Episode 83: Diplomatic Talks
Since then, I’d been playing around with Yuri-san every day, and I finally got summoned by Pops.
However, it wasn’t for a lecture about my playing around.
“The date and time for the talks with Lestall is approaching. We’re leaving as early as today, but have you gathered your thoughts?”
I’d heard we were departing today, but I’m going too?
“Huh? People like Pops and the Duke are going, so am I really needed?”
I asked, but apparently, they had specifically requested me by name.
I was the one who proposed it, so if they ask me to come, of course I’ll go. Figuring I’d mostly just be listening anyway, I agreed.
“You can basically leave it to us, but if you feel something is really off, you can speak up honestly.”
So, he told me to gather my thoughts, and that was the end of the conversation.
It seemed like I could bring Yuri-san along, so I felt relieved. When I returned to my room and asked her, she agreed without a second thought.
“Alright, a trip to the Royal Capital! Since we have the chance, let’s enjoy it.”
“Yes! Ehehe, I’m so happy I get to go with you!”
And so, I went to her house, visited some shops to prepare, and when I returned, everything was already prepared. Of course it was. I guess I only needed to go to Yuri-san’s house.
Well, as long as it’s in storage, it won’t be in the way, I thought as I boarded the Beast-Drawn Cart.
The Familiars were the two of them, Raku and Fuu. I chose them, thinking they’d be happy.
As expected, they looked eager to get going.
Conversely, Pops and the others looked a little uneasy watching them, as if wondering if it would be alright.
The members attending the meeting were familiar faces. My Pops the King, Prime Minister Duke Fastall, Marquis Urbain, and me.
Of course, since the King was going out, an escort of twenty high-ranking Knights was in place.
“Rui, Fuu-chan is working hard pulling! She’s a good girl!”
“That’s right. Raku is also doing a great job.”
And so, we praised the two of them like parents cheering on their children.
The only flaw was that they seemed to hear us and would get excited, trying to pick up speed.
“Hey, isn’t that too fast?”
“Raku! You’re too fast!”
“Shouting from here won’t work. Oh, wait, he slowed down…”
“Fuu-chan is amazing too! She listens properly!”
For some reason, Yuri-san, who wasn’t timid around Pops, started boasting about Fuu.
He seemed to have just learned that they were Familiars we had raised since they were babies, and saying something like, “To get them so attached, you’ve done well,” he roughly patted Yuri-san’s head.
And so, our journey, filled with everyone chatting idly, continued for three days.
“But still, Raku and Fuu are fast. It usually takes another day…”
After leaving the town, we let them run as they pleased, so they really picked up speed depending on their mood. Thanks to that, we apparently arrived early. Pops praised them while stretching.
The two of them also seemed satisfied from running so much.
They came up to us wanting praise, so Yuri-san and I petted them.
“There, there, there, you did a great job! Amazing!”
“Fuu-chan, you were wonderful! So cute, so cute!”
As the two of us were petting them all over, one of the escorting Knights stopped us.
It was about time to head inside.
This wasn’t a castle but a mansion. I wonder if this means it’s an unofficial meeting.
We entrusted Raku and the others to the Knights and headed inside ourselves.
In the room we were led to, their dignitaries and King were already seated.
“King Lestall, thank you for the invitation. I am King Royce von Belfast of Belfast. We look forward to productive discussions today.”
“Mm. Welcome. First, everyone, please be seated. After that, we will introduce ourselves in turn.”
After Pops shook hands, the Duke and others also shook hands with the surrounding dignitaries before taking their seats.
Once everyone had introduced themselves, the conversation moved to the main topic.
“Now, regarding the main topic, we also held a meeting and discussed Prince Rui’s proposal. And the result was that it was deemed to have too many disadvantages, so we cannot accept it as is. However, there were also opinions that it would be a waste to end things here.”
He certainly said that. They’ve provided a place for discussion, so I have no complaints, I thought, giving a nod.
After that, King Lestall asked how things were on our side.
“Our side has also come to a point where it’s worth discussing, more or less. There were some who were indignant about the Breach of Treaty, but when I spoke of King Lestall’s consideration, they calmed down a bit. However, is the sticking point still the matter of Lease?”
“Indeed, it is. So, do you have an alternative proposal?”
Even knowing it will eventually lead to war, they can’t pull the trigger, huh?
My thinking was too naive.
“Let’s see… Conversely, we could protect Lease, but even if we form an alliance, there’s a big concern about whether it would be upheld. That’s why we wish for you to take Lease. What about that? Can you provide a reason to believe it will be upheld?”
“And, what’s in it for us? Certainly, the Empire is a threat to both our countries. I also wish for us to defend against it together. However, currently, only your side is at war. Without anything in return, even I, the King, cannot unite my country on this.”
Pops nodded, saying, “Well… the nobles who would be sending out soldiers wouldn’t agree to that, would they?” and sent a glance towards Duke Fastall.
“If it were the entire northern region of Mildrad, would your opinion still not change? We would conquer it and hand it over to you…”
“So you’ve decided to advance after all… Hmm, indeed, that would be material to make them accept. What do you think?”
And so, King Lestall passed the ball to Prime Minister MacDowell.
“The north, you say… Even considering our breach of faith, it’s still slightly unbalanced. However, if you’re willing to go that far, then we too must consider it seriously. Instead of the north, how about Lease, Gerard, and Vent?”
Those are towns on the current border where Lestall faces Mildrad.
And they are relatively prosperous lands.
There was no doubt our profits would be meager.
“Hmm. In that case, we shall lean a little in your favor. The Imperial Army seems to have completely withdrawn. There shouldn’t be any soldiers left. Could we ask you to handle the pacification?”
