Chapter 371 371-Internal Division
The Habsburg members currently held moderate military positions within the army, infusing it with a martial spirit and attracting young people to enlist.
Neplon suggested that the matter could be put aside for the time being.
However, Howard couldn't tolerate this response.
Slamming his hand on a birch wood table, he loudly ordered Golan, "Arrest them! Anyone who resists, take them into custody!"
Bosiden stepped forward and cautioned, "Your Majesty, please reconsider. Such action might be seen as persecution of the former royal family. On the continent, this is a serious matter. It's better to avoid this approach if possible."
Grinding his teeth, Howard retorted, "I don't want to do this either, but she, a Habsburg clan leader, dared to extend her reach into the castle of my vassal. She is at fault here."
Bosiden adjusted his collar, clearly uncomfortable in his new outfit, with the top button constricting his neck.
He suggested, "Let's just send someone to reprimand Nora and let the matter rest. After all, the Habsburg family has been operating in Oli for hundreds of years. While their fall from power is in accordance with the rules, taking action against their civilian members could lead to controversy."
In response, Howard kicked the table, sending it rolling down the stairs with a thunderous noise.
His eyes reddening, he pointed at Golan and commanded, "Go! Do it now! Anyone who obstructs is opposing me!"
Golan, leading his men, was stopped outside the Habsburg family's garden villa.
Although not as grand and beautiful as the imperial palace in the capital, the Habsburg's villa was still significantly larger and more luxurious than the typical noble's residence.
Members of the Habsburg family barred Golan's entry, believing that allowing the king's men to apprehend a member of their family would bring shame upon them.
However, they failed to consider one critical fact: Nora's plot to harm for wealth and power was hardly honorable.
Whether they hadn't thought of this or deliberately chose to ignore it remained unclear.
They were merely adhering to a narrow-minded conservatism, insistent that the gates of the Habsburg estate should not be breached by those coming to make arrests.
Golan, having served as Howard's personal guard for some time, was experienced in dealing with such matters.
He was aware of the Habsburg family's significant influence in the capital, but he also knew Howard was genuinely enraged and would not rest until the matter was resolved.
Golan first had his guards surround the Habsburg villa, then, with a group of senior guards, he placed chairs at the villa's gate and began playing cards in a relaxed manner.
It was morning, and a Habsburg maid was preparing to go out to shop for groceries.
Seeing the royal guards playing cards at the gate, she dared not leave.
She returned and reported the situation to Nora, who commented, "If they want to sit, let them sit. What's so special about playing cards? They can play cards here or back at their quarters. In such an environment, surrounded by onlookers, they won't be at ease. If we wait them out, they'll become impatient before we do."
By noon, Howard, growing impatient, asked Bosiden, "Why haven't Golan and his men apprehended anyone yet? What are they doing?"
Bosiden claimed ignorance, and Vettel, though aware, chose not to speak to avoid trouble.
Neplon had already returned to the barracks with his troops to continue military drills.
With his leadership, the Habsburg military officers were unlikely to revolt.
In the afternoon, Howard instructed Golan's men to withdraw and replaced them with Portia's personnel to keep watch over the Habsburg estate.
In the evening, Howard sent consolation gifts to Portia's men, including a mango-flavored pudding for each.
He also arranged for the palace chefs, in coordination with the chefs brought by the chief of spies, to prepare a feast for those on duty.
Inside the Habsburg family, Howard tasked Portia with using money to gradually divide them.
Soon, some members of the Habsburg family began to waver.
Influenced by an objective understanding of the entire situation, fear of the king, Portia's persuasion, and most importantly, the allure of money, some members started to express discontent about the trouble Nora was causing the family.
Howard's strategy was to put pressure on Nora.
The power structure of the royal palace wasn't confined to a small palace but extended to the vast governance of the land.
However, Nora's rule within the Habsburg family was internal.
The palace wouldn't face internal issues due to pressure from the Habsburg family, as the entire Oli nation was incredibly strong.
But the Habsburg family wasn't the royal house of Oli.
In fact, Oli had been absorbed by Howard's Oungria region.
Howard had merely adopted the title of Oli to mitigate tensions with Phrus in the northeast, a strategic move to cool the situation in the west.
Three days later, Maximilian overheard two teenagers speaking ill of Nora and furrowed his brow as he approached them.
One said, "Alas, the food these days is terrible. I bet even the poorest commoners are eating better than us."
The other added, "Indeed, it's all Aunt Nora's fault. Why did she have to provoke King Howard? He rose from a knight to a king; he's no ordinary man. Aunt challenging Howard is like seeking her own doom. And it's one thing if she alone faces the consequences, but now, with her refusal to face the king's arrest, she's dragging our entire family down."
Maximilian walked onto the balcony and drew back the curtains.
The two youngsters, seeing Maximilian, fell silent and stepped back in fear.
Maximilian landed three sharp slaps across their faces, reprimanding, "In the face of our family's crisis, you speak in favor of outsiders? Are you turning your back on your own family?"
The two dared not speak, only looking down at the ground, feeling unlucky for being caught by Maximilian while conversing on the balcony.
Maximilian reported this incident to Nora.
The typically ruthless and heartless Nora made an erroneous decision.
Being cold and unfeeling does not always equate to being calm and thoughtful.
Often, an approach marked by coldness and ruthlessness can be less effective than one of warmth and hospitality.
Nora responded by lowering the supply grade of these two young Habsburg members.
Although the term "supply grade" might sound sophisticated, for these younger members of the Habsburg family, it essentially equated to their allowance.
Although they knew nothing about ports and ships, they had adopted the extravagant lifestyle typical of the capital's nobility, resulting in significant monthly expenses.
Normally, such behavior would be subject to discipline, but at this critical juncture, Nora's decision risked losing her grip over the family's internal dynamics.
Maximilian, after leaving the room, carefully closed the ebony-
colored ancient doors, his expression returning to sternness.
He proceeded to a side hall, where he relayed Nora's decision to the two young men.
As the words fell, one of them panicked, his world seemingly collapsing.
His knees buckled, almost dropping to the floor, as he wailed, "No, how will I survive without this money!"
The other, Nora's nephew, appeared both shocked and angered.
He also felt humiliated and resentful, being equated to someone of lower status in punishment.
Those of higher status often feel disgraced when treated the same as commoners – a psychological trait typical among the continent's nobility.
Nora's nephew clenched his fists, his neck turning red with anger.
He staggered a few steps towards Maximilian, deliberately raising his clenched right fist to face level as a show of defiance, or perhaps as a threat.
Maximilian turned his head away, deliberately avoiding the scene, providing Nora's nephew a moment to cool down.
However, the nephew lacked such awareness and furiously confronted Maximilian, shouting, "Why are you cutting my funds? I am Nora's nephew, the current family head's nephew! Who dares to reduce my allowance? Is it because you, Maximilian, have a grudge against me and are deliberately making things difficult? I'll take this up with my aunt!"
A look of disgust crossed Maximilian's face.
He kicked Nora's nephew away and, patting the outer side of his shoe that had made contact, said, "Humph, the decision to cut your allowance was made by the family head herself. I've made it clear enough for you. Don't push your luck!"
The other young man, in a spirit of shared misfortune, crouched down to help Nora's nephew up.
After Maximilian left the side hall, he said to his companion, "I told you so, didn't I? She only cares about her own money. To her, you all are inconsequential."
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