Chapter 12
Chapter 12
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: Royal Intrigue at the Neutral Banquet
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I remember when I was little, loving banquets no matter what they were.
Gorgeous. Lively. And above all, because everyone there was smiling.
Then, after getting smacked on the forehead by a book and suddenly recalling my past life...
At a rather early age, I realized how the world really worked.
And learned that banquets weren't just places to eat and drink.
Fierce reconnaissance battles. Friend or foe. Can I use them, or will they use me.
Blades of words clashing in an instant. A place perhaps even more brutal than the battlefield.
I have to discern if the smile on their face right now is genuine or fake.
That's why no openings are tolerated at banquets.
This is why many nobles only accept invitations from places they're on 'friendly' terms with.
'Right now, I'm moving in the exact opposite direction of that obvious behavior.'
I can't just go by the host of the banquet.
I need to grasp as much as possible who else will be attending.
Running into someone awkward to face would be incredibly uncomfortable.
—From that perspective, I should avoid this banquet.
"I'm still anxious that His Highness the Prince is coming."
"It's fine. He wouldn't dare cause a scene at a neutral faction noble's banquet."
The Prince is coming. The 1st Prince. The core of the Dove Faction, that guy I met just recently!
Even though we parted with smiles, the person he had with him landed a blow on me.
We're in a very awkward situation with each other.
"Young Master. If you feel the atmosphere getting strange..."
"I'll say I need to clear my head and escape to the balcony."
"Rather than 'escape,' let's call it a 'strategic retreat.'"
"Got it, Alexei. And don't worry too much."
He surely wouldn't be crazy enough to bring that noble again.
Robegon Marquis of the Neutral Faction. This banquet is at his capital estate.
Making a fuss there? It's obvious what the Neutral Faction would think.
"Aigoo, Young Master. You don't know how tough banquets can be."
"I've been to banquets all over the place up until now."
"Those were all Hawk Faction side. Or the military!"
"Jeez. I told you not to worry."
To repeat: This is a gathering of Neutral Faction nobles, Alexei.
Messing up here would put even the Prince under heavy political pressure, right?
I strode confidently into the banquet hall, telling him not to worry.
And soon after, I started suspecting if our Alexei might be a regressor too.
'...Aigoo, damn it. What the hell is this situation.'
A scene that made me want to turn around and head right back the way I came.
"Bell. Why the heck are you here?"
"Did I come somewhere I shouldn't? Nope?"
"I only found out on the way here myself. At this point, you're almost being stubborn."
"Yeah. Not at all."
To my left, the 1st Prince. To my right, the 2nd Princess.
Direct descendants of the Imperial Family, representing the Dove and Hawk Factions respectively.
People who absolutely shouldn't show up at a Neutral Faction noble's banquet.
At least I knew the Prince was coming, so the surprise was a bit less.
But I had no idea the Princess would be here too. No word of it.
What the hell? Did the Princess decide to come at the last minute?
"Welcome, Young Lord Kael."
"Marquis Robegon."
For now, let's greet the host of today's banquet first.
"I've heard the news. They say you contributed to the military's victory with brilliant tactics this time."
"It turned out that way."
"A fine young man. The Bertier Imperial Count must be thrilled."
I have no real connection with Robegon Marquis, hard to even call us acquaintances.
Still, with his high rank, getting at least on nodding terms shouldn't hurt.
As we exchanged brief small talk...
"Ah, Young Lord Kael."
"Young Lord Kael!"
The bickering Prince and Princess spotted me and lit up, rushing over.
The Princess even half-ran to get there first somehow.
'Go separately! If you're coming, come one at a time! Together like this is too much!'
The two siblings, oblivious to my inner thoughts, were already right beside me.
I hurriedly glanced at Robegon Marquis, sending a desperate plea for rescue.
Meaning, get stuck between two whales and the shrimp's back will burst.
"Young Lord Kael."
And once again, I was reminded of the harshness of the political world.
"I need to greet the others too. See you later."
"...Marquis? Your Excellency?"
The Marquis must have judged dealing with both was too much and bolted.
Come on. Is it okay for the host to abandon a guest like that!
"Young Lord Kael."
In the meantime, the Prince approached after shaking off the Princess and spoke.
"Greetings to Your Highness the 1st Prince."
"Looks like you were invited by the Marquis too. What a coincidence meeting here."
"...Seems so."
Not a coincidence, and I know it. The Prince knows it. Even our Alexei knows it.
But knowing and admitting it out loud are completely different things.
Knowing that, I played along appropriately with the Prince's conversation.
