Chapter 348: The Vote (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 348: The Vote (3)
“Duke Altia, we are approaching the Palatio Marquisate.”
“I see.”
At her secretary’s announcement, Duke Altia turned her gaze out the carriage window.
The panoramic view of the Marquisate came into sight. It had developed to a degree that was incomparable to when she had briefly visited for business a few years ago.
Duke Altia let out an involuntary exclamation of admiration. At the same time, a thought occurred to her: Of course it has.
Who was the Marquis of Palatio?
He was the leader of Kalpa, the largest faction in Asteria. Furthermore, his numerous titles and the rumors surrounding him were so grand they almost eclipsed his status as the leader of Kalpa. His feats were countless—achievements that a single human could not possibly accumulate.
To possess not just one or two, but dozens of such accomplishments? It was only fitting that the estate of such a man be magnificent.
From that perspective, the Marquis’s estate seemed to reflect his frugality in a way. No matter how vast and impressive the territory was, it would always seem lacking when compared to the monumental feats Marquis Palatio had achieved.
“…….”
Altia let out a sigh, her expression flushed with anticipation. For the next three weeks, she was going to be busy in many ways.
It was because of the reason she had come to the Palatio Marquisate: to participate as a candidate in the vote to select the Marquis’s partner.
It will be a very difficult struggle, but I must do my best.
As she passed through the castle gates and observed the interior of the estate, Duke Altia made a small vow to herself. She had already gathered general information on her way here—from who the other candidates were to what kind of relationship they shared with the Marquis.
Naturally, it wasn't going to be an easy fight. As a Duke of Asteria and the woman known as the right hand of Kalpa, Duke Altia possessed a social status that was second to none.
However, the same could be said for the other candidates. While some candidates yielded little information despite her investigations, she couldn't afford to be careless. If they had a relationship with Marquis Palatio in the first place, there was no way they were ordinary people.
Nevertheless, paradoxically, it wasn't a losing battle. Ultimately, the key to this struggle was the vote. To put it simply, winning the hearts of the estate’s residents would determine the outcome, and the candidates' personal relationships with Marquis Palatio had no room to interfere there.
In other words, even if Duke Altia wasn't as close to the Marquis as the others, she could start on equal footing. Above all, Altia had a certain level of confidence. She had managed Kalpa, the largest faction in Asteria, until now. While it had been easier in many ways thanks to Marquis Palatio’s prestige, the point remained that she had run the faction without a single issue.
She was, in a sense, accustomed to this kind of struggle. Therefore...
“Are the preparations I asked for complete?”
“Yes, everything is ready.”
Confidence bloomed on Duke Altia’s face. She strengthened her resolve, mentally checking off the tasks she had to accomplish during her stay.
And so, even until that night, Duke Altia’s confidence did not waver.
...Yes, until the next day arrived.
“……So, what did you say that was?”
Duke Altia stared at the crowd constantly pouring in through the north gate of the estate—priests entering with solemnity, all dressed in pure white Mourning Clothes.
“They are a pilgrimage group from Rosario. It seems a new church was recently established in the Marquisate, so—”
“I know that.”
Duke Altia replied blankly. It wasn't that she didn't know. She had finished her preliminary research, so she knew a pilgrimage group was coming under the pretext of the church.
...And yet, Duke Altia couldn't help but be shocked. Just by looking at them, the number of pilgrims was—
“……How many do you think there are?”
“At a glance, they could easily exceed a thousand.”
“Does that... even make sense?”
It wasn't a scale one would expect just because a church had been built.
“…….”
Duke Altia felt a headache coming on. Of course, even if the pilgrims easily exceeded a thousand, and even if every single one of them participated in the vote, it wasn't an overwhelming number compared to the total population of the Marquisate.
But what if Cardinal Yutia actively involved that pilgrimage group in this struggle? The chances were high that it would become a difficult fight in many ways. No, it was more than that. It would be an overwhelmingly disadvantageous battle. A monumental struggle awaited her.
“…….”
Duke Altia sighed, clutching her forehead, but her spirit didn't break. Even though the situation had certainly turned against her, in a way, it could be an opportunity. In a competition where only one winner survives, if someone appears overwhelmingly close to victory, the other competitors start to band together to pull that person down.
Thus, Duke Altia scrapped her existing plans and began to formulate a new one.
The next day.
“……What is that?”
“They appear to be fighters.”
“……I know that. I don't know how they got here from Karmakeses so quickly, but... what I’m curious about is... were there always that many members in the Golden Flash’s guild?”
Duke Altia saw another massive crowd. Just like the pilgrims she had seen yesterday, an incredible number of fighters were pouring in.
“……I’m not sure either.”
The secretary couldn't offer an answer. Duke Altia sighed and steadied her heart. It’s still okay, it’s still fine, she told herself.
And then, the day after that.
“……Elves?”
“……They are elves.”
“That many... are all of them elves?”
“Yes, they are elves.”
