kscans

Chapter 156 - Chapter 22: A Case for the Kingdom's Benefit

Upon my return from Kurtheite, I was walking down a corridor in the Grynisias Ducal castle. The castle was large, yet its decorations seemed minimal. The interior offered a glimpse into the current duke's character. One might call its visual style friendly to commoners. But I was more tense than I had been in the enemy territory of Kurtheite, which had been filled with pointlessly lavish ornamentation.

"This arrived from the Royal Capital."

Leonard, the duke's son, handed me a single sealed letter. The sender was my father. The unfolded paper was filled with every familiar name I knew. Incredible. Not a single person dropped out.

The reception room came into view. Inside waited the man whom all vassals must treat as the highest guest of honor. At least, until this was over, he had to be nothing more than a potato in my mind. To overcome this final, greatest challenge, peace of mind was essential.

"Well done on your duty as an envoy."

The Chancellor offered words of appreciation. I gave a bow to the silent King, then read aloud the Empire's reply.

A full withdrawal from all occupied territories. Payment of reparations in the full amount demanded, though it would be split over two years. The unfavorable trade conditions were also accepted. And...

The Empire would permit the Kingdom to construct a base for "trade and magic vein observation" on the other side of the great river, and would provide the necessary support from the adjacent territory of Maldras, Princess Lisabet's homeland.

"The Empire has acknowledged our territory 'across the river'?"

The Chancellor emphasized the words 'across the river'. Still, his expression was one of surprise. That's right, it wasn't a cession of Imperial territory. But if it were announced to the public, most people would misunderstand it as territory seized from the Empire. For the nobles and commoners of the regions ravaged by this invasion, it would likely feel as though the line of defense had been pushed to the other side of the river. This was a huge deal.

"The First Imperial Princess will go to the Royal Capital as a hostage, then."

The King spoke. Maytyl was currently first in line for the Imperial throne. Of course, the heir to the throne becoming a hostage is tantamount to a declaration of vassalage, so they would surely alter the order of succession before that happened. That was precisely why the letter specified "First Imperial Princess".

In the Empire, birth order held little meaning. Or rather, to be precise, it seemed to be the order of registration. Maytyl was, after all, younger than Lisabet. "First in line for the throne" was significant, but "First Imperial Princess" was not.

In any case, she was the head of Imperial sorcery who had led the main Imperial army. She was an extremely valuable hostage. Besides, the Imperial order of succession was fundamentally based on ability. Maytyl's knowledge of sorcery was valuable regardless of her rank. The significance of having the Empire's greatest military asset under our watch was also immense. Both the King and Chancellor understood that the Kingdom had defeated the Empire's powerful sorcery with a trick that would only work once.

Of course, it was a political victory as well. In terms of national interest and the honor of the royal family, there could be no better result. In this conflict, the Kingdom was the victim of a one sided invasion. Managing the feelings of the aggrieved citizens and nobles would be difficult. But seeing these terms, no one would fail to be convinced of the Kingdom's complete victory. Moreover, it was a victory won with the King himself leading the army.

If this peace treaty was concluded, the achievement would belong to the king who defeated the Empire. It was an outcome beyond reproach.

"However, the Empire has several conditions for accepting these terms," I said.

The two men nodded as if to say, "Of course," their expressions tightening with caution.

"First, for the withdrawal from Kurtheite, in place of Princess Maytyl, they request the return of the captured Crenne and at least ten of her subordinates to command the Imperial army. Next, they ask for a guarantee of Prince Dagobard's early return upon payment of his ransom. And finally, Princess Maytyl is to come in the form of an exchange student at the Royal Academy."

There were no objections to my words. A swift and orderly withdrawal of the Imperial army was also beneficial to the Kingdom. Whatever the pretext, anyone could see that Maytyl was a hostage. Of course, the fact that she would be at the Royal Academy was important.

Fulsy, who had seemed rather uninterested until now, broke into a smile. I had already told him that Mia had not been mistreated, but he was a simple man. The thought of pairing those two together made me more uneasy than anyone.

Regardless, there were no problems so far. Now for the main issue.

"Finally. To guarantee Princess Maytyl's safety, the Kingdom is to dispatch His Highness, the Second Prince Delnius, to the Imperial capital as an 'honorary ambassador'."

I said it without changing my expression.

"That is...!"

"..."

As expected, the Chancellor was flustered. And the King's expression vanished.

Oops. Even though it's a request 'from the Empire', it almost sounds like I orchestrated it.

That's right. It's the de facto exile of the Second Prince. I've decided to remove him from my sight.

"That man..."

Eyes that chilled me to the bone glared my way. The pressure was intense. It was frightening even when I tried to think of him as a potato.

"I am merely an envoy. I have only brought back the Empire's request."

I struggled to maintain my composure. Besides, isn't it a bit tasteless for a parent to get involved in their children's squabbles?

"Is it not a great risk to release Prince Dagobard so early?"

The Chancellor was probably trying to buy time. He should know better. He had to realize that even this final proposal held great benefit for the Kingdom.

"Princess Maytyl, who has not lost her power as a sorcerer, is a greater threat than Prince Dagobard, who has lost the majority of his horse-dragons. And it will likely be more difficult for the Empire to have the second and third in line to the throne present than just the first and third or lower."

The third in line and below, who had been suppressed until now, would contend with the second in line, whose reputation was now tarnished by defeat. It went without saying, but this statement was also made with the Kingdom's own second, Delnius, and third, Craig, princes in mind.

