Chapter 200 : Chapter 200

Chapter : 200

The ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍nobles responded immediately to the Duke of Bourgogne’s conduct as he ruled the capital with the sick King as his shield.

Especially ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍in the west.

-The ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Western Noble Coalition cannot trust the Duke of Bourgogne’s claims!

-What ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍we heard from Chancellor Richeléon and what the Duke of Bourgogne insists upon are different! We cannot acknowledge the central government—no, that puppet government they are dragging around!

-And ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍we cannot trust Crown Prince Charles I either. We will enthrone a new king of our own-!

With ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Chancellor Richeléon in their grasp, they formed a coalition among themselves and elevated the Elang King’s brother as their king.

Just as we had planned to raise Count Blois to the throne later.

From Crown Prince Charles I’s perspective, it must have been utterly absurd, but for us it was not.

It gave us another justification to use, and we were delighted.

-How dare you enthrone a new king. This is treason! The Western Noble Coalition must retract its claim at once! If not, we will send a punitive force!

We already wanted Legitimacy to be shattered, and those greedy fools had caused trouble first.

Thanks to them, we could move straight into the follow-up work.

Putting Count Blois into the Regency.

-We have realized that this crisis ultimately stems from His Majesty the King’s illness. Therefore, we elevate Count Blois, His Majesty’s elder brother, as Regent to act in His stead.

-Long live His Grace Regent Count Blois!

Was it not a splendid pretext?

The western nobles, together with the traitor Richeléon, had enthroned a new king, so to quell the chaos, the center would appoint a regent.

Of course, we did not stop there. The next step was to cement the vacant position of Crown Prince.

-And since His Majesty’s condition is poor, we must swiftly fill the vacant position of Crown Prince.

-I, this duke, hereby recommend Count Blois, now the Regent, for that position. To that end, we will reconvene the kingdom’s Estates-General, so all nobles must attend the capital to vote.

It was like roasting beans over a flash of lightning.

Before anyone could even grasp what was happening, one enormous issue after another unfolded with dizzying speed.

-What in the world does this mean?

-Why is the west suddenly committing treason by enthroning a king?

-And Crown Prince Charles I is a traitor?

-Choosing a new Crown Prince? What nonsense is this! We cannot accept it. The Duke of Bourgogne must provide proper information.

The nobles of the Elang Kingdom found it difficult to understand the situation at all.

And no wonder—events that would shake the kingdom’s political order were erupting in succession within less than a month.

And on top of that—

-They are all traitors!

-I, Charles I, the true and rightful heir of the Elang Kingdom, demand their punishment. Nobles, rise up against those traitors! Come to me. Fight with me.

With Crown Prince Charles I, who had withdrawn back to the southwest, rallying power under such claims, the situation grew even more complex.

Who was lying?

The Crown Prince? The Western Noble Coalition backed by Richeléon? Or the Duke of Bourgogne, who held the King?

In this chaos, where choosing the wrong side could destroy their house, the nobles had no choice but to be cautious—cautious to the point of exhaustion.

But the confusion did not last long before it began to settle.

Because—

-The Holy See supports Count Blois’s enthronement as Crown Prince. Once the decision is made at the Elang Kingdom’s Estates-General, we will dispatch a bishop to bless the inauguration ceremony.

-And the Holy See will fairly oversee the Estates-General of the Elang Kingdom.

The Holy See had publicly declared its stance and bestowed its intervention.

-???!?!?

-?????????

For Crown Prince Charles I, it must have been beyond absurd.

Still, the Holy See’s intervention—

It was wholly unexpected, but in a situation like this, it was also strangely necessary.

When everyone’s Legitimacy had collapsed under the weight of repeated crises, an external, powerful endorsement was naturally needed. And the authority of the Holy See, rooted in deep faith, was not something anyone could easily dismiss.

-Th-this is interference in our internal affairs!

-Impossible. How dare the Holy See involve itself in the affairs of the Elang Kingdom?

So the Western Noble Coalition and Crown Prince Charles I foamed with outrage as they denounced the Holy See, but it was already too late.

-We will hold the Estates-General in the capital.

-Since the Holy See guarantees it, all nobles of the kingdom must come to the capital at once. We will hear arguments on this agenda.

With greater authority than ever, we could force the Estates-General forward.

Of course, the nobles of the southwest—occupied by the Western Noble Coalition and Crown Prince Charles I—did not participate at all, but what did it matter?

Most of the remaining members participated, meeting the quorum required for the Estates-General.

Producing the result we wanted—especially the result the Duke of Bourgogne wanted—was not difficult.

-Thump. Thump. Thump.

And so—

-By the vote of this Estates-General, we hereby proclaim that the Regent, Count Blois, has become the new Crown Prince of the Elang Kingdom.

-May God bless Crown Prince Blois!

As always, the end of all these events flowed exactly as I intended.

Three kings. Three powers.

The Elang Kingdom had truly reached a point of no return.

---

“Tsk, tsk. It has truly become regrettable.”

“Hm? Do you mean Crown Prince Charles I?”

“Yes. He lost all his power and was driven out overnight. If the King knew of this, he would have fainted on the spot.”

Magician Agpiel clicked his tongue as he spoke. He did not seem to like how things were unfolding.

He appeared to feel genuine pity for the Crown Prince, who had lost everything to intrigue in a single instant. I merely shrugged at his words.

“Still, Crown Prince Charles I has power in the southwest, does he not? It is inaccurate to say he lost everything, Magician Agpiel.”

