Ch.144Preparation #4

I’m so exhausted that my back still feels like it’s melting. Thanks to that, even after that half-crazed night ended, my body was so weary that I postponed my work and rested in the breeze behind the mansion. In contrast, Helena and the other three women were going about their duties quite energetically.

“I’m sorry. I just missed you so much that I…”

Ellen, sitting beside me with her shoulders aligned with mine, mumbled in a small voice.

While Helena was busy processing documents, Ellen’s job was to guard me, so she was relatively free. Thanks to that, she was with me even during breaks.

“What are you sorry for? I enjoyed it too.”

What happened over these past five days was embarrassing but enjoyable. I felt proud that I could physically do things I’d never dreamed of before. Having a body that could support such strong desires made it inevitable.

“Did you… really enjoy it?”

“Of course I did. Thanks to you, I was able to completely forget about all those troublesome matters. It was wonderful.”

I smiled at Ellen, who was asking shyly, and leaned my back against the sturdy mansion wall. I planned to spend my time leisurely like today until Anderson arrived.

.

“Your Grace. A guest has arrived.”

One day while I was handling territory affairs as usual, clearing my mind, Andy informed me with a rather serious expression that a guest had arrived. The guest was currently in the reception room, receiving simple hospitality.

Helena narrowed her eyes sharply, seemingly concerned about the word “guest.”

“A guest? Their name?”

“It’s the man Your Grace instructed me to send a letter to before. I couldn’t be certain since I’ve never seen his face… but since he came asking for you by that name, I couldn’t simply turn him away.”

“Is that so? Thank you. I’ll head to the reception room right away. Andy, please return to your post.”

“Understood.”

Helena and I got up as soon as Andy left. If the person we’d been waiting for had arrived, it seemed likely we’d be able to hear detailed information about the current situation. I doubted he would keep his mouth shut after coming all this way.

Thud.

As we entered the reception room, I saw the face of a man leisurely drinking tea while leaning against the side sofa. I had thought it would be Anderson, but this man’s facial features were quite different.

“You’ve arrived.”

However, his voice hadn’t changed at all from what I’d heard at his territory, which was rather confusing. Looking at his face, he was clearly a different person, yet his voice was the same, which was strange. Perhaps he was using some kind of magic item to alter his voice?

“Hmm? Ah, excuse me. I disguised myself to avoid attention, so it’s understandable you wouldn’t recognize me.”

The man, seeming to notice our awkwardness, began to peel off his face as soon as he stood up. At first, I wondered what he was doing, but upon closer inspection, I realized he was removing something attached to his face, not his actual face.

When he removed something flesh-like attached to his chin, a sharp jawline emerged first. The facial transformation continued until eventually, Anderson’s face from my memory was revealed.

“You said it was a disguise? It’s truly remarkable. I was quite surprised because while it felt like Lord Anderson, the face was completely different.”

Click.

Helena closed the reception room door with a gentle smile. Ellen, who had followed behind us, seemed to sense that this wasn’t an atmosphere for her to join in, so she was standing guard outside.

Interestingly, Helena appeared to have recognized Anderson at a glance despite his disguise. Judging by her confident tone, that seemed to be the case. Perhaps it was a skill possible due to her being a Sword Master.

“I apologize for startling you. That wasn’t my intention, but traveling with my own face risked drawing unnecessary attention. That wouldn’t be desirable for me, the Duke, or the Grand Duke present.”

“Thank you for your consideration. Please, have a seat.”

When Helena approached the highest seat and invited him to sit, Anderson nodded and settled onto the sofa. Helena briefly glanced at me with a regretful look as I sat facing Anderson, then shifted her gaze back to him. She probably would have preferred to seat me in the highest position if she could.

“First, thank you for making the long journey here.”

“I should be the one thanking you. I never thought I’d have the opportunity to meet the Duke again so soon.”

“I’m glad you don’t find it unpleasant.”

