Chapter 109 – An Envoy from Brenark

Seazack commands eight extraordinary individuals… the Shiden Yatsuha (Violet Lightning Eight Blades). One of them, Kuriya, infiltrated the imperial capital and successfully abducted Arloston’s wife and child.

Fortunately, they were rescued before being taken to the western territories ruled by Seazack. However, after witnessing Kuriya’s ability firsthand, Vilgard revised his thinking, deciding that subjugating the west should take priority over retaking the imperial capital.

And there was another man who had similarly reconsidered his view of Seazack. That man was Arloston himself.

“Arloston-sama…! Wh-what did you just say…!?”

“I will accept the proposal from the Kingdom of Brenark. We shall join hands and strike down Seazack together.”

“!!”

The envoy from Brenark had arrived only days prior. The messenger proposed that the Zeltreich Empire form a joint front with Brenark to eliminate Seazack.

Originally, relations between the Zeltreich Empire and the Kingdom of Brenark were exceedingly poor.

If one traces history back, the Empire’s westernmost territories were once lands ruled by the Kingdom of Brenark. During its era of expansionist policy, the Empire seized those lands by force.

Then, as soon as the civil war began, Brenark launched a swift offensive. It could even be said that the current state of the Empire’s western region—now ruled by lawless factions—was brought about by Brenark’s actions.

It should be noted, however, that the knight order of the Kingdom of Brenark was itself annihilated after being betrayed by the very mercenary band they had hired at the time… Seazack and his men.

“Have you lost your senses? Of all nations, to join hands with Brenark…”

“Of course I am in my right mind. Our preparations against the Northern Empire remain insufficient… but I have judged that it is impossible to face the Northern Empire in decisive battle while leaving Seazack unchecked.”

Like Vilgard, Arloston had concluded that he could not fight the Northern Empire while leaving open the possibility of being struck from behind by Seazack.

At that moment, a young woman entered the council chamber. She appeared to be in her early twenties. She wore garments of a style unseen within the Empire, making it obvious to all that she was from a foreign land.

Yet her bearing and the look in her eyes carried the distinct air of one who had received a refined education. Any noble present would immediately sense that she hailed from the upper class.

“Allow me to introduce her. This is Lady Calsis, envoy from the Kingdom of Brenark.”

“…………! From Brenark…!”

At Arloston’s introduction, the chamber erupted into commotion. Amid the unrest, Calsis calmly stepped forward and offered a poised smile.

“I am Calsis Reglais, having come from Brenark.”

“Lady Calsis is the younger sister of Brenark’s current king.”

“Wha…!”

For the king’s own sister to visit the Empire—its long-standing enemy—as an envoy. In terms of sheer shock value, it was a tremendous success. Even Arloston himself had been unable to conceal his surprise when he first heard of it.

Though she had since married into another house, there was no mistaking that royal blood flowed in her veins. For that reason, dealings with her had often been handled by Creyval or Arloston, who likewise bore imperial blood.

Of course, if such information were carelessly spread, it would only throw the feudal lords into confusion. Thus, it had been kept concealed until now.

“For the past several days, I have engaged in repeated negotiations with Lady Calsis. At the same time, I inquired as to why Brenark chose this particular moment to propose that we join forces against Seazack… and I have received an answer.”

“…May we also be informed of that reason?”

The one who asked in a low voice was Kaldandes, son of Barkdine and current head of the Bihickturk House.

Though he had previously suggested that cooperation with foreign powers should be considered, his tone clearly conveyed his wariness toward Calsis.

Meeting Kaldandes’ gaze, Calsis once again smiled.

“First, allow me to speak of my country’s current situation. Approximately half a year ago, King Henrian passed away.”

“…………!? We have heard nothing of this!?”

“Yes. It is rather shameful to admit, but there was internal strife regarding the succession… We made efforts to settle matters discreetly.”

The one who succeeded the late King Henrian was the second prince, Rudix.

As for the first prince, he was reportedly arrested on charges of inviting foreign enemies into the kingdom.

“So in other words, Lady Calsis is the sister of His Majesty King Rudix.”

“The younger sister born of the same mother. The new regime has only just begun, and we are short on capable hands. Thus, I have come to the Empire as a diplomat.”

