Chapter 374
Side Story – Memories of an Imperial Princess (90)
#115 Their Circumstances: The Circumstances of a Villain
Merdea Kingdom, these bastards are really not helpful.
“You understand what that means, right?”
Though they were from an enemy nation, they were noble aristocrats.
Except for Duke Raisha, or rather now that Duke Raisha had fallen as a traitor, they were one of the highest-ranking marquises in the kingdom.
Such a nobleman to the bone would find it difficult to endure being looked down upon by someone from an enemy nation who was until recently a commoner with no background.
“Yes.”
However, they endured it.
Whether it was due to their gentle nature or for their homeland of Merdea Kingdom, they endured without showing any change in expression.
“Huh, don’t you have any pride?”
“Our kingdom’s situation is rather difficult. If we’re too concerned about such things, we might lose our nation’s name, so what can we do?”
Having calmly admitted it, there’s nothing more to say.
They’re skilled. I’ve met someone far more skilled than myself.
“Wouldn’t resisting until the end be a more honorable death? Are there no honorable ones in the kingdom of Merdea?”
However, I can’t stop provoking them.
To be more honest, I hope they would hold out until the end.
That way I can buy more time!
“Death is the end, isn’t it? That’s why we must live.”
However, it’s meaningless if the opponent doesn’t take the bait.
As expected of the Merdea Kingdom, a great nation.
I thought all the famous people had died in the war, but where did they find someone like this?
“Is that so?”
“Yes.”
A sigh escaped me without realizing it.
Damn, the waiting game with Merdea Kingdom is over.
“Even if we propose crazy conditions?”
“It’s better than perishing, isn’t it?”
“In the end, won’t you perish anyway?”
“Who knows? The Karan Empire might fall as the war continues.”
“True. If it falls, all contracts would be void.”
“Yes, that’s right. So we’ll grasp even the smallest hope.”
I decided to pay respect to this enemy nobleman who smiled while openly saying they hoped for the empire’s downfall.
“Can’t be helped.”
I thought about starting an all-out war and sweeping everything away, maybe even instigating rebellion throughout the Merdea Kingdom, but I decided to give up because it’s troublesome.
“Then let’s start negotiations.”
“Understood.”
I led the negotiations since I held the sword.
Therefore, the other party just sat quietly and listened to my words.
“Really, is that enough?”
As negotiations progressed, the other party’s expression changed to one of disbelief.
“Why, should I take more?”
“No.”
Complete surrender meant accepting anything.
This person’s goal must be to prevent unreasonable demands.
However, that wasn’t my goal.
“Then shall we go with this?”
“Ah, understood.”
Though their expression seemed uneasy, this was my unavoidable choice too.
The more I take here, the more merit I achieve.
With merit, work increases, and I might even obtain a Count’s title.
From Count upward is clearly high nobility.
It means rising from a commoner who luckily became nobility to a position recognized as true nobility.
A noble? Me, a true noble!
Unless I was born noble from the start and lived well-fed since childhood, I don’t want to become a noble who has to establish a family now.
Well, since this might seem suspicious, I should slightly sell the Princess’s name.
“This is thanks to Her Highness the merciful Princess who highly praised your tenacity in not giving up until the end. Be grateful for Her Highness’s mercy.”
“Understood.”
It’s not like giving medicine after causing illness – I’m telling them to thank the person who destroyed their country.
But it can’t be helped.
Because Merdea Kingdom is a powerless country.
Like during the Japanese colonial period, they couldn’t refuse even if we established a Karan Governor-General’s Office in the heart of Merdea Kingdom, their capital.
Well, there’s no need for that.
“Then, let’s end the post-war compensation and responsibility here, and move on to what comes after.”
“When you say what comes after…”
Though pretending otherwise, their face and voice were full of wariness.
Their poker face, which had been well maintained until now, showed slight cracks.
“It’s fine.”
Seeing his expression that suggested the real thing was about to begin, I smiled to indicate there was no need to worry.
“It’s nothing much.”
Really, it’s nothing much.
We won’t take anything from Merdea Kingdom or include unreasonable treaties.
No, rather, it will be about preserving Merdea Kingdom’s long history.
“What we want is just one thing. That is peace.”
“Peace…?”
To him who looked blank as if he’d heard a demon say we should all love peace, I gave an even brighter expression than before.