Helena started the conversation with simple pleasantries. Since there was no need for me to interject in this conversation, I simply nodded along appropriately without joining in, just observing quietly. As I always did.

“By the way, I’ve heard that the Empire has been quite lively lately. So lively, in fact, that rumors have reached even our kingdom.”

After passing time with simple greetings and updates, Helena suddenly dove into the core issue. Though she was still smiling, her question was so sharp and sudden that it reminded me of a well-honed blade. Or like a drift that suddenly turns without warning.

“Yes, very lively indeed. Many people are troubled because of it.”

“Are you one of those troubled people, Lord?”

“Indeed. Since I don’t have the luxury to speak in circles, nor am I in a position to do so… I’ll speak frankly.”

One should never believe when people in politics or high social positions say they’ll speak frankly. I recalled this phrase from somewhere and became fully alert. Though Anderson’s expression, heavy with dark shadows, didn’t seem fabricated, if it were an act…

The mere thought gave me chills.

“Since you have ears to hear, there’s no need to beat around the bush. Yes, it’s true. The Empire is currently preparing for war.”

“I see. Specifically, which country do they plan to attack first?”

Several countries, large and small, surround the Empire, including this Kingdom of Sotern. The Bluenail Kingdom, though its momentum has waned, is still in civil war, and the Beastkin Nation they tried to extend their reach to is also among them. Of course, there’s also the Elven settlement with which we maintain friendly relations.

Upon hearing Helena’s words, Anderson narrowed his eyes and asked in a slightly trembling voice:

“From what you’re saying… do you already know the Empire’s intentions?”

“A unification war, isn’t it?”

Helena nodded as if asking why he was inquiring about something so obvious. This question and answer were possible because she knew the information extracted from Count Carlton. If she hadn’t known, she would have asked more detailed questions to extract more information.

To this, Anderson slowly nodded with a gesture that felt very heavy. It seemed she had hit the mark.

“Yes. His Majesty has received a divine revelation and is preparing to fulfill it. And this kingdom is being considered as the first target.”

“May I ask why?”

“To demonstrate power by defeating the strongest enemy first, and to eliminate future concerns.”

“Future concerns. That’s quite a rational thought. Since our kingdom is the most troublesome, they won’t give us time to enter a state of emergency and prepare adequately.”

There’s a thought that the strongest enemy should be dealt with last, but choosing to break them first is also possible. Of course, if this were a game, it would be impossible, but unfortunately, in reality, it was possible. Moreover, since the Empire possessed immense power, that possibility was even higher.

“Yes. You understand precisely.”

“I see. But… Lord, you are also a person and nobleman of the Empire. Why have you come to tell us this? From your country’s perspective, aren’t both your actions and words treasonous?”

Directly pressuring someone to extract information and having someone voluntarily bring information are completely different in nature. Moreover, confidential information like war should be kept secret as much as possible. Helena pointed this out.

“I’m aware. It might be treason. However.”

Anderson, as if he had already considered this, continued the conversation with an unwavering voice.

“I have no intention whatsoever of betraying the Empire. As a mere lord, I neither have the ability nor the power to do so, but I can confidently say that’s not my mindset either. Of course, from others’ perspectives, it could certainly be seen as treason.”

“You seem quite resolute in your decision. May I ask what your reason is?”

“To prevent collapse due to failure.”

Collapse.

Helena’s eyes sparkled as if she found that word particularly interesting. It wasn’t a word one would expect from a person of the Empire, which was solid in various aspects like finance and military.

“Collapse? Do you think the Empire would collapse from just one war? It’s not like they’ve issued a full mobilization order.”

“Yes, of course, they haven’t issued a full mobilization order to all imperial citizens. Doing so would cause problems in various aspects like supplies. The issue is that I believe we shouldn’t give the Kingdom—specifically, the Duke—a justification.”

“Me?”

When Helena tilted her head and asked, Anderson nodded as if he had been waiting for this.

