Chapter 456 - The Prince of Regnentes
In March, when the snow melted, Henry-sama's group arrived. It seems a method for the Demon Lord's seal has been decided.
"We will start by searching for Gnome."
Eleanor-sama said that since it's still cold, a lot of perennial snow remains on the Central Mountain Range. It's hard to search unless it gets a bit warmer and only remains near the mountain peaks.
"Is the Regnentes side alright?"
I've heard that the negotiations aren't going well.
"Mary worked hard. She worked on the high nobility of Regnentes, and full-scale trade between Engrio and Regnentes has begun."
Last year, the harvest of the lands of the nobility and Church territories where information on agricultural reform had been leaked in advance increased. It was also a bumper crop, but as a result of achieving results beyond expectations, they gained the favor of the high nobility and the Church. There, she secretly taught them about the start of trade between Sertoria and Engrio—precisely Count Vectis—through the Class of 175, and instigated them to work on the Royal Family. Of course, they had been doing it until now, but the nobles had hesitated to stand at the forefront themselves and had left it to the merchants. By coordinating with the Count, who is entrusted with the defense of Vectis Island and the port on the opposite shore, they can set up a post for trade on the opposite shore and send their own boats directly to Engrio territory, allowing them to trade openly. In reality, they had been doing it until now, so there isn't much substantial difference, but from now on, direct negotiations with the Engrio Royal Palace and the continent will be possible. The high nobility will lead that, and the small and medium-sized nobility will benefit from the leftovers. Big spenders must have their own merits. Since the previous war had rumors of using Revenants, using magic beasts, and a massacre plan, there was a strong sense of wariness. It's been over three years since the war ended, and finally the original trade state is being restored.
"As a result, only people from our country are permitted to enter the vicinity of the Silver Mine. Of course, if a ritual site is found as a result of the exploration, the princes of each country, starting with James-dono, will begin an investigation."
Those participating are Henry-sama's group, Bonnie, and me. Since this time is only searching for Gnome's whereabouts, combat power was deemed unnecessary. If a disappearing wall is actually found, an investigation team led by James-sama from each country will be organized again.
However, there is a condition, and it seems the Regnentes side will also send people.
"Is it Harold-sama?"
He's the Military Minister. It's a job title that doesn't exist in Sertoria, but in short, he's likely in Victor-sama's position.
"No, it's his son. The Scout Captain. Most likely, the Scout Corps is in charge of security around the Silver Mine."
It's someone I know. And he's a good person. Good.
"And one more person. Prince Sawelyn-dono will participate."
Now that she mentions it, there was someone like that.
Somehow, unlike the princes of other countries, his impression is thin. I think he was a handsome man, not unlike other royalty, but after all, I've seen Eowyn-sama and James-sama. I've stopped being surprised by ordinary handsome men.
"Sawelyn-dono values the dignity of the Regnentes Royal Family very much, so please be careful."
Values the dignity of the Royal Family very much... what exactly does that mean?
"Does it mean he's acting arrogant?"
A mage who knows no manners says something extremely rude.
"To put it bluntly, yes. Please don't take his words literally and offend him."
She admitted it easily. His way of speaking must be terrible.
I see. Is he like the Elf Prince I just met? It would be good if he gets in a good mood after seeing the Light orbs...
The first meeting was in the waiting room of the Regnentes Royal Palace. This was because it was decided to have a face-to-face meeting while also having a consultation before reporting the start of the investigation to the King. When I actually met him, it was worse than I imagined.
He was in his early twenties. He was dressed in a glittering way that paid more attention to decoration than practicality, the complete opposite of the rugged Scout Captain Godwynn beside him. I don't know what kind of care he's doing, but his strongly wavy blond hair was swaying in a curled form from the nape of his neck to around his shoulders.
"So you are Jeanne. I've heard various stories. I hear you can use unusual magic; show it to me."
This is despite the fact that I'm giving a "nice to meet you" greeting.
"Sawelyn-sama. Jeanne is a Bishop. Moreover, she is a knight of four countries, including Medioland, and has the status of an audience-rank in our country. I believe it would be more appropriate to first give your greetings."
Godwynn-sama said that as if to admonish him.
"Godwynn, you are too talkative. You're no different from the elders I dislike. Once I ascend the throne, I intend to silence their incessant chatter. Hmph, well, it's a fact that I'm indebted to you for various things. It can't be helped."
He lowers his posture slightly. Normally it's lower.
