Reincarnated as the third son of the Duke-Chapter 176 - The Cost of Ambition

176 The Cost of Ambition

One of the few noble houses outside the Imperial Family with a legitimate claim to the throne.

The Emperor had no doubts about Duke Sigmund’s loyalty. That man would never aspire to the throne. But if the Imperial line were to disappear, and someone like William stepped forward to claim his right—

Many nobles would resist.

But in the chaos of an interregnum, it was entirely possible that the Empire would accept a shift in bloodline. A peaceful transition of power, if only in appearance.

Of course, such a future would never come to pass.

And yet, the mere thought of it was enough to send a chill down the Emperor’s spine.

"But that’s no longer a concern."

By granting William the title of King of the North, the Emperor had effectively severed his ties to Hern.

William would be too preoccupied establishing his rule in the North to interfere with Hern’s succession. By the time he had consolidated his position, he would have already lost his claim to his homeland.

The ducal seat would naturally pass to one of Sigmund’s other children.

For the Emperor, this was the ideal outcome.

A pleased sigh escaped him as he leaned back—only for a sudden coughing fit to seize his chest.

He pressed a hand over his mouth, stifling the sound as best he could. It took a long moment for the convulsions to subside.

When he finally pulled his hand away, his palm was smeared with fresh blood.

"This damned illness won’t even let me enjoy a moment’s peace."

He clicked his tongue, shaking his head. Perhaps it was a divine warning not to grow complacent.

With a quiet sigh, he rose to his feet, gathering his thoughts.

The possibility of an alliance between the North and Hern has been eliminated. The previously indifferent North has now been drawn into the Imperial fold. And William, who will rule the North, is now in deep debt to the throne. I have also bound Bernhardt’s movements. That leaves only Sigmund.

At the thought of Duke Sigmund, a dull ache settled behind the Emperor’s eyes.

He trusted the man more than anyone.

And yet, because of that trust, he found himself reluctant to expose certain truths to him.

But if he kept those secrets, Sigmund would never pledge his support to the First Prince.

"Attendant, are you there?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Summon Duke Sigmund. I have urgent matters to discuss with him."

With that decision made, the Emperor gave his order.

The suppression of the Krefeld

Rebellion was proceeding smoothly. There was no risk of failure.

But war was war.

And there were things Sigmund needed to know before it was over.

—Shff.

The Emperor’s head snapped up at the faint sound, like the rustling of paper.

He scanned the tent.

Nothing.

Frowning, he shook his head, chuckling at his own nerves. He was growing paranoid.

He had no way of knowing that, beneath the shadows at his feet, two pairs of eyes had been watching.

And now, one of them had vanished.

The moment the Emperor granted his approval, things moved quickly.

William wasted no time in presenting his demands to Glenn.

"At minimum, I will require one thousand elite soldiers and a contingent of the Imperial Knights. A two-year deployment should be sufficient."

"That’s your minimum?" Glenn pinched the bridge of his nose. "Dare I ask what your maximum request would be?"

"If possible, I would prefer five thousand elite soldiers and two full knight orders."

"And their wages and provisions?"

"Naturally, the Imperial treasury will cover those expenses. Taxes will be collected eventually, but for now, I have nothing."

William stated it so matter-of-factly that Glenn found himself momentarily speechless.

How could someone demand such a massive force with such unshakable confidence?

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"Your Highness, forgive me, but may I offer you a word of advice?"

"As a comrade-in-arms? Always. Speak freely."

With William’s permission, Glenn inclined his head slightly before continuing.

"I will relay your request to His Majesty. But… are you certain about this?"

"What do you mean?"

"Maintaining an army is a costly endeavor. Especially an elite force. I am no accountant, but even I can estimate the numbers involved."

Glenn grabbed a scrap of parchment from the table and scrawled a rough calculation in the corner.

Even with only the bare minimum accounted for, the sum was astronomical.

"The Empire has vast resources, and there is no doubt that your request can be granted. But that does not mean the debt simply vanishes. What I mean to ask is…"

"You’re wondering if I can repay it."

William’s expression remained calm. "Once I borrow these troops, I will owe His Majesty a debt. And you’re concerned about the weight of that obligation."

"If my words have offended you, I apologize."

Glenn remained firm.

He had no intention of backing down. Continue your adventure at novelbuddy

His Majesty was pleased that William would be indebted to the throne. But that assumes William will be able to repay that debt at all. If he is buried under an impossible sum, it may not be His Majesty who reaps the rewards in the end.

A debt between a commoner and the crown was one thing.

A debt between an Emperor and a rising great noble was another matter entirely.

If William’s obligations grew beyond his ability to repay, there was no telling how the balance of power would shift.

For Glenn, this was not just about protecting the Empire’s interests.

It was about protecting William’s honor.

I must convince him to set reasonable limits.

"Your concerns are valid," William acknowledged.

But rather than be discouraged, he simply smiled.

"However, I assure you—I am not making this request without a plan."

"I’m not trying to take His Majesty’s support and walk away without repayment. Nor am I blindly making demands without understanding the cost. I have every intention of repaying my debt. That’s why I’m only borrowing what I can afford to return."

"You… truly mean that?" Glenn asked hesitantly.

"Of course." William chuckled. "Though I suppose it’s hard to take the word of someone my age seriously."