Chapter 192: Defection

The Dukes of Quordenze, Imperial Nobility of Zinkaen……?

The father placed the dried scallops he had been holding in his hand on his own small plate and chuckled.

It sounds familiar. It's been twenty years now.

The change from imperial aristocrat to royal aristocrat must have been a lot more difficult than I imagined.

My father, who exhaled deeply as he placed the goblet on the desk, seemed to be reflecting on the arduous path he had taken so far.

'Thanks for all your hard work,' he said. I'm sure your grandmother would be proud of your father's determination and hard work in bringing the Spiaseik family to this point.

When I called out to him, my father turned only his eyes to me.

There seems to be a slight misunderstanding. It was Mother's secret plan to break away from the Empire, and I merely inherited it.

…… Your grandmother's plan to secede from the Reich?”

My uncle, Quordenze Gardacre, was conspired to be killed, and my grandmother died after defeating a mature demonic beast, and in revenge, she left the empire and declared war on the Spierzeig family with her back in the kingdom…… I've never been able to hear much in depth about this area because it's kind of a hypersensitive gums kind of topic.

I thought about asking a servant such as Tesh, but I didn't because he would probably say something like, “I think you should ask your husband directly.

As I was pondering how I should broach the subject, my father looked at me and smiled, wondering what was so funny.

He said, “You must think this is surprising. Mother, who devoted herself to the founding of the empire, would voluntarily abandon it.

Yes, well.

But that mother was really bold in that way.

Then my father sighed, as if he was letting out something heavy.

He sighed as if to let out something heavy. “For …… Mother, the empire of those days was no more than a harmful and futile thing.”

The Jingkaen Empire.

The country that rules the western part of the continent was born on the continent of Eluo about 55 years ago.

The political struggle among priests that began in the holy city of Maguausse, the center of St. Navempos in the Vermana region, can be said to be the turning point in history that turned the entire continent into a turbulent era.

What is the history of the continent of Eluo? It is, after all, the history of the Vermana region.

It was called the most fertile land on the continent, a cradle of culture and a graveyard at the same time.

In prehistoric times, the Manipulators reigned, and in the age of the priests, the Zesuit High Priory established the Holy City of Maguausse.

It is an indisputable historical fact that the Vermana region was the most advanced land on the Eluo continent from prehistoric times through the age of the priests.

In recent years, the royal city of Levioth or the imperial city of Zincaen can be said to be the most advanced on the continent, but this is an irregular state of affairs in the context of Eluo continental history. Of affairs in the context of the history of the Eluo Continent.

The region where the Levios Kingdom and the Jinkaen Empire are located today has been a “Region” In the bad sense of the word, out of the sun for much of its history.

It is such an unattractive land, far from the glamorous culture, where native lords without wisdom or knowledge rule small fiefdoms.

The eastern and western parts of the continent were constantly pitted against each other, but about 700 years ago, a major historical event occurred that changed the situation forever.

From a large field in the western part of the continent, a matured magical beast, described by later historians as a “Great calamity” And a “Great magical beast,” Emerged as the number one threat …….

This great demonic beast emerged in the western part of the continent and began its march toward the Vermana region, destroying the surrounding areas one after another.

Knowing the direction in which the Great Demonic Beast was headed, the Zesu Church's High Priesthood dispatched an army to defeat it three times, but all of these attempts failed. Everyone must have thought that there was nothing on earth that could not be defeated by that army. Even so, they were defeated and forced to retreat.

However, it seems that they were able to hold them off for a time, and before the decisive battle at St. Navempos, the great magical beast ran out of strength and died of natural causes.

According to the book, a colorless, transparent, marble-sized jewel is still dedicated to the Holy City of Maguausse.

This series of events triggered a change in the Zesuist Holy High Society's sense of crisis.

The reality of the existence of a great calamity that far exceeded the matured magical beast of the Caliestebe class in the territory of Quordenze, which had been thought to be the greatest threat up to that point, was brought home to them.

Even though the treasure was real, 1600 years ago,…… It was 900 years ago at that time, but at this time they were able to truly understand that the lore of the fairy tale-like great magical beast that appeared in …… Was a true event. They understood that the fairy-tale legends of the Great Monster that appeared in 900 years ago were true events.

