After seeing off his brother and sister-in-law, Charlotte made his decision: he would evacuate Mostarburg that afternoon.
He had a premonition that if he stayed any longer, something might happen.
Mostarburg now had neither a duke nor a Duchess. Grand Duke Ferdinand and his wife had no children who survived to adulthood. Grand Duke Joseph and his wife were said to have a daughter, currently attending some university under an assumed name.
Charlotte did not believe that this unknown young noblewoman could inherit the Duchy of Behemoth.
The Empire's stance was already obvious. It wanted to turn the Duchy of Behemoth into an imperial directly governed county, administered by appointed officials. Just as, in the end, Silver Doveburg had not been inherited by Baron Filer's relatives, but by the outsider Baron Filer.
The Empire's local powers were divided into directly governed counties, self-governed local territories, noble territories, overseas territories, and overseas vassal states.
As an empire, of course it was better to have as many directly governed counties as possible. Disobedient self-governed territories and noble territories would ideally not exist at all. But the Empire itself was ruled by great nobles, and the needs of the Empire conflicted with those of its rulers.
At Charlotte's command, the West Wind Knight Regiment immediately sprang into action. After leading his men to several victories, Charlotte's prestige had steadily risen. No matter what background the regiment's members came from, they were all willing to obey his orders.
Charlotte's destination was still Machu Picchu. He had nowhere else to go.
As Charlotte directed the troops in preparation for departure, Archpriest Augsladin descended from the sky. Though he had just been through a battle, he remained calm and composed, without even a wrinkle in his priestly robes.
Charlotte bowed in greeting, but inwardly mused, *Did