The Wolves of the North (6)

Constance, understanding the feelings of Aldrik, closes his eyes and thinks carefully if he will accept the task or not. This task will sure give him a lot of benefits from the empire but also the unforeseen troubles and dangers will be with it, especially that the enemies are hiding in the dark and has the capacity to keep on par or even better from the imperial capabilities in intelligence and fighting in the dark.

It might bring trouble for him and the Margravate of Arignon, if he recklessly participates in the investigation. The Margravate has already a lot at its hand, adding more would only bring destruction and possibly ruin to their fief.

"Your Imperial Majesty... Sir Aldrik... if we, the Margravate of Arignon would participate in the investigation, what would we gain from this?" Constance also drinks the tea prepared for them, he wants to know if the gains and rewards are worth enough for the troubles and damages that they might suffer participating in the investigation.

"Whatever you want, we can give it to you. Just name it, we can give it as long as you can give us appropriate information for the rewards." Aldrik is the one who responds to Constance, the emperor keeping his silence, observing the opposite side. They can't underestimate Constance even if he is young as they know he is capable of negotiations based on what they heard.

"Sir Aldrik, I think that would be troubling to us. It will put us in a disadvantage if we participate but we can't gain anything because we can't get any information you deemed necessary and important." Constance said while sipping the tea, he looks directly to the face of both the emperor and Aldrik.

The emperor is still calm while Aldrik's face turned slightly ugly but immediately returns to his poker calm face. That change didn't go unnoticed to both Constance and Emile who continued to observe the emperor and Aldrik.

While everything is happening, Emile remains silent as he knows that it would be better if Constance was the only one negotiating. The opponents in the negotiating are the most powerful man in the empire, Emperor Frederick XI, and Sir Aldrik, someone who is also a close aide of the emperor.

"What do the Margravate needs then? We will give it as soon as we return to the capital" Emperor Frederick XI breaks his silence, even if he is already very old and he is not as active and strong when he is young, the regal and majestic aura that he exudes didn't change, instead the experience and old age makes it more meaningful.

This is what Constance is waiting for, the emperor is the one who offers the black cheque.

"Your Imperial Majesty, the truth is I'm willing to participate in the investigation, but I know that we would need the resources and connections of the Margravate, I know that my grandfather would not agree without getting tangible benefits... I think I can persuade my grandfather if you can offer something to our Margravate." Constance said calmy.

The face of Aldrik becomes uglier as it realizes that the young lord of Arignon is trying to take advantage of the emperor for more benefits. But he can only remain silent as the emperor signals him to not talk.

The emperor knew that asking the help of a high noble would result in this scenario and said something that shocked both Constance and Emile.

"Tax and tariffs exemption of all products and trades from the Margravate to all imperial territories in the empire for five years, no tribute to the imperial crown for ten years, and the right to raise the Margrave's army to another legion size." The emperor said casually that shock both Constance and Emile, the Margrave is only allowed to raise one legion size of personal army numbering 20,000 to protect its fief. Having the chance to raise one more would give them up to 40,000 soldiers.

It would make the Margrave of Arignon's army the largest standing army aside from the imperial legions inside the empire. Giving the rights to raise another legion would alleviate the pressure the Margravate having right now, facing the Kingdom of Abysia with alone on the fief's border and maintaining the Margravate's colony, New Arignon, in the east with only 20,000 troops is already stretching thin its security.

"Really Your Imperial Majesty?" Constance smiles happily knowing that he can help his grandfather as the emperor is the only one who can command the nobles how many soldiers they should have and having more than the stated would mean treason against the emperor.

"If you accept the investigation and the conditions?" Emperor Frederick XI also smiles, knowing that the young Lord would accept as he knows the desperate state of the Margravate who is constantly facing raids and skirmishes from the Kingdom of Abysia.

"What are your conditions Your Imperial Majesty?" Constance asks immediately.

Constance knows that he must accept whatever conditions the emperor wants, the Margravate has already denied a lot of times in requesting to expand its army to the emperor even if only a few thousand or hundreds. The opportunity of expanding to twenty thousand is already a god send opportunity for them.

"Hmmm... it's not that complicated young Arignon... Aside from joining the investigation, you must support the Crown Prince for the imperial crown, and you must marry my granddaughter, Princess Tessia." Emperor Fredrick XI just said casually. He even smiles slightly to Constance after the shocking conditions he had just dropped.

"..."

"Hehehe... the boy is dead"

Constance is silent because of the conditions the emperor wants in exchange for the right to raise a legion and exemptions on tax, tariffs and tributes while Emile is trying to stop himself from laughing at the turn of events.

The terms the emperor wants are simple yet complicated at the same time. First, supporting the crown prince, Prince Alexander Aquintaine, in his vie for the imperial crown means becoming the enemy to other noble families who are supporting other candidates. The Arignon family had survived not having enemies within the empire by maintaining their neutral stance in regard to politics and imperial succession.

Marrying Princess Tessia Aquintaine is also a big headache for Constance, tying the knot with an imperial princess means the Arignon family would be part of the imperial family in the future. That would only spell trouble, not only for him but also for the future descendants of the Arignon family who would be dragged into the imperial politics game.