Sophia’s gaze moved up and down for a moment, then turned to Erdene as if she had made up her mind.
“Your Majesty, what you said was nettle... Isn’t that military slang?”
Erdene’s steps paused for a moment. Her face was almost mischievous as she looked back at Sophia with her head tilted down.
The way she was frowning her nose seemed to be laughing at first glance.
“How did you know that? Even Duke Pelarhar didn’t understand it.”
Sophia lowered her head slightly.
“His Highness Pelarhar has traveled a lot and is well-versed, but he is mainly well-versed in culture and entertainment.”
Erdene let out a short laugh and spoke again.
“Yes, I think so. But what I’m curious about is how you know that word.”
“I heard it from Commander Wiziard before. The conversation went in a strange direction.”
“It seems like you’re close with Captain Wiziard these days.”
Sophia’s lips moved slightly.
“Captain Wiziard wants to look good in front of Your Majesty, so he visits every day. Naturally, we end up seeing each other more often... So even when we meet outside, we end up chatting at least a little.”
“He hasn’t proposed yet?”
“Because he hasn’t defeated Your Majesty yet. It wasn’t like he lost by a hair’s breadth.”
She was a girl who couldn’t be stopped. Erdene wondered if there had ever been such an unusual person among the women she knew...
‘Wow, I didn’t really have many girlfriends in the first place.’
A belated realization hit her.
Since her job was always hanging around the parade ground with older military officers... Not only women but also men, there weren’t many people she could call friends of the same age.
The fact that she was a Princess with great power and the next in line to the throne also played a part.
'That's why Sophia and Pelarhar feel so friendly,'
Erdene thought .
The two of them started walking back to the palace.
Erdene, who was listening to the sound of the hem of her dress elegantly dragging on the floor, suddenly brought up the previous topic.
"If you know that it's military slang, do you also know what it means?"
Sophia answered calmly after a moment of silence.
"The nettle is something that quietly hides among other harmless plants and mercilessly scratches them. I heard that it also refers to assassins or snipers who quietly hide and attack."
"Yes, that's right. Since there's no need to fire a longbow inside the palace, it's the former in this case."
Sophia's expression was still calm, but her eyes held a rare sense of bewilderment.
It was natural.
Erdene was talking about the presence of an assassin who had slipped in among the envoys.
"Do you think they're targeting His Majesty?"
"Well, that's a good thing."
“Your Majesty?”
Erdene’s expression sank for a moment.
She was lost in thought and silent, but as she stepped through the door opened by the maids, she took off the thin shawl that had been draped over her shoulders.
Sophia quickly accepted it.
“Well. I wonder if he would be willing to take on such a risk. But, yes... I think he could.”
“Then wouldn’t it be better to let His Majesty know in advance?”
“The situation is not that serious yet. If it is certain that the other party is plotting something, the best way would be to pretend not to know anything, play along, and then strike back. It would be bad to needlessly confuse the judgment.”
Surprisingly, Erdene did not criticize Arkan or express any complaints but gave a calm assessment.
Sophia said,
“But I still... wonder. Is there any reason to target His Majesty at a time like this?”
Erdene answered firmly.
“Yes. If you only think about their relationship so far, it might feel out of the blue, but even putting aside the hidden intentions they’ve been harboring. Sophia, think about it too. What has changed? What if the favor they’ve shown to Vetor up until now was a lie? If they were to use this opportunity to eliminate His Majesty or render Him incapacitated and seize power inland, who would they use as a shield? What would you do?”
“Ah.”
Sophia let out a single groan. It was a sigh that came naturally from realization.
Erdene smiled and narrowed her eyebrows.
“Do you understand?”
“...They’ll target His Majesty at once. No, they’ll attack His Majesty and try to blame it on Your Majesty.”
“Yes, that’s true.”
After saying that, Erdene hesitated for a moment, then tapped the table and spoke in a low voice.
