Building a Viking Empire with Modern Industry-Chapter 217: The Lion’s Claim

Louis le Germanique spoke first, "Even when the emperor lived, I was the one who held the eastern marches against the Northmen. I was the one who kept the dukes in line while he chased glory in the south. My kingdom is the strongest, my knights the most numerous, my banners the most feared. The crown is mine by right of of strength."

Robert of Neustria shifted in his chair, his scarred face twisting. "We all bled for him. We all paid in gold and men. Don’t stand there pretending you’re the only one who matters."

Louis turned slowly, "And there it was the voice of a man who still dreams of the old divisions. You forget, Robert, that when the Northmen raided your coasts last year it was my knights who rode to your rescue. My two thousand riders. You call that nothing? Apparently fear has made you bold enough to speak against the only man who can actually protect this realm."

Hugh of Burgundy leaned forward, "Two thousand knights. Yes, we all saw them ride in. Impressive. Terrifying, even. But numbers alone don’t make an emperor. You think we’ll just hand you the crown because you brought more steel than the rest of us?"

The Dowager Empress raised a hand, "Louis held the east when the rest of you were busy fighting each other for scraps. His kingdom is the strongest... Even so, we are willing to listen. Speak your terms."

One of the lesser dukes suddenly slammed his cup down, "Terms? We came here to choose an emperor, not to kneel before the first man who brought the biggest army. Your son thinks fear will do what blood and law cannot."

Louis stepped forward, his voice dropping to a dangerous calm. "Fear? Perhaps. But it is honest fear. Unlike the pretty lies you tell yourselves. My father is dead. The realm is fracturing. The Northmen grow bolder every season. And yet you sit here arguing over who deserves what. I deserve the crown because I am the only one who can hold it."

Robert of Neustria laughed bitterly, but the sound lacked true confidence. "We don’t need a boy-king hiding behind two thousand riders to save us."

Suddenly Lothaire Ier, one of the greater kings, rose slowly, "Enough. Louis is right. His kingdom is the strongest. His knights are the only force that can keep the realm from tearing itself apart. I have seen what they can do. I say the crown belongs to Louis le Germanique. Let him wear it. Let him lead us."

Charles le Gros, son of Louis le Germanique, stood beside his father with quiet pride, his young face set in hard lines. "My father has carried the burden of the east for years while the rest of you played at power in your own little corners. More than a crown, he offers survival."

The lesser dukes shifted uneasily in their seats, One of them, a grizzled lord from the south, finally spoke, "Louis le Germanique... you have the strongest kingdom. Your army is the largest. Your knights are the most feared. We will support your claim. For the good of Francia."

Another duke interrupted, "Support? We’re not fools. If we refuse, how many of us will still be breathing by morning? The choice is simple kneel or bleed."

Louis le Germanique allowed the silence to stretch for a long moment. Finally he spoke again, "Since the day my father first named me heir, I have prepared for this. I did not ask for the crown. You may fear me. You should. But that fear will keep Francia alive. Kneel now, and I will remember who stood with me."

The dukes exchanged glances heavy with dread. One by one they rose.

Robert of Neustria was the last to stand, "We have no other path. Louis le Germanique... you are emperor. God help us all."

Louis the Stammerer, eldest son and rightful heir, sat at the head of the table in silence, his hands clenched white upon the arms of his father’s chair. His mother the Dowager Empress sat rigid beside him. His younger brothers and sisters clustered close, their eyes darting between the men who now spoke as though the throne were already theirs.

At the opposite end rose Louis le Germanique, the strongest of the greater kings, two thousand knights waiting beyond the gates.

Suddenly the younger Louis could bear it no longer.

"Enough!" he shouted, voice cracking with raw fury. "You speak as though I am already dead! I am the eldest son! You dare sit here and hand it to my uncle like a piece of meat while I sit in my father’s chair? Have you all lost your minds?!"

The hall fell deathly still. Louis le Germanique turned slowly, his gaze cold as he regarded his nephew.

"The boy finally finds his tongue. Sit down, nephew. This is no place for children."

The true heir’s face flushed crimson. "Children? I am the heir! I stood beside my father through every war while you hid behind your eastern walls! And now you come here with two thousand knights and think the realm will simply roll over? You think fear will make them forget who the true emperor is?!"

One of the dukes from the south interrupted, "Your Highness... please. Your uncle came with two thousand knights. We all saw them. We all know what they can do. We have no choice."

"Choice?" Louis the Stammerer laughed bitterly, "I am the son! The blood! And you sit here praising my uncle like he’s already emperor while I sit here like a ghost no one sees!"

His mother reached for his arm, voice urgent. "Louis, enough. You will only make it worse."

He shook her off, eyes blazing as he pointed straight at Louis le Germanique. "You think two thousand knights make you emperor? A bully with steel and nothing more! I will not let you steal what is mine!"

Louis le Germanique rose slowly. His voice dropped to a dangerous calm. "This boy still believes words can stop steel... Knights!"

The doors at the far end of the hall burst open. Twenty armored men in the crimson and gold of the eastern kingdom marched in. Louis le Germanique pointed once,

"Take him. Gently. He is still my blood."

The knights moved without hesitation. The true heir’s brothers and sisters cried out in alarm as the men closed in. His mother rose, veil flying back as she shouted, "You dare lay hands on the rightful heir?!"

Louis the Stammerer struggled against the first two knights who seized his arms, "You think this ends it? You think the realm will forget? I am the emperor! I am the blood!"

The knights dragged him back toward the doors while the dukes and greater kings watched in silence, their faces pale but their tongues still.

Louis le Germanique remained standing, gaze steady upon his nephew as the young prince was pulled from the hall.

"Take him to the eastern tower," he ordered quietly. "He will come to see reason. The realm needs strength now, not pride."

The doors slammed shut behind the struggling heir. The younger siblings stared at the empty space where their brother had stood moments before.

Louis le Germanique turned back to the assembled lords.

"I am emperor. Let no man forget it."

The greater three kings and their five powerful dukes remained silent, but every eye in the hall carried the same unspoken truth.