"What's wrong. Show me your ring. Do you not even know how to greet?"
What the hell are you saying. I'm in formal wear. That kind of attitude is disrespectful to the Church.
"When I received the Bishop's ring, I received congratulations from many people, including Vice-Archbishop Price of the Medioland Royal Capital Great Church, multiple Archbishops, and Kings of various countries. I believe this Bishop's ring is something that contains the thoughts of such people. So the Regnentes Royal Family only treats the authority of the Church and the authority of various countries to that extent. I understand very well. From the start, etiquette toward me personally is completely unnecessary. Then it's simple. Let's make greetings unnecessary for each other."
If something as trivial as authority is important, I'll counter you with authority greater than yours.
"Wh-What are you saying..."
He's dumbfounded, but it doesn't matter.
"Godwynn-sama. I apologize, but could you please show me the way to the Royal Capital Great Church? I must report through the Church that this matter has ended in failure to Price-sama of the Medioland Royal Capital Great Church, and by extension to the King of Medioland and Crown Prince James."
"I-I'll say that you quit on your own. I, the Prince, will. If that happens, you'll just be scolded by the Church."
He hurriedly tries to threaten me. Like I care! Do as you please.
"Yes. I am aware from the start. As I said earlier, etiquette toward me personally is unnecessary, so do as you please. I will return home and do monster extermination. I'll leave the rest to Price-sama and James-sama, who are leading this investigation, and to the Royal Families of Finis, Northern Gram, Primordia, and Sertoria. Ah, I forgot. The Engrio Royal Family was also involved."
I turn my back on him.
"Jeanne. You mustn't."
It was Eleanor-sama.
"Th-That's right. What are you thinking?"
He became energetic with Eleanor-sama's reinforcement.
"The order is wrong. This is the Regnentes Royal Palace. You must first report to the King of Regnentes, who is waiting for you in the audience chamber. Reporting to the Church is after that. Since you are a knight, go ahead and report by yourself."
"E-Even Eleanor-sama, what are you saying!"
He's turning pale.
As expected of Eleanor-sama. She seemed to know that he was bad with the King.
"If this matter ends in failure, the Engrio Royal Capital Great Church might get quite angry and start an investigation into the cause. At that time, I will also report the statements I just heard from everyone in a public place. Please understand."
It was Harris-sama. He said it with a dead serious face.
The Prince didn't say anything against the Church. He just grumbled behind the backs of the elders who meddle in the Regnentes Royal Palace. However, no matter who thinks about it, it will undoubtedly anger the entire Church.
"N-No. Bishop Harris. There's no need to make such a fuss. Even if my attitude was bad, it's unavoidable."
"Unavoidable?"
What is this guy saying.
"Today, it's that, yes, that's right. I slept wrong and my leg hurts. If I tried to follow etiquette, it would result in a very unsightly appearance. So, if possible, I wanted to simplify it. Yes, that's all."
Sleeping wrong and hurting your leg? I've never heard of that.
The Prince's mysterious medical condition aside, the lowliness of his posture was improved. This was because Godwynn-sama said that I should just go up to a high position.
When I looked down from standing on a wooden box, the Prince was looking up with a resentful expression. He gave a greeting in that strange posture from earlier. When I thrust out my right hand with the Bishop's ring, saying "here," he took it reverently.
"May you have the Goddess's blessing and may the pain in your leg be taken away."
"Kuh, thank you."
He pressed his forehead against the ring, and finally the greeting ended.
The Prince walked out of the waiting room while intentionally dragging one leg a little. This was despite the fact that he was energetic when he came in.
In the end, because the Prince's leg hurt, the investigation was carried over to the next day.
"Bishop Jeanne is also harsh."
Godwynn-sama said while laughing. I might have overdone it.
"I'm sorry. But, at least the greeting when meeting for the first time should be done properly..."
Until now, I've met all the Kings on the island, and they all showed a certain amount of respect for the ring, which is the proof of a priest. If I kept quiet while it was being slighted, the Church would be looked down upon. Heathens aside, I heard that Regnentes has a strong influence from priests. At that rate, he'll invite backlash after ascending the throne.
"His Majesty is also troubled by Sawelyn-sama's rough way of speaking. Partly due to consideration for the Church, he hasn't even been able to install him as the Crown Prince yet."
It would be stranger not to backlash at that.
