Chapter 31: Diplomacy with Grimhilde II and Junker Aristocracy

Joseph Pov

I walk through the corridors of the Kingdom of Heart's Royal Palace, heading to Grimhilde's office while carrying some papers, being guided by a servant, and being followed and protected by my Personal Guards, this would be the last day of negotiations, leaving this kingdom tomorrow morning to finally return to my beloved Vaterland and rest properly before heading to the Kingdom of Arstiin to negotiate with King Henry.

The negotiations, while tiring, were beneficial to Teutonia, managing to have several trade agreements, but I always had the strange feeling that Queen Grimhilde was hiding something, my senses always screamed danger to me when I was near her.

I hate not being able to have a flintlock with me in case that witch tried something against me... oh well, if she tries to cast a spell, I'll have to go the traditional way and beat the hell out of her while yelling for my Guards to help me.

3rd Pov

When Joseph arrived at the entrance to Grimhilde's office, the servant gently knocked on the door before announcing our protagonist's presence, with them waiting only a few seconds before hearing Grimhilde's voice on the other side, with her saying that Joseph could enter the room.

With that, the servant opens the door and bows to Joseph, who enters the office and hears the door close behind him, he looks at Queen Grimhilde, who is calm and graceful as always, looking at Joseph with a small smile on her beautiful face with red cheeks.

"Your Excellency von Farquaad, please take a seat" Grimhilde said as she gestured to Joseph, who sat in a chair facing Grimhilde, while carefully holding the papers that were with him.

"So, Grand Duke von Farquaad, we are finally at the last documents to sign for diplomatic agreements... which are related to defensive agreements," Grimhilde said as she clasped her hands and looked calmly at Joseph.

"I know, Your Excellency, that Teutonia has problems with the Southern Kingdoms; because of that, I need to know, what would the Kingdom of Heart gain from a defensive pact with Teutonia?" Grimhilde asked as she looked into Joseph's eyes, who was calm, knowing that the Queen would ask such a question, with him handing the papers to Grimhilde as he began to speak in a professional tone.

"Simple, Your Royal Majesty, the Kingdom of Heart, after the War against the Southern Kingdoms, if it happens, will have the right to the lands of the neighboring kingdom to the south of the Kingdom of Heart, the Kingdom of Recalia, in addition to economic compensation for participating in the War and certain exclusive rights to further trade with Teutonia," Joseph said calmly as he looked at Queen Grimhilde, who was carefully reading the papers, with her nodding her head in satisfaction, showing that she liked what was written there.

Would this be the tactic that Joseph would use to ensure that both the Kingdom of Heart and Arstiin sided with the Grand Duchy of Teutonia? Would he have to give up some things in exchange for such support? Yes, but better than having a war on several fronts, in addition to possible rebels from the old Duchies who could try to rise against the Grand Duchy.

Hans Pov

Walking through the halls of the Mansion to go to the room where the meeting between some Nobles would take place, I keep thinking about how my life has changed drastically, to the point that I can hardly believe that this is true.

I remember when I was just a few months ago, just a simple third son of farmers who decided to join the Army of the Lord I mean, Grand Duke von Farquaad, I believed that my life was already guaranteed, a fixed salary and if I tried hard I could earn a promotion and receive a better salary, with Mark, my dear friend, joining me, because like me, he was the son of farmers and the fifth son, so he needed to secure a future for himself.

But then the War of the Duchies happened, with me and Mark quickly rising in the Hierarchy to the point where we were able to become candidates for the title of Hereditary Baronet! A title of Nobility! While this title was below the normal Barons, it was a title above Knight and a true title of Nobility.

We were shocked when we heard about this and even more so when we both received the certificates of titles after the war, signed by the Grand Duke himself, who congratulated us for our efforts in the war and gave us such a title.

I still remember seeing Mark on his knees, crying with happiness as he held the certificate of Nobility with extreme care; I won't lie... I cried, too; while we didn't become Nobles with lands, just having such a title made us someone with prestige and importance in society.

