Delusion
Negotiations with the Nord Empire. King Albert announced this decision to his subjects. The reaction was, as expected, negative, but nevertheless, the Luine Kingdom was to move in that direction.
Even those who voiced their opposition did not have a counterproposal. The counterproposal would be the Izrim Empire as a negotiating partner, but as to whether it should be done, one thinks that is not the case.
They did not want the Izrim Empire to end its domestic rebellion and win the war against the Eastern Nations Alliance while their country was fighting the Nord Empire. On the other hand, the Nord Empire has not actively expanded its territory except for annexing the former territory of the United Kingdom of Mercenary. That is eerie, but it is unlikely that its national power will grow rapidly.
There is no material that can completely negate the choice of the Nord Empire as a negotiating partner.
The reason why there was still a majority of opposition is that they did not know what Ren was planning to do. When they heard King Albert say that this was a negotiation to find out, they had no choice but to accept it.
Then the question was where to hold the meeting. There is little chance that the Nord Empire will accept the meeting. If they still wanted to hold the meeting, they would have to compromise on the location and other conditions to make it happen, but it would be King Albert who would be going there. His personal safety must be absolutely assured. And if there was a possibility that Grace, the king's sister, would accompany him, his subjects would have to be very nervous. Before sending a messenger to negotiate, the vassals were busy deciding on a meeting place.
In the midst of all this, an undesirable visitor to the Luine kingdom appears.
"......I thought we would never see each other again."
At the meeting, King Albert spoke about his true intentions to the other party. He is someone he doesn't have to hold back.
"Ah, isn't that strange? Our alliance is still continuing, right?"
Baat of the vampire race responded with doubts to King Albert's remarks. Although they do not recognize that the vampires of the Nord Empire are of the same race.
"...I certainly don't remember canceling it. But isn't there a need to continue?"
He didn't tell the other person that he would end the alliance. But now, he doesn't think there is any meaning in an alliance with the demons. This is not only for the convenience of the Luine Kingdom, but also for the demons. It was an alliance to defeat Ren.
"I've heard the information. Are you planning to have a meeting with the Nord Empire?"
"How did you know that? That act alone makes you feel unfit to be an ally of our country."
"And if that's the case, how about proceeding with negotiations with the Nord Empire without telling us anything about it?"
"If you don't like it, we can dissolve the alliance. No problem here."
"It's not a problem, it's what you want, isn't it?"
When negotiating with the Nord Empire, an alliance with the hostile demons is just a hindrance. Baat knows it too. That's why he came.
"Let me make this clear. As you know, our country is planning to negotiate a truce with the Nord Empire. Which is an enemy of the Nord Empire, or should I call it the...... former Demon King's army? In any case, we would like to dissolve our alliance with you."
"That's unacceptable."
"I think it's a pity to unilaterally ask for the dissolution of the relationship for our convenience. However, we cannot continue the alliance for your own reasons."
King Albert has no choice but to admit that his country, which is seeking to dissolve the relationship, is at fault. However, even if he was asked to continue, he could not respond to it. King Albert believes that an alliance that is only a formality is meaningless.
"The problem is that we are in a hostile relationship with the Nord Empire. Is that all?"
"......And if that is so?"
King Albert hesitated to affirm clearly. He took Baat's question to mean something.
"We are also prepared to stop viewing the Nord Empire as hostile."
"……Why is it so?"
"The Demon King who was hostile to the Nord empire and the Nord emperor. Now that the Demon King is dead, we have no reason to fight."
"I see… so?"
He is trying to improve relations with Ren, or with the demons of the Nord Empire, by pushing all the responsibility onto the Demon King. That's how King Albert received Baat's words.
"…Even if we don’t break the alliance, we can negotiate with the Nord Empire after making them understand that there is no hostility between us."
"Fumu. Is that what you want?"
Baat is trying to get into negotiations with his country. He understood that is what he meant.
"Negotiations with the Nord Empire may not be successful. I think it would be premature to dissolve relations with us at this point."
"The other side may wish to do so as a condition for holding talks."
"That possibility is small. The Nord emperor... it's annoying, but he doesn't take us seriously."
