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ILLUSTRATIONS POSTED
41 State Council Meeting
The next day, Yuno and Yuria headed together to the throne room at the appointed time for the State Council meeting.
Of course, since they had to enter through different doors, they parted at the front, but after confirming no one was watching, the two embraced each other tightly like lovers and even shared a deep kiss before separating.
"I'll see you tonight, Mom."
"Yes. I'll sneak over at dawn, so you'd better wake up when I call you, alright?"
"Of course. And don't forget our promise."
"Hohoho, I know. Let's go in, looks like it's already started."
When they entered, the meeting was already underway with loud voices echoing through the hall.
As he had declared the day before, Karl III was nowhere to be seen, apparently intent on handing over all state affairs to the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince was seated between the throne and the council table, presiding over the meeting.
"Ah! Yuno, you're here. Take your seat. We were just about to need your opinion."
"Huh? Brother? If you need my opinion… about what?"
Yuno, whose mind was preoccupied with thoughts of leaving for his new fief with his mother, was caught off guard by the Crown Prince's request.
"We were just discussing the punishment for Kent Windrider, the 11th Corps commander who fled the battlefield during the last campaign, and his subordinate officers."
"Uh… punishment?"
"Execution, of course. But there are some who say that, given his previous merits on the eastern front, he should be spared. What do you think? As the commander of the 2nd Army, your opinion is the most important."
"Hmmm…"
Pretending to think, Yuno glanced at Yuria, who was sitting on the throne. Although he hadn't spent much time with his younger brother Kent as a child and wasn't particularly close, the thought of her own brother being executed made Yuria's eyes waver.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince! What merit could that man possibly have? There's nothing to consider! He must be executed as per the rules! There's a limit to how much one can disgrace the Windrage name! Fleeing in the face of the enemy is unforgivable!!"
Despite Kent being his only son and heir, the Duke of Windrage was furious, shouting that Kent should be executed.
After the surrounding nobles calmed the duke down a bit, Yuno finally spoke.
"My opinion is a little different. The one leading the Teseito cavalry that broke the 11th Corps was a master-level opponent. According to the survivors, a particularly strong cavalry unit broke through the flank and cut down soldiers as they charged into headquarters. Even after the capture of Streve Fortress, when a sword aura was fired at the main gate, my hands were shaking just blocking it."
"I've heard that as well. But, Your Highness! Even if the enemy is a master, if we allow commanders to flee, it sets a precedent that any commander facing a master can run and be forgiven. That would lead to the collapse of our army's system!"
Many nobles nodded at the Duke's rebuttal.
"The Duke is right. But I'm not saying we should forgive them entirely."
"Then…?"
"How about this: we create a system that gives commanders who have committed nearly unforgivable crimes one last chance. Instead of execution, strip them of all ranks and positions and send them on the most dangerous missions as ordinary soldiers, or put them at the very front in battle. If they achieve merit, their crimes can be pardoned."
'It's basically a mix of the "serve in white" system and penal battalions, but since I haven't heard of anything like that here, it should be fine…'
"Hmmm… if that's the case…"
"That sounds reasonable. They're as good as dead anyway. If we spare them like that, they'll be grateful, and for the country, it means one more soldier for dangerous missions, so it's a net gain."
"Of course, there will be crimes that still warrant summary execution… but we can adjust the details as we go."
"If Prince Kent, whose whereabouts are unknown, can save his life, he may show himself. I'll have proclamations posted across the empire encouraging him to turn himself in."
Yuno's proposal was unanimously approved, and seeing Yuria breathe a sigh of relief made Yuno feel a little better as well.
The State Council continued. Since there were no other topics for Yuno to weigh in on, he endured the boredom by gazing at Yuria's beautiful face and fantasizing about what kind of sex he'd have with his mother that night.
"Next, we'll discuss Third Prince Yuno's appointment as lord of the combined Viscount Nikana and Baron Teshida territories. Since this was directly opposed by Her Majesty, we'll hear her opinion first."
As Chancellor Marquis Mark finished speaking, all eyes turned to Yuria on the throne, and she spoke.
"I thought long and hard about whether I should send my child so far away alone… whether such a young boy could manage a fief… I thought about it a lot. And I've reached a decision."
Yuno swallowed nervously, staring at Yuria's lips.
"Yuno Alexander Windrage von Balkan, Third Prince, will henceforth also hold the title of Count of Teshidanikana. And until I judge he is ready, I, Yuria, will go with him to help manage the territory."
