Chapter 198
(Kyle Calendar Year 511: Age 18)
The Two Princes
Translator : PolterGlast
A new year dawned, and
in the Imperial Capital of Griffin in the Gryphonia Empire, the customary
conference to select the Imperial heir was being held.
Although it was
regarded as a selection conference, unless there was a decisive reason for
selection, it had become a place where each candidate would report their
military achievements thus far, present them to the opposing factions, and
answer questions and opinions from the neutral parties. Other than that, it had
become a yearly venue for the candidates' factions to badmouth each other, and
to trip up and denigrate their opponents.
One of the candidates
for the throne—no, the one currently considered the most likely—the Third
Prince Grat, found this annual conference to be depressing.
"Good grief, what
a bunch of busybodies. Most of the people here don't even break a sweat on the
battlefield, but are just amusing themselves with their political games. They
should just hold the conference when there's a decisive reason. To be forced to
leave the front lines and put up with their pastime every time is unbearable.
Hey, you think so too, right?"
The Third Prince
muttered in a low voice to the person sitting next to him. At this year's
conference, ignoring the reluctant man's own wishes, he had brought along his
confidant, Sieghart.
"And who was it
that forcibly dragged me to this pointless conference? Just when things were
finally getting on track and I thought I could get some sleep..."
The only man who could
complain to a member of the imperial family about being deprived of his
precious sleep, without any fear, was probably him. The Third Prince heavily
favored this man, who was called an eccentric by those around him, and was
extremely fond of him.
"No, if you're
here, I can rest easy about dealing with the old foxes. If you want to relax at
the front lines, go find me a fox who's even better than you. Then I'll let you
sleep lazily."
"Me, a fox?
That's harsh."
"Bold and daring,
profound in foresight, elusive and unpredictable—for those who know your true
nature, any of these words would be a fitting description, wouldn't they?
Though the fox itself skillfully deceives others of its true nature and
pretends to be weak, so the vast majority of people have the wrong idea."
In truth, thanks to
Sieghart, court maneuvers and dealings with the Kyle Kingdom had progressed
more than expected, and they had brilliantly crushed the ambitions of the First
Prince's faction, which had tried to turn the tables by taking advantage of the
neighboring country's civil war.
With the added bonus
of seizing their funds and enriching the domain he governed by proxy (the
former Margrave Goth's territory). Funding through sugar sales was also
proceeding smoothly, and in recent years, they had no shortage of war funds.
"At today's
conference, I won't say a thing. I'm counting on you."
"Understood."
With this short
exchange, the two of them had come to a complete understanding.
※
The reports from each
faction ended smoothly, and the conference moved on to its respective questions
and arguments (badmouthing). For them, the real battle was about to begin.
"I would like to
ask His Highness Grat (the Third Prince). Just now, you reported that the war
situation with the Sura Duchy is progressing favorably, and that once a certain
amount of territory is occupied, you plan to conclude a truce and elicit a
cession of territory. What is your reasoning for this? Can it be that you have
already grown weary of the war? I believe it would be fine to advance the army
and occupy the entire duchy at once."
"I will answer on
behalf of His Highness.
The Sura Duchy's
domain is vast, and its soldiers are elite. If we were to advance on the
capital as things stand, we would have to be prepared for corresponding losses.
And to attack from the front, we would need to break through a strong fortress
line.
It would be a
different story if we could organize a large-scale detached force led by an
excellent general, bypass the enemy, and attack from the flank and rear...
If you desire the fall
of the duchy, I will appoint you as the commander of the detached force and
grant you that honor. Well, by common sense, the complete annihilation of the
detached force would be inevitable."
"Wha..."
The questioner was at
a loss for words and fell silent. There were not many who had the ability to
command and carry out such a reckless operation, disregarding the danger to
their own lives. Sieghart continued.
"Originally, the
war with the Sura Duchy was supposed to be a defensive one. In addition to
repelling them, if we can gain even a third of that country's territory, I
believe it would be a military achievement beyond reproach. If you desire more
than that, you must first show us with your own actions that it is
achievable."
Seeing that the
questioner had fallen completely silent, another person stepped up to ask a
question.
"Then, if the
front with the Sura Duchy in the south stabilizes, will His Highness Grat turn
his troops and attack the north?"
"Pardon my
impoliteness, Duke Hurley, but for what purpose?"
