The Pride Of The Duke Of Lanberg

“…Putting aside whether to verify the truth or not, wouldn’t everyone be satisfied if that boy were made to fight the ‘Apostasy’ Taromati?”

Leonardo, who had remained silent until now, said so quietly.

“Brother Leonardo, are you not listening? I’m saying something like that is meaningless.”

After Wulfe and now Leonardo suggested such a thing, Patricia spoke with a hint of lethal intent.

At first she had kept quiet as a representative of the Empire, but she was now on the verge of exploding. If anyone dared utter such a line again, no one would be able to stop Patricia.

“Wait. I don’t wish to send such a boy to his death either. But you must understand there are those who will not be satisfied with that.”

“What do you mean?”

When Patricia asked in an ominously low voice, Leonardo looked toward a certain person.

It was Hermina, head of one of the five great ducal families, the Lanberg Ducal House.

“Listen: it is the Lanberg family who are confronting the ‘Apostasy’ Taromati now. For them, who have sacrificed many comrades, defeating Taromati is a fervent wish. I’m sure they came to today’s talks filled with hope. We must also consider that feeling.”

“……………………”

The Duke of Lanberg cast a sharp glance at Leonardo and Patricia.

What that look meant exactly was unclear, but it was obvious she held no favorable feelings toward the Imperial Family.

“…But what meaning is there in sending Jonah? Rather, even if you thrust a mere boy upon us, Lord Lanberg will only be troubled, I think.”

“Patricia is right.”

“Then…”

“Hear me out. The Empire was also at fault for taking Lady Quylindra’s words at face value. If so, it is only proper that the Empire at least make amends.”

What Leonardo said was extreme, but from the desperate perspective of the Duke of Lanberg, it was understandable she would feel disappointed.

Patricia signaled Leonardo with her eyes to continue.

“Regardless of the boy’s ability, I think this incident is a good opportunity to strike down the ‘Apostasy’ Taromati who have plagued us for years. Therefore…”

Leonardo looked at Patricia and then Wulfe, lifting the corner of his mouth.

“With the full might of the Imperial Army, we will undertake the extermination of the Demon King’s Army commander, the ‘Apostasy’ Taromati. Of course, I will accompany the campaign myself.”

“…!?!?”
“…!?!?”

Patricia and Wulfe, both taken aback by this unexpected development, both gasped.

Especially for Wulfe, who had been trying to use Leonardo’s words to send Patricia to the hunt, he never expected he himself would be dragged into it.

“S-stop joking around already! How did it come to that?!”

“What? As Marshal of the Imperial Army, are you intimidated by a Demon King’s Army commander?”

“…!? N-no, that’s not…”

Provoked by Leonardo, Wulfe faltered.

Though he himself was a capable man, his personal strength was several ranks below Patricia’s. At the scent of death that crept up behind him, Wulfe felt a chill along his back.

Meanwhile, Leonardo smirked inwardly.

His true target had always been removing Wulfe, not Patricia.

Despite Wulfe’s simplicity and lack of foresight, his position as Marshal made him the only real rival in the struggle for the throne.

After all, Patricia had no interest in the throne to begin with.

All that remained was to use the position of Crown Prince to assume supreme command and trap Wulfe on the battlefield.

However.

“…Save the jokes. No matter how many useless people you send, we can’t look after them all.”

The Duke of Lanberg said this with a grim expression, as if spitting the words out.

She had been destined from birth to fight the remnants of the Demon King’s Army, and she took pride in having overcome countless crises.

Above all, she did not trust an Empire that had offered only meager support and words of thanks until now.

It would not be an exaggeration to say their life-and-death struggle had been used as a political tool and treated with disdain.

“If you’re going to ‘support’ us, give us at least one magical device instead of useless men. And… dragging a frail child onto the battlefield—enough with that nonsense!”

Finally unable to bear it, the Duke of Lanberg shouted out loudly.

Everyone present at the meeting fell silent at that.

“B-but Lord Lanberg surely understands the strength of the ‘Silver Sword Princess.’ Then my sister can be counted as combat strength…”

“I said we don’t need her.”

Wulfe’s attempt to persist in sending his sister to the battlefield was cut off by the Duke of Lanberg before he could finish.

In the end, what the two princes had done only needlessly disrupted the talks. Leonardo and Wulfe’s scheming only diminished their standing.

“…Then, Lady Quylindra has accepted the Empire’s protest and officially apologized. Is it acceptable to conclude the talks here?”

“……………………”
“……………………”

Leonardo and Wulfe remained silent at Patricia’s question.

The others nodded in agreement.

“Then, we’ll adjourn the talks.”

With those words, the meeting was adjourned… but.

“Miss Patricia.”

“…? What’s wrong, Jonah?”

“Um… I’d like to visit Lord Lanberg’s domain.”

Jonah tugged Patricia’s sleeve and whispered that to her.