“Yes, that’s right. What we want is just one thing, peace.”
Love and peace.
Because in this desolate world, only love and peace can make people happy!
#116 Their Circumstances: The Circumstances of a Noble
“……”
It was a devastating feeling.
Although I had dealt with countless humans until now, I had never seen someone like that.
To think that such a person was just an ordinary commoner a few years ago.
Honestly, it was unbelievable.
It would have been more convincing if they said he was a secret weapon that the Empire had kept hidden for a long time.
“How should I handle this…”
At first, I thought I had managed to stop the other party.
They openly looked down on me, a high noble, and tried to trample on my homeland, the Kingdom of Merdea.
These were insults that those with pride in the kingdom and those still in their prime could not tolerate.
However, as a noble, and moreover as the head of the long-standing House of Pavilles, I endured it.
The strength of a house with a long history.
It meant that not only did they have great power, but they could also bend their pride depending on the situation.
Honor is important to nobles.
Even with a low rank, if you raise your honor, those with high titles will approach you, and even with a high rank, if you don’t understand noble honor, you’ll inevitably fall from the mainstream.
The House of Raisha was a prime example.
Every noble tried their best to exchange even one more word with the previous Duke of Raisha.
Even the competing marquis houses had no choice but to bow their heads at official occasions.
However, the current Duke of Raisha.
No, Religieus, who is now nothing more than a traitor, was shunned by all nobles despite inheriting the enormous background of the House of Raisha.
Those who clung to him were only parasites trying to leech off the great power of the House of Raisha, and those who had received favors from the previous Duke of Raisha and were trying to somehow rehabilitate him.
Nobles with considerable power, and even those sensitive to power and honor, did not approach him.
Despite having the same power and authority, the results were completely opposite.
That was the difference between those who understood honor and those who didn’t.
But noble society is a very complex society.
It’s not lenient enough to survive on honor alone.
Honor doesn’t keep rising.
As it rises, expectations increase, and when expectations aren’t met, it falls.
It was strange enough that the House of Raisha maintained its prosperity from the kingdom’s beginning until the death of the previous Duke of Raisha.
Being checked by houses of similar size, being checked by the royal family.
Sometimes they fall when those rising from below catch their ankles.
Yet the reason why the House of Pavilles continued to survive and could aim for the highest position was because they built a solid foundation for the house when they were strong, and protected it even while throwing away their pride when they were weak.
The one who survives until the end is the winner.
The current marquis houses knew this, and by enduring and enduring again, they were able to reach their current position.
That’s why Vaeis, who held all authority in the kingdom, excluded those in charge of diplomacy and requested me to negotiate with the enemy nation.
Since Merdea Kingdom was a strong nation, it never had to bend its pride even to the two empires that existed on the continent.
There’s no point in risking provoking an opponent holding the sword handle.
“Damn it…”
The biggest reason I was chosen was my good relationship with the royal family compared to other marquis houses.
And among all the nobles in the kingdom, I was known for maintaining a poker face and being skilled at negotiations.
“I never expected to receive such an attack.”
Everything was going according to plan.
No, it was going even better than planned.
Although they demanded a large amount of battlefield compensation and continuous tribute, that much was expected as we were the losing nation.
Rather, I was suspicious of whether the Imperial Princess was showing mercy, as the other party said, because the amount was ridiculously small.
But the negotiations that followed.
Everything went wrong in those negotiations.
“…Increase the speed.”
“Yes, sir.”
I order the coachman driving the carriage to increase speed.
Although I’ve drafted the documents for ending the war, this exceeded my range of judgment.
As it was a contract between major nations and former major nations, they presented a contract written in the Geas Roll.
Once contracted, it becomes a contract that must be kept unless one side perishes.
Although Vaeis had given me full authority, what Ast had restricted exceeded my authority to judge, so I had no choice but to return to the kingdom as quickly as possible.
“How did the negotiations go, Marquis Pavilles?”
“We were able to save 60% of the expected amount.”
“Ooh!”
Upon arriving at the royal palace, I immediately headed to the conference room where Vaeis, the king’s representative, and several nobles were waiting.
Vaeis and other nobles were looking at me as if they had been waiting, and everyone cheered at my first words.
“As expected of Marquis Pavilles!”
