episode_0012

When I was young, I remember liking any kind of banquet.

Gorgeous. Active. Above all, everyone in attendance was smiling.

Then, after getting my forehead stamped on a book, I suddenly remembered my past life.

When I realized the way the world works a little early.

I learned that a banquet is no longer just a place to eat and drink.

Fierce search battle. Enemy or ally? Can you use it or will you be used?

The blades of language come and go in an instant. Perhaps a place more intense than a battlefield.

I have to find out whether this smile I am making now is true or false.

For that reason, even the slightest bit of rudeness is not tolerated at a banquet.

For this reason, many nobles only accepted invitations from places with which they had a ‘friendly’ relationship.

‘Right now, I’m moving in the opposite direction of what I should do.’

You should not simply look at the banquet host.

We need to find out as much as we can about who will be there.

It would be very uncomfortable if you ran into someone you were embarrassed to meet.

– In light of this, it is right for me to avoid this banquet.

“I am still anxious about His Royal Highness coming.”

“It’s okay. I’m sure he’s going to misbehave at a neutral noble’s banquet.”

The prince is coming. The 1st prince. The center of the Juhwa faction and the gentleman I met not long ago!

Even though we parted ways with a smile, the person I was taking with me punched me.

This means that it is a very difficult situation for both parties.

“Master. Well, if you feel like the atmosphere is getting a little weird.”

“He said he needed to sober up and ran to the balcony.”

“Rather than the word flight, it is better to call it a strategic retreat.”

“I understand. Alexey. And there is nothing to worry too much about.”

There was no way the prince would bring that nobleman back even if he was crazy.

Marquis Robgon, who belongs to the neutral faction. It is a banquet held at his island residence.

If you make a fuss there, it is obvious what the neutrals will think.

“Oh my, young master. That’s because you don’t know how difficult it is to hold a banquet.”

“I’ve been to all the banquets so far?”

“They are all on the main radio side. Or wasn’t it the military side!”

“That’s right. They told me not to worry.”

Don’t say it again. This is a place where neutral nobles gather. Alexey.

If you make a mistake here, no matter how much the prince is, the political burden will be heavy?

He told me not to worry and I confidently entered the banquet hall.

And it wasn’t long before we began to wonder if our Alexei was a regressor.

‘… Ah, damn it. What kind of picture is this again?’

A sight that makes me want to turn around and go back the way I came.

“Bell. Why on earth did you come?”

“Is it possible that I am in a place where I cannot come? Isn’t it?”

“Even I found out about it on the way. At this level, I think I’m almost half stubborn.”

“Yes. No.”

On the left is the 1st prince. And on the right is the second princess.

Direct descendants of the imperial family, represented by the Juhwa faction and the Jujeon faction, respectively.

They are by no means great people who would come to the banquet of neutral nobles.

Fortunately, the prince knew that he was coming, so he was less surprised.

But I never dreamed that the princess would come. I haven’t heard any news.

I want to know something. Was it possible that the princess’s arrival was decided at the last minute?

“Welcome. Prince Kael.”

“His Excellency Marquis Robgon.”

First of all, let’s say hello to the host of today’s banquet.

“I heard the news. This time, he contributed to the military’s victory with excellent strategy.”

“That’s it.”

“What a great young man. The Berthier Empire will be truly happy.”

I have no particular contact with Marquis Robgon, and it is difficult to say that we are acquaintances.

Still, since his title is high, there should be no problem at least revealing his face.

So, I’m talking briefly about various things.

“Ah, Prince Kael.”

“Prince Kael!”

As soon as the prince and princess, who were bickering, saw me, they smiled happily and approached me.

In the meantime, the princess even runs halfway to try to get there first.

‘go away! If you are going to come, come one at a time! ‘It’s okay if you two come together!’

The two siblings, who had no way of knowing what I was thinking, came right up next to me.

I quickly looked at Marquis Robgon and sent him a message asking him to save me.

This means that if caught between two whales, the shrimp’s back will explode.

“Prince Kael.”

And once again, I realized the harshness of the political world.

“I have to say hello to others too. See you later.”

“… Your Excellency the Marquis. Your Excellency?”

The Marquis may have decided that dealing with two people was not a good idea, so he immediately ran away.

therefore. abandoned. Is it okay for the host to do that to the guests?

“Prince Kael.”

In the meantime, the prince, who took the princess away from her and came to her side, spoke to her.

“Meeting His Highness the 1st Prince.”

“It seems you also received an invitation from the Marquis. What a coincidence to meet you in a place like this.”

“… It seems so.”

I know it’s not a coincidence, and the prince knows it too. At least our Alexei knows.

But knowing it and admitting it out loud are two completely different things.

Knowing that, I also adjusted appropriately to the prince’s conversation.

“It was fate that we met again like this, so let’s talk for a moment―”

“Wait a minute!”

At one point, the princess who came right next to him grabs the prince’s hand.

“That’s the story. I want to hear it too.”

