No matter what the nobles of the provinces thought, they all understood that His Majesty, the Emperor of the Holy Empire, was not asking for their opinions, but had already ordered and made conditions—this was Theodore's bottom line.

Such a move would undoubtedly force them to make a choice, Theodore knew it, but it would be very difficult to exploit their privileges later without relying on the spare time between the new empires and the time to lay the groundwork. Of course, such a crude approach is also very irrational and will have many side effects, and the practice of promoting the peasant and soldier system like this should be done step by step and little by little.

The point is that Theodore doesn't have that much time! His opponent is not an empire on his par, a human kingdom, a kingdom composed of large and small lords, in that case, Theodore can slowly complete the reform of the peasant army in the non-stop foreign war, and he is not worried that the opponent will destroy him like a raging storm. But this is a group of orcs full of destruction and murder desires! Before that, it took them less than two years to tear the otherwise powerful Pander Empire to shreds.

An army without rigorous training is not enough to fight the orcs - this has been proven in the previous battles of the Severcro Castle, the Battle of the Kwyn River, and even the Forest of Silence. But a well-trained professional army was very expensive, and it was simply impossible without the financial support of the whole of Rome. Now that the empire was just beginning, Theodore needed to quickly digest these people, land, and various resources, and transform them into a powerful chariot ready to go to war with the orcs in the near future—and even be willing to go to war with the orcs if needed.

Watching these people leave one by one, Theodore sat on the chair with an indifferent face, and took a sip of wine: "You did a good job today, patriarch. He looked at Adil who came forward and said.

"I'm just saying that I should say the facts. Adil smiled narrowly. Bent down slightly and saluted, he stepped back and left: "Besides, I don't have anyone here who needs to please Lu and save any face for them." Don't be like some people...... Excessive nervousness. With that, he glanced at Salald, who was still sitting there, smiled smugly at the other party's cold gaze, and left the hall.

"Cunning jackal, Cato!" Salald gave him a disdainful look, then turned his gaze back to Theodore, who was sitting directly across from him, "You don't really believe this guy, do you?"

"Who knows, at least he is now the patriarch of the Senate. He had to do things according to Roman law - which meant I could arrest him at any time and make sense. Theodore smiled and poured himself a full glass of wine: "Whether he wants it or not." ”

"You've changed. Salald said faintly: "If it were you before, you would never have taken such direct measures, this is too unlike you, Theodore." Is it because of Aaron's business?"

"There's a part, but we really don't have much time, my dear Salald. Theodore smiled a little sourly, walked over with a wine glass, and handed it to him: "Aaron's matter has given me some warning, I can't rely on you too much - maybe it was a mistake to let him go north." One...... It is a mistake that is difficult to undo, and until now there has been no news from the north. ”

"Don't worry, don't forget that guy is the Duke of the Brenus family, who knows the Misty Mountain Barbarians better than him?If he is so confident, it means that he has a way to solve the problem!" Salald took the cup and drank it down. He slapped Theodore on the shoulder: "If it is really as you say, those guys don't dare to touch him easily, it will make them face the wrath of the entire empire!"

"Are you comforting me?" Theodore curled the corners of his mouth and looked into Salald's eyes, "Okay. Indeed, when you say this, I feel much better. ”

"If that's the case, in return tell me about your plans. Salald asked with interest, "The peasant system." There is also the establishment of a new legion, plus the current war college, I heard that you will also help the highlanders train the army. Are you ready to turn your empire into a super barracks?"

"For us now, how to have the strength to fight against orcs is the fundamental and most critical task. Theodore said in a deep voice, "I am not Jupiter, the god-king, and I can't conjure up an army strong enough to fight the orcs, so I can only turn the whole of Rome into a military camp first—as you said." ”

"But I believe that these so-called plans of yours cost a great deal of money—it is often said that the cost of war is like a pit in the earth, and how much gold cannot be filled. Salald shook his head: "How many nobles do you think are generous, they are all misers!How much does it cost to turn the entire empire into a barracks?!"

"Caesar!" Elendil suddenly appeared outside the door and shouted in a sonorous voice, "Miss Sibea Aldalia of Anduria, and Lorens Lagrange who has come with her, beg to see you!"

