CH 221

Children's Party (4) - The Prince's Plan

Translated by Raizu

When I made my assertion, Novalf closed his mouth for a moment.

However, he immediately seemed to remember that he was the one asking the question, and replied.

[It won’t start… Does that mean it’s going to meet a setback?]

[That’s right. In order to put this plan into action in the first place, there is a big problem standing in the way. Success or failure will only matter after this problem is solved… Don’t you think so too, Kalmia-dono?]

I looked at Kalmia, asking for her confirmation.

Earlier, she expressed her opinion that the success of “the operation itself” was 50-50. From the way he said it, Kalmia seemed to be considering the possibility that the operation itself could not be carried out in the first place.

She must have expected this answer, she nodded quietly.

[Yes. I think so too. Is there any problem that must be solved in order to carry it out? …indeed, I think I can roughly think of two.]

It appeared that Kalmia had the same awareness of the issue. I nodded and agreed with her, who modestly made a piece with one hand.

She moved her head to the side and turned to face her fiancée, probably sensing my movement with magic.

[Can Novalf guess what those problems are?]

From the way she talked about it, I could sense her intention to explore Quordenze’s thoughts first. I think she wants to create a flow in which Novalf, Wilk, and Kalmia herself answer in that order. Since the opinion of Novalf, who is not the next head of the family, is not helpful, in reality, only Quordenze’s answer will matter.

[Two problems? …..wouldn’t that be the endorsement from Marquis Quordenze and Archduke Milendorva, who wouldn’t directly benefit from this project?]

He said so. His tone was so natural that it didn’t seem like he was making a prelude to a counterargument, or that he was deliberately stating an unintended thought.

Perhaps this opinion is Novalf’s true intentions, and by showing his genuine attitude, he is appealing that he is not lying.

But, I didn’t quite get the answer. It felt like an opinion that is not in focus.

When I was thinking about how to react, Kilorde interrupted me from the side.

[Huh, it’s certainly as Novalf-dono said. The invasion of the Holy City is our shared goal, but the pacification of the southern part has nothing to do with my Milendorva. Quordenze is probably the same.]

All of a sudden, a scene from elementary school and junior high school in my previous life popped into my mind. It’s that phenomenon where, even though I was confident in the answers to the questions written on the blackboard, I gradually lost my confidence when the classmates nominated by the teacher gave different answers one after another.

The two problems inherent in the King’s proposal were not strictly about the Quordenze family or the Milendorva family, but Novalf and Kilorde were both correct, so my confidence seemed to waver.

Looking at Kalmia, she seemed a little troubled.

She may have felt that Kirode, who suddenly interrupted them, was a hindrance, even though they were going to proceed between Quordenze and Adellahan.

[…..Wilk-dono, what kind of problem do you mean to point out?]

I felt a little uneasy about speaking up, but I can’t show my timidity here. In order to encourage myself, I dared to raise my index and middle fingers in a pompous manner and point them at the surroundings.

[One is indeed securing our endorsement…]

When I said “our”, I also looked at both Kalmia and Kilorde at the same time.

One of the problems that must be ironed out without fail is the cooperation of the facilitators from all over the Kingdom, who are also called the five Great Nobles of the Kingdom. With the exception of the founders, the Levios and Zeldomitra families, the endorsement of the Quordenze, Adellahan, and Milendorva families is essential.

[And the other is…yes, it’s her.]

Then, I pointed at her.

[Her…? You mean Rona-dono.]

There was a beautiful woman, now seemingly bereft of the eccentric behavior from earlier, standing quietly at the entrance of the venue at the tip of my thumb.

Perhaps it was because of her slender figure, or because of the visual effect of contrasting with the sensual priest who was standing behind her. Her glossy jet-black long hair really catches the eye.

It seems that she had returned to this place again after regaining her composure. The Prince naturally led her, who was hesitating to enter, to her seat. And then I said just one word to encourage the continuation of the conversation between me and Kalmia.

[Then, Wilk-dono, can you explain why Rona-dono will be involved?]

Rona had been standing around at the entrance for a while with a neat and clean face, so she must have listened to some of the conversation. I decided that I didn’t need to explain things to her, so I decided to continue.

[According to the King’s thoughts, it seems that this operation is to be carried out by the Royal Army. If that’s the case, Rona-dono’s existence will become a problem.]

