Wortenia Senki (LN) - Volume 23 - Chapter 1

Chapter 1: False Peace

Two weeks went by since the siege of the royal castle had ended due to the Kingdom of Rhoadseria losing to the Mikoshiba barony. The sun shone brilliantly through the white clouds in the blue sky from the west around two in the afternoon.

In Peripheria, the royal capital of the Kingdom of Xarooda, King Julianus I worked in his office. As a king, having his day being filled with various government affairs was just a part of his ordinary life. Internally, Julianus was not as calm as he appeared on the surface, mainly due to the contents of a report he held.

“Thus concludes the report, Your Majesty.”

“Good work, Joshua. Even though it’s one of our neighboring countries, time is of the essence. It must have been difficult for you to gather intelligence, with us lacking budget and personnel. Pat yourself on the back for that,” Julianus told Joshua Belares, the current general of Xarooda. He had taken on the role after his father’s death. Considering the instability in Rhoadseria, it was no easy feat for spies to infiltrate the country. So, it was natural that the king would commend Joshua for his work.

It looks like things have calmed down for now, thought Julianus.

If the written reports were correct, the circulation of goods would restart. At the very least, the civilians living within the capital could return to their ordinary lives. In all honesty, Julianus would say that the present report wasn’t enough. That was plain to see from his expression as he looked up after confirming the details.

“It’s been only half a month since the fall of Pireas... I heard that while she is still a young maiden, the newly crowned Queen Radine is quite skilled in politics. While I feel sorry for Lupis having her country taken from her, maybe it was a blessing in disguise,” uttered Julianus, exhaling with relief and regret. Joshua tilted his head slightly to the side.

“Is that so? I thought that was the result of having Helena Steiner and the newly appointed prime minister, who goes by the name of McMaster, by her side,” responded Joshua. His thoughts were a shared, common opinion upon hearing the age of the young queen. Yet Julianus shook his head.

“Certainly, it is difficult to think that it is Queen Radine alone. But there is no need for a ruler to be so well-versed in every facet of politics. We have retainers who rally us and work selflessly on government affairs—which is more than enough. The problem therein is one must give those retainers a chance to show their ability and loyalty... Or am I wrong?”

They were words stained with experience. Joshua was quick to pick up on what Julianus was hinting at. The young general, pride of Xarooda, then smiled wryly.

“You’re right... We have seen recently the self-destruction that can follow if they do not receive the opportunity,” said the young hero of the Kingdom of Xarooda, shrugging his shoulders. There had been whispers of the nickname “Falcon” for him, in and out of the country. One could take his shrug as rude in front of the king of a country, but he had lost most of his former arrogance and showed that a person’s status did make them who they were. As a result, Julianus didn’t feel the need to correct him. That would not have been the case were the king holding an audience from the throne; in that case, he would have some scathing words of advice to give to Joshua. Regardless, Joshua would never display that kind of attitude in front of other nobles, only doing so since he and Julianus stood alone in the office currently.

“She’s gone through so much too,” said Julianus in a sorrowful tone, lifting both his elbows and leaning on the table. He rested his chin on his hands. “Apologies, Joshua. Could you give me a moment?”

Julianus then softly closed his eyes, sinking into his sea of thoughts. It was a habit of his when he had something to contemplate. Joshua bowed before leaving the room, making sure not to disturb the king’s train of thought.

She could have led a peaceful life had she not accepted such a disadvantageous position as being monarch. I could say the same of myself. 

His fear for the future twisted in his heart. The Mikoshiba barony had spoken about removing Lupis Rhoadserians before. Julianus had even expected the Kingdom of Rhoadseria would not match Mikoshiba’s military strength.

Lord Mikoshiba and Lupis are leagues apart in terms of ability too...

Anybody could realize how the war would play out. Even so, Julianus wasn’t feeling down due to being weak. There was currently no one who didn’t feel uncertain about Xarooda’s future.

According to the spies’ reports, the situation was calm even though a new queen sat on the throne... But that makes me curious about what will happen. 

The war between Rhoadseria and the Mikoshiba barony had also heavily affected Xarooda. It wasn’t that simple for Xarooda to follow current events in their neighboring country. They had the same number of spies gathering information in the Kingdom of Rhoadseria as in the O’ltormea Empire and the Kingdom of Helnesgoula. It was an unusual scale of operation because Rhoadseria was an allied country. This action was probably because of the sense of panic they harbored, considering that the future of Xarooda could change drastically.

At any rate, we’ll need the strength of other countries to stop O’ltormea from succeeding in making a hegemony of the western continent. The empire boasts a lot of national strength. If Xarooda is to cross swords with them, we would not do it alone.

As the king, it was a hard reality to accept. However, the Kingdom of Xarooda could not afford to cling to such trivial pride. Thus, they needed to cooperate with other countries in order to fight against the Empire’s powerful military force. It would be paramount for the three eastern kingdoms—Xarooda, Myest, and Rhoadseria—to band together to maintain their independence.

We can’t trust Helnesgoula too much, even if we consider them the leader of the alliance. 

After all, the ruler of the Kingdom of Helnesgoula and leader of the four-nation alliance was none other than Grindiania Helnescharles, also known as the Vixen of the North. Contrary to her magnificent appearance, she ruled with an iron fist—fair yet extremely fierce in politics. It was difficult to fully trust the woman who, with a calm yet ruthless attitude, allowed her relatives to be murdered in cold blood to achieve sole power. In addition, she would sometimes cooperate with her long-term enemy, the O’ltormea Empire, depending on which direction the wind blew.