"Is it not
obvious? We have a source of conflict not only in the south, but also in the
north. In the past, we were made to suffer at the hands of the Kyle Kingdom. If
that is the case, would it not be a half-measure to not strike down both?"
"I must disagree
with Your Grace. The Kyle Kingdom merely conducted a defensive war for its
homeland. We were the ones who invaded.
And what was the
purpose of that? The reason we attacked the Kyle Kingdom, which showed no
intention of invading and was solely focused on defending its own country, was,
in the final analysis, for His Highness Glorious to show his qualification as
the heir to the throne, in accordance with the Empire's customs, was it not?
After His Highness
Grat has shown his qualification and achievements on the southern front, is
there a need to start yet another war? Is there a need to needlessly mobilize
the army, waste the lives of soldiers and large quantities of supplies, and
disturb the peace of the Empire?"
"If that is the
case, then we may find ourselves in a situation where we must constantly worry
about the northern border and cannot sleep soundly. And what of the wishes of
those who lost the war with the Kyle Kingdom and wish to have their revenge?
Viscount, should you not also consider His Highness Grat's future position
within the Empire in this matter?"
"Hypothetically,
even if we were to attack and destroy the Kyle Kingdom, we would then be
bordering two new countries, and would be bordering the Istoria Imperial
Kingdom on two fronts. In that case, I believe we would be even less able to
sleep soundly...
Furthermore, what
would happen if, while our troops are turned to the north, the south were to
take the opportunity and invade again? Would Your Grace lead the troops
yourself and fight as our southern shield?
Victory and defeat are
the fortunes of war. What do you consider more important, Your Grace: such
unmanly sentiments, or the future of the Empire? It is precisely because I am
considering His Highness Grat's position that I have no ear for such foolish
talk."
The war of words
between the two continued. Everyone was surprised by Sieghart's bold and
dignified manner of speaking.
"No, in the first
place, with the current arrangement, is it not rather unfavorable for His
Highness Glorious? Should there not be a slightly more fair opportunity?"
"In the first
place, I have heard that a fair opportunity was given in the foreign expedition
to decide the succession, was it not? And what's more, I have heard that the
current arrangement was decided upon at this very conference several years ago,
with everyone's consent..."
"It must be
because you played some clever trick! If only my army had sufficient food..."
"Your
Highness!"
The First Prince, who
had been silently watching the proceedings, burst out, and Duke Hurley cut in.
And then, the Third Prince spoke for the first time.
"Glorious, you
are mistaken. Let us say I had appeared with my army in the theater of war that
was assigned to you by our customs. At that time, would you...
allow me to open
hostilities as I please? allow me to requisition supplies from that land as I
please? recognize my unilateral violation of the pact between our nations? recognize
the military achievements gained there as my own?
Sieghart, as my
representative, and as a soldier of the Empire, merely followed the established
reasoning."
At the Third Prince's
words, the First Prince, though trembling with anger, somehow managed to
swallow his words.
"My apologies,
Your Highness Grat. I am sure you have your own thoughts, but we have a
proposal... no, a request. From now on, we will support the war with the Sura
Duchy with all our strength. Please, wield your skill to your heart's content.
After that, if we can obtain the duchy's territory, we have no objection to a
truce."
"Oh?"
The Third Prince
uttered this short word, and could not hide his surprise. Not at the old fox's
(Hurley's) words. He could not hide his surprise that the discussion was
proceeding exactly according to the script that Sieghart had shown him
beforehand.
"In exchange,
though it may be, please, as the most likely candidate for the next emperor,
show your magnanimity. After your victory in the southern campaign, please
grant an opportunity on the northern front for those who will bear the next
generation of the Empire to compete for glory.
Of course, Your
Highness's superiority is unshakable. We, too, acknowledge that. However, we
ask that you please grant His Highness Glorious an opportunity to redeem
himself from his past failures and restore his honor. There are many among his
subordinates as well who are longing for an opportunity to fulfill their
desires.
If you do so, many
nobles and soldiers will also know the depths of Your Highness's generosity,
and there will be none who object to your succession to the throne."
『Hmph, you old fox. You lost in the south, but you
intend to have him achieve military results in the north comparable to the
south, and then turn the tables all at once. 』
The Third Prince
thought this, but the participants in this conference, the senior statesmen of
the Empire, were, if anything, of the First Prince's faction. He needed a
reason to change their minds and convince them.
"If you go that
far, I have no objection. I shall accept the Duke's proposal. Sieghart, you are
fine with this as well?"
