industrial lord

Chapter 816: What step should we take?
For an elderly man like the Archduke of Mainz, a roaring fire in the fireplace provides more psychological warmth than the whirring air from a heater.

In particular, he had just recounted a chilling incident in the capital.

Flames leaped and danced behind the cast-iron fence, casting patches of orange-red and golden light onto the thick carpet, illuminating the old man's pale and weary face.

Frederick took a slow sip of his drink, then placed the glass on the coffee table beside him, his expression turning serious.

"The Gallic nobles brought by the Queen are interfering in state affairs?"

He repeated the sentence, his voice very soft, each word like an icicle dripping from the eaves, cold and dangerous.

The letter from the Archduke of Mainz had previously only mentioned military reforms; this turn of events was unexpected.

"To what extent exactly?" Frederick asked.

The Archduke of Mainz took another swig of wine, the strong liquor giving his pale cheeks an unnatural flush, but his eyes were frighteningly clear—the kind of eyes that only someone who has experienced too much hardship could have, sharp yet murky.

“Reviewing memorials is just the beginning.” He put down his wine glass, the bottom of which made a dull thud as it hit the table. “Last month, three mid-level officials in the Royal Treasury were transferred at the same time because of the corruption case in the Royal Territory. That’s fine.”

"The problem is that the successors are all young nobles that the Queen brought from Gaul."

He paused, a sarcastic smile playing on his lips.

“There were no procedures, not even a formal inquiry.”

"With a single appointment, the core position of the kingdom's finances was changed overnight."

Frederick's brows furrowed slowly. He was still the finance minister, and Rudolf, even as king, was still acting as finance minister.

Although he generally doesn't interfere with the Ministry of Finance's affairs, there are work summaries every ten days, every month, every quarter, and every year. Personnel appointments are included in the ten-day reports, but he didn't see this one.

“It’s even worse at the Ministry of Military Affairs,” Archduke Mainz continued, lowering his voice even further. “Pistol told me privately that only 70% of the funds for maintaining the royal army were received last year, and only 50% of the funds for purchasing weapons were received.”

The room fell silent for a moment, broken only by the rhythmic, continuous crackling of burning firewood.

Frederick's expression grew increasingly grim.

The Archduke of Mainz did not raise these two issues without reason. The treasury was under Frederick's control, and the royal army's weapons were purchased from Frederick's Springfield Arsenal, both of which harmed his interests.

Frederick picked up his wine glass, took a big gulp, put down the empty glass, stood up, and walked to the window.

He drew back the thick curtains, revealing a thin layer of frost on the glass. He smeared a small transparent area with his fingertip and looked out at the snow-covered Mushroom Mountain.

"Those Gallic nobles," his emotionless voice came from the window, his back to the Archduke of Mainz, "have they pledged allegiance to His Majesty Rudolf?"

"Have you sworn an oath of loyalty and formally accepted the title bestowed by the Kingdom of the Rhine?"

A bitter laugh came from behind.

“No,” said the Archduke of Mainz. “Not a single one.”

"They are still nobles of the Kingdom of Gaul, and they hold identification documents as the Queen's attendants."

Frederick gave a cold laugh, turned around, and the firelight from the fireplace cast leaping shadows on his face, making his expression inscrutable in the interplay of light and shadow.

"So they pledged allegiance to the Queen?" he pressed on from the window. "At least in front of the Queen herself, was there a formal oath-taking ceremony?"

Archduke of Mainz shook his head.

“As far as I know, no,” he said. “Neither here nor in the Kingdom of Gaul, there is any record in the Heraldry of those people pledging allegiance to the Queen.”

Each country's Heraldry compiles a list of registered nobles, including the vassals of vassals. Heraldry commissions from different countries exchange their lists to prevent impersonation.

Especially now that the telegraph has appeared, and the telegraph office and the Heraldry have opened up query functions, many fake nobles have been exposed.

If all these people pledged allegiance to Queen Antonia, at least one of the Heraldry houses would have a record of it.

Now that there are no records, the nature of the problem is different.