When I glanced at Rona, she put her hand to her mouth and was surprised with a face like saying [Huh? Me?]. I can feel the youthfulness of her age-appropriate face in such a surprised face. If this is acting, I think she’s a pretty good actress, and I think it’s only going to make this woman even more suspicious.

[Rona-dono is the Holy Maiden of Zeth Holy High Society.]

[Yes. I’m afraid I am still the current Holy Maiden.]

I didn’t ask for confirmation, but she did confirm anyway. And in response, Dunkel replied as if it were a matter of course.

[Although she does not have real power, the rank of Holy Maiden carries considerable weight in the Holy City. There is no point in being just a high priest. If I want to make a just cause, it’s more convenient to have a Holy Maiden in my hands.]

But, that’s exactly where the problem lies.

I showed a suggestive gesture and tried to seize the initiative in the conversation.

[Is it just cause? The treatment of the Holy Maiden is unfair, the claim of the religious priest is correct, you can make any number of connections, but…]

First, I decided to point out the conclusion.

[In short, Nobles will be driven into war to fulfill the wishes of the Holy Maiden.]

Kalmia nodded with an expression that seemed to be as expected. It’s great to hear just this.

I blatantly showed my acting likeness and continued my words.

[Well, isn’t it a really nostalgic story for us, the Nobles? You can even still smell the scorching fire of the war.]

The origin of the era of turmoil that began 200 years ago was the political dispute in the Holy City over the position of the Pope.

I think the two major turning points in the history of the Eruo continent are the conflict between the faction of the new Pope who was victorious after a fierce power struggle and the defeated Supreme Priest and the Holy Maiden who supported him, and the upheaval of the papacy.

At the beginning of the turmoil, the Holy Army, the army of the Zeth Holy High Society, did not move. This is because neither the New Pope camp nor the Holy Maiden camp could completely control the army. It might be more accurate to say that they couldn’t move.

Thus, the squabbling sides turned to the local Nobles. These Nobles ended up being used up as a proxy war tool for the priests.

The flames of strife spread across the continent in an instant, eventually wiping out even the original purpose, and giving birth to a dark age of constant warfare and devastation.

That’s the worst part of the King’s plan.

Even if there is an element of Rona’s exile, this plan somehow reminds me of the composition of “Nobles gathered under the banner of the Holy Maiden and forced to go to war”. It is a trauma that is deeply engraved in the Noble bloodline itself. [The formation of the Royal Army reminds us of the resurgence of the era of turmoil. The Royal Nobles are self-reliant, and I don’t want to be sent to war for the sake of the priest]….. If such an opinion came out from somewhere, there would be quite a lot of Nobles who would agree with it, albeit with a difference in degree.

The Kingdom’s national policy, anti-priests, and the formation of the Kingdom’s army with the Holy Maiden as its just cause are fraught with logical contradictions.

According to my father, if this was called a five-family joint expeditionary force consisting of the Quordenze Allied Forces, the Levios Allied Forces, the Zeldomitra Allied Forces, the Adellahan Allied Forces, and the Milendorva Allied Forces, it would not be as strong as the Royal Army.

Ultimately, it’s the vague notion of “Kingdom” that stands above them and fights for the priest. Small and medium-sized Nobles feel more at ease if a local boss who has a daily relationship and is well versed in the local situation stands above them. This is because if the weather becomes unpredictable, they may say, [Sorry, but the Quordenze Allied Forces will pull out first. The rest of you will have to fend for yourself].

My father heard from King Levios that he was considering both the Royal Army and the Allied Forces of the Five Families, but judging from the way the Prince was speaking earlier, the former would be the favorite.

The Levios family may be more afraid of the momentum of the former Zinkaen Empire than I thought, or they may be longing for the dream of ending the era of turmoil.

I don’t know the true beliefs that King Levios has in his heart, but I can only read his thoughts of wanting to improve the unity of the Kingdom to the next stage.

The union of the five families’ allied forces would only deepen the ties between the factions and would not lead to reliance on the Kingdom.

[…It’s a bad omen to fight under the Holy Maiden.]

