117. Quite an Appealing Proposal
Right after entering Lasquer, I imagined knights lining up and shouting, “Duel! Son of Count Friedrich!”
Honestly, that would be quite a shock. Not his father, but two knights beating his son to a pulp. If they continued the friendly match, they would have subdued at least four more.
“Karl Adelheit, son of Count? Is there a problem?”
“What?”
“Constantly looking around.”
Surprisingly, Lasquer was quiet. Throughout the welcoming of the delegation, there was not a single mention of the friendly match.
The knights escorting us only occasionally glanced at me, nothing more. There was no hostile aura in their eyes.
“Is it because they are holding back due to their new king’s ascension?”
This was probably the most likely answer. Honestly, if the Empire hadn’t been involved in what happened at the academy, the friendly match part would have been criticized.
Suddenly demanding “Let’s have a match” in front of a foreign delegation? That would be slashing their own national prestige. It’s a foolish act that would be dug up and ridiculed for a long time.
Would they want to do such a thing when a new king is ascending? The king who ascended through political intrigue anyway; if they look bad here, their honor and everything would be targeted for immediate purge.
“Captain. What is the schedule for the future?”
“We couldn’t attend the king’s coronation, so we need to convey our congratulations. Also, we will deliver a letter expressing our desire for the relationship between the Empire and the kingdom to become even more friendly. And although it may not seem like a gift, we will also convey that we have decided to forgive part of the debt from importing gunpowder to the kingdom.”
Oh ho. Forgiving the country’s debt? Really? The Empire is sensitive to money issues, right? I thought they were saving imperial funds by tightening their belts?
“This way, we can give one achievement to the newly ascended king of Lasquer. Since it’s not a typical succession but one through political intrigue, it wouldn’t be a bad judgment to give some legitimacy.”
It seems like the result of the Emperor and Crown Prince worrying over it repeatedly. The debt for purchasing gunpowder must be enormous, and by forgiving it like a favor, it would be hard for Lasquer to keep quiet.
Moreover, the best gift for a newly ascended king would be this.
But then, wouldn’t the other side start complaining? Lasquer, Heigens, Abillesti, all of them. It’s too much to give special treatment only to Lasquer; what would they say?
“The kingdom will have to pay an equivalent price. For example, the burden of gunpowder will disappear, causing their boasted knight class to waver.”
“...”
As expected. Politics is scary. So this wasn’t done out of good intentions?
On the surface, it’s presented as a gift to the new king, but in reality, it’s shaking the knight class, which is the core of Lasquer. It’s a calculation I couldn’t even imagine.
After traveling for quite a while, we arrived at the Lasquer royal capital. The impression of it... how to put it? Similar to the Empire but a bit different?
If the Empire is typical Western style, Lasquer has a slight Eastern European feel mixed in. So that’s why I called my father “Baba Yaga” or something.
“Welcome to the royal capital. Citizens of the Empire.”
“Thank you for your hospitality.”
While I was looking around, the delegation side was interacting with Lasquer and exchanging greetings.
So I was about to ask if I could explore the surroundings before introducing myself and heading to the accommodation, when suddenly someone sneaked up beside me.
“Are you Karl Adelheit, son of Count?”
The person who spoke was a middle-aged knight. Just looking at him, he wasn’t ordinary; the aura emanating from his body was different from the other knights around.
With this knight’s level... he could easily fight the elite Gganf who were causing trouble on the southern front in the past.
“Yes, that’s me.”
“Could you spare a moment?”
Now? I reflexively looked at the delegation leader. He seemed busy exchanging greetings with the kingdom side.
“Could you wait a moment? First, talk to the delegation leader—”
“We will explain on the Empire’s side. Please come right away. If the number of eyes watching increases, it will be troublesome.”
“...”
The “eyes watching” here probably doesn’t mean us from the Empire. If it did, it wouldn’t make sense for this person to ask a favor from me, who is from the Empire.
So the concern of this knight and the one who sent him is the eyes from within Lasquer. And if someone needs to worry about those eyes...
“Let’s go.”
“Are you sure it’s okay?”
“Since the king of Lasquer is calling, as a member of the delegation, it wouldn’t be proper not to go.”
The middle-aged knight’s eyes twitched slightly at my words that hit the mark.
“If...”
