episode_0009

“It’s an interesting story. is not it?

He leaned against the back of the sofa and exhaled smoke.

“Guardian of mankind, Karl Ross Empire. Don’t the Danes belong to that ‘human race’?”

“…It was the Danes themselves who refused the protection of the Empire. If they decide to run out because the fence is stuffy, it’s their fault if they get eaten by a wolf.”

“Hmm…well, let’s just say that.”

Marquis Ludwig extinguished the magic candle by rubbing it in the ashtray.

A cloud of poisonous smoke rose.

“The story went astray. Let’s go back to the main topic.”

“You were the one who tried to change the conversation.”

The corners of the Marquis’ mouth trembled slightly.

“I apologize for that… So, I said it was a peace agreement with Kahar. Why should the Empire accept that offer? What benefit does that have for the empire?”

“I told you. Dane-”

“You honestly have no intention of attacking me, right? If you try to bypass the wall and attack, you will eventually be surrounded by the Imperial regular army to the west and Landenburg’s army to the east. The retreat route will be blocked by the assembled Dane army. At best, it will burn down the eastern part of the empire and then die out. Isn’t that right?”

uh? Does that happen?

I didn’t even think about it that far.

“That alone is not enough. If you want to persuade the empire, suggest a more plausible advantage.”

“……It will save the enormous amount of manpower and resources used to defend the eastern border.”

“Are you serious? The defense of the East was entirely under my authority as a Marginal. Maintaining the military and collecting taxes to maintain it.”

That is, in other words-

“I would welcome it if the cost of defending the eastern part of the country were drastically reduced, but His Majesty the Emperor would not regard it that way. There is a risk that my power will become too strong.”

Doesn’t this work either?

I desperately tried to think back on the original setting and think of a useful reason.

It’s a bit ambiguous because I don’t know what time it is based on the original work. Let’s give it a try first.

“Even Ka`har finally bowed before the empire. Isn’t this the perfect content to boast about the might of the empire?”

He spoke in an exaggerated, theatrical tone and lightly flicked his left hand, which was holding the magic candle.

“I heard that the status of the empire has weakened a lot these days, and that both kingdoms and different races are showing disturbing movements. Even within the empire, strange things are happening, right?”

A ghost town where everyone disappeared overnight.

Things like the sudden disappearance of the 5th prince.

“…It is most suspicious that the princess of Kahar knows the empire’s problems so well.”

” Easterners tend to have bright ears. ”

He shrugged his shoulders, appropriately accepting the Marquis’ suspicions.

“I’ll skip it for now. What remains then is the question of trust… Honestly, the Empire can’t trust Kahar’s words. Is there any guarantee that this is not a deception on your part?”

It’s a valid question.

In fact, Orhan was already full of thoughts of betrayal.

“That’s why I came here in person. As a token of peace, to enter Remnant Academy.”

He put down the burnt-out magic candle in the ashtray and smiled coldly.

“It’s a special admission, so it sounds good, but in reality, it’s no different from a well-dressed diplomatic hostage, right? Ser Khan’s direct blood relative came to us voluntarily as a hostage, so can you trust us?”

“You mean Remnant Academy’s special admission system? Where did you hear that again? You know the empire surprisingly well.”

“My late mother was an imperial citizen. I heard it from my mother.”

Hashal’s mother was sold again.

Actually, from my perspective, he is a person I have never seen before.

“Is your mother an imperial citizen? That’s really interesting. Can I hear your name?”

“Imella. I don’t know the last name. Blonde hair and blue eyes. Is this a name you know?”

“You don’t know the last name? Isn’t she the girl’s mother? ”

Marquis Ludwig asked back as if that was some strange sound.

That’s how the country would react if they heard that they didn’t even know their mother’s last name.

But what can I do with what I don’t know? Who on earth could you have asked that?

no. The original Hashalr seemed to be quite the bastard, so it was natural that he didn’t know.

“You never told me. I guess you didn’t like the last name.”

“Hmm…”

I didn’t have anything else to say, so I just took it in stride.

Anyway, you have no choice but to believe whatever I say, right?

“Marquis. Ce n’est pas censé être à propos de Jeune dame Médiane?”

(Marquis. Isn’t this referring to the daughter of the Median family?)

