My Disciples Know That I Am Strong

Episode 11. Candidate for the Next Emperor (4)

“…… Why did you visit all of a sudden?”

Chris went out first to Duke Tori’s sudden visit to the imperial palace.

From Chris’ point of view, the Duke of Tory was one of the families to be most wary of. Because he was the only aristocrat who acted against his thoughts.

“I have business. I have already told His Majesty the Emperor.”

Tori, who was taken aback by Prause’s words, planned to meet the princess tax collector today and offer her lessons.

Originally, he tried to teach princess tax collectors by calling those who had a good understanding of teaching, but he refused, saying that he was afraid of being stamped by Crown Prince Chris for teaching princess tax collectors all at once.

Even his political mentor.

Because of that, he had no choice but to come himself.

“Business…… Could it be because of the Slavery Amendment?”

“Come to think of it, he rejected it.”

Tori recalled that Chris had rejected the amendment to slavery of other races, which would apply only to his territory.

“I know the reason why he was rejected, but I just couldn’t understand it. I wish I could hear about it during my visit.”

Duke Tori laughed bitterly.

“So that’s not the reason for your visit?”

“No.”

“So what?”

“I have come to teach Princess Tax Collector.”

“What…… ?”

The moment Chris heard Tori’s words, his head got complicated.

Aside from anything else, I couldn’t understand why Tory officials were trying to promote tax collectors.

Until now, she had been excluded from acquiring knowledge, saying that she would marry well, so she did not know her intention to teach her now.

“What lessons do you mean?”

“It is about the knowledge that the royal family should know, such as politics, economics, and the general trend of the times.”

I had already told Emperor Rufen anyway, so he said it obediently.

‘When His Majesty said that, he looked at me as if he was surprised. At the same time, he thought it was interesting.’

“Why do you want to teach that now?”

From the moment Chris heard what was being taught, the possibility that he might be a candidate for the next emperor had been floating in his mind.

“I don’t know that much either. Because I have no choice but to do what someone asked me to do.”

He said, shrugging his shoulders.

“Someone…… ?”

“If you are going to have a conversation, how about going to the drawing room? There must be a lot of ears listening in the hallway.”

“I will do that.”

He was displeased with Tori’s ulterior motive, but he had no choice but to allow him in.

* * *

“Is this the reason you rejected me?”

Tori took the rolled parchment from her bosom and set it on the table. When you untie the thread, the parchment unfolds.

The contents of it were as follows.

「It is understandable to provide the right to live and money so that they can live, but other races are objects to be dominated. Even if other races are accommodated in the empire, it is still difficult to see it as a completely stable state. Therefore, if freeing slaves becomes easy, it is judged that other races may become a threat to the empire, and amendments that lower the standard for freeing slaves are not permitted.”

“Do you think there is something wrong?”

Chris was firm.

“It’s not that Your Majesty’s words are wrong, but that you’re a threat because you made them slaves, don’t you?”

‘I’m annoyed. I don’t know about other agendas, but I can’t believe that any agenda related to other races must have permission from the imperial family.’

In fact, this had been going on even before the crown prince entrusted the authority to Emperor Rufen.

Not long after the massacre occurred, Emperor Rufen ordered that he report directly to himself on how to use other races in each territory from one to ten.

It was to completely break the will of other races.

Now, as the demons stand out, other risk factors have arisen in the empire.

“If that happens, other races will be cornered into Aus territory. The problem of concentration of labor force is big. Moreover, the more those who are freed after stigmatizing them as slaves, the more unstable the country becomes.”

What he said wasn’t completely wrong.

It was clear that if there were many other races determined to destroy the empire, it would become a threat to the empire.

But if there was one thing he overlooked, it was the atmosphere of the Aus territory.

Aus territory was a better place for other races to live than I thought.

From noble mtl dot com

There was an increasing number of people who felt sorry for and accepted the other races rather than rejecting them.

Moreover, there were an increasing number of other races who were actually freed from slavery and made their living with humans.

Surely, the massacre that killed many people and lost their home will forever remain anger in their hearts, but not everyone lived their lives looking at it forever.

Instead, the other races lived in the territory of Aus and learned how to adapt and blend in with humans.

If you worked hard, you could be freed from slavery.

Tory Aus also worked really hard to improve the slave system until it reached the current situation.

Like Toriaus, the predecessor of Ausse was not considerate of other races.

Cris, who did not know such things and made judgments by simply looking at one side, only felt stuffy for him.

“Since we have taken away the territory of other races, I think we should give them at least some shelter and freedom.”

“It’s still flexible enough. I will not take any objections to this bill.”

Said Chris, pushing his parchment towards Tori. He sighed as he looked at the notification document in front of him.

‘I don’t understand. Even now, when he becomes emperor, it goes without saying how other races will be treated. Of course, they won’t be happy with me trying to give freedom to other races.’

“Then…… Can I ask you one thing?”

“What is it?”

Tori, who rolled the parchment again and tied it with a string, pondered for a long time whether to speak or not.

Because if he said this, he would know that he was collaborating with Prause.

But I wanted to ask even if the fact was revealed.

He replied that he would take the side of Prause, but he still had anxiety in his heart.

