Chapter 104 – Chapter 104 – Threatening the Grand Duchess
“I’m Charlotte’s colleague Jed.”
“I am Eline.”
After the hero and the saintess greeted each other, Zed and Eline greeted Kashid Nova. And it’s my turn.
“It is an honor to meet Grand Duke Nova. My name is Baron Dran.”
The baron was far below the grand duke.
“Baron Dran. Didn’t Her Highness personally bestow the title on you?”
“It’s too much, but it happened.”
It seemed that he knew about me. Even though I am a baron, it would have been impossible not to spread rumors about me among the nobles. Just as the attention of the knights was drawn to the fact that Ariana was directing me, the incident of my becoming a baron would have been known throughout the aristocracy.
“I heard that you are also a knight of Her Highness Asabel?”
Grace leaned toward me, as if interested in me. That bitch… Especially watching me. As someone with a desire to devour the empire, it was natural for him to keep an eye on me as the princess’s official. You must be shaking your head now. Greed aside, the advantages of this year are clear.
It wasn’t as strong as Kasid Nova’s. I understand that it is a body that has no fighting sense by nature. However… Her resourcefulness was so great that during the war, her name surpassed Khasid Nova. Moreover, when attacking the Empire afterwards, it was not so simple that a single principality almost ate the Empire. He waited that long, and prepared very thoroughly, such as attracting a large number of nobles. In addition, unlike Princess Asabel, she is also a strategist who uses soldiers well at the right time. It also brought quite a few victories in war.
“So…”
Kasid Nova put down her teacup.
“What is going on?”
“Don’t you know?”
Charlotte took out the paper the princess had given her. Kasid Nova read through it and put it back on the table. You should have already known what it was about.
“Simply put, it means to cooperate with the Empire.”
“The princess wants to get a definite answer.”
“Warrior. But this is not a question that can be answered right away.”
Charlotte looked at me with a surprised expression. She must have remembered the story I told her while riding the imperial carriage. She once said that the principality is reluctant to cooperate with the empire.
If it’s a kingdom, you can refuse. However, although the principality seems to be an independent state, it is also actually a part of the empire. However, it seems that I don’t understand why they are showing such a negative reaction. Because he was at the level of a grand duke, he was able to protest like this, and other nobles would have followed him unconditionally. Although she was a princess, not an emperor, she was the number one candidate to seize the next imperial throne.
“I want to know why.”
“If you listen to our position, you will understand.”
Kasid Nova secretly identified her daughter, Grace. … After all, did he represent Grace’s words? Kasid Nova is also an excellent strategist, but Grace Nova is even more outstanding. She must have been persuaded by Grace to refuse.
“First. There is a saying that the military authority of the principality will be transferred in case of war. Our principality is loyal to the Empire, but handing over military authority is another thing.”
It is a country ruled by a grand duke. By the way, all the military power here is brought to the empire and dedicated? There was no way I could understand it.
“For two, this is a barren land. I was able to drive out the monsters and use the good land, but there is still a lot of land to pioneer. However, there is a shortage of male workers… There was something about increasing the military. Besides, if there really was a war, what would happen to the people here?”
Even listening to it so far, the reason why the principality hesitated to cooperate was clear. Suddenly, he made unreasonable demands, citing only one reason for the war with the demon king.
“And the last third. He said he was the Demon King, but if you look more closely, the principality is bound to cooperate unconditionally in the event of a war. What if the demon king doesn’t start a war? Instead, what if we drag the people of our principality to war with other kingdoms?”
In other words, in other cases besides the war with the demon king, it meant that the empire could abuse the clause.
Charlotte asked, frowning at her.
“Are you saying you don’t care about the dangers of the continent for such an uncertain reason?”
“No. If the Demon King’s army really invades, we promise to cooperate. However, as I said earlier, the Duchy of Lancelot cannot be stamped unconditionally.”
Only one person can forcibly move the anti-aircraft. Only the emperor of the empire It was also uncertain that the demon army would invade, and the current emperor of the Gaia Empire, who trusted the archduke, did not dare to force cooperation. So, Princess Asabel tried to take care of things first, but it was also not easy.
“Grand Duke. May I speak for a moment?”
“Baron Dran. Okay, let me tell you.”
“First of all, I would like to assure you that Her Highness, Princess Asabel, will not abuse the cooperation clause.”
In the first place, when the princess was deprived of her kingdom’s military authority, she was really under attack by the demon king’s army. Besides, it wasn’t just the principality that made it difficult to make a living. Even if it is fertile land, it is useless if you cannot afford to farm because of the war. Evacuation or preparation of goods, etc. Empire or principality and the situation was not very different.
