Chapter 442 - Episode 425: Secret Envoys
January of the seventh year of the Public Calendar, after the turn of the year. Noein's party visited Lichthagen, the royal capital of the Kingdom of Rhodeberg. To ensure the public did not notice that Grand Duke Arqvist had traveled to Lichthagen, they used a plain carriage without the Grand Ducal family crest, bringing only a limited retinue including Matilda and Pence.
The main highways of the Kingdom of Rhodeberg were well-maintained, and since snow rarely accumulated in the southern part of the Adleon continent even in winter, travel in the dead of winter was entirely feasible provided one used heating magic tools and high-quality cloaks.
That said, only a small number of wealthy individuals, starting with the high nobility, could afford such equipment, and even those people did not venture into winter travel for pleasure. Having completed a winter journey that could hardly be called enjoyable, Noein received a grand welcome at the royal castle of Lichthagen.
After being provided with the finest guest room and luxurious meals, and resting leisurely for a day, Noein was invited to a reception room the following day.
"Grand Duke Arqvist, first, let me apologize for calling for you so suddenly. I am sorry for forcing you to undertake a long journey in the dead of winter."
"Please do not concern yourself. If none other than Your Majesty calls for me urgently, I shall come at any time. The Grand Ducal House of Arqvist is a friend of the Rhodeberg Royal Family, after all."
Noein replied with a smile to Oscar, who wore an apologetic expression.
"And so, what is your business this time? To call for me in the form of a royal order to the Marquis of Bechtolsheim via oral transmission alone... I suspect it is a matter of great urgency."
"Yes... actually, there are people I want you to meet."
Hearing Oscar's words, Noein tilted their head slightly.
"Truthfully, I wanted you to rest leisurely for another day or two since you have just finished a long winter journey. However, the situation is urgent. I must have you meet these people as soon as possible."
"I see... Your Majesty, may I ask who these 'people you want me to meet' are?"
Noein asked, still not quite grasping the situation. To be summoned and made to meet someone so early in the new year—just how important a person was the counterpart? Noein could not imagine.
"Yes, of course. Those I want you to meet have come all the way from the Republic of Betumia."
"...!?"
There was a momentary pause before Noein understood Oscar's words, and Noein's eyes widened in surprise.
The Republic of Betumia. A great power far across the sea that had once launched a large-scale war of aggression against the Kingdom of Rhodeberg.
The Kingdom of Rhodeberg had repelled this invasion with all its might, using a strategy devised by Noein. This war had been the catalyst that led the Grand Duchy of Arqvist to achieve independence as a nation.
It has been seven years since the end of that great war, now called the "Betumia War." The noble factions in the southern part of the Kingdom of Rhodeberg have finally established a new balance and shown stability, and society has been restored to a level similar to that before the war.
In the midst of this, people from the fateful Republic of Betumia had arrived. Noein could not help but be surprised and on guard.
"Does that mean an envoy from the Republic of Betumia has visited?"
Even so, why go through the trouble of summoning Noein to the royal castle to meet them? Noein harbored a doubt.
It wasn't that Noein lacked interest in visitors from the Republic of Betumia, but the counterpart's objective should be contact with Oscar, the King of Rhodeberg. Noein could not think of a reason why they would need to meet Noein—who had now become the ruler of another country—with such haste.
"No, the counterparts are not official envoys of the Betumia government... Grand Duke Arqvist. Do you have any recollection of a person named Irene Foster? I am told she is a general of the Republic of Betumia Army and its current supreme commander."
"...Yes, I know her. She was the front-line commander of the enemy unit that faced the Western Army I commanded during the Betumia War. We exchanged words directly."
Noein answered while recalling the face of the honest-looking female soldier.
The invasion by the Republic of Betumia Army had been wretched, but Irene Foster, whom Noein fought, was by no means a poor human being as a soldier. She seemed like a person with the pride of a warrior, and when they last spoke, she seemed to have been impressed by Noein's words.
"That General Irene Foster has personally sent secret envoys. Without the permission of the Betumia government, no less. However, we cannot judge whether these secret envoys were truly sent by General Foster. When we told them to prove their status..."
