Karl Franz was lying on the bed by the window, looking out the window at the unchanging gloomy weather, with a depressed look on his face.
He has been lying here for a week, and he doesn't know when he can go back. According to the royal doctor, this is not a minor injury. The bloodthirsty ghost on the battlefield almost killed him. If it were not for the sturdy Royal Knights
Plate armor, that blow is enough to beat any adult male into a pulp.
Fortunately, he survived. However, the severe pain in the past few days made Carl feel like he was worse than dead at times. The ribs under his chest were broken, so much that it hurt to breathe. He could only eat liquid food. Such pain for a prince
This was the first time Karl Franz felt it.
So much so that he began to sympathize with the soldiers who were injured on the battlefield, and some of them suffered injuries much more serious than himself. The infirmary of the Imperial military camp was full of soldiers who were disabled due to injuries. Only then did Karl feel for them.
"Squeak..."
The door was pushed open gently.
Then a tall and burly figure came into view.
It's Ludwig, the chief of the imperial guard.
He was not wearing the heavy armor he wore on the battlefield that day, but was wearing casual leather clothes. Obviously, Bylokhov had been completely controlled by the empire. In a short period of time, no undead would threaten this place. The captain of the guard barely had a chance to take off his clothes.
That heavy armor.
Karl looked at the old instructor. He had another scar on his face, but his body was still strong and hard. It seemed that the fierce battle with the bloodthirsty ghost that day had not had the slightest impact on him.
"Ludwig."
Carl called in a weak voice.
"How's it going? I heard from the imperial doctor that your injury is very serious and it's an internal injury."
"I can't go back to Altdorf in a short time. The doctors said that I need to recuperate now. I can only rely on my own recovery to let the bones heal slowly. I can't withstand any external force. The bumpy journey will only aggravate the physical injuries, so damn it
, I can only continue to stay here."
In the middle of speaking, Karl couldn't help but cough repeatedly. It took a while before he calmed down again.
"Ludwig, do you know? I haven't had a good meal in a week, and I've run out of wine."
"The women are gone too."
Ludwig joked.
Karl couldn't help but smile bitterly.
"Is my dad still mad at me for my poor performance that day?"
"No, he stopped losing his temper a long time ago."
"In fact, when he learned about the news that you were injured after falling off a horse, he was first concerned about your safety, and then he became angry at your incompetence."
"Feel sorry……"
The captain of the royal guard later realized that his words were inappropriate. He was about to explain, but was stopped by the young prince.
"It's okay, he's right, I'm a waste."
Karl shook his hand and lay weakly on the bedside with an indifferent attitude.
"But in my eyes, you have done a good job. Not everyone can be so brave and confident the first time they go to the battlefield. You are very talented, Karl, but you still need to hone your skills."
After Ludwig finished speaking, he sighed softly and looked out the window with melancholy eyes. The eternal darkness of Sylvania made the old warrior frown. No one knew when the sunlight would penetrate.
Black clouds spread over this polluted land.
"Forget it about training, I don't want to do it a second time and die again."
"well……"
Ludwig let out a heavier sigh. Looking at the unwilling prince in front of him, he didn't even know if he would still be serving the Franz family in a few years.
"By the way, what is my father doing now? He doesn't even come to see me."
Karl suddenly turned his head and asked, but his eyes were as calm as water.
It was as if he had already guessed the outcome and was just asking casually.
"Didn't you hear? Because of the issue of the ownership of Bailohof Castle, several electors are now at loggerheads. Your father is worried about this matter."
"I heard some stories, what's the result now?"
Karl asked curiously.
"Baylokhov Castle was ceded by your father to Lord Marius, the Elector of Iverland. Stirland only received a mine in a mountainous area outside the city. Muttland even only received a worthless swamp.
and the jungle. Because of this incident, there was constant tit-for-tat between the electors."
"Is this also the reason why the imperial army stopped advancing into the undead hinterland?"