“Hmm… We have also confirmed the absence of the Imperial Army, and considering it saves us the trouble of demonstrating our might, that extent is, well, reasonable. Your Majesty, may I proceed with finalizing the details?”
“Mm. However, King Royce, are you sure about this?”
King Lestall asked with a slightly surprised expression.
“Yes. Thanks to Rui, my eyes have been opened to many things. We’ve already discussed that we should seriously consider the future and compromise to that extent.”
“Goodness, my grandchild is also excellent, but yours is off the charts.”
“Ah, even I’m surprised, frankly. He’s so capable it’s almost too much. Hahaha.”
Please don’t laugh so genuinely dryly like that.
I’m not excellent at politics at all. Though I have a little confidence in combat now.
“From my perspective, he’s a distant figure to look up to…”
When I offered that correction, King Lestall laughed, “I see, so you were making him look bigger?”
Pops glared back with a “You rascal!” expression.
“Prince Rui, is that girl the one you wish to protect no matter what?”
“Yes… she is.”
It was embarrassing, so I really wished he hadn’t asked here, but he smiled and said, “I see, that’s good then,” and let it end there, so I replied curtly with “Yes.”
Yuri-san, as usual, turned bright red and was trying to hide her eyes with her hair.
Even during such idle chat, the offensive and defensive battle between Duke Fastall and Prime Minister MacDowell continued.
“If you include that, then add this.”
They were getting heated over discussions of mutual benefits related to trade, things completely unrelated to the war that would likely pass even if not discussed here.
And so, after discussing various hypothetical situations, they reached the conclusion that both sides would take the proposals back to their respective councils.
Since these were newly discussed matters, they apparently required scrutiny and couldn’t be decided on the spot.
However, since the Kings had agreed, it would likely pass unless there was a very strong reason against it.
And so, the talks between nations concluded without incident, and we set off on our return journey, with Duke Fastall explaining the intentions behind the content and the other side’s likely motives.
Actually, although they said they would conquer everything, it seems it would have been difficult in reality.
In terms of numbers, but mainly in terms of time.
Securing central Mildrad wouldn’t be a problem, but depending on the Empire’s movements, conquering the surrounding areas would be the most they could manage.
That’s why, although it looked like we compromised quite a bit in the discussion, it was apparently not a bad result.
Duke Fastall said it was such a great success that he slightly wondered why they accepted with so little.
However, it seems we also received restrictions on the reinforcement front, such as needing General Razbel and the Phoenix Unit, plus forty percent of our army, to participate as reinforcements.
This was likely because they understood from the information I conveyed and the soldiers’ reports just how terrifyingly strong the General’s unit was.
Another major development was that formal trade would now be opened with Belfast.
Until now, transactions similar to when it was Razbel had been overlooked, but since it’s a foreign country, tariffs and restrictions would normally apply. Mutually, that is.
This was the discussion about that.
They were pleased that tariffs could be mutually lowered, so it wouldn’t burden the populace.
It seems they were lowered a bit more than in the past.
Apparently, if they raise them too much, the economy slumps and tax revenue decreases, so that level is better.
However, if trade becomes too active, it’s apparently difficult to monitor and prevent necessary goods from flowing out too much.
And so, after spending three days studying with Yuri, I finally returned home.
And then, the other major hurdle – getting the terms I brought back approved in our country’s council meeting – passed smoothly without any particular objections.
Even those who had been indignant were, on the contrary, impressed, thinking, “Well, if that’s how it is.”
They were full of praise for the fact that this time, we had put them in the immediate line of fire.
With this, if we were betrayed, we could just abandon Lease and withdraw.
They breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that if the promise continued to be kept, we would likely reconcile as things stood.
Perhaps Pops also wished for that, as he ordered, “From this point on, bringing up the matter of the Breach of Treaty to Lestall is forbidden. You understand the reason, don’t you?”
Since he’d mentioned it was surprising that Duke Fastall had conceded to this extent, it probably also carried the meaning of an apology for the Breach of Treaty.
Although there were a few who looked unconvinced, quite a few voices were heard suggesting that perhaps they could believe it, as long as we actually went to war with the Empire.
“Hmm, so Royce has become a fine king, hasn’t he? Very well. I’ll swallow it this time,” Yunon-san declared to Pops, arms crossed.
“Elder sister, your time had stopped for a long while, and you weren’t present then, were you?”
“Even so, if I’d known, I would have been furious!”
“Hahaha, Elder Sister Yunon, it’s good that you haven’t changed at all…”
“What’s with that laugh!” Yunon-san fumed, but Pops just kept up his dry laughter the whole time.
From Pops’ perspective, who had faced a continuous series of tremendous hardships, Yunon-san’s anger probably seemed trivial.
However, that didn’t matter to her.
Squawking noisily, she kept snapping at Pops, who was laughing, “Hahahaha.”
“Honestly, Yunon… Oh my, Rui-sama, are you alone today? How about, after this…”
I didn’t know what “how about” she was referring to, but it felt dangerous, so I decided to make a run for it.
“My apologies. I have some business to attend to,” I said, dodging her and leaving the room.
If things were going to be like this, should I ask to have a seat set up for Yuri in the council chamber?
No, that would be bringing in too much personal stuff, wouldn’t it…
While wrestling with this dilemma, I tried consulting Yuri, but she advised against it, saying, “It’s better not to,” so I gave up.
But with this, could I assume I was free until the war with the Empire…?
If so, the two of us could go on a long trip or something, right?
I definitely have to go consult with Pops about this… And so, the two of us started hashing out the details for a trip that might not even happen.