“It’s not entirely impossible. They’ll eliminate both me and His Majesty and shift the responsibility to me, or they’ll eliminate His Majesty and make it so I can’t refute them, and shift the responsibility to me. The dead don’t speak. Humans are weak and can’t speak even if their tongues are cut off... Among them, there was definitely someone who specialized in assassination. There was someone who was quiet and had no presence, so I almost missed him if I hadn’t been watching him closely.”
Erdene sighed for a moment and continued.
“Kensilom and Etonhorn were forced into an alliance between the Inland and the Empire, and they have many complaints about the food support. It’s only been two months since I got married, and seeing them already showing their true colors is proof that they harbor ill feelings not only toward the Empire but also toward Vetor. So... Let’s see what happens. In that case, His Majesty’s cooperation will be necessary.”
It was questionable whether she would readily cooperate.
However, if necessary, Erdene was determined to use force.
The banquet attended by the ambassadors of the two countries, the King and Queen of Vetor, and the nobles was the most bountiful and lively it had been in a long time.
Each table was dazzlingly clean with candleholders, and all the candles were new and clean.
Although there was an abundance of food served, new dishes were constantly coming out of the kitchen.
Arkan and Erdene sat at the center of the table of honor, and to Arkan’s left sat Marquis Fiddlers.
Next to Erdene sat Pelarhar, and next to him sat Sophia Fiddlers and Viscountess Wickes.
As Erdene had expected, Sophia resembled her father, Marquis Fiddlers.
The face of the Marquis Fiddlers was now vague, and since her face did not come to mind even when she saw the Marchioness, it seemed that the old saying that “couples resemble each other” was not entirely true.
“Sophia has often spoken of you, but this is the first time I have seen your face.”
Erdene thought.
Arkan was also about to speak to Marquis Fiddler, whom he had not seen in a long time.
When he turned his body slightly with his glass in hand, the messenger of Etonhorn, who was sitting on Pelarhar's side, rolled his eyes here and there and smirked. He must have been eavesdropping on the conversation between Erdene and Marquis Fiddler.
"Her Majesty is a great person, but Marquis Fiddler must be secretly feeling a little bitter."
Marquis Fiddler looked at him with a serious expression.
"What could I be feeling bitter about, Count Blava?"
"Haven't you had a little trouble with your youngest daughter's marriage? If you don't feel bitter, then you're not your father. If it were me, I wouldn’t have slept for three days.”
The faces of Arkan and Pelarhar hardened coldly.
Count Blava must have known the chilled atmosphere, but he was still pretending to be drunk and smirking.
At that time, Marquis Fiddler frowned and said strangely.
“If that’s the kind of thing that makes you so upset that you can’t sleep for three days, Count, I advise you to get examined by the court doctors of Vetor tonight. It seems that you have a serious stomach problem. Or it seems that you have a problem with your gallbladder. I’m not a doctor, but... Why are you talking about something so out of the blue when Her Majesty the Queen was destined to be married to His Majesty?”
The Count’s face instantly turned red.
“No, what are you talking about! You’re beating around the bush for no reason, but I...”
“Count, if you have time to get worked up about other people’s business, have another roasted squirrel. It’s soft and very tasty.”
At that moment, Arkan, Pelarhar, and even Sophia pursed their lips and turned their gaze elsewhere.
“Your Majesty, what you said was nettle... Isn’t that military slang?”
Erdene’s steps paused for a moment. Her face was almost mischievous as she looked back at Sophia with her head tilted down.
The way she was frowning her nose seemed to be laughing at first glance.
“How did you know that? Even Duke Pelarhar didn’t understand it.”
Sophia lowered her head slightly.
“His Highness Pelarhar has traveled a lot and is well-versed, but he is mainly well-versed in culture and entertainment.”
Erdene let out a short laugh and spoke again.
“Yes, I think so. But what I’m curious about is how you know that word.”
“I heard it from Commander Wiziard before. The conversation went in a strange direction.”