The western part of the continent devastated by the Great Monster could not be left unattended. Having just experienced the threat and terror of the Great Monster, the priests felt that they needed to prepare for the future.

The Pope at that time advocated the settlement of the western part of the continent. The idea was to destroy the native lords and have the land ruled by priests. Of course, the person to be elected here would be the son of the head of the family, who would not be in a position to take over the family.

This was partly a reflection of the fact that the native lords were so powerless against the great monsters. In short, the next time a similar great demon beast arises, they are to serve as shields for St. Navempos to buy time. Policy without blood or tears.

So the unwanted children were collected from the priests' homes and thrown into various places in the western part of the continent.

This became a precedent, and it became customary for priests to throw unwanted children into the western part of the continent when they had unwanted ancestors in their homes. It was probably out of love for the parents to throw them into the western part of the continent , where there were many priestly families, even though it was only halfway through the process.

Because of this historical background, there were more priestly nobles in the western part of the continent than in the eastern part.

It is fair to say that this soil, which was very susceptible to the influence of the Zesuist Holy High Society, had been prepared for 700 years.

Thanks to this, during the turbulent times, they would continue to be forced to fight proxy wars under the leadership of the priests.

Until the emergence of a champion in the person of Emperor Jingkaen, the western part of the continent was a hell on earth where blood was washed with blood.

'It was a great decision, even though my position as an imperial nobleman was rendered useless. It's a position you should have gained by running through the turbulent world with Emperor Jingkaen…….”

The “Mother says that you gained more than the effort you expended when you were able to dismantle the kingdom of Vojstra and reunite the Quordentse territory. I am sure she has no attachment to or regrets about an empire that is not ruled by the emperors Zinkaen and Arginis.”

In the past, Grandmother Kasia was angry at the Quordenze family for being at the mercy of the kingdom of Vojstra, and she ventured out of the territory in search of a way forward.

The main source of worry for the Quardenzes at the time was the warring factions that had become a regular feature in the western part of the continent.

The reason why the Kingdom of Vojstra always had the upper hand over the Kuordentse was due in part to the difference in geographical strength, but also to the fact that there were no major powers in western, northern, or southern Vojstra to be wary of. …… The Quordenze territory of eastern Vojstra, which had united all the rivers, was the only major power and enemy to be wary of.

The Vojstra family had no problem allocating all of its resources to the east in order to destroy it.

What the Quardenzes needed was a great noble in the western part of the continent.

If a major power emerged in the western part of the continent, the Kingdom of Vojstra would be caught between East and West, with a paisley dick, which would reduce the resources of the Quardenzes by half or even less.

The worst-case scenario would be the emergence of a major noble family in the western part of the continent with friendly relations with the Kingdom of Vojstra. In that case, it would be game over for the Quardenzes.

They needed to somehow get the western part of the country to come together before the Vojstra Kingdom could make such political maneuvers in the middle to snore at the Quordentzes. …… Well, it makes sense in theory, but Cassia's decision to suddenly run away from home there was a tremendously quick one.

Moreover, she left home when she was younger than Fanny, which makes me wonder if she is a bit too quick-tempered.

Cassia left her estate her and set out on a journey in the direction of the current imperial territory.

The purpose of her was to select a promising nobleman who is worthy of reigning as a great noble and to establish friendly relations with the Quardenze family.

After a series of twists and turns, Cassia met the young Emperor Zincaen, who was burning with ambition to unite the western part of the continent, and threw herself into the battle.

Wasn't it hard for you, Father?”

When my father was born, the Quardenzes were Imperial nobility. I was curious to know if he had any doubts when he left the family.

I remember that the emperor Zinkaan had taken good care of me and my brother.He even called Emperor Arginis his elder brother and adored him.I'm not sure what to think about it.I think that's why I didn't really want to see an empire ruled by three emperors.

In other words, no one in the Quardenze family had any unfinished business with the empire.

Besides, if they were going to sever ties with the empire, speed was of the essence. The longer the reigns of the three emperors lasted, the more power the Spierzeig family would have regained. The great arm of that Emperor Zinkaen and Emperor Arginis had forced them to reduce their power, and if they did not bite the dust while the influence was still there, only descent would await the Quardenzes. Considering that the young mother risked her life to unify the present interior, it is no great decision to cut off the empire.”

