4. The Little Consort
The logic of power is always useful. Enough to enforce a nonsensical marriage.
About two weeks after my private audience with Prince Aeselton, I cautiously welcomed a visitor. The visitor was a man with a robust body, dressed in shabby clothes.
At first glance, one might think he came from hard labor in the fields, but the way he knelt with discipline changed my mind. Judging by his unusual demeanor, he must be an informant working under Prince Aeselton.
“His Highness the Prince has ordered you to report the details.”
“Proceed.”
The story delivered by the informant was as Prince Aselton had said. Yubas had already deployed a considerable force near the border. Roughly 1,000 to 2,000. A number seemingly insignificant compared to the tens of thousands that would clash in larger battles.
But it’s not just about the numbers. The informant detailed why Prince Aselton had no choice but to accept the marriage proposal.
“According to the frontline scouts, it is estimated that nearly a thousand are cavalry, including knights and armed soldiers.”
“A thousand cavalry alone.”
I stroked my chin, understanding the extent of Prince Aselton’s agony.
Yubas must be truly wealthy as they say. Horses eat more and tire quickly than one would think. To manage at least two warhorses per heavily armored knight is no small feat.
Moreover, the reason cavalry is used less isn’t due to their performance but because of the exorbitant cost of raising and maintaining them. In terms of performance, they could easily crush an equal number of infantry. And to think, about a thousand of such cavalry are stationed at the border.
In essence, it was a threat that if the marriage proposal fell through, they would cross the border and plunder. They planned to use their superior mobility and overwhelming force to ravage the neighboring territories.
The main goal was to shake Prince Aselton’s position, to provoke a war or to coerce him into accepting the marriage proposal.
I tapped my cheek with my index finger and looked down at the kneeling informant before speaking.
“Yubas’s desperation for this marriage proposal. Do you have any other suspicions?”
“How could I…”
“Even a rumor will do. Bring up anything.”
It wasn’t just a harsh interrogation of an innocent person. Yubas had shown clumsiness in execution despite having a plan in place.
The success of a conspiracy lies in how swiftly and secretly it is carried out. However, what a conspirator needs is patience and the thoroughness to prepare a Plan B.
In that regard, Yubas was a contradictory existence. I sensed haste and anxiety in Yubas’s actions.
An army is not something that can be raised carelessly, even with an abundance of money. Mobilizing vassals and knights for a forced marriage proposal doesn’t add up financially.
No matter how important the marriage proposal is. I was certain there was another reason behind the marriage proposal surrounding me.
But the informant, perhaps due to strict training, hesitated to speak, fumbling with his words. It seems he was purely tasked with collecting and delivering information.
He took a breath, parted his lips, then paused and closed his mouth repeatedly, wary of contaminating the information with personal opinion. Still, as I waited patiently, he eventually spoke.
“Yubas comes from a lineage where it’s unclear if the founder was of noble birth. Despite this, they were able to claim kingship through vigorous conquest activities, backed by the holy city of Aidea and the support of the Papacy.”
“Oh?”
Well, these are names I’m hearing for the first time, but I can guess what kind of places they are, given the medieval European setting. The combination of religious and secular power is not uncommon. Even if it’s just a rumor, it sounded quite plausible.
The Papacy, wanting to expand its influence in this region, and the baseless house of Yubas. Their alliance would have helped crush the influence of non-cooperative houses and aided the rise of a new power.
After saying this much, the informant took a deep breath and cautiously observed my reaction before continuing.
“However, there are rumors that the relationship between the two has cooled recently.”
“Is there a rift in the alliance?”
“The details are still unclear. The only confirmed information is that a bishop who should have appeared at the Saint Elenio festival was absent.”
I adjusted my posture and clasped my hands together.
It’s entirely up to the receiver to judge whether the information is true or false. And I found the story brought by the informant to be very ‘plausible.’
In my opinion, it goes like this.
Yubas had been able to fight recklessly, thanks to the solid backing of the Papacy. But when their relationship soured, fear crept in. Yubas. Their power was a sandcastle, permitted under the tacit consent and support of the Papacy.
Yubas, realizing this too late, was now trying to somehow dismantle the local noble cartel. To gain the bloodline legitimacy that could replace the protection of the Papacy or to preemptively strike against potential hostile forces.
