315 – Playing with Fire in Switzerland (3)
The Reich Empire delegation, including me, headed to Count Ticino’s castle for a month.
I was impressed by many things I saw on the way there, but if I had to put it in one word, I could say it like this.
‘The most beautiful nature and the most miserable people.’
The entire country is surrounded by beautiful mountains covered in perpetual snow, and there is a river with clear water flowing between them, so I thought that I would definitely want to live here when I spend my later years.
The lives of the people living in such a beautiful nature were truly miserable.
In front of the castle or village cathedral, people lined up to receive the porridge that was distributed only once a day, and if you went to a slightly remote place, there were many cases where corpses were left abandoned on the streets.
And when they recognized our delegation, young women kept approaching us, trying to make at least a little money by selling their bodies.
It seems that she was planning to feed her family with the money she received through prostitution, but since there might be someone else pretending to be a poor woman and her hidden agent, she kicked them all out.
Considering that many people are starving and that young women are openly engaging in prostitution, which is considered a serious crime in this era…
It means that Switzerland is now in shambles beyond what the Ministry of Foreign Affairs investigated, and this is great news for me, who wants to provoke a civil war.
“Are you a delegation from the Reich Empire?”
When I looked in the direction where the sound came from, a man dressed in flashy clothes who appeared to be Count Ticino was standing there with a smile full of pretense.
However, the corners of his mouth were trembling slightly, as if he could not suppress the resentment he felt towards me.
I wanted to tease them a little, but since I’m on an official delegation and can’t behave like elementary school students, I have to be polite.
“Yes, that’s right. Count. Hello? “This is Marquis Peter von Jaeger, who has come with us on this mission.”
“Oh, I can’t believe the Marquis, who showed heroic action at Richen Hill, would come to such a remote place. “It is an honor that we, the Count of Ticino family, can be proud of for generations.”
“I am so glad that the Count welcomed me so kindly.”
According to diplomatic convention, when you meet someone who has fought fair and square at least once, it is polite to say that you were impressed by how brave the other person was in war.
There is an exception to this, which is when one side defeats the other too miserably.
On the way to retreat from Lichen Hill, I destroyed the enemy force by nearly five times, with only 2,000 casualties, 8,000 to 100,000.
After winning so overwhelmingly, I thought, ‘Wow! ‘The mercenaries of the Principality of Switzerland are very strong.’ Saying this is nothing but teasing.
“I would like to treat a banquet to the delegation that visited the Principality of Switzerland, especially our Ticino Canton. Our chef miscalculated the time, so it will take some time until the dishes are ready. “Can you please understand?”
At those words, the faces of Viscount Hüsler and other members of the delegation instantly crumpled.
It is a great diplomatic discourtesy that we were not able to prepare the food on time even though we had sent a dispatch several hours in advance to inform them of the arrival of our delegation.
This is because it is an act of blatant disregard for the Reich Empire.
But now we have to regretfully ask them to cause a civil unrest, so we must understand and move on.
If a civil war breaks out in the future, you will have to pay thousands of times more for this, so you can ignore it for now.
“Approximately how long does it take for the dish to be served, Count?”
“Well, it will probably take about two hours. “I am truly sorry.”
“No, sometimes things like this happen. “Then, if you don’t mind, how about we discuss diplomatic issues first until the meal is served and then enjoy the meal and banquet in peace?”
The Count nodded at my words.
From noble mtl dot com
“I’ll take you to a room inside. Please follow me.”
Following those words, I took a step forward and thought for a moment more about how to persuade that man.
As I sat down on the sofa in the room at the Count’s invitation, Count Ticino began to show an annoyed look, as if he had no intention of hiding his displeasure any longer.
It seemed like he was trying hard not to show it on his face, but if you listened closely, you could hear a small sound of teeth grinding together.
“So what brings you here, Count? As the Count wanted, the ambassador of our principality also concluded five years of peace negotiations. “Is there still anything you would like from His Majesty the Duke of Switzerland?”
