novelraw Chapter 126 : Chapter 126
Chapter 126 : Chapter 126
Chapter : 126
"I apologize for earlier. Princess."
A quiet corner of the banquet hall.
I gave a dry cough and spoke cautiously to Princess Maceania, who had come with me. Considering the happening on the terrace just a moment ago, it was a quite dizzying situation. It was as if I had cursed right to her face.
However, fortunately, Princess Maceania did not seem to mind it much.
She was speaking to me with a calm expression.
"It is fine. After all, that is how the world sees me. The Margrave is no different."
"Hmm...."
Although, it did seem like she was still keeping it in her heart somewhat.
"I say it again, but I am sorry. Princess Maceania."
"There is no need to think of it so seriously. Margrave of Bellua. It was just... a small deviation that happened on the terrace. In the first place, my approaching you while hiding my identity was an act against etiquette."
Princess Maceania continued speaking with a smile, as if she found it amusing.
"I have a bit of a mischievous side. As someone mentioned, I grew up in the free-spirited Aquitaine region."
"Kuh, khem."
"Ah, I am not trying to blame you, to say it again."
Oh my, she speaks so clearly and sharply.
At that bold appearance, a smile formed on my lips without my realizing it.
"If you speak like that, I will also put down the burden on my mind and treat you comfortably. Princess Maceania."
"Oh my? Really? Actually, I am still hurt...?"
"Oh dear, then shall I return to an apologetic appearance? Princess."
"It is fine."
Princess Maceania giggled.
"Marie."
"Yes?"
"Please call me Princess Marie. You said you would treat me comfortably."
"Ah, I did. Understood. Princess Marie."
Only then did Princess Maceania nod as if satisfied.
The atmosphere became much more comfortable.
I glanced around briefly and spoke calmly.
"Anyway... Did Princess Marie come to this banquet hall to check on your marriage partner after all?"
"That is correct. Even if it was Father's instruction, I wanted to meet and evaluate him in person once."
"So, how is it?"
"Well... It does not seem bad."
After glancing at my face, Princess Maceania smirked and answered.
"Of course, unlike Father's thoughts, I do not think that man will marry me. I recall being told that I would run away and the marriage would fall through."
"Oh my..."
Looking at Princess Maceania, who was gazing at me with a mischievous expression, I smiled bitterly.
Indeed, this woman.
It was true that she was still holding onto it. Still, it did not seem like she cared greatly. It seemed she was doing that to tease me because my bewildered appearance was amusing.
"You still have no intention of marrying, right? Margrave of Bellua? Because it is a board built by others?"
"That is correct. If I were to marry... I would do it by my own will. Purely falling for Princess Marie's beauty, that is."
I spoke slowly while looking at Princess Maceania. At that, the corners of Princess Maceania's mouth twitched.
"That sounds like something very soft and romantic... But in reality, aren't you saying you are refusing because you do not like me?"
"Oh dear, was I caught?"
At my nonchalant words, Princess Maceania giggled convulsively.
Princess Maceania laughed like that for a long time, even wiping away tears, then caught her breath and opened her mouth.
"You are quite different from the image of the Margrave that Father and the Chancellor judged."
"Hmm, how was I described?"
"An opportunist. They thought you were a person who would join hands anytime if given the opportunity."
'Oh?'
It seemed they saw me more accurately than I thought? However, the only difference was that I was looking at the future, and the King and the Chancellor did not know the future.
Coldly speaking, even without me, the King was destined to become a discarded card that one should not join hands with.
But what if I, who would cause even more chaos, was by his side? What need was there to say more?
"It seems they saw me quite properly? Princess Marie."
"Would they really? Margrave of Bellua. You... do not seem like those foolish nobles who just rush in blindly because there is an opportunity."
"Hmm, on that point, Princess Marie's opinion is correct."
When I nodded and agreed, Princess Maceania smirked.
"The Margrave is truly... enviable and cool."
