Chapter 21: The Fisherman’s gain


    TLN: the title is a Japanese idiom, its meaning is to profiting while others are fighting


    Was that really okay?


    When I was putting together some paperwork, Finne is brewing tea while raising such a question.


    What are you talking about?


    Adding Earl Baelz as our ally. I certainly felt some sympathy for him but you cant deny that he was also suffering the consequences for his actions. If he gave his young wife anything she asked for and then divorce her because he eventually loses control of her..I dont think I can ept that as a woman.


    Well, if you look at him with that perspective the Earl must look like the worst kind of man huh.


    Are there any other perspectives?


    If she said it directly to me like that she must be quite dissatisfied huh. Well, we are talking about love after all, you cant just throw it away once it turns inconvenient for you. From a womans perspective, it is natural for them to find it unpleasant.


    However, this matter is not about the two of them alone.


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    I start exining to her while keep putting together the documents.


    Bethina, the Earls ex-wife is from the southern noble lineage, the Daum Earl house. This Earl Daum is a rtive of one of the most powerful noble in the south, Duke Kruger. Are you familiar with the name?


    Of course. I certainly remember that one of His Majestys concubines was from the Kruger house correct?


    Yeah, the fifth concubine is the sister of the current Duke of Kruger. In other words, it is a ducal house with a close tie with the imperial family. Now, answer me this, who is the child of the fifth concubine?


    After mulling over my question for a while, Finne pped her hands as she remembered the answer.


    She then immediately confidently answered.


    Princess Zandra.


    The ninth prince as well. But her little brother doesnt have anything to do with this for now. The important link is the one between Zandra and Bethina.


    A link..? I dont think the rtives from a mothers parents house are that deeply connected though?


    Normally that would be the case. But, in this case, it is a bit different. By the way, Finne, do you remember what kind of power base does our rivals have?


    Ah, yes. Prince Erik has the support of the civil officials, Prince Gordon was supported by the military, and Princess Zandra has support from the mages right?


    So she does remember.


    Well, if she couldnt remember that much then it would be troublesome for me though.


    When I told her that she delivered the correct answer, Finne rejoices and while saying [I did it]. I continue the talk while thinking about how she set the bar so low.


    So whose supporters do you think is the weakest inside the imperial capital?


    Inside the capital? Not that empire?


    Yes, the capital.


    Uhmthe strongest one should be Prince Erics so that left Prince Gordon and Princess Zandra but.Unn, I got it! Its Prince Gordons!


    Reason being?


    Since the military officers are on the front line, his influence should be weaker in the capital.


    The idea isnt wrong but thats incorrect. There are military officers that are not on the front line too. The correct answer here is Zandras.


    Auuu, I got it wrong but why does Princess Zandras support is the weakest?


    Thinking about how to exin it to her so that she could easily understand, I pick up the sweets that were on my desk. Perhaps it is due to Christas reception, the sweets today are animal-shaped cookies.


    I took Lion, bird and wolf cookies. I ced the Lion and the Bird on a te and crush the wolf cookie and scatter it around them.


    Aaah..and I was able to make it well this time too.


    Well, sorry about that. Now, on this te are Eric and Gordons supports okay, the scattered one is Zandras. Now, do you understand what I am trying to say?


    ????


    So you dont huh. Okay. Civil and military officers are often inside the imperial capital. However, mages have no official position in our government. Of course, some officials are mages but they scatter across various positions like court noble, local noble, military officers at the border. They are too spread out.


    I see! So there arent many who can support Princess Zandra inside the capital right?


    Well, thats the case. But heres the main point.


    Eh.? That wasnt the main point..?


    Finne quivering slightly as she is afraid that the talk will get even more difficult.


    Giving her a bitter smile, I tried to give as simple an exnation as possible.


    Simply put, Zandra has fewer supporters in the key positions of the empire because of the nature of her power base. Gordon has the military officials and Eric is on good terms with the civil servants, those people can convey their will to the Emperor. Zandra, on the other hand, has no pipeline to do that. That is troublesome for Zandra isnt it?


    I see. I think it will really make a difference if your supporters have a seat in the privy council.


    Correct. Thats why Zandra has always been trying to get her supporters the seat of a minister.


    Is that possible? Isnt the appointment of the minister can only be done by the Emperor himself?


    Well, theres a way around it.


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    With that said, this time I stack the cookies on the te vertically.


    Seeing that, Finne tilts her head. If you are unfamiliar with such a thing you would get your heart stolen because that action looks totally adorable. I cant show this to Earl Baelz. He might suddenly apply for marriage with her after all.


