Throne of the North.

Chapter 680 The Emperor of the Empire (Part 4)
Columbus III is receiving nobles in his palace.

This is his daily routine.

His Majesty the Emperor of the Empire doesn't usually have much to do, since the entire empire is filled with the territories of nobles, who have the right to deal with everything that happens on their lands, and it's not the Emperor's place to do so.

However, the emperor no longer thinks that way; he feels that everything in the empire belongs to him.

“Seneca, please allow me to call you by your name, a name that seems somewhat out of place amidst the splendor of the empire.”

"Looking at the viscount with the high nose and red eyes in front of him, Columbus III said."

The latter knelt on one knee in awe before the emperor, signifying his loyalty.

“The name Seneca comes from my hometown, a…once beautiful world. I thank Your Majesty for the blessing that allows my family to carry on the family’s glory on this land.”

Viscount Seneca said with awe, he didn't know why the emperor had suddenly granted him an audience today, of course, he also had his own requests to make before the emperor.

Seneca's family has fallen into decline. They are not native nobles of the empire, and in fact, their status in another world was even higher than that of a viscount. However, in the North, everything has vanished, and the once great bloodline is now just a minor viscount in the empire.

and.

In this vast empire, his status as an outsider brought him many inconveniences. For hundreds of years, he did not have many marriages, did not integrate into the circles of nobles, and with the increasing number of close marriages, the Seneca family population dwindled, forming a stark contrast with the native nobles of the empire.

This viscount family is on the verge of collapse in this strange world that he perceives as his own.

"Your letter says you hope the Empire can help you acquire more slaves, and that you've lost your sense of security as a lord in your territory?"

The emperor looked at the viscount before him, who nodded bitterly and replied:

“My esteemed Majesty, as you know, the damned Black Swan assassins killed fifteen members of my family and converted my slaves into followers of the Dawn. I had no choice but to burn them alive.”

“They have not left, but your loyal Seneca followers have lost the power to protect the land. I beg your mercy and pity on your followers.”

Seneca remained kneeling on one knee. His family problems were more serious than they appeared, but the pride of nobility allowed him to outwardly maintain an aristocratic demeanor. In reality...

Columbus III smiled. He had long known that the Seneca family was in decline; their economy was in a mess, they owed a lot of money, and their soldiers had been decimated by the Black Swan assassins.

At this moment, the emperor suddenly felt that the previous Black Swan assassin riot was not necessarily a bad thing.

Sure enough, as the emperor's authority increased, nothing was worth getting angry about in front of him.

Columbus III had not been angry for a long time. He vaguely remembered that a few years ago, he would often angrily rebuke those nobles.

This feeling of having everything under control... it's really great.

The emperor suddenly realized that all his past anger was a sign of incompetence, and now he only needed to sit calmly in his seat, and no trouble in the world would be a trouble anymore.

"You have lost the power to protect your family's legacy."

Viscount Seneca fears that his family's legacy will vanish in his hands, that he will die, and that this will be the end.

Because... his son also died in an assassination attempt by the Black Swan assassin.

The pillar that supported the family suddenly broke.

“I will give you that opportunity, Seneca. You are a nobleman of the Empire, no longer the great nobleman of the world you once were. But before I bestow upon you new glory, I need your oath.”

"The empire belongs to Columbus, and you will forever be loyal to your emperor."

Columbus III looked at Viscount Seneca, who did not hesitate and placed his hand on his chest, his solemn voice echoing throughout the palace.

“I swear by the blood of Seneca that the blood of Seneca will forever be loyal to and follow the esteemed Emperor of the Flor Empire, and the blood of Seneca will give everything for their loyalty.”

The emperor was very pleased with the viscount's loyalty, and said:
"Since you have made your decision, then go to Twilight Province. I hope that Viscount Seneca will become a general in the Twilight Legion as a nobleman."

"Follow your wishes."