And again, the following day.
“What is it this time—”
“……According to information hastily obtained from the information guild, they are the forces of the Hundred Ghosts, one of the Four Major Factions.”
“……There are so many of them.”
“Indeed…….”
She stared blankly at the central plaza. There, in the heart of the Palatio Marquisate where the massive Alon's Statue stood, the pilgrims, the fighters, the elves, and the Hundred Ghosts’ forces were all glaring at each other, locked in a tense standoff.
“……Should I just go home?”
Having witnessed the Palatio Marquisate transform into a Pandemonium in just a few days, Duke Altia muttered to herself involuntarily. Her voice was finally thick with despair.
* * *
“Prince, we will arrive shortly.”
“……I see.”
Tolenis, the 1st Prince of Calliban, listened to the Knight Commander’s words while recalling the command of his father, King Palmalian.
‘Go to the Divine Land and discern Marquis Palatio’s intentions.’
His father had been incredibly serious. Tolenis soon frowned at the sight of the Divine Land appearing in the distance.
“…….”
The outward appearance of the Divine Land didn't seem strange. It was simply an impossibly massive military camp. However, that was only on the surface. If one thought about it for even a moment, it wasn't hard to find oddities.
To settle in this place and yet maintain the land only in the form of a ‘military camp’? Tolenis could easily deduce what that implied.
“……Tsk.”
Tolenis wasn't the only one who had reached this conclusion. As he stepped out of the carriage and looked around, he saw others who had arrived before him. All of them were staring at the Divine Land with grim expressions. Tolenis took note of each of them.
Ashtalon sent the 1st Prince of Colony, Laxas sent a Princess, and Asteria sent... the Queen’s Chief Secretary.
Considering that Cretenia Siyan had no children, the Chief Secretary was an understandable proxy. But his thoughts were interrupted.
“Welcome. He is waiting for you.”
A knight appeared among them, causing the representatives of each kingdom to stiffen. He bowed politely, showing respect, but he showed nothing more than that. The knight of the Divine Land did not display the deference that knights of the United Kingdoms were expected to show to all kings without exception.
The princes’ faces hardened, but they followed the knight. As they moved, Tolenis naturally began to feel the gazes of the soldiers and knights. The other royals were the same. Their expressions grew even grimmer as they easily perceived the emotions behind those stares.
In fact, it would have been strange not to feel it. The soldiers, who had clearly been training until a moment ago, had all stopped to watch them. Even the knights training them were the same.
It was as if they were scouting an enemy. Under those unpleasant gazes, as they followed the young knight, they realized one fact: this place might already be enemy territory.
After moving through that heavy atmosphere for a while, they reached the largest tent.
“He is waiting inside.”
Following the knight’s guidance, they cautiously stepped into the tent. There, they saw him.
“You’ve all arrived.”
Marquis Palatio. The Marquis greeted the princes and princess with his characteristic emotionless expression.
* * *
Alon sat in the reception area and glanced at the expressions of the princes and princess. They were looking at him with visible tension.
……The atmosphere isn't great.
Realizing this, Alon let out an internal sigh. Honestly, he still couldn't understand why the kings had accepted his invitation. But since things had turned out this way, it would be ridiculous for him to ask outright, ‘Why on earth did you accept my invitation?’
“Ahem—”
Alon decided to make one thing clear first.
“I will say this first: I have no intention of invading other kingdoms or starting a war. I hope you will keep that in mind.”
It might have been a bit abrupt, but Alon felt this statement was absolutely necessary. He intended to ease the heavy atmosphere by declaring upfront that he wouldn't do the very thing the kings were wary of.
Indeed, Alon’s words seemed to have some effect, as the tense air relaxed slightly. To be more precise, it would be more accurate to say they were looking at Alon with a sense of uncertainty.
Should I crack a joke or something?
Alon thought for a moment. Since he truly had no intention of starting a war, he felt an obligation to end this meeting on a good note. Just as he was thinking that...
“May I ask one thing?”
“Please, go ahead.”
Someone spoke up at the perfect time. It was Tolenis.
“I understand that you were granted this territory, but may I ask why you are operating it in this manner?”
“That is—”
Alon pondered how to answer before deciding to tell the truth. In a way, it was a weakness of the Divine Land. He judged that revealing a weakness might help build trust.
“It’s a matter of finances. I originally intended to start small, but due to a series of unforeseen events, the number of people increased. It’s quite a difficult situation.”
“I see—”
“Yes, that’s right.”
He answered as sincerely as possible and looked at the gathered guests.
“I am currently doing my best to operate without any outside sponsorship.”
He even let out a light chuckle with his expressionless face.
However...
Despite Alon’s efforts to reveal a weakness and lighten the mood...
“…….”
The atmosphere in the reception room turned even grimmer, like a house in mourning. Sensing the shift, Alon quietly swallowed the ‘hahaha’ sounds he had been making with his stoic face.
……A heavy silence began.