Karl sneered.
"That's one of the reasons."
Ludwig replied bitterly.
"Giving Baylokhov to Marius was a wrong and stupid decision."
Karl suddenly cursed loudly.
Ludwig frowned, took three steps and two steps, walked to the door, and closed the wooden door tightly.
"You know the seriousness of this matter."
"Of course I know, there is nothing to worry about, Ludwig, there is no one else here. They are all Guardsmen, all your men. It is impossible for Marius' people to infiltrate the Reik Guards, here, or
My father’s power.”
Ludwig was surprised and a little uncomfortable with the sudden eloquence of the playful prince. In his impression, Karl had almost nothing to do with politics. The young prince only liked a life of eating, drinking and having fun, and had almost no regard for matters outside the palace.
asked, and now, he suddenly talked about these most sensitive topics.
"Baylokhov should not belong to any party. At least, this order should not have been issued by the emperor."
Karl was lying on the bed and said in a mocking tone.
"Then what can be done? It's very difficult for your father... He has to weigh the pros and cons and deal with the various electors to reach a state of balance. At least, the strength of Marius of Avi is far greater than the other two electors.
Supreme. If Baylokhov is given to the Stirland or Mutt Territory, then Marius will definitely make trouble out of dissatisfaction. In this imperial coalition, the Iveyland's army accounts for the majority, and the Knights of the Sun are more
It is a force that cannot be underestimated.”
"If it all depends on merit and rewards, then what's the difference between the empire and bandits?"
The words of the young prince left Ludwig speechless, and at the same time aroused Ludwig's inner sense of justice. Indeed, where is the once glorious and just empire? Where is the majesty of the fair and just empire established by Magnus? Why?
In just two hundred years, this huge empire once again reduced to this ugly appearance...
"Even if Marius has the strength to obtain Bailohof Castle, he cannot be taken advantage of so easily. The emperor can completely stay out of the matter and let the several electors make trouble on their own, and then come to the emperor for judgment in the end. Instead of making a decision from the beginning.
If you agree to a certain elector, you will not only get no favors, but it will also make other electors question the emperor's justice, thus shaking the majesty of the royal family."
"Karl, what you said is correct, but the spoils must have a final owner. You can't divide the castle into three and let the three lords rule together..."
Ludwig asked rhetorically.
"Indeed, they can't, but they can completely fight for the right of ownership. They can be rewarded based on their merits. As far as I know, the number of enemies killed by Stirland in this battle is almost the same as that of Aiwei Territory. Just on this point alone
, they have the right to challenge Marius."
"If neither party is willing to give in, the second option can be used, which is to let the residents of Bylokhov decide which camp to join through a referendum."
“Referendum vote?”
Ludwig looked surprised.
He had never imagined that the cynical playboy in front of him would have such a keen political thinking in his mind.
Even before Karl finished speaking, Ludwig had already guessed the reason.
"Yes, it's very simple. If you don't give in and I won't give in, then let the people decide who to join. This represents the will of the people and has nothing to do with the emperor. When the final voting results come out, as the emperor, all he needs to do is
Just implement the will of the people. That way, no matter what the final result is, other electors will not complain about the emperor. After all, the emperor just complied with public opinion."
"As for this public opinion, do you understand? It is very mysterious. There is a lot of room for manipulation."
Karl said lightly. But these words shocked Ludwig, the captain of the Imperial Guard in front of him, and made him feel even more delighted.
He seemed to see the unique and sharp thinking of this "child".
"Backdoor operations, bribing voters, and even threats and intimidation. There are many factors that ultimately determine the vote, and there is a lot of room for manipulation. Marius, Alberich, and Elros all want to get this castle, so they will definitely use it.
He tried his best to win over voters. At this time, the emperor would 'mediate' and act as a middleman. He could stay out of the matter and profit from it."
Karl chatted casually, but Ludwig looked shocked. He seemed to see the future of the empire in this frail boy...