I Became the Master of the Empress

57 – Episode 57

I frown as I look at the confidential report from the Grand Duchy.

[Severe defeat by hiding many troops at Fort Huntington.]

[Estimated to be at least 15,000, with the majority believed to be mercenaries.]

[Fortunately, Martin recovered the minimum number of knights and troops, destroyed the enemy’s pursuing force, and succeeded in retreating to the Grand Duchy.]

How could a fortress garrisoned by 3,000 men, apparently according to data collected before the war, be converted into a fortress garrisoned by 15,000 men?

[3,875 Casualties, 1,231 missing]

A total of 5,106 people are unable to fight.

At this rate, more than half of the 9,000 soldiers are incapable of combat.

I originally intended to use it as a throwaway word, but I didn’t expect it to cause this much damage.

He deliberately sent competent generals and even veteran mercenaries.

And the centurions who commanded them were also people who had made great achievements since the time of Valorant.

Even if he lost, he tried to save as many people as possible, so he paid a lot of attention.

I guess… Ioanes is looking after me.

I definitely expected there would be some level of involvement.

His head gets hot and his heart feels stuffy, so he unconsciously slams his fist on his desk.

-Boom!

As his anger rose to the top of his head, he let out a deep sigh.

“Whoa…”

Deep breath.

“Haa…”

You can’t be angry. The moment you lose your composure, everything falls apart.

-Boom!

It was definitely Agrippa and I who planned to give up the flesh and take the bones.

Because that is the quickest way to end the war.

It is obvious that if you siege and occupy dozens of castles scattered across a vast land one by one, you will cause a lot of sacrifice and loss of property.

The plan was to use mercenaries and new soldiers to incur losses and lure the enemy’s main force into the territory of the Grand Duchy.

I thought about 2,000 people would sacrifice themselves here.

I feel irritated and angry at the damage that is greater than I expected.

– Cattails… Cattails…

“Ha. Hold on. “I can’t fight Ioanes right now.”

The loss is twice as much as expected, but we have to endure it for now.

I have to endure it right now…

-Ugh…

The empire is currently like a wind lamp.

You have to manage risks. I can’t throw all of this into chaos just because of how I feel at the moment.

So it makes no sense to wage a two-front war.

But, Ioanes, don’t expect that you will easily swallow up the imperial faction later.

“Phew… I have to do my job now.”

First of all. Because if you lose, you lose. It needs to be sorted out.

Rather, we should praise General Martin, who prevented greater damage than expected.

In such a dangerous situation, he took the initiative to reduce the damage and successfully repel the pursuit team.

You must let go of your anger and keep a cool head.

There is no time to be angry and sad.

Right now, at this very moment, we have to kill the devil worshipers who are hiding in the dark looking for an opportunity as soon as possible, and we have to kill that bastard Ioanes as well.

Positive thinking. Think positive.

Forcing myself to think about what I need to do right now.

A huge amount of money will soon come in.

Okay… Let’s think about that and calm down.

Let’s suppress our anger like that.

-Squeak

“You. “There’s a loud noise here… Huh?”

Theodora, who opened the door and came in, looked at me and said something strange.

“Are you angry?”

When she shook her head as if it wasn’t me, she quietly closed her door and came in.

“Why? “What’s going on?”

I reply to her in a cold tone.

“Because it’s nothing. Go back.”

I don’t want to talk to her today.

He looked at my face with concern at what I said and then quietly left.

***

The financial market of the empire.

A big wind is blowing here where all kinds of stocks, derivatives, and other products are traded.

Defeat of the Grand Duchy.

As a result, the financial market fluctuates.

-Did you hear what you said? The Archduke’s army couldn’t even capture Huntington.

-Yes, that’s right. Isn’t the Grand Duchy originally a country renowned for its strong military?

-Don’t even bring up that topic. Of course, I bought a lot of bonds thinking the Grand Duchy would win… Tsk!

In the history of wars against opposing forces of the Grand Duchy, there has never been a single failure to capture Huntington.

As a result, the market is now fluctuating due to a huge impact.

-Eight… I bought bonds believing that the Ryan family would win.

-I heard this messenger has a lot of problems. The head of the Ryan family has been a sword master for generations, but this time, after hearing that the head of the family could not even become a sword expert, I concentrated on buying bonds from the opposite principality.

-I also have to sell the Grand Duchy bonds. If we lose the war, we will have to pay a huge amount of compensation. You might not even get the principal, let alone the interest.

-That’s right. Even if I lose money now, I have to sell it quickly and buy something else.

Only one defeat.

From Noble mtl dot com

When this fact became known, everyone started selling the Grand Duchy’s bonds.

-25% Drop.

The Grand Duchy’s 1 million gold bond can now be purchased for 750,000 gold, and on the contrary, the bond of the opposing principality has risen to the point where it can be purchased for 1.16 Million gold.

And the news is becoming known one by one.

When the news spread that the army of the opposing duchy had attacked the fortress of the archduchy and secured a safe supply route.

Everyone began purchasing bonds from opposing principalities, where a sure victory was in sight.

If they win, they will receive huge rewards and rights.

-You! Did you hear that? They say some crazy trading company is selling counter-principal call options right now.

-Are you sane? No, if you want to sell options, you have to prove you have that much money, right? What kind of crazy business association would do something like that?

-Well… It’s a new business association that was recently opened. The capital power is greater than expected. Why isn’t it there? I’m talking about Pieta Company.

