Breaking news!
The Maximilian family has ushered in a moment of unity of great historical significance!
Through the active mediation and highly effective efforts of Miss Alicia, an important family member, His Highness Lemeng von Maximilian, the former ruler of Saxon City, officially returned to the family’s main castle today, marking the complete resolution of the ongoing internal strife and the reunification of the family’s strength.
His Highness Lion von Maximilian, head of the family, warmly received His Highness Prince Lemont in the main hall of the central castle and held a solemn and harmonious welcoming ceremony.
The two sides engaged in constructive talks in a warm and friendly atmosphere.
His Highness Lion highly praised the outstanding administrative skills and dedication to diligent governance and caring for the people that His Highness Prince Lemont demonstrated during his rule over Saxon City, fully acknowledging his indelible contributions to stabilizing the northern situation and ensuring the welfare of the people.
His Highness Lion pointed out that the Northern Frontier is currently in a critical period of resisting rebellion and restoring order.
The family needs to unite all forces and gather all wisdom more than ever before.
The return of His Highness Prince Lemont is timely and significant, marking unprecedented unity within the Maximilian family and laying the most solid foundation for the family to face all challenges.
His Highness Prince Lemont expressed heartfelt gratitude to His Highness Lion and the family for their warm welcome.
He stated that he fully agrees with and supports the series of strategic policies and reform measures formulated by His Highness Lion for the family’s survival and development, and expressed admiration for His Highness Lion’s foresight and strong execution in military and political fields.
His Highness Prince Lemont deeply realized that only by uniting around the family leadership core centered on His Highness Lion, with brothers working together and each contributing their strengths, can they effectively cope with the current complex and severe situation, lead the family and its people through the Chaotic Era, and toward revival.
He solemnly promised to devote himself wholeheartedly to his new duties and serve the overall interests of the family.
—
Slap!
Lion slammed the papyrus in his hand hard onto the table.
“You just have someone read this to the citizens in the square every day?”
The girl stood in front of the desk, blinking innocently.
“This is obviously a major event! Lord and Master, I did report to you before, didn’t I? Under the Ministry of Internal Affairs, I established a ‘Propaganda Department’ to read important news to the citizens in the square every day, reflecting our family’s transparency and concern for the people…”
That’s right, the girl was planning to start an Otherworld News Broadcast.
“You explained that set of reasoning about controlling the information source to guide public opinion and rally the people, and I approved it, but!”
Lion grabbed the piece of paper, his fingertip pressing hard on a few lines of text.
“This content, this tone… it’s too strange! Who wrote this draft?”
As he spoke, he suddenly looked up, his sharp gaze locked onto the girl’s face.
“Don’t tell me… it just so happens to be you who wrote it?”
The girl immediately straightened up, puffed out her chest, and proudly patted it.
“That’s right! It is none other than yours truly!”
“You’re actually proud of yourself, boasting like that—you really have no shame!”
Lion was amused by her brazen attitude.
He rubbed his forehead and shook his head helplessly.
“Alright, you really did contribute the most this time.”
“Hehe, you flatter me, Lord and Master, flatter me~~”
Alicia’s little face instantly blossomed into a flower.
She quickly bowed and scraped, rubbing her hands together restlessly, her eyes darting straight toward Lion’s face.
“So, Lord and Master, about that promotion and salary raise…”
“I want to give you a promotion and raise too.”
A playful smile appeared on Lion’s face as he spread his hands.
“But your position has nowhere left to rise!”
“What—?!”
The girl’s eyes flew wide open, her jaw nearly hitting the floor.
“What do you mean… nowhere left to rise?!”
Lion chuckled and counted on his fingers.
“Look, the Maximilian family is mainly divided into three major departments. First, the Ministry of Interior, which handles everything non-military related to people’s livelihood and internal affairs—agriculture, water conservancy, roads… It was temporarily managed by Elder Lord Enlaike before, but now it will definitely be handed over to Prince Lemont. That makes sense, right?”
The girl twitched the corner of her mouth and nodded awkwardly.
“M-makes sense… But Lord and Master, the way you’re talking sounds really familiar, doesn’t it?”
“Does it? You’re overthinking!”
Lion said decisively, but the mischievous smile on his face grew even wider.
“Then there’s the Military and Political Department. You were the one who suggested it, and now General Keleiduosi is in charge. Apart from a few small nobles’ private troops, and even except for your EDF, most of the family’s military and officers are under him. That makes sense, right?”
“Yes…”
“Then there’s the Judicial and Foreign Affairs Department. This department is currently directly managed by Elder Lord Enlaike. The elder is advanced in years. I originally planned to take charge myself after he stepped down, but now that Prince Lemont’s people have returned to the family…”
Lion tapped his finger lightly on the table.
“The successor will most likely be Lord Ludendorff. Don’t let his age fool you—he’s only in his thirties, but he’s a skilled hand at law and diplomacy, sharp and experienced.”