    However, I wasnt distracted by that and proceed to crush the lion cookie I ced on top.


    AA!? Again!?


    It would be eaten anyway right? Well, this is how you install the person you want into the position of a minister.


    What do you mean?


    Let me put it like this then. The Lion is the current minister. The Bird below is a candidate for that minister position. If the Lion above breaks, the position will fall down to the Bird.


    I see! So you prepare a candidate for the next minister while undermining the current one isnt it!


    She has quite an imagination huh. Normally she is just poor at this kind of cunning plot but that doesnt mean that she is stupid or anything. Sometimes shes too simple that she gave me a scare though.


    Thats the case. If your supporter is a deputy minister or a position close to that you can bring down the current top person and install your own minister.


    I see.and whats that has to do with Earl Baelz?


    Haa.whats Earl Baelzs current position?


    Deputy Minister of Engineeri.eh!?


    So she finally connected the dots huh.


    Well, its quiteplicated so theres no helping it huh.


    Zandra was manipting Bethina through her parents house, Bethina herself must have been ordered to y around as well. She happily dances to the tune though. And recently Zandra has given another order to her as well.


    Theres still more


    This is important after all. Bethina is having an affair with the current Minister of Engineering. It seems the minister himself starts the rtionship but it is probably Bethina who tempted him first. Moreover, the wife of the minister is the daughter of a close friend of the Emperor. Apparently, the Emperor was the one who paired them up. If he knows about the affair he would surely be furious.


    dont tell me, from the beginning?


    Thats right. It was a scenario designed by Zandra. She sent a beauty to Earl Baelz who isnt good with women and make him suffer. At the same time, she works on the minister as a preparation to get rid of him. Thenter she will help the Earl out by telling the Emperor about the affair at a suitable time. Then, oh, what a surprise, my supporter is suddenly a minister.


    Wai, please wait a minute! If, if thats the case then..


    I grinned at Finnes unbelievable expression.


    She did great for enacting this kind of n for so many years. Perhaps, she started this around the time the crown prince passed away. it was only a step away frompletion.


    Yeah, I just totally wrecked Zandras n in its entirety. She is probably fuming right now.


    No way!? Al-sama and Leo-sama will leave the empire soon, right? Why are you angering Her Highness Zandra now!?


    It is exactly because we are leaving that we have to disrupt her n. As long as we are not in the capital, they will inevitablye to attack our faction. However, what if we disrupt the bnce of their three ways struggle? With a single move, we were able to destroy Zandras n. The bnce should be upset right now. Eric and Gordon will not miss that. They can get rid of us anytime but there are only a few moments where they can attack the weakened Zandra. If it was me, I would take this chance to chip away Zandras power.


    You have considered it that far.?


    Its all thanks to Sebas. He managed to pull out important information from the assassins, he was the one who investigated Earl Baelz for me as well.


    Zandra also did something stupid.


    To think that she sent the assassins she used to manipted Earl Baelz to take care of me. Thanks to that, her n got taken away from her. Well, I dont want to badmouth her but it seems she is looking down on us quite a bit huh.


    UmIve been wondering for a while but what exactly is Sebas-san?


    Nn? I never told you? Sebas was formerly an assassin. Moreover, he was quite famous to the extent that he was known by the nickname of [Death] throughout the continent you know.


    !? What is such a person doing as Al-samas butler!?


    I will tell you about thatter. It will be long after all. Now, hearing the exnations so far do you still have anyint about me lending the Earl a hand?


    N, no..


    Right. The reason he is so weak against women like that is probably Zandras work too. He has been a deputy minister for three years after all. Normally, it would be the womens side that goes after him after all.


    Somehow, hes quite pitiful isnt he..


    Yeah, he must have been dancing on Zandras palm for years after his marriage and we finally managed to help such a pitiful Earl. Well, he is still being used by us though.


    Saying so, I continue going through the paperwork.


    It is a document on the Minister of Engineerings affair. I will have Earl Baelz submit it to the Emperor.


    With this Zandra will be under some secret feud for a while. Gordon will definitely make a move without missing this chance and the session war will intensify.


    But thats fine. Gordon will surely make an enemy out of Zandra and Gordon alone is the one person that Zandra doesnt want to get done in by.


    If they crush each other, we will benefit. Moreover, in such a situation, Eric will not make any aggressive move as well.


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    Just let them exhaust each other as much as they want while we are away from the capital.


    With that in mind, I put the broken cookies in my mouth.


    TLN: In case you missed it, heres the discord invite: <strong><em>DISCORD</em></strong>


    Also, for the loli, jail is just a room. all hail the bunny lord.