“Besides, there is no guarantee that you will also have a strong royal power.”
“Are you the one who insulted me now?”
“I’m stating a fact, Claude.”
At Jules's words, Claude pouted. Well, compared to the old days, it was really difficult to achieve anything now. But Claude believed that this was not a reason not to regard him as anything. Jules had a different view.
— Strengthening royal power. This was possible in the past. The king expanded his territories, took a worthy place in the General Assembly of the Central Continent Union, and trade flourished. The king had power, but all this happened in an era of constant wars. Building on those victories, there was a centralization of power, and to avoid naval battles, the court deliberately moved inland to Ionades, developing the site. But what happened then?
-...Well, life isn’t bad in Jonada, is it?
- Life is good only in Jonada. Enormous amounts of money were spent on moving the capital, which devastated the state treasury. Luigi's father soon died, your father took the empty place, taking advantage of the support of Count Grimaldi, and my father, blinded by love, abandoned everything and fled to the south. Frankly, our fathers' generation is a complete mess. My father was even worse. If he had escaped, he would have continued to live like this, but in the end he bowed to the king again. How do you think I felt when the title of Duke fell upon me at the age of thirteen?
— Were you beside yourself with joy?
-...Where were you taught to talk?
— Infiltrated into the court.
It became clear that at Claude’s court the rules of decency were definitely not taught. Who was responsible for his upbringing? If Count Grimaldi taught him fencing, then the rest... It’s unclear. Yuls never led a court life. Looking at the silent Yules, Claude grinned maliciously.
“If the late Duke of Woodpecker had kept your mother close, he would not have received such a curse.”
“My curse has nothing to do with this.” Besides, he was too weak a man to make such a choice.
Jules remembered his father. The Duke was untenable both as a parent and as a ruler of the lands. He put his life on the line for love, but was never able to completely give up what he owned. If Juls were in his place, he would sooner run away with his mother into the wilderness.
However, even if the Duke decided to do this, it would be impossible.
After all, the mother abandoned her love for her father from the very beginning, and the child, to whom she was going to give at least some kind of affection, was born a mutant.
“That’s why Count Grimaldi chose your father.” My parent's limits were obvious.
The witch usually called Yuls "man", and sometimes - the Green Man. Did this mean a person who was loved by plants as much as she was, or was there another meaning behind it?
The word "Greenman" sometimes popped into his mind.
- Useless thoughts.
“And I believe that Grimaldi’s judgment was correct.” I also inherited my father's blood, and there is a weakness in me.
Jules continued:
- That place is not mine, Claude. It doesn't interest me. As long as my possessions are safe, I will not become excessively greedy. However...
Jules didn't know about this. Since he was not treated well at court, he avoided communicating with people as much as possible. He understood that various rumors circulated at balls and similar events, but he had no idea how deep these conversations went. If he had known, he would have taken part in them much earlier.
However, it is unknown whether people would say such things in the presence of Jules. After all, he overheard yesterday's conversation by accident.
Thanks to Claude, many people learned who Juls was, but there were still those who were not familiar with him. And such people talked among themselves without much caution. These were conversations about their own possessions and benefits.
“The south is still under my control, but other regions seem to be seeking inter-domain trade.” Dalkatir is now extremely closed. Perhaps this is why His Highness is considering Thuringia's help. Ultimately, we need to fight our way into the Central Continent either by sea or through Thuringia, but as far as the sea is concerned, we have already missed too many opportunities. If Palesa were the center there would be many advantages, but Jonad has clear limits.
Strengthening royal power was beneficial only to the royal family and their entourage. Everything was decided through the Council, through the Council of Elders, and only after passing through the Privy Council and receiving the permission of the king did things move forward. Due to a lack of authority, even when approved, processes were often delayed compared to other places.
- Due to Crown policies, diplomacy is limited even for those realms that have the advantage at sea, and trying to trade with other regions causes problems due to differences in Domain Laws. If this is still how things are inside Dalkatir, then it’s better to look into the distance - it’s not so bad. By including priority acceptance of foreign goods and culture, benefits can be gained in taxes and other aspects. In addition, in border areas, families sometimes tie the knot to reduce friction with other states. In fact, they become like one family.