“Je ne savais pas qu’elle serait reine de Kahar.Taisez-vous d’abord.”

(I never thought she would become the queen of Kahar. Be quiet for now.)

Shane, who was standing silently next to Marquis Ludwig, whispered to the Marquis as if he were perplexed.

Wait a minute, are you saying you were listening to the conversation between me and the Marquis?

That means Shane was using interpreting magic without my knowledge.

On the other hand, I could no longer understand the imperial language, perhaps because the effect of the interpretation magic had worn off.

“What are you talking about?”

“Excuse me. It’s nothing. It looks like Sir Shane mistook me for someone he knew.”

okay. So, this is the real reason why they showed consideration by insisting that we talk in Eastern.

Just in case you need to say something that would be embarrassing for me to hear, I naturally want to avoid a situation where I have to cast the interpretation spell on me again.

Should I question this?

No, it probably doesn’t mean anything.

The atmosphere became a little colder.

Marquis Ludwig took out another cigarette of magic candle, lit it, and deeply inhaled the rising smoke.

“…So, it looks like Orhan wants to conquer the Great Plains again?”

“-What?”

I was startled by the surprise remark and straightened my back while leaning on the sofa.

“You’re trying to make time, right? To catch the empire off guard, increase its power, and gather forces to overcome the barrier.”

No, how the fuck did you know?

The area around my eyes was trembling.

I got caught. What should I do?

Since their intentions were discovered, it wouldn’t be surprising if I, too, was caught and executed on the spot.

Marquis Ludwig smiled quietly as he leisurely stared at the magic candle in his hand.

…It would be useless to lie and make excuses now, so it would be better to tell the truth.

“……I want to talk about something important about that suspicion. However, I hope there are as few listening ears as possible.”

“Do you want Sir Shane out? He is a man with a heavy mouth, like a knight among knights.”

The article is a mess.

“You were listening intently without even telling me that you were using interpretation magic, right? You won’t tell me to believe it now, right?”

“If you’re going to make an issue of that… I can’t do it.”

The Marquis raised his hand and pointed to the door to the drawing room.

Shane, who seemed to be thinking about something, cautiously opened his mouth.

“Ça va, monsieur le marquis? C’est dangereux d’être seule avec elle.”

(Do you mind, Marquis? It is dangerous to be alone with her.)

“Rassemblez les chevaliers devant le château. En cas de bataille, entrez.”

(Assemble the knights outside the castle. When a battle breaks out, rush in.)

What are these bastards up to? Speak Eastern.

—

After speaking, Shane quietly bowed to the Marquis and left the parlor.

“…What did you say?”

“He said there was no need to worry because he was concerned about my safety.”

“Did it really have to be said in imperial language? Since I was using interpretation magic, I could speak Eastern.”

“I’m sorry. As is my habit, I naturally spoke in the imperial language.”

For a topic that seems blunt, one word is very clear.

It’s always difficult to judge a person based on first impressions alone.

“So? Now that you’ve cleared the space for the person you want, tell me. What on earth did the lady want to say secretly?”

“First of all, what you said is correct. Everything I said so far is just a false justification. After conquering the steppes, Ser Khan plans to turn his horse and aim for the empire.”

“You’re confessing to that? Orhan must be the girl’s father. Are you going to betray your father?”

not my father Hashal’s father.

“I never considered him my father. Why would I like a man who captured my mother and forced her to be his wife?”

To deceive the Marquis, he created a tragic character.

The story of a child who realizes his caring mother’s painful past and comes to hate his father, who is a human being.

“….Is that so. Well, I would like to ask, what would happen if I found out about this and attacked Kahar, who was caught off guard?”

“The empire will have the stigma of having stabbed a country that accepted peace negotiations, and its army will, at best, be destroyed by Ser Khan’s warriors who hastily retreated. Can you defeat Ka`har on the plains beyond the Wall?”

Orhan did not hesitate to go on an expedition because he was afraid of the imperial army.

They were worried about damage to their eastern base during the retreat.

“In the end, if you accept peace negotiations, isn’t this saying that there is already no way to do anything? It seems like the reason for the empire to tolerate diplomatic correspondence from a noble woman is gradually disappearing.”

Oh, come to think of it, that’s how it happens.