A young boy, untrained in proper heirship, must have caught their eye.
Hmm. Though mixed with speculation and leaps, this is the realm of intuition. Once I grasped the background of this marriage negotiation, I was confident the plan would proceed smoothly.
I flicked an eyebrow at the informant and let out a pleased smile.
“Yubas has made a very fatal mistake.”
“….”
“Thank you. You may go.”
“Yes, yes.”
I smiled warmly as a sign of appreciation, but the reaction was odd. The informant, pale-faced, rolled his eyes in panic and hurriedly left the room.
Upon reflection, he must have worried that his personal opinions had tainted the information. Oh dear. I dislike such a rigid atmosphere. When I meet my father, the Duke of Aesulton, later, I must speak a word.
It’s good to train informants, but they should do so in moderation.
***
Now, it was a foregone conclusion that the twelve-year-old boy would become a married man.
Even if the match and family were not to one’s liking, the time had come to bite one’s tongue and call them in-laws. Strategic marriage was also a noble’s duty. Even if the prospective in-laws threatened with swords, it was safer to comply meekly.
But even if the marriage negotiations were hurried, they took time. The dowry the bride’s side would bring and where the ceremony would be held were also very important issues.
Of course, the most important thing in this marriage negotiation was the truth behind the rumors. The Duke of Aesulton insisted on verifying whether the malicious rumors targeting the bride were true, but…
What returned was a cold declaration.
“How dare you doubt the daughter of Yubas.”
Sunlight split the bars and warmed the office.
The Duke of Aesulton tossed aside the reply from Yubas with a thud and turned his head sharply. The tender look of a father, with slightly drooping eyes and a soft gaze, was nowhere to be found.
The Duke of Aesulton looked at me as a leader demanding clear answers and as a sovereign regarding his subject.
“You said you realized Yubas’s fatal mistake.”
“Yes.”
“What was the reason for uttering those words in front of the person I sent?”
“I thought it would make Your Highness call for me.”
I had no intention of keeping secrets. Rather, I wanted it known. After all, since the person was sent by the Duke of Aesulton, it was right to be loyal to the Duke, not me.
Thanks to that, I was called back again. For a child to seek out the Duke casually was to challenge authority. The last time I wasn’t whipped with a belt was because I had earned a stack of merit.
If I did it again, I’d be beaten until death. Of course, the Duke of Aesulton was a gentle father. That’s the problem with medieval standards. The Duke of Aesulton, too, was a medieval man who valued the authority of a patriarch and a noble.
Certainly, he was not a man to let insults slide by without consequence. Rather, he was an aristocrat, tightly bound by the pride of his noble lineage. That is the Prince of Aeselton I saw.
As expected, following the unreasonable marriage proposal, his disdain for the slight against his family was apparent. The Prince of Aeselton, with fiery eyes, looked this way, urging for an answer.
“Since you’ve called, speak.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
I readily conveyed my opinion. What was the fatal mistake Yubas had made? It lay in the message sent to the Papacy. Relationships are, indeed, simpler and yet more complicated than one thinks.
And as soon as relations with the Papacy soured, Yubas immediately sought another lifeline. Having said this much, I deliberately paused, gauging the Prince of Aeselton’s reaction.
The Prince of Aeselton, now a bit more composed than before, listened quietly to my words. Gaining confidence from his demeanor, I adjusted my posture, careful not to be too presumptuous.
“Yubas’s military might is strong, but the resolve of his people is not. Yubas has forgotten that it was the support of the Church, led by the Papacy, that quelled the dissatisfaction of his people. He believed that their prosperity was achieved solely by their own strength.”
“Narba. It seems you are right about the mistake. But is it truly so fatal?”
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“If Yubas had an overwhelming advantage, the Papacy would have bowed their heads. However, in this vicinity, duchies with long histories have united their strength to check Yubas. The Papacy, disappointed by Yubas’s attitude of seeking another lifeline instead of mending relations, has fertile ground to seek new allies.”
I laid out the clues I had gathered one by one, painting a new picture over the one Yubas had drawn. This is why the conspiracy must proceed in secret.
If intercepted midway, it would benefit the enemy, wasting not only money and time but also passion.
“We must turn this into an opportunity.”
“If you have a plan, I’m all ears.”