Aside from the early stages of the era of turmoil, the battle between the new Pope and the Holy Maiden became nothing more than a slogan from the middle stage onwards, and eventually became a quagmire. In the end, the one that lost was the Holy Maiden camp. I could understand Kilorde’s saying that it was a bad omen.

Well, one can say that Zeth Holy High Society itself has been lost.

[Enlisting the cooperation of the Great Nobles who bind the Nobles of each region, and dispelling the anxiety and suspicion of the Nobles of the Kingdom by carrying the Holy Maiden. …..Issues that can be resolved by presenting a clear and concrete benefit for negotiation, and ambiguous issues such as vague feelings with no one. You could say it’s a matter of reason and emotion.]

It seemed that Kalmia and the Adellahan family shared the same awareness of the issue. Come on, let me dig a little deeper into my thoughts.

[Kalmia-dono, which one do you think is more difficult?]

[Since the direction of difficulty is different, I don’t think they can simply be compared. Negotiations may be more difficult with the former, but it’s difficult predicting the latter, isn’t it? The generation who felt it firsthand may show a stronger sense of rejection towards the Holy Maiden than we do. It is not easy to read how that feeling will affect and spread to those around us.]

The words sounded strangely full of real feelings, so I decided to ask another question.

[The generation that felt the war firsthand? My grandfather didn’t come to the Royal Capital this time, so I couldn’t hear what he had to say, but did Duchess Crowne react like that?]

[Not in particular. However, she did say that there would be more than a few Royal Nobles who would refuse.]

Judging from the way she speaks, it seems that Crowne doesn’t think there is any particular problem with carrying the Holy Maiden if there is a profit. If you unravel the history of the Adellahan family, it might be a natural conclusion because Crowne and the next generation are consistently moving on the realistic route and prioritizing practical benefits.

As I was thinking about that, Sadin called out to Novalf.

[It seems that Kalmia-dono and Novalf-dono have different answers.]

[Oh, that’s…]

[Is this your first impression after hearing my father’s proposal? Novalf-dono.]

Dunkel’s voice that entered from the side had a somewhat friendly atmosphere. Is it really sympathy, so to speak?

When Novalf nodded, the Prince smiled happily.

[I know what you mean. I can also understand Novalf-dono’s thoughts. It should be said that the way of thinking is different depending on the time of birth. I think that what I see and feel is changing. …..The fact that you said it here doesn’t mean that Duchess Crowne also denied your opinion, right?]

Then, Kalmia accepted the question. She answered the Prince’s words in the affirmative and continued.

[There are various Nobles in the Kingdom. A generation that lived in the darkness of war that could never end, a generation that struggled to achieve self-reliance among the Nobles, a generation that felt threatened by the conqueror that appeared in the west, and after a long period of peace began to think about living close to the big tree… If the time and position are different, it is natural that what we value, what we aim for, and even the means of living will change. Grandmother seemed to accept Nova’s answer as one of the ways of thinking of us who live in the present.]

…..Our way of thinking, huh?

In other words, it can be seen that Kalmia was originally of a close opinion to Novalf.

While drinking tea from a cup, I advance my thoughts.

The long-lasting peace of the Kingdom weakened the independent spirit of the small and medium-sized Nobles.

This is what I felt strongly when I left the Quordenze territory. You don’t have to desperately stand on your own, let’s protect the house by relying on the local Nobles while belonging to the Kingdom… I feel that the number of Nobles who think so is increasing, especially from my parents’ generation.

The idea of ​​Noble families working together to protect each other’s independence is becoming outdated. For the Nobles of today, independence is something that has already been secured, something that has been in their hands from the beginning.

An old Noble is likely to preach to me, [Don’t let your guard down just because you belong to the Kingdom. Nobles nowadays have a weak sense of self-reliance]. Is it the difference between the generation that made it and the generation that tries to reach out for something next?

However, there are still many generations from the era of turmoil who are still alive, and there are probably many small and medium-sized Nobles who think that independence is still important when looking at the family as a unit. However, if the peace of the Kingdom continues in the future, that idea will eventually decay.

The shape of the Kingdom that awaits beyond that is not yet known, but it is likely that the smaller Nobles will become smaller and the larger Nobles will have greater power.

Since Novalf vaguely sensed the arrival of that future, he must have sensed that persuading the Quordenze and Milendorva families would be a major task. A miscellaneous small and medium-sized Noble would have to concede with a single voice from the boss, a larger Noble.