“We believed in the Marquis’s diplomatic abilities!”
“At this level, we can restore the kingdom’s glory again.”
Several nobles began praising me.
It was that great of an achievement.
After all, I was able to reduce the cost that the diplomatic department had estimated as appropriate to nearly half.
“Is that so…”
Vaeis, who would have to lead the kingdom from now on, let out a sigh of relief, and the heads of other Marquis houses nodded indifferently.
Of course, they’ll probably curse as soon as they leave this place.
“You did well, really well.”
Vaeis praised me in an unusually gentle voice, unlike his usual self.
While I did do well, it was probably because he promised to make my daughter his concubine if he succeeded in this matter.
Not now, but a guaranteed position as the next queen consort.
Although he was already married as a member of the royal family, considering his family’s influence, he could potentially become the grandfather of the next generation’s king.
That’s why I don’t want to say these words.
The moment I say this, it’s clear that the current atmosphere will be shattered.
However, I had no choice but to say it.
“But, they put forward one unusual condition.”
“Condition? What is it?”
The moment he heard the word ‘condition’, Vaeis’s eyes turned cold.
We had decided to surrender quite a while ago.
After surrendering now, everyone gathered to prepare for negotiations with the Empire after deciding to surrender.
At that time, we discussed various worst-case conditions we could think of, and among them were suggestions to fight until the moment of destruction.
“That is…”
That’s probably why Vaeis made such an expression.
Other nobles kept their mouths shut and stared only at my mouth.
However!
“It’s the revival of House Raisha.”
The Empire, that Ast.
They overturned everything we had anticipated.
“What?”
“What does that mean?”
“Don’t tell me… They’re saying they’ll revive Religieus and send him back?!”
Shocked exclamations poured out from everywhere.
House Raisha.
A family that shared the kingdom’s history, but in the current generation, became traitors with all related members dead.
The Empire hoped to revive that house and place Duke Raisha as its head.
“It’s explicitly written in the Geas Roll. This contract will be maintained until House Raisha does not perish.”
In other words, the moment House Raisha disappears, the Empire can attack us again.
“That means…”
“It means that the traitor Religieus will live as a duke in this country.”
“Huh…”
Caught off guard by this unexpected ambush, Vaeis could only stand there with his mouth agape.
I probably had the same expression when I first heard this story.
Who would refuse enormous benefits to help an enemy nation’s duke!
“That, that bastard… That damned traitor… We have to leave him be? And as the head of a ducal family, the highest nobility!”
I could understand Vaeis’s feelings as he ground his teeth.
Religieus played a large role in this country’s downfall.
After all sorts of torture, it wouldn’t be enough to hang him alive at the palace’s main gate as an example, yet we have to serve him as a duke!
“What can we do?”
But if we don’t save Religieus, only destruction awaits the Kingdom of Merdea.
“…”
Knowing this, Vaeis also fell silent in thought.
He’d probably like to kill Religieus if he could.
But we cannot kill Religieus.
Because Religieus is in the Empire’s hands, not ours!
“Accept… The Empire’s proposal.”
With a very pained expression, Vaeis made his decision.
Let’s live. Though shameful, let’s survive.
Only then can we discuss tomorrow.
If we can survive until the Empire’s downfall.
Then we can take revenge not only on the Empire but also on Religieus’s bloodline!
“To survive.”
Vaeis looked at us with eyes that had made such a resolution.
“Is there anyone who objects?”
“…”
“…”
“…”
Still a young king, or rather, heir to the throne, but no noble could refuse Vaeis’s words.
“Then I’ll take that as everyone’s agreement. Marquis Pavilles.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
I already had the royal seal in my possession.
The moment I go and make the contract with the royal seal in my chest, this war will end.
“Everything for the glory of the kingdom.”
“For glory.”
As humans, we cannot know what the future holds.
Those who will evaluate our current actions are our future descendants.
Although we don’t know how today’s choice will be judged…
We chose to survive to grasp even the smallest hope.
#117 Their Circumstances: The Circumstances of a Kingdom’s Historical Record.
-Thus ended the negotiations with the Empire, and the war that claimed many lives came to an end.
And now, after more than a hundred years have passed.
Everyone living in the kingdom says this,
If only… If the country had fallen then, things wouldn’t have become this bad!