Well, that goes for that man too.

Julianus pictured a young man with a mature face. Lupis was no match for his incredible power.

His raw strength as a warrior and his talent in military, political, and diplomatic affairs... His steel will allowed him to keep a firm control of everything.

He could be an ideal ruler. Julianus was incredibly curious about what sort of upbringing he had that made him who he was. It was Julianus’s first time in his many years as ruler that he had encountered such a person.

What if he’s a monster of sorts...? Well, he was named the “Devil of Heraklion.” He must seem like a devil to those who oppose him.

The man had quite the notoriety, and the “Devil of Heraklion” was neither presumptuous nor an insulting title. If people disliked him, his foes would name him after an insect or a beast. One would not use such an overblown title as “devil.” His terrifying presence made people curse him as a devil while prostrating themselves before him out of fear.

I would hand the throne over in peace if my son could withstand even a fraction of that man’s power. That, or I could have him marry my daughter. Those twins would probably be incredibly envious, though. 

Ryoma Mikoshiba held such an abnormal, strange, and ferocious presence around him that Julianus found himself caught up in such absurd thoughts. It was a huge source of irritation, for Julianus lacked the strength and army to rival such a ruler as Ryoma.

We’ve yet to recover our ranks from the previous war. Joshua is doing a good job, but he is still too young to fill in for his father, Arios Belares. Compared to him, Joshua is incredibly inexperienced. Not that any of it is his fault, of course...

Joshua’s father, Xarooda’s Guardian Deity, had given up his life protecting his country from the O’ltormea Empire’s invasion. Julianus’s eyes welled up with tears as he remembered Arios. Many had treated Joshua Belares as a nuisance for a long time due to his rough and rude attitude. But in a kingdom now known as the Land of Warriors, he had matured into a symbol of military prowess. His power as a warrior was on par with Baron Mikoshiba’s skill with the dual blades, and he was excellent at commanding his troops. Joshua’s strength held off the invasion after O’ltormea killed his father in the war. Although, he wasn’t enough to stave off the danger heading toward Xarooda.

If only someone could stand beside him and share the burden.

While he appeared aloof to those around him, Julianus knew that Joshua carried an unordinary burden as part of the Xarooda military. On top of that, he lacked experience in strategy and the political strife within the royal palace.

As I thought, the burden being too heavy is a problem...

Plenty of work often burdened talented people, as expected. Still, there was also a limit to how much a human could handle. This world was similar to Ryoma’s home in that one day lasted twenty-four hours, and regardless of one’s abilities, the length of a day was a universal fact. Julianus was aware of that and did not turn a blind eye to it.

In any case, Joshua was in charge of not only spying and counterespionage but also logistics and organization. Joshua could lead the troops on the front line as a commander if the O’ltormea Empire were to try to invade again. No matter how many men they had, would it be enough?

It seems Grahart and Greed have been helping Joshua as much as they can, but... Is it enough?

Grahart Henschel and Orson Greed were some of the best warriors in the Kingdom of Xarooda. To Julianus, they were his most trustworthy retainers. Both had staggering amounts of power and experience as soldiers, surpassing even Joshua. For all they excelled as warriors, they shamefully lacked resourcefulness and were not suited for navigating politics. They excelled at leading troops, attacking enemies head-on, and pulverizing their formations. This did not carry over to more subtle skills such as understanding the intentions and motivations of others, outsmarting their enemies, or more administrative skills like managing provisions for their troops.

They had received a certain level of education to look after themselves, even if that was just being able to wipe their own behinds. The reality was that there was no hope for them to lead the entirety of Xarooda’s army. Thus the responsibility fell onto the man with more ample wisdom and knowledge. That was the one downside of being a nation renowned for its military might.

The nobles, who should lead the country’s politics, are no help either.

Regardless of that, he couldn’t remove the nobles from power. The situation resembled the one Lupis found herself in, though there were slight differences.

I have to work on improving the current situation for the next ruler.

Making peace with the O’ltormea Empire was a last-ditch effort to stabilize the country. Unfortunately, there was still a long way to go before they could achieve that.

Julianus’s train of thought was suddenly interrupted when he coughed.

Phlegm caught in his throat, causing him to cough lightly. Julianus pulled out a silk handkerchief and wiped his mouth with it. He then looked at it, noticing fresh, red blood mixed in with contents. And so, he folded the handkerchief up and returned to his pocket.

I’m still not free of this cough.

Julianus had developed this cough several months ago and assumed it was a mere cold until weeks passed with no improvement. After a visit with the royal physician, he learned that it was simply complications caused by his age and overwork, with nothing to worry about. His cough showed no signs of stopping, and recently he had noticed blood mixed in with the phlegm. That said, Julianus still had checkups with the physician and was taking prescribed medicine, feeling there was no more he could do. Since his coughing fits were short, and he was doing fine, he didn’t feel his life was in danger.

I guess it is just my age, mused Julianus as he took the prescribed medicine from his desk drawer. He poured himself some water and took the medicine, intending to take a nap to help clear up his throat.

I’m not dying just yet...