If one seeks romance in history, the founding of the Zincaen Empire is a heroic tale of a passionate man who put an end to more than 100 years of turbulence in the West. Is nothing more than the creation of a power to check the kingdom of Vojstra.

Cassia supported Emperor Zincaen's project to unify the western part of the country and worked hard for its supremacy. She probably never imagined when she left the Quordenze territory that the rewards would be more than a check and balance.

After beating the nobles of the western part of the continent in one fell swoop, Emperor Zinkaen sharpened his opposition to the kingdom of Vojstra and raised an army.

Today, the battle is generally regarded as a great achievement of the Vojstra Kingdom in repelling the invasion of Emperor Zinkaen, but in reality, it was neither a great achievement nor a feat.

The true purpose of the battle was to reunite the Quordenze territory.

In short, it was to kill all the collateral relatives of Quordentse while the Emperor Zinkaen was at Raishleif Castle to attract their attention.

In fact, at this time, the main force of the Jinkaen army was not in Raishleif, but in Kuordentse.

Kasia, the initiator, Gulfis, who was the right-hand man of the Jinkaen emperor, the young nobles who were attracted by the aspiration to unify the west, and the imperial soldiers under their direct control …… Were all used in the battle at Quordentse.

It was only Emperor Zinkaen and two armies of troops, so to speak, who were attacking the castle of Raishleif.

Kasia, who had returned to Newnery with a large army, forcefully inherited the governorship and used the momentum to invade the territory of her collateral relatives to her.

The kingdom of Vojstra was busy fighting against Emperor Zinkaen and had no time to help the puppets of Quardenze.

Thus, in the blink of an eye, Cassia reunited the Quordenze territory.It was fortunate for the people of Quordenze that they were able to keep the battle to a very short period of time with their overwhelming military strength.Nothing is more futile than being exhausted by internal stripes.

The commoners rejoiced that the civil strife in Kuordenze had been so short-lived, and praised Cassia as the Princess of the Five Dominions for having done so.

Cassia continued to support Spiaseik's policy of oppression, and the Quordentzes were able to enjoy a brief moment of peace.

For the Spiaseiks, the Quardenze Cassia was the worst enemy of the previous Quardenze heads of state.

For some observers, the Quardenzes seem to have been motivated solely by profit. That the Levios family would not think of that.”

I think it's natural for the nobility to be driven by interest. The Quardenze family has been a part of the Levios family for many years……. But I still don't think it reflects well on our company.

The reason why the Quardenze family switched to the Levios Kingdom was not because they agreed with the philosophy, sympathized with the Levios family, or that participation was essential for security reasons, but simply because they sought the advantage of overthrowing Spiaseik.

On the day the Spiaseiks perished, it was impossible to predict what they would do next.

From the outside, they appear to be a profit-seeking aristocratic family, the Quardenzes. Speaking for myself, if I were a prince of the Levios family, I would never trust them.

……20 years is not short, but it is by no means long.”

'The Kingdom of Levios has been in existence for about 80 years, so you are halfway through your affiliation. I am the newest of the Kingdom's five great nobles.”

My father pours my goblet of wine and responds with a self-deprecating smile.

Half and half is not much different. Quardenze and Zel'Dmitra are not the earliest.

Of the five major noble families of the Kingdom of Levios, three families are the early, start-up staff-like nobles.

The Levios family, which is the royal family, naturally falls under the Milendorva family, founded by the brother of the first King Levios, and the Aterahan family.

Although Aterahan Crone has a strong image as a military man, he has not made that many diplomatic blunders.

When he was eager to unify the Aterahan region, he even sent his own daughter to the Levios family as a kind of hostage and forcibly established a relationship with them. Thanks to this, he enjoys a position as a contributor to the founding of the kingdom .

Well, perhaps it would be more accurate to say that they have an eye for the powerful rather than good diplomacy.

The Quardenze and Zeldmitra families, on the other hand, were not involved in the founding of the kingdom and joined it later as aristocratic families.

The relatively good rapport between the Quordenze and Zeldmitra is partly due to their similar positions as great nobles on the outside, so to speak. The Zeldmitra family is recognized as a priestly aristocratic family, depending on the definition, so their position is similar in that Respect.

But how could the Levios family accept a man who had contributed so much to the founding of the empire? …… Though it may have been a natural decision.”

