Episode 88 Governor’s Government – Soldiers and Swords
As I left Eris alone in the room and was comforting the restless Jenny with Lord Beaumont, Archduke Leopold approached.
“Marquis de Lafayette, it’s been a while since we’ve seen each other like this. Would you like to talk for a moment while we wait for your royal highnesses? “There is a separate living room.”
I glanced at the room Eris was in and then answered.
“I would like to do that too, but today I am on a mission to serve Her Majesty the Princess, so it is difficult for me to leave. “It’s okay if we just talk from a little distance.”
Archduke Leopold laughed at my answer, walked away from the room with me, and took out a cigar from his pocket.
“Would you like to smoke one?”
“Just be thankful.”
The Archduke seemed quite accustomed to it, and with the help of his servant, he cut off the cap of the cigar and lit it, even while standing.
While waiting for a moment for the cigar fire to die down, the Archduke spoke.
“Do you think we’ll end up at war again?”
“Because the Empire wants it, Your Highness.”
Archduke Leopold put a cigar in his mouth, seemed to savor the scent for a moment, and then answered.
“You’re not wrong.”
The Archduke looked quite confused when he said that.
The composure of veteran combat that was shown when confronting Damien to save the southern army has long since disappeared.
Although I couldn’t face him directly on the battlefield where I last fought, did that loss bring about a big change in his feelings?
The Archduke lit a cigar in silence before opening his mouth.
“Oh yeah. Congratulations! “He became the leader of the Frangian army, both in name and reality.”
“…thank you. “I’m not sure if it’s something to celebrate.”
“I guess it’s not difficult to coexist with competitors.”
The Archduke spoke casually and added a moment later.
“It’s a shame.”
“You mean you won’t be able to repay me on the battlefield?”
“well.”
The Archduke smiled bitterly, answered vaguely, and then said something else.
“After the last war, I tried to retire.”
“Is that so.”
Nevertheless, the fact that he came to this delegation means that he was rejected.
Since I, the Commander-in-Chief of the Frangian Army, said I would come with the delegation, did the Empire also put forward an archduke worthy of the name?
“I’m sorry.”
“Aren’t our people the ones who gain honor by shedding the blood of soldiers?”
The Archduke inhaled the smoke from his cigar and grinned.
“I have enjoyed the honor bestowed by my country for my accumulated expertise, so I cannot ignore my responsibility to respond to the call.”
I quietly looked at the Archduke and then opened my mouth.
“In the last war, Francia was not prepared and the Empire was not at its best. But not this time, Your Highness.”
The Archduke quietly tasted the smoke from his cigar and did not respond.
“If war breaks out again, both sides will have to see it to an end. “The cause of the empire has already been shaken, so should we fight a war that might shake the empire for the sake of the empress’s ambitions?”
The Grand Duke said with a grin.
“I envy you.”
“…What are you talking about?”
The Archduke added, handing the burned-out cigar to the servant.
“If the Kaiser prepares a war for Kaiserin, I will simply follow his will.”
“Even if the empire is in danger and its soldiers who don’t need to die are sacrificed as a result?”
“…That’s a pity. One Marquis. “Is our mission to worry about the lives of our soldiers?”
“….”
“I am a member of the imperial family. “The reason I was able to remain as a war hero and archduke was thanks to the Kaiser’s trust in me not to pursue politics and entrusting me with the military.”
A bitter smile spread across the Archduke’s lips –
“Even if I object and refuse to lead, the Kaiser will follow Kaiserin’s will.”
There is no wavering in those eyes.
“Even though we mourn the sacrificed soldiers, soldiers fight for what they must protect. “If the Kaiser takes a dangerous path, I am willing to become his sword and open the way.”
Right.
I can also feel sorry for the countless soldiers who sacrificed their lives, but I cannot give up Christine for their sake.
however.
“Even though we know it is the wrong path, we follow it blindly. “Is that really the way to protect it, Your Highness?”
I understand what the Archduke thinks.
If Christine didn’t have my people, I wouldn’t feel worth protecting Franzia either.
But even so, if Christine or they are clearly going down the wrong path, I will persuade them.
If I try to go down the wrong path, I believe Christine will too, and Eris will definitely do the same.