“If you ask how I knew, first, the person standing in front of me isn’t ordinary. I thought there was only one person who could give orders to such a knight. Also, only that person can personally call someone from the delegation, right?”
Hurry up. If this drags on, other people might see our king having a secret meeting with a foreign man and start gossiping.
If that rumor reaches Selena’s ears, I’m in big trouble. So hurry!
Following the middle-aged knight, we continued deeper into the royal palace.
Hmm. Is it possible that suddenly assassins with swords pop out from between pillars? Then I’d become a tragic hero shouting “Even Brutus!”
The difference is that the other guy couldn’t resist, while I can. Recalling the memories of being beaten by Gganf, these knights here probably aren’t that difficult either.
“This way.”
This seems to be the destination. Fortunately, there was no ambush.
“Garden?”
I thought since it’s a knight’s country, it would be a training ground, but this is unexpected. The knight who was walking ahead stopped, as if he had finished his business, and looked at me.
From here, I have to go alone, right? After nodding in thanks as if understanding, I entered the garden, and beyond that, someone sitting was visible.
“Please come. Karl Adelheit, son of Count.”
The first impression evaluation is simple: because he looks like my father, there are some oddly similar parts to Lepia. How to put it? It feels a bit more authoritative and weighty than Lepia?
That woman is definitely the second princess who became king not long ago. And she is also the one who suddenly called me here.
“I greet His Majesty the King of Lasquer.”
“I wanted to say thank you for coming despite the sudden request.”
“If it’s to improve the relationship between the two countries, it wouldn’t be something I’d hesitate to do.”
Even while saying this, it’s a bit funny. The one saying it’s for improving relations did a friendly match.
Moreover, they crushed two knights properly without even finding their pride. If other knights who value honor and pride knew this, they would foam at the mouth.
But the king himself didn’t say anything about that part. As if saying he doesn’t care much whether a few more knights are beaten.
“I too. You too. Since we don’t have much time for each other, it would be good to keep the purpose simple.”
Then you’re fine with that. Honestly, even though they said they would explain well, if the delegation leader finds out that our country’s nobles are secretly talking to the foreign king... that’s a bit...
Later, when I return, how do I explain this fact? Just thinking about that part makes my head throb.
“First, the friendly match. Let’s do it again. In our country.”
“Your Majesty?”
“If you think it’s rude, we Lasquer will bear the responsibility, so don’t worry. It can be turned into the stubbornness of some knights who are desperate to win.”
“...”
Yeah. Somehow, these knights seemed too obedient. Seeing the king like this, they probably complained a lot behind the scenes, right? Hooray. We lost, so we’re so upset. Make us do the friendly match again!
Wait a minute. If it’s the first one, does that mean there’s a second?
“And second. This is... um. Should I say a request? Or a favor. The situation is a bit different from the first. The friendly match is give and take, but this isn’t, so.”
“I will listen attentively.”
“Lepia. Please take good care of my younger sister. Son of Count.”
“...Yes?”
What kind of sound is this, like being hit with a hammer while sleeping, or being eaten by a ghost? Why is Lepia suddenly coming up here?
“I already heard the news. That you rescued Lepia several times from difficult situations. I think it’s not a bad way to express your feelings.”
“I, Your Majesty.”
“This is the first time. In the letter Lepia sent to me, there was a story about a man. Seeing that, I felt at ease. Even though she’s far from her home country, it seems she has at least one place to rely on in her heart.”
“Your Majesty.”
This is a misunderstanding. No, why am I suddenly worrying about Lepia. What did they write?
You don’t know, but I have already promised a future, and there is also a sharp shooter hiding and waiting for the right moment to ambush an elf who is eyeing the gaps.
“If you answer the second part positively, I can also give you something in return.”
Give or not, I don’t care! So just all of them—
“Friendly match. Whether you win or lose. Whether our Lasquer’s pride is broken or not, I don’t care.”
“Are you serious?”
“Too high honor is poison. It must be broken someday, and only then can it become the driving force to move forward.”
Oh. So it doesn’t matter if several knights are knocked down? Even in the Lasquer homeland? This is interesting in its own way.
“I want to hear your answer. Karl Adelheit, son of Count.”
Of course it’s the obvious answer.
“Indeed, I will try to work towards improving the relationship between the two countries.”