Chapter 97
The guy opposing my promotion to baron continued to speak boldly.
"A man becomes an adult by getting married and forming a family. But isn't Viscount Medici currently unmarried? Until now, you've bestowed titles even on a child because his achievements were so great."
This might sound like nonsense, but in pre-modern societies, no matter how old you were, if you weren't married, you weren't considered an adult in the village.
Even for village meetings, a 15-year-old who was married could participate, but a 30-year-old unmarried man couldn't.
Because they thought you legally and humanly became an adult only when you took responsibility for a family.
"The weight a viscount and a baron must bear is different."
The most easily understandable difference is when war breaks out and enemies invade your territory.
When war breaks out, viscounts must first gather soldiers and respond to the call in places where nobles 'baron' and above are.
On the other hand, when enemies invade, barons might have to gather all soldiers in the area and fight.
It means they have to take on the role of commander and fight.
'Besides this, the weight of duties they must perform is different.'
"Your Majesty, I don't mean to disparage the Viscount's achievements. However, I think getting married should be the priority."
Looking closely at the face of the guy saying this...
He was a nobility of the robe belonging to Duke Sforza's faction.
He's trying to check and prevent the balance from collapsing as I become a weight added to Duke Visconti's power.
It's also a skill to keep opposing within a line where the Emperor can't get angry.
It's so miraculous I wonder if he's riding a chopping board at home every day.
'But why on earth is the Emperor smiling?'
"The Vice Minister of Justice's words have a point. Although Viscount Medici's achievements are great, we can't break traditions passed down from ancient times."
Why does he look so pleased even though the Vice Minister of Justice opposed?
And it's probably my imagination, but it seems like the Emperor licked his lips looking at me.
This won't do, I should see a doctor after this is over and get plenty of rest.
I should also refrain from intense exercise at night.
'Chloe won't like it, but I need to live long too.'
"Good, overseeing nobles' marriages is my job too. We'll choose an appropriate young lady, marry them, and then bestow the title after the wedding ceremony. Yes, rewarding achievements is important, but keeping precedents is important too."
The Vice Minister of Justice clenched his fist and was pleased hearing those words.
That bastard, he's planning to postpone the title bestowal now and discuss with the Duke.
Becoming a baron is delayed a bit, but this is really unavoidable.
I feel like forcibly criticizing people should be done in moderation.
Originally, the higher you go, the more jealous people appear.
"I'll postpone the title bestowal for now."
The Emperor said that, but what would happen next was clearly visible.
That Vice Minister of Justice will report directly to Duke Sforza.
As soon as the Duke hears that story, he'll say marriage is good and all, but for the sake of the Medici baron family's face, isn't it better to refrain from raising him to 'baron'?
Then Duke Visconti and Duke Sforza will argue with each other...
'Maybe things could end up fizzling out.'
As the meeting was wrapping up, Duke Visconti spoke.
"I also sympathize with what the Vice Minister of Justice said. As he said, titles come with responsibilities, and to bear those responsibilities, one naturally needs to become an 'adult'."
Today I suddenly felt a strong desire to go home.
I spontaneously feel like going to find Chloe who'll be waiting and studying in my room, and indulging in her affection to my heart's content.
That's how anxious and worried I am.
Generally when that gentleman makes such an expression, good things have happened to me.
But he brings something shocking and terrifying.
What on earth is this Cthulhu or outer space god-like gentleman trying to do this time?
"As it happens, my granddaughter Erica has turned 15. Although she hasn't had her coming-of-age ceremony yet, she's certainly old enough to marry."
The smile completely vanished from the Emperor's face, which had been full of smiles until just now.
He's not showing hostility towards the Duke, but...
He's looking with an expression that clearly conveys the nuance of 'How dare that bastard touch Fabio who I've been cherishing?'
No, I'm not your possession, I'm just employee A.
I'm not some product displayed in a store, why on earth are you like this?
When the item he had set his sights on was suddenly in danger of being snatched away, the Emperor asked back with a bewildered expression.
"Don't you think Erica and our Baron Medici's status don't match? He should be at least a count."
As the Emperor said, a duke family's legitimate daughter, that is, the daughter of the official wife, marries at least a count unless there's a noticeable flaw.
