The emergency meeting was held three days later.

Among them, the most notable was Julia Bennett’s father, the Marquis of Bennett, and his entourage.

Even those who were thinking of pushing their daughters just in case, had already half-resigned to the fact that the Marquis of Bennett’s granddaughter would be chosen for the position of Empress.

Julia’s position in the social circle was that solid, and there was no woman who surpassed her in beauty and virtue.

“His Majesty the Emperor is entering.”

With a brief introduction, Carlos entered the meeting room.

Wearing a thick cloak over his uniform and possessing a tall stature and well-built body, he had a charisma that overwhelmed people just by looking at him.

The captain of the imperial guards walked in behind him. The nobles were slightly surprised at the change, as it was unlike the Emperor who enjoyed walking alone.

Carlos stood still in his place and scanned with fierce eyes those seated at the long table and those sitting or standing in the back chairs due to lack of space.

It was a gaze that made people shrink back. It was never friendly, and it was openly expressing, ‘I am in a bad mood.’

Those who were overwhelmed by his anger straightened their backs and kept their mouths tightly shut.

After finishing a staring contest with the old Marquis of Bennett seated right next to the Emperor’s seat, Carlos walked briskly and sat on the throne.

His stride was so wide that it took him only a moment to walk across the long meeting room.

Sitting in the chair like that, Carlos leaned back and said nothing.

Usually, when such a meeting takes place, it is a courtesy for the subjects that the Emperor speaks first, but since the Emperor did not open his mouth, only a chilling silence lingered in the meeting room.

However, the Marquis of Bennett, being old, must have had hundreds of tricks up his sleeve. As if he was not afraid of the Emperor, he smiled amiably and spoke first.

“Your Majesty, it has been a while. I hope you have been well. This old man is sorry that I could not properly visit you after you returned to the palace due to my difficulty in moving.”

“Someone who has difficulty moving has convened an emergency meeting. It seems the meaning of ‘difficulty moving’ that I know has changed.”

“It was such an important agenda that this old man pushed himself a bit. Please understand.”

“Is that so? It was such an important agenda to put me on the marriage market, sell your daughters, and have me produce an heir like an animal.”

Carlos deliberately spoke roughly. The old men exclaimed in surprise.

“Your Majesty! Your words are going too far!”

“We are only thinking of the future of the Empire−.”

“The Empire needs an heir!”

What amusing reactions they were. They do even more vulgar things, yet they make such a fuss over a single remark.

These old men whom he had seen since childhood were old even then, but how come they still haven’t died and are so energetic?

As his own limbs were stiffening, he felt like asking if they had some good elixir.

“For the future of the Empire and the need for an heir. Aren’t you just coveting the seat next to me and thinking of pushing your daughters?”

Carlos went a step further and asked blatantly. This time, there was an even more explosive reaction.

“Your Majesty! How can you interpret our loyalty in such a way?”

“We are only deeply concerned about the succession! Please take back your words!”

Carlos suppressed his laughter inwardly. He thought they reacted just as he wanted.

It was not for nothing that Carlos deliberately provoked them with rude remarks and blunt words.

Nobles are always frenzied over justifications, so if you just slightly change the direction, this meeting will focus on ‘producing an heir’ rather than ‘marriage’.

That was his intention.

“Of course, the law of primogeniture has been abolished, but don’t we still need an heir who carries the blood of Your Majesty the Emperor? The strength of the Empire is what you have achieved!”

Everyone praised Carlos and expressed their concern. Well, even Carlos admitted that his brothers were not fit to be emperors.

And these people were rushing in like this to aim for the position of Empress, but he also thought an heir was necessary.

He had barely managed to discipline the country through the conquest wars. Although ascending to the throne was not his will, he did not want to turn his back on the people.

So he also disliked the idea of his stupid brothers ruining it.

“…Hmm. Yes. An heir mixed with the Emperor’s blood is indeed the first priority and the way to solidify imperial authority.”

So he also had thoughts about succession, so he decided to back down a bit.

“That’s right. Your Majesty! We are pleading only with the hope that you will gain more strength!”

“Yes, yes. I went too far with my words. I’m sorry.”

Carlos smiled brightly. Only then did the old men, whose faces had turned red, calm down a bit.

‘To think the day would come when I would be grateful to the previous Emperor, how ridiculous.’

The previous Emperor abolished primogeniture or patrilineal succession in order to place Carlos on the throne. So even if he doesn’t necessarily take an Empress, as long as he has a child, isn’t that enough?

As the succession law was completely abolished, there was almost no trace left of the conditions for an heir other than ‘the one who inherits the blood of the imperial family, preferably the Emperor’s blood, has the first priority in succession.’

