219. On the Masquerade (2)
219. On the Masquerade (2)
- 1 -
"These terms are absurd, Your Excellency."
A cold voice echoed through the conference hall.
Tension rippled across every occupied seat.
'Insolent...'
A smile like a scabbard's edge flickered at the corner of Count Arkan's lips. He had been dispatched from the royal capital of Hylash.
He had come as the envoy's representative for the transfer of the Cheoks Margraviate's territory, but contrary to expectations, the negotiations were hitting one snag after another.
"Hoho... this is a royal decree, Lady Adelaide. We merely added a few more conditions to it—out of consideration for your circumstances, you see."
The count's hollow laughter only deepened the tension in the conference hall.
Adelaide's title was only that of a viscount, but she could not be ignored.
Her position as diplomatic representative of the Margraviate carried that much weight.
"Do you truly believe that?"
Adelaide asked in return. Her blue-grey eyes gleamed coldly.
"In the war that began in this region with an enemy invasion, the Margrave of Ironfield brought peace using his own private funds, without a single penny of state subsidy."
Her hair, shifting from brown to a reddish-gold, shone brilliantly under the conference hall's lights.
Her faintly glowing fingernail pointed at the documents.
"And my younger sister, Elena Ironfield, became the standard-bearer of that peace and expanded the territory. In this affair, the forces of Hysen did not do a single thing. Not one."
Adelaide's gaze turned to the count's face.
That gaze was calm, but everyone who witnessed the scene thought the same thing.
If a gaze could carry force, Count Arkan's aged face would have been pierced through by now.
"And yet now you tell us to hand over the territory to the royal family. Are you saying this is just?"
"C-compensation, of course, will..."
Adelaide slammed the documents in her hand down onto the table.
Kung!
A sound that rang out loudly, though she had merely set down papers.
Nearly everyone flinched, regardless of which side they were on.
It was the work of mana.
"Elena Ironfield..."
A smile hung at the corner of her lips as she spoke her younger sister's name, but her eyes did not smile.
"...in just a single month, brought down more than ten fortresses and dozens of villages."
Her blue-grey eyes sharpened.
Her expression was composed, but that only made her gaze seem sharper.
"After I was dispatched, we succeeded in stabilizing all the major fortresses. And you are well aware that more than half of the spoils obtained during that time went to the royal family."
"Th-that is..."
"And yet what you offer as compensation for that is merely a reduction in tolls and a free trade permit... isn't that ironic, Your Excellency?"
A smile without the slightest hint of laughter.
The count's face, which had been irritated by the pressure flowing from that smile, turned pale.
Her presence, unlike her outward appearance, was as hard and sharp as steel.
Enough to understand why the word 'Steel' was attached before the phrase 'Rose of Ironfield.'
"Everyone must know that such a level of authority is something one can obtain even without land. Especially since our territory has had border trade with the Zenota United Kingdom from the very beginning."
The count's face alternated between red and white.
Adelaide continued speaking to the count in an exceedingly composed voice.
"This is land that the soldiers and officers of Ironfield obtained with their lives on the line. Are you telling us to hand over that land for this paltry level of compensation?"
"Uh..."
The count opened his mouth but could not form proper words.
He had already been overwhelmed in spirit, and he, too, knew these were absurd conditions.
Because this was practically an attempt to forcibly seize the territory Ironfield had secured through its own efforts.
"Th-then... are you saying that House Ironfield cannot accept these terms?"
That was the best he could manage, a faltering, incoherent reply.
It was at the moment Adelaide, without a hint of hesitation, was about to nod in agreement.
"Your Excellency."
Elena opened her mouth.
At the voice of the 'Young Hero of Ironfield,' who had remained silent throughout the exchange in the conference hall, the eyes of the assembly focused on her.
Her face was just as serene as her elder sister's, but the woman around whom an even more steadfast aura lingered had her lips drawn into a firm line.
"P-please speak, Viscount Elena."
"I will follow the royal decree..."
"That is unacceptable, Viscount."
Before Elena could even finish her sentence, Adelaide shot up from her seat.
Her sharp gaze pierced her younger sister.
Adelaide had always been a sister who loved her sibling.
