Chapter 379: Another effort
The Third Imperial Knight Corp, At your service, Your Highness.
Good work, Ser Marc.
A few days after Elnas arrival.
The deputy captain of the 3rd corp arrived with the knights of the 3rd corp on horseback.
They probably didnt expect their captain to leave them behind.
I can see on his face that Marc is a little tired.
You look tired. I dont mind you taking a break for today you know?
Unfortunately, the captain is quite enthusiastic about this assignment. I am going to start inspecting Your Highnesss current security details now.
I can put in a word for you you know?
Nowe understand why she is so enthusiastic about this so its alright, Your Highness.
Escorting Trau-niisan was that boring?
Well, His Highness Traugott doesnt really move much himself after all. The job was easy but itcked the challenges. I admit that. However, the reason why Captain is so enthusiastic is because of your recent achievements, Your Highness.
What do my achievements have to do with Elna being enthusiastic?
Seeing me astoundedly sighed, Marc showed me a bitter smile.
Your Highness may not know this but.the reason we were chosen to be your escort this time was due to your recent achievements.
What do you mean?
If Your Highness did not aplish much then the central would not intentionally dispatch the 3rd corp to your side. His Majesty sent us to you because he recognizes your importance. Of course, there was another intention as well.
I only saw that other intention though.
It might appear like that to you, Your Highness. However, that was not all. If something were to happen to Your Highness then we will be troubled. Thats why wee to you. This is different from the time of the Knight Hunting Festival. We are not here because we are loyal to our captain, we are here because what Your Highness has achieved moved us. Captain was waiting for this day toe for a long time.
I wasnt waiting for something like this though. I just did what I have to. If possible, I want to go back to the capital and sleep all day long you know.
In times like this, it would be impossible to leave an excellent man such as you alone, Your Highness.
When I heard those words from Marc, my eyes turned to the window and the slowly flowing white clouds.
How good would it be if I can spend my time leisurely in weather like this?
Well, that being the case, please understand why Captain is going all out this time.
Rather than the Imperial Knight Elna, I would be morefortable if I can get my childhood friend back though
Such words spilled from my mouth.
I didnt think about it beforehand.
They were words that just came to my mouth.
Thats why I put a gag order on Marc.
.Dont tell Elna about that. I wont cooperate if you tell her alright?
I understand. Please rest assured.
With that said, Marc left the room with a grin.
Seriously.
A knight of Amsberg who has known me since I was a child is so troublesome to deal with.
Thinking so, I called Sebas.
Sebas.
You called, sir?
How are the northern aristocrats doing?
I am still in the middle of gathering information but they are not as united as they were during the war, sir. Half of the north became a battlefield while the other half suffered from bandit raids. All of them try to take this time to recover but the damage they suffered is very different, sir.
They are all victims but there is no choice but to treat them differently based on the damage they received. The problem is their mindset.
Exactly, sir. The aristocrats with heavily damaged territories are taking it for granted that they are being supported and started to quarrel with other aristocrats right now.
Notify every noble. I will not allow any negotiations that do not pass through me first. Even the smallest of problems must be mediated by me.
Understood, sir. Also, as per your letter delivered by the Dragon Knights, the nobles are sending their heirs to this ce, sir. Perhaps they want to give their greeting and raise various issues to your attention.
Noble heirs huh
Sebas shook his head at my blunt reaction to the words.
It cant be helped.
I have no good memories of nobles kids.
Because they were only entrusted with half-hearted responsibility, they are harder to deal with than the family heads.
I cant say that I am impressed at how you find it so hard to deal with them, sir.
Im not finding it hard to deal with them. I hate dealing with them.
Now that is a problem. Especially this time.
What do you mean?
Its the exact opposite of what you used to deal with back in the capital, sir. At the capital, you intentionally wanted the noble children to look down on you but now you are the prince who united the north. Many of these heirs went to battle with you. They appreciate your work more than you think, sir.
..what a bother.
My position right now is still vague.
I am the prince who ended Gordons rebellion with Leo but at the same time, I am potentially the seconding of Gordon.
Because I was entrusted with the rule of the whole northern region, I am attracting a lot of attention.
Even trivial things I do can be important now.
How is Eric Doing in the capital?
It seems that he is currently in contact with the influential people of the Kingdom as our Minister of Foreign Affairs, sir.
.he still doesnt make his move huh.
Lize-aneue and Duke Reinfeld.
If these two support Leo, many people will flow into our faction.
Even if they do not formally express their support, it will be known if they cooperate with us this time.
In that case, Eric cant be waiting around either.
I think that it is about time for him to recognize Leo as his opponent and make his move.
This is eerie given that we are only waiting for a full-scale war with the Kingdom to happen.
Duke Kleinert in the west, Earl Simmel in the South, Duke Reinfeld in the east. We have the support of influential aristocrats of each region. And now the north has been entrusted to me. Many nobles in the capital may support Eric but in rural areas, we have the upper hand. If he still can disy such a carefree attitude then he must have some kind of trump card that can guarantee his victory.
What kind of trump card do you think it is, sir? His connections with the foreign powers are certainly powerful but I cant imagine that it would make much difference in a session war.
I have no idea. Well, it doesnt matter what kind of trump card it is. We just have to prepare for everything. Also, it isnt just him that has a trump card.
Certainly, this might be the time to use it.
We will not use it first. We will do it after they use theirs. Until then, we will keep it.
This trump card is powerful but it also has a big disadvantage.
Most importantly, the situation is moreplicated than I first thought.
I am standing out too much.
If the fact that I am Silver is out there, some people will support me.
If that happens, the session war will be a battle between me and Leo.
If possible, I dont want to use it.
Certainly. At the very least, you will have to leave the Empire after all.
I dont want that.
Saying so, I gently hold my fist.
If Leo has to take on such a troublesome position like an emperor, I want to at least be by his side.
After all, bing an emperor is not the end.
To achieve that I have to get rid of Eric.
I guess I will have to put in my effort one more time huh.
After the session war is over, you will be able to live a life after all. Dont put it as just another effort, please use your lifetime worth of effort on this.
I think that my effort will be running out after this one time though.
While saying such a thing I reached for the documents that started to umte on my desk.