by Ryota Hori
“Yes, I’ve successfully convinced three more to come to our side as of today. How did things go for you, Elnan?”
“I have convinced four thus far.” Count Zeleph answered Count Bergstone’s question while twirling his mustache. “And there are three more that just need another little push before they turn to our side.”
Count Bergstone responded to those words with a wry smile and a shake of the head.
“I suppose you win this wager...”
“Yes, so it seems.”
“Understood. I shall have my estate’s most treasured wine poured for you.”
“I look forward to it. I will come and bring my wife over when we can; I am sure she longs to see her sister again.” Count Zeleph said with a smile.
This man who spoke to Count Bergstone with something of an easygoing approach, owing to years of filial bonds, was count Elnan Zeleph. He was in his late thirties, with a prominent gut already beginning to conspicuously bulge from his belly— the very image of a middle-aged noble. If one were to imagine his appearance, one could say he best resembled a snowman wearing a blond wig.
But contrary to his sullen appearance, he was a fairly strong-minded man. If Count Bergstone were to be likened to a sharp blade, Count Zeleph was a heavy hatchet.
Like Count Bergstone, the late Marquis Ernest acknowledged his talents and offered him the hand of one of his daughters in marriage; after the overthrow of the marquis he’d bought Duke Gelhart’s ire, forcing him to live quietly in his territory for years. But a grudge against the duke who antagonized him all those years before likely burned strongly within his heart.
Along with Count Bergstone, he visited neutral nobles he was cordial with, and had gathered quite a few of them under the princess’s banner over the past month.
“I knew you two would be reliable, but I didn’t think we’d be seeing our efforts bear fruit so soon.”
Bergstone and Zeleph responded to Ryoma’s words by exchanging a look and smiling, as if to say this was the obvious result.
It hadn’t been a month since Count Bergstone swore fealty to Princess Lupis. Even if they merely rekindled grudges against the nobles’ faction which were already smoldering beneath the surface, the counts’ performance had yielded impressive results, in Ryoma’s opinion. But from their perspective, this was to be expected.
“This was only because you placed your trust in us, Sir Mikoshiba... Were we burdened by pointless limitations, even we wouldn’t be able to move too much.”
“Elnan speaks the truth... In the end, even the most refined, well-forged sword would be as trifling as a mountain of rusted blades should it go unused.”
Ryoma regarded their words with silence and a wry smile. Calling themselves refined blades felt like overblown confidence to Ryoma, but since they had achieved the great feat of bringing the neutral faction’s nobles to the side of the princess’s faction, Ryoma couldn’t complain very much.
And besides, their perception wasn’t wrong. No matter how much power one may have, it would mean nothing unless given a chance to be put to proper use. Some powers could only flourish in such a war-torn world. And some people cannot show their worth in an age of peace. Cao Cao, a hero of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, was once described as “a capable minister in peaceful times and an unscrupulous hero in chaotic times,” but not everyone can flourish in both peacetime and war. Ryoma Mikoshiba was one such example; until he was summoned to this world, he had merely been an ordinary high school student.
“Well, just watch for now. More and more nobles will swear their fealty to Princess Lupis going forward.”
“Elnan is right.” Count Bergstone nodded, reinforcing Count Zeleph’s words. “Many of the neutral faction’s nobles hold grudges against the nobles’ faction. If they learn of Duke Gelhart’s swindling, they won’t sit idly by and remain aligned with the nobles’ faction.”
The neutral faction’s nobles harbored heavy grudges, on account of being distanced from central politics for many years; ergo, when they realized they might be the ones to take over Rhoadseria’s political world once the nobles’ faction was purged, they would hurry to the capital with an earnestness one wouldn’t normally expect out of them in order to pledge their allegiance to Princess Lupis.
Grudge and profit. Those two emotions would make the neutral faction’s nobles rush to Princess Lupis’s side.
“On another subject, it seems that getting the knights’ faction to turn to our side is going poorly.” Count Bergstone changed the topic after the conversation went on long enough.