Viscount Seneca left, and Columbus III remained seated in his position, the scepter in his hand radiating a profound light. He was using this method to gradually consolidate the power of the nobles, ensuring that they were no longer a state within a state.

He is an emperor who is turning the empire's shareholders into laborers, and in the process, the emperor's power is becoming increasingly terrifying.

……

The nobles were shocked by the compromise of the Grand Duke of Freming, and soon saw the rapid movements of the Grand Duke of Meyers, so they fell silent.

The nobles who arrived in the capital began to regret their decision.

They shouldn't have come here. His Majesty the Emperor's current prestige is suffocating. Columbus III is becoming a stranger, and no nobleman can oppose his authority.

Some are saddened, while others are joyful.

The royal family members were naturally delighted.

The greater the emperor's authority, the higher their status, and members of the royal family often harbored great resentment towards the nobles.

Political struggles can always be answered by looking back at history; the feuds between royalty and nobles date back a century.

After the end of the interdimensional war of the gods, the empire underwent earth-shattering changes, the most direct of which was the change in the system of noble titles.

The title of Marquis was removed from the fifth rank of nobility and was reserved specifically for members of the royal family.

Those royal nobles who were once addressed as His Highness or Prince were given the title of Marquis by a few, and the three esteemed His Highnesses were called the Electors. Apart from these Marquises and Electors, all other members of the royal family...

They have all lost their rightful status and identity.

The status of members of the royal family plummeted.

The nobility system of a few years ago was actually an extension of the marquis system. A hundred years ago, the aristocracy changed, and a hundred years later, the nobility system is another change in the aristocracy.

The feud between members of the royal family and nobles arose because of these events. They were originally high above, but now they had to bow to any noble with a title, which was naturally unpleasant.

This is now another struggle between the royal family and the nobles, and judging from the current situation, the royal family has the absolute upper hand.

Under Columbus III, His Majesty the Emperor of the Empire began to restore power to members of the royal family.

A brand new empire, brand new power.

Of course, the emperor cannot bring back the aristocratic title system of a hundred years ago, but he can make members of the royal family ministers at various levels of the empire, managing the military, government affairs, and the chambers of commerce.

More than a hundred years later, after Columbus III left the nobles helpless, his prestige within the royal family reached its peak.

The Pope of Dawn Mountain is on his way to the Empire. The Emperor can't imagine who in this world can question his authority now.

"The whole world will grovel at my feet." This is the result of the concentration of royal and divine power in one person. The emperor was excited and thrilled, and continued to receive the nobles who had come to the capital.

He wanted to concentrate the entire empire in his own hands, starting with the minor nobles, and eventually he believed that even the four grand dukes would be no exception.

This has nothing to do with military strength, the size of territory, or the amount of wealth; it is purely political power.

This is royal power, the supreme imperial royal power.

Of the four Grand Dukes of the Empire, Grand Duke Freming rigidly adhered to his initial agreement with the Emperor, leading his army south to prevent the war that the Dawn Church was supposed to be fighting.

The forces of Grand Duke Russell and Grand Duke Meyers have gone to the North, and Elector Volvo will become the commander of the North, responsible for dealing with the orcs who are invading the North once again.

Of the four grand dukes, Grand Duke Rodrigo is still engrossed in his own magicians' association, after all, he himself is a legendary magician.

"Father, His Majesty the Emperor invites you to the capital."

Brutus Rodrigo arrived at the top of his father's mage tower, where even he, as the son, could not enter the Grand Duke's meditation room. Mages were wary of everyone except themselves because of their fragile bodies.

The tightly closed, seamless gate opened, and Grand Duke Rodrigo's eyes gleamed with magical light. Grayish-white magic echoed in the void, the words of the dead were chanted, and the souls of the dead wailed.

"What does Our Majesty intend to have Rodrigo do?"

"Brutus, are you also prepared with tens of millions in resources?"

