“You want to reclaim all the territories at once?”
“There are as many as five places...”
The nobles were stirred by my words.
There were many different stories, but most of the reactions were negative.
I guess so.
To recapture not one or two places, but five places at once, a lot of force was needed, so inevitably, reinforcements had to be sent from the Eastern and Southern regions as well.
Or the Imperial Knights move.
“No matter how I think about it, recapturing five territories at once seems like a waste of energy, Your Highness.”
“That’s right. If you spread your power around and lose, it’ll be a big problem, right?”
“You don’t have to worry about that part. If you send troops from the Southern Territory or Eastern Territory, there’s no way we’ll lose.”
“...”
As the arrows returned to them, the nobles of the Southern and Eastern regions all fell silent like mutes who had eaten honey.
Then they started talking nonsense like it would take too long if they sent reinforcements, and that if they were to waste time, the Allied forces would send reinforcements and it would be more difficult to suppress the situation.
Of course, from an objective standpoint, it's just nonsense, but from my standpoint, it was something I really liked.
“I believe that the Allied Forces’ use of despicable methods to take away five territories at once was a declaration of war against the Empire.”
I stood up and spoke loudly to everyone.
“They want to trample on our pride and say that they are superior.”
The thing that the nobles valued as much as their own lives was their pride.
Accumulating wealth and coveting power were also for the purpose of building and protecting one's self-esteem.
But when that part was touched, the nobles were greatly agitated.
“It makes no sense to just sit back and do nothing after suffering such humiliation. I think we should repay them more than what they suffered from the Allied Forces.”
“That’s right. That way, the Allies will never think of looking down on the Empire again.”
“I think it would be a good idea to take advantage of this opportunity to disintegrate the Allied Forces...”
“But we have to wait at least ten days to get support from the East or the South...”
Yes. Then let's start the next plan.
As he was about to speak, the Crown Prince, who had been sitting quietly listening to the nobles' conversation, suddenly stood up.
The nobles' eyes were immediately focused on the Crown Prince.
“After listening to the stories of the lords and thinking about them carefully, I have decided that it would be best for the Western Territory, the Northern Territory, and the Imperial Knights to participate in this recapture battle.”
What are you saying now...
“Are you really saying that you will send the Imperial Knights to recapture it?”
When the Marquis of Prasis asked in surprise, the Crown Prince nodded.
“Of course, this is just my own idea, and I need His Majesty’s permission, but I’m sure His Majesty will grant it. The pride of the Empire is at stake in this recapture battle.”
“But if the Imperial Knights move and something happens...”
“It’s okay. While the Imperial Knights are away, the Marquis of Prasis and the others will guard the Imperial Family. Right?”
“Of course, Your Highness! I will protect you even at the cost of my life!”
While the Crown Prince and the nobles were talking, I was half out of my mind.
Because the Crown Prince told me exactly what I had planned.
It was like looking into my head.
Of course, the royal family had stronger pride than the nobles, and insulting the empire was no different from insulting the royal family, so it was completely understandable that they made such a decision.
The problem was that the person who had that idea was the Crown Prince.
How could the Crown Prince, who has the least self-respect and thinks only of his own comfort, make such a suggestion?
Have I been ignoring the Crown Prince too much all this time?
“If the elite knights, the Imperial Knights, come forward, this recapture battle will definitely be a victory for the Empire.”
“That’s right. Let’s use this opportunity to flatten the noses of the Allied bastards.”
This resulted in an opinion that satisfied everyone, but no conclusion could be reached because the Emperor, who had the final decision-making authority, was absent.
In particular, since moving the Imperial Knights required the Emperor's permission unconditionally, the Crown Prince went straight to meet the Emperor.
The meeting was adjourned for a moment until the Crown Prince returned.
While the nobles were gathered in groups of three or four and chatting, I left the conference room.
“You came out.”
Then I saw Perdes leaning against the hallway wall.
“Have you been waiting here the whole time?”
“No. I came here because I thought it was going to end soon and I got the timing right.”
Perdes glanced at the passing nobles, then took my hand.
My fingers curled involuntarily at the sudden contact.
“Let’s go over there and talk.”
