885 – The Burden of the Empire – 7

When the Ministry of Foreign Affairs leaked information about the Transcontinental Treaty Organization, Ryuton and Bazen became eerily quiet.

Although they may not be at the level of Armenia and Juve, these two countries are still countries that can raise their voices on the continent. They can boast of being regional powers, following the superpowers of the empire and the great powers of Armenia and Juve.

And fortunately, the leaders of Ryuton and Bazen have the intelligence and insight befitting a regional power. In the first place, the war was started despite the Empire’s mediation, and it was the result of their own calculations.

I wonder how the result of risking the wrath of the Empire was calculated, but honestly, the stigma of ‘surrendering in a game of chicken with an arch-enemy’ and ‘giving up a golden opportunity to suppress the opponent’ is more frightening than the wrath of the Empire far away. The wrath of the Empire makes the present difficult, but the stigma is selling out the future.

So the Foreign Minister made not only the present but also the future of both countries difficult, making it impossible to guarantee the existence of the royal family and the kingdom unless they bowed to the empire immediately.

“You said everyone would be arriving tomorrow, right? I didn’t know it would be this fast.”

“It’s only after the war has ended that the Empire has finally taken notice. Whatever the reason, they’ve already thrown shit at the Empire’s face.”

I nodded immediately at the Minister of Finance’s words.

Even if we ignore the fact that the Winter Three Kingdoms only protested fiercely against Ryuton and Bazen, and never actually mobilized their military, Ryuton and Bazen had already fought several battles. Quaronos even marched four legions to the border.

That is why the three kingdoms that moved their troops had no choice but to watch the Empire’s mood. How painful would it be if they showed leisurely movements and ended up accusing the Empire of treason?

Moreover, the diplomats of each country have their own personal relationships. The imperial diplomats would have conveyed the Foreign Minister’s passionate anger to the diplomats of the three countries, making it even more terrifying.

“Anyway, the preparations were barely completed. I almost declared the end of the war in an empty meadow.”

“Isn’t that okay? I don’t think we need to treat the guys who caused the accident nicely.”

“You can tell the difference between deliberate neglect and neglect due to lack of budget. If it’s discovered that it’s a budget issue, I, the Minister of Finance, will get cursed at, but do you want me to get cursed at by some punks whose faces I don’t even know?”

The minister laughed, crossed his arms, and leaned back against the back of his chair.

“Those damn guys. They start useless wars. Thanks to them, I’ve spent money I didn’t need to.”

“Well, it would be beneficial if we could spend some money and establish discipline among the nations. Let’s think positively about it.”

At my words, the minister looked at my face without saying a word.

“How much do you know?”

“yes?”

And then he blurted out something out of the blue.

“This kid. I heard something from him when he was summoned with the Minister of Foreign Affairs last time.”

Before I knew it, the minister’s eyes began to glow menacingly.

As soon as the ministerial meeting was over, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and I received a call from the Emperor. It was obvious to anyone that we would have had some secret conversations, but since it was the Emperor who called, no one asked me about what happened that day. Asking about something the Emperor wanted to keep secret meant that I had no regrets about my own balls.

However, the Minister of Finance seemed to have noticed something in me, as I was so calm and avoided mentioning the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

“What is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs aiming for? It doesn’t seem like they’re simply trying to establish the Empire’s authority.”

The Foreign Minister’s anger was not simply due to the Empire’s authority being undermined.

“Now that I think about it, it was definitely strange. A person who was so strict about separating public and private affairs would attack his subordinate officials like that, no matter how angry he was?”

In the first place, the Minister of Foreign Affairs’ anger itself was nothing more than an act.

“How would someone from the Inspector General’s Office know about the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ work? They didn’t even request an inspection of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”

However, he ignored the Minister of Finance who was walking towards the correct answer.

That is not wrong. The former Inspector General and current unemployed Karl Crassius of Tailglehen knows the inside story, but the rest of the Inspector General is still unaware of anything. The grand ambitions of the Foreign Minister are known only to me, the Emperor, and the Foreign Minister himself.

In fact, since discussions on a full-scale transcontinental treaty organization are said to begin immediately after this declaration of the end of the war, it would be a good idea to give the Minister of Finance a heads-up in advance. After all, it’s only a day’s difference, and he’s the one who’s going to be pouring all the budget into the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The reason I keep my mouth shut is simple.

‘Because it’s fun.’

If the Foreign Ministry suddenly starts sucking up money under the pretext of a transcontinental treaty organization, and the Emperor orders top priority support, what kind of expression will the Minister of Finance make?

Even if I told him now, he would make a pretty good expression, but if I left it alone for a day or two, he would react even more violently. I couldn’t give up that fun.

Of course, it is madness to prioritize personal feelings over the affairs of the state. It is an atrocity that cannot be said even if the emperor brandes it as a slave.

‘I didn’t tell you to tell me.’

However, the emperor did not specifically tell them to keep quiet about this incident or to tell them in advance. If it was something that could be talked about, then it was also something that could be hidden.

If there’s no problem with either, I’ll choose my pleasure.

The next day, the representatives who were to sign this peace treaty gathered at the palace.

