Chapter 418 - Episode 401: Inner Thoughts
The night Noein and the others arrived at Saint-Frere, the royal capital of the Kingdom of Lancel. The dinner party, for which Anrietta had carved out time amidst her hectic schedule, was truly peaceful.
When it came to meals provided by the royal family, the quality was of the utmost excellence. Dishes were served with various creative touches that highlighted the ingredients, showcasing the culture of the Kingdom of Lancel and the royal family's financial power to Noein and Helga.
During the meal, they savored the food and warmed the atmosphere with idle conversation, while receiving explanations from Anrietta regarding the culinary culture of the Kingdom of Lancel. By the time they were drinking post-meal tea, the atmosphere had reached a point where Anrietta and Helga could exchange words without tension.
Once that was achieved, Helga brought up the subject once more.
"Your Majesty, thank you very much for inviting me to your country. I am proud to have become the representative of the Revelant royal family visiting your country for the first time."
"I am happy to hear you say that. For the Lancel royal family, it is a great joy to be able to establish a connection with the royal family of a new nation in this way."
As expected, Anrietta was welcoming Helga and the Revelant royal family, at least politically. Thinking this, Noein decided to join the conversation.
"Since my request for Her Highness Helga to attend the wedding reception was sudden, I was concerned that I might have asked too much of Your Majesty Anrietta... but I am glad as the one who facilitated the conversation that Her Highness's wish has been granted."
It was an extremely roundabout way of presenting the question: "Why did the royal family of the Kingdom of Lancel, which persecutes beastmen, accept the representative of the King of the Kingdom of Revelant, a beastman nation?"
Whether she picked up on the meaning Noein embedded in his words or not, Anrietta spoke immediately, without appearing particularly flustered or intimidated.
"Since Princess Helga offered her attendance and we received the mediation of Grand Duke Arqvist, the Lancel royal family cannot fail to respond to that. In the coming era, having connections with wider regions and more countries is indispensable for the peace and development of the Kingdom of Lancel. Of course, since diverse histories, societies, and cultures exist in each country, it is not always the case that values can be shared... but I believe it is extremely important to have many friendly nations with whom we can achieve mutual benefit by joining hands. I would be happy if we could become such friendly nations with the Kingdom of Revelant from now on."
In Anrietta's words, Noein could discern her will that the disparity between races within the Kingdom of Lancel and diplomacy were separate matters.
Even if the opponent was a beastman nation, she would build a cooperative relationship just as she would with other nations, join hands where possible, and share profits. At the very least, she would make that effort.
However, this came with the condition that the opposing country would not easily interfere in the treatment of beastmen within the Kingdom of Lancel...
Noein understood that this response from Anrietta, who chose her words as round-about as Noein himself, was her will as Queen.
Considering the feelings of the nobles and citizens of the Kingdom of Lancel toward beastmen, just because this country would have diplomatic relations with a beastman nation from now on did not mean it would suddenly adopt tolerant policies toward the beastmen within the country. Looking at Anrietta personally, since she had also grown up in the Kingdom of Lancel, she likely wasn't particularly kind to beastmen either.
Considering the situation of this country, Anrietta's attitude could be called sufficiently moderate toward the royalty of a beastman nation under the current circumstances.
Seeing how words that clearly defined the position of the Kingdom of Lancel came out fluently with such moderate word choices, she had likely thought of the answers in advance, anticipating this kind of conversation. Noein felt Anrietta's steady growth as a monarch.
"I thank Your Majesty for your generous thoughts. We shall also make efforts so that the Kingdom of Revelant can become a good friendly nation to the Kingdom of Lancel."
When Noein glanced at Helga as she spoke, she also seemed to understand the meaning contained in Anrietta's words.
Anrietta showed a satisfied smile that her true intentions had been conveyed, and then a tinge of sadness entered that expression.
"...Besides, last year, because the Kingdom of Lancel's connections to the northern part of the Adleon continent were few, I was unable to stop the rampage of my brother, who was once the king of this country, and I felt frustrated. As a younger sister, it makes me sad that my brother caused turmoil in the northern part of the continent and ended up becoming an enemy of the Kingdom of Revelant."
Due to her position as the Queen of Lancel, Anrietta could not easily say "I apologize for the rampage of Cadne, who teamed up with the Kingdom of Virgo." These were likely the most she could say.
"The actions of Lord Cadne Lancel after being exiled from the country carry his own personal responsibility. Since he took responsibility through defeat and death, our country has nothing to say to the Kingdom of Lancel."
Even if the Kingdom of Revelant tried to hold the Kingdom of Lancel responsible for Cadne's rampage, the Kingdom of Lancel would likely not respond. Since there was an overwhelming difference in power as nations, it would be impossible for the Kingdom of Revelant to force the Kingdom of Lancel to take responsibility through strength. It would only make the relationship between the two hostile.
If that were the case, it was more beneficial to limit the mention of things that had already ended to this extent and make the future relationship with the Kingdom of Lancel a friendly one. Such a thought was likely embedded in Helga's words.
"I am glad you say so... Please let me thank His Excellency Arqvist once more. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for sending my brother's head to me."
Cadne had usurped the throne, caused chaos in the Kingdom of Lancel, and produced many victims both domestically and abroad. For the Kingdom of Lancel, while seeing the head to confirm his death had meaning, they should not be able to publicly mourn him as a member of the royal family.
