Evil dragon has a warm heart
Chapter 576 - 576 574 Loyalty is Not Absolute

Chapter 576: Chapter 574: Loyalty is Not Absolute Chapter 576: Chapter 574: Loyalty is Not Absolute After the issuance of the Golden Imperial Edict, the discussion within the Grand Duchy regarding its content was intense.

When the rabbit dies, the fox grieves; the downfall of the Osclo family inevitably struck a chord with the nobility.

Even the Prime Minister, Marquis Merlin, sought out Russell, “This punishment is too severe. Osclo may have behaved inappropriately in some ways, but overall, he did not truly act excessively. The crime does not warrant such a punishment.”

“Grandfather,” Russell said with an indifferent expression, “my punishment of Osclo has nothing to do with the severity of his crimes.”

“What do you mean?” Marquis Merlin frowned, increasingly unable to comprehend the actions of his grandson since his ascension.

“It is simply because he lacked reverence,” Russell stated calmly.

“Lacked reverence?” Marquis Merlin’s brows furrowed deeply.

“Yes,” Russell looked at the Marquis Merlin, who was failing to grasp the concept, and continued lightly, “The governance of the Council of Elders for two or three decades, with the Grand Ducal Throne pending, has bred arrogance among all nobles, blurring the lines between sovereign and subject.”

Hearing this, Marquis Merlin gazed intently at Russell.

Russell met Marquis Merlin’s gaze with calm, “I did not ascend as any noble’s chosen son; I ascended as the intimate companion of Shadowflame, as the Phantom Dragon Knight who will reach new heights in the Way of the Knight. My legitimacy is indisputable, my power is boundless.”

He paused, giving Marquis Merlin time to digest his words.

Only then did Russell continue, “However, the nobility of the entire nation, the Knights who have sworn fealty to me, they lack sufficient reverence and loyalty towards me. Loyalty that is not absolute, is absolutely not loyalty. My nation must be utterly loyal to me, from top to bottom!”

Huff!

Huff!

Marquis Merlin’s chest rose and fell violently.

Russell’s words were not only a definitive statement on Osclo’s fate but also a severe reproach towards him.

As the Prime Minister, he was one of those whose loyalty was not absolute.

He always saw Russell as his grandson and deep down believed that Russell had unjustly usurped Mel’s position. Had Russell not cordially invited him as a Marquis, he would have had no desire to form the Cabinet and help Russell control the nation.

He, as Russell’s grandfather, was thus not utterly loyal.

One could only imagine the pride and prejudice of the Cabinet Ministers and noble lords beneath him.

Had Russell been merely a common Phantom Beast Knight or Flying Dragon Knight, his authority would not have been sufficient, ultimately requiring compromise with the entire nobility. However, as a Phantom Dragon Knight, destined to become a Dragon Knight,

His power was more than enough to crush the entire country, leaving no room for accepting the current situation or anything less than absolute loyalty.

“I understand, Your Highness,” Marquis Merlin aged a decade in a moment after he realized Russell’s intentions.

He could understand, but he could not accept.

For nearly twenty years, he had been the head of the nation, but now he had to offer absolute loyalty to Russell, his own grandson.

His pride would not permit him to be utterly loyal to another so easily, and he bowed deeply, “I have reservations about this Golden Imperial Edict and cannot maintain consensus with Your Highness. Therefore, I hereby resign from my position as Prime Minister.”

Russell watched Marquis Merlin.

After straightening up, Marquis Merlin calmly met Russell’s gaze.

In that moment, Russell’s eyes no longer saw the affable grandfather from days past, and in Count Merlin’s eyes, there was no longer a need to shelter his grandson under his wing. A silent exchange, a wordless confrontation, thus came to an end.

“Approved,” Russell waved his hand and sat back down in the grand ducal throne crafted from pure gold.

Marquis Merlin turned swiftly, striding out of the great hall, thus ending his decade-spanning career in governance.

…

The next day, there were changes within the Cabinet, as Marquis Merlin resigned from his position as Prime Minister.

Russell quickly promoted the Minister of Finance, Baron Gavidas of the Bull Horns, Geweidasi Baimaigen, to take over as Prime Minister and appointed the seasoned Lord Dante into the seven-person Cabinet to serve as the new Minister of Finance.

Baron Geweidasi’s first task after taking office was to carry out the Golden Imperial Edict issued by Russell, exiling Osclo and his son.

Inside the Grand Duchy, this stirred unease among the people.

Baron Roman couldn’t help but seek out Russell to ask, “Why did your grandfather suddenly resign as head of the Cabinet, and how could you agree to it? I thought he would serve as Prime Minister for a few more years.”

“Father, in Grandfather’s eyes, I probably wasn’t the ideal candidate for Grand Duke,” Russell replied with a faint smile.

“Why do you say that?”

“The Cabinet he presided over lacked respect for me,” said Russell, “I demanded punishment for Osclo, but the Cabinet came back with ten years of hard military service, which is not punishment; it’s pity.”

“Maybe that’s not the case,” Baron Roman tried to explain, “Even I think you’ve been too harsh on Osclo.”

“You are my father, and of course, you can blame me for not being merciful enough,” Russell shook his head, “But my vassals can’t do that. I need absolute loyalty, not bargaining with me and least of all, looking down on me.”

That was why he had so readily agreed to the resignation of Marquis Merlin.

Because Marquis Merlin had never properly recognized his position, looking down on him, and by extension, the entire Cabinet would take his will lightly.

“This is too domineering,” sighed Baron Roman, “Even Quentin III, during his reign, had to curry favor with the nobles.”

“But no noble ever dared to take Quentin III’s words lightly; his will was always fully implemented,” Russell said, “Ultimately, I have been too infrequent in exercising my authority domestically.”

He placed his hand on the sword of Grand Ducal valor: “They know the terror of Frost Giants and Snow Giants, but not my own terror!”

“You,” said Baron Roman half in resignation and half in annoyance, “shouldn’t be thinking about fighting and killing all the time. After all, the country still relies on the nobles to help govern, and the Grand Duchy’s current situation was also fought for by the nobles, sword by sword, spear by spear.”

“That’s true, but no one can rest on their laurels forever. Even the hereditary grand nobles must carry out and execute my will.”

Pausing, Russell said, “Father, the nobles desire a Grand Duke like Kunstan, but unfortunately, I’m not him. Besides, with the Frost Star Eclipse, the Frost Giant’s world will soon invade through the gates from another realm, and everything about the state must be unified under my will.”

“Perhaps you don’t need to be so impatient,” Baron Roman retorted, somewhat dismissive of the Frost Star invasion, “After all, the Frost Star Eclipse is just a great quake, and it didn’t even cause many houses to collapse.”

Or rather, most nobles did not believe that the Frost Star Eclipse was a dangerous omen.

After five thousand years of the Warm Age, humanity had been too long at peace; to them, the Snow Giants were the greatest threat.

How could things get worse than the national upheaval after the second downfall a few years back?

“I and King Ares do not think so,” Russell explained briefly, but seeing Baron Roman’s skeptical expression, he said no more, “It’s settled that Grandfather will leave Red Castle, so please and Mother spend more time to comfort him.”

Russell always remembered the good Marquis Merlin had done for him, like the time he gifted the Tobacco Sprite Niko to solve his significant financial difficulties.

One could say it was his earliest investment in him.

But he also afforded Marquis Merlin dignity, and now, without the entanglements of state affairs, perhaps their family relationship could become purer.

“Alas!” Baron Roman shook his head.