The Grand Duke looked at his sons and Rodrigo nodded slightly. They were not only father and son, but also student and teacher, one legend and another legend.

In the path of a magician, truth often plays a more significant role, because the relationship between Brutus and Grand Duke Rodrigo is much more amicable than one might imagine.

Because Brutus has become a legend.

“Father, I just feel that we have no need to oppose His Majesty the Emperor.”

Brutus has indeed instructed the Rodrigo family to allocate a large amount of resources, which will be sent to the emperor's desired locations whenever he requests them.

"His power is growing, which is not a good thing for the nobility."

"Grand Duke Rodrigo said quietly," Brutus said, but he had a different opinion.

“Father, that may be true for others, but for us, Rodrigo doesn’t care about worldly power. No one can deprive you of your rights and status as Grand Duke.”

"And we never thought of achieving political immortality."

"Magic is everything we pursue."

Brutus said that he was already a legend, and he had his own magical philosophy, which could even clash with that of his father.

“You’re right, Brutus, so go to the capital.”

After Grand Duke Rodrigo finished speaking, he turned around and returned to his meditation room. Nothing fascinates magicians more than meditation, and every member of the Rodrigo family, from top to bottom, is a born magician.

Brutus watched his father's retreating figure until the door closed tightly again, blocking his view like a solid wall.

He knew why his father had stopped going to the capital.

He's a necromancer.

War is a paradise for necromancers.

So many people died in the war between the Empire and the Papacy in the south; my father should have received the remains of those two cardinals…

They should have been reduced to ashes, but now the two cardinals have become the necromancer's materials.

If the Vatican found out, they would probably retaliate like madmen.

Brutus turned and left; he would travel to the capital on behalf of Rodrigo to await the Emperor's will.

The nobles within the empire sighed at this, while Emperor Columbus III confirmed his own suspicions.

"Rodriguez, that cunning old fellow, he too fears the emperor's authority."

“These old guys are all trying to avoid me; they’re afraid to face me.”

"Hahaha."

The emperor laughed heartily in the palace. He had finally succeeded. He vaguely remembered that a few years ago, four grand dukes had casually entered his palace and reprimanded him, the emperor, as if they were elders. Now, however, these old fellows dared not show up again, because when they saw him again, they had to lower their proud heads!

The actions of the four dukes shocked and silenced the nobles, but also inspired the emperor, who began to take drastic measures.

Calais Province.

Clayton Castle, nestled deep within a hillside, is a red castle that symbolizes the majesty of a dragon, and the Clayton family possesses a unique dragon banner emblem.

"I will be heading to the capital. Although I can no longer kill Pope Dawn, His Majesty has ordered us to arrive. He is about to become the sole emperor with both royal and divine authority, and the Clayton family must submit and work for his imperial legion plan."

"Kaz".

Earl Clayton looked at his third child.

The Clayton family has never worried about the issue of bloodline succession. They are very prolific. If it weren't for the fact that the North is now covered and there isn't enough land, Earl Clayton would be able to gain the adoration of countless nobles because of this ability.

The eldest son was to inherit the title, and the second son, being a magician, was unsuitable. Therefore, the appointment of the emperor had to fall to the younger children.

"Father."

Katz approached Earl Clayton and answered respectfully.

"His Majesty the Emperor requests that the Earl of Clayton's son, my child, go to the North to become a general of the Empire and lead an army belonging to the Empire and the Emperor."

"As a commander of ten thousand, you are the most suitable in the Sanctuary."

Katz didn't hesitate and said directly:
"As you wish, Father."

However, he also had his own misunderstandings.

"Father, why does His Majesty want us to send so many soldiers?"

Lord Clayton replied with a smile:
“He doesn’t need soldiers; he needs the nobility to submit to the emperor’s will. You can take the slaves to the north. Besides, His Majesty the emperor isn’t targeting us nobles.”

"His aim was to strip the minor nobles of their military power, forcing them to depend on the emperor's authority."

(End of this chapter)