I followed Perdes' lead and obediently went out into the wide corridor.
The place where Perdes stopped was where I had previously had a strange conversation with the Duke of Lucien.
The place where Aldor was called a loyal dog and such.
It could have been just a coincidence since Perdes couldn't have known about it, but it still felt odd.
“Did the meeting go well?”
“Yes. It’s not over yet, but it’s working out well.”
“For something like that, your expression doesn’t look very good.”
“I just feel a little uneasy.”
Because the initiative was suddenly taken away from the Crown Prince.
But other than that, the meeting itself was overall satisfactory.
“What did it say?”
"That is..."
I told Perdes the entire contents of the meeting.
“So that’s what it was.”
After hearing everything, Perdes nodded as if he finally understood.
“So what are you going to do from now on?”
“I’ll tell you about that later.”
“Later again.”
Perdes frowned as if he didn't like it.
“Don’t worry. Once the meeting is over and we return to the Spring Palace, I’ll tell you everything. Count Martina too.”
“Then that’s good.”
“More than that, what about the Great Sage? Have you met him?”
Perdes nodded.
“I met him a little while ago. I told him everything you said.”
“Then what did the Great Sage say?”
“He understands, but he said he would go alone.”
As expected, you chose not to wait and went alone.
I wasn't particularly surprised because it was an expected result, but I was a little worried.
He's not a blood relative of the Duke's family, so is it really okay for him to go into the basement?
What if he disappears like Chernosser and the others?
And the heart of the dragon that the great sage spoke of.
No matter how much I think about it, it looks like a large Pura embedded in that sword.
I placed the black magic pouch carefully and kept it in the bank's basement storage along with the bonds.
“What are you thinking about?”
The moment I woke up from my reverie at the cool touch of a hand on my forehead, accompanied by a low, soft tone, golden eyes appeared right in front of my nose.
“...!”
Only then did I realize that Perdes' face was too close, and I pushed him away in surprise.
Pushing too hard, Perdes was pushed back and collapsed.
I should have asked if he was okay and if he was hurt anywhere, but strangely, my mouth wouldn't open.
The sound of the wind rustling through the leaves and the loud thumping of my heart mixed together and swirled around in my head.
I felt like I shouldn't be here any longer, so I left Perdes behind, who had fallen because of me, and returned to the conference room.
"Your Excellency?"
Then, I came face to face with Count Martina, who had just come out of the conference room.
Behind him were also the nobles of the Northern Territory.
“I was just about to go look for Your Excellency, but I met you like this... Is it alright?”
"Uh?"
“Your face is very red.”
My face is red?
I checked my face using the window as a mirror.
Although it was a little blurry, I could see that my face was bright red like an apple.
“Is this because of a previous injury?”
“That’s not it.”
There were no major injuries other than a hurt left arm.
There were no broken bones or anything in my left arm, so I had no trouble moving it.
But the reason my face suddenly turned red must be because of what happened earlier.
That... that I saw from such a close distance that we could feel each other’s breathing.
As his face came to mind again, heat rushed to my face.
I covered my face with both hands and lowered my head, feeling like it was going to burst.
The emotions that I had tried to ignore began to grow in size and reveal their presence.
It was about two hours after the meeting was adjourned that the Crown Prince returned with the Emperor's permission.
This confirmed the entry of the Imperial Knights, but there were still issues that needed to be resolved.
The question was who would lead the Imperial Knights.
The principle was that the head of the Marshal's Office and the commander-in-chief of the empire would lead it.
The position of Commander-in-Chief has been vacant since the death of Adele's father, Duke Leopold, who was the previous Commander-in-Chief.
“That’s why I kept saying that we need to elect the commander-in-chief in advance...”
“There’s nothing we can do since there aren’t any suitable people.”
“Then who leads the Imperial Knights?”
“Well, there are knight commanders, but it would be difficult for them to lead the entire Imperial Knights, so I think someone else will have to step up.”
“I think one of the princes should step forward...”
Which of the Princes would be best to step forward?
The nobles of the Marshal's Office, who had been putting their heads together and thinking hard, went to see Perdes late at night when the clock struck 11.