The Archduke of Mainz finished his drink and, while pouring more wine, began to recount history: "The Rhine Alliance was a product of a group of people from a defeated nation banding together for warmth. Human nature is such that even when facing death, people will fight amongst themselves."

"Therefore, many of the checks and balances in state power were created during that period."

"There are clear limitations on the Queen's power to prevent her family from becoming part of the royal family. The struggles involved are quite exciting." "According to current laws, the Queen herself has no right to directly participate in state affairs. She can only handle internal royal affairs: living expenses, ceremonial celebrations, kinship relations, and territorial matters."

"To interfere in the kingdom's administrative and military power is an overreach of authority."

"An extremely serious overreach of authority."

He spoke those last words slowly and heavily.

It was as if each word needed to be squeezed out of his chest with great effort.

The room fell silent again, this time for longer and deeper than before.

The only sounds were the crackling of burning firewood and the faint whistling of wind in the distance—Frederick opened the window a crack to let the cold wind blow on his face.

He knew very well that the old men in the Rhine Union, such as the Archduke of Mainz, were wicked, and he might very well be tricked by them.

"This matter..." Frederick's voice was as calm as usual, but beneath that calm, something dangerous seemed to be surging, like a turbulent undercurrent beneath a frozen river, "How many people know about it?"

Archduke of Mainz replied, "Those who are qualified to know already know."

Frederick's lips curled slightly. These wicked old men all knew, but no one made a move. Wasn't he just asking to be the one to stick his neck out?

Being a pioneer is not bad, the problem is getting enough benefits in return.

The Archduke of Mainz continued, "Even in the taverns on the streets of Cologne, rumors have begun to circulate."

Frederick raised his eyebrows slightly and asked cooperatively, "What are the rumors?"

"They say the Gauls have already taken real control of the kingdom," the Archduke of Mainz said with heavy sarcasm. "They say King Rudolf has become a drunken puppet, and the Queen is turning the Rhine Kingdom into just another province of Gaul."

"It is said that the next time taxes are levied, the gold coins will be loaded directly onto wagons and transported to Baris, instead of remaining in the treasury of Coron."

“Very specific rumors,” Frederick said with a smile. “As the Duke of Lukang in the Kingdom of Gaul, I might be able to get a share of it.”

He sensed that the old man was trying to provoke him, so he suggested they discuss some terms.

The window was opened wider, and it was a bit cold by the window, but the cold air was quickly warmed up by the fire in the fireplace.

Archduke of Mainz raised his head and looked directly at Frederick's profile. His aged eyes vanished instantly, replaced by a shrewd look.

“The problem is, why is nobody doing anything about it?” he said.

Frederick didn't speak, but waited quietly for what would happen next.

Archduke Mainz leaned back on the sofa and said in a desperate tone, "Who will take care of this? How will they take care of it? Are they going to storm into the palace, point their finger at the Queen and say, 'You're breaking the law'? Or are they going to convene a council of nobles and force the King to sober up and take charge?"

He gave a wry smile after he finished speaking. His words seemed like a complaint, but in reality, they were conveying what he—or they wanted Frederick to do.

Frederick looked out the window as if he hadn't heard them, quietly waiting for them to name their price.

Contrary to his expectations, the Archduke of Mainz lowered his voice even further, as if it took courage to utter the next words: "Frederick, do you know what the most fatal point is?"

Frederick followed up, asking, "What is it?"

“Rudolf has no children,” Archduke Mainz said, emphasizing each word. “If something were to happen to him, you would be first in line to the throne, and you also have no legitimate children.”

Frederick was somewhat speechless, but he was impressed by the old men's ability to find opportunities.

“That’s why,” the Archduke of Mainz’s voice lowered, “that many people haven’t made a final decision.”

Frederick scratched his head; he always respected Mary's opinion on this matter.

"What do you intend to do?" Frederick asked bluntly. "The Queen's people, the Queen herself, or the people behind the Queen?"

When the Archduke of Mainz heard the last part, his eyes suddenly sharpened.

It was clear that Frederick was about to make a big move.

(End of this chapter)