106 Offer and Refusal
"That house perished along with my grandfather, Your Majesty."
"Perhaps. But you, William, are his grandson."
The Emperor's voice was filled with undeniable certainty.
"As his descendant, you have the right to reclaim the authority of your bloodline. And the lords of the North cannot easily dismiss a claim made in Grimaldi's na."
William imdiately saw the logic behind it.
If he assud leadership over the North, the Imperial Court would breathe easier.
Unlike the other Northern nobles, William had far deeper ties to the Imperial Family than to his holand.
And if the Emperor personally aided him in rebuilding House Grimaldi, it would only further ensure his loyalty to the throne.
A clever move.
But even knowing all of this, sothing still didn't add up.
The title of Margrave was still too much of a reward.
There had to be another reason.
"…I understand Your Majesty's intentions regarding the North," William said carefully. "But what is the second reason for this offer?"
For the first ti, the Emperor hesitated.
William simply waited.
Finally, the Emperor exhaled and spoke.
"When you beco Margrave… I would like you to formally declare your support for my son, Claude."
'I knew it.'
William smirked bitterly.
The North was a convenient justification, but the real goal was sothing else entirely.
The Emperor wanted to place a trusted ally close to Claude—a personal power base that would support his son's claim to the throne.
"I won't deny Claude has his flaws," the Emperor admitted. "But people grow. Given ti, even a lowly snake may beco a mighty dragon."
William chuckled. "That is an old saying from the North."
"A wise one," the Emperor agreed with a smile.
Of course, William knew the full aning of that saying.
If you ignore a small snake, it may one day grow into a threat too large to control.
But there was no need to explain that part.
"Your Majesty," William said, his voice calm. "I am deeply honored… but I must refuse."
The Emperor stiffened.
"…What?"
It wasn't anger.
It was shock.
Not because William had rejected Claude—but because he had just turned down the title of Margrave outright.
For the first ti, the Emperor's normally unshakable composure cracked.
He quickly recovered, but his voice held a rare urgency.
"William, reconsider. Do you truly understand what you are turning down?"
"Do you truly understand what you are turning down? I am offering you a Margraviate, William."
"I understand the weight of the title, Your Majesty," William replied evenly. "But I have yet to abandon my claim as my father's heir. I have not yet shown the full extent of my abilities—how could I run from competition simply because it is difficult?"
His words were half-truths, half-lies, carefully woven together to persuade the Emperor.
William had no particular desire to prove himself through petty ambition. However, his claim to the Grand Duchy of Hern was more than just a personal goal—it was a strategic tool.
As long as he retained his right to succession, he could wield it as a universal justification in any political situation.
If he gave that up for the title of Margrave, he would lose that invaluable advantage.
It simply wasn't worth the trade.
"Even if my connection to the House of Grimaldi grants so authority, the North will not simply accept . Their allegiance must be secured through power, and I do not have the necessary forces to do so."
"I can provide you with an army."
"Your Majesty," William countered, "the North is a land of warriors. Even if I do not claim it by force, I must at least appear strong enough to rule. If I openly rely on Imperial support, they will reject outright."
The Emperor fell silent.
William's reasoning was sound. The North had always prided itself on strength above all else. If William was seen as nothing more than a puppet of the Empire, he would be powerless.
The Emperor exhaled through his nose, his frustration barely concealed.
William took the opportunity to press further.
"Lastly, even if I were to pledge my loyalty, it would be aningless if the First Prince himself does not welco it."
His voice remained polite, but his ssage was clear:
I refuse to serve a master who does not value .
The Emperor let out a bitter laugh.
"I see your point."
For the first ti, he looked tired—as if he had always known this answer, but had hoped for sothing different.
"Yes… you are right. What use is handing soone a sword if they refuse to wield it? I apologize. I may have spoken thoughtlessly."
Despite his words, the lingering desperation in his eyes was unmistakable.
He still hasn't given up on Claude.
"But even the smallest snake may grow into a mighty dragon, given enough ti." The Emperor's voice was laced with an odd sense of longing.
"As you say, Your Majesty."
William smiled, but inwardly, he scoffed.
That Northern proverb was ant as a warning—not a ssage of hope.
If you ignore a weak threat for too long, it may one day beco a disaster.
But there was no need to correct the Emperor.
He had already made his decision.
"This has been a most enlightening conversation," the Emperor said, a forced cheerfulness in his tone. "I hope we will have the chance to speak again. I trust you won't mind if I call upon you in the future?"
William bowed his head slightly.
"Of course, Your Majesty. It would be an honor."
The Emperor smiled.
It was a hollow victory—William had denied him what he truly wanted, but their relationship remained intact.
For now.
After ensuring the allied forces had reached safe territory, the Emperor once again summoned the noble lords.
"Now that the danger has passed, I shall return to the capital with my sons."
His sharp gaze swept across the gathered nobles.
"By tradition, you should all accompany to the capital for formal comndations. However… I see no reason to delay your return ho."
The lords exchanged knowing glances.
The battle had been too short for any major recognition.
And most of them had nothing to show but their defeat.
The only true achievent had been the rescue of the First Prince—but formally acknowledging that would only further expose Claude's incompetence.
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