“There are as many as five places...”
The nobles were stirred by my words.
There were many different stories, but most of the reactions were negative.
I guess so.
To recapture not one or two places, but five places at once, a lot of force was needed, so inevitably, reinforcements had to be sent from the Eastern and Southern regions as well.
Or the Imperial Knights move.
“No matter how I think about it, recapturing five territories at once seems like a waste of energy, Your Highness.”
“That’s right. If you spread your power around and lose, it’ll be a big problem, right?”
“You don’t have to worry about that part. If you send troops from the Southern Territory or Eastern Territory, there’s no way we’ll lose.”
“...”
As the arrows returned to them, the nobles of the Southern and Eastern regions all fell silent like mutes who had eaten honey.
Then they started talking nonsense like it would take too long if they sent reinforcements, and that if they were to waste time, the Allied forces would send reinforcements and it would be more difficult to suppress the situation.
Of course, from an objective standpoint, it's just nonsense, but from my standpoint, it was something I really liked.
“I believe that the Allied Forces’ use of despicable methods to take away five territories at once was a declaration of war against the Empire.”
I stood up and spoke loudly to everyone.
“They want to trample on our pride and say that they are superior.”
The thing that the nobles valued as much as their own lives was their pride.
Accumulating wealth and coveting power were also for the purpose of building and protecting one's self-esteem.
But when that part was touched, the nobles were greatly agitated.
“It makes no sense to just sit back and do nothing after suffering such humiliation. I think we should repay them more than what they suffered from the Allied Forces.”
“That’s right. That way, the Allies will never think of looking down on the Empire again.”
“I think it would be a good idea to take advantage of this opportunity to disintegrate the Allied Forces...”
“But we have to wait at least ten days to get support from the East or the South...”
Yes. Then let's start the next plan.
As he was about to speak, the Crown Prince, who had been sitting quietly listening to the nobles' conversation, suddenly stood up.
The nobles' eyes were immediately focused on the Crown Prince.
“After listening to the stories of the lords and thinking about them carefully, I have decided that it would be best for the Western Territory, the Northern Territory, and the Imperial Knights to participate in this recapture battle.”
What are you saying now...
“Are you really saying that you will send the Imperial Knights to recapture it?”
When the Marquis of Prasis asked in surprise, the Crown Prince nodded.
“Of course, this is just my own idea, and I need His Majesty’s permission, but I’m sure His Majesty will grant it. The pride of the Empire is at stake in this recapture battle.”
“But if the Imperial Knights move and something happens...”
“It’s okay. While the Imperial Knights are away, the Marquis of Prasis and the others will guard the Imperial Family. Right?”
“Of course, Your Highness! I will protect you even at the cost of my life!”
While the Crown Prince and the nobles were talking, I was half out of my mind.
Because the Crown Prince told me exactly what I had planned.
It was like looking into my head.
Of course, the royal family had stronger pride than the nobles, and insulting the empire was no different from insulting the royal family, so it was completely understandable that they made such a decision.
The problem was that the person who had that idea was the Crown Prince.
How could the Crown Prince, who has the least self-respect and thinks only of his own comfort, make such a suggestion?
Have I been ignoring the Crown Prince too much all this time?
“If the elite knights, the Imperial Knights, come forward, this recapture battle will definitely be a victory for the Empire.”
“That’s right. Let’s use this opportunity to flatten the noses of the Allied bastards.”
This resulted in an opinion that satisfied everyone, but no conclusion could be reached because the Emperor, who had the final decision-making authority, was absent.
In particular, since moving the Imperial Knights required the Emperor's permission unconditionally, the Crown Prince went straight to meet the Emperor.
The meeting was adjourned for a moment until the Crown Prince returned.
While the nobles were gathered in groups of three or four and chatting, I left the conference room.
“You came out.”
Then I saw Perdes leaning against the hallway wall.
“Have you been waiting here the whole time?”
“No. I came here because I thought it was going to end soon and I got the timing right.”
Perdes glanced at the passing nobles, then took my hand.
My fingers curled involuntarily at the sudden contact.
“Let’s go over there and talk.”