If the duke himself steps forward and makes efforts, it's entirely possible to make her an empress or direct imperial family member of another country.
'Moreover, at the duke level, aren't they practically something similar to the Emperor's relatives?'
Isn't this too much of a stretch?
"I've been watching Fabio continuously since he was just Viscount Medici from a mere baron family, no, the second son of a baron family."
Come to think of it, it's been over 3 years since I've known the Duke.
"He discovered seaweed, an Eastern medicinal herb, righteously stepped forward without fearing losing everything to resolve military supply corruption, and even took care of Your Majesty's soldiers. On top of that, he's now solved the gunpowder problem that had been giving the empire headaches for life. Perhaps because of this, sometimes when I look at this guy, I feel ashamed of myself."
Duke, do you have a grudge against me?
Why do you keep trying to make me have an unintended marriage?
Moreover, that praise really gives me goosebumps just hearing it.
If it were another noble it would be one thing, but if I refuse a son-in-law after the Duke spoke like that...
'I'd probably suffer a very sad fate.'
"And privately, he's a truly excellent young man. Despite achieving the feat of rising to baron at such a young age, he shows no signs of arrogance at all. From what I hear, he cherishes his maid preciously like family."
The Emperor's expression started changing in real time.
Until just now there were glimpses of resentment.
Now his eyes are so wide open I think they might pop out.
"Right now, Fabio is only lacking a bit in 'title'. Other than that, his abilities and character are perfect. As a grandfather, I want to find the best groom for my granddaughter's happiness, Your Majesty."
At the duke level, even the Emperor can't carelessly put a knife to them except for the cause of 'treason'.
Because under a duke are several marquises and counts, and under their command are over dozens of baron families combined.
If the Emperor oppresses them with an unreasonable cause, they could become independent.
Our Tuscan Empire, the Kingdom of Lyon, and the Grand Duchy of Millania all started with a duke becoming independent if you look at the history of their founders.
And besides that, it came out looking very good.
The Duke's human side of thinking about his granddaughter's happiness, the appearance of being willing to take a 'loss' for a future talent by marrying off his granddaughter, and so on.
Unless the Emperor had previously said something about marrying off an imperial princess.
This is a lump of justification that even the Emperor can't refute.
"Alfred also said that seeing Fabio's character and abilities, he doesn't seem inadequate to give his daughter to. So how about bestowing a title on Fabio and holding the wedding ceremony as soon as possible?"
Hearing those words, the Emperor nodded.
"Let's do that. But is the Duke really okay with this? No matter what, Fabio is just a baron now."
"He's a talent who officially received a baron title in just 3 years from being a mere second son of a baron family. When looking at a person, shouldn't we look at their potential rather than their status or wealth?"
What kind of democratic talk is this from the ultimate champions of the class system?
"If that's the Duke's will, I'll accept it. I'll bestow the baron title on Fabio de Medici. Moreover, his title investiture ceremony will be held after his marriage to Erica de Visconti, the Duke Visconti's granddaughter."
The Emperor sighed deeply and declared the meeting adjourned.
I can't accept this ridiculous situation.
When I sent Petit Duke Alfred to Nador, it was just ridiculous.
What on earth is this fuss?
I did wish to advance in my career, but is Deus a monkey's paw?
Sending a duke's granddaughter to a mere baron?
It's just written in imperial law that it's possible, but there's no precedent.
The Duke kept patting my shoulder from which my soul had escaped.
"Are you out of it because you're too happy? I called you for over 5 minutes, but there was no answer."
"I'm sorry, Your Grace the Duke."
The Duke lavished praise for nearly an hour about how much he cherishes me and such.
But nothing he's saying enters my head which has gone blank.
The Duke himself doesn't seem to expect me to listen meaningfully to that praise either...
'He keeps paying attention to the surrounding gazes, probably because he clearly knows I'm out of it.'
And at the end he whispered:
"Our granddaughter is prettier than your maid. This is just an objective fact."
There's no one in this world who dislikes money and beautiful women.
Perhaps because of that, my mind suddenly returned.
"Last year when Alfred took Erica to the Kingdom of Lyon, the Second Prince suddenly proposed, they say."
...... This could become a diplomatic issue if it goes wrong.
If that Second Prince did that, how pretty must she be?