For now, the King has two sons and two daughters, and it seems he has a younger brother and a younger sister. I've met the two younger sisters. Both of them, not unlike the Queen, were people who lived for tea parties and banquets, and they left the countermeasures for those with titles who are impoverished or plague patients entirely to their subordinates.
The younger brother is a younger brother, and from the start he wished to be a priest and has already become a Bishop, and apparently lives in a church in the countryside painting pictures and playing instruments. His wish is said to be to retire early and live for the beauties of nature.
In short, it means there is no decent successor.
"Is there a rival?"
If not, the one who knows no manners will become King and just fight with the Church.
"Currently, the eldest son of His Royal Highness the King's younger brother is considered promising. He even went to war as a heavy cavalry captain in the main unit in the previous war. He was quite active."
I saw His Royal Highness the King's younger brother when I had an audience with the King. He was quite a portly person. He was handsome, but a person with a somewhat dark face, and in a fairy tale, he had a look that wouldn't be strange even if he became a villain.
But. Certainly, on the Regnentes battlefield, the Scout Corps should have completely defeated the Engrio army. I heard it from Will, who was there, so there's no mistake.
"Then, what about Sawelyn-sama?"
"Since His Majesty personally took the field, he was in the main camp as a staff officer and was assisting His Majesty."
In other words, it means he didn't go to the front lines. It's quite serious. Won't a family feud break out eventually?
"I'd like to ask Bishop Jeanne to take the trouble so that doesn't happen."
"?"
"I'd like you to say what should be said as a priest, like you did just now."
Wait, could it be that the reason that Prince is participating in this investigation is...
When I look at the two bad old men, they are looking out the window along with Harris-sama. It seems it was completely set up.
We had an audience with the King just like that.
Four people—Henry-sama, Eleanor-sama, Harris-sama, and I—were permitted to enter the room.
When we entered the room, the King, who was sitting on the throne, stood up to welcome us.
"Henry-dono, Eleanor-dono, I am glad you came. Our country cannot possibly oppose a great nation without the Silver Mine. I apologize for the fact that it took some time."
"Don't worry about it. Last year, the essential Jeanne was busy. Starting the investigation from this year was just right."
"I'm grateful to hear you say that. Cooperation with your country, which will be a neighbor, is essential for our country. I am by no means doubting you. Please convey that to the King of Sertoria."
"The same goes for us, King of Regnentes. Shall we not work together and do our best?"
Both are taking each other's hands. They are adjacent to the same powerful hypothetical enemy country. That Sertoria contacted King Seldic last year and started trade, albeit on a small scale. According to Harris-sama, the fact that Regnentes, which had not easily permitted entry to the vicinity of the Silver Mine, turned around and gave permission is not just due to Mary's hard work, but is part of Regnentes's diplomacy. Balance must be necessary. It's a lot of worry.
Next was Harris-sama, and finally me.
The King of Regnentes greeted me just like that, without sitting back on the throne. He also didn't forget his respect for the ring. The Bishop sent from the Regnentes Royal Capital Great Church, who was in attendance, looked at the Prince, who was looking awkward while nodding greatly. Apparently, it's been found out.
The King of Regnentes was a friendly person, just like when I met him last time. It's a mystery where and how such a Prince was created. After all, he took my hand and said he was counting on me.
When I glanced at the Prince, he was looking away with a "hmph."
"Bishop Jeanne. The reforms that the Bishop and the Bishop's companions advised us on are gathering more and more support in our country. I am truly grateful. Our country still has places that must be changed. Please teach us various things again."
"Those are more words than I deserve. Mary and Beatrix, who are indebted to your country, will surely be happy to hear them."
"Umu. Please convey my regards to the two of them as well. Since both of them were knighted in Finis, they could have come here, but please tell them to show their faces once in a while."
"Surely they must find it too awe-inspiring."
When Mary is in Regnentes, even if she comes to the Royal Capital, she is flying around among the nobility. Since she hears various stories under the surface, she makes sure not to come to the Royal Palace so as not to be guarded against as someone who might tattle. Beatrix... it might be a hassle. Anyway, a place like the Royal Palace is strict about etiquette. In that sense, she might get along with the Prince.
However, when the King said to convey it to the two of them, there was truth in his words. And several portly-looking nobles lined up in the front row applauded. I also saw the smile of the Lord of the Basin. The priest sent from the Church also looks satisfied.
Even now, I realized the magnitude of what the two of them and Lyudmila have accomplished in Regnentes.