I followed Perdes' lead and obediently went out into the wide corridor.
The place where Perdes stopped was where I had previously had a strange conversation with the Duke of Lucien.
The place where Aldor was called a loyal dog and such.
It could have been just a coincidence since Perdes couldn't have known about it, but it still felt odd.
“Did the meeting go well?”
“Yes. It’s not over yet, but it’s working out well.”
“For something like that, your expression doesn’t look very good.”
“I just feel a little uneasy.”
Because the initiative was suddenly taken away from the Crown Prince.
But other than that, the meeting itself was overall satisfactory.
“What did it say?”
"That is..."
I told Perdes the entire contents of the meeting.
“So that’s what it was.”
After hearing everything, Perdes nodded as if he finally understood.
“So what are you going to do from now on?”
“I’ll tell you about that later.”
“Later again.”
Perdes frowned as if he didn't like it.
“Don’t worry. Once the meeting is over and we return to the Spring Palace, I’ll tell you everything. Count Martina too.”
“Then that’s good.”
“More than that, what about the Great Sage? Have you met him?”
Perdes nodded.
“I met him a little while ago. I told him everything you said.”
“Then what did the Great Sage say?”
“He understands, but he said he would go alone.”
As expected, you chose not to wait and went alone.
I wasn't particularly surprised because it was an expected result, but I was a little worried.
He's not a blood relative of the Duke's family, so is it really okay for him to go into the basement?
What if he disappears like Chernosser and the others?
And the heart of the dragon that the great sage spoke of.
No matter how much I think about it, it looks like a large Pura embedded in that sword.
I placed the black magic pouch carefully and kept it in the bank's basement storage along with the bonds.
“What are you thinking about?”
The moment I woke up from my reverie at the cool touch of a hand on my forehead, accompanied by a low, soft tone, golden eyes appeared right in front of my nose.
“...!”
Only then did I realize that Perdes' face was too close, and I pushed him away in surprise.
Pushing too hard, Perdes was pushed back and collapsed.
I should have asked if he was okay and if he was hurt anywhere, but strangely, my mouth wouldn't open.
The sound of the wind rustling through the leaves and the loud thumping of my heart mixed together and swirled around in my head.
I felt like I shouldn't be here any longer, so I left Perdes behind, who had fallen because of me, and returned to the conference room.
"Your Excellency?"
Then, I came face to face with Count Martina, who had just come out of the conference room.
Behind him were also the nobles of the Northern Territory.
“I was just about to go look for Your Excellency, but I met you like this... Is it alright?”
"Uh?"
“Your face is very red.”
My face is red?
I checked my face using the window as a mirror.
Although it was a little blurry, I could see that my face was bright red like an apple.
“Is this because of a previous injury?”
“That’s not it.”
There were no major injuries other than a hurt left arm.
There were no broken bones or anything in my left arm, so I had no trouble moving it.
But the reason my face suddenly turned red must be because of what happened earlier.
That... that I saw from such a close distance that we could feel each other’s breathing.
As his face came to mind again, heat rushed to my face.
I covered my face with both hands and lowered my head, feeling like it was going to burst.
The emotions that I had tried to ignore began to grow in size and reveal their presence.
***
It was about two hours after the meeting was adjourned that the Crown Prince returned with the Emperor's permission.
This confirmed the entry of the Imperial Knights, but there were still issues that needed to be resolved.
The question was who would lead the Imperial Knights.
The principle was that the head of the Marshal's Office and the commander-in-chief of the empire would lead it.
The position of Commander-in-Chief has been vacant since the death of Adele's father, Duke Leopold, who was the previous Commander-in-Chief.
“That’s why I kept saying that we need to elect the commander-in-chief in advance...”
“There’s nothing we can do since there aren’t any suitable people.”
“Then who leads the Imperial Knights?”
“Well, there are knight commanders, but it would be difficult for them to lead the entire Imperial Knights, so I think someone else will have to step up.”
“I think one of the princes should step forward...”
Which of the Princes would be best to step forward?
The nobles of the Marshal's Office, who had been putting their heads together and thinking hard, went to see Perdes late at night when the clock struck 11.
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