Alicia’s eyes darted around quickly as she silently weighed her own abilities.
She could only helplessly extinguish any unrealistic fantasies in her heart.
Indeed, none of these positions were something she could touch now.
“These three departments are all overseen by the Chief Retainer and ultimately report directly to me. The Chief Retainer is currently Elder Lord Enlaike. What, a newcomer who joined the family just half a year ago thinks she can sit in the seat of Chief Retainer?”
Leaving aside seniority, just the ability to handle internal affairs, military, diplomacy, and law all at once…
She really didn’t have that skill.
The girl touched her nose awkwardly and silently shook her head.
“Finally, there’s the Ministry of Internal Affairs, which you manage.”
Lion leaned back in his chair and spoke slowly.
“It oversees the Propaganda Department, the Cheka, the Inner Court Office, and the Emergency Department. Although it was just established and most of its organizational structure is still an empty shell, the Ministry of Internal Affairs is not under the supervision of the Chief Retainer. In essence, it supervises all departments and retainers. So, still not satisfied?”
Oh right!
‘When you put it that way, unless the Maximilian family really rules the world one day and sets up more complex organizations, within the civil service system, I seem… to have really reached the top!’
“But…”
The girl still felt unwilling.
The title of Minister of Internal Affairs was an absolute top secret.
Apart from the family head Lion, Chief Retainer Enlaike, and the head of the Cheka, Aijier, no fourth person knew about it.
Even the agents under her only knew her code name and the iron rule of “unconditionally obey this person’s orders.”
On the surface, she was still an insignificant Sergeant Major.
She had no place in most family meetings.
Many young retainers looked down on her, the old-timers didn’t take her seriously at all, and Dike Xiaote had even dared to lay hands on her in public!
Although the girl could ignore the contempt and disdain, the trouble brought by her low status was real.
For example, the ideas and strategies she proposed were credited to Lion nine times out of ten.
After all, a mere Sergeant Major had no right to meddle in family affairs.
Not to mention, back when training the New Army and establishing the EDF, it was Lion who gave the direct orders.
On the surface, the success of the EDF was all due to Lion’s genius vision and his excellent leadership as the head of the family.
In the eyes of most retainers, Alicia was just lucky to have received the training mission and done her duty.
It wasn’t a great achievement.
Even with this surrender negotiation, if Elder Lord Enlaike hadn’t accompanied her, Prince Lemont’s side would never have agreed to see her!
A mere Sergeant Major—there were plenty of them.
Why would anyone bother with her?
Even if she spent money to bribe them, she probably couldn’t get through!
The girl was just a “shadow contributor” hidden behind the scenes.
This negotiation with Prince Lemont was the first time she had established a visible achievement on the “front stage.”
But even so, in others’ eyes, most of the credit would still go to Lion’s magnanimity and Elder Lord Enlaike’s crafty schemes.
Lion watched the mix of grievance, unwillingness, and calculation on her face, and understood everything clearly in his heart.
‘Of course I know this girl has planned and risked her life for the family, earning both merit and hardship. Morally and logically, I have to give her a position on the surface that is dignified enough, at least one that won’t let anyone look down on her anymore.’
‘Well, well. So Elder Lord Enlaike, after coming back, has been hinting at me to settle this girl’s status. This is his plan? Make her the Lady of the Manor? At the very least, a fiancée? The old man still hasn’t given up!’
Thinking this, Lion felt a deep sense of powerlessness well up from the bottom of his heart, and his temples began to throb with pain.
“The raise is easy to handle.”
He propped his forehead with one hand and tapped the table with the fingers of the other.
“This time, I’ll promote you to Chiliarch, and your EDF can be expanded to a thousand men. That way, your monthly salary will naturally double. Reasonable and fair.”
The girl’s expression softened a bit, but her mouth still drooped, her frustration clearly written on her face.
After all, a Chiliarch was barely enough to get a seat in military meetings.
For a soldier of common birth, this might be the pinnacle of a lifetime.
But in noble circles, this position was hardly bigger than a sesame seed.
Just then, a sudden inspiration flashed through Lion’s mind.
His eyes lit up, and the helplessness from before was instantly replaced by enthusiasm.
“Hey! Alicia, I remember… you’re of common birth, right?”
“Ye-yeah… What about it?”
The girl was caught off guard by his sudden excitement.
“You’ve performed a great service this time!”
Lion slapped the table, his voice lighter.
“Since I haven’t officially gone to the Imperial Capital to take up the title of Grand Duke yet, I’ll take the opportunity to apply for a title for you. That way, you’ll be a noble! How about it? Start thinking of a family name for yourself right now. That will be your surname from now on!”
“Ah?!”
Alicia was completely stunned.
Her eyes flew wide, and she pointed at her own nose in disbelief.
“A noble? Me?!”
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