Still, to Anrietta, he was a brother who shared the same father and mother. While Cadne had murdered the elder princes, he had left only Anrietta alive. When she was young, there must have been peaceful interactions as siblings.
That was why Anrietta deliberately used the phrasing "to me," indicating that this statement was a personal expression of gratitude. Understanding this, Noein spoke.
"I am glad if receiving your brother's remains has brought even a little peace to Your Majesty's heart."
Before him was Helga, whose country had been ravaged by Cadne, and Noein himself had a past where his people were killed by Cadne's army, so he could not possibly pray for his soul's repose.
However, he could not deny Anrietta's longing for her deceased brother or the good memories she held of him in her heart. Noein himself had carried out atrocious ways of fighting and created much misfortune both directly and indirectly, yet he continued to enjoy much love.
Hearing Noein's words, Anrietta cast her eyes down for a moment.
The dinner party by the representatives of the three nations ended quite peacefully, although political colors were intertwined due to their respective positions.
.....
The grounds of the royal castle, the residence of the Lancel royal family, were not as large in area as the royal castle of the Kingdom of Rhodeberg, but they still possessed considerable size.
The main building combined the functions of an executive government and a home for the royal family. There was an annex for housing guests. In addition, there were several small buildings given various purposes, as well as barracks, warehouses, stables, fields, and several gardens.
In the highest-ranking room among several halls in the main building of the royal castle, many nobles had gathered.
All of them were attendees of the wedding reception of Queen Anrietta Lancel, the current monarch of the Kingdom of Lancel. They were the leading figures within the Kingdom of Lancel, or monarchs and representatives of surrounding countries.
Important figures of this region were gathered in one place, and—though their inner thoughts differed—on the surface, they were brightly celebrating the marriage of Anrietta and her royal consort, Klaus Rhodeberg.
"King Oscar, Queen Ingrid. I offer my heartfelt congratulations on the marriage of your son."
A short while ago, Anrietta, with Klaus by her side, had declared the start of the reception, and now they were in the midst of a barrage of greetings throughout the hall. The first people Noein visited to greet were the parents of Klaus, one of today's protagonists: Oscar Rhodeberg III and his wife, Ingrid.
Since it was an important marriage uniting the royal families of two of the leading great powers in the southern Adleon continent, they had both visited from the Kingdom of Rhodeberg to witness their second son's big stage.
"I thank you, Lord Arqvist. It has been a while, but I am glad to see you are doing well."
"I am happy that we could welcome this auspicious day together. It is a pity I could not meet Clara-san, however..."
"I left the government affairs to my wife, so I apologize that I could not bring her. She said she also wanted to meet Your Highness."
They exchanged greetings and then engaged in small talk for a while. Spending a certain amount of time on the conversation was also an appeal to show those around them how close the Grand Ducal House of Arqvist was to the Rhodeberg royal family.
"Even so, Prince Klaus seems to have become completely open with Her Majesty Anrietta."
Where Noein directed his gaze, there were Anrietta and Klaus, leaning close to each other affectionately while receiving greetings from the attendees.
Anrietta was still young as a monarch, but she seemed more accustomed to this barrage of greetings than Klaus, who had hardly appeared in the social circles of the Kingdom of Rhodeberg, and she seemed to be handling the greetings smoothly while skillfully supporting her younger royal consort.
"Yes. Queen Anrietta also seems to have become much more composed and accustomed to her position compared to before. If that's the case, Klaus should be able to get along well as a royal consort. I was a little worried if he could handle such a job... but in the end, it seems it turned out well."
As Oscar said, for royalty and nobility, marriage is also a job.
The reputation of Klaus, whose appearance gave a softer impression than his father Oscar or brother Lucas, was that he was intelligent but honest and gentle, with a slightly shy personality... Because he had a deep knowledge of the arts, he could become a patron of culture, but on the other hand, he was seen as someone who was clearly not suited for violent affairs or political struggles.
The role of a royal consort marrying into the Queen of an important friendly nation is a difficult balance. In that regard, Klaus, who was intelligent enough to perform royal duties but not a worry for overstepping politically, had high aptitude. In terms of personality, since he was getting along with Anrietta, who had been raised elegantly as a daughter of a royal family, Oscar's temporary relief was natural.
"With this, I believe the friendship between the Kingdom of Rhodeberg and the Kingdom of Lancel will be maintained for a long time. As the lord of the Grand Duchy of Arqvist, which is located between the two countries, it is most pleasing."
Oscar nodded at Noein's words, and then lowered his gaze toward Eleos, who was standing quietly beside Noein.
"With this, if the marriage between my youngest daughter and your son is accomplished, the peace of the west of the Kingdom of Rhodeberg will be almost certain. I wonder when that will be..."
"Dear, that is surely a story for ten years from now."
"Hm? Is that so... Perhaps it's because I've grown older than before, but I seem to be in a rush lately."
Oscar laughed softly at Ingrid, who had pointed it out with a wry smile. Noein also responded with a smile.
"Well then, I shall conclude my greetings for now. It seems I am being glared at by the other attendees."
Oscar and his wife Ingrid, the parents of the royal consort and monarchs of a great power, were people that everyone would want to greet. Noein knew that the royalty and nobility who had not yet finished their greetings to the two were mindful of him.
Noein bowed respectfully and left Oscar and the others, and the banquet continued thereafter.