Episode 125 War to Protect the Revolution – Armistice (2)
As if what Archduke Leopold had said were not empty words, the reception from the Archduke Leopold was quite warm.
Three days after leaving the Archduke’s residence with a slightly bitter aftertaste, our group was able to arrive in the Rhineland.
“Then I will see you at the negotiation table, Marquis de Lafayette.”
“…Thank you for the kindness of His Majesty and Krafte for bringing us here.”
The great king smiled and waved his hand and headed towards the Krafte army’s garrison that we had prepared.
Only then did I sigh.
I think I’ll buy something now.
I never thought I would have the experience of crossing the Germanian Empire inland while being escorted by the Krafte army.
When we parted ways with the king and headed to the garrison, the first person to run out in a huff was Count Damien de Mirbeau.
“Welcome, Your Excellency the Marquis! I was waiting for my eyes to fall out! There’s a rumor that we’ll be fighting the Kingdom of Krafte! His Excellency, the Marquis de Lafayette, went to negotiate. Could something like that be so absurd? The National Assembly’s charlatans are framing you, but that much-”
“It’s true.”
“yes?”
“Krafte intends to go to war with us.”
As I was about to move towards the camp, leaving the frozen Count Mirbeau alone, I made eye contact with a female officer who was looking at Damien from behind with a very regretful expression on her face.
“Welcome back, Your Excellency the Marquis de Lafayette!”
Shouting while saluting is almost like a spinal reflex, and the military spirit is so strong.
“So, are you Lieutenant Darby?”
“ancient! Lieutenant Giselle Darby meets His Excellency Commander-in-Chief of the Revolutionary Army!”
“I heard that you contributed greatly in the last battle. “I’m keeping an eye on you, so I hope you continue to work hard.”
“thank you! “I will continue to carry out my duties even more faithfully!”
Giselle, who had been looking at Damien with pitiful eyes just a moment ago, turned bright red and I burst out laughing.
Although he is still a little young, I heard you say he is very good at tactics, right?
“Oh yeah. What do you think about the war with the Kingdom of Krafte?”
“I think it is a brilliant achievement of His Excellency the Marquis!”
“…ok?”
I was momentarily taken aback, but Giselle continued talking with her eyes shining brightly.
“Now that the Krafte Kingdom has decided on war, there is no reason to give us any time. “I judged that it was entirely the Marquis’s negotiating power that brought about the two-year ceasefire!”
No, it’s not like that.
It’s just because the Great King is crazy.
More than that, I find it burdensome that he exudes excessive respect.
Damien de Mirbeau is somewhat pretentious and unlucky, but this one is sincere and difficult in a different way.
I said, smiling awkwardly.
“okay. If you have any opinions regarding the war against Krafte, please post them through Count Mirbeau later.”
“I will prepare thoroughly and upload it!”
I had a hunch. He’ll be sending a huge proposal soon.
It’s a combination of motivated adjutants under the command of Damien de Mirbeau, who wants to eat raw…
not bad.
If you use him well, you might be able to use Damien de Mirbeau more effectively.
As I passed by with that in mind, all the generals of the revolutionary army came out and saluted.
“Welcome, Your Excellency the Marquis!”
“Oh yeah. “Thank you for your hard work while I was away.”
Seeing that there are many people with dark circles, I feel sorry for no reason as they must have been quite distraught after receiving shocking news.
…If you think about it, it’s not my fault.
Still, I have to say what I have to say.
“Two years later, there will be a war with the Kingdom of Krafte. “I need to prepare thoroughly, so I’m going to be busy from now on.”
“Wow, I was skeptical, but it’s true. Why on earth is Krafte involved in the war for the empire?”
I had to laugh awkwardly at Louis Desget’s question.
How on earth can I explain the crazy way of thinking of that great king?
“…I guess they want to have a fight because we look strong.”
As expected, Dje’s expression was distorted.
“No, if you want to fight someone that strong, why don’t you fight demons instead?”
