Volume 7 Release
Commemorative Special Episode
The New Queen's
Strategy
Upon
entering the Royal Capital of the newly born Lute-Vile-Cain Kingdom, we
were immediately invited into the Royal Palace. This was because the entire
army, likely gathered from the vicinity, had assembled in front of the city
gates of the Royal Capital and formed ranks to welcome us. Naturally, King Crajyu,
Alicia-denka, and General Golpa,
the Commander-in-Chief of the Three Armies, were waiting for us in the front
row. There, seeing the three of them about to kneel before me, I hurriedly
jumped off my horse and went around shaking hands with them. I've said it many
times, but I am not their lord. The Westlights Demon Territory Dukedom
is merely a suzerain state in name only, after all. Therefore,
accompanying them, I ended up entering the Royal Palace following the flow of
events.
「First of all, we apologize to Archduke-heika. Even though it was for the
stability of the country, we utilized Archduke-heika's name and this visit.」
After
being invited into a room in the Royal Palace, when it was just the five of
us—myself, Yuka, King Crajyu, Alicia-denka, and General Golpa—Alicia-denka bowed deeply anew, and the following two also bowed deeply.
What does that mean? Is it about the matter of spreading those rumors?
「Actually, we grasped information
that dissatisfied nobles within the country would incite a rebellion all at
once, aiming to shake us, to coincide with this marriage ceremony, and in
response to that, we also intentionally spread false information.」
Hahaha,
so that's what happened. I had completely thought that the opposing faction had
laid low and governance was stable, though. However... I also have a major
doubt.
「A rebellion at this point in time is
quite disturbing. Do they really think they can succeed?」
「It is exactly as Heika says.
However... as a major premise, the rebellion does not need to succeed. For the
major merchants behind those who incite the rebellion, the nobles executing it
are, so to speak, disposable pawns.」
That's
a terrible story. In that case, are the masterminds the major merchants? Could
it be those of the Cain Kingdom?
「It seems they believe that if the
rebellion succeeds by some chance, that's fine, and even if it doesn't, if the
country falls into confusion, they can take advantage of that opening to
intervene in national politics and make a comeback to their former positions;
as long as they can create a pretext to condemn us, they are satisfied. And it
seems they are meticulously cornering the market on goods so they can utilize
even the rebellion to expand their profits...」
Does
that mean they've set traps in multiple layers? To devour only the profits in a
way where they never appear on the front stage and don't dirty their hands...
「How villainous... However, I don't
think the nobles being taken for a ride are that foolish, so why is that?」
「Actually, following the Queen
Heika's strategy, we also intentionally dispersed and dispatched the
army to various places, leaving the center open. To make this an opportunity to
smoke out the bugs writhing about...」
Actually,
there was a reason why General Golpa called Alicia-denka the Queen Heika.
Because the three countries, which had existed as separate countries for two
generations, held deeper entanglements than expected. Therefore, as a desperate
measure, they decided to choose a joint ruling system of a King and a Queen
strictly for the current generation. Of course, that announcement is scheduled
to be made at the marriage ceremony, so it's a story that no one else knows yet
except me, who was consulted by them beforehand. Outwardly, authority is
concentrated solely on the King, but domestically, the two countries are
unified with the King managing military affairs and the Queen managing domestic
affairs. And with the pressure from both countries, General Golpa
becomes the Commander-in-Chief of the Three Armies, second only to the King, to
suppress the former Vile Kingdom. This is the conclusion they derived,
the political system to transition to the unification of the three countries
most smoothly.
「Receiving that, we spread advance
information that Archduke-heika's
army arriving as a state guest would be one thousand, there would be no guests
from other countries, and an envoy of 『questioning』
under the pretext of celebration would visit from the Empire.」
「Huh? In that case, isn't my movement
bad?」
I
had brought a force of two thousand as planned, plus one thousand from the Kyle
Kingdom, one thousand from the Principality of Fearalt, and above
all, under the pretext of 『for celebration,』 I had organized the former prisoners into an army, leading
a massive force totaling fourteen thousand cavalry, after all.
「No, immediately after starting the
rebellion, they trembled in fear upon learning of Heika's military
formation and turned their armies back, so it is safe to say the rebellion was
prevented before it happened. However, since the fact of the rebellion has been
confirmed, we can publicly dispose of them with this.」
Hahaha,
I suppose so. The army is exhausted due to past military deployments and their
national territory being trampled, and in addition, they have dispatched ten
thousand prisoners as laborers to the Demon Territory Dukedom.