"...the secret envoys said that if they met me, I would know they are people close to General Foster, is that it?"
"As always, you are quick to perceive. That is correct."
Noein searched through their memories.
Noein remembered that there was always a middle-aged officer serving as an adjutant by Irene's side. He was a close relative, or rather, Noein recalled he called her "young lady." Most likely, that man would appear as one of the secret envoys.
"On our end, we wish to prove the status of these secret envoys immediately. Without further delay, I would like you to meet them now."
"I understand. I am also curious as to what kind of story these secret envoys have brought. Let us meet at once."
...
After leaving the reception room, Noein was guided by Oscar to another reception room. Upon entering that room—there were two men.
Six soldiers of the Rhodeberg Royal Guard were standing by in the room. Including Oscar's direct guards and Matilda and Pence who protected Noein, there were ten guards in total here.
On the other hand, there were no guards by the side of the men who claimed to be Irene's secret envoys. They were not armed either.
"Grand Duke Arqvist. These are the ones who claim to be secret envoys of General Irene Foster, the supreme commander of the Republic of Betumia Army... They said you would understand if you faced them. Well, how is it?"
"...That gentleman there. He is the person who served as the adjutant to General Foster, who was the Great Legion Commander at the time of the Betumia War. There is no mistake."
Noein spoke while looking at the middle-aged man among the two secret envoys.
The face of the man before them was certainly the same as Irene's adjutant in Noein's memory. He had aged somewhat over these seven years, but there was no mistaking him.
"Your Excellency Grand Duke Arqvist, it has been a long time. I am George Foster, former adjutant to Her Excellency General Irene Foster. I am General Foster's uncle... and this is Lord Norman Foster. He is General Foster's younger brother."
George Foster, who bowed to Noein, indicated the other secret envoy—a youth who looked to be in his twenties—with his hand and spoke.
Norman Foster, who bowed his head to Noein after the introduction, looked very much like Irene. To the extent that one could realize they were siblings at a single glance.
Being looked at by Oscar as if questioning the truth, Noein nodded.
"They certainly look alike. Unless they found and brought a person with a similar appearance from somewhere, there is no mistake that he is General Foster's younger brother... seeing that Lord George, who was her adjutant, has visited like this, it seems there is no need to worry about a similar-looking stranger."
"I see. There is no end to it if we suspect forever. For now, let us believe in the status of these two."
He concluded that the two of them were direct secret envoys of General Irene Foster. After hearing Oscar's decision, Noein returned their gaze to them.
"Even so, you said 'former' adjutant of General Foster... did you resign from the position of adjutant?"
From his appearance, George looked to be in his fifties or sixties. It was an age where it would not be strange if he had retired from military service.
"In the Republic of Betumia, it is recorded that I have already died in an accident."
George answered when asked. Hearing that, Noein felt a slight surprise and raised an eyebrow.
"This Lord Norman is also a soldier, but it is recorded that he is suffering from a severe illness and is recuperating at the Foster family's main residence. We have also obtained a medical certificate refusing visitors from the doctor employed by the Foster family. The only ones who know that we are visiting the Kingdom of Rhodeberg as secret envoys of Her Excellency General Foster are the General herself and a very small number of people in the Foster family, such as my wife."
"...I see."
A person who is officially dead, and a person who cannot appear in public due to illness. Even while being people close to Irene, the background had been arranged so that coming here secretly would not be a problem. Noein understood it as such.
Seeing that he was not surprised by George's explanation, it seemed Oscar had already heard this story.
"And so, you who were sent by General Foster even to the point of deceiving the military and government of the Republic of Betumia... just what kind of story have you come to deliver?"
When Noein questioned them, George and Norman looked at each other and nodded slightly, and Norman was the one to open his mouth.
"We have come to inform you of a plan for a re-invasion of the Kingdom of Rhodeberg by the Republic of Betumia Army."
Actually, I am writing a new work.
I want to start posting it within this month (my style is to push myself by making a declaration).
Please be assured that the posting pace of this work will not change.