"Since fate brought us together again, shall we talk for a bit—"
"Wait a second!"
The Princess, who had snuck right up, suddenly grabbed the Prince's hand.
"I want to hear that story too."
"Why are you butting in again, Bell? This is between this big brother and Young Lord Kael—"
"I'm doing it because I don't know what rudeness you'll commit to Young Lord Kael next."
"That wasn't my fault..."
"If you had something to complain about, shouldn't you have managed your people better at the banquet I hosted?"
"... ."
Wow. She can cut off the Empire's Prince like that without missing a beat.
That's not just because she's a Princess. It's because they're siblings.
I heard they're only a year apart... Hmm. Impressive they don't actually fight.
"Fine."
In the end, the one backing down was the Prince, who had the guilty conscience.
"But in exchange, don't butt into my conversation with Young Lord Kael."
"What if you say something weird?"
"Even so, save it until after we're done. I can't yield more than this."
Yes. Princess, from my view, that's already a huge concession.
*
The Princess finally gave the okay. She must have realized pushing further was impossible.
Afterward, the three of us followed the Marquis's guidance to one of the estate's parlors.
'...This looks a bit suspicious.'
Following behind the Prince and Princess, it felt like we were plotting something.
Like two Princes and the Princess scheming to oust the current Crown Princess, aided by a young strategist hungry for power...
"Have a seat."
The Prince offered me a chair, but didn't sit right away himself.
Instead, he pulled out the one next to it for the Princess.
She looked slightly surprised, then smiled and thanked him.
Not some lady-first nonsense. He was subtly revealing his intentions.
That the amusing incident last time left him wary of the Dove Faction.
That he was showing this much courtesy to the Hawk Faction Princess.
"...Ahem."
The Prince roughly got my point and cleared his throat awkwardly.
Realizing that saying anything foolish could really sour relations.
"First, before we get to the main topic. I want to apologize for what happened before."
"Apologize? That's too much, Your Highness."
"No. As Bell said, I failed to manage my subordinate, so I should take responsibility."
He's the Empire's 1st Prince. I'm the eldest son of an Imperial Count loyal to that Empire.
There's a status gap, so he doesn't need to, but he's apologizing anyway.
That made me a bit uneasy. What groundwork is he laying for whatever he's about to say?
"Young Lord Kael."
The Prince's tone shifted. Now for the main point.
"You know how the Empire's political scene is currently divided, right?"
"Of course, Your Highness."
Just as Norobogord Demon Alliance has moderate and hardline factions...
The Empire's politics are largely split into three factions.
The Hawk Faction, advocating aggressive use of military might—the Empire's surefire weapon.
The Dove Faction, pushing for alternatives over warfare that causes massive damage.
The Neutral Faction, balancing between them to prevent collapse.
The Princess beside me belongs to the Hawk Faction. So does my family, if you think about it.
The owner of this parlor, Robegon Marquis, is Neutral Faction.
And the 1st Prince across from me, asking that question, is Dove Faction.
"To put it bluntly. Young Lord Kael. Join me."
"Hey!"
The Princess's shout startled me more than expected, making me look at her.
Siblings or not, he's the Prince and she's the Princess.
Before them, I'm a servant of the Imperial Family. I can't show any failings.
"Ah, of course. This isn't me asking you to help change the succession."
But the Prince stuck to his words despite her reaction.
These siblings are impressive in many ways.
"I love my big sister. She'll surely be an outstanding ruler."
"Then what do you mean by joining you?"
"How long do you think we can dominate the continent with blood and steel?"
As the Princess growled again, the Prince continued smoothly.
"Don't misunderstand. I'm not antagonizing the military or denying its necessity. Quite the opposite—I'm always grateful to them. I assure you, if anyone insults the Imperial Army, even if they're my ally, I'll cut them down without hesitation."
Just hearing it, he sounds like he should be Hawk Faction.
The Princess seemed to think so too, grumbling softly.
"I. We just want the Empire to head in a better direction from now on. We can't stay the continent's center through force forever."
"The Empire has grown and reached this point through that very force, Your Highness."
"Yes. Exactly. That's why we need a different approach now."
The Prince's following words.
The Empire has spilled blood everywhere. Its own and the enemies'.
Even minor conflicts turn the atmosphere ice-cold.
One friction with a nation, and neighbors rise together.
"The Empire has shown it'll fight them all. But Young Lord Kael. With diplomatic persuasion and pressure, we could peel off some. Maybe even half. They'll target easier foes than our Empire."
"... ."
"Handle it right, and it won't be one big nation versus many big and small ones. It'll be one big nation and small ones. With bystanders."