Hidden truths and revealed facts (1)
Taylor Vidor.
The head of a baron family with a wife he loves and a daughter who won’t hurt even if he puts it in his eyes.
It was unfair to say that he was ordinary, but he was highly praised by the local people for his easy-going and unpretentious personality. He was just such an aristocrat.
It would have been if it hadn’t happened in the royal palace that they happened to visit.
From noble mtl dot com.
“Oh, welcome. We sincerely welcome you to visit Esteban.”
One day when the cold wind of late spring passed by.
The delegation of the Carrot Confederation Empire knocked on the door of the castle at the promised time, as if it was their intention.
And it was Baron Vidor, an aide to the first prince, who greeted them.
The representative of the delegation, dressed in floating costumes unique to the Federation Empire, asked for a handshake.
“It’s Countess Esula.”
“I am Baron Vidor. i look forward to.”
“Please take good care of me.”
this moment.
Baron Vidor wanted to cry.
‘How come this… … .’
To pinpoint the cause, we had to go back in time.
Visiting the royal castle at the time of the murder of a high-ranking aristocrat?
no. Rather, the thing that caught the attention of the first prince despite being quiet?
If not… … .
-You are the guide for this delegation.
-… … yes?
three days ago. He could name a time when his superior handed him a lit gunpowder keg in a passing tone.
What was certain was that all of this was going against his will.
‘Why do I… … .’
No matter how he thought about it, a position like this was no place for a mere baron like himself.
And to that question, I got this answer.
– There was no one willing to come forward.
-… … .
-That’s why I recommended you on the condition that you meet alone with the delegation.
-Ahh!
Before I knew it, he had become a loyalist who would not hesitate to take a burdensome position for his superior.
Of course, the fact that his intention was not reflected there was buried for a while.
‘I heard you praised me for doing well until recently… … .’
The baron tried to hide the rising disrespect and recited the prepared lines.
“First of all, His Highness, the King of Esteban, prepared a place to rest for a while so that he could recover from his long journey.”
“Oh oh! is it?”
“We will provide meals to those who wish, and if you need anything at that time, just let us know.”
“Good job. I’m hungry right now, so may I ask for a meal?”
“of course.”
Baron Vidor is sweating while guiding the palace.
The baron finally managed to breathe a sigh of relief when it was time to eat.
And the one with a troubled expression behind him was George.
“They live a busy life.”
“Shh!”
The baron jumped up when he noticed the delegation party absorbed in the meal.
“Didn’t I tell you to do the right thing! You are the person who will one day become an aide to His Highness the First Prince!”
“… … There is no one around.”
“Ugh! Even though you are still being educated under the name of my aide, those actions go further and discredit the 1st Prince, who has placed me as a temporary aide!”
“Yes, yes. I will keep that in mind.”
In the end, the guy shuddered at Baron Vidor’s nagging and declared surrender.
Of course, the mouth that trembled was still alive.
“But isn’t there something strange?”
“hmm? What are you talking about?”
said George, pointing at the delegation with his chin.
“The envoys and the others.”
“Ugh! Another such stupid thing!”
Baron Vidor is on the verge of jumping again.
George hurriedly made excuses before his nagging continued.
“This time, I don’t mean to gossip, but I mean that I feel a sense of incongruity.”
“Feels uncomfortable?”
“I have to say that some of the actions are awkward… … I feel like I’m moving as if I’m woven.”
“… … Hmm.”
The delegation party was engrossed in eating normally as if they were really hungry.
But why?
The whole time he was watching the envoys, a sense of incongruity lingered in George’s heart.
A very small sense of incongruity that I probably would never have felt if I hadn’t looked closely.
It slowly seeped into George’s mind, leaving a huge question mark.
“But I don’t know what it really is.”
George shrugged and raised his glasses.
Then, as if he had lost interest, he began to yawn.
It seemed he didn’t want to think deeply, but it wasn’t Baron Vidor who was listening.