Dejet responded as if it were absurd, but I also told him an even more absurd truth.
“I heard you wanted to fight.”
“Are you serious?”
“okay. But since I said no and didn’t leave the island, there was nothing I could do.”
“I have to fight a crazy guy who boldly wants to go to war with the Abyss Corporation…”
Louis Dejet shakes his head.
“You are a troublesome opponent. “It would be better if we had a strategic goal and compromise would be possible.”
Alexandre Werther sighs.
“Hwiyu~ I can’t believe the person my old friend respected was such a great idiot. Ah, now that I think about it, Balian was a bit of a jerk too. “Did you like each other because we were similar people?”
Jerome Morel plays the goin drip so naturally.
“I have heard of Krafte’s legendary bravery! Please put me in the vanguard!”
…Nicolas, I think the code would fit well if I got a job at Kraftegun.
Why is our situation not so good?
Finally, as I was facing Gaston and sighing lightly, I heard a familiar voice from behind me.
“Marquis de Lafayette.”
A familiar white robe.
I immediately knelt down in front of Eris and said.
“The Marquis Pierre de Lafayette has returned from his envoy mission to the Kingdom of Krafte, Your Majesty.”
“Thank you for your hard work, Marquis. … I would like to say that, but are we ultimately going to war with the Kingdom of Krafte?”
“…yes. It will be confirmed in formal talks, but it will happen. “Your Majesty the Queen.”
Eris was silent for a moment, but then sighed softly and answered.
“okay. “What do you think of that great king?”
I answered with a wry smile.
“He is the complete opposite of Her Majesty the Queen.”
* * *
Armistice negotiations were held the next day.
The Queen of Francia, the Grand King of Krafte, and even the Empress of the Empire were in attendance.
However, contrary to the weight of the attendees, the ceasefire negotiations were really carried out only in name.
In any case, the Germanian Empire is not in a position to tell the Kingdom of Krafte what to do, and Franzia has nothing to offer against Krafte that is willing to go to war.
“The French National Assembly does not want war. “Is the High King of Krafte not willing to negotiate?”
“I’m sorry, but there isn’t any.”
The leader of the Liberal Party, Nicolas Brissot, was left speechless by the shameless words the Great King said while laughing.
In a situation where Talleyrand is away, we can’t just rely on myself or Eris and wait, so the National Assembly also sent us to negotiate in our own way, but we are in a situation where we can’t do anything and only have to listen to Charles II’s one-sided notification.
In fact, giving a two-year grace period in a situation where war is likely is an unconventional condition, and since the King does not want anything from Francia, there is no way it can be a proper negotiation.
In the end, after a roughly formal conversation, the King quickly read out the decision.
“The Revolutionary Kingdom of Francia returned the occupied areas, including the Rhineland, and withdrew outside the borders of the Germanian Empire. Afterwards, the two countries signed a two-year ceasefire, which was guaranteed by the Kingdom of Krafte. At the end of the armistice, the Kingdom of Krafte joins the war on the side of the Germanian Empire and resumes the war. Do both sides agree?”
Cecilia, the Empress of the Germanian Empire, nodded and signed, and Eris, who was next, stayed silent for a moment under everyone’s gaze and then slowly opened her mouth.
“Do I have a choice?”
Charles II smiled kindly and answered.
“If you don’t want to, you can continue the war right now.”
“…I agree.”
Eris hesitated, the hand holding the quill trembling slightly, but eventually signed the agreement.
The Maharaja, who signed last, smiled and declared with satisfaction.
“Okay then, the agreement is officially signed. “I am glad to have been able to successfully arrange negotiations.”
With the Great King’s declaration, Francia found peace for a while.
Although war is predicted to occur two years from now, it is actually just time to prepare for it.
After roughly organizing the meeting room, the great king approached me, holding the staff he always carried.
When I first saw it, I thought the cane was meant to help my aging body.
Who would have imagined that it would be the baton of a warmonger’s orchestra?
The King seemed to have no idea what I was thinking when he spoke to me with a smiling face.