I wanted to say that it would be best if you at least started a rebellion, but when you move from dating to marriage, you start by holding hands.
If you get straight to the point of instigating a civil war, the plans you have prepared so far will go to waste in an instant.
So I shook my head and showed my sincerity that I didn’t have those feelings.
“I have come to establish a firmer alliance with the Principality of Switzerland. “I also came to express my condolences for the unfortunate death of Count Bern, who put me and your Majesty in a corner during the previous expedition to Switzerland.”
Chivalry is deeply rooted in the minds of nobles on the continent of Europa.
Therefore, even if you are your parent’s enemy, if you come to pay your respects as a knight, it is polite to politely welcome you as a guest.
Maybe that’s why, when I said this, the angry expression on Count Ticino’s face suddenly calmed down.
“Of course, in the Reich Empire’s view, there was no such strong enemy and evil person as him. Based on the analysis of the Imperial General Staff, assuming that there was no 7th Guards Division that risked their lives to fight like me, there is a high probability that His Majesty, who was the Crown Prince at the time, would have been captured there. “It is only now that I can look back and realize that it was truly a fierce battle, but at the time, I despaired many times that I and His Highness the Crown Prince would just die.”
In front of the imperial soldiers, he only showed a bright and confident appearance, saying that he could do anything, but the reality was a little different.
I felt that my body was slowly breaking down due to being at the forefront and fighting from morning to evening every day.
I cried silently as I watched the soldiers who had trusted me and followed me die miserably, and the anxiety of whether I would be able to return alive continued to shake my heart.
When I suddenly revealed my true feelings, the Count’s anger seemed to have disappeared.
So, I looked closely at his facial expression and it seemed like he would listen to my story for now.
“From the perspective of the Principality of Switzerland, since I, who practically commanded the imperial army until the end, felt such a crisis, it was probably an opportunity to subdue not only my subject, but also His Majesty. And to create this opportunity, Count Bern risked his life for three years while living in the empire and providing false information. No doubt you must have felt anxious living every day, as if you were walking on a single tightrope. Even under such circumstances, I highly value his perseverance, bravery, and determination, risking his life to win victory over the empire, and I deeply want to emulate them.”
Everything I say now is sincere, from first to last.
Even though it is an enemy army, how great is it?
For the victory of his country, Switzerland, and to inflict defeat on the Reich Empire, the noble count acted as a traitor for three years, risking his life to deceive the Chief of Staff and the imperial family.
As the saying goes, sincerity communicates, Count Ticino spoke in a quite friendly manner, unlike when we first met.
“Since the Marquis said that, that friend of Bern must have let go of his resentment.”
His voice expressed his gratitude towards me for expressing my condolences to Bern, but at the same time, he expressed his dissatisfaction with the lord who had purged his friend who had done nothing wrong.
If we push a little further here, I think we can influence Count Ticino’s heart and induce a civil war.
Still, you have to tap on the stone bridge to cross it, so let’s check just one more time.
“But no matter how much I think about it, I cannot understand the behavior of His Royal Highness the Duke of Switzerland. “How can you purge a subordinate who risked his life and went undercover for three years by holding him responsible for the Swiss expedition?”
It is normal for an ordinary subject to react like this immediately when he insults his lord.
‘No matter what, you are not saying too harshly! If you flutter your snout anymore and insult my lord, I will kill you!’
But instead of getting angry at my words, the Count just clenched his fist so hard that his nails dug into his palm and made him bleed. He did not refute.
No, he nodded his head as if he agreed.
When I saw that, I cheered in my heart.
Because at this point, we were almost done.
“Furthermore, this type of purge is difficult at first, but becomes really easy later. Don’t you know? The current Duchy of Switzerland will find it difficult to export mercenaries, making the national economy increasingly more difficult. “Next time, won’t you try to solve the country’s difficult situation by blaming another vassal like you did this time?”