“Yes, I’m well aware.” Ryoma responded with a sigh, as Bergstone sent a prying glance in his direction.
While the integration of the nobles was going over well, the attempts to convince the knights to switch sides were, frankly, turning up badly.
“That is a problem... We cannot forego splitting the knights’ faction if Princess Lupis is to retain control of the country once we remove General Albrecht. Maintaining defense of the country with the forces we currently have is impossible. Your performance is coming across as a bit lacking, Sir Mikoshiba.”
Twirling his well-kept mustache with a finger, Count Zeleph accused Ryoma of negligence.
“I must agree with Elnan. If we do not make allies of the knights, we won’t be able to hold the throne, even if we do get rid of General Albrecht.”
They were in perfect sync, almost admirably so. It seemed the two of them had a grasp of the situation ahead of this meeting. Ryoma could only accept their rebuking with a silent nod. Even without them having pointed it out, Ryoma’s mind was mulling over this problem frantically.
A few problems had to be solved for Lupis Rhoadserians to rule over the kingdom, in both name and practice, and one of the biggest among them was taking back control of the knights from General Albrecht.
Knights were warriors capable of wielding thaumaturgy, who served particular nobles or royals. Perhaps saying knights were permanent employees, while mercenaries were temporary ones, would be an easier way of putting it. The combat potential their use of thaumaturgy granted them made them the backbone of a military force. The knights were the strongest armed organization in Rhoadseria, and if they could not be made into allies, Princess Lupis’s inheritance of the throne would be as fragile as a house of cards.
That goes without saying, though...
This was a tumultuous age, and one could say the rule of survival of the fittest reigned over this Earth. Both inside and outside the country, many people bore their fangs hungrily with intent to take chunks of the land for themselves, and protecting the country from these starving wolves would not be a simple task.
Military might was necessary for attacking other countries, but it was also needed to defend one’s own country, and this held true even if they were to avoid hostilities by negotiations. A country with a weak military would be at a disadvantage at the bargaining table.
I can’t take responsibility for how Lupis leads this country after the war... But I can’t pretend like this isn’t an issue. It wouldn’t be right.
If they weren’t going to be picky about the means they achieved their victory with, Ryoma could knit as many schemes as were needed. If taking things to the extreme, he’d be willing to butcher the knights entirely if it were the easier solution. But once one considered Rhoadseria’s future in the long run, the range of available options became much narrower.
“So those two couldn’t handle it... Though I suppose this is all in line with our expectations.” Bergstone heaved an unsatisfied sigh.
“I didn’t expect much out of them to begin with...”
There was no point in asking who they were talking about by now. Realizing the intent in Count Bergstone’s gaze, Ryoma shrugged and shook his head.
He couldn’t call Meltina and Mikhail fools. They were born into families of high-ranking knights and received fitting education. But their pride and conviction at being knights was too strong, and they were almost astonishingly bad when it came t
o listening to the other party, shouting them down at times. Their convictions got in the way of their ability to consider and respect others’ positions.
“But we can’t leave matters as they are. I believe I shouldn’t need to explain the reason for that, Sir Mikoshiba.” Count Bergstone glared at Ryoma’s face with a reproachful glint in his eye.
“It’s just as you say, Count. But is there anyone aside from those two who can divide the forces of the knights’ faction? They wouldn’t even listen to what the nobles’ faction has to say.”
Ryoma’s words prompted Count Bergstone to fall silent in contemplation. As Ryoma pointed out, the knights viewed the nobles with clear antagonism. While that held true for the nobles as well, it became a great restricting factor at times like these.
Even if Bergstone were to personally come to attempt to persuade them, most of the knights would very likely refuse for sentimental reasons. At worst, they might not even show up to the negotiations. In that regard, even with their lack of aptitude for negotiations and persuasion, Meltina and Mikhail at least stood a better chance of not being turned away at the door.