He then leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes, aiming to rest briefly. Julianus hadn’t been blessed with heirs, so he knew that he had to survive his illness to withstand the attacks that threatened the Kingdom of Xarooda—that was the only option left.

As the king of Xarooda drifted off to sleep at his desk, a young woman in the neighboring country harbored similar worries.

Two weeks had passed since the war ended at the royal capital of Pireas in the Kingdom of Rhoadseria. The atmosphere that once burned with bloodthirst and fighting spirit no longer remained. Villages and towns around the royal capital had returned to their everyday routine, bringing food and goods to Pireas. Merchants from neighboring countries had sniffed out business opportunities and were gradually appearing in the capital. All of which signaled that the war was over—but not that everything had returned to how it was before the war.

The life the city’s inhabitants led before the siege had left no mark, only remaining in their memories, similar to the memories held by the older generation, who would nostalgically tell tales of the old days. And it would not be Queen Lupis’s reign that they looked back on fondly, but that of her father, Pharst II. A lot had changed for the Kingdom of Rhoadseria these past few years. It was truly a time of upheaval, in which the waves of chaos tossed around the citizens of the royal capital. That might not have been the most accurate way to put it—but at the very least, many were affected. Regardless of their level of influence, everyone in the kingdom could not outrun the wave that poured over the city. Thus, the queen who rose from the chaos could be said to have been the one person who had to endure it all.

Rulers spent most of their lives in their offices.

A young woman sat at the desk in her office, elbows leaning on the table and supporting her head. Mountains of documents kept appearing before her with no break.

“Haa...” The young woman let out a deep sigh. She seemed to be around her mid to late teens and would soon no longer be a “young woman” but a “fully fledged woman” as she approached maturity. She was the age where one should have plenty of energy, eagerly dreaming of their future. However, in her sigh lay the weight and agony of someone much older. Her sadness resembled the grief of an overworked salaryman, unable to catch up on work. At any rate, she did not look like the powerful figure she was.

No matter how much she sighed, the pile of documents showed no signs of decreasing. She lightly stretched and restarted her work, wearing a look of defeat.

Why am I stuck doing this kind of stuff? she thought, even if the answer was obvious. The documents handed to her were all important matters linked to governance of the Kingdom of Rhoadseria, most of which required her final approval. It was surely strange for a young woman under twenty to deal with these sorts of documents.

There’s no end to them. Looks like I’ll be having a late dinner today too. 

No guideline stated that a ruler could not eat until they completed their work. The maids and kitchen staff who served her all wished for her to have dinner at a certain time, but the young queen didn’t want that. She preferred to enjoy her dinner after completing all of her work. Of course, if she put off eating too late, the food would get cold.

Although, being queen means all my food must be tested for poison, so it ends up going cold either way.

Risk one’s life, or enjoy one’s meal. The ultimate decision.

But all I’ve had today is cookies and sandwiches for lunch.

Light foods such as sandwiches were just as delicious cold, but it wouldn’t be enough for a woman to have such light meals for both lunch and dinner. As she thought about the light meals she had for breakfast and lunch, she wanted to eat the full course supper prepared by the talented chefs at the palace. She harbored these thoughts as she continued to sign the documents. That was all that was required to confirm them—a simple stamp. It was a short task which took mere seconds to complete. There was not nearly enough time to examine each of the documents before she stamped them. She would have needed a day to read the contents of the documents from start to finish.

While the young woman could read, her unusual upbringing had not allowed her to receive the usual royal education. Although she was a recognized member of the royal family, her status meant she underwent a less rigorous education than a usual royal. Although she could read and write, that did not mean she could deal with the matters appropriately. The government officials and secretaries who served her were very much aware of this.

I wonder if it’s better if I don’t get involved in all the details.

Even though it was her duty to approve the documents, she did not need to confirm the contents of every document. She only had to do so if it were a document concerning the life or death of a member of the royal family, in which case she would take all the time necessary to confirm the details. Relevant departments had already approved most of the documents piled high before the young lady, and she just needed to sign them to confirm the decisions that had been made. In extreme cases, she could get by with stamping and not even glancing at the contents. Not to mention that the newly appointed general, Helena Steiner, and the similarly appointed prime minister, Diggle McMaster, had already confirmed the contents of the documents as her closest vassals. One could say there was no need for the queen to decide anything about which proposals were implemented.

All of this is way above my head, anyway.

Currently, she was in no position to make such significant political decisions, as she was merely a peripheral member of the royal family up until two weeks ago. Before, she had a life with no sort of authority, which Helena and Diggle knew.

Well, there’s no way anyone would even let me participate in government affairs before. 

It was the expected course of action. After all, the young woman was a potential political enemy that threatened Lupis’s authority.

If Radine had tried getting involved in politics instead of sitting on the sideline, there would have been no possibility that she would have survived this long. Others would undoubtedly have made her death appear as an accident or a complication from an illness—and that wasn’t her just being paranoid.

From her point of view, I’m nothing but a mere fake, she thought.

From the young woman’s perspective, Lupis Rhoadserians was difficult to approach because the former queen only saw the younger woman as a hindrance. Although they were half sisters with different mothers, Lupis had only reluctantly acknowledged that fact due to various political factors, which was reasonable.

It’s not like I’m confident about being royalty either.

