episode_0014

The banquet held at Marquis Robgon’s Jedo Mansion has come to an end.

Everyone in attendance said goodbye with a smile on their face.

“… .”

But among them, only the first prince, Gnaeus, could not bear to do so.

All he could do was nod and barely accept greetings from others.

The nobles, thinking that something was wrong with the scene, were reluctant.

No matter how good-natured the prince is, it is best to avoid him when he is in a dizzy mood.

“Ha.”

Even after getting on the carriage, the prince’s face did not ease easily.

“Charge. Do you remember the day when Her Majesty the Princess and the Imperial Legion that I belonged to entered the system?”

In the prince’s ears, the conversation he had with Kael earlier was still playing.

“ Just as His Highness the Prince said, thanks to my strategy, the Imperial Legion returned without a major battle of any kind. Morale was high, but ‘we won!’ To be honest, it was difficult to say that.”

“Nevertheless, the people of the empire did not hold back on all kinds of praise and cheers upon the return of the corps. Crowds even gathered and sang. He even wrote lyrics mocking Novogord to his heart’s content.”

“The scene was so similar that it felt as if our Imperial Legion had made a comeback and achieved a great victory. Maybe he wanted to believe that he had achieved that level of victory. Your Majesty.”

When I think about it, it really was like that. Everyone in the system was incredibly excited.

It wasn’t because they won ‘without taking any damage’.

Whether you didn’t see the damage or saw it. In the end, it was because we ‘won’.

Yes. The empire has fought many wars and dozens of battles.

Of course, there are enemies who have lost battles. But the war was entirely a victory for the empire.

If you clash, you will most likely win. Even if they lose, they will immediately repay with victory.

You can hold out against the imperial army for a while, gain the upper hand, and even win.

But in the end, victory itself is never handed over to the opponent.

Our empire has never been on the decline. That was the thinking of the people of the current empire.

Let me ask you “. majesty. In front of the people of the empire, His Royal Highness said, ‘We must stop further wars.’ When you say. If the other side mentions ‘past glory’. What if I told you that the moment the empire retreats, all the enemies who have been oppressed by its glory will rise up?”

After listening to that, I felt like I had finally opened my eyes to my own shortcomings.

In the end, it is the human heart that decides everything. I never thought of that until now.

‘My heart feels tight.’

This is not simply because the opponent can take advantage of the Juhwa faction’s offensive.

Kael. He was already looking at this point. And he even told me stories as if he were being generous.

As if we can easily block no matter how you attack.

“Finally, there is one fatal blind spot in your words. Who is sure that they will take our hand even if our empire extends its hand?”

“If you think that it will happen based on the benefits and losses, you should not do it. majesty. Ultimately, the most important factor that determines the direction of work is people. It is something called a human being, not anything else.”

Just as the people of the empire cannot give up the glory that shines in the past and even now.

The moment they did that, the source believed that the empire was superior to them. It’s like your pride disappears.

They too may want a moderately tense relationship rather than joining hands with the empire.

Something has happened to me so far. If you catch it suddenly, it will be like confirming that you are inferior.

‘Still, we are living well without being influenced by the empire at all.’ My pride is collapsing.

The relationship between profit and loss is not the problem. Emotions inevitably take precedence over reason.

“… still… .”

I also hate giving up without even trying. I feel very angry about something.

Let’s at least check. I really want to see with my own eyes whether the people of the empire will react that way.

You don’t know again, do you? They may now also show interest in eating better and living better.

okay. As Kael said, the human heart is unknown. So maybe the people of the empire… .

‘For some reason, the timing is not good.’

After winning a decision from Novogord, everyone said, ‘As expected, you demons are pretending to be strong!’ situation.

There, ‘Now the empire must also talk.’ If you claim that, who will seriously listen?

“Prince Kael. How far are you looking ahead?”

it’s a shame. We had to bring that person over to us.

The prince had no choice but to whet his appetite due to the pity that kept building up in him.

*

“Prince Kael.”

The princess who was walking ahead suddenly calls out to me and stops.

I almost crashed into it. Princess. If you stop suddenly like that, you’ll be in big trouble.

“Were you looking there?”