It is not possible to laugh at the arrogant idea of ​​the Great Noble Adellahan family. Kilorde, Dunkel, and Kalmia are all in agreement with it.

[Rather than denying and truncating the answers of the young people, but recognizing it as a new way of thinking and presenting a realistic solution. I can clearly see Duchess Crowne’s capacity.]

Sadin sounded satisfied. Apparently he’s also on Novalf’s side.

I was the only one who had an isolated sense of values, but I was actually a little moved.

Perhaps because I have memories of living on Earth, I always take a step back to look at the Eruo continent and its culture. I wonder if I should say that I have a habit of taking close-ups and trimming a part of it, saying that this is how Nobles think.

But of course, there are as many ideas and values ​​as there are people, and there are not only stereotypical Nobles. The way of thinking differs depending on the region, and naturally there is a generation gap between people living in the present.

Of course, there are many common ideas, and if you roughly group them together, they can be categorized into the same item. However, if you get caught up in the fixed notion that the people of the Eruo continent think this way, and the Royal Nobles think this way, it leads to a misunderstanding of the essence. It’s the same for Earthlings and Eruo Continentalers.

By actually interacting with them, I feel like I was able to truly understand them.

[…As expected, Duchess Crowne was also concerned about carrying the Holy Maiden.]

While replying to Kalmia, I realized once again that my way of thinking is not in line with anyone here.

My roots are still earthlings, and the stems and leaves that imitate my father are sticking out on the surface of the ground. Recently, I’ve become accustomed to the soil of the Eruo continent, so I’m worried about what kind of flowers will bloom and bear fruit in the future.

For the time being, all I know is that I, who imitates the values ​​of my parents’ generation, and the young people here today have different ideas.

Kalmia must have guessed that this way of thinking was closer to the parent’s generation. I spoke with too much confidence, not to be thought of as a speaker boy who just speaks what Papa taught me.

[My father’s proposal, if Wilk-dono were in a position to advocate, what kind of words would you use to persuade the numerous Royal Nobles?]

The best thing is not to persuade. That’s because I’m against the invasion of the Holy City, or rather, the King’s conception of the Kingdom in the future.

But, there’s no point in saying that now. It’s just a hypothetical story, so it’s not cool to complain here.

[That’s a difficult question. Can’t we just show a strong impression that it’s us the Noble who are using the Holy Maiden? For example…]

And then I spread my hands and changed my tone to a full acting one.

[…..Nobles were once manipulated by priests and forced to participate in war. However, after overcoming a long and difficult road, we have established a spirit of self-reliance, and even rise to that point of manipulating the Holy Maiden. Now, let us put an end to this abominable history. We, the Nobles, will put an end to the era of turmoil by suppressing the place where the tragedy began. The time has finally come.]

The manipulating side and the manipulated side have switched places. The Nobles will end the war that was started by the priests. The starting point, the Holy City, will also be the ending point. If this historical contrasting structure can be successfully produced, it may be possible to make the fact that the holy maiden’s presence is unavoidable.

[That’s an exciting slogan. It might get a lot of support.]

[Well, how about that? I think it’s easy to overturn the existence of a Holy Maiden with a little word play. But, what will happen if someone with a slightly louder voice stirs up the turbulent world again?]

For example, me.

[Yes. My father’s plans always have those concerns.]

Then, the next moment, the Prince raised his voice and laughed lightly. And he speaks in a cheerful tone faster than other humans can open their mouths.

[As the next family heads, we can talk about the future freely like this. I think it’s really good. You can’t move forward if you just wait for your parents’ decisions and can’t think for yourself.]

It seems that he has a different idea from the King’s idea. Is it a rebellion against his father? He might be intending to gain the support of us, the next generation, and fight against it.

[It’s about the other day.]

It was Kalmia who slipped in her words. She must have guessed from the atmosphere that I hadn’t heard Dunkel’s proposal, and thus she filled me in.

[Yes. I wanted Wilk-dono to listen to my thoughts, so come on. I don’t mind if you just listen to me tonight.]

It seemed that the Prince was not so blunt as to suddenly ask for my opinion on this occasion.

After confirming that I had readjusted my posture, he said his conclusion without regret.

