Chapter 138: The White Seagull Alliance
The young nobles who agreed on the Seagull Covenant have received the response from the Emperor through their fathers and secretly formed an organization called the White Seagull Alliance with Laurenz as its leader.
It was formed with the purpose of eliminating the Dull Prince. If the prince taunts them to try and eliminate him then that is exactly what they will do. I can get the feeling that they wille to eliminate me with all their power.
Moreover, Father doesnt say anything about how I should deal with them either. He probably decided to leave this entirely to me. This is mostly his fault in the first ce so if he cant do this much for me then I would be troubled.
But, white seagull alliance huh.
They probably used to color white to signify their hostility toward me. Im quite impressed at their naming sense.
What do you think? Sebas?
Even if you ask me that, I can only say that young nobles really are fearless, sir.
Well, I guess. The people surrounding them probably cant control them either.
They are people who are already in the position of the head of their house or expected to be the next head after all. Im sure that they must have received some warnings but they are probably out of control already.
They are all gungho about saving Finne from me too.
It is the thinking of young men after all.
The problem here is that there are so many fools here though.
You are already regarded as their enemy, Arnold-sama. How do you n to handle them? It is useless to convince an emotional opponent with logic you know?
I know that. So, of course, I will crush them.
Saying so, I finished writing two letters.
The situation is heading into a messy direction. It is not a situation where I can just give up and everything will go away nor a situation where a third party can forcefully intervene.
The reason is that the opponent this time is being emotional.
For the time being, I should cool their head first.
Thinking so, I sealed the two letters.
This is Utz von Lermann. By the order of His Highness Leonard, I am here to assist you, Your Highness.
No need. Just go back.
The one who came to assist me with a slightly dissatisfied expression on his face is the son of Marquis Lermann. He is one of Leos close aides who recently returned to the capital. He was originally in charge of gathering support from the rural nobles but it seems someone else is in charge of that now so that he cane back to support Leo who has be busytely.
Blue hair and brown eyes, his features are quite good but his eyes give a slightly mean vibe. He probably finds me disagreeable huh.
I can not do that, Your Highness.
He doesnt really mean it. He probably wants to head back as well. Just how does he convince others to support us when his emotion is clearly showing on his face.
I dont need your help. Sebas alone is enough.
No matter how proud Your Highness is proud of your butler, wont this problem prove to be too much for him alone?
You are saying that you are going to be useful?
Reasonably, yes.
I could see the confidence on Utzs face. Im sure that he takes some pride in convincing the rural nobles.
Well, if he has that much confidence then how about I test him out.
Then I will have you answer some questions.
Please, ask me anything.
Who will be the one to make the first move against me?
It was a very simple question.
Therefore, someone who has acquired basic knowledge about their internal working would be able to answer it.
However.
Please do not ask me a question with no answer. There is no way to know about such a thing.
Haaas I thought, just go back. I dont need your help.
Evaluating me like that is simply high-handed, Your Highness!
He probably thinks that I am making light of him huh.
Utz takes a step forward but I shut him down with my eyes.
It seems you misunderstood something huh?
!!??
The question earlier wasnt that difficult. There are some radical nobles near their leader, Laurenz. Among them is Earl Farner who doesnt even bother hiding his disdain of me. As long as it wont cause much fuss, he will be the first to move. If you have at least the minimum knowledge of their internal affair then you would be able to answer my question.
Th, that is.
I cant use someone who self-importantly came to help me but dont even know about the opponents basic internal circumstances. Just go back.
I told Utz to go back again. I feel sorry for Leo but leaving someone who cant at least figure this out at my side would mess up my coordination.
Spare me from taking care of some dead weight.
.I wille again tomorrow. Please evaluate me again at that time.
You dont have to. If you wanted to faithfully follow Leos order then you should already have the minimum information in your head by today. You are not willing to cooperate with me so you neglected that. Thats why I dont need you. Just go.
.I wille again.
While clenching his teeth with regret, Utz bowed and left the room.
He doesnt have to though. What a troublesome guy.
He is quite an interesting young man isnt he.
He doesnt like giving up just like Leos aides. he really doesnt have to take after his master that much though.
Birds of the same feather flock together after all. I am sure that he wille again tomorrow. What do you n to do with him, sir?
Chase him back.
I think that would be a waste of time though. Why not give him another chance? He will surelye again the next day after all. I think that he is that type of person.
Why should I do that? I dont need anyone who cant even do the minimum amount of work.
It is necessary for the person at the top to know forgiveness and how to use a person, sir.
Thats a shame, I am not one who stands on top of others.
You were instructed to maintain your honor though.
He brings that up in a time like this huh.
There should be a limit on how troublesome things can be.
It is because that damn order that I cant do things my own way.
If I dont give Utz a chance here I will be described as a narrow-minded man. I dont personally care about it but that rumor would go against Fathers order to maintain my honor.
It doesnt matter what kind of reputation the enemy has of me but it would be bothersome to have such a reputation among our allies.
I do think that you need to consider raising your reputation a little through your actions from now on.
Haa..that is just a useless effort you know?
It is still better than doing nothing.
Hearing Sebas, I reluctantly epted his proposal.
He wont be useful as a human resource but I should ept him to keep up my reputation huh.
Haa..is the preparation going smoothly?
Yes, sir. However, we have spent quite a lot of money this time.
Its fine. You dont have to use it sparingly. Use it as much as you want whenever the need arises. Dont give the white seagull alliance even a single chance for victory. The only thing they deserve is despair.
It is a necessary expense for future development and it also came from my personal feeling.
I dont like them. That is my honest feeling.
It was not because they are trying to do something to me. It was because they are trying to get me away from Finne. And that they only see Finne as a tool to increase their own value.
These things are amplifying my irritation.
Some of them might be doing this purely out of love but their method is still wrong. I cant understand their logic that it is fine if its Leo and they would hate it if its me.
They one-sidedly think that Finne would have to suffer misfortune if she married me but at the moment, the probability that she would end up with Leo is over 80%. If they are going to raise their voices just to eliminate some 20% chance then that is simply irritating.
I am not suitable for her. Thats what they are using as their excuse but then who would be?
This is ridiculous.
If she cant even get to choose the people she can be with then Finne is no different than a bird in a cage.
Birds are the most beautiful when they fly.
They probably havent noticed that.
However, is it really all right? If this all goes ording to the n then not only among the nobles, your reputation among the citizens will plummet as well you know?
Its fine. If I dont go that far then I wont be able to solve this problem. Leaving me aside, this wont work unless the nobles and citizens distrust me. Plus, if we dont do this then they will never give up.
This is quite difficult.
Things are always difficult when you are dealing with fools.
While evaluating our opponents as such, I and Sebas continue to work on our strategy.