The Nord Empire's demons have not made any contact with Baat's camp. They neither attacked nor attempted to subdue them. The only one who made a move was Rin, but even she would only take those who wished to accompany her on their own.
The demons that were following the Demon King felt as if they were being ignored. In fact, they are.
"...Even so, when it comes to negotiations, it should come up."
"Therefore, I'm saying that it's okay to talk about it during the negotiations. If that doesn't work, there's nothing we can do about it."
"…………"
Baat's sentiments are clear even though he tries not to speak weak words. He can tell that he is trapped for some reason. Assuming that he is, what should he do? The conclusion has not yet occurred to King Albert's mind.
"......Don't you need us to secure the place where the meeting will take place?"
"It would provoke the other side."
"Just tell them from the beginning. If they refuse, then we have no choice. Even though we know it's dangerous, we have to do something about it on our own."
"......I understand. I can't draw a conclusion now, but I will consider it."
King Albert promised to consider Baat's offer. The security of the meeting place. If there was a possibility that it could be useful in solving the very problem that was bothering him at the moment, he thought that he should consider it.
With King Albert's thinking, Baat's goal of taking advantage of the negotiations in the Luine Kingdom was as good as accomplished. For his subjects, the safety of King Albert was more important than the success of the talks. Baat's offer to support them was a godsend. Of course, they would accept it.
In fact, Baat's offer was accepted. The alliance with the Luine Kingdom continues. In negotiations with the Nord Empire, Baat and the others will be discussed.
◇◇◇
At the same time that King Albert is meeting with Baat. Women are discussing in another place. It was a discussion between Milianea and Grace.
It is not an awe-inspiring discussion. They are just chatting while enjoying tea. However, the air is heavy for a place of chit-chat.
"...I wonder if they think it's good to come to this country?"
Grace thinks for a moment before asking a question. Every time the conversation breaks, a new topic is created like this.
"This is how we live a peaceful life. I am grateful for this."
"But you're not happy about it?"
Grace's gaze tightens slightly. She took Milianea's answer as dissatisfaction with her own country.
"I don't think I should say I'm glad, but you're right."
"What do you mean?"
The meaning was different from what she had received. Grace understood that, but that was as far as she got. She doesn't even know what Milianea meant.
"I had the responsibility to protect the Lemberg Empire and restore the Izrim Magic Kingdom. But I've abandoned that and am here. I can't say it's good."
Milianea explained with a self-deprecating smile.
"...I don't think you need to feel responsible for that. You were an empress, not an emperor. Even in the Izrim Magic Kingdom, it is the fault of the subjects who betrayed you."
Seeing Milianea's smile, Grace regretted asking the question. She uttered her comforting words.
"But I was royalty. I should be responsible."
"I am saying that there is a limit to that responsibility. What's impossible is impossible."
"……Is that so?"
"That's right."
Grace clearly answered affirmatively to Milianea's question. She still doesn't realize that she's been successfully approached by Milianea.
"Then I think it's better for you to say it's impossible."
"...What are you talking about?"
Grace furrows her eyebrows and played dumb. In her mind, she regrets that she was taken to a topic she should have avoided.
"It's about accompanying us to the place of negotiations with the Nord Emperor."
"You knew about this, after all?"
"Yes. I heard from His Majesty."
"I see. Then you should know that I can't refuse."
The order of the king of her own country, even though he is an older brother. Moreover, if it is for the sake of the country, there is no way she can go against it.
"You are the one who said that there is a limit to the responsibility of royalty."
"That's because you made me say that. And you know that's not true."
"...Yes. I know. But I'm nothing now. So it's not surprising that I deny it."
Now that both the Lemberg Empire and the Izrim Magic Kingdom have been destroyed, Milianea doesn't have any titles. Even in the Luine Kingdom, she is just a guest.
"...But I'm the princess of the Luine Kingdom. There is no denying that."
"That's right. His Majesty told me to talk to you, so I'm doing this... but what do you want?"
She's talking to Grace because King Albert asked her to, but she doesn't think it will change anything. Grace is determined to act as King Albert orders.
"As someone who's been there, don't you think you should tell me what to expect when I get married?"
"I don't think so. I can only speak from the king's point of view, and that's why he asked me to do this. I thought he was asking me to comfort you, but I don't know if you need it."
