Chapter 677: A Political Future

A Political Future

Martel chewed on the final of his breakfast, largely outdated bread with butter and slices of boiled potato. It had little style, however meals didn’t curiosity him a lot. “I bear in mind Cheval’s faction desires to broaden the Empire, however you will need to remind me what this duchess and her folks need,” he mentioned to Eleanor. “The overseer gave me a lecture about it as soon as, which I’ve blissfully forgotten.”

“They search reform in ways in which would flip the Empire’s gaze inwards, you would possibly say. Isolate us, others would argue,” Eleanor defined. They sat in his examine, ready for the duchess of Trior to reach. “Our visitor would agree with our goal to finish the battle with Khiva, as an example, moderately than search extra territory.”

“To this point, so good.”

“They’d additionally withdraw the border legions from the Frosten River and abandon at the very least a few of Nordmark,” Eleanor continued.

“I suppose there’s some sense to that, given it is largely wild and untamed land.”

“And they’d considerably cut back the Khivan inhabitants in Morcaster, as an example.”

“Huh. As a lot as I’ve killed plenty of them in battle, it feels completely different once they have been born right here,” Martel admitted. “It is not their fault their mother and father got here from elsewhere.”

“The duchess and her supporters made the legal guidelines that forbids any with Khivan ancestry to acquire citizenship or personal property, as an example. And whereas they’re compelled to cope with you, I think about a Tyrian-blooded imperator galls their blood,” Eleanor thought-about. “The duchess might not personally care, however a few of her followers will.”

Martel took a deep breath. “Possibly we’ll discover out. She needs to be right here any second.”

***

The duchess of Trior was a lady who lived a straightforward life, although her voluminous costume exacerbated the impression she gave. She arrived in the identical method because the duke of Cheval, escorted by a single guard and loads of legionaries. As she entered Martel’s examine, he rose to greet her. “My girl duchess.” Her age was laborious to inform given the cosmetics on her face, however he would guess she was previous fifty.

“Captain.” She smiled and inclined her head. “I’m glad we are able to lastly meet. I’ve heard your title so many occasions.”

Martel understood her level after a second’s consideration. He had the facility to do as he wished, at the very least in Morcaster and surrounding lands, however legitimacy meant his choices wouldn’t be undone as soon as he relinquished his rank. “That sounds effectively and good, but when this Senate is such an important thought, why was it by no means reinstated? Morcaster gained its independence three centuries in the past.” Quietly, Martel blessed Father Andrew for his historical past classes.

“The emperor of these days noticed no purpose to decrease their energy,” Eleanor defined. “Besides they ended up handing it over to the Excessive Council as a substitute.”

“No man can rule alone.” The duchess shrugged. “The larger the Empire, the extra difficult it turns into. Reinstating the Senate gives you management over who’s chosen for the brand new Excessive Council, and it’ll legitimise all of your choices and actions.”

Martel took a deep breath. “Thanks for the suggestion, my girl duchess.”

***

He appeared up at Eleanor as soon as their customer had left them alone. “Is that this doable to do?”

She sat down reverse him. “In authorized phrases, I suppose so. However legality is not going to be sufficient by itself. Choices made by this Senate will solely be revered if the Senate is taken into account reputable. Whether it is only a handful of your prefects, we might as effectively not hassle. Like she mentioned, this may require representatives from each area. Since half of them think about us traitors… Possibly we are able to persuade them to grant us amnesty, however affirm you as imperator, together with all of your political choices?”

“Properly, I have not made any political choices, have I.”

“Not as such, besides the armistice, however this opens the door for that. I discover it tough to think about the duchess and her entourage is thrilled with handing such energy to you, even quickly.”

Martel stroked his beard. “Until they’re as virtually inclined as our visitor yesterday.” Concepts started to come back to him. As an alternative of merely retaining the town and half the Empire operating, maybe he may do extra.

Eleanor yawned. “That’s doable. Forgive me, can we focus on this one other time? My thoughts isn’t sufficiently rested for a subject of this complexity.”

“In fact. I will see you tomorrow. Sleep effectively.”

“You too.” Returning to her quarters, she left behind a captain prefect deep in his ideas.