“I will tell you about this directly to Your Highness. I know you’re not one to say anything outrageous.”
“You can do whatever you want.”
It was George who really thought that it didn’t matter what the incongruity was.
Whatever the baron’s intentions, a new interest was blossoming in his heart.
“By the way, where is Your Highness? You haven’t seen me all day.”
“I don’t know either. Except that he left behind this letter and disappeared… … .”
“A letter?”
“Whoa. Didn’t you hear the destination too? The meeting will begin soon, so what are you going to do… … .”
The baron took out a note from his pocket and handed it to George.
… … George’s expression changed to bewilderment as he read the note, as it was a simple content that did not need to be handed over in the first place.
-Go out for a while and come back.
And the impression was simple.
“wow.”
* * *
“nice to meet.”
The king’s grave voice resounded inside the palace.
Countess Esula, the representative of the delegation, bowed her head and raised her bow.
“Greetings to His Highness the King, who is a milestone for many knights and leads the Asteban Kingdom. My name is Countess Esula.”
An imperial delegation might have a stiff head, but it is a perfect example that is flawless.
I must have learned it separately for this moment.
The king’s head nodded.
“I heard that you had a hard time coming a long way. I hope you have a comfortable time while you are here.”
“I’m just grateful for Your Highness’ consideration.”
It was a conversation that started with a warm look, but the faces of the nobles in Daejeon were not bright.
The conversations that followed could have completely disrupted relations between the two countries.
In fact, the smiling King’s expression somehow even looked cool.
“I’m sure your travels aren’t resolved yet, but let’s get to the main point before it’s too late.”
When the king stood up and beckoned, one of the waiting attendants brought a small box.
Whenever the attendant moved, white papers could be glimpsed through the half-open box.
One could easily guess what was contained in it.
“These are evidence of corruption from Asus’s room.”
“Hmm, that’s right. That’s it… … .”
“I wrote down the details in the letter of protest sent to the Federal Empire. You should know what it’s about.”
“That’s right.”
Count Asus, who plotted civil war and assassination of the king.
Unfortunately, the whereabouts of the soldiers raised by him or the location of hidden treasures have not yet been discovered, but his crimes have already been revealed in detail, as well as his close relationship with the Federation Empire.
“The fact that the envoy was sent in the midst of that means that the Federation Empire brought an ‘excuse’ for this incident, right?”
okay.
As long as there was solid evidence, whatever he said was just an excuse.
Countess Esula bowed her head at the king’s sharp question that penetrated the essence.
“First of all, you are not here. 1I heard that the prince uncovered his corruption. As for Viscount Honoreo. What a great thing.”
“… … .”
“However, in conclusion, the fact of the Count’s betrayal has nothing to do with our Commonwealth Empire.”
no relationship whatsoever?
A ripple appeared on the quiet king’s face.
“Do you want to say that they don’t know?”
“It is as you say.”
“under! How deplorable it is.”
“It is a realistic story. There is simply no reason in the Federation Empire to do anything that would cause Esteban to fall apart.”
It was not a federal empire that would acknowledge and move on to such diplomatic issues.
Who would admit to instigating a foreign country’s civil war conspiracy? It was natural for them to stick out their flippers.
But their shameless behavior did not end there.
“So. His Majesty the Emperor took this situation seriously and said that Esteban would spare no support in uncovering the truth.”
“… … what?”
“There is a letter from His Majesty the Emperor about that part.”
Countess Esula took out a golden letter that looked like an invitation and handed it to the king.
Indeed, the king frowned at the loud and imperial style, but his expression was not weak enough to express his displeasure in front of the envoys.
but… … .
“Hmm.”
As he read the letter, the king’s face began to harden.
And on the contrary, Countess Esula’s face only changed into a smiley expression.
What on earth is it about making such a face?
Just as the curiosity of the aristocrats grew, the king opened his mouth.
