Ch.112Revenge #2

“What? Prepare for a territorial war?”

The night before heading to the royal palace.

I called Holland and Eve to discuss potential situations we might face.

The possibility of a territorial war breaking out was one of them.

That’s why Holland was asking with his mouth agape in disbelief.

“Yes. Regardless of the reason, they’re the ones who picked a fight with our duchy. And they’re just trash using the pretext of threatening His Majesty’s safety as an excuse.”

“That may be true… but would they really be crazy enough to start a territorial war?”

“I don’t want to think war will break out either, but I believe it’s right to remain vigilant at least until the current situation is resolved.”

I paused briefly, then turned my gaze to Eve who was sitting next to Holland.

“Eve. As I just said, we don’t know what might happen. So please stay in frequent contact with Holland and be mentally prepared to utilize the magic corps if necessary.”

“Yes. I understand.”

“Thank you for your understanding. However, since this is just a possibility, please don’t make any conspicuous movements.”

I only mentioned this so we wouldn’t be caught off guard, but if we make noisy war preparations first, that would create its own problems. It might look like we’re actually mobilizing troops.

So my plan is to heighten vigilance while acting normally, and to send more spies to thoroughly assess the situation in neighboring territories.

“Holland. Among the nobles who aren’t part of the royal faction, who are closest to our territory?”

“Excluding our allies? Then there’s Baron Velvet and Baron Borde. As it happens, they’re both part of the noble faction.”

Come to think of it, factions don’t always cluster around central noble territories; sometimes nobles of different factions can be neighbors.

Holland’s prompt mention of Velvet and Borde was a prime example.

Of course, they were only relatively close, not literally within arm’s reach, so there was no need to be overly anxious. However, if a territorial war or an even larger conflict broke out… those two nobles’ territories would likely become forward bases. Especially since they were among those who filed the appeal.

“Send more spies to those two territories to closely monitor the situation. They’re likely to turn against us.”

“Yes. I’ll take care of it right away.”

Poisoned as a child, fighting battles over Helena, and now facing the possibility of war.

Why is it that whenever things start to feel relaxed, something comes along to tighten the reins? It’s both curious and maddening.

I placed my hands on the shoulders of Holland and Eve as they bowed their heads with solemn expressions, adding a final word of appreciation for their help.

.

“Will everything be alright…?”

A few days later, with the hearing right around the corner, Helena asked worriedly while sitting on the bed in our royal palace guest room.

Ellen, standing beside her, nodded slightly as if sharing the same concern.

We might have the luxury of escaping if the worst happens, but those left in our territory would need protection.

“It’ll be fine. My father-in-law is there, and we have soldiers too.”

I calmly reassured Helena while preparing for the hearing.

Thanks to the king’s consideration in allowing us to rest from our journey, I had organized the information, and the origin of this incident was rather absurd.

I was confident we could overcome it.

“No. I’m not worried about our territory.”

“Oh? Then what are you worried about?”

If not the territory, then what else?

As I tilted my head and asked casually, Helena’s eyes gleamed with a hint of madness.

It was a sharp light that sent chills down my spine.

“I’m worried I might cause trouble… in a place where I need to exercise restraint and patience.”

Causing trouble. Such a heavy statement, delivered so calmly it took my breath away.

Although weapons weren’t allowed in the hearing chamber, that restriction meant nothing to Helena.

If she drew her aura, that itself would become a weapon.

Yet I wasn’t anxious; I simply took Helena’s hand in mine with a calm heart.

“What’s there to worry about when I’m here?”

“…You’re right. I have Jion.”

At that, Helena’s tense expression softened into a gentle smile.

She seemed to realize anew that as long as I held her hand or intervened, she would exercise self-control.

That was the nature of Helena Krauser.

Knock knock.

Just as the sharp atmosphere had considerably calmed, a servant’s voice came at the perfect timing.

Along with the message that we needed to move to the hearing chamber.

“Ellen. We’ll be going to the hearing chamber, but you should stay here and…”

“Yes. I’ll keep escape routes mapped in my head, so don’t worry. It’s just a precaution in case something happens, though it’s unlikely.”

Ellen seemed to understand what I wanted to say before I even finished, so there was no need for further concern.

With that, I held Helena’s hand and followed the servant’s guidance to the hearing chamber.

The hearing chamber was the royal hall, used for royal audiences and state affairs.

There, not only the king but also the nobles who had requested this hearing were lined up on both sides.

They must have been quite curious about how things would unfold.

I inwardly sneered as Helena and I approached the king and bowed.

“Duke Krauser and the Grand Duke, raise your heads.”

We raised our heads and looked straight ahead at Elvin Soter’s solemn voice.

Neither the glaring (or pretending to glare) nobles’ gazes nor the king’s voice, more solemn than usual, made much of an impression on me.

It wasn’t that I couldn’t feel the reality of the situation; it was thanks to my solid mental fortitude.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“You already know the reason for this hearing, so there’s no need to explain the circumstances anew. Therefore, I’ll proceed directly to the questions.”

The king took a brief breath, then signaled the start with a seemingly meaningless question.

He asked if we had truly plotted rebellion.

“Your Majesty. I swear by my name and life that I have never harbored rebellious thoughts nor taken actions to covet the throne.”

“Then you must explain why you gathered elven slaves and dark elves in your territory.”

After Helena’s formulaic answer, the king immediately got to the point.

This was perhaps the easiest matter to find fault with, so it made sense that it came up so quickly.

Moreover, the king himself seemed genuinely curious.

I briefly exchanged glances with Helena, then looked directly at the king and spoke.