[It’s a simple story, but I think that instead of the Royal Army, I should raise a joint army of the Five Nobles of the Kingdom.]

[Ah, I see…]

I was thinking of listening to you silently, but I couldn’t help but reply in a low voice because I made a point.

In the first greeting of this meeting, Dunkel made a somewhat disturbing statement. The next head of the five Great Noble families got an opportunity to meet in one place.

In Levios Kingdom, all Nobles are nominally equal, and there is no ranking. I think the fact that the peerage system of the Kingdom has become a mere shell is the result of inconsistency in that area.

And maybe the grouping of the “Kingdom’s Five Great Nobles” also descends from that trend, and it’s treated like an open secret or tacit understanding. Even though it was clear that there was a faction, he somehow felt hesitant to bring it up on the stage. It’s not a taboo that should never be said, but bringing that up will make people think that you can’t read the atmosphere.

The Prince deliberately mentioned the Five Great Nobles of the Kingdom at the beginning as a prelude to talking about his own thoughts. Apparently, there is no mistake in seeing this area as the theme of the discussion.

[My Levios has a track record of leading the Allied Forces many times, including the Great Northern Expedition. Compared to working as a member of the Royal Army, there will be less psychological resistance.]

Last year, the Quordenze family led the Quordenze Allied Forces in the Battle of Nambonan. It was almost like a picnic, but for the time being, it was a track record of acting with another family’s army.

The Prince’s story continued, but it was almost the same as the King’s proposal except for the composition of the army.

The plan is to capture the Umon Islands with a mass rental of warships, unilaterally attack and destroy several Noble families in the Free Cities, and pressure the Holy City to surrender.

In other words, there’s nothing unique yet in the Prince’s plan for now. So, I raised a question.

[Can I ask you one question? What exactly is Prince Dunkel aiming for? There must be some kind of purpose in raising a joint army of the Five Houses.]

When asked why he sees the same thing as the King, the Prince affirms in a strong tone.

[It’s about defeating threats and making us stronger than we are now.]

Sadin deeply agreed with those words, and expressed his strong agreement in silence.

When I tried to think about the meaning of the words, Dunkel pointed his palm at me to stop it. It seems that he will give me a supplementary explanation.

[The threat is, of course, Saint Navempos. Even though it’s still far from its heyday, it’s recovering extremely well. In the not-too-distant future, the day will come when we’ll have to face the priest.]

It seems that both the King and the Prince share this point.

Well, the Levios family is probably listed at the top of the priests’ revenge notebook, so it can’t be helped. I guess they want to use Rona as a figurehead to mess up with the Holy City.

[…and gain strength. More than now, we will have to.]

It was a remark that emphasized our part very much. There is no doubt that those words refer to the Levios family, the Milendorva family, the Adellahan family, the Zeldomitra family, and the Quordenze family, rather than the Royal Nobles.

[It’s quite the contrast.]

[My father has too much admiration for the First King. It seems that he looks at the “Levios Royal family” more than the “Levios family”.]

He accurately read the true meaning of my words and responded.

Certainly, as he said, King Levios seems to be moving with an emphasis on the future of the Kingdom. Of course, that’s probably because there is a calculation that the Levios family can make more progress. But from Dunkel’s point of view, it seems different.

[Be strong as a Noble family. That should take precedence over the pride of the Royal family, and as the guardian of this land, you must do so.]

He seems to want to say that he should put the development of his own family first rather than the future of the Kingdom.

[A strong Kingdom is born from a strong Noble family, and vice versa. This is evident even when looking at the Empires of the West… You can’t accomplish anything if you lose something important because you’re caught up in small things.]

The second half piqued my curiosity.

However, I felt that there was anger behind those words that made me hesitate to speak to him, so I couldn’t ask him back. It’s like trying to poke at a snake hiding in a bush.

[What’s important?]

That’s why I thanked Orshian from the bottom of my heart for participating in the conversation in a relaxed tone. It seems that the nuts that she’s been eating for a while are finally out of stock.

It seemed that Dunkel’s ill-naturedness had been drained from her cheerful movements, and he gave a short answer with a light laugh.

[Fufu, that can also be said for everyone. Princess Orshian has important things and important people, right?]

[Un. I do.]

[That’s how it is.]

