Following the Grand Duke's guidance, we entered the palace banquet hall.
Fourteen Grand Dukes of the Demon Realm were already seated, excluding the Doksa Grand Duke. About half of them were Vampires or Elves, while the remaining half consisted of the Hu and Miao races, along with Centaurs, Orcs, and Goblins. It offered a glimpse into just how stark the class hierarchy based on race was in the Demon Realm.
All the Grand Dukes rose and bowed with precise formality. Paimon and I shook hands with each of them in turn.
"Your Highness, you remain as beautiful as ever."
"The two of you traveling together — it is enough to dazzle our eyes."
A few rounds of courtesy exchanged, and we took our seats at the head of the table. Daisy and Ivar flanked us on either side, standing guard.
"Everyone, please be seated."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"I will be brief and get straight to the point."
I surveyed the assembled Grand Dukes.
"I wish to publicly apologize for how I treated you by coercion at the last ball. It was an act that disregarded the achievements and positions you have built over the course of a long time."
"You honor us far too greatly, Your Highness."
The Doksa Grand Duke spoke on behalf of the others.
"How could the Master of Manma bow his head to servants such as ourselves? Simply having our modest efforts acknowledged is already the greatest honor and privilege."
"I thank you once more for your generous hearts. For Manma."
I raised my wine glass. The Grand Dukes lifted their glasses in response. At my call of "For Manma," they drank their wine. Attendants moved around the table, refilling the empty glasses.
Now then — from here, the real matter began.
"The motion to abolish slavery will be proposed once more at the next Walpurgis Night."
"……."
"The reason the motion failed last time was because there was a difference of opinion between the Plains Faction and the Mountain Faction. Whether the humanoid races should be included in the scope of slave emancipation — that was the point of contention. And so."
I subtly turned my face and nodded toward Paimon. Paimon nodded back.
"Our Mountain Faction has decided to yield one step to the Plains Faction."
"Your Excellency, then at the next Walpurgis Night…"
"Yes. The emancipation of all slaves, with the exception of the humanoid races, will be declared."
An uncomfortable current flowed among the Grand Dukes.
"Hmm…"
"Ahem."
The Grand Dukes had amassed tremendous power and wealth by enslaving other demon races. Being told that their vested interests were about to vanish right before their eyes — they couldn't have been pleased about it. After a brief pause, the Duke of Venom spoke.
"Your Excellency. Please do not doubt our sincere devotion. There are no others who feel as deeply as we do about the great principle that all demon races should be equal under the Demon Lord."
"I understand completely."
"All we ask for is merely a measure of magnanimous mercy. Unfortunately, this world has its necessary evils."
The Duke of Venom clasped his hands together like a merchant and shook them slightly.
"By imposing hard labor on a minority of slaves, free citizens are consequently freed from the burden of making a living and can actively participate in politics. Every time the Crescent Alliance Army rose up, we supported massive volunteer forces from the Demon Realm — but if slaves had not sustained the industry in the rear, assembling such volunteer forces would have been entirely impossible."
"……."
"Your Excellency. A considerable portion of our devotion originates from slavery. You must understand this point."
If slaves were emancipated, their own power and wealth would diminish.
In that case, the funds and troops they provided to the Demon Lord's army would inevitably decrease as well.
In other words, the Grand Dukes were issuing a warning: "If you emancipate the slaves, we will use that as justification to no longer actively support the Demon Lord's army."
"Of course, I have no intention of forcing one-sided sacrifices upon you."
"Oh. What do you mean by that?"
"I intend to distribute the continental territories to you."
The Grand Dukes murmured among themselves.
"Forgive our asking, Your Highness. How much territory, and how do you propose to divide it amongst us?"
"Bring the map."
Ivar pulled a large scroll from within his robes and unfolded it. The map of the Habsburg Empire depicted the territories to be distributed to the Grand Dukes, shaded in black.
"They were originally the lands possessed by the traitor Valefor and the six other Demon Lords. As you can see, it is a considerable amount."
"……Truly so, Your Highness."
"I intend to distribute these lands to you as fairly as possible. If you wish, you may divide amongst yourselves and determine your own shares. I guarantee you complete freedom."
"Hmm."
The Grand Dukes exchanged whispers with those seated beside them. It seemed that those with prior affiliations had seated themselves close together. Attendants moved about busily, conveying their master's thoughts to the other party.
Once opinions had somewhat crystallized:
The Duke of Poison, after receiving a whisper from an attendant, nodded.
"On behalf of everyone, I thank you for your gracious proposal. However, Your Highness. Would such a proposal for us Grand Dukes to divide the continent truly pass at Walpurgis Night? For example, His Highness Barbatos would strongly dislike our expansion into the continent."
"This proposal will be handled unofficially."
The Grand Dukes frowned.
Only the Duke of Poison maintained a composed expression and asked again.
"I am honored, but the word 'unofficially' does not sound at all favorable to my ears."
"I cannot formally grant titles such as Count or Baron. If I did, you would become equals to the Demon Lords, would you not?"
"Then what?"
"You shall be appointed as officials of the Habsburg Empire."
It was a basic sleight of hand.
