Chapter 210 - Chapter 203: Coincidence and Misunderstanding
Realizing the other party's identity, Noein naturally braced himself and took a step back. He couldn't risk the man suddenly attacking him, shouting something like, "This is for what happened back then!"
However, the envoy showed no sign of hostility toward Noein. A few seconds passed in silence.
"...Lord Arqvist, what is the meaning of this?"
Count Marcel asked, unable to grasp the situation.
"Uh, well, this envoy here... during the great war on the southwestern border three years ago, he belonged to a Lancel Kingdom military unit that invaded Barrel Fortress, where I was stationed. Therefore, at that time, I fought with the envoy,"
"And in the course of that battle, I became a prisoner of war. That was when I came face-to-face with him. My, I thought I had been forgotten, but it is a stroke of luck that you remembered me."
Whether it was a jab at Noein for not noticing immediately or simply intended as teasing, the envoy interjected with a smile, casting his gaze toward Noein. In response, Noein's face stiffened further.
From the other man's perspective, Noein was the brat who had driven an arrow into his foot and put him through something akin to torture; meanwhile, for Noein, the man was just some middle-aged guy he no longer had any use for once the information had been extracted. He wished the man would be as forgiving as he was regarding the failure to recognize his face.
Both Yuri and Matilda had seen this envoy's face alongside Noein back then. That was precisely why they had been wary, fearing the man was using his position as an envoy to approach Noein and plot revenge. Noein understood that feeling. In fact, Noein had just imagined the same thing.
On the other hand, Radley and Rick, who had been stationed at Aspida Fortress, had stayed behind within the territory during the great war three years ago. It was only natural that no one had noticed the relationship between the envoy and Noein until this point.
"Despite capturing me as a prisoner, he released me immediately after extracting the necessary information... Thanks to that, I returned to my home country alive, and I am now able to serve as an envoy."
The reason Noein had released him back then was simply that the fortress had no leeway to keep prisoners, but the envoy spoke as if he had received a great kindness from Noein. He deliberately omitted the matter of the interrogation. Was this some kind of trap?
"...At the time, due to my own desperation, I conducted a somewhat rough interrogation. My apologies."
Therefore, Noein decided to bring up the matter himself. He didn't want the other party to bring it up later and disrupt the pace of the conversation.
"No, no, that was in the midst of war. Had I been in the same position, I would have done something similar to keep my subordinates alive. No apology is necessary... rather, I feel I should be the one thanking you."
"...Thanking me?"
When Noein made a puzzled face, the envoy nodded, still in high spirits.
"Indeed. After that great war ended, I was granted a reward as a contributor. As a 'hero who was captured alone in enemy territory and returned alive despite his injuries.' Well, there was a large aspect of the fact that a hero's tale was needed to clear the air while morale was greatly diminished due to our defeat... but thanks to that, I became somewhat well-known within the country. This time, I was granted the great role of envoy."
"...I see."
It finally clicked. Thinking this, Noein replied.
In short, he had been used as propaganda to dilute the mood of defeat from three years ago. The man himself seemed to consider it good fortune. To him now, Noein was a benefactor who had given him honor in exchange for a moment of pain.
Noein finally began to feel that the other party had not come here to harm him.
"I did not participate in last year's imperial progress, but I heard that there was a counterattack by golems, so I suspected that you might have been in the Lordberg Kingdom's interception unit... but I never imagined you were the lord of this land himself. This reunion is truly a mere coincidence. Please be assured that I have absolutely no intention of coming here to seek revenge against you."
As he spoke, the envoy looked not only at Noein but also at Yuri and Matilda.
"The actions of your guards were due to their wonderful memories and their loyalty in wanting to protect their lord at all costs. These two should be praised, not punished. What happened just now was simply an unfortunate misunderstanding."
The envoy concluded his speech. With his arms spread wide, he was completely defenseless; if Noein felt like it and gave the order, Yuri could cut him down in less than a second. At this point, it would be impossible to claim he was still hiding hostility.
After an indescribable atmosphere drifted through the conference room for a while—
"...I see. So that was the case. In that case, we have no reason to be hostile."
"...I am glad the misunderstanding has been cleared. Let us take our seats and begin the discussion quickly."
"...I am grateful for your consideration. My apologies. I would very much like to start over."
The deputy commander, Count Marcel, and Noein spoke.
Yuri and Matilda glanced at each other for a moment, then straightened their posture and gave a slight silent bow to the envoy. Even if the situation had been what it was, they had been rude by unilaterally suspecting a foreign envoy, and above all, their own lord had apologized, so they had no choice but to bow.
"Yes, let us do so. I must fulfill my duties as an envoy as well."
The envoy also said this and returned to his seat, with a civil official and a military official sitting on either side of him.
Opposing them, on the Lordberg Kingdom side, Count Marcel sat in the center, the deputy commander to his right, and Noein to his left. While it would have been fine for Noein, the lord of this land, to be in the center, this seating arrangement was chosen because Noein would seem unreliable as the center of a meeting that required a strong-willed response.
However, Noein felt displeased, feeling that because of himself, the atmosphere of the room had somehow fallen into the other party's pace.
As Noein was thinking this,
"Now then,"
Count Marcel said. It was just a single phrase to begin the discussion. However, the atmosphere changed with that voice.
He hadn't raised his voice. He wasn't blatantly glaring at the opponent. However, something that could be described as neither bloodlust nor ambition was contained in the Count's voice. Noein's hand twitched for a moment at the pressure that reached him even while sitting next to him.
The somewhat relaxed atmosphere from a moment ago changed completely just by Count Marcel's voice. Was this the presence possessed by the greatest warrior in the northwestern part of the kingdom? Noein thought from the bottom of his heart that it was good they had the Count sit in the center. He could never produce such pressure himself.
"Let us begin immediately. First, we must introduce ourselves. I am Edmund Marcel, a commander of the Bezel Great Forest Garrison. I have been granted the rank of Count by the Lordberg Royal Family."
Following Count Marcel, the deputy commander and Noein also introduced themselves. Next, the Lancel Kingdom side introduced themselves.
"...I am Clovis Bartholomew, a noble of the Lancel Kingdom. I have been granted the rank of Baron by the Lancel Royal Family."
The envoy, who looked slightly overwhelmed, revealed his name, followed by the civil and military officials. Both of these two were lower-ranking nobles.
"Then, let us hear the requirements of the Lancel Kingdom. For what purpose did you send an envoy, and what do you demand of us?"
Just as the envoy—Baron Bartholomew—was about to start speaking after the introductions, Count Marcel asked first. He maintained the pressure from before.
Facing Count Marcel, who insisted on leading the conversation, Baron Bartholomew spoke after appearing flustered for a moment again.
"...Then I shall speak. I have come today as a messenger for Her Highness Princess Henrietta Lancel. We, the Alliance of Nobles of the Princess's Faction, with Her Highness as our figurehead, propose a ceasefire to the Lordberg Kingdom from our position as those who should be the new bearers of the Lancel Kingdom's national administration."