“It seems like you’re close with Captain Wiziard these days.”
Sophia’s lips moved slightly.
“Captain Wiziard wants to look good in front of Your Majesty, so he visits every day. Naturally, we end up seeing each other more often... So even when we meet outside, we end up chatting at least a little.”
“He hasn’t proposed yet?”
“Because he hasn’t defeated Your Majesty yet. It wasn’t like he lost by a hair’s breadth.”
She was a girl who couldn’t be stopped. Erdene wondered if there had ever been such an unusual person among the women she knew...
‘Wow, I didn’t really have many girlfriends in the first place.’
A belated realization hit her.
Since her job was always hanging around the parade ground with older military officers... Not only women but also men, there weren’t many people she could call friends of the same age.
The fact that she was a Princess with great power and the next in line to the throne also played a part.
'That's why Sophia and Pelarhar feel so friendly,'
Erdene thought .
The two of them started walking back to the palace.
Erdene, who was listening to the sound of the hem of her dress elegantly dragging on the floor, suddenly brought up the previous topic.
"If you know that it's military slang, do you also know what it means?"
Sophia answered calmly after a moment of silence.
"The nettle is something that quietly hides among other harmless plants and mercilessly scratches them. I heard that it also refers to assassins or snipers who quietly hide and attack."
"Yes, that's right. Since there's no need to fire a longbow inside the palace, it's the former in this case."
Sophia's expression was still calm, but her eyes held a rare sense of bewilderment.
It was natural.
Erdene was talking about the presence of an assassin who had slipped in among the envoys.
"Do you think they're targeting His Majesty?"
"Well, that's a good thing."
“Your Majesty?”
Erdene’s expression sank for a moment.
She was lost in thought and silent, but as she stepped through the door opened by the maids, she took off the thin shawl that had been draped over her shoulders.
Sophia quickly accepted it.
“Well. I wonder if he would be willing to take on such a risk. But, yes... I think he could.”
“Then wouldn’t it be better to let His Majesty know in advance?”
“The situation is not that serious yet. If it is certain that the other party is plotting something, the best way would be to pretend not to know anything, play along, and then strike back. It would be bad to needlessly confuse the judgment.”
Surprisingly, Erdene did not criticize Arkan or express any complaints but gave a calm assessment.
Sophia said,
“But I still... wonder. Is there any reason to target His Majesty at a time like this?”
Erdene answered firmly.
“Yes. If you only think about their relationship so far, it might feel out of the blue, but even putting aside the hidden intentions they’ve been harboring. Sophia, think about it too. What has changed? What if the favor they’ve shown to Vetor up until now was a lie? If they were to use this opportunity to eliminate His Majesty or render Him incapacitated and seize power inland, who would they use as a shield? What would you do?”
“Ah.”
Sophia let out a single groan. It was a sigh that came naturally from realization.
Erdene smiled and narrowed her eyebrows.
“Do you understand?”
“...They’ll target His Majesty at once. No, they’ll attack His Majesty and try to blame it on Your Majesty.”
“Yes, that’s true.”
After saying that, Erdene hesitated for a moment, then tapped the table and spoke in a low voice.
“It’s not entirely impossible. They’ll eliminate both me and His Majesty and shift the responsibility to me, or they’ll eliminate His Majesty and make it so I can’t refute them, and shift the responsibility to me. The dead don’t speak. Humans are weak and can’t speak even if their tongues are cut off... Among them, there was definitely someone who specialized in assassination. There was someone who was quiet and had no presence, so I almost missed him if I hadn’t been watching him closely.”
Erdene sighed for a moment and continued.
“Kensilom and Etonhorn were forced into an alliance between the Inland and the Empire, and they have many complaints about the food support. It’s only been two months since I got married, and seeing them already showing their true colors is proof that they harbor ill feelings not only toward the Empire but also toward Vetor. So... Let’s see what happens. In that case, His Majesty’s cooperation will be necessary.”