And besides the war with the last demon king, he expressed concern that military authority would be handed over, but it is sharp… No, but if you look at the very beginning, there is something called ‘during war with the demon king’. There was no mention of the Demon King’s army in the detailed clauses after that, but the Archduke seemed to be playing with words. It meant thoroughly considering even the worst interpretation. What… It’s true that the Archduke must pay attention to the last detail, but…
“I’m sure Her Highness doesn’t do that. I don’t know, but you, the one closest to me, do, does that mean?”
“If Her Highness, the princess, goes the wrong way, I will correct it.”
“Poop.”
“… Are you?”
The sound of laughing at me bursts out. Charlotte that bitch…
“Baron Dran. Do you have that ability?”
This time Grace intervened. All the words that came out of Kasid Nova’s mouth so far must have started from Grace’s head. But did they notice that I’m not serious? Started to come out on its own.
“I guess Her Highness is favored a lot?”
“Did you do any research on me?”
“… Well?”
Did you?
It wasn’t that I was talking about it, but it seemed that he knew about my achievements, seeing as I was talking about it so casually.
“I did not rise to the position of baron for nothing. If I hadn’t liked Her Highness, I wouldn’t have become a baron, but I’ve done enough credit for that.”
Accurately grasping the characteristics of the demons, he contributed the most to the subjugation operation, saved the princess, and finally captured her dragon. This was not enough to become a baron. Since the conditions were met, the princess finally gave her approval. It’s very difficult to approve of this princess, but that’s because I liked her…
“Let’s say Baron Dran has that ability. And I’ll also try to say that he is trusted by Her Highness that much.”
Grace smiled and leaned slightly towards me. Looking at the money, it is a chest-cut dress. Glancing at her breastbone, he focuses on Grace again. … I think Grace would have noticed my sly glances, big. Grace continued.
“Whoops. But can we trust Baron Dran?”
“How can you trust me?”
“Isn’t that something Baron Dran should take care of?”
“… Well, I guess.”
Right now, Grace was unconditionally in a defensive stance. Even though it seems to admit a certain part, in the end, somehow it does not back down. No matter what I do, in the end, you will not believe me, giving other reasons until the end. It comes out so ambiguous, right?
“Then shall we make a thorough deal?”
“… Yes?”
Grace is also puzzled by the sudden story.
“You are free to believe in me, but I have prepared something that you have no choice but to accept.”
Trust and cooperate with the Empire!
This rationale does not work, so we have prepared conditions that will be more damaging if we do not cooperate.
“Now… Are you going to threaten me?”
“Baron Dran! Do you dare to look down on our Grand Duchess just for being a baron!”
Not only Grace, but the face of Kashid Nova next to him also became ferocious. Unlike his daughter, who calmly disapproves of her, she gets very angry right away.
In fact, it is intimidating. On the surface, it was a deal, but I didn’t know how to openly say it was a threat.
“How can I, a baron, threaten the Grand Duchess of Nova? Let’s listen. The decision is made by the Archduke.”
“Father.”
Grace nodded and signaled to the Grand Duke to listen. Kashid Nova finally lowered his anger and looked at me asking me to tell him.
I drank another cup of tea, slowly opened my mouth and started talking. It was the same thing I said to Kelly, the mercenary commander, yesterday.
Monster wave.
Dragon attack.
And even the fact that there is a demon behind it.
I’ve told Ray beforehand, and it’s probably the first time I’ve heard of all of them except for Eline, the first time I heard yesterday. The Hero couple and the grand duchess could not help but be surprised.
“So… Do you mean to put your stamp on this because it will help you solve it?”
“First, it doesn’t matter if it turns out that the three threats I mentioned are true.”
“The Duchy of Lancelot cannot solve it by itself… You mean?”
“I’ll have to see if it’s true, but if it’s true… Wouldn’t you have known before I told you in the first place?”
“That’s it, but…”
Grace pondered hard, tucking his arms under his large breasts. He’ll be hitting in his head thoroughly calculating what’s good. No matter how many times he calculates, he will only get one answer. The moment it turns out that what I am saying is true, it is a great advantage to agree to cooperate unconditionally. Abandoning half of the principality to protect the military power? Even stupid me can answer right away.
“I think I need to discuss it with my father some more.”
“Yes, I understand.”
“And the threats you spoke of, Baron Dran, have not yet been proven true. So…”
Grace grinned.
What is it why
“Until the truth is revealed, he must stay with the grand duke’s family. If false… Isn’t that what you mean by scorning us?”
To put it simply, this…
Are you saying you want to imprison me, no?