“Your charge?”

“I’ll be honest. I was shaken for a moment. my brother 1st prince. In the words of the Juhwapa. I thought they were just cowards, but that wasn’t the case. They were presenting their own reasons, justifications, and visions for the future.”

Is it because he, a supporter of the anti-war faction and the military, was shaken?

The princess seemed so angry that her eyes were welling up with tears.

He is a truly pure person. Rather, it’s not that bad. It looks good.

It means that you can listen to even those who disagree with you.

“I barely came to my senses, but I was already completely blocked. If it weren’t for Prince Kael, I might have been the one to be persuaded.”

“It’s okay. majesty. Rather, doesn’t it mean that His Highness is ready to listen to the opinions of others?”

“… Aren’t you a foolish person with thin ears?”

“If you really had thin ears, you wouldn’t have come this far.”

No problem. I think anyone can support a certain faction.

Nobles are not fools either. Even though they are military people, they are not indifferent to politics.

If the princess really had some kind of flaw, would you accept her as your friend?

“Rather, I was very impressed by the way he presented a counterargument to His Highness the Prince until the end.”

“… It’s a little comforting to hear a genius say that.”

How many times do I tell you that you are not a genius?

I’m just a guy who says whatever comes to mind.

“Prince Kael. Is it really as you say?”

“If you say it will happen as I say.”

“That’s how the people of the empire move.”

“I don’t know that either.”

“… Yes?”

The embarrassed princess blinks her eyes and looks at me.

I am filled with the feeling that I am asking if what I heard is true.

“I don’t know, do you? What does that mean?”

“It’s literally like that. Economic reasons, and pride reasons. Meanwhile, how will the people of the empire react? My answer to that is ‘I don’t know. I do not know.’ This will be enough. Her Royal Highness.”

“Ha, but. Didn’t you say that with confidence just a moment ago!?”

I shook my head. How is that possible? Confidence in a person’s heart.

There is a saying that you may know ten ways of water, but you cannot know one way of people.

This is just a prediction, and it is nothing more than putting pressure on the prince based on it.

“So… When discussing the human mind, nothing can be said to be certain.”

“You can have doubts even in very natural situations, and you can also firmly believe even in situations where you must have doubts. Because that is the human heart.”

“With that one thing, she said that in front of her brother and even grabbed him right away.”

Then the princess suddenly looks at me.

I was about to ask her why she looked at me like that, but her next words came faster.

“You used that mentality against Novogord as well. With various situations and enemies under pressure. A strategy to extract maximum benefit.”

“Ugh… Yeah, whatever. If it’s similar, you could say it’s similar.”

Is it similar? I don’t know. At that time, it was just one of the memories from my past life that came to mind.

I just followed it along as similar a line as possible.

There was no genius strategy or an eye for reading people’s minds.

“The coin wave will probably move within a few days.”

“Of course. It would be very good to use this situation, where victory was achieved in ways other than battle, as the beginning of change. The people of the empire will probably find it persuasive too.”

You can move according to “. majesty. Sometimes the psychological aspect is much more powerful than the practical aspect.”

The princess nodded, saying it would be a good idea.

“Prince Kael. There is something I want to ask you.”

“Please ask.”

“Even though I agree with my brother’s thoughts in conclusion, that’s why I keep the Juhwa faction in check.”

You are asking the obvious. Of course, it’s not for our family’s sake.

The Berthier Empire has so far only advanced into the military, but now the Juhwa faction is gaining ground?

You can also show your parents that your family’s fortunes are improving.

“That’s—”

Of course, it’s a bit burdensome to say that straight away.

So I decided to come up with an answer that fits my image.

“His Royal Highness’s plan is still premature. It is not too late to draw the ideal after consolidating the reality.”

“… What if? Prince Kael. If what you say is true this time too. You might have to go somewhere with me for a while.”

“Yes?”

What is this sound? I can’t believe I’m going. Where? You have to tell me your destination!

“Your Majesty? Her Royal Highness??”

ah. Did you say it for no reason? Still, considering my family, I think the Jujeon faction is better than the Juhwa faction.

That’s why I helped the princess, but I’m worried if it turns out like this!