After Being Sold Out By The Empire, I Decide To Assist The Demon King
Chapter 265 - 9: The Directly-Sponsored Nouveau Riche

Chapter 265: Chapter 9: The Directly-Sponsored Nouveau Riche

"Let me lead the team?"

Caligula, with his beautiful long hair, leaned back in his chair as he looked at the order from Isabella. He gently kicked, signaling the maid kneeling before him—who had just finished the previous round of tending—to leave the room.

Then Caligula fastened his belt himself, pondering the intentions of the princess.

...

Ulrichla leading the team, all of the "seats" going to the battlefield, and all the surrounding territories being mobilized... It didn’t align with the previously established strategy for the Duchy.

Was it really time for a full-scale war? But could the Empire, which had just ended a thousand-year war, truly sustain another potential millennium-long conflict? The soldiers, the civilians, the territories... Could they really endure this?

*"Waste of labor and money."*

Caligula sighed as he muttered to himself... Although he was very much a typical noble, due to his lifespan, he actually enjoyed the remnants of ancient nobility, and the civilians under his rule were well-treated, especially in his own territory.

This was precisely why he was as beloved by the civilians as Yila... even though this did not conflict with him being a terrible and unscrupulous man.

Soon after, Caligula patted his outfit, readying himself to head to the front lines. Although he wasn’t too willing to leave the Royal Capital, since it was Isabella’s decree, he naturally would accept it.

After all, he was not a rebellious type like Yila.

Even though driving Yila away made him a bit worried that that bastard might cause trouble, and even though his workload had increased significantly, at least there was no worry about the princess being influenced by treacherous ministers.

Caligula had also been sleeping better lately.

"Ding ding ding~"

At the sound of the bell Caligula shook, his butler entered the room... efficiently, almost as if he had been waiting right outside the door rather than rushing over as quickly as possible.

The heaving of the old butler’s chest indicated that he had indeed rushed up the stairs in the quietest and fastest way possible.

"The princess’s orders, prepare the carriage to return to my territory... We need to head to the front lines within a week."

Caligula spoke of the not-so-generous timeline while looking at his nodding butler, instructing, "Time is tight, we must leave today. Summon Zimmerman, Owela, Sir Laki... an urgent call; I need to see them before noon."

To be honest, Caligula was really worried about his followers, especially those who had elevated themselves to dukes by buying titles and now considered themselves on par with Caligula.

What a bunch of fools. They had used their land and grain to buy titles, leaving fewer soldiers to support them...

But putting himself in their shoes, Caligula figured that if he were an earl, marquis, viscount, or baron, he too would find such a temptation irresistible... because large nobles oppressed smaller ones all the time.

If there were an opportunity to climb up, even he would seize it firmly.

In other words! It’s your damned fault! Yila Elkaras!

"Yes, Lord Caligula."

Amidst the anger in Caligula’s eyes, the old butler nodded in response. He glanced at a nearby cabinet and asked, "My lord, do we need to bring these items?"

The "items" in the cabinet were piles and piles of plush dolls of Yila, which Caligula used to vent his rage...

"No need. On the battlefield, I will have other ways to calm my fury."

Even thinking about Yila put Caligula in a foul mood, but he still addressed his butler with a gentle demeanor, "First gather the guards, I am going to seek an audience with Her Highness."

"Yes, my lord."

——————————

In the Royal City, carriages were not permitted, so Caligula’s way to the palace was carried by a sedan... along the way, he encountered many of his peers.

It seemed a war was indeed imminent, despite the recent peace.

Thinking this, Caligula looked at the nobles who continuously discussed "military achievements" and "fiefs" with excitement... and felt a bit disheartened.

Those who had lived in the Royal City all their lives might not realize that the prices inflated due to war were already beyond what people in remote territories could bear.

*How much longer could they last? A hundred years? Two hundred years? Certainly, no more than five hundred years...*

Caligula suddenly felt that if Yila were still in the country, maybe he could knock some sense into these complacent nobles... So that fool who forged imperial decrees really was an idiot!

Yila was also a bastard! All bastards!!!

...

*It was truly difficult for Caligula. All the exceptionally talented individuals were his enemies, including Yila, whom even Caligula himself could not help but admire and acknowledge with the words, "I am not his equal"—his archenemy...*

*And those willing to stand by him were all fools.*

"Lord Caligula! Today’s sunlight is as bright as always, and you seem to be in good spirits~"

To this greeting from a minor noble, Caligula didn’t think he looked particularly spirited, but he nodded and made small talk with the noble walking alongside him, "Thanks to your good words. You seem quite happy yourself; has something good happened?"

Although he said this, Caligula had a general guess... This was probably another one hoping to profit from the war.

"Yes, my lord... In Princess Isabella’s order, I will be part of a free regiment, able to fight freely according to my own plans as long as I don’t disrupt the military formation, and only need to follow the princess’s direct commands."

"..."

"..."

*No faction allegiance?! He had no faction allegiance?!!!*

"Military matters should not be lightly disclosed to others, even to peers."

Caligula maintained his composure as he admonished the big-mouthed noble, but inside, a storm was brewing... This was a noble without faction allegiance, neither belonging to the Yila Faction nor to Caligula’s side.

Directly subordinate to the princess... How long had it been since such a thing existed?

"My lord, how should I address you? Do you know how many troops are free like you?"

As Caligula carefully chose his words, the small noble responded candidly, "Ah, I am Torras Levi, a newly ennobled aristocrat... I’m not sure of the exact number, probably about a dozen?"

"..."

In that case, Caligula remembered. These were the eleven newcomers who had filled the vacant baron positions in a recent ennobling ceremony... None of them had sided with any faction?

Caligula didn’t know when he had arrived at the palace. Even as he sought an audience with Princess Isabella, he kept pondering the situation... This interconnected scheme was likely that bastard’s handiwork again, right?

He had been outmaneuvered again... If only he had been firmer regarding the matter of buying titles earlier.

...

The Empire was about to change.