“Your Majesty. As you know, the relationship between dark elves and elves is not good. Against this backdrop, I recruited the Red Hood mercenary group, famous for their dark elf mercenaries. It was for the duel with Albus Killinear.”

“Hmm… a duel where I stood as the official witness.”

When Helena sensed with uncanny perception that I had been slapped by Agnes and returned, she became furious, and it nearly escalated into a direct confrontation between duchies.

That led to a duel, and ultimately Albus Killinear faced the miserable fate of being stripped of his noble title and confined to a monastery.

This was the incident that fully exposed Helena’s madness to the kingdom, and there was hardly a noble who didn’t know about it.

Newly reminded of this, both the king and the nobles standing nearby swallowed hard.

“Yes, that’s right. I invited the mercenary group for that duel, and as you know, it ended in victory for our House Krauser. However, this brought about seeds of discord.”

“Hmm? Seeds of discord…?”

“The fact that our duchy treated dark elves well. This wounded the pride of the elves.”

At this point, I smoothly delivered the lie I had prepared in advance.

In the past, I couldn’t have imagined telling lies without changing expression at a hearing.

I thought to myself how much I’d grown.

Despite the different natures of dark elves and elves, they received the same education, with only the shortcomings of dark elves being blamed.

This deepened the rift between them, and throughout history, dark elves, being far fewer in number, were inevitably marginalized.

Though my explanation was quite elaborate, it contained many truths mixed in.

Only the motive was false; the rest was factual.

“So, despite the elves’ subtle urging to stop, when you refused… they ambushed you?”

“Yes. They intended to kidnap me and threaten me to stop giving preferential treatment to dark elves. This is what I heard from the elven elders.”

“Hmm…”

The king sighed and appeared to be contemplating.

Perhaps he was deciding whether to let it go at this point or to pretend to press further. At least that’s what I thought, feeling that the situation was gradually coming to an end.

Moreover, I had answered many questions appropriately throughout…

“That’s a lie! The Grand Duke is clearly speaking falsehoods! It makes no sense that elves would risk the possibility of war for such a trivial reason!”

However, movements began to heat up the atmosphere that had been doused with cold water.

Glancing sideways, I saw Count Melrod, spitting as he spoke with fervor.

Damn noble faction bastard.

Yes, he’s right.

Elves wouldn’t be reckless enough to decide to kidnap me for just that reason.

But,

“Your Majesty. If I may, could I have the right to speak freely for a moment?”

“…Very well. You may do so.”

Although it was a precarious situation where guilt seemed about to be confirmed, I was still officially the Grand Duke.

It was natural that the king couldn’t ignore such a polite request from a Grand Duke.

Besides, this hearing was one the king himself was reluctant to conduct.

I bowed my head to the king in gratitude, then turned my gaze to the still-heated Melrod.

Though not enough to get excited about, I was quite annoyed, and I could feel my brow furrowing.

“Count Melrod.”

“W-what is it!”

When I called his name in the most weighty voice I could muster, he stammered in response.

Though still heated, he seemed somewhat intimidated.

“Seeing how passionately you’re pushing against us, I’d think you must have some evidence… why don’t you share it?”

“E-evidence? The elven slaves staying in Krauser’s duchy! The dark elves! It’s you, Grand Duke, who should confess truthfully about them! Isn’t it obvious that you’re plotting something by gathering magically adept races!”

“Hmm. So you contributed to convening this hearing based on circumstantial evidence alone? That seems rather shallow.”

“Circumstantial evidence is the most certain proof! What meaning could there be in suddenly increasing military power in such peaceful times? It’s clearly to raise an army and secure definite gains! Moreover, if your duchy were to benefit from this, what else could there be besides the throne where His Majesty sits?!”

At first glance, it sounds somewhat plausible.

I sensed that the purpose might be to prevent unknown dangers in advance, or to make us hesitate through this hearing itself.

After all, even if we safely pass this hearing, it would make us realize we’re under constant suspicion.

To my eyes, it just seemed like Melrod was getting increasingly agitated because Helena had skillfully evaded the barrage of questions…

“Listen here, Count Melrod.”

“L-listen here? What insolence, even for a Grand Duke…”

I growled, pretending to be unable to contain my anger any longer, glaring with wide eyes.

I abandoned even semi-formal speech, adopting an arrogant attitude as if addressing an inferior.

To this, Count Melrod pointed out my rudeness and heated up again, but,

“I nearly lost my life because of them!”

As I stomped the floor hard enough to make a loud bang, leaving a clear footprint and numerous cracks, he promptly shut his mouth.

“Because of the elves’ ambush, I hovered between life and death for over ten days, and it took more than a month of recovery before I could get back on my feet! Me, who holds equal status with my wife Helena!”

“T-that is…”

This bastard probably realized the conversation was heading in an unexpected direction, but he could only stammer in confusion without offering any meaningful rebuttal.

Partly because I was pretending to be angry while drawing on my mana, but more significantly due to the pressure from Helena standing behind me.

I pressed on against this damned fellow, riding the momentum.

Since he was a noble faction member who valued nobility to the point of arrogance, he became speechless when confronted with the very values they revered.

I explained that I kept the dark elves out of sympathy and to check the elves.

As for the treatment of elves, I subtly emphasized appropriate leniency, adding it as if making an excuse.

When I finished the entire explanation, Melrod trembled as if facing imminent death.

Perhaps he was suffocating under Helena’s increasing pressure every time I showed anger.

But the plan to cover up one incident with another wasn’t over yet.

“And you, who dared to embezzle the property of His Majesty, and by extension the nation! How dare you speak of loyalty before His Majesty!”