Although he told Salad that he didn't care about the north at all, only Theodore himself knew best what he was thinking, and this must not be discovered by outsiders - for no other reason, he was the emperor, the only emperor of the Holy Roman Empire! Anyone could frown at such a thing, but he couldn't!

The current empire is not actually stable - it is completely based on the support of the four dukes and the dwarves and the Noldor elves, plus the ancient oath and Helena's concessions, Rome has not shown how invincible it is, and Theodore even doubts that if it were not for the fact that the orcs are already so powerful that they are unbeatable, and they have opened their bloody maws to the north, will the nobles of the north really support themselves?

And there was one of the most serious weaknesses of the whole empire, a great flaw that could not be avoided and was fraught with crises - and that was Theodore Julian himself!

Any empire is built on a contractual relationship between them—vassals and subjects swear allegiance to the family represented by their sovereign, and family power will become the core of the empire's power. Families have established strong alliances through marriage, and large families can ensure the normal functioning of the entire imperial system - if the normal steps are followed, Salald and Aaron, who are Theodore's most trusted, should now establish a relationship with the Julian family, so as to ensure each other's loyalty and trust.

But here's the point - Theodore's family is the only one! If he dies unnaturally for any reason, the entire empire will collapse completely because the contract is invalid (there is no object of allegiance)!

This was the case with Aragorn in the past - as a result of his unexpected disappearance, his son had to inherit the Pendragon surname, otherwise the emperor of the new empire would not have been able to obtain a large enough land and army with the strength of his family, and the oath of the glorious cross and the nobles who had sworn allegiance to Aragon alone would not be enough to rule the entire Anthropocene, after all. The army and the land are the foundation of rule.

And now Theodore's situation is even more embarrassing than that of Aragorn at the beginning. If he dies, the nobles who once swore allegiance to him will not continue to fulfill their oaths, and the oath relationship will be transferred to Helena, but the Roman Senate has no obligation to owe allegiance to Helena, and she is now the only one left in the Pendragon family - so that the future Holy Roman Empire will become a loose grand alliance, and Helena will only be a nominal puppet of the rule. Theodore couldn't help but wonder if the little Duke Bran would take the opportunity to do something very despicable.

I need a son—if not many!" Theodore sighed helplessly, a feeling as if he had been fooled filled the whole inner world. I vaguely guessed it. The reason why Aragon left may be similar to the situation he faced, right?

"What are you thinking?" a gentle greeting came from behind him, and his delicate arms hugged Theodore's chest from behind his chair, and his silky black hair was pressed against his face: "Are you still thinking about that female elf? I see that you have been sitting in front of the window for noon." ”

"Hehehe...... With my little wife by my side, how can I think of anyone else?" said Theodore, who gave Helena a light kiss on the cheek, as if playfully. Whispered in her ear, "I was thinking, when are we going to have a baby?"

"This ...... This kind of thing...... How could it be said that there was a ......" Helena blushed suddenly. Rao is already in the first place. The crystal clear heart still can't accept: "You...... That's how you ......."

"I don't have a family now, Helena. I don't have a family anymore – you're my only relative, and of course, our future children. Theodore deliberately put a heavy bite on the word "children" and sniffed at the dark fragrance coming from the tip of his nose. Even though he had already received it, the smell still made him want to stop: "No children." Our empire is not secure—to whom can I give it in the future?"

"Yes...... But...... I...... I'm ......" Her Royal Highness Princess Helena, who was blushing, stuttered suddenly, biting her lip, as if she had made up her mind: "I will work hard!"

"Big liar, big badass. It's still a big... Big fool!" Helena jumped to her feet as if she was in a hurry: "I know that Lu Dao has bullied me again and again, and I am often frightened!"

"That is the test given to us by Venus, the supreme goddess of love—just as she is deeply in love with Mars, the lord of hosts, love is also an adventure. Theodore jerked over from his chair, knelt on his right knee, and held her little head in both hands, and looked at himself with tears full of sapphires, and pity rose in his heart, and he wanted to hold her in his arms at once.

