Chapter 66
November 10, 2019, the Age of Magic.
The Brigham Empire had declared war on the Prius Republic.
The conflict had simmered around Lucas the Archduke’s Legacy for some time, and it seemed the Brigham Empire was finally unsheathing its blade.
From the outside, it looked as if the Brigham Empire itself wasn’t entirely sure whether the Prius Republic had truly obtained the Legacy, but they had no choice but to move.
As a result, the Prius Republic, which had been bracing itself, was throwing a tantrum like a dog that had just had its tail stepped on by the Brigham Empire’s declaration of war.
*“Using the nation’s power for robbery? Has the Emperor of the Brigham Empire finally lost his mind?”
*“The Brigham Empire is a nation that has thrown common sense away. They don’t deserve to be called an empire.”*
The Brigham Empire’s actions were clearly robbery.
Whether for just reasons or not, they were starting a war to take back something that belonged to someone else.
Yet, in a ridiculous twist, most countries that did not have strong ties to the Prius Republic were not taking the Prius Republic’s side.
In fact, there were even countries cheering on the Brigham Empire for starting an inappropriate war.
This was the price the Prius Republic’s government had paid for its actions over the years.
‘But what’s funny is that the Prius Republic government itself knows exactly how they’re being treated.’
While they were loudly condemning the Brigham Empire, they were methodically preparing for war, as if they had foreseen it all along.
Still, they were burning up the media with propaganda, pouring out their grievances and making sure everyone knew the Legacy was rightfully theirs, all to stir up the public’s emotions.
“Whoa?”
I clicked my tongue after checking the speech of ‘fake Legacy holder Louis Fairmont,’ who was leading the charge in stirring up the people.
*“Please lend your strength for the sake of our nation. You are the hope and beacon of this country.”*
And that was nothing but a request for donations of war support funds.
In other words, they were using patriotism to squeeze money from the citizens for the costs of war.
Some enlightened citizens were protesting, asking how the government had spent the budget and why it was suddenly hitting them up for money in an emergency, but those voices were just a minority.
Most citizens of the Republic were burning with hatred for the Brigham Empire, which was starting an invasion war rather than questioning how the budget was being spent.
They were burning flags of the Brigham Empire in protests, committing terrorism at the Brigham Empire embassy, and smashing products made in the Brigham Empire, symbols of the nation’s wealth.
And as they saw people eagerly turning out their savings and donating to the government, saying they would protect the country, I had to shake my head.
‘The ones with the actual money, the businessmen and politicians, have their mouths shut.’
Every time I looked at the Prius Republic, it reminded me of some dictatorship in my previous life.
If the people only united, they could overthrow the dictatorship, but instead, a country that was struggling just to survive was still supporting the dictator.
For that country to change, enlightenment among the people was absolutely necessary.
‘It’s an opportunity no one can miss. Even if we have plenty of Aura Masters and Archmages, we can’t fight the government head-on.’
Honestly, as a Korean, I hoped the Prius Republic, which claimed to be a democracy, would turn out well.
Calling a democratic republic a feudal nation? If I were from Earth, I would have thought that impossible.
“Your Highness, what direction do you think the war will take?”
I had been gathering information through online diaries on SNS while the Brigham Empire’s declaration of war was still fresh, and only now did I realize we were at the Prince’s Palace.
When I pulled my gaze away from the terminal, the Crown Prince, Count Ekkers, Miss Otis, and Arsia were all staring at me.
“The win rate will be around 6 to 4, won’t it?”
“Of course it’s 6 for the Brigham Empire.”
“That’s right.”
“You seem not to like the Prius Republic, but your evaluation is surprisingly high, Your Highness?”
The four major empires of Rondel were the Brigham Empire, the Elysia Union, the Prius Republic, and the Croisen Empire.
Among them, the Brigham Empire was in another league.
It was the only country that could fight a war against the other three empires alone.
Because of the huge gap in military power—almost five times—my guess should have been out of the question.
Yet the reason I had come to that conclusion was simple.
“The Brigham Empire has to cross an ocean to invade the Prius Republic and has to head into a closed-off terrain, so there are problems there.”
“In the end, the defensive side has the advantage?”
“Yes, and the Prius Republic, the only country on the Tetarton continent, can mobilize all its power for defense, while the Brigham Empire cannot.”
The Prius Republic was the only country on the Tetarton continent.
In simple terms, it was like a country that held an entire continent to itself, like Australia.
Moreover, its relations with the countries of Triton continent, which were adjacent to the southern islands of the Republic, the Recess Island and others, were quite good.
If things went wrong, it could lead to a war between the Brigham Empire and the continents of Tetarton and Triton.
“It’s terrifying to think we might have to fight two continents. But even so, you think the Brigham Empire will win…?”
“That’s because it’s the Brigham Empire.”
No need for other reasons.
No matter how advantageous the terrain was or how stretched the Brigham Empire would be for a long-range expedition, they could never have a lower win rate than the Prius Republic.
Not to mention the opponent was not the Brigham Empire.
“And the direct support from the soldiers of the Triton continent countries is unlikely.”
“Of course, it’s crazy to make the Brigham Empire your enemy in the first place. They’ll probably support you from behind. Of course, that’s not something we can ignore either.”
For now, what the Lheinhatz Kingdom could do was nothing.
All I could do was pray for the war to end with big casualties and the Brigham Empire being judged for its attempt to overthrow the current regime.