The most important thing to remember is that the Levios family is the one that felt the threat of the empire the most. At that time, there was still a protracted family feud with the Mirendorva family.”

The Zinkaen Empire was a nation with so much vigor that it was hard to believe that it had been exhausted by turbulent times.

This was because, compared to the Levios Kingdom, which was nothing more than an alliance of noble families, it was tightly controlled from the top down, with the emperor at the top. The imperial aristocrats who belonged to the empire had been beaten by Emperor Zinkaen at least once.

Another important point is that the Zinkaan Empire was a latecomer.

A state of nobles would have been impossible in the history of the world until then.This was because the Zethusian High Society of the Church of Jesus did not allow it.For this reason, the kingdoms of Vojstra and Levioth took many trials and errors and made many failures in developing their political systems.

The Zincaen Empire, which started later, did well in such areas.

The Zinnikhaen Empire, which started later, did well in these areas. It was able to build its state by taking the best of both worlds: the hierarchical relationship with a specific noble family at the top from the Kingdom of Vojstra, and the art of uniting many noble families from the Kingdom of Levioth.

The Zincaen Empire was rapidly restored and developed after its establishment, and its momentum surpassed that of the Levios Kingdom.

The second emperor, Arginis, was the next in line of excellence, who had traveled the battlefields with Emperor Zin Kaen, was trusted by the imperial nobility, and had many accomplishments in warfare.

In this situation, the Quordentze family, which had deep ties with the emperor and had increased its power by unifying the interior, its allies the Silopea family, the Evenapis family, and the Spiaseik family, the former Vojstra royal family, were all eyeing the eastern part of the continent with a vigilant eye. It is no wonder that the royal aristocracy's balls are shrinking.

Once Emperor Arginis gave the order to conquer the eastern part of the continent, the nobles of the Kingdom of Levioth would have been defeated individually and would have suffered a disintegration.

But history has shown that this did not happen.

As long as the Quardenzes and the Spiaseiks were at war, the security of the Kingdom of Levioth was assured. Empire will be shaken, the lack of centripetal power of the three emperors will be exposed, and the possibility of a schism will increase. If the Quardenze, Silopea, and Evenapis …… Leading aristocratic families of the central continent turn to the kingdom one after the other, the Levios family that unites them will be a foil. It would also put pressure on the Mirendorva family, which continues to be in internal strife. , Even if the three families lose to the Spiaseiks, it will only result in the demise of the former imperial aristocracy. It won't affect them much.”

As my father said, there is no disadvantage for the Levios family in the conflict between the Quardenzes and the Spiaseiks, although there is an advantage.

The Levios family has no disadvantages to the Quardenze family and the Spiaseik family. “It is more advantageous for us to belong to the kingdom than to the empire in order to defeat the Spiaseiks. We can protect our backs, and since the national policy is for the nobles to be independent and self-reliant, even if we are newcomers, we are unlikely to suffer any disadvantages. It would be a mutually beneficial deal, wouldn't it?”

Thus, the Quardenzes were welcomed into the Kingdom of Levios in a big way, and became the nobility of the Kingdom.

The incident was such good news for the Levios family that they spread the news everywhere. The Levios Kingdom was the most stable nation on the continent, and the Levios family was right.

The Millendorva family, which had been cornered in the midst of civil strife, is said to still deeply resent the Quardenze family, which provided support to the Levios family.

Whatever the case may be, this event will surely be written in the history books of the Eluo continent in the distant future.

–The collapse of the second emperor, Arginis, triggered an intensified conflict within the empire, and the Quardentze family, the Evenapis family, and the Silopea family, all leading nobles in the central part of the continent, turned to the Kingdom of Levioth at once (the Three Families' Imperial Defection Incident). (The three families' defection from the empire) – and so on. Future Eluo continentals should do their best to memorize the year.

The Levios would have thought that the battle would end in a quagmire and a stalemate in the center of the continent.No, I think it is safe to assume that they were also calculating to half-heartedly support the Quordenze so that this would happen. No one would have imagined that they would be able to take down the castle of Raishleif almost unscathed.

My father says in a tone of slight dismay.

But that smile naturally vanished like light snow melting, and from beneath it appeared a strong expression.

'Only my …… Father stubbornly believed that we could make it to the city of Othellia.

