination.

The next second, he jerked up and stood in front of Metternich.

The heartstrings are tight, and the proud face does not change.

"I will never let anyone take the responsibility for me—it is the Emperor's responsibility to bear the good and evil of the Empire!" said Conod sharply.

"I will send a herald to the Duchy of Byrne, the marriage of Isaac Grantham and Lena de Salion......, I promise!"

"Imperial royalty... Even if he is only a side branch, he cannot marry a commoner, so from this day on, Isaac Grantham will be officially canonized as a knight of the Empire, and his surname will be included in the imperial pedigree, and he will be allowed to have a coat of arms!"

Metternich and Fitlonay's expressions were startled at the same time, they never expected Conod to do this.

If Loren Turin had only been given the title of "Viscount of the Empire" from Brandon's wizarding advisor status, Isaac Grantham's title of Imperial Knight would have officially included this person in the genealogy of the Empire's nobility!

This is tantamount to lifting the last shackles on wizards and allowing them to have a noble title!

"Now that you have made up your mind, then simply do it directly to the end, so that the whole empire can understand what kind of attitude their emperor is!"