Volume 8 Chapter 2 Part 5

But before that could actually happen, the slaves were incited to revolt by someone and a large-scale rebellion broke out.

「Milza’s death must be a bitter regret for the Margrave of Waldrind right now. 」

Her father snorted.

「However, at this point, it is entirely possible that Marine Kraische might be trying to make peace with Theo Cornero and the rest of the Artuk Treaty. Although she promised to unify the continent by force, she welcomed the likes of the Viceroy of Dartania as one of the Electors, but as soon as he died, she moved on and invited Marquis Dawson to take his place instead. She is the type of woman around which you constantly need to keep your guard up, or else you’re going to end up being replaced before you’ll know it.

Ulrika’s father was originally angry that Marine, who had decided to marry Alexis, the heir to the Fantasia Union, because he thought that this was supposed to be a political marriage entirely for her own convenience.

That may have been her intention in the beginning, but there is no doubt that the two met in Elam and fell in love with each other for real. At the time, Ulrika was also studying abroad at Elam and had heard many rumors about the situation of these two.

Mathias Kraische, the former leader of the Factory Alliance, was Erik’s best friend, but even so, there was supposedly a time where he was even considering withdrawing from the Factory Alliance entirely.

「So you think that the reason why The Artuk Treaty has become independent from the Fantasia Union was so that they could one day join forces with the Factory Alliance? 」

「Yes, at least that’s what I think is possible. 」

Ulrika didn’t understand that at all. For Waldrind, Theo Cornero ids the leader of the Artuk Treaty, and the former subordinate Lord of Vilar Constance, the previous Earl of Artuk, so those thing alone should set Artuk Treaty and the Factory Alliance as mortal enemies.

The Heavy Knights of Waldrind have been made for fools many times by them already, and just the other day she heard that they suffered a crushing defeat in a battle at the border between Artuk and Waldrind.

However, there is no doubt that Marlene personally has a good impression of Theo. She even went out of her way to have a meeting with him during the battle at Veltava.

And Theo himself is now an Earl. If such a Lord were to join the Factory Alliance as an Elector and endorse Marlne, Ulrika’s father would no longer be able to become Emperor himself.

However, when Ulrika met Marlene in the town of Bertha the other day, she wondered if she was really aiming to become Emperor, because it felt to her like she was fighting a different kind of battle than her father.

「In any case, can I assume that you’re not in favor of the Factory Alliance reconciling things with the Artuk Treaty, father? 」

「Of course. However, even among the Electors, the Lords in the eastern part of the continent are not so proactive about military unification. Although they have a strong dislike for Elam and the coalition of aristocrats who monopolize the city’s wealth for themselves, Theo Cornero has a high military reputation, even though he’s a commoner who became a Lord purely by chance, so there’s always a possibility that if he were to go to the Lord’s Conference of the Fantasia Union, some of its Lords would probably lend an ear to his proposals. However, I don’t think that the continent being united by a coalition of three equal factions would be a good thing. Such a solution would go against every ideal of the Factory Alliance. 」

「The ideals of the Factory Alliance? 」

「The ideals that the entire continent should be ruled only by one system of a single faction. Jurgen Kraische aimed to rule the continent by following the law, and if I end up becoming the Emperor, I plan to spread the Norse clan system throughout the entire continent. 」

The Norse system of government is extremely simple. The foundation is the family, and the ties between families grow into relatives, tribes, and clans. The chief ruled the clan, and the king was above the chief.

「I also tried to help you with your dream, father. But I failed… 」
「You think of slaves as livestock, right?「

Her father stares at her.

「Yes. 」

Ulrika nodded, but the truth of the matter is that she thought that livestock was still better than slaves, because livestock was more obedient than them.

「That’s a mistake. Slaves are not livestock, they should be considered family members. Nords value blood ties. You are Ulrika, the daughter of Erik, and I am Erik, the son of Bjorn. That relationship will never change no matter what. 」

「But the slaves… 」

「Yes, they are not related to the families by blood. Their cultures are also different from ours. That’s why it is necessary to take away their freedom and subjugate them. But on top of that, they must be treated like family members and protected. 」

Ulrika never thought about it in that way.

「By turning them into slaves, we’re incorporating the people of the colonies into the Nord culture… 」

Ulrica muttered, as if to echo her father’s words.

「That’s exactly how it is. 」

Eric nodded strongly.

「Nords are thought to be barbaric, but they value honor, obey the law, work hard, and live happily. You studied abroad in Elam, where you learned a culture of luxury and decadence. That’s why you forgot that slaves are also human being just like you and I. 」

It is true that in Elam she did as her father told her to do. However, she had no intention of forgetting that she was first and foremost a Norse citizen… but even so, she must’ve been poisoned by Elam somehow.

「Looking at it from a broader perspective, the entire continent can be called the subordinates of the Mages from Elam, and all the inhabitants of the continent are like slaves to them. Although they may be free on the surface, both the Lords and their people are bound by the curse of the peerage system. 」

Erik’s face showed anger and hatred when he was speaking these words.

「Of course, blood ties are not always a good thing. They can even turn into hatred if given enough time and the right circumstances. However, since it is something that can never be escaped, we should make it our only constraint. The entire continent and every country on it should be entwined in the network of blood relatives, and the Emperor will become the head of the clan of all people and protect them as his family. 」

「Father, your intention is to unite the entire continent not only through the clan system, but also through Norse culture and values, right? 」

Ulrika asked, to which her father nodded his head affirmatively.

「It’s not going to make everyone equal, but at least regional disparities will be reduced thanks to it. Nord life is basically self-sufficient, and trade is meant to compensate for that… 」

While Elam is prospering, the countries outside of it are suffering from poverty. And that disparity was only widening with each passing year.

「What should I do from now on? 」

Ulrika tried to ask herself the same question that her father must’ve been asking himself.

「You have lost your honor. Until you regain it, you will never be recognized in Nord society again. But thanks to that, you can live as you please. Wherever you go, no matter what you do, know that you will always be my, Erik the Ocean King’s, daughter. 」

With that said, her father gently hugged Ulrika. Wrapping her arms around her father’s large body, Ulrika shed her tears.

She was too spoiled by the fact that she was Erik the Ocean King’s daughter, but she was still alive, and she belonged to Nord society. She was even given a chance to restore her honor.

Geas the Conquerer also committed a crime in his youth and was banished for it. But when his own clan was in danger, he rushed back and rescued it from succumbing to a fate most grim. Because of his accomplishments, he was forgiven for his sins, and later achieved the unification of the Nords.

(So maybe I… can do something similar as well…)

Wrapped in her father’s strong chest, she vowed in her heart.

Eventually, her father got up and left the room.

「How are you feeling? Is there anything you want me to do? 」

Flint came into the room to take his place. For Ulrika, this Werewolf she had picked up in Artuk was like her favorite pet dog now.