The Secret Pact 1

After the enemy who had infiltrated the fortress had retreated, things progressed surprisingly quickly. The front line of the knightly order sent by the neighboring lord was annihilated, the majority of the infantry had lost their will to fight and had deserted, and the cavalry had had their horses stolen—in that case, even the baron must have had no choice but to raise the white flag.

The margrave had been on guard until the end, thinking that the "northern immigrants" might launch a surprise attack again, but betraying his vigilance, the signing ceremony also ended without a hitch. They had sent a message to the capital and were planning to formally protest to the Yunatian Empire as the Kingdom of Slibegrad.

“But they’ll probably end it with just the baron’s head. It’ll be a good thing if they give us a piece of land or two, along with some gold coins.”

The margrave murmured to Vice-Captain Maurice. Maurice nodded, a slightly bitter expression on his face.

“That’s probably right. It’s infuriating, but.”

“But there were some gains. A more accurate investigation of the ‘northern immigrants’ seems necessary.”

“Yes, we had only focused on their outstanding physical abilities, but from what we’ve seen of their abilities, it’s highly likely that they have other useful abilities besides physical ones.”

The margrave also nodded at Maurice’s point. But a thoughtful light was in his eyes.

“That’s right. But to what extent the neighboring country has noticed that—or rather, there might be nobles in our own country who have noticed. That would be troublesome.”

The seasoned Margrave Kennys was, at his core, a warrior. He was straightforward, unpretentious, and did not hide things. However, when necessary as a margrave, he had also frequented the royal court. Thanks to that, he had become accustomed to the kind of interactions between nobles that he disliked. After spending many years like that, he couldn't help but realize how self-centered human beings were and how they didn’t hesitate to hurt others.

“It’s a problem if the neighboring country’s military strength increases because of the ‘northern immigrants’—but there will also be those who will treat them without any regard for their will.”

If it became known that there were those among the "northern immigrants" with special abilities, there would surely be those who would plot to use them. The baron, a lord of a neighboring country, didn't seem to know, but if the Empire was involved in human trafficking, then someone must have noticed their "usefulness." In fact, since there were "northern immigrants" with special abilities belonging to the Empire’s armed forces, it was impossible that the Empire’s central government was not aware of it.

The "northern immigrants" were already looked down upon in both the Empire and the kingdom. There would surely be those who would work them like slaves.

The margrave couldn't suppress a sigh. To him, the "northern immigrants" were also his precious people. Especially Yeori and Innyeboli, whom he had looked after since they were children, were as dear to him as his own children. Every time he saw their sparkling eyes, he couldn't help but wish that they, like his youngest son, Billy, would lead a bright and regret-free life.

That was why the margrave detested, with a gut-wrenching hatred, people who thought of their existence as insects and treated them as disposable. The margrave was aware that his way of thinking was rare. The fact that there was no open criticism when he declared that he would treat the "northern immigrants" the same as his other people was solely due to his status as a margrave and the achievements he had made in the past. If it weren't for that, he would surely be met with ridicule and contempt from those around him.

“—For now, I should probably tell His Highness about this. And I’ll also tell Hegarty.”

“I understand Hegarty-dono, but His Highness, not the Chancellor—?”

The names the margrave had raised were the Crown Prince and the Captain of the Royal Knights. Maurice couldn’t help but tilt his head. Crown Prince Riley was indeed a capable person. However, he was currently only thirteen years old, and all important policies were decided by the Advisory Council. Even if he had no intention of bringing it up at a meeting, he should have approached Earl Mellars first if he were to report it. But the margrave’s thoughts seemed to be different. He shook his head with a bitter expression.

“There are rumors that Earl Mellars is on good terms with His Excellency Grand Duke Franklin Slibegrad. I don’t want to show my hand too much.”

Maurice nodded in understanding.

When the late Duke Ealdred had declared his support for Riley, the margrave had also shown his support. That thought had not changed. That was why it was not strange for him to want to keep his distance from the nobles who were backing the Grand Duke as Riley’s rival.

—Indeed, Maurice shrugged.

“If the Grand Duke were to become our lord, perhaps we should declare our independence and call ourselves the Duchy of Kennys.”

It was a statement that could have been taken as treason, but Margrave Kennys also affirmed it with a straight face. “That’s a good idea.”

“In that case, I’ll have to negotiate with His Highness first to get you the title of Duke.”

“Me? Please don’t joke, it’s not my style.”

“You’re the one who said it, take responsibility for your words.”