It is hard to believe that Milianea would think that Grace would ask for comfort. She even thinks it's in her nature to take it as an insult.
"I don't need it. And I don't think that's what my brother wants."
"What do you mean, then?"
"Anything is fine, he wants you to take my place. If he feels that way, he should make you my sister-in-law first. Don't you think?"
"…………"
Grace's sister-in-law. In other words, the wife of King Albert, but even if she is told that, Millianea has no words to return.
"Don't tell me you didn't notice my brother's feelings, right?"
"...Somehow"
"Somehow... Brother, why are you like that? He usually have the ability to make decisions and take action, but when it comes to love, he has no clue."
"...I can't say anything even if you talk like that."
It's an action that is directed at her. And it's not right to complain about it, Milianea thinks. More than that, she is hesitant to talk about it.
"If I say something like this, my brother might get mad at me… but please ask my brother."
"Even if you ask me to..."
"I may not be able to do anything for my brother. So, in my place, it is different, but I want you to support my brother."
"Grace-sama..."
Milianea knows that Grace loves her brother, Albert. She remembered that when she met him in the cathedral, she had been unusually praising Albert.
How does Grace feel about being separated from Albert? Thinking about it hurts her chest.
"Brother is the best man I have ever met. You should be happy that you can marry him. My partner, on the other hand, is......."
Words that would make Ren angry if he heard them. If he actually heard them, he would not be angry, but would simply look at her coldly and that marriage is impossible.
"Even the Nord Emperor is a man who, in a single generation, brought that Nord together and made it a great country."
"…I wonder what kind of man he is. I was in the capital and didn't get much information about him."
Even when she was collecting information about the heroes in the church capital, she could hardly obtain any information about Ren. Because of it, Grace knows him only by rumor.
"He is tough on his enemies and gentle to his allies. He seems to have that side of him."
"Gentle? That Nord emperor?"
Ruthless and cruel. Grace hears nothing but bad things about Ren. The reputation of the enemy emperor, as told by her maid, is nothing but an exaggerated version of the bad reputation.
"He's working hard for his country's development. There's little information about the Nord Empire, but rumors say he's doing politics for the people."
"...But rumor has it that many nobles were killed."
This is a fact. Especially in the former Saint Miriam Kingdom, the nobles are being purged.
"I heard that the politics of the former Saint Miriam Kingdom were not good. If the people's lives were improved as a result of eliminating those who were doing it, which side is justice?"
Words to comfort Grace. But while talking about this, Millianea thought, If you try to cherish the people, you will be strict with the nobility. It is natural that nobles who torment the people should be eliminated.
What might seem outrageous to the nobles, or those who stand close to them, becomes justice if you change your perspective. That's what the Nord emperor does.
"......Isn't he as bad as rumors say?"
"He also took care of orphans in the church capital. It's true that he's not cruel to anyone."
"I see... will he take care of me?"
"That's... I can't tell you that. It is not only the Nord emperor's problem but yours as well."
Even if they were to get married, Milianea thinks that Ren's love for Grace would be tenuous. She is his wife and he must love her. If he had such normal feelings, she doesn't think countries would have allowed the rise of the Nord Empire to this point. But this is not something she is going to talk about now.
"What is my problem?"
Dissatisfied, Grace puffed out her cheeks and asked the question. She doesn't want to admit that she has a problem that makes people not love her.
"It's not often that someone likes someone who hates them. Can you turn to the Nord emperor for love? That's the question."
"...I have to be someone he likes... but I also need to make an effort to like him."
"Yes"
Likes and dislikes have nothing to do with political marriages. Even though she knows this in theory, she still seeks a relationship in which she loves and is loved. Milianea recalled that she had been in the same situation.
From this point on, without thinking about anything difficult, the marriage talk is based on Milianea's experience and Grace's imagination and ideals. From time to time, the marriage of Milianea and King Albert is also discussed. It has not even been decided yet whether the meeting with Ren will take place.
It doesn't matter. As long as it was a pleasant time for both of them. For King Albert, at least, it meant that he had made Milianea aware of her marriage to him, although he had not intended it to be so. Even if there are still barriers to overcome for that to become a reality.
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