-Ah! I’ve heard rumors too. Isn’t this a trading company that suddenly appeared? But you’re selling call options on counter-principal bonds, which are sure to result in losses unless you go crazy.

-Who wouldn’t be? Is this why you can’t get rich suddenly? Selling a product without even understanding reality…

-What is it like? Aren’t we the only ones who need to make money?

When they heard that call options on anti-principal bonds were being sold, everyone started flocking to Pieta Trading Company to buy call options.

-I will buy call options worth 100,000 gold!

-I have 200,000 gold!

Call options are selling like hot cakes.

The buying is bordering on madness.

The prices of counter-principal bonds are rising like crazy, and there is no one selling call options anywhere.

Literally, when the deadline arrives, you have to sell the bonds of the country that seems likely to win at the current price.

Who would do such a foolish thing?

In addition, since the seller receives advance payment, the contract must be kept unconditionally.

Issue so much that you can’t keep it in the first place. Don’t play around with the Financial Services Commission.

The amount of issuance is adjusted based on the financial status of the trading company.

However, with call options trading at exponentially higher prices, more call options can be issued.

Everyone thought as they saw Pieta Company acting unbelievably. That company will go bankrupt once the war ends.

***

After a crushing defeat.

The bond market is starting to go as I expected.

Due to the defeat of the Grand Duchy, bond prices melted like ice cream.

Although I’m sure I’ll make a lot of money from this, I feel guilty that my actions have cost many people.

A lot of people will probably die in the last war.

Whether it is the Grand Duchy or someone from my opposing faction.

Their sacrifice.

Who can force them to make such a sacrifice?

I lived in modern times and became the ruling class here, making money by sacrificing people like me.

I didn’t know it would make me feel this bad, and at the same time, my heart is so heavy.

Those who go to war are also someone’s father and someone’s son.

When I think of the soldiers and their families who will die miserably on the battlefield, I feel disgusted with myself and cannot stand it.

I don’t know what I can do for those who are wailing over their deaths.

Do I even have the right to mourn for them in the first place?

A hypocrite who pretends to care about the empire and drives people who are living their lives diligently to the battlefield and forces them to make sacrifices.

Maybe that’s my essence.

“Debian?”

Wouldn’t it have been possible to win faster if Agrippa had been given full authority?

Or, if I had asked my uncle for support, they might have surrendered from the beginning.

Maybe there was no pointless war?

“Debian?!”

“Surprise!”

When I was surprised, Theodora looked at me with a worried expression.

“Why are you so restless?”

“That’s…”

What should I say?

A strategy made knowing that there would be many casualties.

But when I actually see that number, should I say that I feel oppressed by the sense of responsibility?

I don’t want to talk about such foolish thoughts.

Because… I will be the only one sad about the plan I made, and in the end, I will move for my own benefit.

“No… It’s not a big deal.”

Theodora frowns at my words.

“It’s a separate thing, right? This is the first time in my life that I have seen you so restless. “Is this really okay?”

As he says that, he replies coldly, avoiding the hand that tries to gently place his hand on my forehead.

“Because it’s okay. “Go and do some work.”

Her shoulders tremble at my cold tone.

“Okay… But please let me know later…”

When I see her leaving like that, I feel like I don’t know what I just did.

I can’t believe I’m taking out my anger on Theodora for my weak heart.

But I can’t be weak.

If I am swayed by something like this, I will definitely try to take advantage of it.

So. Don’t show how difficult it is.

Because it is the path I chose and I am the one who must bear the full weight of it.

I work hard to shake off my heavy heart.

***

His condition has been unusual recently.

Like a piece of glass that looks like it will break if touched lightly.

He is shaking.

Why is he having such a hard time and shaking so much?

It is difficult to know the reason.

A plan to intentionally lose the Grand Duchy’s war and take everything back in the final battle.

Is everything going smoothly and according to plan?

I saw him becoming more and more silent and having a hard time finding anything to say…

It’s exactly like someone I remember from my childhood.

Why does it feel so similar to Joy’s face, as if she had all the sadness in the world right before she cried?

Ah… Really?

There is no way a person who is so rational and cold about politics would do that.

Then what is making it so difficult for him?

And why doesn’t he talk to me?

Aren’t we a couple anyway?

A couple who relies on and helps each other when times are tough.

He actually tells me what I don’t know and what I should say in front of my subjects. How to behave.

And my husband, Debian, who tells me which policies are good and bad and guides me to become a proper ruler.

Even though I don’t love him, he is someone who relies heavily on Debian for me.

In the end, we will somehow resolve this chaotic situation without trampling on my prestige.

Give maximum respect at official occasions.

It is a marriage somewhere between political strategy and plunder.

I don’t think it’s that bad.

In fact, there are many nobles who marry or are married off to someone like their father or mother at a young age.

Rather, I would be happy if I had an arranged marriage with a handsome, talented, kind, and responsible man.

Of course, after the meeting, if he does something wrong, he is mercilessly criticized with facts… But I think even that is the foundation that will enable him to become a better ruler later.

So… It would be great if he could rely on me too.

I can be his support too.

I don’t love him right now, but I feel uneasy seeing Devian, who has always had an iron will, having a hard time like that.

“I don’t know what’s causing you so much trouble, but I hope you’ll lean on me a little more.”

Just like that, my little words are scattered in vain.