As a bonus, if the revolutionaries who had just accumulated a bit of merit took this chance and got rid of the current regime, that would be the best case.
“Why? Do you have something you want to say?”
The one staring at me while I was talking to the Crown Prince was none other than Count Ekkers.
“Are you telling me, Marquis Lawrence, that you knew about this and made such a choice…?”
This guy was clearly mistaken.
He was suspicious that I had supported the revolutionaries because I knew this situation in advance.
The Crown Prince, who didn’t know the situation, looked puzzled and asked what he meant, and I gave him a smile and shot Count Ekkers a warning look that said not to spout nonsense.
It didn’t matter if he misunderstood.
But it was incomprehensible to throw around illegal activities in front of the Crown Prince.
I had thought we had reached an agreement on secrecy.
“What are you talking about?”
Only then did Count Ekkers realize his mistake and shut his mouth.
If we were to compare which of the secrets we three held would cause the bigger scandal, it would naturally be Miss Otis, who had obtained part of Archduke Lucas’s Legacy.
My actions could be covered up somehow, but they were the ones who could bring in the Brigham Empire.
I answered the Crown Prince’s question with a slightly sulky look and rubbing my eyes.
“In truth, I borrowed the strength of the Prius Republic revolutionaries during the rescue of the two of you.”
“Hah, did something like that really happen?”
“It was necessary to have a local information network. It was convenient that there was a connection to that side.”
“A connection?”
“I made a pact with the leader of the revolutionaries.”
“Heh, really? That’s interesting.”
“Thanks to that, I had to spend no small amount of money. I was surprised at how large their scale turned out to be.”
“In a way, this situation could work as an opportunity for the revolutionaries.”
“I think so too.”
The Crown Prince didn’t believe I was hiding a cunning mind and was genuinely trusting my words.
But for now, showing belief would let it pass.
I quickly changed the subject.
“For now, it would be best if this war didn’t issue any statements.”
“That’s right.”
The Crown Prince closed his eyes, as if pondering for a moment.
In that time, Count Ekkers shrank his shoulders under the gazes of Miss Otis and me.
He was a forty-year-old man with Aura Master skills, but he was a rather proper guy in many ways.
It was a bit annoying…
“For now, let’s park the seats here. Count Ekkers and Miss Otis must keep their mouths shut about Marquis Lawrence and Count Klein. These two will be major weapons in the upcoming royal power struggle. Understood?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Understood.”
“No, Count Ekkers, stay in the palace and don’t meet anyone else. You look like you’ll blurt something out by mistake.”
“Yes?”
That was the proper response.
From my perspective, it seemed better for Count Ekkers to stay under my direct management.
“Ah, understood.”
“Then, for the sake of caution, should I stay here too?”
“If Miss Otis says she will, I’ll feel relieved.”
“Yes, I will. Somehow, it feels like I’ll be able to see Marquis Lawrence and Count Klein often if I’m here.”
I let out a dry laugh at Miss Otis’s words, and Arsia looked sorry, saying she was having a hard time killing her.
Thus, the day that started with a visit to the Prius Republic, included an unexpected deal with the revolutionaries, and ended with the Brigham Empire’s declaration of war, was over.
The war between the Brigham Empire and the Prius Republic was progressing rapidly.
Immediately after the declaration of war, the Brigham Empire’s expeditionary force advanced at a terrifying speed, encircling the Prius Republic.
The Prius Republic, taking advantage of its home-field advantage, had set up a solid defense line.
Direct clashes had not yet occurred, but experts predicted that it would happen very soon.
At the latest, it wouldn’t last more than three days.
The Prius Republic’s reaction to the war was consistent.
*“We will fight back. We will definitely judge the empire for the sake of justice.”*
Many people laughed at the Republic’s confident response.
War could bring any kind of unexpected situation, but even considering all the variables, the Brigham Empire’s defeat was unthinkable.
It was a bit late to say, but I was glad I had hidden the ownership of the Legacy and shifted the spotlight elsewhere.
If the Brigham Empire’s suspicions had focused on me, the battlefield would have been our Lheinhatz Kingdom.
Even the Prius Republic, one of the major nations representing Rondel, was in chaos, so how chaotic was the Lheinhatz Kingdom?
“Marquis Lawrence, are you ready?”
“Yes!”
While the war between the Brigham Empire and the Prius Republic was heating up the world.
I found myself in an unexpected situation.
“Okay, we’ll start filming!”
It was a broadcast appearance, a very awkward situation.
- The young hero of the Lheinhatz Kingdom, Adrian Lawrence!
- We welcome Marquis Lawrence to Jordy Kingdom’s broadcast!
“Kyaaaaah!”
“Oppa!”
“Wait! Wait! Fans! The filming has started! Please be quiet!”
It was a broadcast appearance in a foreign country, not our own nation.
In the heart of chaos, my schedule was going completely insane.
“Our Marquis is very popular and so cool. Would you like to have a drink with me later?”
I let out a deep sigh and pushed away the female celebrities who kept clinging to me, looking at the dozens of cameras and nearly a hundred filming staff.
How had things come to this?
*‘In the recent Saintess competition, Lady Ebril was lacking in visibility compared to the other candidates. To solve that, both of you will have to put in your best efforts.’*
That was Eric Jones’s plan, which I had suggested a few days ago.
Eric Jones was the chief aide and a political talent of the genius youth at the Ebril Saintess creation camp.
In other words, I had entered the filming not for acting, but as part of a plan to make Ebril the saintess.