First, the territories seized from the six traitors would remain bound as the Emperor's land. However, the Grand Dukes of the Demon Realm would be dispatched to each region as "stewards governing the land on behalf of the Emperor." In practice, the Grand Dukes would become the true masters of those lands.
"The Emperor has the right to appoint stewards personally. There is no need to seek consent at Walpurgis Night. Even if some Demon Lords object, there is nothing they can do about it."
The Grand Dukes whispered amongst themselves once more.
As the murmurings quietly settled, one Grand Duke rose from his seat. He was a portly, balding man from a powerful clan who ruled Ulbala Hell.
Incidentally, this was the Grand Duke who had been particularly displeased when I threatened him at the last ball. Sure enough, though his tone was polite, the content of his words was quite aggressive.
"Your Grace. I humbly beg your pardon, but the promise you have proposed to us appears to require collateral."
"Collateral? Do tell."
"The fact that the Emperor can unilaterally assign management of the fiefdoms means, conversely, that he can also unilaterally dismiss the stewards at any time."
At Grand Duke Ulbala's pointed observation, the others nodded with murmurs of agreement.
"Your Grace's offer is attractive, but it is not permanent."
"......"
"In order to turn this promise from a temporary comfort into a permanent contract, Your Grace must entrust us with some form of guarantee."
I raised the corner of my mouth.
"What is it that you desire?"
Grand Duke Ulbala bowed his head halfway.
"A marriage alliance, Your Grace."
Marriage. The sudden word set the crowd buzzing. Paying no heed to the unsettled atmosphere, Grand Duke Ulbala continued his speech with unwavering confidence.
"As I understand it, His Grace Dantalion has yet to officially take a wife or take a concubine. Your Grace. We happen to have daughters who have come of age. Please accept our daughters as concubines."
"What on earth...!"
Paimon shot up from his seat in agitation. His Affinity had already reached 80. But when someone casually suggests taking a concubine, of course you'd be furious.
I quickly grabbed Paimon's hand to hold him back. He looked over at me, speaking through his eyes alone. This proposal is absurd. I shook my head. Only then did Paimon suppress his rage and settle back into his chair.
Meanwhile, the Grand Duke after Grand Duke was backing up Ulbala, one or two at a time.
"By forging an alliance thicker than blood, may Your Grace establish an eternal and unshakable bond of trust between yourself and us."
"Your Grace. I believe Duke Ulbala's proposal is truly most fitting."
"Please grant your approval, Your Grace!"
One after another, the Grand Dukes began to raise their voices in unison.
……This was all playing out according to script.
The Grand Dukes were putting on faces as though they were hearing about a marriage alliance for the first time, but there was no way they would accept something this significant without prior discussion. Quiet words had already been exchanged among them behind the scenes. And now, they brought it up here.
I stared at the Count Doksa.
Count Doksa gave a slight bow of his head in deference.
"This humble one also believes the proposal to be appropriate. Your Grace, please grant your approval."
"……."
If I took a concubine, the Grand Dukes would essentially be planting a spy in the heart of the empire.
As the daughters of Demon Realm Grand Dukes, no matter how much I was the supreme ruler, I couldn't simply treat them as I pleased. I would have to acknowledge them as proper concubines. And once granted the status of "concubine of a Court Count," they could use that position to scheme in all manner of ways.
A worm in the heart of a lion.
The Grand Dukes shouting the loudest out there were harboring exactly those thoughts. Meanwhile, the word echoing through my mind was "sacrifice."
Sacrifice.
A sacrifice born of necessity.
I opened my mouth.
"Very well."
"That's impossible…"
Paimon looked at me with a face full of disbelief. I gave her a signal with my eyes, indicating 'let's talk about this later.' Despite that, Paimon's expression remained one of utter dejection.
"However, accepting all of your daughters is simply too burdensome. I will take seven, not fifteen, as concubines. Furthermore, this is not a negotiation—it is my final condition."
The Grand Dukes stood up in unison and bowed at the waist.
"Your Grace is most merciful!"
And then, just as previously arranged, servants entered the banquet hall carrying platters of mountain and sea delicacies. Dishes were quickly served on the tables.
The Grand Dukes, smiles plastered on their faces, raised their wine glasses. When I proposed the toast, "For the glory of all under heaven," they shouted, "Long live Lord Dantalion! Long live Lord Paimon!" as they drank. Instantly, the atmosphere in the hall grew hot and lively.
"……."
The only person excluded from that atmosphere was Paimon.
Even as toasts were exchanged, Paimon remained silent, holding the glass in her right hand. Her eyes were dark and deeply submerged. The Grand Dukes laughed, chattered, and drank. Paimon simply held her wine glass quietly.
"……Excuse me."
Paimon set her glass on the table and stood up.
Clutching the ends of her dress, she strode quickly out of the ballroom. If I hadn't seen wrong, Paimon shed a single tear as she rose.
With the main guest of honor departing, the atmosphere in the hall grew heavy for a moment. However, the Grand Dukes skillfully changed the subject and lightened the mood once more.
I rose from my chair.
"I must also take my leave for a moment."
"Please take your time, Your Grace."
The Grand Duke of Doksa lowered his head in a bow.
I followed Paimon out of the ballroom.