At least I was able to get this far because we tried to correct our wrong ways.
“If we take the wrong path from the beginning, we will only be able to go a little further if His Majesty the Archduke remains loyal and demonstrates his capabilities. “One day, when it becomes impossible to stop the cracks that have been building up, what His Highness worked so hard to protect will collapse.”
The Archduke looked at me with a stern face.
After opening and closing his mouth several times, he spoke in a voice that seemed suppressed.
“I don’t think this is something worth saying to an enemy general, Marquis. Soldiers have conversations that suit them. If that is what you think, then show it through on the battlefield.”
I quietly looked at the Archduke and answered.
“…In that case, I will stand in the way of His Highness the Archduke on the battlefield for the sake of what I must protect.”
The moment I finished speaking, the door opened and Eris walked out.
I sighed in relief when I saw Eris smiling slightly when she saw me, although she had a complicated expression on her face. When I looked at the Archduke again, he opened his mouth in a somewhat stiff tone.
“Marquis de Lafayette seen on the battlefield.”
“I look forward to it, Your Highness.”
* * *
A week has passed since then, and during that time, the delegations of both sides held two formal meetings.
Talleyrand led the talks with skill, but Empress Cecilia also did not have it easy, so she persistently pushed for agendas that Francia had no choice but to reject.
In the end, it is only a matter of time, and both sides know that this is a meeting aimed at reaching a conclusion that there is no room for compromise.
At the end of the second meeting, I sent someone to my home country to submit a proposal for military mobilization to the National Assembly.
The Germanian Empire probably did something roughly similar.
Meanwhile, Razurin of the Ninth Peak, the king of the mountains in the Alps kingdom, held a banquet and invited us.
* * *
Considering the cultural differences, I didn’t expect much, but the dwarves’ prepared food tasted better than I expected.
Dishes different from Frangia, such as hearty lamb and cheese, fatty dishes with plenty of butter, mashed potatoes poured with meat sauce, and fondue dipped in cheese, fill the tables and whet the appetite.
The only thing they have in common is that they are all good to eat with beer.
Considering that our taste buds have improved considerably thanks to Talleyrand, who is so obsessed with cooking that he even brings his own chef to the delegation, they can be proud of their food culture in their own way.
Eris is excited and has a happy face as she enjoys the dwarves’ unique cuisine.
I didn’t know she would ask for me to give up my right to succession, but I’m glad that my encounter with the empress, whom I was quite worried about, didn’t seem to be a big deal.
While I was watching, Eris took a bite of an unidentifiable long piece of fried food from the prepared dish, munched on it, and was impressed.
“Hmm~! Is it tasty!”
“I’m glad that it suits Her Highness’s tastes.”
Talleyrand seemed strangely proud, so I grabbed one and tried it.
I guess this dish is what made it possible for dwarves to export wheat.
When you dip finger-sized long stick-shaped fries into tomato sauce and put them in your mouth, the soft cheese expands and chews inside, creating a harmony of flavors.
The crispy surface made with eggs and flour and the cheese inside mixed with the tomato sauce…
“This would go well with beer.”
“Oh, as expected, Marquis! That’s it! “Excuse me, a dwarf who doesn’t know the excellence of wine.”
Talleyrand confirmed that no dwarves were paying attention and added again.
“Anyway, this is the perfect dish to appeal to dwarves who love beer and eat cheese! “I am proud of the crystal that was born after a long time of research and consideration!”
…Fortunately, the dwarves treated us and their own tables separately, so it’s a shame that such a skilled diplomat would make such a rookie mistake.
How serious is this person about cooking?
“So what is the name of this dish?”
“Freundschaftsleiste.”
“…I beg your pardon?”
“Haha, in their language, it means friend stick.”
Rod, my friend. As a food name, it is a bit vague and simple, but it is a name that clearly shows how much the dwarves liked this dish.
Well, it’s amazing that these arrogant dwarves are able to make it happen again not long after they rejected our trade request.
Then, Gate Guardian Captain Glasstek approached and opened his mouth in a husky voice.
“Haha, you seem to be enjoying yourself! Please excuse me for a moment! “Do you like our cooking?”
“yes! “It’s very delicious!”