'Your grandfather?

'I will destroy the Spiaseik family. That is what my mother wanted at the moment of death.

Then my father looked at me.

Perhaps he knew what he was doing.Even if we dropped the Raisleaf, the Levios family would interfere before we could reach Othellia……. But I could n't say anything to my father with that horrible, yet sad look on his facehis……”

From my father's point of view, my grandfather was in a very extreme situation these days.

Perhaps he was trying to avoid showing such a state to me, his grandson.I don't remember ever seeing him in such an unstable state.

You may have been praised already, but your father was really happy. The knight Gatoren told me that since the fall of Reicheleif, my father had regained his composure. In a hurry to think of Mother's will.

What is Grandmother's will?”

But my father shook his head lightly.

Only my father has actually heard of it.

……Give my hatred to Spiaseik.

So Mother said.”

Kow…….

The first time I heard this line, I even felt that my father had a grudge against me after his own brother he was conspired to murder him.

“So, your grandfather……

The first time I saw him, I thought he was a good man.

Father stood up quickly and extended his hand toward me.

'Wilk, I've said it many times, you really did a great job. Mother …… Your grandmother would have been pleased.”

Pom, pom,” He put his hand on my head twice, and finally he clapped me hard on the shoulder with both hands.

The first thing to do is to make sure that you have a good idea of ​​what you're getting into. ……Willk, tell me what you think.”

From the flow of the conversation so far, it is clear that the Quardenze family is not that trusted by the Levios family.

I guess I should continue to belong to the Kingdom as a nobleman, and also try to stay out of the war with the Spierzeig family?”

I guess that's about it for now. If I put together the voices I hear around me, these requirements emerge.

Is that Wilk's idea?”

But apparently it was not a very favorable answer for my father.I felt his gaze his sharpen a little.

'I've heard something like that.

What do you think, then, Wilk himself? Don't be shy, I won't be offended, and I won't tell my father. Let's talk about it for the time being. Go ahead, say it.

From the way he said that, I guessed that my father had some idea of ​​what I was thinking.

In other words, my father was also …… No, that can come later.

'I think it would be better if I just kept my position as a nobleman of the kingdom.

If he doesn't leave the room with dignity, that's all that matters to me.

I see, you're open to interference. What is Wilke's position on the matter?

My father must already know what I'm thinking. But even if he knew that, it was a difficult thing to say.

But I also understood that this was the answer my father was seeking.

After moistening my tongue with a sweet sake, I answered slowly, “It's a truce.

“It's a truth.”

With a clatter, my father sets the goblet down on the desk.

The expression on his face as he stared at me was not that of the kindly father I had seen earlier, but rather a frightening one.It was the look of a gang leader.

But if I stopped speaking at this point, I would not be able to say anything else.

If you think about it as a member of the Quardenze family, I think it's safer to go that way.

It's a matter of risk.

If I could destroy the Spierzeig family, I would.

This noble family is too dangerous for the Quardenzes. I have a feeling that the Quardenze family will be driven back into a corner sooner or later, given their historical background.

But even if they were to be hastily destroyed, I can't see any good vision after that.

Do you agree?

“…… Yes.”

I thought he would be angry at me for letting an enemy get away with it, but surprisingly, my father's expression changed to one of anguish.

“We will avoid the interference of the House of Levios, while we launch a strong attack on the city of Othellia and destroy it……”

I silently listened to my father's words, which began like a monologue as he slumped down.

The battle in Othelloria will be fierce. The Spierzeig family has only three members due to the Elsinian disaster: the current generation, the previous generation, and the princess. The battle of Othelloria will be a battle against these three main ancestors. Knight families from all over the Voestra Plain will gather. The city of Othelloria is not suited for a siege. It will be a large scale field battle…….”

In that light, we were very lucky to beat Spierzeig Verrett to death.

The city of Othelloa is a great battlefield, but it will not be a large scale battle. …… The centipede's legs will still be scratching their feet after Othelloia is conquered. It is conceivable that the Spierzeig family will be raised with a branch family relative at its head and thoroughly resist. It will also take a great deal of effort to defend the land between Raishleif and Oceloria. The cities eaten up are too big.”

My father then put one hand on his own belly his.

