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(257)
“This way, sir. I’ll bring you some food.”
The gunner guided Eric and his entourage to a large tent.
“Thank you.”
Eric went inside with his attendants.
The tent was lit not by candles but by glowing beads, and its walls were not made of leather but of specially treated, resin-impregnated cloth.
One of the attendants touched the cloth and let out a sigh of surprise.
“Even in these individual things, the difference in national power can be felt. This is truly the Magic Empire.”
Eric nodded faintly, and the attendants, who had been silent until then, began to ask questions.
“Congressman, did you have a good conversation?”
“What kind of person was Grand Duke Valencian?”
“I’m worried. What if he tries to take you hostage?”
“Sir, I understand your intention to prevent war, but moving the enemy’s royal family to threaten the Republic’s general could easily be considered treason.”
“Stop it. I’m so tired.”
Eric raised a hand to silence them.
Only then did the attendants realize Eric's condition.
Her handsome face, which even men would fall in love with, was haggard and tired, and her white shirt was soaked with sweat.
"iced coffee."
“I’m sorry, sir!”
The attendants hurriedly took out new clothes and asked the soldiers to prepare water and towels.
Eric sat on the edge of his bed, blankly watching them move busily, recalling his meeting with Valencianus.
'What kind of person was he?'
Eric was a member of the National Assembly who was quite active in external activities despite his relatively young age.
I've met big shots who've been around for decades in the political arena of Langso, like Bokmajeon, and I've also met swordsmen from Doroisen who can cut down hundreds of soldiers with a single sword.
Looking at the bastard Duke, he was reminded of the man who was called the Sword King.
Ensis von Doroysen.
A sword master who has lived for 260 years.
Eric couldn't believe that he was feeling the aura of a superman who had single-handedly saved a country from a boy not even twenty years old, but his hands and eyelids still trembled.
His neatly swept white hair suggested a delightful madness that would have earned him the notoriety of a scoundrel, his golden eyes engraved with the power of the Dragon's Blood that had been passed down through generations, and his pale cheeks and broad shoulders told of a man who had controlled the lives of hundreds of thousands with a single number and a single gesture.
'What should I say?'
Eric was not a man who judged others by their appearance and clothing.
But the numerous gold ornaments and red and white belts on his crisp white uniform told of how much he was trusted by his twin sister, who was called the Divine Emperor.
And what about the people sitting behind him?
The wizard with the blue and gold quiver looked as if he had been a witch for hundreds of years, and the knight in the white armor with red patterns was clearly the red knight whose reputation was well-known even in Langsoir.
The man with arms and legs made of steel and eyes was clearly Marcus, the Iron Lord who had been pillaging the Doroisen borderlands for the past several years.
Among those strong men, the one Eric was most wary of was a maid with brown hair and green eyes.
Every time she flashed a cold gaze that didn't match her gentle expression, Eric's heart sank as if his biggest secret had been revealed.
'He was a special person.'
Duke Valencian was a man worthy of leading the four.
I was so overwhelmed that I couldn't even bring myself to say anything about the negotiation plan I had originally planned.
I just trembled and showed all my shame, and begged for help, no, I ended up begging.
Eric moved his lips a few times before giving up on speaking.
'Yes. He was a special person.'
It was an experience that even shattered my belief that all humans are equal.
* * *
The night was deep, but sleep did not come.
I drank cold water repeatedly to collect my thoughts.
“fu*k.”
I hated and was embarrassed by good people, people who stood up to save their country, people who had courage.
Most of those people end up making things worse with their blood and courage, and then try to pass it off as having good intentions.
The very fact that I was embarrassed by those people was a sign that I felt some kind of kinship with them.
I called the officer knight sent by Signine to the tent.
“How will the Duke of Signine react to Senator Eric’s proposal?”
The knight was a banneret, carrying the family flag on behalf of my lord, and he answered calmly.
“The family does not have the luxury of expanding its territory to the southwest at the moment. Freuheit loves peace more than war, so if things can be resolved without fighting, it is always welcome.”
"hmm."
“But it is also burdensome to create a situation where the enemy will return. If we wage war, we will have to inflict great damage, and if there is no bloodshed, not a single drop should be shed.”
I could understand.
It was said that this invasion would not end somehow.
Even before the return, the Republic was extremely difficult to make treaties with.
When the government changes, they try to overturn the treaty made by the previous president. What kind of constructive dialogue can we have with such people?
“Sir Tentia. Is there a message for Archduchess Helena?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. We exchanged letters through messengers.”
Tentia took out a piece of parchment from her bosom.
It was a careful yet courageous handwriting.
[Helena speaks to Valencianus.
——————
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They are not vassals to be embraced, but enemies to be conquered or cut down.
Republicans are a cancer to the empire.
Although there are many enemies, they are scattered, while the friendly forces are united, and they are good at melee, annihilation, long-range surprise attacks, and assassinations.
It is the attitude of a coward to compromise with the glory that can be won.
Valencian, people do not respect those who do not fear.
Whatever treaty or negotiation we make with them, I would argue that it should at least begin with a definite blow.]
“That’s not wrong, though.”
That was very Helena-like.
Although the handwriting showed that he was hesitant and reserved in his words, fearing that he might remonstrate with Jaylilith, the content was clearly worthy of the Empire's greatest field commander.
The Republic of Langso and the Republic of China are not vassals of the Empire.
It was different from the situation where she had stormed the palace and done nothing, as Cariosa was needed to protect the eastern sea.
Langsowa is a country of traitors who openly deny the empire and the royal family.
The empire has always suppressed rebels harshly.