As soon as Yuria finished speaking, the council erupted.
"No!! How can Her Majesty leave her post!!"
"Your Majesty, this is unprecedented! For the Mother of the Empire to leave Adria Castle!"
Yuria silenced the nobles with a raised hand and continued.
"Is there any law that says we can't do something just because it's unprecedented? Besides, His Majesty is already considering succession, which is why he's entrusting the Crown Prince with these duties. I am doing the same. I believe the Crown Princess can fulfill my role sufficiently."
"But!!"
"Also! I haven't been feeling well lately. I'd like to recuperate in the fresh air of the Monster Mountains. I'll speak to His Majesty directly and get his approval, so let's leave it at that."
Yuria's bombshell left the Crown Prince deep in thought. 'If Her Majesty steps aside, it'll be easier for me to seize power later. But… will Hyria want to be Empress? She likes Yuno… and will the one I love accept this?'
But since he could never be with the one he loved anyway, Prinz steeled himself and spoke.
"Understood. I accept Her Majesty's proposal. If His Majesty approves, I'll have the Crown Princess live in the Empress's quarters for a month to prepare her for the role."
"Thank you for accepting my request, Crown Prince."
"Not at all. If Her Majesty needs rest, I can't stop her. Please help Yuno as much as you can."
Since the Emperor, infatuated with his new concubine, had little interest in the Empress's whereabouts, it was expected he'd approve easily, and indeed he did.
"His Majesty has approved this matter. He says Her Majesty may do as she wishes, and has ordered a teleportation magic circle to be installed in the count's territory in case of emergencies."
When Secretary Marquis Garcia announced the Emperor's approval, the council accepted it.
"Well, if His Majesty allows it…"
"Her Majesty hasn't interfered in politics much anyway, so it should be fine."
"If it's being raised to a county, installing a teleportation circle is only natural. Besides, Her Majesty and the Third Prince may need to return to the capital urgently…"
With this atmosphere, Yuno cheered inwardly, and Yuria also sighed in relief, gently rubbing her lower belly where her womb tattoo was hidden.
'Hehe… If I go to Yuno's fief, I'll be able to be with him every night… ahhh…'
Thinking about the debauchery to come, Yuria crossed her legs to keep her arousal from leaking down her thighs.
A few more agenda items were handled, and then something unexpected for Yuno came up.
"Now, the final item of today's agenda. The Kingdom of Leon has proposed a marriage between Second Prince Heinrich and their Princess Rachel. As you all know, Prince Heinrich has been without a consort since his partner passed away five years ago, so this is a good opportunity."
"That's right. With Teseito as a rival, we need to maintain stable relations with Leon, so let's use this opportunity to form an alliance."
With the ministers' agreement, the Crown Prince closed his eyes in thought, then spoke.
"Hmmm… Heinrich! What do you think?"
At the Crown Prince's question, Second Prince Heinrich, who had been speaking with his followers, replied.
"I'm fine with it. As a prince, I can't choose my marriage freely anyway."
"Then there's no reason to oppose."
"However… along with the marriage, there's also a request to send back Third Princess Eliza, who is currently studying abroad."
When the Foreign Minister Marquis Voelru added this, Yuno jumped up.
"Eliza? No! Absolutely not!!"
"Ah… Your Highness the Third Prince…"
Marquis Voelru looked awkward, while the Crown Prince and other nobles burst out laughing.
"Hahaha, so you can react like that, Yuno? The hero who brought down Streve from the front lines."
"We all know how close the Third Prince is with Princess Eliza. Hahaha."
"But this is state business… Please wait a bit. Even though Her Highness is of age, she should be a little older before marriage anyway… hahaha."
In the end, it was decided that the wedding of Second Prince Heinrich and Princess Rachel would take place in two weeks, and after the ceremony, Eliza would return home.
Resigned to the fact that he'd have to part with his close childhood friend, Yuno pouted and buried his head on the table.
Yuria watched him with eyes half-jealous, half-expectant.
'Tch! Of course I knew Eliza liked Yuno, and I planned to connect them eventually… but it seems Yuno isn't indifferent either. With Master Aragon and now Eliza… Hmph! Such a naughty boy. If he doesn't comfort me properly tonight, I won't forgive him!'
With that, the State Council ended, and Yuno ran to his palace to meet Eliza.
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