LIGHTNOVELONLINE The next day, Theonel brought the bill to Congress about the last report.
“Recently, the situation in the three kingdoms is not serious.”
After reading the report, the nobles acted cautiously as if choosing their words.
I understand that it is not something to be judged lightly.
“As expected, it would be difficult to see that the meeting was held with simple intentions.”
“I think so too.”
In the case of the Empire, it has already made numerous protests through diplomatic procedures due to the paper case.
The remaining two countries are also pursuing peaceful diplomacy on the outside, but they are well aware that they are vigilant opponents.
In addition, at the point of profiting from recent trade, the possibility of full-scale intervention and invasion by other countries was already raised among intellectuals.
For them, there was no feeling that something good had come in the end.
vaporization. When someone else's territory goes well, it hurts your stomach. (5)
“.... Do you think there is a possibility of war?”
Theonel openly mentioned the war.
The first thing that comes to mind for anyone who sees this report is the word war.
There are no military signs yet, but we will soon be able to spot the movement.
“Whether it is containment or aggression, there is a need to prepare for either.”
The nobles agreed.
It is extremely unlikely that an informal meeting will end without action.
“... It's an alliance of the Three Kingdoms. Assuming it will be a formidable war.”
It was Count Gatherin who let out a heavy groan.
Even he, who is proud to have wielded a sword in his youth, does not like this kind of war.
“It won't compare to the conflict with the Empire 30 years ago.”
“I think so.”
Simply the scale of the aggression and even the cost will be different from the many conflicts that have occurred so far.
But worrying won't solve the reality.
Have you heard the worst assumption?
Then, the reality is that you have no choice but to prepare.
“We have to prepare even from now on.”
It is time to busily prepare measures from now on so that the troops can be reinforced in preparation for war and that each nobleman can immediately lead an army and participate in the war.
If the other side has war intentions, this side must also have war in mind.
“Fortunately, we have enough time to come up with countermeasures on this side as well.”
Just a few years ago, information that a war might soon break out would have bothered me more than it does now.
But things are different now.
“This year, the amount of tax paid has also increased, and I have enough money to prepare.”
Unlike some territories in the west and east that suffered poor harvests, other territories are more stable than usual.
In addition, the taxes paid in Fahilia and the funds earned abroad this year were enormous, so the budget was enough to prepare.
“There is no problem with troops.”
“How much can you mobilize?”
“If you give a mobilization order to all the lords in the country and combine the troops on the front, you will be able to gather about 600,000.”
“Oh oh! Is that 600,000!”
Confidence began to grow on the faces of the nobles at those words.
Rather than worrying about the future, the conviction that there is power on this side has taken root.
Power is confidence!
It is natural that their shoulders are proudly straightened out.
“I think it's worth fighting for.”
“On the contrary, we must make them pay dearly!”
Most of the other nobles, including him, seemed to agree.
King Theonel also nodded in agreement with their will.
“exactly. I feel the same way with this body.”
Immediately, Theonel gave instructions to each of the nobles.
“In each territory, as soon as possible, come up with measures for reinforcements and the current defense of each territory.”
Theonel revealed his intentions to the influential nobles who participated in the council.
He also instructed the lords of other provinces who did not participate to send an official notice.
“Even if they invade, never the territory the former king protected! wealth! I can't give you even one! Keep that fact in mind!”
Thus, the policy of Ernesia Kingdom was flowing with public opinion to fight against aggression.
One day after I turned 15.
Hmmmmmmm Did I go a little too far this time?
isn't it? Did you say that you have some control?
Let's be immersed in thoughts for a while.
“Arell? Why?”
Seeing Dia tilting her head, what kind of expression am I making?
“Dia. What face am I making now?”
“Yes... He had the face of a wild wolf suffering from constipation for about a week.”
what kind of face is that?
Have you ever seen anything like that before?
In short, is that it?
Do you feel like I'm in a lot of trouble?
“What are you so worried about? He seemed to think that he would die of annoyance after hearing the news that the world would end tomorrow.”
“...Am I a person who treats even the end of the world as no big deal?”
Well... half right.
No, I think it would be simpler to say that there is a crisis that will destroy the world tomorrow.
In my experience, such cases end only when one cause is thoroughly eliminated.
But now, this problem is not of that kind.
“It’s a nuisance, yes.”
I put the official document on the desk and sighed.
The reason why I suddenly react like this is because of an official letter from the capital.
It was not an ordinary official letter, but a quick and safe delivery using magic, and it was delivered immediately.
Normally, it was rare to send something like this with magic unless it was an urgent matter.
Dia also knew that, so she guessed that it was probably not normal.
I scratched the back of my head and sighed again.
“Call my sister.”
I had something to say about this issue, so I asked her to call Kania's older sister first.
My older sister, who received the call, immediately ran to my office.
First of all, I asked the lady-in-waiting to serve tea.
the story is going to be a bit long
After serving the tea, he asked the lady-in-waiting to leave, and then asked Dia to leave as well.
“All right.”
Dia also vacated the seat without saying anything.
Normally, I wouldn't let go, but this time, he understood my mood.