“Why are you interfering again? bell. This is between this brother and Prince Kael-”

“I’m doing this because I don’t know what kind of disrespect I might do to Prince Kael again.”

“That’s not me… .”

“If you were going to complain, shouldn’t you have managed people well at the banquet I hosted?”

“… .”

Wow. The prince of the empire says he can cut it all down.

This is not possible simply because the princess is a princess. This is possible because they are brother and sister.

I heard that they are one year apart… . hmm. It’s really wiser not to fight.

“Good.”

In the end, it was the prince who was stabbed who backed away.

Instead of “. I decided not to get involved in the conversation between me and Prince Kael.”

“Wouldn’t it be possible if I said something strange?”

“Still, let’s just talk after the conversation is over. I can’t give up more than this.”

is it so. Princess. In my view, that’s really a lot of concession.

*

The princess eventually gave an OK sign. It seems that he himself thought that more than this was unreasonable.

Afterwards, the three of us followed the Marquis’ guidance and headed to one of the mansion’s drawing rooms.

‘… ‘It looks a bit strange.’

As they stand behind the prince and princess and chase after them, it feels like they are plotting something.

Two princes who are about to oust the current crown princess, the princess, and a young schemer with an infinite thirst for power who helps them… .

“Let’s sit down.”

The prince offers me a seat. But I didn’t attach my butt right away.

Instead of sitting down, he pulled out the chair next to him and made room for the princess.

The princess was a little surprised, but then smiled and said thank you.

It’s not like I’m lady first or anything. This was a glimpse of their true intentions.

Something very interesting happened to me last time, so I still feel uncomfortable about the Juhwa faction.

This goes to the extent of showing such favor to a princess who belongs to the Jujeon faction.

“… Hmm.”

The prince also cleared his throat as if he had roughly figured out their intentions.

They must have realized that if they said something absurd, their relationship could really become strained.

“First of all. Before getting into the main topic. I would like to apologize for what happened earlier.”

“An apple. This is an absurd statement. Your Majesty.”

“No. As Bell said, since he failed to manage his subordinates, it is right for him to take responsibility for it.”

The opponent is the first prince of the empire. On my side, I am the eldest son of an imperial family loyal to that empire.

There is a gap in status, so there is no need to do that, but I am apologizing.

I felt a little uncomfortable there. What on earth are you trying to say by cutting me off like that?

“Prince Kael.”

The prince’s mood changed. This means that now is the main point.

“You probably know how the current imperial politics is going.”

“Of course, Your Highness.”

Just as there are two factions in Novogord: moderates and hardliners.

There are three major factions within the imperial political world.

The main faction that advocates active use of force, a means that is certain and can only be wielded by the empire.

The Juhwa faction actively appeals that there are other methods than force that causes extreme damage.

A neutral group that properly coordinates opinions between the two and prevents the balance from being lost.

The princess sitting next to me belongs to the Jujeon faction. If you look at our family, it’s that way.

Marquis Robgon, the owner of this parlor, is of the neutral faction.

And the first prince who sits across from me and asks such questions is from the Juhwa faction.

“I will speak briefly. Prince Kael. Let’s agree with me.”

“Hey!”

The princess’s shout made me look at her in surprise.

They say they are brother and sister, but no matter what, he is the prince and she is the princess.

In front of them, I am a subject of the imperial family. You must not show the imperial family’s shortcomings in front of me.

“Oh, of course. This does not mean at all that I am helping to change the succession structure.”

However, the prince just stuck to his words despite the princess’s reaction.

Really these siblings. It can be said to be amazing in many ways.

“I love my sister. He will definitely be an excellent monarch.”

“Then what you are saying is that we should agree with each other.”

“How long do you think it will be possible to control the continent with blood and steel?”

Just as the princess was about to growl again. The prince continued speaking immediately.

“Don’t misunderstand. I am in no way hostile to the military or denying its necessity. Rather, I am always grateful to the military. I assure you that if there is anyone who insults the imperial army, even if they share the same views as me, I will boldly strike them down.”

If you only listen to what he says, he should belong to the mainstream group.

The princess must have thought so too, and was babbling a little.

“I. We just hope that the empire moves in a better direction in the future. We cannot become the center of the continent forever by force.”

“The empire has grown as a force and has come this far. Your Majesty.”

“Yes. you’re right. That’s right. Now we have to choose a different way.”

The prince’s next words.

The empire has been shedding blood everywhere. The blood of both one’s own country and the other country.

As a result, even if there was a little conflict, the atmosphere became very cold.

If there is a conflict with one country right away, wouldn’t neighboring countries also join in and join in?

“The Empire showed that it would fight everything if something like that happened. But Prince Kael. Some of them through diplomatic cajoling and pressure. Maybe even eliminate half of them. They will also target countries that are relatively easier than our empire.”

“… .”

“If we control it well, it will not be a structure of a large country and several small countries, but a large country and a small country. And it could also be a composition of bystanders.”