“From the unprecedented marriage proposal to questionable chastity. Everyone agrees on Yubas’s brutality. Although they are silenced by force for now, if there’s a chance to expose this, they will readily act. At least, there’s a consensus that Yubas cannot be left unchecked.”
What comes next is most crucial. I took my time once more, stealthily observing the Prince of Aeselton. The Prince was groaning with a complex and inscrutable expression.
“To seize that opportunity… I may act somewhat like a madman.”
“?”
It was the first time the Prince of Aeselton’s eyes shook greatly. He was so taken aback that I almost felt embarrassed. But as time passed, it became clear.
After all, what parent would nod in agreement when their child declares an intention to do something insane? The Prince of Aeselton, despite appearances, must be clutching at his torn heart.
The Prince of Aeselton asked urgently with a grave expression.
“Do you really intend to cut open the belly?”
“Your Highness, how could you speak of such a dreadful act.”
Now I see that Edwina was not the only problem. Those medieval folks, indeed, have a chillingly peculiar way of thinking. Once the topic of cutting open the belly was mentioned, they fixated on it.
But I was prepared for this. Understanding the mindset of ancient people was the best I could do, having lived in a more advanced society.
“There will be no knife involved.”
***
About a month later, the marriage proceeded in haste.
Only a few immediate family members gathered in a small chapel, clapped their hands, and it was over.
Even if they wanted to celebrate grandly, the groom was only twelve years old. Gathering guests would only worsen the gossip, or so Yubas’s side argued. But the real reason lay elsewhere.
Miriam ascended Yubas.
A woman with skin soft as downy rabbit fur,
Snow-white hair like freshly fallen snow,
Eyes the warm, comforting hue of hearth flames.
Indeed, she was as beautiful as the rumors claimed.
The problem lay beneath.
“I entrust myself to your care, young lord.”
“….”
The voluminous dress was futile in its attempt to conceal.
Regardless of status, all who saw her guessed immediately.
Not a paunch, but a distinctly protruding belly.
The rumors of her premarital conception were true.
To hold a grand wedding in such a state would spread gossip far and wide,
So Yubas had pressed the matter down. I, greeting Miriam with a radiant smile, uttered just one phrase.
“Is the pregnancy unintended?”
Miriam then cast her gaze downward, murmuring as if to reassure herself,
Her tone even, without a tremble, yet it conveyed much.
“…I am aware of the unfavorable rumors about me. Surely, they must be malicious slanders against our family. I will strive to win the young lord’s favor.”
“I am not at ease to share a chamber. Let us use separate rooms for a while and gradually close the distance.”
Miriam quietly nodded in response. Of course, she had no intention of sharing a room. I deliberately kept my distance from Miriam, spending time meeting those I needed to.
As time passed, Miriam’s belly swelled further. Most did not sympathize with her. She was nothing more or less than a spy, intent on stealing the honor and lineage of the family.
Surprisingly, the one who sympathized with her the most was my maid, Edwina. Twirling the end of her braided hair with her finger, she spoke from a distance.
“Regarding Lady Miriam, surely there must be some circumstances? If we could persuade her, she might be turned to our advantage.”
“That might have been considered as well.”
I cut off that possibility swiftly. In the fantasy monarchy rife with intrigue, ironically, the most threatening entity was a woman in love.
In the fantasy monarchy, there was a strategy to enchant countless married men and women by maximizing one’s s*xual allure. Those beguiled by the honey trap became faithful puppets, aiding the court’s conspiracies.
Without turning to face Edwina, I murmured quietly.
“Once sent here, she cannot return to Yubas. Had she been deeply involved in the affairs of the family, she would have been used more cautiously. Even if we were to win her over, she’s an asset without value. Yubas, having secured the marriage, will not care how she is treated henceforth.”
“…”
“The child within her is innocent; I have no intention of causing harm. As for Miriam, aside from seeking to disgrace her enough to break the engagement, I will not touch her. With her beauty, she could at least be the wife of a lesser manor.”
Truly, this would be the welfare of the medieval upper 1%. A chaotic conspiracy of usurpation, yet they spare her life? Were I not a modern person but a local, she would have already been executed.
“My lord, had you anticipated even such matters?”
“Of course…”
For a moment, I blinked, wondering if I had misheard.
“Unexpected?”
No answer came. Turning abruptly, I found Edwina with pursed lips, staring blankly at the wall.
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