Loyalty to the Dragonblood Royal Family of Soletaras was not something to be exacted, but something that was accepted willingly.
It was also the mercy and right of the monarch to give an opportunity to pledge loyalty.
“… … Sir Tentia. What do you think?”
Sir Tentia slowly shook her head.
“You should not ask a knight for his opinion, you should give him orders.”
Rudy had the same look in his eyes.
I turned my head to Sereraji, and she spoke urgently as if she had been waiting for me to see her.
“Valentine. How about helping Senator Eric just once?”
It was an attitude that was completely out of character for Sereraji, who was always as timid as a cat.
I asked with a fresh feeling.
“If you say you’re a member of the National Assembly, I don’t think you’re the type of person my older sister would like very much.”
The power of the senator came about because people believed in him, and the power of the wizard existed whether people believed in him or not.
Senator Eric was probably the most incomprehensible target to the wizard Sereraji.
Sereraji shook her head slightly.
“You’re right.”
“Shaking your head while saying yes is against the rules of imperial conversation.”
“Don’t be so picky. Okay. I don’t care what the members of the National Assembly or the people say.”
“Then why?”
She raised her eyebrows as if she hadn't noticed.
“You were a wizard, weren’t you? It’s a senior’s duty and right to help a struggling junior.”
I frowned as if I hadn't heard something.
“Congressman Eric is a wizard?”
* * *
It was dawn.
Tentia and Marcus went out of the tent, leaving only Sereraji and I inside the tent.
I secretly called in Senator Eric through Rudy.
“Your Highness? Did you call?”
He looked tired, as if he hadn't slept a wink.
Even the bloodshot whites of my eyes stimulated my noble protective instincts, but I cut off the pity that was rising as the greatest villain of the empire.
He too seemed to know what it meant to be a politician, and to be left alone with me and the 'wizard' Sereraji.
It was quite a sight to see her beautiful face turn pale in an instant.
I sat down with my legs crossed arrogantly, then lifted my chin and glared at him.
“I don’t know much about the Republic of Langso, but I heard there are no wizards there?”
Actually, I knew very little about Langsoir.
Before my return, I lived a life of pleasure and madness in the red-light district and slums after losing Rudy.
By the time Helena dragged me out, beat me up and turned me back into human form, the entire continent had already been engulfed in the war.
Of course, it must have sounded to Eric like he already knew all the facts.
His face turned white, he shut his blue eyes tightly, then opened them and opened his mouth.
“Yes. The Republic of Langso and the Republic of China pursue equality for all people, and hate mixed race people who inherit power through bloodlines. No. Rather than hate, it would be more accurate to say they deny it.”
The logic of equality of all people was established only on the premise that all people had equal innate qualities.
However, the nobles of the continent, including the empire, were those who inherited their power through intermarriage with other races and blood magic.
When reality and logic don't match, surprisingly many people try to make reality fit logic.
Then it fails.
“I heard that among our Benedict family’s ancestors, there was one who fled from the Empire. Sometimes, there are those who acquire magic without any training.”
Eric's voice became increasingly gloomy, as if he thought everything was wrong.
At that moment, Sereraji smiled faintly.
“Eric. Won’t you raise your head?”
It was a voice so lively that it was unfamiliar.
“Uh, I… … .”
“Sereraji. Just call me senior Sereraji.”
"yes?"
“Aren’t you special like me?”
When Eric heard those words, his eyes swayed like reeds before a storm.
To anyone who saw Sereraji, he had the appearance of a wizard who had built a wall around royalty.
Whether or not he knew the inner turmoil he was going through, Sereraji smiled brightly and made the suggestion.
With his eyes shining with the greed unique to the Dragon Blood Royal Family.
“We don’t enjoy war either. Let’s do it without fear, like wizards. Will you tell General Benois that Grand Duke Valencianus wants to meet you?”
Eric returned to the Republic barracks in a state of apparent mental contamination.
Two days later, General Benoit invited me.
* * *
General Benoit was a man with the appearance of a general, with oiled, lion-like reddish-brown hair, a moustache, and a beard.
He was also a devout believer, so he wore a necklace with the original cross of the Gwangmyeong Church.
“I never thought I would meet the second in command of an evil absolute monarchy. Benoit. Grand Duke Valencian.”
Although his common language was awkward, his tone and facial expression conveyed what he wanted to say well.
Valencian took a good look around the Republican camp before answering.
“… … .”
The number of troops stationed at this camp alone appeared to be 8,000.
Here and there, pillars with unidentifiable metal wings rose like spears, and there were many people wearing the simple robes of the priests of the Gwangmyeong Church.
The Gwangmyeong Church doesn't directly intervene in wars between nations or lords, so they can't be real priests, but something felt off.
The quality of the soldiers was mostly not very good.
There were many men who had little muscle in their arms and legs, and were smaller than Rudy.
This meant that they were not elite soldiers trained from childhood, but ordinary soldiers who had been trained for a few months.
At least there was no visible unit comprised of sword users.
It might be difficult to win from the front, but it was clear that it would be possible to escape if necessary.
Valencian frowned once, then raised his mana and answered.
“Summon His Majesty the Archduke Valencian, you lowly commoner!”
“What!”
A twitch appeared on Benoit's face, and Eric took a deep breath.
However, the momentum of a superhuman who had repeatedly been transformed into a dragon and spirit was something that ordinary people who couldn't even properly handle mana could not handle.
Valencian continued his verbal abuse with his eyes wide open.
“The Holy Emperor originally intended to level your wretched country, but by his mercy I have come this far.”
“His knights will lay waste to your wheat fields, burn down your villages, and fill up your rivers!”
“So bow your head before his representative, you son of a traitor.”