She could not simply hand over the land her sister had bled and sweated to gain.
"I know all too well how immense your contribution was in occupying that place. That is why your opinion matters most, but even so, we absolutely cannot do that."
A firm voice hammered down upon the heads of the people in the conference hall.
"It is land that thousands of soldiers shed their blood to obtain. And..."
After catching her breath for a moment, she opened her mouth again.
"There are already our people there. Everyone knows how hard Elena worked for them, and how they responded to that effort... Do they not, Your Excellency?"
"Uh-uh..."
The count could not continue any further, and the other envoys from Hysen were the same.
Over their silence, Adelaide's declaration fell.
"I beseech you, bring us better terms. We shall take a short recess."
With a loud Kung! the meeting room door slammed shut.
A heavy silence settled over the hall.
- 2 -
Click-clack. Click-clack.
Stomp. Stomp.
A faint anger surfaced on Adelaide's hardened face as she strode ahead, while a small smile hovered on Elena's face as she followed behind.
The sisters relocated to a separate lounge prepared for them.
The meeting was not yet over, so they could not return to the castle.
Once the Hysen royal side brought better terms, they would have to reconvene the meeting.
"Were you truly going to hand over that land?"
Adelaide stopped her hand just as she was about to drink her tea and looked at Elena.
Her face and voice were calm, but Elena could sense the deeply sunken rage beneath the surface.
"We are a house loyal to the royal family, sister. Naturally, we must accept."
The younger sister answered without avoiding her gaze. With a smile that made no effort to hide her affection for Adelaide, a smile that somehow made it difficult to meet her eyes.
To this, Adelaide looked away, but still spoke firmly.
"Naturally? I know how much effort you poured into that land. That effort of yours absolutely must be rewarded."
"But Ironfield is one of the representative royalist houses. We shouldn't be sharpening our blades like this, should we?"
Elena shook her head, concealing her true feelings.
Adelaide's firm stance had truly been unexpected, even to her.
'I thought she would negotiate the terms on the spot and accept, even if bad conditions came up.'
So Elena could not hide her emotions.
Because she knew this was the depth of Adelaide's love for her.
Whether it was affection for her younger sister, or a forbidden love that had newly begun to blossom.
"Loyalty between the royal family and nobility is established under a proper transactional relationship. Devotion must come with recompense. If you wish to survive in this world, you must never forget that principle."
At first listen, the elder sister's words sounded like she was simply teaching the ways of noble life.
The smile on Elena's lips deepened.
Her sister's tone was just like that of a governess, but in those words, she could feel 'the heart of an elder sister frustrated by her younger sibling's loyalty.'
"Thank you, sister."
"Elena..."
"Truly."
But Elena only said that, along with a subtle indication that her own mind had not changed.
'Even though we hadn't coordinated our words at all, she really did so well.'
Elena's objective from the start had been to hand over the Cheoks Margraviate territory to Hysen.
That objective would not be easily achieved due to Adelaide's active opposition, but that was, in fact, a necessary part of the plan.
So much so that she would have had to find another way if Adelaide had not stepped forward.
[The tragic nature of a hero who loves the people draws the crowd's attention. Accept the royal decree, but do not forget to set forth conditions for the lives of the subjects.]
She recalled the words her master had impressed upon her.
Now, Adelaide's opposition had created the opening for Elena to present conditions to the royal family for the people of the (former) Cheoks Margraviate.
The presentation of such conditions, the rumors of what had happened inside the conference hall, and moreover, the politics of the former Kiza Kingdom's royal nobles who would occupy that seat.
It would result in making the people living in the lands of Anutelunus and Viscruz wait for their occupiers.
"As you said, sister, this is the first land I ever obtained. By my own strength, by my own will..."
Elena stood by the window and looked out at the street where people were milling about.
"So, if I can choose a path that improves the lives of the people there."
"I do not mind."
Adelaide did not realize the true target of that emotion within Elena.
"Haa..."
That was why the sigh she let out contained only worry for her younger sister.
- 3 -
No matter how important the affairs of the human world might be, the management of the dungeon could not be neglected.
After returning from the Demon Realm, a few days of reorganization were essential.