“Then Marquis Lafayette. “I’ve seen everything, so I guess I’ll just head back.”
“You’re leaving early.”
The great king grinned after hearing what I said.
“It’s not like we’re going to enjoy something like a dinner together.”
I’m glad you know.
I thought you didn’t know because what you were doing was so bold.
Then, Eris came up and spoke to me.
“Your Majesty.”
“Oh, does the Queen of Saints, beloved by the people of Francia, have anything to do with me?”
Eris gazed at the Great King with her calm purple eyes and then opened her mouth.
“For what reason did the Kingdom of Krafte decide on this war?”
The great king answered without hesitation as if he were proud.
“For the eternal glory of being the best of this era.”
“…It is a worthless honor to me. The same is probably true of the many people who will be sacrificed in the Great King’s war.”
Despite Eris’ cold words, the Great King was still smiling.
He paused for a moment, then raised his staff and gave it a spin.
“I don’t know if it will resonate with young people, but this is what I think.”
Then he slammed his cane down loudly on the floor, placed his hands on it, and said with a smile.
“Most of the great conquering monarchs in history were criticized and resented by the people of their time. However, the achievements he achieved and the powerful nation became a source of abundance and pride for those who would live in that land in future generations.”
The Great King said while looking at Eris.
“You fight for those you embrace today. You, who are praised as the saint queen and who sacrifice themselves for the people, will certainly remain as a revered saint. “Jim gladly pays his respects.”
While not looking down on Eris, she declared with a smile without any wavering.
“But I fight for my place in history, for my military’s great name, and for the pride that will forever be cherished by future generations of my country. “We all have different perspectives.”
Eris, who had been silent, slowly opened her mouth.
“I am still praised by the king as a great master. “If we lose in a war like this, not only do we lose our honor for the future, but we also lose our reputation as a famous military, isn’t this a worthless war?”
The Great King slowly narrowed his brows and then burst into laughter.
“Hehehehe. Excellent. Excellent. Wouldn’t this be enough to be called Jim’s enemy? “Saint King of Francia, do you think you can win against my army, which is said to be the strongest of mankind?”
“Coincidentally, the person who leads the strongest army has granted me two years, so I will do my best. “With people I trust.”
“Hahahaha….”
The Great King burst out laughing and then responded by hitting the floor with his staff loudly.
“If Jim is defeated, he and his army will enjoy the honor of having fought against the greatest force of this era! Either way is fine!”
While even Eris was speechless, the Great King shouted, his eyes shining brightly.
“Esiliste Liliane de Frangias and Pierre de Lafayette Marquis. I hope you make good use of the two-year grace period. “I look forward to a war worthy of your resolve, so don’t disappoint me!”
After a storm of words, the great king walked out of the conference hall with great strides.
There was silence.
Eris, who had been looking in the direction where the Great King had left for a while, turned her head to me and said.
“…I never, ever, ever want to lose to someone like that.”
I thought Eris would hate a great king who treats the lives of his people like military supplies.
I also sighed lightly and answered.
“I agree, Your Majesty.”
“Do you have any plans?”
After a pause, Eris asked, and the worry and anxiety that I couldn’t fully hide came out in her voice, so I answered in as confident a voice as possible.
“there is.”
While I was forced to travel across the Germanian Empire by land, all I could do was rack my brain.
Two years is a short time and we will be very busy.
You will need a lot of help from Christine as well as the generals of the revolutionary army.
That’s it.
“Let’s sort out the Iberica Peninsula first.”
I have to repay my debt to Crocs.
Drive out all those who are in league with the devils on the Iberica Peninsula and bring in solid allies.
Does the Great King expect a very glorious and honorable one-on-one war?
I also thought that maybe not.
If you’re that crazy warmonger, the stronger the enemy, the more excited you are.
I declared while looking at Eris.
“We will definitely win by using all possible means.”
If the opponent is that great king, I don’t think his conscience will be pricked no matter what he does.