Of course, they would have understood my meaning. Or was I perhaps being guided by the Chancellor?

"The new city is to be in the wyvern territory of the Blood Mountains, but will there truly be any merchants who would go to such a place?"

"Yes. Right here. I have already secured their consent."

I showed him the jointly signed document bearing the names of the Central Garden companies. It stated that every company would invest and establish a branch in the new city. Zero dropouts, despite the massive investment required for a land of completely unknown potential. If anything, it was my stomach that was aching.

Incidentally, the name Giverny was nonchalantly included.

"These companies have contributed immensely to the development of the pollen and the magic catalyst in this war. As they are venturing to a distant land for the sake of the Kingdom, I ask for your due consideration."

I added that last part for good measure.

"The pretense is that of an exchange student, but will it be alright to accept the princess of an enemy nation?"

"I shall take responsibility for that matter," Fulsy said. Honestly, after seeing Maytyl in person, I was worried, but he was, for all intents and purposes, the highest authority at the academy.

The Chancellor fell silent.

"Given the Crown Prince's illness, we must exercise caution in sending the second son, Delnius, abroad."

The King opened his mouth. It wasn't an outright refusal. He must have understood.

"What will become of His Highness, Prince Craig?"

I addressed the Chancellor. Politically, this proposal to send the Second Prince abroad should have been a timely opportunity for him. In addition to his numerous monster exterminations, Craig's achievement in crushing Dagobard's horse-dragon unit was great. In fact, it was too great.

But fortunately, Craig was a prince. The extraordinary move of making the entire kingdom his reward, that is, making him Crown Prince, was possible. Since he couldn't level up anymore, it was time for a class change.

If that happened, the Second Prince would undoubtedly harbor great dissatisfaction. In a kingdom that values seniority, the malcontents would rally behind the Second Prince. It would only sow the seeds of future conflict.

"What will become of the disorder in the royal line of succession?"

What he really means is, what will happen to the royal family's authority if a mere commoner gets a prince exiled?

"Prince Craig's victory at Bertold. Your Majesty's complete victory over the Empire by leading the campaign yourself. Has the authority of the royal family ever been higher since the founding of the Kingdom?"

The history books would surely record him as a wise monarch who, without letting his guard down during a long peace, magnificently dealt with the many national crises that suddenly arose.

"The nobles who support Delnius will be dissatisfied..."

"Your Majesty. Actually..."

The Chancellor took out a letter. Judging by the seal, it was from Euphillia in the Royal Capital.

"Sagian and Perelles have..."

The Second Prince's faction. Sagian, who had colluded with the Empire and leaked information about Alfina, and the heir to the count's family, his main family line, who had forged official documents in the recent kidnapping of Mia. Both were part of the Second Prince's faction. It seemed the joint investigation by Euphillia and the Chancellor's Office had borne fruit.

The Second Prince's backer, the Grand Duke of Kurtheite, had already been disgraced. The answer should be clear.

"As one entrusted with the affairs of state, I believe it is vital for our economy to conclude a peace treaty with the Empire as quickly as possible. If food trade with the Empire remains halted any longer..."

The Chancellor looked at me. I'd nearly forgotten that Vinder was part of the Food Guild. It was probably because I'd been forced to do so many things outside my main business.

"If I may speak from a merchant's perspective, agriculture, especially grain which constitutes the majority of it, is the foundation of the economy. The honey and carriages we trade are merely skimming the cream off the top of that agriculture. Should agricultural trade with the Empire be suspended for a long period, the flow of money within this cream we are now cultivating will dry up completely."

This was different from my past life on Earth, where the amount of money flowing through the financial system was more than ten times that of the real economy, an economy awash with cash on the scale of Noah's flood. In this world, commerce is but a small tidal flat bordering the vast ocean of agriculture. If the tide lowers even slightly, it will dry up.

The King might not be troubled if my company, Vinder, were to go under, but the scale of those involved was already too large. The fate of an industry that would bring a massive amount of tax revenue to the Kingdom in the future was at stake.

"From the perspective of a librarian... no, a court magician, I must say that the recent fluctuations in the magic veins leave no room for complacency. Considering the future, I foolishly believe it is essential for the Kingdom to also investigate the Blood Mountains," Fulsy said. Is this old man forgetting his own position at court?

"Following Your Majesty and Prince Craig, if Prince Delnius dedicates himself to the nation in the form of an honorary ambassador, the people will universally come to admire the virtue of the royal family," the Chancellor added. This was a glorious exit for him. Of course, I intended to continue working to ensure it was a one-way street.

"Since the Empire has accepted all of our terms, a single concession is unavoidable."

The King spoke with a pained expression. The fist of the man at the nation's apex clenched on his knee.

"You have performed your duty as an envoy well."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

I bowed my head and exhaled all the air from my lungs.

I used the King to strike the Princess, and the Princess to strike the Prince. In the gaps between, I secured a niche, a new land equidistant from both nations.

All that remains is to develop it into a nexus of trade and anti-monster measures, making it indispensable to both countries. With that, our self-preservation will be complete.

There is still a long road ahead, and I cannot let my guard down until Mia returns to the Royal Capital. But after walking back and forth across a thin, long tightrope many times, I have reached a temporary goal.

I felt despair for a time, but maybe my talent for self-preservation isn't so bad after all. I'm looking forward to Mia's evaluation.