Not a single person in the chamber accepted her words at face value.

And yet, her proposal to『join forces and strike down Seazack』did not sound insincere.

“Have none of you found it unnatural? Why has Seazack—who betrayed you during the invasion of the Empire—been left unchecked all this time?”

He not only betrayed the knight order, causing tremendous casualties, but has also been allowed to do as he pleases in the Empire’s western territories, lands Brenark had originally intended to seize.

To leave such a matter untouched for more than ten years—was that not abnormal?

After all, it meant that their nation’s honor had been dragged through the mud, and yet they had shown no sign of attempting to wipe it clean.

“Well then… I’ve heard various rumors.”

“Oh my. And what sort of rumors might those be?”

“That Seazack abducted the daughter of the King of Brenark and is holding her hostage. That the king, doting on his daughter, cannot lay a hand on the so-called Mercenary Demon King.”

It was a rumor most imperial nobles had heard at least once.

No one had verified its truth, nor was there any pressing need to do so, and so it had remained nothing more than hearsay.

“Oh my… such a rumor exists?”

“Hmph, how brazen. Lady Calsis must already be aware of it. …So, what is the truth?”

“It is true.”

“………………”

Calsis answered with the same casual ease one might use to speak about the weather. If it were true, it was certainly not something the Brenark royal family would wish to make public.

As everyone stood stunned, Calsis sent a brief glance toward Arloston. When he gave a small nod, she spoke again.

“The Empire, too, must have its internal disturbances, does it not? Likewise, Brenark has its own circumstances.”

“Family strife, perhaps?”

“Yes. As for the late King Henrian, he greatly doted upon the daughter whom Seazack took away. Because of that, the honor of the Brenark knight order remained trampled upon for many years.”

The current king, Rudix, had obtained evidence that the abducted princess had in fact gone to Seazack of her own will.

He argued that the princess’s circumstances were irrelevant, and that Seazack—who had sullied Brenark’s pride—must be eliminated. But the former king, Henrian, never agreed to such action.

The princess had been born when Henrian was already advanced in age, and he had cherished her dearly. Yet even he passed from this world half a year ago.

With that, Rudix began moving to consolidate real authority.

He accused the First Prince of having aided Seazack’s men in abducting the princess, rallied the feudal lords to his side, and thus claimed the throne.

Calsis had no intention of revealing every intricate detail of her nation’s internal affairs; she conveyed only the essential points.

In other words, it was the story of a king whose judgment had been clouded by doting affection, and a new king who possessed a clear will to strike down Seazack.

“My brother, Rudix, will never forgive Seazack for staining the honor of our knight order. He will surely bring that villain to justice. However, though ten years have passed, Seazack’s strength remains intact. Even records from that time state that he possessed the might of one who could stand against a thousand. And so…”

“A joint campaign with the Empire, then.”

Seazack is Brenark’s sworn enemy. Given that the matter concerns the nation’s prestige, King Rudix has no intention of letting it remain unresolved.

Calsis’s words conveyed that clearly.

Arloston once again swept his gaze across the assembled lords.

“Even if Brenark cannot secure a joint campaign with the Empire, they will likely move their forces against Seazack before long. My concern is that the Kingdom’s army might then remain stationed in the Empire’s western territories.”

“………………”

“However, the fact that they have sent Lady Calsis as an envoy suggests that their ambition toward the entirety of the western territories is limited. If they still intended to seize the west for themselves, they would not bother sending an envoy—they would simply move their knight order as they pleased.”

But they did not. In that, Arloston found a counterpart worthy of negotiation.

“However, you would not expect this to be free of charge… would you? Lady Calsis—no, the Kingdom of Brenark—what do you seek in return for joining us to strike down Seazack?”

It was Kaldandes who posed the question. He had already surmised that Arloston and Calsis—and likely even Emperor Creyval—had reached some form of understanding regarding compensation for cooperation.

Kaldandes’ sharp gaze was directed less at Calsis and more at Arloston.

Meeting that look, Arloston gave a deliberate nod.

“First, the establishment of trade laws between the Zeltreich Empire and the Kingdom of Brenark. Second, the conclusion of a fixed-term alliance treaty. And finally… joint governance over the western region of the Merx River.”

“…………!”

“What!?”

“Arloston-sama!?”