After all, Radine had no concrete evidence linking her as a blood relative to the previous king, Pharst II. Identifying blood groups, not to mention DNA, was still unreliable in this world. The only evidence the young woman had to link her to the king was her silver hair and the pendant the king had given her mother. Silver hair was rare among the general population but a common trait for those of the Rhoadserians royal line. She had also heard from her now-deceased mother that her father was a man of high rank. However, it was hard to say if that was actual evidence.

Still, it’s not like only people with Rhoadserians blood have silver hair, and who knows how honest my mother was being.

It could have been a comforting lie from her mother. It was also difficult to use the pendant from the king as evidence, because a skilled craftsman could have easily forged it, and there was no way to prove the original owner. For Lupis to accept the young woman as one of her own based on that alone would have been strange. The young woman had a good idea of how Lupis felt, and as a result, she kept her distance from Lupis as much as possible.

It’s just best if neither of us interact with one another.

However, the young woman’s kindness and worldly wisdom had backfired on her.

“Your Majesty, I apologize, but could you please also look at this document?” asked a bureaucrat as they added another document to the pile. While the bureaucrat had placed it gently on top, it still sent a shock wave to her chair, causing her to smile wryly.

“They just keep coming... It’s giving me a headache,” said Radine Rhoadserians. She was the head of the castle and the dramatically ill-fated young woman who had become the ruler of this country.

No amount of complaining would reduce the paperwork.

There’s nothing I can do about it, I guess, thought Radine as she reached out for a document.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the office door. The bureaucrat looked to Radine for confirmation, and she responded with a slight nod. When the bureaucrat opened the door, a scent of flowers filled the room. Radine looked at the woman pushing a cart into the room and smiled. The woman beamed brightly in return.

“Your Majesty, would you like to take a break? Everyone helping you must be equally exhausted,” said the woman.

Radine wore a doubtful expression in response to those words, as she wasn’t so stupid that she didn’t understand the implications of the woman’s suggestion. Yet she formed her usual smile and glanced at the bureaucrats, gently nodding.

“Okay... Shall we take a moment?”

The bureaucrats all nodded slightly before leaving the room.

“So, what would you like to discuss...Charlotte? I see you’ve personally prepared our tea.”

Charlotte Halcyon smiled calmly and picked up the teapot she had prepared.

“Today’s tea is from the central continent of Lisnors. I recommend you enjoy it with this sweet known as a macaron,” said Charlotte, pouring the amber liquid into a cup and filling the room with an even richer aroma. “Here you are, Your Majesty.”

Radine looked at the tea and sweets placed on the table and smiled.

Tea from Lisnors is a famous and luxurious item. That goes for the sugar too. There is usually no issue serving this to a queen. However...

The meaning behind the gesture changed because Charlotte Halcyon had brought it.

Of course, she had not done so out of concern for Radine’s health. Radine had been working since the morning, and it was far past lunchtime. But there was no need for Charlotte Halcyon, the daughter of the esteemed Marquis Arthur Halcyon, to play the role of a maid. Charlotte secretly boasted great power as a lady-in-waiting in the royal court. While nothing forbade Radine from preparing tea on her own, when considering her position, it would have made more sense if one or two low-ranking maids had served it instead. Since Charlotte had brought the wagon here herself, there was an obvious conclusion.

“I see... That’s what you wish to talk about,” said Radine, reaching for a macaron. Tea leaves from Lisnors are one of the most successful trade items in the Mikoshiba barony. Not to mention, I heard from Helena that macarons were one of Baron Mikoshiba’s favorite sweets. It’s a rather intricate item.

The multicolored macarons were exquisite, emitting a sweet scent and resembling a piece of art. It differed from the sweets that Radine knew since this was an item that required a very skilled chef using only the finest ingredients. Not many people in Rhoadseria were skilled enough to make such a luxurious sweet. It would be impossible to obtain even for Radine as the queen of the country.

He has the financial power to do this, backed up by military power.

Radine tossed the macaron into her mouth and let the flavor enthrall her. The pillowy dough on the outside was crunchy and delicious, while the cream inside wasn’t overly sweet, permeating one’s heart. The aftertaste of unsweetened tea complemented the cookie nicely, but Queen Radine wasn’t mesmerized by the sensation for long.

“It’s delicious. I wonder, does that man often enjoy such delicious sweets?” Radine obviously referred to a certain someone, and Charlotte chuckled.

“You’re very quick-witted, Your Majesty. The previous ruler wasn’t that fast to pick up on such subtleties. Made for a very boring prank.”

Radine tilted her head. “Is that true? I think you were being quite obvious.”

Charlotte, a very prominent female member of the royal court, had also emptied the room of others under the guise of them taking a break. All of that meant she had something she wished to talk about that others should not be privy to.

Not to mention, she brought goods that are heavily related to the Mikoshiba barony.

Radine believed Charlotte hinted toward a discussion relating to Baron Mikoshiba. Yet that didn’t seem to be the case for Charlotte.

“That man isn’t foolish nor a bad person... But he has an emotional side. I’m sure you’ll soon understand,” stated Charlotte with a regretful expression.

“That’s rather candid of you to express such an opinion. Though, I can’t disagree with it,” replied Radine, smirking. Charlotte’s critique was spot-on, even if one couldn’t easily tell it was correct. Meltina and Mikahil, who had suffered alongside Lupis, would probably have a lot to say in protest if they were to hear it. A person’s opinion of someone changed based on their relationship with said individual. Many people in Rhoadseria would have agreed with Charlotte.