The first to arrive were Count Roytern, the Minister of the Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Lucien, Count Nesseliden, the Minister of the Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Stinje, and Count Sverker, the Minister of the Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Northgor. The three came together representing the three winter kingdoms.

First of all, these three are nothing more than tourists who came to visit because the Empire invited them. The Winter Three Kingdoms are more like victims caught up in this war, and they pretended to follow the Empire’s mediation─no, they really wanted to follow it. They were blinded by the war that Ruton and Bazen started.

So, these three were just called as a service to say, ‘Just watch the guys who made you suffer get all emotionally tortured.’ They didn’t actually have any important roles.

‘Those three are real.’

While there were three who visited with a relaxed mind, there were also three who entered the palace with a heavy heart.

Count Heldrungen, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Rutten, and Duke of Silesia, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Bazen.

Lastly, Marquis Randathia, who is the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of the Interior, Minister of the Military, Minister of Justice, Commander of the Capital Guard, and Supreme Judge of the Kingdom of Quoronos.

‘What the hell is that guy?’

The moment I saw Marquis Randathia wearing all sorts of titles, I almost sighed.

What on earth is it? He holds six positions that others can barely reach even after pouring their entire lives into. And those are only the most valuable positions that hold diplomacy, domestic affairs, military, judiciary, capital, and court in one hand.

First of all, seeing that the Minister of the Interior is one of the concurrent positions, it seems that he is the one who made the decision to save the country. He is the last conscience who normalized Quaronos, which was on the path to ruin, and put his head on the Empire and Armenians.

‘There was no one to give it to.’

After recalling the Marquis of Randathia’s record, I was able to get closer to the truth.

He did not hold this position because of his lust for power. He held this position because he was unable to find anyone to fill the void left by the reshuffle of the leadership that had become corrupt while making the decision to save the country.

As I thought about it, Marquis Randathia’s complexion seemed even darker. It was already dark, but now it almost felt like looking into an abyss.

“Everyone is here. Thank you for coming.”

Anyway, since there were six guests, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, who was practically the main character of this meeting, showed up.

“Since you’ve all come from far away, how about enjoying a banquet first? We can’t have a stiff and uncomfortable conversation at a place where we’ve gathered for peace. We should laugh together, drink together, and then start a pleasant discussion.”

Although it was obvious that it would be an uncomfortable and awkward banquet, no one showed any hesitation in accepting the Foreign Minister’s proposal.

The Three Kingdoms of Winter are the Empire’s loyal friends, and the other countries are in danger of having their heads broken by the Empire. No matter how complex and sophisticated diplomacy is the art of compromise, at this moment, the Empire had to be criticized. If they were to be criticized, they would be left behind in the new order that would be created.

Is it because of my mood? The Foreign Minister’s tone seems more arrogant than usual.

‘There is no problem with the Haoche itself.’

Just as the Imperial nobility is treated as one level higher than the Kingdom’s nobility, the Imperial ministers are also treated as beings of higher status than the Kingdom’s ministers.

But even taking that into account, the Foreign Minister’s voice was filled with a strong sense of intimidation. If even I, a non-expert, could feel that way, how much more so must they, fellow diplomats, feel that way.

“I appreciate your consideration, Your Excellency. It is truly a favor to His Majesty the Emperor and the Empire that you take such care of a lowly subject from a small country in the border region.”

Starting with Marquis Randathia’s answer, everyone bowed their heads to the minister and expressed their agreement.

I nodded in agreement that it was a good start. I don’t know why the Minister of Foreign Affairs held a banquet before the meeting, but since it went as he wanted, I guess it’s okay.

“Excuse me, Your Majesty. Is the person next to you by any chance the Minister of Inspection?”

Just as he was about to walk into the banquet hall, Viscount Sverker from the Kingdom of Northgor opened his mouth.

“That’s right. Since such distinguished guests have come, shouldn’t we be fully prepared to protect them? That’s why I’ve specially brought the best sword on the continent.”

At those words, the representatives’ mysterious gaze turned towards me.

Don’t look at me like that. I don’t know why I’m here either.

I came because the Minister of Foreign Affairs asked me to come. Normally, I wouldn’t even show my face.

***

The banquet held before the meeting was virtually the same as the actual meeting.

Preparations to show that the talks were over in an instant, to show that the opinions of the countries participating in the talks were peacefully agreed upon. Coordination of everything during the banquet, and behind-the-scenes work to announce only the results during the talks.

Naturally, foreign ministers from other countries also knew about this coordination work, so they chatted with me from time to time while enjoying the banquet.

As a result, a draft of the armistice was completed before the talks even began.

‘Good.’

It is satisfactory. The countries that have already started the war are watching the Empire, and the Empire’s three loyal friends are watching with burning eyes. In such a situation, standing stiffly is not a lack of fear, but a lack of intelligence.

He even asked the Inspector General to honor him. If the existence of the greatest swordsman on the continent is right before his eyes, the burden is bound to grow even greater.

‘very good.’

He looked at the draft signed by the foreign ministers of six countries with a smile.

This draft will become a real pledge, and that pledge will open the curtain on a new era. I—we will make it happen.

[ Imperial Foreign Minister, Prince Clemens Lothar of Metternich . ]

That’s why I willingly signed too.

For a new era.