"Yes, Your
Highness. I have no objection to Your Highness's decision. In that case, how
about we attack from the left flank, where His Highness Glorious's subordinates
struggled in the previous war?"
"The left flank!
The domain of that hateful brat! That will not do!"
"Your Highness
Glorious, allow me... As I mentioned earlier, the First Prince's subordinate,
Marquis Bradley, met an untimely death on the left flank, and the cause of the
army's complete collapse can also be traced back to the crushing defeat on the
left flank. Your Highness Grat, please, I beg you to grant us the left
flank."
"Hmm... if those
are the circumstances, then it cannot be helped. Sieghart, let us make a plan
to attack from the right flank and advance on the capital."
"Your Highness,
thank you very much."
Sieghart, who was
sitting opposite Duke Hurley who had bowed respectfully, and who had lowered
his face to his master's opinion with a reluctant look, was smiling
triumphantly, where no one could see.
※
After the conference
had thus concluded safely, the Third Prince and Sieghart were in another room,
letting out a sigh of relief.
"Still, to outmaneuver
that old fox, as expected of you. I never thought it would proceed so exactly
according to the script you wrote."
Before the conference,
Sieghart had proposed three things to the Third Prince. They were contents that
the Third Prince had never even imagined.
The biggest challenge
for the Third Prince's faction, which was steadily accumulating military
achievements, was being shot in the back by their own allies. The Third Prince,
fighting on the southern front, had to be wary not only of the enemy in front
of him, but also of his allies behind him.
To counter that, to
eliminate the threat to his rear, he had to show the First Prince's faction
some bait and make them think they had a chance to turn the tables. If he had
the cooperation of the nobles and was not hindered by the First Prince's
faction, the war with the Sura Duchy would advance rapidly.
The Third Prince would
be able to secure a strong foothold in peace, and would also be able to gain a
strong voice that came with his achievements.
And then, there was
the truce with the Kyle Kingdom, which would expire at the end of the following
year. If that happened, it was clear that the First Prince's faction,
especially the old fox (Hurley), would find some reason or other to demand that
the Third Prince also achieve military results in the north.
In that case, all he
had to do was make them agitated at the conference and lead them according to
the script he had drawn up.
"Still, I never
thought they would desire the left flank, just as we had intended. But, if they
had readily agreed to let us take the left flank, what would you have
done?"
"The First
Prince's faction is getting desperate. Even if they were to extract a
concession from Your Highness, unless they outwit Your Highness and occupy the
enemy's capital first, the result will be decided in Your Highness's favor.
The center is the
shortest route to the capital, but it requires passing through several
fortresses and strongholds and will take time. The Royal Knights will also come
out from the center to intercept. The right flank is simply a detour, and in
the end, they must advance from the center. But on the left flank, if they can
just get past Teigoon, there is nothing to block them all the way to the
capital, and they can advance their army all at once.
If one understands
even a little about intelligence, it is, in fact, the natural conclusion."
"What would you
have done if they had been even bigger fools than we imagined and had yielded
the left flank to us?"
"In that case,
things would have proceeded even more easily. We would have gone on a
sightseeing trip on the left flank, pretending to struggle against... no, just
staring at the enemy's right flank, and playing around. I have already conveyed
Your Highness's intentions and my strategies to the Demon Territory Count Solis
at our meeting last year.
He will defend Teigoon
moderately and then go out as reinforcements to the center or the enemy's left
flank with all his strength. If that happens, the army he leads will be very
strong. After all, the complete defeat of the Istoria Imperial Kingdom in the
previous war was his achievement alone.
While we are playing
around, His Highness Glorious's army will likely have a terrible time. We will
simply finish our scheduled sightseeing trip and go home."
"To use an enemy
against an enemy... is that it?"
"Not quite. To
use an excellent and trustworthy enemy against an enemy, perhaps? In the first
place, we have no intention of making the Kyle Kingdom our territory. If that's
the case, we went to the trouble of helping them in their recent civil war. As
a thank-you for that, it is enough if they fight for us with all their strength
this time."
To Sieghart, who said
this with a fearless smile, the Third Prince felt a chill run down his spine.
The demonic hand of
invasion, originating from the political strife of the Empire, was steadily
reaching toward the Kyle Kingdom.
An unprecedented
large-scale invasion by the Imperial army would begin in less than two years.
The time left to prepare for the counterattack was already short.
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