Evil dragon has a warm heart
Chapter 565 - 565 563 The First Golden Imperial Edict

Chapter 565: Chapter 563: The First Golden Imperial Edict Chapter 565: Chapter 563: The First Golden Imperial Edict Atop the Dragon Platform, the dragon court homage ceremony concluded, and the Shadowflame Dragon returned to Shadowflame Volcano, while Russell slowly descended the steps from the platform.

“Your Highness!” called the nobles.

“Back to the great hall,” Russell lifted his hand.

The enthronement ceremony’s procedures had all been completed, but that did not mean there were no matters left to attend to; on the contrary, there were even more important tasks ahead.

“Your Highness, it’s time for you to accept the oath of loyalty from the Dragon Blood Knights,” said Chief Steward Lord Kunbei, as the overseer of many aspects of the ceremony, “After the Knight Regiment swears allegiance, all the nobles must follow.”

It was an expected part of the process.

After all, the Shadowflame Grand Duchy had already undergone a de facto political succession; the knights who had originally sworn allegiance to the Flamecrest Dragonblood Family naturally needed to reassert their loyalty to Russell.

“Let’s begin,” Russell sat back down on the golden-forged Grand Ducal Throne and handed the scepter and seal to an Inner Fortress Attendant beside him.

The process was not complicated.

The Dragon Blood Knights were inspected and took their oath of loyalty, followed by the major nobles who came forth to pledge their fealty one by one, and then the Duchy’s Lords. With such a large number, besides a few major nobles, who pledged loyalty individually, the rest pledged in groups.

All Russell needed to do was draw his sword and tap the shoulders of those swearing allegiance once on each side — for the knights pledging en masse, Russell merely gestured twice with his sword in the air.

Thus it was done.

From eight in the morning until noon, a four-hour duration, the enthronement ceremony finally concluded.

Lunch was then taken in the great hall.

In the afternoon, Russell had to deal with governmental affairs, which left him somewhat speechless, “Count Merlin, the Council of Elders has not yet disbanded, these affairs can be handled by you.”

But Count Merlin bowed in response, “Your Highness, the Council can deal with trivial matters, but for issues concerning Your Highness and the Inner Fort, the Council has no authority and must ask for Your Highness to attend to them personally.”

“What issues?” inquired Russell.

At that moment within the great hall, only the seven ruling members of the Council of Elders were present; Chief Steward Lord Kunbei rose from his chair and said, “Your Highness, firstly, if you choose to reside in the Inner Fort, then Princess Anxia and Princess Kunlaya will have to move out…”

“No need,” Russell waved his hand, “Princess Anxia and Princess Kunlaya are the legitimate line of the Flamecrest Dragonblood Family. Although I have inherited the position of Grand Duke, I have yet to form a pact with Shadowflame; I am not yet part of the Flamecrest Dragonblood Family, so I won’t reside in the Inner Fort.”

“Then where will Your Highness reside?”

“I’ll live at Cigar Castle,” Russell smiled slightly, “For me, a trip to and from Cigar Castle takes no more than twenty minutes… Declare Cigar Castle as the Cigar Manor in my name. I will live there, and Princess Anxia and her daughter will continue to reside in the Inner Fort.”

Count Merlin took a step forward, “Your Highness, I believe this is unwise.”

“And why is that?”

“Sooner or later Your Highness will make a pact with His Highness Shadowflame and become the new Inferno Dragonblood Family; it is proper for you to enter the Inner Fort. Moreover, Princess Anxia has already discussed with the Council of Elders and agreed to move to a small castle near Furious Wind City.”

Russell pondered for a moment and then said, “Let’s compromise. Princess Anxia and her daughter may reside in the Inner Fort until Kunlaya comes of age and still enjoy their current treatment. Once Kunlaya comes of age and is married, Princess Anxia can then move out of the Inner Fort.”

The Elders had no objections.

“Lord Kunbei, what other matters require my personal attention?” Russell continued.

Lord Kunbei replied, “It concerns Your Highness’s surname, the title of Count Thunderflame, and the issue of the land in the small oasis of Cloud Dream Marsh.”