Therefore, they have no leeway in military strength. Furthermore, they are
focusing their military dispatch on the former three eastern counties, the
border zone with the Istoria Orthodox Theocracy, which requires the most
caution, and they also have national border security against countries other
than us and the Empire. The army they could deploy to the former Vile
Kingdom where the Royal Capital is located would be two thousand at best,
if they tried their hardest. Just when they moved their armies thinking, 『This is a great opportunity!』,
reinforcements of fourteen thousand for the King's side appeared, after all.
「At the same time as recapturing the
national territory, we disposed of all the nobles who defected to or formed
ties with the Istoria Orthodox Theocracy side, but the problem was those
who stubbornly remained opportunistic, watching the outcome of the battle while
trying to sell themselves for a higher price.」
「We didn't have sufficient reason to
abolish them when they claimed afterward that they 『were
protecting their territories while fighting the invaders,』
and there was no way to know their true intentions, so we currently had them
step down from public office. Although... the official reason is that public
office seats were greatly reduced as a result of integrating the three
countries...」
That
would be expected. If the administrative organizations that were originally
three are unified into one, at the very least the necessary posts will be cut
to less than half.
「Alicia-denka, and that became the cause of their explosive outburst?」
「Yes. Including what we just
discussed, there are three reasons why they ran to reckless action—no, were
forced to run to it. First, they feared Archduke-heika's heroic reputation, which increases daily within the
country. To the point of harboring fear that if things continue as they are,
their own territories might be annexed in addition to the current ceded
territories. Second, they probably thought that they would never be able to
rise again if things continued as they were. Although we didn't dispose of
them, we resolutely refused to tolerate their 『opportunism,』 and to begin with, there were no longer any seats for them
to return to. Third, they held enormous debts to the merchants, and could not
refuse their demands. That is how deeply the merchants had taken root not only
in the royal families of the three countries, but also in noble society.」
「I see... they were tormented by
these three crises: the crisis of their territories being wiped out entirely,
the crisis of being eliminated politically, and the crisis of becoming
financially unsustainable. Therefore, they burst out?」
「Yes, with this incident, we should
be able to sweep away the enemies lurking outside the Royal Palace. But there
are still two more. This time, we want to eliminate the enemies lurking inside
the Royal Palace and the enemies nesting in the nation.」
Saying
so, Alicia-denka floated a
fearless expression and smiled. Yeah, it was like this before too, but...
Although she has a part of an innocent 『Princess』
that she shows from time to time, when it comes to political strategy, she is
quite a 『character』.
「May I ask, how?」
「Of course! Regarding this point, we
intended to ask for Archduke-heika's
assistance.」
Eh?
My assistance? Does that mean my role is already decided on the stage she is
drawing?
「First, we would like to adopt the
method the Emperor-heika used
at the meeting venue when we visited the Imperial Capital previously. By
doing so, they will...」
Hahaha,
that's a pitiful story. Then, I just have to ride along with that and act
carefree without knowing anything, is that it?
「Next, regarding the army Archduke-heika led, could you spread the rumor
to the merchants that 『the supplies you brought are scarce,
and you are lacking in food』? We have already secretly secured
the necessary supplies for both civilian and military demand and hidden them in
appropriate places, but the merchants do not know that.」
I
see, is this also a strategy Sieghart once used against the First
Prince? I mean... Alicia-denka
has researched the Empire very well, hasn't she? Since they had always
been a hypothetical enemy nation, it's a matter of course if you think about
it, but the fact that the Princess of a country has investigated to that extent
is surprising in itself.
「Understood. I also have thoughts
about the way the merchants of this country operate, and I will gladly
cooperate so that the new country can stabilize.」
It's
a fact that the major merchants of the Cain Kingdom, where commerce was
the most developed, were doing whatever they pleased with the three countries
in the shadows. That was most blatantly obvious in the Cain Kingdom, but
I have also experienced that firsthand, and Sean's reports had made me
frown, after all.
「We are truly sorry for constantly
being indebted to you in every single way.」
Thus,
the stage drawn by Alicia-denka
(Queen) was set. And... the curtain will open shortly.
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