Chapter 99 - 99 Audience
Before the audience between Louis and the King of the Kingdom of Cascade was set, in the Royal Capital of the Kingdom of Cascade, the King and the Chancellor were huddled together, troubled.
"Chancellor, how should we handle the Empire's prince?"
"As reported by Lord Sowell already, since the prince's guard is the Queen of Sword's sister, the option of capturing and sending him back to the Empire is gone."
"Do you think they'd get angry if we did?"
"Naturally."
The two knew Nancy was alive, and also knew she had a child with Steve. Not only that, they had sent a baby gift.
Officially, Nancy was a resident born in Margrave Sowell's territory who had moved to Archibalt Territory, and although a commoner, it was said she had been noticed by Steve and become his second wife.
Although she was of commoner origin, because she was Steve's official wife, they had sent baby gifts not limited to the King.
They knew their marital relationship was very good, and that Steve cherished her, and since her sister was involved, they would have to be careful in handling it.
The King also knew about the Empire's political upheaval, and while repeating meetings where no conclusion on how to respond was reached, information came in that the eldest son of the murdered Crown Prince had entered the country, and Aurora was protecting him.
Also, information came attached that a relative of Steve's wife was the guard.
With this, sending Louis back to the Empire was first eliminated from the options.
What could be done was, broadly, two things. Either give money and have him emigrate to another country, or use Louis to create a foothold for the Empire.
If Louis wished to live as a commoner in the Kingdom of Cascade, that was also possible, but if they had to worry about the Empire constantly, the true feeling was they wanted him to leave.
We also had no conclusion, delaying the audience schedule, but now that big movements appeared inside the Empire, delaying also reached its limit.
Inside the Empire, Leonard's forces occupied the majority, almost driving out the opposition.
Furthermore, instead of the Crown Prince taking responsibility for the defeat of the Eastern Military District, he was said to have allowed the remnants of the Kingdom of Beach to rise up, and to prove the legitimacy of his succession to the imperial throne, he dispatched troops to cities under the Kingdom of Beach's influence and tried to suppress the rebellion.
He besieged a city where fifty thousand lived, and set fire to it.
Residents escaping the fire became prey for the besieging army.
With nowhere to escape, they either burned to death or were killed by the Imperial Army, and the city was extinguished.
Seeing this massacre, the citizens of the former Kingdom of Beach in other cities and villages decided to escape the Empire, many becoming refugees and flowing into the neighboring Kingdom of Forest.
Leonard took the imperial throne criticizing the late Emperor and Crown Prince's weak stance, and showed a stance of thoroughly pursuing the refugees.
He lined up troops at the border with the Kingdom of Forest and demanded the handover of refugees.
That demand was that unless all refugees were returned, the Kingdom of Forest would be destroyed.
Against this demand, the King of the Kingdom of Forest chose to come under the protection of the Kingdom of Cascade.
History proved that if under the Empire's control, not only the royal family but also nobles would have their status stripped, and there was no one opposing in the Kingdom of Forest.
However, asking if they could fight with only their own country, originally the Empire's national power was stronger, and at that time the Kingdom of Forest which had lost territory to the Kingdom of Cascade and was weakened, there was no option to fight the Empire.
An envoy conveying that visited the Kingdom of Cascade, and finally the King had to make a decision.
Again the King huddled heads with the Chancellor.
"What do you think will happen if we abandon the Kingdom of Forest?"
"Next will be our country, won't it? They will use the same excuse to start a war."
"If that happens, we will fight the Empire, but if we follow the Kingdom of Forest's request and face the Empire, what then? Do you think our army can win?"
"Domestically, we have deployed railway networks in preparation for the Empire. However, beyond the Kingdom of Forest, there is none, so defending the Kingdom of Forest or invading the Empire will be strict. We will have to make a strategy centering on His Excellency Archibalt, but if we don't consider the case where His Excellency leaves the front line, a war relying on one person is dangerous."
"We must also consider fighting with only the national army, the western region noble alliance, and the Kingdom of Forest's army."
"Excluding His Excellency Archibalt, the outstanding combat power domestically would be about the wife, Queen of Sword, but since it's right after childbirth, she probably won't be combat power. After that, it's about sending Lord Oliver to the front line."
The Chancellor proposed sending Oliver to the front line. However, the King knew Daphne had more actual ability, and wanted to send Daphne to the front line rather than Oliver.
"The daughter is probably stronger."
"Because she is the Royal Guard Knights Order Commander, she cannot leave Your Majesty's side. Also, persuading House Stuart is a lot of trouble."
"That is so, but this is a major national matter. If the Royal Guard Knights Order Commander goes to the front line, Archibalt will also be easier to move. I heard recently he says prioritizing child-rearing and refusing other work, isn't that so? Even if he receives an attack order, he might leave without finishing until the end, but he cares about the Royal Guard Knights Order Commander in some way. Badly put, it becomes a method of taking the Royal Guard Knights Order Commander as a hostage at the front line and forcing participation in the war."
The King knew Steve was giving Daphne special training. Since the wife accompanies, it won't be an affair, but he felt something extraordinary in that handling. So, he thought of using Daphne in this war to stick Steve forcibly to the battlefield.
"In that case, shall we use the Empire's prince to gain the justification for a counter-invasion?"
"Yes. With current national power, we cannot annex the Empire. It is already rapidly expanding, and everywhere lacks talent. Like the Kingdom of Merda, keeping indirect influence through marriage perhaps. If we can win, though."