That said, among the populace there would also be a lot of criticism aimed at the ruler of the country, although it was mostly all meant for the former ruler.

While they do refrain from expressing themselves too harshly, they could get imprisoned or even executed for saying such things, noted Radine. She would not question Charlotte’s intention. I don’t have many allies, after all.

Viewing all the masses as allies would raise her numbers somewhat, but it was difficult to deny that she lacked resourceful allies who could help run the country. Many potential allies still fostered a hatred for Ryoma Mikoshiba. That was understandable—a lot of nobles and knights had lost their lives in the northern subjugation.

Looking at the current state of the kingdom, making an enemy of the Mikoshiba barony would be equivalent to suicide.

The nobles knew that and didn’t make their disdain for the man publicly known. Even though they understood it all too well, that didn’t mean they were able to keep their feelings bottled up. The hostility almost burst out the seams at meetings when discussing the country’s management. Their desire to shave away at the Mikoshiba barony’s political and military power was evidence of this fact. The nobles’ antipathy had, however, clashed with Helena and the others who were well aware of the Mikoshiba barony’s strength and the current state of the kingdom.

Well, it’s not like I don’t understand how they feel.

However, Charlotte had made a noticeable distinction between herself and the nobles.

Among all the nobles who hold hatred for that man, Charlotte has been one of my allies since the very beginning. 

Despite losing her father, Charlotte had made a very rare example of seemingly not holding any hatred or loathing toward Ryoma Mikoshiba or his retainers.

I’m still unsure if she is holding back and waiting for an opportunity, or if she really doesn’t hold any ill will toward him. Either way, Charlotte Halcyon was an influential retainer who knew it would be foolish for Radine to criticize her. I wonder if she considered that and showed it by joining me.

To Lupis, Charlotte had been someone who had become a different kind of mental support, distinct from Meltina and Mikhail. Nonetheless, Charlotte was quick to throw Lupis to the side.

I do find it rather suspicious.

However, it was a suspicion that would bear no answer. There would be no sense in Radine turning away such a powerful game piece as Charlotte based on slight suspicions.

Plus, there’s no real reason for me to continue observing Lupis’s failures.

Believing in people was harder than all else. People had suffered fatal wounds from believing in those who were untrustworthy. But it was likewise dangerous to doubt everyone, because feeling distrusted could also move a person to betrayal.

“Your Majesty... Is it not to your liking?” Charlotte spoke timidly. Radine remained deep in silence for a long while before she gently shook her head.

“No, I thought I ought to be careful too.”

“I see. Although I haven’t worked with you for long, you’re doing well as far as I know.”

“I hope that is the case.”

Charlotte smiled gently, nodding to Radine’s apprehensive words. Radine had no experience with political work but managed her daily tasks thanks to the help of Helena and the others working for the crown. Additionally, she only had talented people helping her due to her abilities. She approached the task of ruling differently than Lupis, who was adamant to take the initiative personally. And Charlotte knew Radine wouldn’t have agreed with that based on her silence and smile. Radine then moved onto the main subject.

“So... I assume you wish to discuss how we plan to proceed with the Mikoshiba barony, right?”

Inevitably, a sense of hesitation was present in her words. Although unsure, her conclusion was correct.

“Yes, I thought it would be best to ask you your thoughts directly, Your Majesty.”

“I see...” She wants to know my decision.

Radine had already cleared up how she would proceed with the Mikoshiba barony. Both Viscount McMaster and Helena had already acknowledged it. They had already discussed the details, but had yet to announce them publicly. If someone carelessly leaked the information, there was a chance that the nobles would suddenly riot.

Well, it’s not the most interesting plan, but...

The plan was to use the Mikoshiba barony’s army and financial strength to sustain the country. Simply put, the Kingdom of Rhoadseria would humiliatingly become a vassal state to the Mikoshiba barony. The kingdom boasted a five-hundred-year history yet had to bow before an overnight aristocrat—with dubious beginnings—and his band of mercenaries. It was an emotionally difficult pill to swallow.

But we have no other choice...

In terms of territory, Rhoadseria had leagues more land than the barony, but could not manage the country properly because of lacking military and financial power. They had no other hand to play: the simplest and most realistic measure to take was to bring Rhoadseria under the Mikoshiba barony’s protection.

The kingdom was in an unprecedented state of instability ever since Radine took over the throne from Lupis. Huge tax losses had occurred because of the influx of refugees. While everything seemingly was returning to normal on the surface, one would soon notice the sparks of war and chaos flickering in the background. Radine could only run the kingdom due to the Mikoshiba barony’s prowess. Without its support, the remaining nobles would no doubt begin to plot to overthrow the throne, seeking greater authority, leading to citizens also revolting.

It would be safe to assume that making an enemy of the Mikoshiba barony would be suicide. No matter how one feels about it, there is no realistic option other than to keep him on our side... Even if that does lead the nobles to revolt.

Besides, it wasn’t such a bad choice when looking at it logically. Having Rhoadseria’s greatest adversary as an ally during such a time would benefit the longevity of the kingdom—another huge benefit.

If we announce that we are a vassal state, the nobles within the kingdom will revolt. The Mikoshiba barony might not even accept us as a controlled state.