Even so, that time was not very long.
"You have done an excellent job."
Because those who had remained had done so well.
Especially Sonia, who had been able to manage the dungeon even without the help of Evangeline or Yuran, deserved much of the credit.
Physical force could be supplemented by Shue, but management ability could not.
"You flatter me. The members of the Claiamel family, the Arachne queens, and Lady Echidna and Lady Etna were of great help."
Sonia bowed modestly over and over, but she seemed unaware that this very quality was the hallmark of a superior.
Being good at handling people. Listening to advice.
That is the very foundation of one who rules.
"That itself is what you did well, Sonia."
"Is... is that so...?"
She had been watching my expression with her hands clasped together, and soon, realizing I was sincere, she smiled shyly.
It was astonishing that hidden within that quiet demeanor were the qualities of a sympathizer, a mage, and a leader.
'Just maintaining things would have been good enough.'
I gestured to her, and took hold of her hand as she approached, pulling her closer.
"Master..."
Sonia tightly clasped my hand as well. Along with the warmth from my disciple's hand, I could hear her heart pounding loudly.
I stroked the head of the kneeling woman.
"Continue to help me in the future. I believe you will do excellent work."
"Yes. I... will certainly live up to your expectations."
The emotion filling her blushing face was now a pure affection that had surpassed reverence.
'It is not yet the time.'
The day would surely come when I would answer those feelings.
But for now, it was time to greet the others who were approaching me.
"How is the necromancer who recently joined the demon realm?"
"I'll report on that..."
Shue, who had been quietly waiting her turn on the other side, opened her mouth.
Her gaze upon me was calm, but her tail was wagging back and forth, revealing her pleased mood.
"They're someone reasonably trustworthy... They consider it fortunate to be in master's domain, and are waiting for a chance to pay their respects. And..."
"And?"
Her last words were a fact that surprised even me.
"The fact that they're a necromancer of human origin is interesting..."
"Of human origin?"
"Yeah..."
So the master of the Skeleton Banneret I met in the Demon Realm was a Dungeon Lord of human origin. And there was a high probability they were a necromancer like me.
That was a story that intrigued me greatly. Since I, too, had been human back on Earth.
But.
"It is intriguing. Still, for now, assign more watchers."
"Right. Humans are hard to predict..."
I nodded and turned my eyes to the next person.
"How are Kamaya and Nirvana doing?"
The eyes of the pink-feathered harpy Serha, who had been waiting for a moment, sparkled.
"Mother and Lady Nirvana have both settled in perfectly! They were delighted, saying it seems they'll be able to bring forth new kin before long."
It was joyful news.
Unlike harpies, Alraune had particular difficulty increasing their numbers.
First, they needed a plant old enough to attract the interest of a spirit or wraith, and even then, they had to wait until the soul naturally generated in that state possessed clear intelligence.
Even being born was a problem.
Their individualism was strong, and their territoriality was fierce, making them difficult to rally without a charismatic leader.
It was fortunate that Nirvana, already the queen of the Alraune, was present.
And this was not the end of it.
"Then it is time to prepare to make Orea and Echidna into Dungeon Lords."
Once Nirvana and Kamaya stabilized enough to cover the domains of the other two queens, dungeon cores could be granted to the remaining two as well.
"Ah... have you already obtained that many cores?"
"No. But it will be soon."
Shaking my head at Serha's question, I looked to the north of the map.
The royal capital of Hysen, Hylash.
For a long time, the humans of the continent, including the Hysen Kingdom, had been managing Dungeon Lords.
In their royal capital, there would remain cores that had not been recovered to the Demon Realm after the deaths of Dungeon Lords.
If I could obtain just a few of those, it would not be difficult to create more subordinate Dungeon Lords or strengthen existing ones.
"I must be going now."
"...Please take care, Master."
Sonia wore a regretful expression as she let go of my hand, while I smiled at her.
I added one last word.
"With you here, I can go with peace of mind."
A thin glistening of moisture formed at the corners of Sonia's eyes.
"I shall report to you frequently. I will be waiting, Master."
"I shall return."
It was a gaze closer to the resolve to repay trust, rather than the sorrow of parting.