— In the end, it turns out that discontent is caused by the fact that royal power limits trade and diplomacy?
— In some countries there are no restrictions on the diplomacy of individual possessions, but in Dalkatir everything is different.
— ...For great powers it does not matter whether to limit diplomacy or not. But for Dalkathir, loosening his grip poses a problem: the nobles in the domain may defect and swear allegiance to another region.
“Then the Privy Council must discuss this matter.” Decide what to do.
- So they talked about it after I left.
“Perhaps they said this in front of you too.” You never listen to what others say.
“Everything they say downstairs is empty chatter.”
“If you’re at the top, you have to listen.”
“My father doesn’t listen to anyone either.”
- That's what you think.
The king knew much more than he seemed. In addition, he maintained good relations with many people. Typically, nobles, regardless of their loyalty to the king, were inclined to harbor selfish thoughts if things went against their benefit, but the current monarch skillfully controlled this.
He gave free rein in moderation, closed his eyes in moderation, and as soon as someone crossed the line, he punished without mercy. Count Grimaldi taught him this, and in the end the king surpassed his teacher, even getting rid of him. And now the stupid son brought this teacher to the palace again.
Claude sighed and waved his hand to the servant. He understood everything without words and brought a bottle and glass.
- Shall I pour you some?
“I don’t need a mind-numbing liquid.”
- This is a gift from God.
- In this case, God clearly does not love people.
“You’re too obsessed with self-control.” This is also harmful.
Claude spoke, tilting the bottle. A dark brown distillate poured into a transparent glass with a gurgle. The drink filled the vessel by more than nine-tenths, exceeding any norm. This was not the right dose to take early in the morning. However, Claude drained the glass as if it were water.
-......Live normally, Claude.
Jules said this with a disgusted face.
“The king can even get rid of you if he decides that you are not suitable.”
Claude raised the corner of his mouth. It looked like a smile, but his face was so distorted, as if he was wincing painfully.
Claude himself took this point into account to some extent. Nevertheless, the King still did not let him go only because there was no other suitable figure. Therefore, Claude could not be given a single reason to find fault. He already had enough flaws, but it was impossible to go further.
However, Jules doubted whether Claude could stop there.
- Oh really? I'll have to try not to throw me out.
He doesn't know what self-restraint is.
“But, cousin, what have I done wrong?”
Claude asked. There was an expression on his face of someone who didn't understand what he had done. There was already a lot of talk about Claude, but he seemed to not understand which of his actions were acceptable and which were not. But he should know one thing for sure.
“The fact that you brought Count Grimaldi with you.” This has been your biggest mistake lately.
- Should I drag him here?
Claude chuckled briefly.
- They blackmailed me.
- This is just your point of view.
Will anyone who listens to this be in Claude's position? Claude bit his tongue at Jules' decisive tone. He wanted to object, but his cousin’s words were not without meaning.
- Talk to your servants, assistants and nobles loyal to you. Count Grimaldi would be fine too. Well, he thinks quickly.
- You're on my side, aren't you? - Claude asked.
Jules looked at him intently. Did this “you” mean that he realized that everyone else was not on his side?
“That’s why you conveyed these words to me.”
“As long as you don’t betray me, I will always be by your side.” Claude, my cousin.
At these words, Yuls's gaze became heavy and gloomy.
- As long as you don't encroach on what belongs to me.
- Is that so?
Claude turned his gaze to Adi, who was standing behind him. Her brown eyes looked as if what was happening did not concern her at all. It seemed that even a dog running past was looked at with more warmth.
“In that case, you should fear Count Grimaldi more than me.”
Said Claude. He reasoned that in any case it would be more profitable for him if Jules realized that the real enemy was Count Grimaldi. And judging by the way Jules’s face hardened for a moment and then returned to its previous expression, Claude was not mistaken.