“There’s no need to change my surname for now,” Russell waved his hand, “As for the title of Count Thunderflame, just annul it, or perhaps leave it for a Crown Prince in the future. I decide to split the small oasis of Cloud Dream Marsh into three provinces and incorporate them into the Volcanic Oasis.”

“The third issue,” Lord Kunbei continued, “the date for the dissolution of the Council of Elders has been set for a week from now, and Your Highness needs to quickly form a Cabinet.”

When Kunstan ascended the throne, the Council of Elders delayed its dissolution.

Now that Russell had ascended, the Council of Elders had set a date for its dissolution, and no one dared to vie for power and profit against this new Grand Duke Russell.

“A Cabinet, huh,” Russell mused, “Count Merlin, I’ll leave it to you to form the Cabinet for me.”

The crowd immediately turned their gaze to Count Merlin.

A flash of gratification appeared in Count Merlin’s eyes, then he slowly and firmly shook his head: “Your Highness, I am of an advanced age and truly unable to bear the pressures of Red Castle any longer. I have already decided to leave Red Castle and return to my fief to live out my retirement.”

“How could you abandon me and leave,” Russell rose from the Grand Ducal Throne, “I have suddenly taken my place as Grand Duke and need your support now more than ever.”

“You flatter me, Your Highness,” Count Merlin said, “Your strength, your stable mind, your cunning methods, and your broad vision surpass mine by far. After your ascension, I can retire in peace!”

Naturally, Russell was reluctant to let Count Merlin leave.

He knew his own limitations. Sending him to hunt Snow Giants, he would grab his sword and head to the Snowfields without a second thought; however, governing a country was somewhat out of his reach, and he didn’t want to waste his time on this either.

Cultivating, becoming stronger, traveling the world—that was what he wanted to do.

If Count Merlin were to leave, he would have no choice but to ask his father, Baron Roman, to govern the country for him.

But while Baron Roman could manage a Warm Enclave without issue, governing a country was beyond his experience. Therefore, no matter what, he had to convince Count Merlin to support him for a few more years to facilitate a smooth transition for Baron Roman and others.

Immediately,

He said to Lord Kunbei, “I am prepared to issue an edict, how should I go about issuing it?”

“Your Highness, there are four levels of edicts,” Lord Kunbei said, “The first level is the ‘Charter,’ which details the laws of the Grand Duchy; once issued, even the Grand Duke must abide by them…”

The second level is the ‘Edict,’ which encompasses all official documents and appointments.

The third level is the ‘Proclamation,’ which deals with major events and announces certain rewards as examples of government affairs.

The fourth level is the ‘Brief,’ which contains brief contents the Grand Duke may issue on the fly, akin to passing a note telling someone to do something.

After Lord Kunbei had finished describing the four types of edicts, he added, “For a Charter, the Ducal Sacrificial Seal and the Grand Duke’s personal seal, which is the golden seal, need to be affixed, along with the cabinet seal; an Edict requires the golden seal; a Proclamation needs the cabinet seal; a Brief only requires the Grand Duke’s signature.”

Throughout the years of the Council of Elders’ rule, the edicts they issued were not stamped with the golden seal, including the edicts appointing Russell as Baron and Earl.

But with the backing of the Shadowflame Dragon, it was of little consequence.

“Then I shall issue my first Golden Imperial Edict,” Russell stated, “Let the Council of Elders draft the content of the edict for me.”

“Yes, Your Highness,” Lord Kunbei replied.

“The content of the edict is to appoint Count Merlin as a Marquis in recognition of his years of service to the country,” Russell said with a smile as he revealed the content of the edict.

“Your Highness, I cannot accept!” Count Merlin immediately stood up to decline.

But Russell spoke with an undeniable tone, “Count Merlin has served the country well, and no one can deny that, so there is no need to decline. I also hope that Count Merlin, no, Marquis Merlin, can help me build a solid Cabinet and continue to contribute your light and warmth to the nation.”

With such honors.

Count Merlin, who was already reluctant to relinquish power, finally agreed after several refusals, “Your old servant is willing to share Your Highness’s burdens!”