After a long silence, Count Bergstone parted his lips to speak.
“I see... Yes, I understand what you’re trying to say, Sir Mikoshiba. I cannot think of anyone more suitable than those two...”
He knew full well this task was beyond Meltina and Mikhail’s abilities, but he needed someone trustworthy to spearhead the negotiations with the knights’ faction, preferably someone with a certain degree of popularity.
They were both extremely loyal to Princess Lupis, and had their own respective accomplishments as the vice-captain of the royal guard and one of the most promising swordsmen in the country. More importantly still, they were descendants of knight families that had served since the founding of the kingdom.
Abilities, trust, and fame. No one but them filled those prerequisites in the princess’s faction, which was already at a disadvantage of numbers. There was no one else to choose, and Ryoma could only make effective use of whatever manpower he had.
“But when considering the state after the war, leaving it to those two worries me somewhat...”
They nodded silently at Count Zeleph’s words. In terms of individual skill, Meltina and Mikhail certainly had what it took, but a commander over soldiers couldn’t necessarily lead other generals. From Ryoma’s perspective, he doubted even their ability to command normal soldiers.
“This is bad... At this rate, the moment we remove General Albrecht, the neighboring countries would turn their sights on us.” Count Bergstone shook his head with a sigh.
“Xarooda and Myest are one thing, but Tarja to the south is especially dangerous. Our skirmishes with them in the southern borders have been incessant.”
“Elnan... if I recall, General Albrecht’s wife is the daughter of an influential Tarjian noble.”
Count Zeleph considered Count Bergstone’s words and nodded.
“Yes, if I recall, it was done under the former king’s orders.”
Political marriages were often done among members of the royal families of separate countries. But in cases where they were not of age, the couple was too incompatible or there wasn’t an unwed person to offer, someone from another influential bloodline was sent as a representative instead.
“In that case, we should consider that if General Albrecht dies, at worst, Tarja might open hostilities against us...” Bergstone continued, sighing heavily once again.
The situation seemed to be getting worse the more one thought about it, and time was gradually ticking away.
“Perhaps we should simply consider that maybe those two aren’t suitable to serve as general. Of course, there’s always the chance they might grow into their role, but that would take time... And that is something we lack.”
“But there’s no one else we can entrust this role to. Or did either of you have any ideas?”
Ryoma’s words drove Duke Bergstone to silence. The conversation went back to the drawing board. It was like a moebius loop, a maze with no exit.
General Albrecht’s ambitions were a massive obstacle that had to be removed if Princess Lupis was to be made Rhoadseria’s ruler. But if they got rid of Albrecht, they would be attacked by their neighboring countries unless they had someone who could take over his role and unite the knights.
But it was obvious to them that Lupis’s most trusted aides, Meltina and Mikhail, were unfit to lead. Even if they did have the potential to do so, they would have only achieved something after nearly a month of trying to divide up the opposition from the knights’ faction.
A deep silence fell over the room. But eventually, Count Zeleph broke it.
“I believe I may know one person who would be suitable...”
Ryoma and Count Bergstone exchanged gazes. It seemed Bergstone was lacking for ideas himself.
“Who would that be, Elnan?” Count Bergstone turned his eyes to Count Zeleph, his head tilted.
“Are you not aware, brother-in-law?” Count Zeleph responded to Count Bergstone’s dubious expression with a whisper. “Lady Helena Steiner.”
“Elnan... Are you serious? She is...”
Count Bergstone’s voice was awash with surprise; that was surely the last name he had expected to hear.
The woman sitting on the sofa elegantly sipping from a cup of tea looked to be in her late fifties or early sixties. Her wavy hair, a shade of gold with small splashes of white, had likely been quite gorgeous in her youth. Her clothes were made from elegant, well-made silk, but were by no means gaudy.
She looked to be a slightly affluent commoner woman. At least, that was the impression Ryoma received from the woman sitting before him.