“Bah. You will only help the Duke of Bourgogne crush him soon enough.”

“Hm? No.”

Crush him?

Why would I do that?

“What? You will not?”

“Yes, Magician Agpiel. I would prefer the kingdom to maintain balance as it is.”

“What are you saying…?”

“If the kingdom is split into three and they snarl at one another, they cannot focus elsewhere, can they? A proper balance. That is what I want.”

If someone rose with overwhelming power, it would not be good for me.

The reason I was struggling in this world of [Pangea Universalise] was to clear that damned quest and return home.

Become the greatest house.

To do that, it was best for my competitors to weaken—and for them to remain locked in balance, unable to devour one another completely.

Look.

Already, the Crown Prince—no, the deposed Charles I—had rallied all the nobles of the southwest and expanded into the central-southern region, forming a single vast power.

He was not an easy opponent.

Considering Charles I’s talent, handing him an intact kingdom was out of the question. But neither could I support the Duke of Bourgogne. Why would I support a man who already possessed power on the scale of a kingdom?

“Hoh…. Do you mean…?”

Only then did Magician Agpiel understand my suspicions, and he clicked his tongue again.

“You really are a fox. A fox…. Are you trying to make yourself the balancer among them?”

“Yes, Magician Agpiel.”

Our old man truly understood quickly.

“I intend to keep the balance from behind so those three forces cannot rashly move against one another. Heh heh heh…. I would like the kingdom to remain as it is.”

“…….”

Ah. Had I laughed too slyly?

Magician Agpiel’s expression was strangely hard to read.

“Why… are you looking at me like that, Magician Agpiel?”

“It is because I think you will suffer a painful lesson someday. A fox’s trick is useful, but do you think your opponents cannot do the same?”

“Hm?”

Was he warning me?

Had I overlooked something?

“Is there something bad you foresee, Magician Agpiel?”

“Hm. Enough. Our clever fox, the Margrave of Bellua, will handle it, will he not?”

“Magician Agpiel, do not do that. Please tell me.”

“Well. I do not know, do I? Think of it as the rambling of an old man. Ha ha ha.”

“Magician Agpiel!”

With that, Magician Agpiel waved his hand as though amused and left the room.

“Grr.”

I watched his back and sighed.

For a man his age, he truly loved his jokes.

“Still, he will tell me before something happens….”

Given his personality, he was only teasing me; he would not truly ignore it. He would tell me eventually.

‘Even so, I should figure it out myself.’

Was it not better to anticipate something, rather than be struck by it without warning?

But the problem was—

“Hm. I do not know. What is the problem? What is he worried about? That I am not the only one who uses a fox’s tricks?”

Of course, those I had struck would scheme just as slyly as I did. There was logic in that, but what form would it take?

As I sat there, grinding my mind with curiosity—

-Knock, knock.

A servant knocked at the door outside.

“Your Excellency, a guest has come.”

“A guest?”

“Yes. The Duchess of Aquitaine has come to see you. How shall I announce her?”

‘Huh?’

The Duchess of Aquitaine?

Why her?

Why would she suddenly come to see me?

It was an entirely unexpected visit.

---

“It has been a long time.”

“Yes. It has been a long time, Your Grace Duchess Maceania of Aquitaine. You grow more beautiful by the day.”

“Ho ho. Your tongue is still smooth.”

Duchess Maceania of Aquitaine looked quite fatigued as she entered the room.

Naturally. She had finished the Estates-General and seen the King’s condition with her own eyes. No matter how much she had fallen out with her father, the King, blood was blood. Seeing that blood relative—seeing that he was little different from a dead man—had to be painful in many ways.

“Are you all right?”

“With what? Ah. My father? Well… it hurts to see him, but I am fine. If anything, it is his own doing. Who told him to be so greedy?”

“Ah….”

For a moment, her words were so harsh they bordered on an insult to a parent, and I was struck dumb. I had never imagined she would speak so viciously.

“Why? Did you want me to clutch my fallen father’s hand and weep?”

“Haha…. No, that is not it, Your Grace Duchess Maceania of Aquitaine.”

“Hmph.”

At my excuse—if it could be called that—Duchess Maceania of Aquitaine snorted and snapped her fan open.

“I have many people I am responsible for now. I cannot afford to show weakness. You are the same, are you not?”

“Oh….”

She truly had changed.

To speak so clearly and decisively.

Had she read my thoughts?

-Snap.

She closed her fan and stepped closer to me.

“Hm, what are you doing?”

“I want to look at your face for a moment.”

“Hm…. And why would you…?”

Why was she staring at me so intently, as though she meant to bore through me?

And she was beautiful enough that meeting her eyes was difficult.

“Hmhm. Good.”

“Good?”

Her words remained incomprehensible. But Duchess Maceania of Aquitaine continued as though she had no intention of clearing it up.

“You said it before, did you not? If you want to change the situation, you have to arrange the board in your favor. Is that correct?”

“Ah… yes, that is correct.”

“Good. That is why I came. That is why I looked you over. Even if it is necessary, I still think… you have to suit my taste.”

“??”

It sounded as though she was explaining, but it only became more baffling.

This woman—

What was she saying?

Perplexed, I slowly brought my lips to the cup on the table, intending to shift the atmosphere.

And in that instant, Duchess Maceania of Aquitaine’s neat lips twitched slightly.

“Let us get married.”

“Puhup!”

It fell from her mouth without hesitation.

“C-cough—kgh. What did you say?”

“I said let us get married. The two of us.”

No, damn it.

What in the world was she talking about?