There were a lot of benefits for the Kingdom of Rhoadseria to gain by coming under the Mikoshiba barony’s influence, even if the kingdom’s people didn’t find it an appealing offer. Though, they could negotiate those terms. An official document could allow the barony and the kingdom to maintain the pretense that they were equals, even if the truth of the actual arrangement differed significantly.

Plus, a vassal state can take on many forms. 

The term “vassal state” sounded humiliating, often invoking the image of a slave and master. However, there were two forms of vassalage: one where a state treated another like a slave, and one where the other retained a level of autonomy and discretionary power.

The question was, which would Rhoadseria become?

From that man’s perspective, giving a rebellious kingdom some discretionary power would be more beneficial than meddling in its affairs. He could also aim to benefit from trade agreements too. It would be the safer, more effective option and something that he could realistically negotiate.

In any case, Rhoadseria was vastly larger than the land that the Mikoshiba barony held, even with the cession of the northern continent. That also meant the Kingdom of Rhoadseria had a great deal more people.

No matter how he feels about it, I’m sure he also understands the problems that would arise if he cut ties with us. 

Radine knew that Ryoma Mikoshiba wished to become independent from Rhoadseria. This fact partially explained his aversion toward the kingdom.

It’s understandable that he feels that way. He was essentially used, then betrayed at the end of it all.

Whether that was true was a delicate matter. It was undeniable that Lupis had deceived Ryoma Mikoshiba, who was a pitiful victim. In this situation, an emotional aspect arose. Moreover, Ryoma Mikoshiba harbored disgust toward nobles.

Judging from how he treated Counts Bergstone and Zeleph, he had no admiration for nobles who paid no attention to their duties and instead merely clung to their power. 

Unfortunately, those nobles were a dime a dozen in the kingdom. Ryoma Mikoshiba had adamantly refused all positions Radine had offered, showing how much he didn’t want to associate with dimwitted nobles. Regardless of how Ryoma Mikoshiba felt, cutting ties with Rhoadseria would be impossible.

Cutting said ties with us would cause the barony net losses, even when considering the economic benefits.

Should he completely break away from Rhoadseria, he would throw away a commercial market several times larger than the land he owned. Moreover, the Mikoshiba barony would have no choice but to maintain relations with Rhoadseria if the O’ltormea Kingdom invaded Xarooda again. Of course, there was no way Radine could share such thoughts with Charlotte.

At least not until I hear her opinions on the matter... “Okay... But I think I would like to hear your opinion first, Charlotte. As it’s a matter that concerns the nation, it’s not something I can talk about freely,” said Radine with a probing look.

Charlotte had picked up on the nuance as she raised her hand to her chin and tilted her head with a smile that soon disappeared. The familiar, older-sisterlike Charlotte no longer stood before Radine. Instead, there was the woman who had risen to the rank of marquis despite her gender.

“Understood. It makes sense why you would think that, Your Majesty. I wasn’t considerate enough,” responded Charlotte.

Asking the queen for her opinion was akin to digging into the nation’s plans, essentially prying into state secrets. It was entirely natural that Radine could not reveal anything.

So Charlotte, with a piercing look in her eyes, shared her thoughts on the matter, which was a dangerous gamble to take as a high-ranking noble leader. Leaks of their conversation might affect her house. After all, how the kingdom dealt with the Mikoshiba barony was a delicate issue. Once Charlotte had shared her thoughts, Radine shared her intentions to live up to the resolution of the great woman, Charlotte Halcyon.

Once Charlotte had finished her conversation with Radine, she left the office and maneuvered the cart through the palace corridors.

“I never expected that she had thought that far ahead. Even though she is of commoner origins and hasn’t received a proper education, she is incredibly prudent.” Charlotte’s face was stiff like a Noh mask. She had let those words slip out because no one was around to hear her, though it wasn’t something the usually cautious Charlotte would say. Radine had surprised her so much that a deep thought escaped her lips.

Moreover, Her Highness has even thought as far ahead as marrying Baron Mikoshiba, thought Charlotte.

For the ruling classes like nobles and royalty, a judicious marriage was the most effective method to strengthen one’s position. When considering reconciliation with the Mikoshiba barony, uniting under marriage wasn’t an unrealistic option.

If he has that much financial and military power, then nobles throughout the kingdom should be requesting to marry him.

Families with an unmarried daughter wouldn’t easily give them away until they were suitable for marriage. It wasn’t difficult to imagine some families taking in adopted daughters just to have them marry Ryoma Mikoshiba. That was how impressive his achievements were; his martial prowess was a particularly alluring trait. Given that, Radine’s line of thinking was sound. Even Charlotte had entertained the possibility of marrying herself off to Baron Mikoshiba.

That’s a logical conclusion for me to come to as someone raised as a noble. Yet for Radine, the queen, it was rather unexpected she was readying herself for such an option.

It was the best path to take. If Radine were to marry Baron Mikoshiba, that would ensure he remained as Rhoadseria’s protector. Radine would opt for a system that allowed Baron Mikoshiba to support the kingdom, and seeking unification through marriage was the only way to reach that goal.

When faced with a difficult foe, the best thing to do was try to make them an ally instead.