"What is?"
"Your judgment, and your choices."
As she spoke, Princess Maceania looked somewhat bitter and wistful.
" The fact that you can decide like that for yourself. You probably take responsibility for it yourself too, right?"
"That is correct. Princess Marie."
Ah, as expected, Princess Maceania was not satisfied.
Much more so than Lord Gertman, the second son of the Duke of Bourgogne. Indeed, for Princess Maceania, who received high-level education from various notable figures in the free-spirited customs of Aquitaine, her own situation must feel very stifling.
A female noble in this era.
Especially since a princess's life is swayed by the King's political judgment.
'But this much is not enough.'
With this level of desire, she could not go in the direction I wanted.
A stronger and more primal motivation was needed. Therefore, I intended to provoke Princess Maceania further.
"Enviable? Me? Where is someone of such noble status as Princess Marie that you dare to envy me?"
"...You know that is not what I am talking about. Margrave."
"I say it because I know. Where is there anyone who receives various educations in such an abundant and wealthy situation like Marie, no, Princess Maceania? Look outside. There are things some people cannot do even if they want to, yet that is the environment given to the Princess."
"......."
"If you have enjoyed it, it is natural that a due price follows. If you dislike that, you can just lay everything down right now and live like a poor commoner. They are free in both marriage and romance."
She seemed greatly hurt by my cold words. Unable to retort, Princess Maceania was merely clenching her fists tightly as if resentful. The wise Princess Maceania knew well that my words were all true.
'Of course, I did speak excessively extremely...'
Who would want to give up everything they have and start again from zero? No, even if one thought so and started, the current [Pangea Universalise] era was the Middle Ages.
That was practically close to impossible.
If one were a man, they could go to war and try to establish merit, but as of yet, managing household affairs was the role of women in this era.
Therefore, I looked at Princess Maceania calmly again and opened my mouth.
"Use it."
"...Pardon?"
"Do not be frustrated by the given environment, but use it. Princess Marie. If you truly want to live a life where you take the lead, use all of that. Until you gain power, you must lower your body and live in compliance."
"But I am a woman. Will an opportunity come to someone like me?"
"Oh my..."
At Princess Maceania's self-deprecating words, I clicked my tongue.
"Do you know whom I fought a power struggle with?"
"T-That is..."
"It was my stepmother, Juana. Did she lose to me because she was a woman? We struggled risking each other's lives. I merely seized power as a result of that. If the result had changed, the one holding power would be the woman Juana that Princess Maceania speaks of."
"...I am sorry. I spoke with a narrow mind."
Only then did Princess Maceania realize her mistake, regain her cool, and rebuke herself. I nodded looking at that appearance.
As expected, this princess.
She was an entity with better qualities than I thought. Qualities as a Great Lord sufficient to shake the board of the Elang Kingdom and shatter it to pieces.
"Not at all. Princess Marie. It can be sufficiently frustrating, and I think I spoke a bit harshly."
Therefore, I decided to gently unravel the stratagem I had in mind.
"Princess Marie. Do you know how to overcome the given situation and take the lead?"
"......?"
"If you are on a board set by others, you will be dragged around by others for your entire life. Fighting politically is all like that. Making the board set by others into a situation that I lead."
"Do you mean like putting me up for sale because he wanted to overturn the increased intimacy between the Duke of Bourgogne and the Margrave?"
"Exactly."
Looking at Princess Maceania, who was quick to understand, I nodded.
"So think. Princess Marie. You are the King's daughter, but at the same time, you are the sole successor to the Duchy of Aquitaine."
"......?!"
"So... Do not be dragged along in the game with your father, the King, but overturn the board."
* * *
The Duchy of Aquitaine, discussed ad nauseam, was a very rich and wealthy region located in the southwestern part of the Elang Kingdom.
It was a region that was originally under the influence of the Basque culture in the Hispenia Peninsula in the past, and it was a region that came over to the Elang Kingdom during the War of Succession with the Kingdom of Anjou.