After the Prince summed it up, the Levios family’s maid quietly approached the table and placed a plate of fruits in front of Orshian.

Even so, this girl hates King Levios to death, but she doesn’t really care about the Prince.

As I was looking at them alternately while thinking about such things, I met Prince Dunkel’s eyes for a moment. With a smile on his face, he says it in a self-deprecating manner.

[Whoops, did I talk too fervently? My face must’ve stiffened there.]

…..Princess Ena, I guess.

Dunkel’s older sister Ena, who has the same mother as Dunkel, returned to Levios due to the effects of the Yersinia calamity, but until then she had married into another family.

I don’t know the details about this, but it’s possible that the marriage wasn’t on very good terms. And Dunkel was dissatisfied with that.

During yesterday’s tour of the Royal Capital, I was enraged by Fanny’s treatment and my face stiffened. The Prince’s remark just now seemed to hint at the relevance of that area.

It’s just a speculation, but it can’t be helped because I can’t think of anything else important that the Prince might have lost. If there is a detailed story, I will probably receive some kind of invitation individually during my stay in the Royal Capital.

[I understand your desire to be strong. So, how would you do it specifically? Assuming that the Holy City surrendered, how would you handle it?]

I asked so in order to resume the halted conversation.

For now, I still couldn’t fathom which direction Dunkel’s vision is going.

[Regarding St. Navempos, just like my father, I think it’s enough to improve the influence of Rona-dono and the religious faction.]

Is that basically the route to leave the ceasefire?

I looked at Rona’s face, but she didn’t seem to be particularly concerned. From her point of view, the King’s plan and the Prince’s plan don’t seem to differ that much, so either one may be fine.

[Then, what about the Free Cities?]

Apparently the Prince’s true plan can be seen from here, so Dunkel spreaded his arms out as if to ask us to listen.

[I will ask them to join the Kingdom…but the conditions are much stricter than those of my father. You can even call it de-facto surrender.]

In the phase of putting pressure on the Free Cities to join, the Five Family Allied Forces should have already disbanded. If such a strong condition is presented, I have a feeling that the southern part of the continent will forever be a region where independent Nobles are rampant.

When I was thinking about such things, someone gave me an answer instead.

[If they refuse the Kingdom’s merciful offer to surrender, my Zeldomitra will have no choice but to destroy them. That’ll be a pitiful end for them.]

Contrary to what he said, there’s no shred of pity in Sadin’s voice.

[The Marquis Zeldomitra family shouldn’t expand to the south after capturing the Umon Islands, right?]

[In my proposal, I do not seek that promise.]

The Prince replied to my question almost immediately.

An agreement seemed to have been formed in advance between Dunkel and Sadin regarding the expansion of the Zeldomitra family.

[My uncle has become too lenient, being satisfied with just the capture of Umon island.]

This Sadin Zeldomitra turned out to be an ambitious person. He thought that the current Marquis Zeldomitra’s attitude is too conservative.

In a sense, the end of King Levios’ era of turmoil may be a defensive idea rather than an offensive one. An era where Nobles can grow as they please, that is, an era when their own family may become smaller. It’s not that I don’t understand the feeling of wanting to end it while we’re still big, wanting to win and run.

But, that’s unacceptable to Sadin. he wants to win more, to be bigger. Maybe it’s only natural for a future young member of the Great Noble Zeldomitra family to think like that.

[Wilk-dono also seems to have an extraordinary determination to conquer Spierzeig. I hope you can understand my feelings as a Zeldomitra. You mentioned earlier that now is the time to accumulate power in each of the five families.]

No, I didn’t mean that.

…..however, if Wilk Quordenze had been born into the Quordenze family as an ordinary Eruo continent Noble, would he have thought about such things? I also hear stories of Young Masters running wild because of their feeling of omnipotence.

Perhaps because I have memories of my previous life, I feel like my base thinking is on the middle-aged side, and I’m already mellowed as a result. Sadin-kun and Dunkel-kun in cool mode are too dazzling.

For the time being, let’s listen to the continuation of the Prince’s proposal without denying it strangely.

I gave Sadin an appropriate nod and looked at Dunkel.

[By the way, what kind of surrender conditions will be imposed on the independent Nobles of the free cities? You said that it will be severe.]

[Transfer.]