“This content. Can we say that it is the will of His Majesty the Emperor and of the Federation Empire?”
“That’s right.”
“support… … okay. It’s support… … .”
The king put down the letter and stroked his chin.
At first glance, it seemed that he was trying to understand the situation, but the king’s eyes were full of anger.
And that gaze was directly directed at Countess Esula.
“It’s support because I like words, and in fact it’s nothing more or less than the settlement money. After all, doesn’t that mean you’re going to bury this situation with money?”
“You seem to be thinking too negatively.”
“Ha, it seems you can’t say you’re wrong.”
The king trembled as he recalled the contents of the letter.
There were no excuses written in the letter in the first place, only words to discuss the desired support.
There was no such banal means as cutting off the tail.
Apart from the current situation where clear evidence emerged, the Federation Empire’s response was correct.
Even if they said they tried to corrode Esteban through Asus in the first place, what does that mean?
After all, history is made from the point of view of the victors.
And in this situation, the determined winner was the Commonwealth Empire.
So the king could not back down.
If you withdraw from this task, the empire will do the same thing again as if nothing happened.
Furthermore, the fact that the arrow would not be directed at Esteban was something that no one could be sure of.
That’s why it was the moment I tried to express my intention that I couldn’t admit it.
“Isn’t that a pretty good suggestion?”
“… … 1 Prince?”
The first prince who opened the door of Daejeon and appeared naturally intervened in the conversation.
The king’s eyebrows twitched.
“Kuhm! Allen Esteban, where did you come from?”
“I’m late because I have something to check.”
“Confirmation?”
Soon, the first prince, standing where he was supposed to be, smiled lightly.
“Now, start again.”
Although they intervened in the conversation without much difference, the atmosphere in the hall only became more rigid.
Why did he appear at such a timing?
Along with that, it was only natural that the king’s head became more complicated.
‘What are you thinking?’
Those words that the first prince made upon entering were a good proposal.
He was positive about this ‘agreement’. No, he seemed to think it was better than that.
The first prince must have wanted to know the truth about this incident more than anyone else.
“Okay, so what was your intention when you said it was a good suggestion?”
lower voice.
With everyone’s eyes focused, the first prince’s mouth opened.
“It’s simple. Just because it’s the right way.”
“… … It’s not even worth listening to.”
Contrary to his appearance when he was talking about the Ministry of Information, he seemed to have no idea whatsoever.
Maybe it’s because of the way he’s been showing lately, maybe he’s overestimated it?
A feeling of disappointment arose in the king’s heart.
From noble mtl dot com.
… … no.
wait for a sec.
No matter how you think about it, it was a strange thing.
The fact that I uncovered their sins and advised them to send a letter of protest. All of this was done by one prince.
But now, step back for a few pennies of support?
Even at this moment, right now when the delegation has arrived?
‘Did you know things would turn out like this… … !’
1 The prince’s eyes met the king’s.
He, the first prince’s eyes, smiled peacefully.
As if to say that everything is as calculated… … .
“… … .”
The king, who had been lost in thought for a long time, finally opened his mouth.
“It was your credit for uncovering this matter. If so, what kind of support do you think you would like to receive?”
“Before that, I would like to hear a definite answer about the extent to which support is possible. Did you say Countess Eshla?”
“Yes, His Highness the First Prince.”
Countess Esula, who had been quietly listening to the conversation, answered.
“The scope of support can be tangible or intangible. His Majesty the Emperor entrusted me with full powers of negotiations.”
“Even if it has nothing to do with finding out the truth?”
“That’s right.”
“Then the conversation will be fast.”
Prince 1 approached the continent map hanging in the Great War and reached out.
And that finger touched the small piece of land between Esteban and the Commonwealth Empire.
“… … over there.”
“Esteban’s old territory. It is Galderd Plain.”
A small plain of about 20 kilometers.
The first prince’s smile deepened.
“Let’s get the land as ‘support’ for this situation.”