“To kill a giant serpent, just give it a huge piece of dead flesh,…… Because it can easily be killed by spearing it when it swallows and is unable to move. The Spierzeik family is too big. Although it is much less powerful than it was in its heyday, it is such a strong domain that even Emperor Zin Kaen once refused to let it be destroyed. If they eat this, they will have to continue exposing their defenseless torso until it is digested.”

Considering the size of the original Quordenze territory, it would more than double if it swallowed the current Spierzeig territory in its entirety. It is truly a snake that has become stuck after swallowing a large prey, a stupid, greedy snake shaped like an aardvark.

But that's not all. 'But that's not all. A strong attack on Othellia would be opposed in no small measure by House Levios and the nobility of the kingdom. The western part of the empire would lose its cohesion without the common enemy of the Spiaseiks The first thing to do is to make sure that the Quardenze, which sits between the empire and the kingdom, is not too hungry to make a move.

The Spierzeig family is certainly doing its best.

The Spierzeig family is certainly troublesome, but it is not so easy to destroy them.

If we continue to belong to the Levios Kingdom, we may be able to get as far as digesting the Voistra Plain, but it will take a long time. But if something happens that affects the entire continent, Quardenze, which cannot move properly, could be left behind.

Not only power struggles among the nobles, but also magical disasters such as the Elsinia and Kaliestebe could happen at any time.

And there is no one who is not wary of the Quordente, which has swallowed the Voestra Plain. This time, Lord Aterahan Crone will be present at the Royal Social, but this is to warn you, Wilk.

Me?”

I don't know how many decades it will take, but by the time I have the Spierzeig lands completely to myself, I will have already handed over the reigns to Wilke. Lord Croune knows in his gut that he must see the man who will soon be running the powerful Quordenze family. But it was I who lured him out…….”

My father says that he dared to spread gossip about me in order to deter a joint retaliatory agreement. He also said that it would be better to have the other side actually come to the party so that we can know how they will react than to have They judge us on the basis of rumors alone.

He is one of the heroes who survived the upheaval, and he has good instincts. If Wilke is considered dangerous by Lord Croune, he will certainly instruct his household to prepare for the next war. Under the surface of the kingdom. The old woman has that much fame and achievement. There will be a lot of nobles who will gather.”

…… I'm starting to feel like I might be in a terrible predicament, depending on how well I socialize.

I'm not sure if I can miss the meeting because I'm not feeling well. I don't think so, I'm the Lord's ancestor.

I don't think there will be any more Lord Croune in the Aterahan family in a few decades. The Marquis of Aterahan, ……, Is a highly respected military man. Besides, if the time of peace continues, the House of Levios will be even more powerful than it is now. Depending on the noble families that agree with them, it is not easy to predict what will happen if those clashes with the Quardenze family equipped with the Voestra Plain. Deteriorated, it will be a pincer attack. We would be in the same position as the former kingdom of Vojstra. Diplomacy alone will not be enough, and the Quardenze territory itself will have to make a leap in strength to serve as a deterrent.

Just listening to my father talk makes me feel bad. I just want to spend my time in love and peace with a cute girl in the position of a great noble like the current Quordenze family.

Knowing that much, why Father?”

I couldn't understand why he would choose a course that he knew was risky.

'It's for the sake of Mother and Father …… And my brother. I was not originally in a position to take over the reigns of the family,…… And therefore I must tear the Spierzeig family to pieces. That is exactly what I am obligated to do.”

I felt that this was the most sensitive part of my father's hearthis.

I thought that he was motivated only by hatred toward Spierzeig, but from the way he spoke, I could tell that he had been struggling with his position as the head of the Kuordenze family, which had suddenly come to him.

He understands the danger of forcing the Quardenze family to attack the Spiaseik family. However, my father, who knows the feelings of the family better than anyone else, is probably unable to put a stop to it.

If he had been considered the head of the family to begin with, he might have been able to meditate on his desire for revenge and make a choice to put the family first. Family instead of his elder brother.

I think he is in a very difficult position.

I couldn't find the right words to say to him.

Wilk said earlier that it was a truce, not a cease-fire. Can you …… Tell me why?”

My father seemed to have noticed the subtle difference in nuance. I think it was because he was coming to the same conclusion as I was.

I don't know if my answer would really be a comfort to my father, but since he asked, I should answer.