The Prince asserts that it is a transfer, in other words, a change of territory led by the Kingdom.

[…that’s a very strict condition.]

[I intend to point out that the Kingdom is a high-ranking body. I wonder if transference will be an easy-to-understand indicator.]

It’s easy to say, but it’s really questionable whether it’s really possible to transfer the Nobles. The last time the realm was transferred was before the era of turmoil, more than 200 years ago.

Just imagining how to order a Noble family rooted in their ancestral land to go somewhere else would be a difficult road ahead. If the terms of surrender were made public, the Free Cities might unite and become anti-Kingdom forces.

[By carrying out the transfer of territories that was once performed by priests, the Kingdom will show the world where authority lies.]

…I feel like I’m starting to see Dunkel’s vision just a little bit. I knew that he was aiming for something different from King Levios and the First King Levios.

[I see. By the way, about the fact that we’re going to be more powerful than we are now… Was the House of Marquis Zeldomitra expanding to the south? Then, what about the House of Levios? Advancement to the Mist Land?]

I asked with some nuance.

[As you may know, my Levios face the Wacold River, but demon beasts don’t attack as often as in the Adellahan region.]

It is said that there is a mountain stretching from east to west in the Mist Land on the north of Levios territory. As a result, the monsters tend to bypass to the west side, making the area around the Adellahan region to become a monster collection point.

In any case, this is just a guess, and there is no record of the demon beast actually bypassing it. Aside from the heyday of priests, there is no organization capable of such large-scale observations in the current era.

[Therefore, I think it would be fine if we could build several defense facilities on the opposite bank. Of course, it is not so easy to build a fort. Cooperation with the Marquis Adellahan will be essential.]

While imagining a map in my head, I connected the planned fort construction points that Dunkel said with dots and lines.

It must be the intention to draw a line first and intimidate the other Noble families so that they do not enter the Mist Land and start developing and turning it into a territory.

[So, Prince Dunkel isn’t very active in developing the Mist Land?]

[The development of the northern region… The operation to go north is a dream that Duchess Crowne once pursued with the First King.]

And while paying attention to the two members of the Adellahan family, he concluded.

[I can’t dream as far north as my father.]

The Levios family doesn’t intend to allocate much resources, but if everyone agrees with Dunkel’s plan, the family will support the northward movement of the Adellahan family.

[If so, how does the Levios family plan to gain power?]

[I plan to settle the mismanagement caused by the Yersinia calamity and strengthen the internal system.]

[…..I see.]

As expected. What he is talking about is the issue of non-government, the future treatment of the land that has been annihilated by the demonic beast Yersinia. This no-ruler free land is scattered around the Levios territory, including the Lushna region. The Nobles of the Lushna region are lobbying the Royal Capital to acquire this vacant land.

Clearing up mismanagement and strengthening the internal system simply means turning the Free Territory into Levios Territory. The fact that it is close to the Levios territory means that peace has continued since the founding of the country, and there are many promising cities with developed culture and economy. Quite frankly, it’s a very nice deal.

Perhaps because of the debt of creating the demonic beast Yersinia, King Levios is looking for a solution on the premise of ceding it to another family, but Dunkel seems to be different.

The idea of ​​prioritizing the Levios family rather than the Levios Kingdom is exactly here. As expected, even on this occasion, he didn’t directly say, [We’re going to get territory due to the non-government issue!].

[I think that if the problem is settled early, it will be a big advantage for the Marquis Quordenze family.]

If the Quordenze family supports the Prince’s plan and takes sides in the non-government issue, does that mean they will cooperate in the battle against the Spierzeig? The no-ruler area doesn’t have centipede legs, it will be in stable operation as soon as the reign of the Levios family begins, and it is also realistic to send reinforcements to our house.

[I think it would be great if I could continue to talk with Kilorde-dono and Princess Orshian in a place like this. Since we are the next head of the family, we should be able to discuss matters that parents cannot.]

[Mmm, I see. …I see.]

And the benefit to the Milendorva family…or rather, the benefit to Kilorde is most likely related to Orshian.

Everyone in this place already knows that Kilorde is obsessed with Orshian. Even I feel that he has the sprout of a favored Nobleman, so it’s only natural for Dunkel to poke at him.

