Reasons for Contract Marriage - Chapter 43

“The Madam has been looking for you for a while. Come along quickly,” the maid said, taking Michael’s hand and gently pulling him away. As he was being led away, Michael looked back at Brianna, vigorously waving the hand that still held the egg.

“See you next time, teacher! Tell me more about the monsters then!”

Brianna smiled and waved back at Michael. Though no one else in this place welcomed her, the warm reception from that small child alone made her feel reinvigorated.

***

It was, in a word, an incredibly luxurious space.

The chandelier hanging from the four-story-high ceiling was magnificent. The floors and walls were covered in the finest marble from Kazak, and every railing and pillar was adorned with delicate and beautiful gold accents.

In the past, this place was where the king received foreign delegations. In the era when the royal power was at its peak, merely entering this hall was enough to instantly recognize the strength and majesty of the king.

However, this place was no longer used for such purposes. Since the establishment of the Parliament, it has been used primarily for important meetings or to put matters to a vote.

Daniel was seated closest to the rectangular table in the center of the chamber. Unlike the ornate interior decor, his gaze was fixed on the old wooden table that had borne the marks of time.

That table had witnessed the entire history leading to the establishment of the current Parliament. The scar on the left side of the table was left by a noble who resisted to the end while being dragged out under a king’s order for immediate execution. The deep dent in the table’s leg was from a bullet fired in an attempt to assassinate the representative of the House of Nobles during a heated debate between the king and the nobility.

There was a time when the king was equated with a god. Countless wars were fought, and many lives were sacrificed to limit his absolute power and establish the current progressive political system.

While the present system was far from perfect, it was undoubtedly a significant advancement compared to the days when a single word from the king could seal someone’s fate.

Now, the issues of the nation were discussed by a gathering of many, and the circle of those involved was gradually expanding. In the future, the bourgeois class, who had amassed considerable wealth, and even representatives of the commoners would have the right to vote and participate in decisions that would determine the nation’s destiny.

The contributions of the Carlisle dukes to this point had been immense. The Carlisle family did not attain their current influence merely due to their noble lineage. It was their unwavering dedication to the establishment of the current system that earned them the respect of all.

Daniel took immense pride in this. Therefore, today’s vote was of utmost importance.

“There is no avoiding war.”

It was then that Count Kirchner, seated next to him, whispered softly.

“The interests are too entangled. The spoils that can be gained by participating in the war are risky, but that makes them all the more enticing.”

The reason humanity wages war despite the heavy toll in lives is simple: profit. War promises gains. Avoiding it may bring peace, but nothing tangible in return. Humanity has always been blinded by the immediate benefits before them.

“They’re not the ones who’ll be going to war, after all,” Daniel muttered cynically.

The ones who would benefit from the war were the old men, while those who would actually fight on the frontlines were young men, barely of age. It was as if the old were pushing the young into the warzone for their own gain.

Some of those young men would even welcome the war, as it offered one of the few opportunities for social mobility. A distinguished performance in battle could earn them not just a noble title but also honor and great wealth.

“In the end, the question isn’t whether to participate in the war but which side to support.”

Daniel nodded at Count Kirchner’s words.

Daniel and the other aristocrats intended to support the Basel Kingdom if they were to engage in the war. As the involvement of the Pope became apparent, the aristocrats’ resolve only strengthened. They realized that this war was not merely a dispute over the mines in Sierra but a power struggle between the Emperor and the Pope.

If the war ended in the Empire’s victory, the Emperor’s power would become unprecedentedly solidified, and the repercussions would reach the Schwerin Kingdom as well. In other words, it would be the only opportunity for the current king, who had lost all his power, to reclaim it.

On this matter, the opinions of the Royalists and the Aristocrats were starkly divided. The Aristocrats believed that under no circumstances should they allow the situation to revert to the old ways, while the Royalists dismissed it as a hasty assumption, asserting that even if the Empire won, the king would not regain his power.

After much debate, everything would be decided by today’s vote.

The problem was that those who had already invested in the mines were likely to side with the Empire. They had invested in mines under the management of the Kazak Empire, and if the war ended in the Empire’s victory, they would be able to reclaim their rights without issue.

However, if the war ended in the Basel Kingdom’s victory, the existing contracts would become worthless, resulting in massive losses. Thus, they could not help but insist on supporting the Empire by any means necessary.

If the war ended in the Empire’s victory, those who had invested in the mines would reap great profits, but it was clear as day that, in the long run, this would bring significant turmoil to the country’s politics. Yet Daniel found their willful ignorance of this just deplorable.

“What do you expect the vote outcome to be?”

At Daniel’s question, Count Kirchner stroked his beard thoughtfully. “I can only say that it will be a close call. The Brantel family has ultimately sided with them.”

Daniel had been tirelessly working to secure victory in the vote. It had been certain that they would gain the upper hand if they could bring the Brantel family to their side, but in the end, he had failed to win them over. As Lucius’s marriage leaned towards the young lady of the Kirchner family, they deemed it unprofitable and turned away completely.

However, if they had not pursued the marriage with Lady Adelheid, they might have instead alienated the Kirchner family. Thanks to the Kirchner family’s steadfast support, Daniel was able to properly manage the existing aristocrats.

Regardless, Lucius’s marriage had, as he had hoped, greatly aided Daniel’s political endeavors. Although it seemed that Lucius himself felt no particular emotion about the marriage.

Daniel let out a languid sigh.

Lucius, why on earth did you have to fall for your best friend’s woman? Is it because you’re so close that your tastes are alike?

If Brianna Everett weren’t Florian’s woman, and if Lucius and she had mutual feelings, with the only obstacle being the difference in their social status, Daniel would have done everything in his power to remove that obstacle.

If Lucius wanted, he could have adopted her as a noble’s daughter to cleanse her status, or if that wasn’t possible, he could have ignored public opinion and forced the marriage through.

So what? She’s the woman my dear brother loves.

If anyone dared to look down on or insult her because of her status, Daniel would deal with them personally.

So, if only the woman he loved weren’t Brianna Everett, there were so many things he could have done for his brother’s happiness. Why did he have to fall for his friend’s woman?!

“Foolish boy. Utterly clueless.”

“Pardon?”

Just as Count Kirchner asked, confused by Daniel’s muttering, the voice of a chamberlain echoed through the hall.

“His Majesty the King and His Highness the Crown Prince are entering.”

All the seated nobles immediately rose from their seats. The two men were the last to enter the chamber, walking down the crimson carpet. They, too, had voting rights and were present today to exercise that power.

The two men took their seats at the highest position in the chamber. Despite their high seating, they held no right to speak in this chamber. The only ones permitted to speak today were the representatives of the two parties who would deliver their speeches, after which the vote would take place.

Shortly after, the nobles returned to their seats. As the atmosphere settled down, the leader of the Royalists began his speech.