"I'll meet them in the drawing-room, and I'll be right there. Theodore smiled slightly and looked at Salald beside him: "Look, the person who delivered the money is here." ”

—————————————————————————————————————

"What did you say?!" Helena in the dormitory looked at Sir Ludwig who was kneeling on one knee in front of her with a pale face: "How is this possible......?"

Helena, who had been staying in the castle, had to attend the royal council with Theodore after Aaron and Bran left one after another, and the little princess, who was originally full of ambition and determined to become a "half prince", received bad news from the advisor left to him by the Duke of Bran on the first day.

"But that's just the way it is, Your Majesty Helena. Ludwigillo said in a somewhat sad tone: "Although His Majesty Theodore is doing his best to block the news, he still obtained the news through some means-the noble Duke of Mithmael has disappeared in the north, and it is very likely that he has ......."

"Say no more!" Helena, who was frightened, spoke up to stop the voice of the man in front of her: "Oh my God, how can this be. Theodore, Theodore, he is now ...... What are you doing?"

"I don't want to slander those ...... like that Loyal colleagues, but that's how it ......is now," Ludwig said little by little, and under his description, Theodore was so angry that he was ready to march to the Far North Icefield, but was stopped by a group of "loyal" ministers led by Virgil, and even so, Theodore did not give up, and brought all the nobles who held real power to the War College to discuss countermeasures.

Sir Ludwig, who was proficient in rhetoric, spoke very vividly, but it was ambiguous as soon as he reached the crucial place, leaving room for Helena's imagination, and under his description, it was as if the young man had fallen into madness because of his friend's situation, and the reason why he could not see it was only because he had disguised it very well.

"Radiant Cross, O Roman gods, why do you torture your patrons...... "Helena prayed with her hands clasped together, her sapphire eyes filled with tears: "My poor Theodore ......"

Helena was well aware of the depth of the friendship between Theodore and Aaron, and when she went south to Severcro, she had almost had an accident because of Aaron's tardiness, and when the other party arrived at the least, it was absolutely impossible to pretend to be so happy. She could even imagine how painful and sad Theodore was now, but she had to wronged herself in the face of reality.

"It may be too abrupt and very unbefitting to say that it is not in line with your status, but as your advisor to the Imperial Council, my Majesty Helena. Ludwig bent down deeply: "You are the Empress of His Majesty the Emperor, the heir of the Pendragon family, you should be a help to His Majesty in such a time of crisis, and accomplish what he wants to do but cannot do, this is exactly what you should accomplish." ”

"But, but in that case...... Helena said with some hesitation, "will they think of me...... I mean, isn't that too much of an assertion, after all, Aaron is a duke. ”

"Of course not. Ludwig looked up at his eyes as pure as crystal crystals, and he suddenly felt an indescribable sense of guilt, especially when it came to deceiving the descendants of such a noble Pendragon: "You are the Empress of the Empire, and they have no right to order or accuse you of anything—His Majesty Theodore was thwarted solely because he needed to take into account the thoughts of more people, but you did not need to do so." ”

"If that's the case......" Helena hesitated, the little princess who had never made decisions on her own had no experience in this area, and she could not be sure whether what Ludwig said was true - her natural acuity made Helena feel that the knight was not telling the whole truth, and that he must be hiding something.

"Can I trust you, Sir Ludwig Ahart. Helena quietly looked at the elderly, but not the slightest bit of old age in front of her, "I remember you promised me to always aim your sword at orcs, not at friends, sir. ”

"I did say that below. Ludwig hurriedly took the opportunity to lower his head, he didn't dare to look at the eyes that could almost reflect him: "Please rest assured." ”

"Please never forget that. Helena nodded, "Go and bring in the Flag Bearer of Terenus, I have an important task for him." ”

(I'm on the verge of collapse in this chapter...... It's stuffy and hot, there's a problem with the computer buttons, and I have a splitting headache! The most important thing is ...... Why are there fewer and fewer subscriptions, and if you are too depressed, you will have no motivation) (to be continued......)