Dia will be explained separately later, so I hoped she would wait a bit.
Only me and my older sister were left in the office.
“Arel? What happened all of a sudden?”
“Please read this first.”
Sensing that I was serious, Kanianuna didn't say anything and just read the official document.
However, the speed at which the pupils read the text is a little slow, probably because they do not understand it as quickly as I do.
I can't.
I'll leave you to read on, but I'll spoiler the conclusion first.
“… I think there will be a war.”
To summarize, the recent movements of the three countries are very suspicious, so there is a possibility of war.
The lord who received this official letter should prepare for an invasion.
.... the feeling.
“War??????
My sister murmured softly.
It must be because he understood that the words coming out were not a joke.
Even though she is within the Five Fingers of the Kingdom with her sword, she still doesn't know the real war.
Even such an older sister seems to have guessed the seriousness of it.
It doesn't mean that the kingdom of Ernesia was peaceful all along.
Even before we were born, there was an all-out war with the Empire, and countless wars, large and small, had been fought before that.
Even after I was born, military and political conflicts continue to occur in the border territory.
To put it bluntly, the environment around me has been at least quiet so far.
It means that the bloody fight continued all the time where my eyes could not reach.
However, there has never been an official document like this in the case of a tolerable dispute.
It's because in the Middle Ages, for them, the axis of small disputes is the same as everyday life.
.... As expected, fantasy is the most brutal.
Anyway, the current situation is that my father, who is familiar with most incidents... even the king took it seriously.
“You mean the three countries are allied?”
“I think it can be judged that way given the circumstances.”
“Ummm... so... with the empire...
the older sister, who is weak in history, groaned.
It's because you sleep during class.
Even I, who say that, can barely remember what I read in a book.
“The Merman Empire. The Kingdom of Damaniel and the Duchy of Sefen.”
As I stretch my fingers to explain to my sister, it's not a group of vicious evils that threaten our peace...
not! He said the names of the three countries mentioned in the official letter now.
“My older sister must have heard of the Merman Empire.”
Due to the aftermath of the war that occurred and ended before we were born, the Merman Empire and our Ernesia Kingdom are in a relationship that is no different from each other.
And even before that, the two countries had been in constant confrontation.
It will take a long time to explain the grudge that the two countries have accumulated over a long period of time, so let's explain it again when the opportunity arises someday.
As a result, I heard that even the people, beyond political interests, would still grind their teeth if it was an empire.
That doesn't mean the relationship isn't that good.
As such, even if the war with the Empire breaks out again, no one will question it.
“Isn't Damaniel's kingdom so hostile?”
“On the surface, that’s how it is.”
The Kingdom of Damaniel is still continuing trade and diplomacy is progressing relatively easily.
On the face of it, anyway.
“In the first place, there is no eternal friendly country.”
It is enough for anyone to prosper within their own fence first.
Until now, no matter how we started a war, the damage did not exceed the gain, so we didn't bother to oppose us.
“Where is the Principality of Deterpen? I don't think I've ever heard of it.”
“ah. Even my older sister, who sleeps there during class, has never heard of it. They say it's a vassal state that recently became independent from the Peron Kingdom.”
I know that about 8 years ago, a great aristocrat who made a certain achievement was recognized for that achievement, and full-fledged independence was recognized and the territory was made a principality.
Although it may be a vassal state of one country, the reason why the principality of Sezefen can proudly join the Three Kingdoms Alliance means that its ruler is not that ordinary.
Rumor has it that the Principality of Sefen is more troublesome than the Kingdom of Peron.
They say that they are called monsters only when it comes to war.
I don't know what kind of person he is, but he must be competent enough.
In any case, it is said that these three are eager to join hands and attack the kingdom of Ernesia.
“If I’m suspicious, wouldn’t it be okay if I hit it first?”
“That would have been the first thing I thought of. But it's going to be an under-the-hood negotiation. In any case, it will be difficult to obtain physical evidence.”
It would be nice if they could proudly show evidence of aggression, but the Three Kingdoms wouldn't be that stupid.
Although the circumstances were captured, the full-fledged physical evidence was not captured.
“Still, it’s fortunate that we caught on to the circumstances.”
It is much better than knowing nothing and suddenly being declared war in three places at the same time.
At least as far as I noticed at this stage, it is possible to prepare somehow.
Apply diplomatic pressure under any pretext, and prepare for aggression by increasing troops on the one hand.
It's best to be prepared with sincerity.
Blessed are the diligent.
“by the way.... All of a sudden, the Three Kingdoms Alliance...
I covered my forehead with my hand and burst out laughing.
After the long-awaited settlement of the estate, and just as he was about to devise his next plan, a troublesome incident occurred.
“Why did we suddenly form an alliance like this?”
My sister wonders if she doesn't understand either.
“well. How can I know what they are thinking?”
I replied with a wry smile.
Actually, I can guess why.
‘... is this because of me? yes?'
At first, after receiving this official letter, rather than worrying about the war that would happen, I thought, ‘Oops, I went a little too far with this.'
It felt like something was about to happen.
As soon as I read the purpose of this war, it came to my mind at once.
‘...Is the cause paper?'