Even if Baron Mikoshiba annexed the Kingdom of Rhoadseria, I’d expect him to do it properly. As expected of the Devil of Heraklion—although he goes by that name, it seems to apply only to the battlefield.

In essence, Rhoadseria would be his wife’s hometown. Despite the hatred he carried for nobles, he was not a ruthless man; it was human nature that he would do his best to annex the country appropriately. At least, that was certainly more likely to happen than him marrying some noble’s daughter. Even if Ryoma Mikoshiba was a heartless demon, when considering his character, it wasn’t something he would do recklessly. While many regarded him as cold and ruthless on the battlefield, he would not have so many vassals working alongside him if he were a truly demonic leader. A bad reputation could hinder him as he tried to expand his land.

But...at her young age she has already considered marriage.

It was impossible to say if anything would come of the idea, as even political marriages depend on the other party’s intentions. However, it was not the wrong decision regarding the future of the kingdom. In fact, it was the correct decision to make as a member of the ruling class. Charlotte had suggested a political marriage when she explained her thoughts to Radine.

When one of the people in a political marriage is the ruler of a kingdom, that tends to change things a lot.

Radine Rhoadserians was still a young teen. While Charlotte understood it wasn’t likely the case, Radine was at an age when one would have innocent fantasies and hopes about marriage. Not to mention, Radine had lived as a commoner and received no formal royal education from a young age. Charlotte didn’t expect Radine, who wasn’t raised as a future ruler, to consider political marriage.

When I first heard what Her Majesty had to say, I thought Helena or Diggle had put the thought into her head.

The plan wasn’t something a person of Radine’s age normally would have devised. But the more Charlotte spoke with Radine, the more she realized she had gotten the wrong idea. She had unexpectedly learned the resolve of the young girl who now sat on the throne, leaving her feeling ashamed of her actions and thoughts.

What an irony... The scorned illegitimate child actually can rule...

Charlotte viewed Lupis Rhoadserians as a good person, albeit dimwitted and irresponsible. Lupis hadn’t been willing to take responsibility for her actions, refusing to do so out of fear of getting hurt.

Lupis would have been much better off as an ordinary citizen with no responsibility.

But the reality was different. Lupis Rhoadserians was the ruler of a country, and the future of its people lay heavy on her shoulders.

Of course, Lupis understood that herself.

That was why she had put a variety of policies together.

Not all of them bore fruit, though. One could say it was bad luck, but that wasn’t the only reason.

In Charlotte’s view, success as a ruler all depended on whether one had readied themselves. If it were Lupis, she would not even consider a political marriage with Ryoma Mikoshiba.

I can’t say if it’s because she doesn’t like his looks, the fact that his origins are unknown, or some other reason. But I can say that she would never opt to marry him.

To put it simply, she wasn’t prepared to sacrifice herself.

That’s where Radine differs.

The two of them had different levels of readiness to lead a nation.

Lupis, the legitimate heir to the throne, despised responsibility like a commoner. Meanwhile, Radine was the illegitimate child, raised as a commoner, who received no formal training yet was prepared to do her duty as ruler.

It doesn’t get more ironic than that.

Charlotte despised the Kingdom of Rhoadseria, where they regarded one as inferior for being a woman and nobles hungry for power battled in the shadows. High taxes squeezed the people dry, and their discontent had reached those in the royal capital. Just who in their right mind would be proud of such a country? That was why Charlotte sought to ensure her and her family’s survival.

Although she had acted like a friend toward Lupis, she had been using the former queen. She didn’t feel as if she was doing anything wrong because she didn’t regard Lupis as the ruler of the kingdom. When Radine took the throne, Charlotte first acted to protect her family by working for Radine, seeing her service as a method to achieve that goal.

I had initially planned to use her...

Once Charlotte saw Radine try her hardest to navigate unfamiliar politics, she recalled her duties as a noble. That led her to state her opinions before Radine, even though she was well aware of the current situation and the danger of doing so. However, it seemed Charlotte’s resolve was very naive compared to Radine’s. Not that Charlotte thought that was a bad thing; it was a happy and refreshing development.

I ought to tell the others what happened, thought Charlotte as the image of other influential noblewomen in the royal court crossed her mind. Even though those women were associates who lived within the same court, they had a strange relationship. They were supposed to be mutual enemies due to power struggles between their families, but in practice they were neither friends nor foes.

They had overcome their ostensible conflicts to endure the current hardships together as allies. After all, one wrong move in the leadership of a noble house could spell disaster, leading to their destruction. In these times, the best course was to rely on people in a similar situation. A strange twist of events—foes becoming friends. Or rather, a situation where those blessed with peak political ability would survive.

The women Charlotte referred to were similar to her in that they were strong women who had become head of their houses. She would need their help to see Radine’s plans come to fruition.

They’ll probably be very shocked to hear what I have to tell them. 

Charlotte saw a maid approaching from the opposite direction.

“Apologies for disturbing you while you work, but could you pass on a message for me?” Charlotte called out to the maid.

“Yes? To whom?” the maid responded.

“If you could tell Bettina that I wish to gather everyone for a spot of tea, that would be great. She’ll know what to do from there. Ask her to prepare it for four in the afternoon at the usual spot. And could you also mention that I’d like to try the Lisnors tea she has? I’ll bring macarons to have with the tea.”