“If you refuse, the work will only be postponed anyway. As the empire continues to become chaotic, Ser Khan’s expedition will inevitably happen someday. It would be wiser for you to accept me. I will help the empire.”

“I don’t understand. If Ser Khan was going to gain the power to target the empire anyway, there would be no need for you to come all the way here.”

It’s not wrong.

Anyway, after a few years, the Empire will no longer care about Ka’har, so there is no need to take the risk of coming here for the sake of false peace.

Even if he hated Orhan and wanted to betray him, the side that remained in Ka`har would have had much more opportunity to attack him.

Perhaps that is how Harshar in the original work became the Empress of Ka`har.

“Ser Khan’s children are on very bad terms with each other right now. If I had stayed there, I would have died too. So, actually, I came to seek asylum. I didn’t want to die.”

“I heard that Kahar’s warriors are people who never run away, even if they face death?”

“So you only ran away halfway. I chose a small risk instead of a big risk.”

Ludwig burst into laughter.

“It’s truly delightful! Very fun! good. I understand. Then let me help you!”

The desperate self-defense that mixed lies and truth worked.

“Is it okay if I know that you mean to guarantee my safety?”

“That’s right. However, there are some conditions.”

“Conditions? Just tell me.”

I hope the conditions aren’t too difficult.

“First of all, please attend as a witness when I later convey Kahar’s threat to the imperial family.”

“It’s not that difficult.”

This was what we had hoped for from the beginning.

If you want to betray a country, you have to be sure. If you can leave a mark on the emperor, it would be welcomed.

“Secondly, once you decide to become a member of the empire, you must follow the order and laws of the empire.”

“I’m not sure what you mean by imperial order, but as long as it doesn’t try to harm me.”

There is no reason to insist on Kahar culture after naturalizing someone else’s country.

To begin with, I don’t really know anything about Ka’har culture.

I’ve only seen the custom of pulling out a sword if you don’t like the other person, killing and plundering the weak.

That’s why I came to a more civilized country.

“And, don’t get into an accident.”

“I can’t guarantee that.”

The meeting with the marquis ended in laughter.

—-

“By the way, how did you find out that the peace letter was fake? Was my explanation that poor?

“It’s a simple problem. The noble woman only talked about the benefits the empire would gain and the reasons to trust her, but she did not even mention the benefits that Kahar would gain from peace, or the purpose of peace. Doesn’t that mean that you have another purpose that you don’t want us to know about?”

“…I didn’t think of that.”

—-

“I will convey the lady’s wishes to the imperial family. It will take about four days to receive an answer, so please stay in a separate room in the meantime. I’ll assign you a female knight to carry out the sutra, so if you have free time, learn some imperial language. Since she is one of my most trusted aides, it would be enough to be her escort.”

“Thank you for that.”

I don’t know if it’s an escort or a watchdog.

Shane, who returned, guided me to the marquis’ castle’s separate room.

He bowed his head and apologized profusely for deceiving me, so I just forgave him.

The separate room in the Marquis Castle was smaller than the bedroom in Geumhwa Palace, but it was filled with soft cushions here and there, as was the room of a western nobleman.

okay. This is what it means to live as a person.

Unwavering comfort.

-smart

After taking off my armor and rolling around in bed for a while, someone knocked on the door.

Come to think of it, I thought you said you would send a female knight. At first glance, it would be a servant and surveillance role.

“You can come in.”

Even so, it was a bit difficult to greet her while lying down, so she got up and sat down on the bed.

“Excuse me.”

The door to the separate room opened and a woman wearing light armor walked in.

A female knight with neatly cut navy blue hair and a coat with metal pauldrons and breastplates.

Although he was not very tall, the uniform was tailored to fit him, perhaps because his head was small, and he showed off his sophisticated appearance.

A clear and elegant face without makeup showed a strong determination and understated beauty.

“Nice to meet you, Hashalr Ayshangior.”

The female knight put her hand on her chest and saluted me.

“This is Nigel, Knight of Landenburg. In obedience to the Marquis’ orders, I will be carrying out my duties from today, so please take good care of me in the future.”

I met warm brown eyes.

Looking at his eyes that didn’t contain even the slightest bit of hatred, it seemed like he wasn’t a discriminator against Asians at least.

You’re lucky.