When Eris smiled brightly and answered in a voice full of sincerity, Glastec was happy, but he couldn’t talk to an unmarried woman, so he didn’t know what to do and spoke to Talleyrand.
“Please tell Her Highness that we are very happy!”
“Haha of course buddy!”
It’s cute to see a muscular, muscular dwarf with a bushy beard doing that.
Glastech looked at Eris, who was smiling while covering her mouth with her hand, and then unexpectedly turned her attention to me.
“Commander Lafayette. “Your Majesty calls you.”
“Are you saying this, Your Majesty?”
Other than when I greeted them once, I never saw their king, Razurin, but me?
“exactly! I can’t help but tell you what an honor this is. As far as I know, the last time the King called a human in person was 23 years ago…” “
Now, my friend. Let’s talk with me. “The King is calling you, Marquis Lafayette, so you’d better go.”
“Oh, right! Tale and this friend. It’s great to be with the delegation, but aren’t we bored? Now come this way! We have to clear up the grievances that have accumulated over the years…”
Talleyrand nodded slightly to me and was led by Glastec to the place where the dwarves were chatting noisily.
Should I be thankful for this or should I say it’s amazing that I can deal with that.
I quickly turned my gaze and walked towards Lazurin, who was sitting on a throne a little away from the other people’s table and holding a beer glass in her hand.
“I heard you found it, Your Majesty.”
Lazurin gulped down the beer he was holding.
He’s very talented, seeing as he drinks like that and barely gets any beer on his long white beard.
Rajurin opened his mouth only after a long time had passed.
“It looks like you will end up in war, right?”
…This is a king who you don’t know what he’s thinking from the first time you meet him.
“I’m sorry, Your Majesty, but it hasn’t been confirmed yet.
Lazurin gulped down the remaining beer again, put the empty glass down on the table next to him, and opened his mouth.
“I hope that your dispute will not cause any harm to us.”
“As Commander-in-Chief of the French Army, of course I will do my best to make that happen, Your Majesty.”
After hearing my answer, Lazurin made a sound that sounded like the wind had gone out.
I’m not sure exactly what he’s thinking because of his long white beard and still solemn expression.
He lifted the scabbard that was leaning against the throne.
I thought it must be his sword because it was leaning against the throne, but now I see it’s a bit long for him – but before I could even finish thinking about it, Rajurin threw the sheath at me.
When I reflexively accepted it, it seemed that the sheath was very similar to my sword.
With that thought in mind, I slowly pulled it out of the sheath and felt a slight sense of magical power in the sword body.
Let’s use a little bit of magical power. Not only does the sword naturally absorb it, but it actually helps me manage my magical energy.
It has a magical affinity that is on a different level from swords made only of steel.
This can’t be right.
“…Is this a sword made by combining mithril, Your Majesty?”
Lazurin sat down on the throne again and spoke as if throwing a throw.
“It’s your sword, take it.”
Even though he’s a dwarf, he throws this away like it’s no big deal?
“Thank you, Your Majesty. Things like this…”
Lazurin actually snorted.
“Don’t be mistaken. “I thought it would be a problem for our prestige if the commander-in-chief of the country that supplies us with mithril carries a sword that is so poor, so I just made it from leftover materials.”
Then he gestured as if to go away.
He’s still a blunt and unfriendly dwarf who doesn’t know what he’s thinking.
Did you remember the shape of my sword, which was only half drawn, and make something like this?
I bowed politely to him, correcting my perception that he was an unpleasant dwarf.
“It is an honor, Your Majesty. This grace must be…”
My words were cut off by Lazurin’s blunt words.
“Whether you forget or not is none of my business, so make sure you export mithril consistently. “Let’s go away.”
Haha, this is it. I got something I didn’t expect.
“I will keep this in mind, Your Majesty.”
As I was leaving, Lazurin said one more thing as if he had remembered me too late.
“…Even though you are a greedy person, I believe you would not be so ungrateful that you would sell my work.”
You throw it away like it’s no big deal and then worry about it later.
I almost burst out laughing.
Even the dwarves who were said to be arrogant and blunt turned out to be quite cute.
Of course, I don’t think the king will be happy if he finds out my true intentions.