"It's a premise of 'if we can win', but what will we do with His Excellency Archibalt then? The Empire's threat will also disappear."
The Chancellor asked the King about Steve's handling after the war. If they win against the Empire, they cannot give nothing to Steve. However, if Steve is elevated to a hero and has ability, the Royal Family's position will become precarious.
The ideal is to win without using Steve, but in that case, they must prepare for massive losses. In the end, they have no choice but to use Steve's power, but the Chancellor could not judge what to do about the subsequent influence.
"He will have ability and national popularity will rise further. At that time, do you understand my feelings of being compared?"
"I understand."
"Well, if I cede the throne, it would be solved."
"Are you serious?"
"Half of it. However, he is bad at political maneuvering, so the country might be in turmoil. The country cannot be ruled by power alone. What I have done since the previous King was killed, I am confident only I could do it. No matter how cunning Sowell's daughter is, she could not have done the same. That can be said for Archibalt too."
"Then, shall we eliminate him?"
"If there is a way to eliminate someone who can win against the Empire, please tell me."
The King propped his cheek on his hand and looked at the Chancellor.
The Chancellor let out one sigh.
"I don't know if it will succeed, but there is only one thing."
"If that fails and my head is hung on the city gate, I reject it."
"There is no need to worry about that."
The Chancellor spoke that plan to the King. Then, the King also agreed.
"Let's think about doing that after winning against the Empire."
"First, after winning. I will arrange the audience with the Empire's prince."
Thus, Louis and the King's audience was set. The King and Chancellor, and Daphne and the Royal Guard Knights Order waited. At this time, the Kingdom of Cascade's policy was already decided, but the King and Chancellor did not show it at the audience venue at all.
Louis who came to the audience venue with Aurora bowed his head to the King.
"Thank you for granting permission for the audience."
"So, what business does the Empire's prince have?"
"To avenge my father, I wish to borrow Your Majesty's troops."
Louis conveyed directly without hiding the purpose.
"I also have experience of having my father, the previous King, killed by an enemy country. I understand the prince's feelings painfully, and I want to lend troops, but as a position ruling the country, if we send troops where there is no national benefit, some people will not agree."
The King replied.
In short, he asked what the return was.
"After avenging and taking back the imperial throne, I will do everything possible, but now there is nothing I can offer."
"So it is. We also have no intention of making excessive requests. As a sign of friendship between the two countries, could you not welcome our country's royal family as the main wife? Also, I think I want to deepen relations by abolishing tariffs in trade, but can detailed matters wait until after victory? I think the prince won't kick such requests."
"Of course. I will never forget the grace received."
For Louis, it was like handing over a blank authorization, but since he could do nothing more than that now, he accepted. He thought if he negotiated detailed conditions here and was rejected by the Kingdom of Cascade, it would be troublesome.
If he gave up his status as royalty and lived as one of the common people, there would be no problem, but doing so without avenging his father, he could not choose due to the education he had received until now.
"By the way, do you know these people?"
The King signaled the Chancellor, and the Chancellor brought a portrait. There, the faces of the criminals who attacked the King and Queen were drawn.
"One looks like our King of Wand. What are these people?"
"As expected. Actually, they are people who tried to target my life a little while ago. Was it the Empire's instigation?"
At that fact, Louis panicked.
"The previous Emperor should not have done such a thing."
"I know. Probably, when chaos occurred inside the Empire, they wanted to seal our country's movements. With this, I also have an excuse to move troops."
Daphne who heard that exchange admired that her father's reading hit the mark. And she reflected on herself who didn't think that far.
"Your Majesty, in that case, for the search for the true culprit, the Royal Guard Knights Order also wants to move."
"That will be so. I rely on you."
"Yes."
Thus, the dispatch of the Royal Guard Knights Order was also decided.
Aurora foresaw war would happen, and was not surprised.
"Then Your Majesty, I will also prepare to move the army. However, how do you intend to cross the Kingdom of Forest or the Kingdom of Pinebay?"
"Actually, the day before yesterday, there was a contact from the Kingdom of Forest seeking protection. I intend to respond to this."
"Oh, that is new to me. If the Kingdom of Forest comes under protection, the western region will become peaceful, so it is extremely pleasant."
Aurora's "new to me" was a lie. She had grasped the Kingdom of Forest's movements beforehand. And, from the premonition of war, she had been proceeding with arrangements of supplies and people.
The King also grasped Aurora's movements like that, but continued the conversation without denying "new to me".
"That is so. I was thinking of listening to the Kingdom of Forest's wish and driving back the Imperial Army near the border, but hearing Prince Louis's wish, I thought of beyond that. Regional peace and stability is also my wish."
Hearing this exchange, Louis understood he was being used as an excuse for invasion of the Empire by the Kingdom of Cascade. Everything was a prepared scenario, and he was not forced but he moved according to that scenario himself. He felt a different terror from Steve in the King and Aurora.
However, he could no longer go back.
The die was cast.
"In that case, Lord Sowell. I want you to move first in the western region. Regarding other regions domestically, I will follow up as preparations are completed. Regarding supplies, I will send them from what is prepared here."
"If it is your command."
Aurora bowed her head politely to the King.
And, returning to Sowell Land, she issued mobilization orders to the nobles of the western region.
Thank you always for typo reports.