The Einheria-Lufelon Conference

On the second day after coming to the royal capital of the Lufelon Holy Kingdom, today was the main event: a conference between the leaders of both countries.

That said, what Efaria and I had to do was only about as much as greeting each other at the start of the conference, and after that, we merely had to quietly watch over the talks.

It was truly carefree.

…

…Of course, that was a lie.

No, the part about merely watching over the talks was not a lie, but… the atmosphere was far from carefree.

The reason was….

“…What exactly is the meaning of this?”

With veins bulging on his face so much that I almost thought sound effects like “crack, crack” should be written around it, the chancellor was staring intently at the document that briefly summarized the treaty to be exchanged between both countries this time.

Well, I understood his feelings very well… no, I suppose I did not understand after all. I had never experienced being provoked this much….

The document handed over this time had been created by Kiriku, but its contents were as unfriendly as when we first held this meeting with Efaria and Count Heldio.

Its contents were the dismantling of the Lufelon Holy Kingdom’s military, the abolition of the noble system, free movement of citizens between both countries and the abolition of border-crossing taxes, and the revision of tariffs.

There was nothing written about the installation of mana collection devices or the right of Einheria’s army to march through their territory.

Furthermore, there was no follow-up explanation concerning the contents at all, and only these conditions had been thrust before them.

It was no wonder the chancellor was furious. Well, if the place where this document had been handed over had not been here, there was also a possibility that it would have ended with him simply laughing it off.

Incidentally, the people currently participating in this conference from Einheria were me, Kiriku, Ururu, and Lynferia.

From the Lufelon Holy Kingdom, there were Efaria, the regent, Count Heldio, the chancellor, and two other important people from the chancellor faction.

The balance between the regent faction and the chancellor faction seemed to be maintained, but if one thought of it as the Einheria faction versus the Kingdom of Sorakil faction, there was an overwhelming difference in numbers.

“Ah, it is not written there, but we will provide full technical assistance regarding road construction. Please rest assured.”

“Do not mock me!”

In response to Kiriku’s completely insolent way of speaking, the chancellor slammed the document onto the desk and openly showed his anger.

Kiriku was really provoking him.

While feeling nervous inside, I consciously wore a bored expression and looked at the chancellor and the others.

The two beside him also had faces dyed with anger, but more than them, the chancellor was dangerous… his blood vessels were bulging so much that it looked like he might die from rage.

“Mock you? At an important occasion where our two countries are forming friendly relations, to mock you would be… Chancellor Rangas, you have quite the sense of humor.”

“Enough! What in the world is this?!”

“It is an outline of the treaty to be exchanged between us. Could it be that even a person such as Chancellor Rangas, who supports the historic Lufelon Holy Kingdom, did not understand the purpose of this conference?”

“Ah, yes. It seems I misunderstood! I had thought Einheria wished to form friendly relations with us, but to think you were plotting invasion!”

“I cannot let that pass. When did we say we would harm the Lufelon Holy Kingdom?”

Kiriku said that in a displeased manner, but… yes, I thought what the chancellor was saying was more correct.

Of course, I did not let that thought show on my face.

“How far must you mock us before you are satisfied?! After bringing something like this, are you getting carried away because we have not launched foreign expeditions since our founding?!”

“What foolishness… for us to look down on your country… no matter how great the difference in national power may be, we would never look down on another nation.”

What polite rudeness… no matter how I heard it, he was completely looking down on them….

“…It seems we have wasted our time. For a king to personally come here and yet say such nonsense… your country must have quite a lot of free time.”

“Oh? Did Chancellor Rangas not know the state of our country?”

“…I had heard a little. But I did not think you had enough leeway for the king and his close aides to leave the country together.”

The chancellor said that as if he found it detestable.

The conversation was progressing quite a bit at Kiriku’s pace… no, this was not progressing at all.

“As you know, Einheria is currently at war with two countries.”

“Two countries…? Was it not three?”

The chancellor said that without changing his expression… did he not know that the war with the Kingdom of Est had ended?

Or did he know the information itself, but was showing that he had no interest…? I could not read anything at all from the chancellor’s expression.

Rather, perhaps the way he had shown his anger so clearly earlier was also just for show.

“The war with the Kingdom of Est concluded about half a month ago, you see. The countries we are currently fighting are only two… well, even those will not last much longer.”

The chancellor’s expression did not change at all in response to Kiriku’s words, but the two chancellor faction people beside him wore expressions that seemed to say, “That is absurd.”

Well, the chancellor might have felt the same inside too.

“And in such a situation, you intend to reach your hand even toward us, the Lufelon Holy Kingdom?”

“To say we are reaching our hand is regrettable… Chancellor Rangas, what exactly has displeased you since earlier? We have come to form a treaty, not to become enemies.”

“You thrust such conditions before us, and yet you can say such lines so calmly? Where in these clauses am I supposed to feel friendship?”

Saying that, the chancellor stood up.

“This has been a waste of time. Your country is still at war, so I am sure you are busy in various ways. You should return to your country soon.”

As if following the chancellor’s words, the two from the chancellor faction also stood from their chairs.

“Oh, will Chancellor Rangas be leaving midway? Well, that is fine with me, but…”

“Leaving midway…? At this stage, you still intend to continue talking?”

“Even if Chancellor Rangas leaves his seat, Her Holy Majesty and the regent seem to intend to continue the conference, so naturally, we will proceed with the talks as they are.”