When our families heard about this, everyone celebrated, even our family's friends and acquaintances, which was to be expected, since they could proudly say that they knew a Noble to others and things like that. I still remember my father patting me on the back with pride, and my mother crying with happiness.

With such titles, while we didn't have land, we received some privileges when it came to paying less taxes, but soon there would also be obligations that all Nobility, no matter how low, had to fulfill, but in my case and Mark's it was different from the Nobles with lands.

That's why we were in this Mansion, with Mark already in the Room where the meeting would begin, since he had arrived earlier than me, since we were going to meet with Marquis Thelonius von Andelfingen, one of the two Ministers who serve the Grand Duke directly! In addition to being the one who commands the newly created "Ministry of the Interior" after the old Ministry of Police was abolished for something more sophisticated, in addition to controlling, from what I have learned now, several security forces in addition to the Police, ensuring Complete and Absolute Order in the territories of the Grand Duchy, I will not lie, I have a certain fear and respect for the man, because with just a stamp he can declare everyone's death.

When I arrived in the room, I saw several other men there, all wearing the best clothes they could, just like me, everyone other landless Nobles had been invited by the Marquis von Andelfingen, with everyone quite nervous, I then found Mark in a corner, with me going to him, he said nothing, I just waved to him, with him waving back, also saying nothing, I can understand, we were both nervous.

It was then that I saw a man entering the room, a serious man who wore fine clothes, but also carried with him some documents, which he quickly placed on the table next to him before looking at us seriously, with his bright green eyes looking at us as if evaluating us.

"I will be direct with you... I am Marquis Thelonius von Andelfingen, Minister of the Interior and loyal servant of Grand Duke Joseph-Maximus von Farquaad. May his reign last for many years; you were called here because you are a landless Aristocracy, as there was no way to hand over lands to several people. In addition, some places are under military control for reasons that will not be spoken... However, as everyone knows, you have obligations to fulfill... and I will tell you what they are" Said the Marquis seriously as he looked at each of us, with his green eyes looking at us as if he was looking straight into our souls.

"Development," said the Marquis. That single word confused me, and from the looks on everyone's faces, they were too.

"M-Mi'lord, what do you mean by 'development'?" Mark asked, gathering all the courage he could muster at that moment, getting the Marquis' attention.

"Teutonia is currently in a strong state thanks to the conquest of the ancient Duchies, with us managing to win the war thanks to muskets, flintlocks, but most importantly... gunpowder... tell me, when the Kingdoms also discover gunpowder, will we still have an advantage?" The Marquis asked in a calm tone this time, but while he was calm, I and everyone in the room were worried, because we knew that if Teutonia lost its advantage over gunpowder, we could be screwed.

But it was then that I understood where the Marquis was trying to get at with this question and this Development obligation that we are receiving.

"M-M-Mi'lord! So basically, our job is to make Teutonia develop in military terms so that we always have an advantage over our neighbors?" I ask after gathering enough courage, with me looking into the Marquis' eyes, I can see a small smile appear on his face, as if he expected such a question, just waiting for someone to ask it.

"Not only militarily, but also economically, the Government will be actively supporting the Landless Aristocracy, which will be called the 'Junker Aristocracy', so that they can ensure that we can make Teutonia develop in both Civil and Military production." The Marquis then looked at everyone.

"While I know that many would not be able to invent something, the government's investment will not only go to the Junkers who invent directly, but also indirectly. Let's say any of you know someone who has built something that would be extremely useful for fabric production and you have invested in such a person, not only will the person who invented it receive benefits, but mainly the Junker investor and if what was done was extremely useful and incredible, the Junker will receive a promotion in the title of Nobility, in addition to certain direct benefits coming from the Government." This was like a divine revelation coming out of the Marquis' mouth, with everyone falling into complete silence as we absorbed what he said for a good 5 minutes before finally everyone in the room, except the Marquis, was in total euphoria.

I look at Mark as he also looks at me; we say nothing, but we have big smiles on our faces; why wouldn't we be smiling? After all, this is an opportunity for us to grow even more socially and have even more benefits than before.

So we will do what is ordered and develop Teutonia to new heights!