"Although I know that it is very inappropriate for Lu Dao to come at this time, I would like to ask the two Majesties to take a break from the wrath of the thunder...... And the most sincere greetings...... Uh, please don't pull out your sword, Your Majesty. ”

Virgil stood outside the door with a pale face, looking at Emperor Theodore Julian, who had a fierce gaze and a sword hilt in his right hand, and his reluctant smile seemed to have a trace of elegance, and he bent down slightly: "The adults of the Senate are already waiting for you." ”

“...... All right. Theodore glared at him fiercely, gently let go of Helena, who had fainted in shame, and sat down in his chair. He walked over with a flat face.

"Don't worry, I don't see anything!" said Virgil almost reflexively as Diodore approached. Theodore was stunned for a moment, showed an indifferent smile, and patted him on the shoulder very kindly: "Oh, it's okay, you are my most trusted foreign minister, I believe in you." ”

"But, my dear Vir......gil," Diodore's smile was still cordial, and his narrowed eyes seemed to be cold, "there will be no next time...... What do you say?"

"Of course, that...... There is no doubt that my esteemed Caesar, Your Majesty the Great Emperor!" Virgil smiled flatteringly: "Not at all...... Nothing happened!"

—————————————————————————————————————

The solemn and quiet Senate Chamber seemed a little cold - the senators had not yet arrived, and the light in the afternoon was much worse than in the morning, and the faint light hit the mosaics on the walls, and the shadows of the trees could be seen.

Bran Elfwan stood alone in the center of the Senate Chamber, looking at the marble chair in front of him as if he was stunned, as if admiring some unique architecture, standing for a long time.

"I've never felt like there's anything to admire about that thing. A voice came from behind, causing Bran to frown slightly, but soon he reshaped, turned around with a faint smile, and gently leaned down: "Greetings to you, Your Majesty Honorable Julian." ”

"Call me Theodore, there's no one here now. Theodore chuckled and walked over to Bran before stopping: "There's no need to be so respectful!"

"I don't think I've ever been close to you yet. Bran said with a meticulous smile, but the smile seemed too contrived: "It's just what a courtier should do, abide by the etiquette and identity that he should observe." ”

"So, can you tell me what you were thinking when you looked at this stone chair?" Theodore was not angry, and asked with the corners of his mouth curled, "In my opinion, this thing has no beauty at all, and it is not at all comfortable to sit on, and it is impossible to lean on the back." ”

"The chair in your eyes is the throne for many people - it is a place that cannot be climbed in a lifetime, and even if you sit on it and be immediately beheaded, many people are willing. Bran shrugged his shoulders and smiled childishly: "This is this world, people don't care too much about what they get their hands on, and they always yearn for everything that is out of reach!"

"Sometimes it's not always the case. Theodore said softly, "As far as I'm concerned, there are things that I will never despise, that I will always regard as treasures, and that which are out of reach, if you can ignore them, are sometimes not so fascinating." ”

Theodore, of course, knew exactly what the little Duke Bran was alluding to - the reason why he would be willing to be loyal to him was only part of the drive of interest and situation, and Helena was the real key to him.

"I hope you won't forget what you yourself said one day in the future, Your Majesty, my honor. Aaron smiled flatly, his face gradually became a little serious, and his immature voice seemed to have some substance in it: "I think you should know that your empire is still very unstable!"

"The Imperial Council is indeed a very good choice, but at the moment the ability of this Council is only to balance the relationship between Caesarea and the whole of the North, and it is the Senate that can really govern for you. Bran said in a deep voice, "If the seat of the Senate cannot be relinquished, or if the authority of the Imperial Council is increased, the new Holy Empire will be so fragile that it will destroy itself." ”

"I don't have much interest in seeing you enter the holy palace of Issos, but for the orcs, especially that Ashna, I desire to have it ravaged and slaughtered into a pile of corpses! ”

"Before the Senate meeting begins, would you be interested in hearing the story of the last son of a certain family? Bran tilted his head and said with a childish smile.

(The novelist's spring is quiet~ only the monthly pass is singing softly~ how good the reward is~ how hearty it is recommended~ how good it is to be rewarded in this charming starting point network~how good the reward is~ how hearty it is recommended~ the night of non-stop code words~) (to be continued......)