It was because, no matter how you look at it, there was no possibility at all for Princess Se-ri.

That’s why I thought to set a clear route through this question.

“Are you really thinking of making slavery illegal?”

To make Haeju, which was branded as a slave, illegal, was like denying all the actions of Duke Tori, who had suffered and changed the system until now.

“How could you say that… …. No…… Is it. Is it Prause?”

The space between Chris’ eyebrows narrowed sharply. Hostility gleams in her eyes.

‘Then it must have been Prauss who told Duke Tori to teach tax collectors. Does that mean that Prause is the tax collector’s power?’

In an instant, he expanded his thoughts to a conclusion, and he was thinking of killing the tax collector.

“Answer me.”

If it wasn’t for Tori’s urging, Chris would have even thought of a plan to kill Princess Se-Ri on the spot.

No matter how strong Prause was, it meant nothing if Princess Se-ri died.

“…… What then?”

“Really… is it?”

Chris, who watched Tori’s agitation, responded with a light smile.

“Is that so… …. Did His Highness Chris just intend to oppress other races from the beginning?”

“Yes. Rather, I would like to ask the Duke of Aus. Why are you so protective of other races? Is it because of Urca?”

“Not anymore.”

‘Because I know I can’t make you happy.’

Tori remembered Urca’s expression as she looked at Praus.

A very happy face.

He felt relieved rather than regret after knowing that someone else could make that expression he had only seen when he was young.

Because he couldn’t make her happy until the end.

He was relieved to think that maybe this time someone who would make Urca happy until the end appeared.

“I just want other races to live freely and happily like people.”

“I also want to give freedom and make people happy. But other races are still dangerous.”

“…… That was the only time I held Prause’s hand.”

Duke Tori rose from his seat. There was no more regret. He didn’t even hesitate.

He became clear about what he had to do, and all he had to do was raise his chances by teaching the princess tax collector.

“Duke Ausu, you and I don’t get along well.”

Chris had assumed in advance that Tori Auss would not join his forces, so he was not very impressed.

“I think so too, Your Highness.”

In the end, he realized that Prause was right.

Tori got up from her seat, bowed in silence, and strode toward the drawing room door. He grabbed the doorknob and before opening it, he glanced sideways at the prince.

“I hope you don’t bump into me.”

“…… Well. I don’t know how.”

The two parted ways at the end of that conversation.

* * *

Smart smart.

“Princess tax collector, Duke Toriaus has requested an interview.”

“Yes, please come in.”

After answering the knight waiting in front of her, princess tax collector hurriedly gathered her hair in one place and tied it up. She was just trying to look a little more modest.

Of course, tying it doesn’t mean you’ll be modest.

The door opened, and the publican who had been sitting at the table stood up and closed the book.

“It’s been a while, Princess Se-ri.”

“Ah, long time no see, Duke Tori.”

“How have you been?”

“Recently, I am doing well warmly.”

“Excuse me.”

Tori smiled and entered the room.

“It is still desolate here.”

“hahahaha… …. For me, it’s about a room like this.”

At the self-deprecating tone of Se-Ri, Tori said with a straight face.

“…… You shouldn’t be saying things like that. You are the future emperor. You have to be confident wherever you go.”

“Oh, sorry.”

I bowed down at Duke Tori’s reprimand. Raising her back, she asked cautiously.

“I heard the story, but…… Are you really going to teach me?”

“Yes. Because I am also the one who wants you to become emperor.”

With that said, Tori approached and looked at the ‘standard of politics’ on the table. She quickly recognized that it was hers.

“Ah…… This… ….”

Aware of his gaze, the tax collector carefully lifted the book.

“It’s a book called Common Sense of Politics…… Prause gave it to me.”

“I see. How far did you read?”

“I’m watching it for the fourth time.”

“… What?”

Tori doubted her ears at the words of the tax collector.

He couldn’t believe he was reading a thick book for the fourth time, so much so that he couldn’t even look at it once a day.

“Ah…… Prause said that if you memorized this in one day, he would cook you a delicious meal.”

The golden eyes that could be seen between the eyelids that were narrowing with eye smiles harbored strange feelings.

“I really want to try delicious food.”

I hugged the book tightly and gently raised the corner of my mouth.

‘And I want to hear a lot of compliments.’

“Then I can answer most of your questions.”

“Of course.”

At Princess Sherry’s confident answer, he thought that maybe it wasn’t possible at all.

Tori, who received the book from Se-Ri, suddenly thought of Prause and stared out the window.

‘By the way, Prause said he was visiting the Todia family because of the princess’s engagement. Are you doing well?’

* * *

‘Nice to meet you, Her Highness Glair Todia.’

“Nice to meet you, Glair Todia.”

“Sleep… Prause!”

“You bastard… ….”

‘I came because I had something to say, but judging from the look on his face, I don’t think he would listen.’

“Nothing to say for a long time.

This sh*t.

There must be a reason why only high-ranking people do this.

It was clear that he wanted to f*ck me with his facial expression management skill.

“What?”

Oops, I don’t know anymore.

“Isn’t the Todia family a family that only communicates after a fight? Come on. I will deal with you.”