After Rozier departed, Sylas slumped into the chair whose armrests he had broken earlier.
"The snake keeps clinging on. I'll have to deal with him and his master sooner or later," Sylas muttered.
The nobles exchanged uneasy glances. By now, it was obvious who Rozier's master was. Sylas had all but declared his intent to kill the Crown Prince.
The tense atmosphere didn't last long, though. Sylas soon broke into a bright smile and exclaid,
"Regardless, this is good news! You are all now rightful lords!"
"Y-yes, Your Excellency," the nobles replied hesitantly.
"Don't look so stiff! This is a joyous occasion! I'll host a banquet to celebrate your new titles!"
"Thank you, Your Excellency!"
The nobles bowed and smiled outwardly, but inwardly, they were troubled.
"His Excellency truly intends to oppose the imperial court."
"Not under the current emperor, but once the Crown Prince ascends..."
"Does he plan to stage a rebellion against the entire empire?"
They swallowed nervously. Could he win? What would happen if he lost? Complicated thoughts swirled in their minds, but only briefly.
Though their ingrained identities as imperial nobles still held so sway, their respect for the throne had long since faded. What remained was a calculation of risk and reward.
"If he succeeds, we'll be among his founding supporters."
"This could an more than a barony. Perhaps even a viscounty—or a county!"
"Besides, the imperial court has beco insufferable. Yes, it's ti for a change!"
Any lingering doubts were soon replaced by ambition, which began to fill the hearts of the nobles. None dared openly speak of rebellion, but in their minds, they were already united.
If Sylas truly rose against the empire, they would follow him.
"To the prosperity of the south and Drakenfels!"
"To the glory and health of His Excellency!"
The nobles raised their voices to celebrate the unification of Drakenfels. Not a single word was spoken in honor of the imperial family.
The thin veneer of respect that had lingered until now was gone entirely.
"Wasn't that a bit too much too soon?" Toby asked during a private eting of Sylas's retainers, held while preparations for the banquet were underway.
Sylas smirked. "Do you think I was hasty? I figured it was better than springing it on them later."
"The problem is that now they'll have too much ti to think about it."
Toby didn't know much about politics, but he understood the mindset of soldiers on the brink of war.
"In my experience, soldiers need a clear purpose," Toby began. "Whether they're sent into battle or assigned to supply duty, they need sothing to focus on."
"Why is that?" Sylas asked.
"Because idle minds wander. And in war, idle thoughts often end up imagining the worst possible outcos."
This wasn't limited to the battlefield. The greater the potential risk of failure, the more likely people were to dwell on catastrophic scenarios. Keeping busy provided a distraction, but without tasks to occupy them, even that beca impossible.
"We still have plenty of ti before the big event. Right now, they're all pledging loyalty to you, but…"
"After a year or two, their thoughts could shift?" Sylas interjected.
"Exactly. Overthinking can lead people astray."
The long wait gave people ti to imagine all sorts of "what-ifs." They might even conclude that siding with the imperial court was the safer option.
"More than that, what we're planning is an outright overthrow of the empire," Toby continued. "They might have gone along with the mood today, but deep down, I'm sure they're still in shock."
"True. Even Isaac hasn't fully processed it yet," Sylas said with a smirk.
"Wait, no! I'm fully loyal to you, my lord!" Isaac exclaid.
"I know, relax. Drink your tea—it's still untouched," Sylas teased.
"Yes, sir! Drinking… ow, hot!" Isaac yelped, having burned his lips in his haste. His fumbling drew laughter from the other retainers.
Even if rebellion was on the horizon, Isaac's loyalty to Sylas was unwavering. Still, the re ntion of such an audacious plan had clearly rattled him.
"Anyway, Toby isn't wrong," Sylas admitted. "As ti passes, so of them might start having second thoughts."
"Then why reveal the plan now?" another retainer asked.
"Because there wouldn't have been another chance," Sylas replied seriously.
"When planning sothing monuntal, you can't rely on montum alone. While it might boost initial participation, if the effort drags on, the group could crumble from within."
History bore countless examples of failed rebellions that started strong but collapsed when montum faltered. Most succeeded only when they quickly amassed support, struck decisively, and finished swiftly.
But this approach worked best when the leader was close to the seat of power. For soone like Sylas, entrenched in the heart of the south, a long-term strategy was necessary.
"Besides, rebellions fueled purely by montum often face challenges to their legitimacy afterward. What I want is for the entire empire to turn its back on the imperial court."
Unlike rushed uprisings, which often ended in chaos and bloodshed, a carefully orchestrated rebellion could avoid prolonged wars and excessive destruction. And while such an effort carried higher upfront costs, it ca with imnse advantages.
"If it succeeds, the legitimacy and support it garners will be absolute."
A rebellion supported by the majority of the empire's nobility would, by its nature, prove the ineptitude of the ruling dynasty. That alone would create a sense of justification.
Additionally, the visible scale of support would make future challenges nearly impossible. No rival could claim a "new cause" without looking like a self-serving opportunist.
"That's why we need ti to prepare for the grand event. Even if so of them get strange ideas along the way, realizing they're in the minority will bring them back in line," Sylas concluded.
"Still, most nobles are creatures of habit," Toby said hesitantly. "They've lived under the imperial order for centuries. Even those who dislike the current dynasty might balk at the idea of rebellion."
It was an unavoidable issue. Rebellion disrupted order, and those who thrived within the existing system naturally feared such upheaval. Toby's point resonated with Ray, who nodded in agreent.
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