#75: The Duke’s Visit — After Becoming an Overlord, I Came to Another World! (WN)

View of Viktor-Era-Ruars, Duke of the Lumoria Kingdom

As one who carried the blood of the founder of the Lumoria Kingdom, I had come to the capital of Yōntsu Territory… to bring an end to the Lumoria Kingdom, and above all to determine whether they were worthy to be entrusted with the people we loved.

No… to say I would “determine” such a thing… was arrogance beyond measure.

It would not be an exaggeration to say the Lumoria Kingdom had already fallen. Only the name remained now… calling it a nation was somewhat forced.

To begin with, though our Lumoria Kingdom had taken the form of a country, it was not structured like a typical one… yet I could understand why the new nobles, who hated the dispersal of power, wished to concentrate authority and strength.

On the surface, this region, including the neighboring nations, appeared stable. But peel back a thin layer and writhing shadows could be glimpsed.

That was why those new nobles sought strength as a nation.

Their way was by no means wrong… we so-called old nobles had not been particularly attached to the framework of a country, but the new nobles sought power and tried to enrich both nation and people.

They, who attempted to govern the nation with a broad perspective, were truly the proper nobles.

At this rate, sooner or later the Lumoria Kingdom’s name would vanish from the world… those who fought to resist that deserved respect.

Their methods were somewhat forceful, and making the king a puppet was not admirable… but perhaps it was because they understood reform always carried pain.

That said, those new nobles also lost most of their influence in that war, and Count Harekukku, their leader, had died.

I never expected His Majesty to personally march to battle… but from what I heard, His Majesty had been cut down by an enemy envoy… I thought I understood how foolish he was, yet I had underestimated him.

Though now, it hardly mattered.

Ending my thoughts, I turned my gaze to the cityscape visible through the carriage window.

I had heard stories… but the capital of Yōntsu Territory was this lively.

Even Kruser Territory, which we passed through on the way from the royal capital to Yōntsu Territory, had already surrendered to the enemy nation… Einheria, yet the people showed no despair, and though not as bustling as this city, it felt vibrant.

However, Kruser Territory had only recently fallen to Einheria, so it was weak as evidence… but Yōntsu Territory had already been occupied for several months.

And still it showed such vitality… just as rumored, Einheria must be a good nation.

While I observed the town like that, we reached a place where the crowds vanished and soldiers had sealed the road.

I could not see ahead, but this must be the destination.

The bustle of the city that had been audible until moments ago faded, and a silence wrapped the area as if cut off from the town.

Of course, it did not mean there were no people.

I sensed the knights and soldiers who had escorted us here, as well as those accompanying me, preparing the grounds ahead.

“Your Excellency, may I?”

“Mm.”

After the carriage stopped and some time passed, the butler riding with me asked permission and opened the carriage door.

Outside were soldiers stationed to guard this place, and the retainers who had followed me until today, working tirelessly for our land.

And facing us were a small number of soldiers and several individuals. Compared to our group their numbers were quite few; whether it was underestimation toward a wartime enemy or sincerity was hard to judge.

Among those at their center, one was familiar. Likely the former lord of Yōntsu Territory, the viscount.

The others… I recognized none. They must be people of Einheria.

And the tower-like magic device behind them… that must be the large magic device Einheria was installing everywhere.

Its effects could not be determined, and even the royal capital’s researchers could not judge its function from appearance alone.

“Welcome～. I am～ Ilmitt, serving as Minister of Internal Affairs in Einheria～”

The woman who seemed the representative began greeting us in an unusually drawn-out tone.

But Minister of Internal Affairs…? Not Foreign Affairs…?

Was this meant to show we were no longer within the bounds of diplomacy?

Even so… just as rumored, a woman held a high office. Impossible in the Lumoria Kingdom, but perhaps from now on it would be our common sense that was wrong.

“I am Viktor-Era-Ruars, Duke of the Lumoria Kingdom. I thank you for accepting our request.”

“No no～, though it’s the first time someone asked for dialogue without sending troops～ there is no problem～”

“…”

She spoke quite sharply.

But it was true we had sent troops instead of seeking dialogue… and the damage the Lumoria army inflicted on Einheria was merely the provisions and equipment they must have prepared… and perhaps a little time.

Frankly, I had been told it could hardly be called a war.

“Fufufu, you need not be so tense～. Our king holds not a fragment of ill intent toward the Lumoria Kingdom～. Well～ you will understand immediately once you meet him directly～”

Words that greatly belittled us.

Certainly we had no other choices… merely a position of nodding obediently.

But contempt bred arrogance, and arrogance clouded an organization’s eyes.

Which way their hearts leaned… even if only one path existed, I had to know.

“Will an audience be possible immediately?”

“Aren’t you tired from your long journey～? For today～ would it not be better to rest～?”

“No, if possible, may I request an audience today?”

“Hmm～, for us～ the audience is scheduled for tomorrow～ so it may be difficult～”

Naturally impossible… yet despite my remark seeming to look down upon the King of Einheria, she showed no concern.

I expected her to rebuke me for overstepping after that arrogance… was her loyalty to the king low?

“…My apologies, Ilmitt-dono. I spoke rashly.”

Still, continuing this topic further was dangerous. Even to understand the other side, I had stepped too far.

“Fufufu～, I shall give you one piece of advice～”

“…?”

Keeping the same smile as before, Ilmitt-dono continued.

“His Majesty is a very magnanimous person～. If only once～ he will laugh and forgive some rudeness～. But～ we subordinates may not～. Beyond this point～ please mind your words and actions～”

The moment after she spoke in that relaxed tone, something unknown pressed us back, and we retreated more than a step.

Among the civil officials I brought, some collapsed and others fainted, and the trained warhorses pulling the carriage fell into panic.

Though nothing had been done, chaos engulfed us instantly, but the escort knights hurried to restrain the horses and help the fallen, restoring order.

Was this… Ilmitt-dono’s doing…?

“Are you alright～?”

“Y-yes…”

The unchanged smile, the words spoken as if nothing happened, the same demeanor as before… made the person before me seem like something unknowable.

Yet… because I observed at the closest distance, I understood.

Low loyalty was unthinkable. Rather the opposite… they might be said to worship their king.

Neither tone nor expression changed… yet after the remark belittling the king, the will deep within their eyes had shifted.

They would never forgive disrespect toward the king… while possessing fierce personal conviction, they prioritized the king’s will above all else with stubborn resolve.

It was not only Ilmitt-dono; everyone except the viscount showed the same.

A king who gathered absolute reverence… I felt curiosity toward what kind of person he was, yet also fear.

Could we entrust them… this nation… with our people?

Certainly they governed peacefully now… but if the one holding absolute power erred… would anyone among them correct that path?

I had met only a few… yet I felt madness within the will behind their eyes.

“Well then～, shall we go～”

As I failed to digest the doubt rising within me, Ilmitt-dono spoke cheerfully.

“Where are we headed?”

“Of course～ to Einheria Castle～”

“The castle…?”

A different question arose within me.

Einheria’s castle… I had investigated not only Yōntsu Territory but neighboring lands… yet found nothing worthy of being called a castle.