If Archduke Milendorva tries to keep the relationship between Kilorde and Orshian at a distance, it is quite possible that he will run out of control and approach the Prince.

Well, there may be other benefits, but as a member of the Quordenze family, it was difficult to hear.

[How is it, Wilk-dono?]

[…..that was indeed interesting.]

It was a proposal that clearly showed the difference in the thoughts of the King and the Prince.

[That’s good to hear. I would like to continue the story on another night.]

It gives me time to think. Unlike the other members, I was the only one who didn’t hear about it beforehand, so it was a natural consideration.

However, comparing the two proposals side by side, the King’s plan is by far the easier one for the Royal Nobles to accept.

Putting aside the acceptance of the expansion of the Zeldomitra family in the Prince’s proposal, the Levios family’s push for the non-government issue will likely arouse antipathy. At that point, the idea of ​​[Let’s unite all the Nobles of the Kingdom and prepare for future threats] in the King’s plan would look more attractive.

In addition, there is a difference in thought at the root of this proposal.

[From the era of the First King Levios to the next era…huh.]

When I whispered those words with the intention of trying it out, not only Dunkel, but even Kalmia and Novalf showed their surprise. Apparently, these three people understand the essence of the Prince’s plan.

[Wilk-dono, come again?]

At Kalmia’s question, I quietly shook my head. I don’t need to say it now.

[Excuse me, I haven’t gathered my thoughts yet. I just said what crossed my mind.]

Dunkel’s immediate target is the problem of non-government, but the ultimate goal is hidden in the transfer of captivity.

One of the privileges of the priests who once boasted of their glory, the transfer of territory to the Kingdom’s authority, makes the power of the Royal family stronger. The Nobles of the Free Cities were chosen to create a track record for that purpose. They are like sacrifices.

The idea of ​​giving priority to “The Five Great Nobles”, which is spreading among young people, leads to the disrespect of weak and minor Noble families. The nation that Dunkel is aiming for should be a form in which the Royal family and Great Nobles have great authority.

If “The Five Great Nobles” have a lot of authority in the Kingdom, the more they will be attached to the Kingdom. I wonder if the Quordenze family will remain as a shield against the Zinkaen Empire, the Zeldomitra family as a shield against Saint Navempos, and the Adellahan family as a group of pioneers of the Mist Land. The Levios family and the Milendorva family, which are located in the rear, are enjoying a warm and peaceful life. So enviable.

What lies at the root of the Prince’s plan can be said to be a departure from the idea of ​​the First King, who advocated an equal relationship between Nobles. But, this is a very new and young idea. Most of the Royal Nobles would feel uncomfortable with that and unconsciously refrain from agreeing.

Thinking about it like this, I could understand that the King’s plan emphasized the equality of the nobility.

[Can I ask one more question? One for Rona-dono.]

I checked with Dunkel, the host of this place. When he acknowledged it, Rona turned her body toward me as if to be questioned.

[What is it?]

This may have something to do with the success or failure of the operation. Just a question I genuinely wondered and wanted to ask.

I started talking while feeling some pressure from Rona’s staring eyes.

[Even if King Levios or Prince Dunkel succeeded, the Holy City would still be in chaos. Even though there are signs of recovery, a civil war may break out and St Navempos may become a burnt field again.. Do you have any thoughts on that?]

[Not at all.]

[………………..ha?]

I couldn’t come up with a proper word because of the quick response. Rona’s reply was so natural. It was as if she was giving a self-evident answer. I didn’t see any turmoil at all in her voice, which had become a little sarcastic.

[Is there anything wrong with that?]

Rona’s eyes, as if genuinely worried about my turmoil, were glaring at me.

What does it mean to think nothing of war when your hometown, your family and friends, and the land of your faith may be ravaged by war? But, I couldn’t put it into words. Perhaps I was afraid of the answer that would come from her if I asked that question.

Perhaps because of that, what came out of my mouth was a purely questioning voice without even a shred of Nobleness.

[What is your actual goal, Rona-dono?]

Then, she put her right hand on her chest and replied with a loving smile.

[In accordance with the voice of Founding Father Zeth, there is only one mission that resides in this body.]

Her voice finally spoke more like a hymn than words.

[It’s a revival of faith.]

I could feel the madness in those big black eyes that seemed to absorb even the darkness of the night.