Her name was Helena Steiner— the woman who had served as Hodram Albrecht’s predecessor as the General of the Kingdom of Rhoadseria a dozen or so years before.
So, how do I bring it up...?
Ryoma fixed his eyes on Helena’s face, while she smiled calmly at him.
“I... I must th-thank you for coming to meet us today!” Meltina managed to stammer out, bowing to her repeatedly while stumbling over her words.
She must have been quite excited, as her greeting was quite far from dignified. Her face was flushed red, and her shoulders were stiff as a board from the tension.
“Lady Helena... It is truly a great honor to be graced with your presence today.” Mikhail followed suit, bowing his head respectfully to Helena as she sat composedly on the sofa.
Mikhail didn’t stumble over his words, thankfully. Rather, he spoke in a courteous tone that lacked all traces of his usual haughtiness.
I guess, if nothing else, they won’t have the leisure of putting their feet in their mouths if they’re this nervous...
As he brought his teacup to his lips, Ryoma looked upon the two with a cool glance as they acted distinctly out of character. That said, they couldn’t be faulted for being nervous, for Helena Steiner was quite literally a living legend in the Kingdom of Rhoadseria.
In the week since Count Zeleph mentioned her name, Ryoma had looked into information regarding Helena Steiner. Though that didn’t exactly demand much effort from his side, because one wouldn’t be wrong if they made the grand claim that a citizen who had not heard of her did not exist in the Kingdom of Rhoadseria. Any child in the streets could tell of her exploits.
The tales of Helena, who climbed to the rank of General despite her background as a commoner, were as numerous as they were well-known. Her greatest feat of heroism was the battle of the Notis plains.
Thirty years ago, the Empire of O’ltormea began an invasion of the Kingdom of Xarooda, backed with its massive national power and spurred by its ambition to unite the western continent. With only a third of its enemy’s territory, and with them holding the center of the continent, Xarooda had no choice but to request the aid of its neighbors to stave off the invasion.
Rhoadseria chose to oblige this request, dispatching four orders of knights— ten thous
and elite troops in total— to their aid. And the general who led that force was Helena Steiner. Alongside General Vereness of the Kingdom of Xarooda, they set up camp in the Noctis plains, and wagering on a counter-offensive night raid against the O’ltormean forces, pushed back the invasion.
The O’ltormean commander fell to the raid and Xarooda was spared from falling under O’ltormea’s control. In doing so, Helena was seen as a patriotic hero.
“Heh heh... There is no need to be so nervous. Have some tea and calm yourselves, and for goodness sake, Mikhail, sit down already.”
Helena offered Meltina a cup of tea and urged Mikhail, who had remained on his feet, to sit on the couch.
“Y-Yes! I humbly beg your pardon!” As prompted, Meltina stirred his tea and the next moment, leaned forward to bring the cup to her lips.
But since the tea was still steaming and she tried to drink it without minding the temperature, she nearly burned her lips on it.
“Well, let’s not mind her for the moment... Lady Helena, thank you for coming to meet us today.” Ryoma moved the conversation along, consciously ignoring Meltina, who was now tearing up thanks to her earlier mistake.
“I was quite surprised when I got your letter the other day. It’s been over ten years since I retired as a knight, after all...”
“I thank you once again for lending an ear to our outrageous request for an audience.” Ryoma expressed gratitude again.
“Well, retired though I may be, I couldn’t help but come and abide by a letter from Her Highness, Princess Lupis herself,” Helena said, a thin smile spreading across her lips.
“Yes, indeed. If you say so, it was certainly worth having the princess pen you a personal letter, then.”
Ryoma’s words made Helena eye him suspiciously. So, he “had” the princess of a country pen a letter, did he...
“Come to think of it, I don’t believe I caught your name,” Helena said. Ryoma seemed to have piqued her interest.
“Oh, my apologies. I go by Ryoma Mikoshiba.”
“My...” Helena’s face filled with surprise. “I see. You... didn’t quite give the impression of a tactician.”