It was questionable whether she would readily cooperate.
However, if necessary, Erdene was determined to use force.
***
The banquet attended by the ambassadors of the two countries, the King and Queen of Vetor, and the nobles was the most bountiful and lively it had been in a long time.
Each table was dazzlingly clean with candleholders, and all the candles were new and clean.
Although there was an abundance of food served, new dishes were constantly coming out of the kitchen.
Arkan and Erdene sat at the center of the table of honor, and to Arkan’s left sat Marquis Fiddlers.
Next to Erdene sat Pelarhar, and next to him sat Sophia Fiddlers and Viscountess Wickes.
As Erdene had expected, Sophia resembled her father, Marquis Fiddlers.
The face of the Marquis Fiddlers was now vague, and since her face did not come to mind even when she saw the Marchioness, it seemed that the old saying that “couples resemble each other” was not entirely true.
“Sophia has often spoken of you, but this is the first time I have seen your face.”
When Erdene spoke, Marquis Fiddlers put down his utensils, wiped his mouth first, and bowed his head very politely.
“I hope that my daughter did not say anything rude. I saw Your Majesty at your wedding. You look much more elegant and beautiful than then.”
“I hope that my daughter did not say anything rude. I saw Your Majesty at your wedding. You look much more elegant and beautiful than then.”
“Thank you. Sophia has never said anything rude to me, so don’t worry.”
Marquis Fiddlers smiled faintly.
“I raised her with great care because she was the youngest daughter. I was worried that she would be spoiled, but as a father, I am glad that she has not made any major mistakes.”
“Excessive modesty is a German trait, Marquis. Do you think it is appropriate to say such things to a lady like your daughter?”
When Erdene playfully scolded him, the Marquis smiled faintly again and resumed his meal.
'This woman is similar not only in appearance but also in her gauntness. I wonder if her father had her alone.
“I raised her with great care because she was the youngest daughter. I was worried that she would be spoiled, but as a father, I am glad that she has not made any major mistakes.”
“Excessive modesty is a German trait, Marquis. Do you think it is appropriate to say such things to a lady like your daughter?”
When Erdene playfully scolded him, the Marquis smiled faintly again and resumed his meal.
'This woman is similar not only in appearance but also in her gauntness. I wonder if her father had her alone.
Erdene thought.
Arkan was also about to speak to Marquis Fiddler, whom he had not seen in a long time.
When he turned his body slightly with his glass in hand, the messenger of Etonhorn, who was sitting on Pelarhar's side, rolled his eyes here and there and smirked. He must have been eavesdropping on the conversation between Erdene and Marquis Fiddler.
"Her Majesty is a great person, but Marquis Fiddler must be secretly feeling a little bitter."
Marquis Fiddler looked at him with a serious expression.
"What could I be feeling bitter about, Count Blava?"
"Haven't you had a little trouble with your youngest daughter's marriage? If you don't feel bitter, then you're not your father. If it were me, I wouldn’t have slept for three days.”
The faces of Arkan and Pelarhar hardened coldly.
Count Blava must have known the chilled atmosphere, but he was still pretending to be drunk and smirking.
At that time, Marquis Fiddler frowned and said strangely.
“If that’s the kind of thing that makes you so upset that you can’t sleep for three days, Count, I advise you to get examined by the court doctors of Vetor tonight. It seems that you have a serious stomach problem. Or it seems that you have a problem with your gallbladder. I’m not a doctor, but... Why are you talking about something so out of the blue when Her Majesty the Queen was destined to be married to His Majesty?”
The Count’s face instantly turned red.
“No, what are you talking about! You’re beating around the bush for no reason, but I...”
“Count, if you have time to get worked up about other people’s business, have another roasted squirrel. It’s soft and very tasty.”
At that moment, Arkan, Pelarhar, and even Sophia pursed their lips and turned their gaze elsewhere.
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