“…”

There, the chancellor turned his gaze toward Efaria and Guriel, who had been seated beside him, for the first time.

“…Your Holy Majesty, Regent… how long do you intend to continue this farce? As you can see, they seem to have not the slightest intention of forming friendly relations. It would be fine to say that this conference has unfortunately reached its end here, would it not?”

The two people addressed by the chancellor… no, Efaria showed no reaction at all, but Guriel, the regent, spoke to the chancellor with a smile.

“Chancellor. Both Her Holy Majesty and I find the proposal from the people of Einheria very interesting. If you are leaving midway, I will not stop you, but I cannot overlook the reckless act of trying to end the conference on your own.”

“Wh-what are you saying? Where in these clauses could you possibly find interest…?”

“It is a discussion that could be called the first step toward friendship between the Lufelon Holy Kingdom and Einheria, is it not? Since our two countries have had no diplomatic relations at all, it is only natural that we must feel our way through various matters.”

“Feel our way through?! You call these clauses feeling our way through?! Calling this domestic interference would be absurd… this is like something thrust upon a vassal state!”

Unfortunately, it was not merely like something thrust upon a vassal state, but something thrust upon a vassal state.

Or rather, from the start of the conference until now, the chancellor was unmistakably making statements that sounded like those of a patriot.

No matter how one listened, the regent sounded more like the villain selling out the country.

“Hahaha. What is wrong, Chancellor? This is quite unlike you, who are always so calm.”

Seeing Guriel laugh cheerfully, the chancellor changed his expression ever so slightly.

It was only for an instant, but it felt like an expression of someone who had seen something terrifying.

“Regent, are you sane? What exactly have you been saying since earlier… Why are you acting like that… could it be that you have been brainwashed…”

“Enough, Chancellor.”

Efaria, who had maintained an unmoving posture until now, sent a sharp gaze toward the chancellor.

“Your Holy Majesty…”

“I will not say I do not understand your excitement, but where do you think this place is? In this place, and with someone in your position saying such a thing… you need not even think to know what would happen, correct?”

Receiving Efaria’s words, which were natural enough but rather harsh, the chancellor bowed his head deeply.

“My apologies, Your Majesties… it seems I became somewhat excited. I apologize for my rudeness.”

“Allow me as well to apologize for my subordinate’s discourtesy. I am sorry, king of Einheria.”

The chancellor bowed his head with a solemn air, and Efaria spoke her apology with dignity… this girl… did she truly need a regent?

No matter how I looked at her, she seemed like she could be a splendid king all on her own….

I almost wanted Efaria to teach me about how to behave as a king.

For now, since I had been addressed, I needed to respond properly.

“No, it is only natural for emotions to run high in such a conference. I do not mind. This is the first official conference between our countries. I hope you will speak openly, exchange honest opinions without reserve, and make this a fruitful conference by all means.”

Saying that, I smiled at the chancellor and the others.

“However, it seems the chancellor and the others are quite dissatisfied with this conference.”

“…”

Looks that seemed to say, “Of course we are,” flew at me from the two people other than the chancellor, but the chancellor himself seemed to have already swallowed his anger and did not glare at me in particular.

“Kiriku. The chancellor and the others are probably anxious. If the army is dismantled, how will the country be protected from now on…? First, explain to them the true intention behind the conditions we are presenting.”

“Understood, Your Majesty. Chancellor Rangas, if you would be so kind, why not take your seat? I shall explain each clause in detail from here. I will also explain the detailed conditions attached to them. This is only the first conference… in order to adjust the conditions from here and reach a final agreement, I believe it would be best for you to confirm all of our arguments.”

As Kiriku pushed up the bridge of his glasses with his middle finger and urged them to sit, the chancellor and the others who had stood up slowly sat back down.

After confirming that, Kiriku showed a satisfied smile, handed out the next set of documents, and resumed his explanation.

Well, those contents were also fully aimed at provoking them, and were extremely wicked contents with no relief measures whatsoever, but the chancellor and the others listened to the explanation quietly without raising their voices.

Now then, with this, the chancellor faction had probably more or less understood what the regent faction and Einheria were thinking.

Because of this, the chancellor had been put in a situation where he had no choice but to make his next move quickly.

After all, people of the legitimate royal family were trying to sell the country to another nation.

To stop that, there was no method other than removing the royal family… but until now, no matter how much power the chancellor had boasted, he had not been able to remove the royal family head-on. If he could have done that, he would have done it long ago.

However, with this matter, it could be said that he had obtained a just cause to do so. Yet in this current situation, everything was far too late.

Whether by legitimate methods or crooked methods, if he removed Efaria and the others, Einheria, which would have obtained a just cause, would rush into the Lufelon Holy Kingdom all at once.

He did not even have time to contact the Kingdom of Sorakil, his backer. Even if he sent a fast horse, the distance would take not just a few days, and if he waited for instructions, around a month would easily pass.

No matter how much he dragged out this conference, the treaty would be concluded by then.

Killing Efaria or Guriel was no good, and of course, killing me or Kiriku was out of the question… right now, the chancellor must have been desperately thinking about what move he could make.

I would not call it checkmate, but… he was already in check.

How the chancellor would move from here was truly worth seeing.

That aside, our Minister of Foreign Affairs… she had been incredibly invisible in the diplomatic setting… no, unlike her usual light clothing, her outfit was crisp and cool, but if anything, had she not even introduced herself?

Well, Ururu’s work would truly begin from here.