Therefore, this region was a dual administrative district influenced by two cultures: the Basque culture of the Hispenia Peninsula and the culture of the Elang Kingdom.
Thus, according to the Salic Law, the customary law originally passed down in the Elang Kingdom, Princess Maceania, as a woman, could not inherit the Duchy of Aquitaine, but if it were based on the Basque culture, the story was different.
"The root of the Duchy of Aquitaine is the Basque culture. According to their customs, a woman can also become a king. Recall Queen Isabella of the Kingdom of Castile below them. So become their Duchess. Princess Maceania."
"You are... very cunning...."
Hearing those words, Princess Maceania's lips trembled.
"Are you trying to drive a wedge between my father and me right now?"
"Since the Princess wanted to decide her destiny herself, I merely gave the answer accordingly. Do not misunderstand."
"......."
Princess Maceania closed her eyes gently for a moment and remained silent. However, that did not last very long.
"Father and the Chancellor were judging you completely wrongly. No, everyone in the world was judging wrongly."
In a way, it was a biting remark, but I just shrugged my shoulders.
"But truly... For me, it was a sweet proposal that feels good just to imagine. This would eventually mean overturning the given board in a direction favorable to you, right?"
"That is correct."
The stage to lie had already passed. I obediently affirmed Princess Maceania's words.
"Thanks to you, I am learning a lot. And the path I must go forward has become clear."
"Are you intending to go to Aquitaine?"
"Yes. I think Grandfather will be very pleased. He has been racking his brains over this issue all this time."
"As the Margrave guarding the southeastern part of the kingdom, there is nothing better than the southwestern part of the kingdom becoming stable."
"Hmph."
At my words, Princess Maceania made a coy nasal sound.
"Thanks to you, I will suddenly be abandoning Father and melting into the Basque culture."
"Instead, the feudal vassals of the Duchy of Aquitaine will think of the Princess more proudly."
"As if."
Princess Maceania said that and gestured to the back. It seemed she intended to end this conversation now.
"Did you call. Princess."
"Yes, let us go back now. The conversation is... all finished."
Then, Princess Maceania looked at me and bowed her head slightly.
"It was a not bad encounter in its own way. Margrave of Bellua. Ah, would it be a bad encounter for Father?"
"Well, wouldn't putting up a blood relative in the position of a Great Lord be a not bad result in its own way?"
"Hmph, you still speak very well. Thanks to you, I should convince Father with that. Then...."
Princess Maceania winked her clear eyes once and bid farewell.
"I hope we can see each other with smiling faces next time as well. Margrave of Bellua. May countless glories be in your future."
* * *
"Did things work out well?"
Magician Agpiel, who was waiting at a distance, approached me and asked. I looked at the back of Princess Maceania, who was gradually moving away, and slowly opened my mouth.
"She was a bolder and wiser woman than I thought. Magician Agpiel. If things go well, we might gain a reliable ally."
"Are you intending to marry? Surely not."
I clearly said there was no marriage alliance with the King, so what was this talk suddenly? Magician Agpiel was puzzled.
"No. It is exactly as I said last time. I am not doing it."
"Hmm? But then... what do you mean?"
"Haha, you will know everything as time passes. Let us see then."
Saying that, I left the banquet hall.
Now the party was over.
It was time to return to the fierce daily life again.
"Huh, this is really. Our young Lord is becoming harder to understand as time goes by."
"BAAA-HE-HE-HE. Magician Nim. Why think about it so seriously. You just have to live as it flows. Baaa."
"It must be nice for you to think so comfortably. Tsk tsk."
And some time later, when we ran diligently and reached right in front of the territory, a huge incident that shook the Elang Kingdom occurred.
-Princess Maceania has become the Prince-ruler of the vacant Duchy of Aquitaine-!
-It is the birth of the Kingdom's first female Duke!
Another very powerful Great Lord had been born.