In other words… Of course, there would be fierce opposition from the nobles. Even illegitimate children could ascend to the throne now. It was the astonishing and amazing achievement of the previous Emperor.

“So you all convened the meeting just to tell me that an heir is absolutely necessary for the future of the Empire and for my sake. Showing loyalty to me and worrying about the future of the Empire! How grateful I am for this!”

Carlos raised his fist and shouted in an excited voice as if he were moved. Then the nobles, agitated by his actions, fell under the illusion that they had become tremendous loyal subjects. Because Carlos had the power to sway people’s emotions.

“Yes! That is our loyalty.”

“Do not misunderstand, Your Majesty. Everything is for the glory of the Empire!”

“For the glory!”

They all raised their fists and shook them together.

Their insides were all black, yet their mouths were so glib.

Carlos held a sneer inside.

The old Marquis of Bennett, sensing a slightly overheated atmosphere, opened his mouth with a strange look on his face.

He was the old fox who was most desperate to put his granddaughter in the position of Empress.

“Of course, Your Majesty is healthy, and the Empire is stronger than ever, but an imperial authority without an heir can be shaken at any time. So please do not take our intentions in a bad way.”

“Yes. That’s correct. I’ve also come to know that you all truly care for me.”

“That’s right. So to bring in a woman to assist Your Majesty−.”

The old Marquis did not miss the ambition he harbored. He opened his mouth to turn the story back to the position of Empress.

“About that.”

But Carlos blocked it right away.

Carlos leaned forward from his reclined position and placed his hands folded on the table.

He only moved his body forward from being reclined, but an intense pressure was felt. Was it because of his well-trained, huge physique or because of his cold, dark eyes?

Carlos raised his cool lips in a beautiful smile and spoke.

“As I feel it, your opinions are not that the problem is my empty seat next to me, but that you are worried about the succession, right?”

That… isn’t that right? Doesn’t the seat need to be filled to give birth to an heir?

The nobles were bewildered. The Emperor just now strangely twisted his words. No, is it really twisted? The succession is important, so the seat next to him is also important…

Amid the confused nobles, Carlos continued.

“The position of Empress is a very important one. How can I fill it recklessly? Since the previous Emperor abolished patrilineal succession, I just need to try my best to have a child first. The seat next to me… Yes, when I meet a virtuous woman worthy of being Empress, then I can fill it then, don’t you think?”

This is a trick to avoid taking an Empress.

The old Marquis of Bennett, who immediately noticed the Emperor’s intentions, opened his mouth with glaring eyes.

“If it’s a virtuous woman, there are already many in the Empire’s social circle. Your Majesty can accept one without worry−.”

“Marquis. As you know, if one takes the position of Empress, there is a lot to do. To sit in the precious position of a mother who will help me take care of the country… I’ll have to look very closely and choose carefully, right? It’s not something to be decided hastily, easily, or quickly. Am I wrong?”

Carlos’s words were very reasonable.

In fact, even if Julia, who has just turned eighteen, has received lessons on the duties of an Empress, can she immediately take her place in the busy imperial palace and assist Carlos?

At this point when the remnants of the conquest wars have not even been completely resolved?

“I will probably have to frequent the areas where the fires of war still linger. In that case, I need a woman who can handle work perfectly so that my absence from the capital is not noticeable.”

“Then all the more reason to fill the seat next to you quickly so that she can become accustomed to assisting you.”

“The imperial palace is currently so burdened with work that my aides can’t even leave work. In the midst of that, do you think we can spare more personnel to ‘teach work’ for the sake of the Empress? Or will you, old Marquis, come and do the work yourself?”

Carlos invited him with a smile. Although his voice sounded devoid of malice, to the old Marquis it sounded like a harsh attack.

The idea of the old Marquis going to the imperial palace to work directly.

There was nothing strange about it, but the Emperor’s personnel included a mix of nobles and commoners, and none of them had the leisure to treat the old Marquis with respect while proceeding with work.

The Emperor wouldn’t leave it like that either.

A future unfolded in which the old Marquis with presbyopia would be rubbing his eyes and working with only a shabby desk piled high with documents. He might even fall ill from overwork in his old age.

In short, the current imperial palace was not a place where even a noble as great as the old Marquis could work while receiving treatment as a noble.

The old Marquis was displeased, but he could not open his mouth. He couldn’t bring himself to say, ‘Yes, I will go and work, so please accept my granddaughter as Empress.’

“It seems the old Marquis can’t do that. Alright! Then, I will take it that the Empress will be chosen slowly.”

“But, Your Majesty. The successor is−.”

“Ah. About the successor, I am thinking of taking a concubine. That should solve your worries too, right?”

Carlos asked with a delighted smile, and the nobles in the meeting room made dumbfounded faces.

“Pardon…? Did you say a concubine?”