The maid’s gaze became piercing. For noble ladies, a tea gathering wasn’t as relaxing as one would imagine, and was quite the opposite instead. It wasn’t a fun event at all, nor was it a time for socializing; it was a battleground for influential families and a secret gathering for conspiracies. At the very least, the Halcyon family head would not host a frivolous event. Those unaware of that fact wouldn’t survive in this royal court.

The maid’s look disappeared immediately. She was well-informed about the danger surrounding the power struggles of the court as a result of working there. Charlotte would only entrust someone equally in the know with the duty of delivering her message.

“Of course,” said the maid, bowing her head.

Charlotte took some gold coins from her breast pocket and handed them to the maid. “Here’s some payment for the trouble.”

“Thank you. I’ll get right to it.” The maid bowed deeply before turning on her heel and heading off. Usually, a simple task like passing on a message didn’t require such payment, but Charlotte knew too well that now wasn’t the time to be frugal. People generally only acted when motivated by some potential benefit, similar to how a car wouldn’t run without gasoline. For money, people would likely do a better job the more they received.

All right. With this I can ensure she’ll pass on the message. What comes next will depend on the women’s opinions. Though I’m pretty sure we’ve already reached a conclusion.

The people attending the tea gathering would all be members of high-ranking families, all women equally talented as Charlotte. One wouldn’t expect such women to come to an unreasonable conclusion. While there might have been some errors to their thinking, they would mostly reach the same decision as Charlotte. In actuality, Charlotte had an idea of the outcome already.

Another issue is...I need to approach the subject in a manner that doesn’t affect anyone’s honor. Charlotte presumed the women weren’t foolish enough to care about keeping face, of course. However, that was purely conjecture and not a definite fact. Based on the situation, an outburst of emotions could occur. It was also possible that the ladies would consider what was to come and withstand the current situation. Allowing them to withstand the situation could become an issue. Complaints, if left to fester, could accumulate.

On top of that, this will be with people who were once my rivals.

This wasn’t the first time negotiations had taken place. Even after they decided to support Radine, discussions wouldn’t end. It was only natural that Charlotte would hope for negotiations that let her keep face for the others.

“Very well, I should probably get ready for the meeting,” said Charlotte to herself. She had asked for tea from Lisnors and mentioned she would provide macarons; these items discreetly hinted at the meaning behind the sudden meeting. Therefore, she had to prepare. The question is where do I get my hands on some... 

Originally, Helena had some macarons at a meeting with Baron Mikoshiba. She had fallen in love with the flavor, so much so that Ryoma Mikoshiba gave her the recipe, which she then shared with the chefs at her estate. With their stylish exterior and variety of flavors kneaded into their colorful dough, macarons had become widespread among the nobles within the Kingdom of Rhoadseria. But the flavors were hit and miss.

The macarons the chefs here make can’t even hold a candle to the ones we received from Ryoma.

The palace chefs had, however, done well in replicating the shape and producing cookies of a quality appropriate for the queen. Charlotte thought that to be the case, based on Queen Radine’s reaction to them earlier. She found they weren’t as chewy as the ones she had shared with Helena.

I wonder if I could ask Lady Helena to share some with me again.

As far as Charlotte knew, Helena and Baron Mikoshiba were rather close due to their past experiences. There were rumors Ryoma Mikoshiba refrained from conquering the Kingdom of Rhoadseria out of consideration for Helena. Considering that dinner parties and tea gatherings were a common method of exchanging information, there would be a high chance of Helena having some macarons made by Baron Mikoshiba’s chefs.

I have no idea if the rumors are true, but I don’t believe they’re all lies either. 

The idea that Ryoma spared Rhoadseria just for Helena was a dubious tale, at best. There was no way one woman decided the fate of an entire country. If they were lovers, then Charlotte could believe it. Yet Helena and Ryoma Mikoshiba’s relationship resembled that of a grandmother and grandson—not mother and son due to their age gap. Imagining a romantic relationship between this man and woman was difficult.

According to my information, nothing suggests Baron Mikoshiba prefers older women. 

Charlotte had received information Ryoma would go to entertainment districts with his subordinates and often chose young, beautiful women to spend the night with. If anything, he wasn’t one for older women or little girls. But he held some consideration for Helena, and she seemed to care a lot for Mikoshiba. Helena knew that a full frontal attack against Baron Mikoshiba would spell disaster, and there would be no end to the war, even if they were to somehow win.

As a result, there was probably a high chance Helena would be willing to share some of the goods she had received from Baron Mikoshiba with Charlotte.

It wouldn’t be the best idea to anger the women I’ll be meeting with today.

Charlotte was not pleased she would have to bother Helena for sweets, especially when she was involved in important work regarding the future of the country. But it was a small price to pay if it meant avoiding bringing about any discontent from Charlotte’s friends with their discerning sweet tooth. People were happy eating delicious foods, while some would become angry when eating something not delectable. Helena, this country’s greatest general of all people, would understand that.

Lady Helena will surely understand. My only worry is that she may have eaten them all herself.

A wave of worry flooded Charlotte’s chest. No matter how much Helena understood Charlotte’s intentions, if she had eaten most of the macarons, she would have none to share. That said, Helena was in her sixties, soon approaching her seventies.

Considering Lady Helena’s age, I can’t imagine she’s actually eaten them all, thought Charlotte as she pushed the wagon, eagerly awaiting the future the new queen had in store for the country.