With straight faces and a tone that didn't sound like a joke at all, the two engaged in casual conversation. Of course, neither of them was serious. They had received reports that the king, though not yet fully recovered, had passed the worst of his condition. However, if something were to happen in the future, and the Grand Duke were to be installed as the Crown Prince or King instead of Riley, the joke would cease to be a joke. The two of them knew that well.

＊＊＊＊＊

Gild didn’t even try to hide his extremely disgusted expression. Seeing this, Liliana let out a faint, wry smile.

The battle in the Kennys Border Margravate had ended, and Gild, who had returned to the mansion on the outskirts of the capital where Liliana was waiting, had returned to his normal duties, but within a week, a letter from the capital had been delivered to Liliana. Though it was addressed to her, the letter was a request for Gild.

“Dammit, why me?”

“You should have given up the moment you caught the margrave’s eye.”

“What a pain…”

Liliana soothed Gild, who was grumbling bitterly. He seemed to want to say that if he weren’t her bodyguard, he would have just bailed. But he obediently walked beside her.

The two of them were now walking through the grounds of the Royal Knights, which was adjacent to the royal palace. The barracks, training buildings, and other structures were built in a complex manner, so a first-time visitor could easily get lost. But Liliana and Gild were walking towards their destination without any hesitation.

The one who had invited them was the Captain of the Royal Knights, Thomas Hegarty. The letter stated that he had been introduced to Gild by the margrave and that there was something he wanted to ask him. It also hinted, in a roundabout way, that there was a possibility that he would ask for Gild’s cooperation depending on their discussion.

Normally, a knight would have been assigned to guide them, but the letter stated that they wanted to keep their visit as secret as possible. Therefore, the two of them were heading to their destination through a less-traveled passage.

(Is it a consultation regarding the strengthening of the knightly order, or is there something else?)

Liliana thought this under her usual gentle smile.

Riley and the others had been concerned for some time that the Royal Knights alone would be somewhat insufficient as a fighting force in the event of an invasion from a neighboring country. Even if it weren’t a neighboring country, there was a possibility that someone would raise a rebellion within the country, as had happened during the previous political upheaval. In the event of a war, even if they were to request reinforcements from the lords, it was currently impossible to judge which lords would obey Riley’s orders. It was likely that the margrave, the Duke Ealdred, and the Duke Clark would lend their strength to Riley, but depending on the domestic situation, there was a possibility that they would not be able to spare any forces.

That was why strengthening the Royal Knights was an indispensable move.

On the other hand, there was also a faction that did not look favorably on the strengthening of the Royal Knights. There were nobles who were not in favor of the Royal Knights themselves gaining power, and there were also those who, while not opposed to strengthening the knightly order, were against commoners and foreigners being involved in national defense. And there were also opinions that it would be a problem if knights were to be drawn from their own domains’ knightly orders into the Royal Knights, so the opinions of the various lords were not easily united.

(Even if he can make personnel changes and organizational changes on his own authority as captain, a major reform would surely require the approval of the Advisory Council—)

Liliana pondered what he would do about that.

If the king recovered and a royal council were to be held, it would be possible to expand and reorganize the Royal Knights on the king’s authority. However, though he had passed the worst of his condition, the king’s condition had not yet recovered. It would still be some time before a royal council could be held.

(There’s no point in thinking about it. I won’t know anything until I actually hear what he has to say.)

Liliana shook her head slightly and stopped thinking. She glanced up at Gild beside her, a deep furrow etched between his brows. He was so grumpy that she hesitated to even speak to him. Liliana, unable to think of anything to say, decided to remain silent.

After walking for another ten minutes or so, the two of them finally reached the reception room next to the captain’s office. Gild glanced at Liliana standing beside him and knocked on the door twice. The door opened from within. The person who peeked out was the Captain of the Royal Knights, Thomas Hegarty. At first glance, he was a stern and flawless man. A weak noble lady would have instantly lost her color, but both Gild and Liliana were unfazed.

Hegarty looked at their faces and confirmed, “Lady Liliana of the Duke Clark’s house, and Gild-dono, I presume.” Gild nodded with an expression as if he had bitten into a bitter bug, and Liliana smiled gracefully.

“Yes, that is correct. You are the Captain of the Royal Knights, Thomas Hegarty-sama, are you not?”

“Indeed. Please, come in.”

It seems he has cleared the room, Liliana murmured to herself. The request in the letter to “keep their visit as secret as possible” was no joke.

Gild entered the room, on guard, while Liliana entered gracefully. Liliana, who had not lost her composure, widened her light green eyes at the sight of another person sitting on the sofa in the room.

“—Your Highness?”

Why, are you here?

The person she was looking at with that thought was Crown Prince Riley Williams Slibegrad, who was sitting there with a smile.