“If we give a pretext to one of the few Sword Masters on the continent, the heart of the Empire would be turned into a wasteland in an instant. For instance, if the Duke were to disguise herself, secretly infiltrate the Empire, and kill all the royalty and key ministers… the Empire, having lost its center, would stagger immediately.”

“Aren’t you overestimating me? Besides, I understand there’s a Master guarding the Emperor’s side in the Empire.”

“Of course, Lord Valor is there, but… if you were to concede the first strike to a fellow Master, it would be very disadvantageous.”

When masters of the same level face each other, if one gets the first strike, the gap becomes difficult to close. That seemed to be Anderson’s concern. Is it similar to how people running at the same speed, if one starts with a distance advantage, can never be caught up to?

I crossed my arms, held my breath, and listened more intently to the conversation between the two.

“Assassination, huh? That’s plausible, but shouldn’t that be something the Empire should do? Sending the Empire’s Master secretly to the Kingdom to recreate exactly what you just described. It would be very efficient and beneficial from the Empire’s perspective.”

“Lord Valor is a person of strong pride. That’s a fact known to everyone in the Empire.”

“So, as a knight, he couldn’t bring himself to do something as vile as assassination. But… if I flip that statement, it sounds like you’re saying I could do such vile acts without hesitation?”

“Yes, I believe you could, Duke.”

It might have sounded like an outright accusation that she was a vile woman, but that wasn’t the intent. Both Helena and I knew this, so without showing any sign of anger, she urged him to provide an answer. We were simply curious about what Anderson would say.

“Why is that?”

“Duke, you only care about the Grand Duke, and place no value on your own honor, don’t you?”

Only I matter to her.

From my perspective as the person being discussed, it was embarrassingly flattering, but also felt like a direct hit that took my breath away. It was because it pierced Helena so accurately.

But Helena, far from getting angry or flinching, just smiled gently.

“You’re quite accurate. It seems my reputation has echoed loudly even to the distant lands of the Empire.”

“Regrettably… yes.”

“Oh my. What do you have to be sorry about, Lord? Anyway, that’s not what’s important… I’d like to hear your thoughts on what we should do moving forward.”

When Helena forcibly redirected the conversation that was about to veer in a different direction, Anderson agreed.

“The best would be to avoid casualties… but in the end, we can’t prevent war from breaking out. Moreover, even if the gods themselves gave a revelation, there’s no guarantee it would be fulfilled in this world.”

“Yes, that’s true.”

One can intervene and guide things in a desired direction, but one can’t interfere more strongly than that. Knowing this made Anderson’s words resonate even more.

“So… in case war breaks out, I want to guide its course through close information sharing.”

“That’s very kind of you. But would you have the authority to access such information?”

“With the Crown Prince’s help, I believe it’s possible. I’ve already received approval.”

Wow.

Helena clapped her hands in surprise as soon as the Crown Prince was mentioned. I was equally surprised and couldn’t help but widen my eyes. I knew that as a lord governing a trading city, he could have connections in various places, but I never expected them to reach the Prince.

“That’s surprising. Are you… quite close with the Crown Prince?”

“The details are complicated so I’ll omit them, but… yes, that’s correct.”

“Hmm. If what you’re saying is true, then we won’t lack in terms of information. We can move our army according to the information you provide.”

“Attacking with knowledge of the enemy’s plans.” I recalled an old proverb from historical dramas and kept my mouth shut. I could understand his coming here out of fear of Helena’s retaliation, and wanting to prevent the potential chaos that might ensue.

However, I felt that it wasn’t just that, as was becoming clear from the current conversation. It seemed he wanted to reduce the pressure on them and gain the upper hand while resolving the biggest justification.

Additionally, if possible, he might even want to remove the Emperor who had started the war. The Emperor’s high regard for the Second Prince might not be welcome from his perspective.

I felt a chill run down my spine as I stared at Anderson’s still rigid face. Whether he was committing treason or not didn’t matter from our perspective, but I couldn’t help but feel cold sweat forming.