novelraw Chapter 92 : Chapter 92
Chapter 92 : Chapter 92
Chapter : 92
“That madman! Did he really say he was coming?”
“Yes, my lord. He really said he’s coming. W-what should we do? Should we set up an ambush…?”
“Are you insane!”
Baron Veno jumped at his vassal's absurd words.
To invite someone to his domain for a treat and then ambush them. That would be a violation of custom, like throwing his honor as a noble into the gutter.
Besides, there were over 5,000 of them.
The enraged army of the Bellua Margrave would tear his domain to shreds.
“Don't speak such nonsense. If anyone misspeaks in front of the Bellua Margrave, I will deal with them severely.”
It would be a catastrophe if some fool, blinded by ambition, acted on his own. Baron Veno gave his vassals a stern warning and hurriedly prepared for the banquet.
He laid a fine tablecloth on the table and brought out the ornate silverware he had hidden deep in the warehouse to hold the food.
He hastily pressed his subjects to roast a whole calf they were raising, and stuffed it with a goose filled with various spices and fruits.
It was a luxurious preparation, truly rare to see in a small domain.
‘Aigo, what a waste….’
His stomach churned as he had squandered quite a bit of the gold coins he had saved up, but what could he do?
He himself had boasted that he would welcome him gladly, so it was something he had to do.
Besides, according to the messenger, those distasteful pointy-eared bastards were with them too. It was clear that if they found fault, it would be a lingering headache.
“By the way, will he really come, my lord?”
“You fool. Don't say such ill-omened things.”
The clueless vassal brought up something even more infuriating when his stomach was already churning.
To not come after all these preparations! Wouldn't that mean he had wasted money on thin air?
Then, a thought occurred to him.
‘No. Wouldn't it be better if he didn't come?’
In fact, it would be a problem even if that Bellua Margrave came. To a third party, wouldn't it look as if he had betrayed the King of Aragon?
‘Ah… please don't come.’
When his thoughts reached this point, Baron Veno prayed and prayed again.
But God, as always, turned his back on Baron Veno.
“The Knight of Piety, Performer of Miracles, and the one beloved by God, the Bellua Margrave, His Excellency, arrives.”
He had really come to the lord's castle, leading about ten attendants.
* * *
The banquet prepared by Baron Veno was not as splendid as one in a city, but it had everything it needed to have.
‘Oh?’
I was inwardly surprised that he had managed to prepare it despite the sudden visit.
“Ahem. Bellua Margrave. Welcome to my domain.”
Baron Veno was a typical dwarf with a stocky build. His long, braided beard and sullen cheeks were impressive.
“He is a quintessential dwarf, Your Excellency.”
“Those fellows are petty, so you shouldn't get friendly with them. Unlike us elves.”
“…We are here as invited guests, are we not? Keep those mouths of yours shut.”
I had brought them along for their military might, but they were trying to start a swordfight right away. I covered the mouths of the elf knights and approached Baron Veno.
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Baron Veno. Thank you so much for inviting me to such a fine banquet.”
“???”
Baron Veno was flustered.
He had actually been extremely nervous, wondering what kind of bizarre conditions would be presented.
Rumor had it that he had strangled an Ogre to death, so he thought he would have a very violent disposition.
But what was this?
He was this polite?
“On my way here, I heard the praise of your subjects for your rule. It is truly difficult to be loved by those below you, so it's quite remarkable.”
Of course, I had heard no such thing. But there was no noble who would be angered by words of praise.
“A-ahem. Is that really so?”
Indeed, at my words, Baron Veno's face broke into a wide grin, and he smiled without realizing it.
“Of course. Even the elf knights with me praised you. They said you were a fine knight.”
“??”
The elf knights, who had been listening quietly from the side, were about to retort and ask what kind of utter nonsense this was.
“Uh…. well, that's right.”
“Among the dwarves… no, among the dwarves, I believe there is no knight as fine as Baron Veno.”
But the elf knights, feeling the killing intent in my cold glare, hastily changed their words.
They still remembered my feat of strangling the Ogre to death with their own eyes.
“Uwahahaha. The renowned Bellua Margrave, Your Excellency, is gilding my name.”
At that, Baron Veno burst into laughter. It was clear to see that he was pleased with my words.
Before I knew it, Baron Veno had started to address me as 'Your Excellency.'
“Come, come, let the banquet begin. What are you all doing, bring the food quickly!”
Thanks to this, the banquet shed its initial stiff atmosphere and became amicable. Baron Veno was even pouring beer himself, which said it all.
Of course, Magician Agpiel, who was watching this, was shaking his head with a look of disbelief.
“It's such a shame, though.”
“Hmm? What is, Your Excellency?”
“That a capable man like you cannot work in the royal court. Aren't all the people in the Kingdom of Aragon's court foreigners?”
It was the downside of a foreign monarch.
From their perspective, they would want to appoint people from the same region whose language they understood and whose culture they were familiar with, but this, in turn, came across as great discrimination to the nobles of the Kingdom of Aragon.
“It's not just the royal court. They even give preferential treatment to merchants from the Empire. They treat us as if we are not their subjects.”
And when I gently prodded this area, Baron Veno burst out in anger as if this was his chance.
“Hah. How could that be? If it were me, I would have appointed a noble from the Kingdom of Aragon like you to a high position. The king has no eye for talent.”
“He certainly doesn't. And you have no idea how much he tries to restrict us.”
Once the floodgates were opened, the rest flowed smoothly.
As more cups of wine were exchanged, denunciations of the King of Aragon came to make up most of the conversation.
It was to the point where the surrounding vassals were shocked, wondering if it was okay to speak like that.
“So, about that.”
As the mood gradually ripened, I nonchalantly opened my mouth.
“How about you join us? I'm sure the Prince-elector of Bohemia would welcome you with open arms.”
“Yes? Hup!”
Only then did Baron Veno realize what he had been saying and covered his mouth. But he had already said too much.
“Why, you feel it too, don't you? That if we keep this foreign king, the Kingdom of Aragon will be ruined.”
“B-but….”
“Hah. I am not telling you to betray the Kingdom of Aragon now. I am saying we should break free from an unjust foreign oppressor. Wouldn't that be more for the sake of the Kingdom of Aragon?”
“But isn't the Prince-elector of Bohemia also a foreigner in the end?”
At Baron Veno's question, I shook my head.
“The Elf King, the Prince-elector of Bohemia, is different from the king. The Prince-elector's lands are far away in the eastern part of the Empire. Do you think the Prince-elector could rule the Kingdom of Aragon without your help? Especially after seeing with his own two eyes what the imperial family did to this land?”
“Ummm….”
“Think carefully. The tide has already turned, the soldiers protecting the king are but a handful. The king abandoned you first, so what loyalty can there be? On top of that, he has even been excommunicated by the Holy See.”
At my repeated words, Baron Veno's eyes began to waver.
I decided to drive a final nail into Baron Veno's conflict.
“It's only a matter of time before you turn your back anyway. If you step up now and support the Prince-elector of Bohemia, he will surely grant you a great reward. I will guarantee it.”
“Th-that….”
At my sweet proposal, Baron Veno's voice began to tremble faintly.
But Baron Veno was no fool.
“S-still, it is difficult to decide right away. Please give me some time, Your Excellency.”
He managed to maintain his composure and replied thus.
“Hmm. I understand. Then there's no choice. Give me your answer by tomorrow instead. I plan to leave tomorrow.”
I decided to take a step back.
It was a pity, but it seemed convincing him in one go was too much to ask.
* * *
Fortunately, Baron Veno did not pull any strange tricks. After the banquet ended, my party and I were able to return to the main force without any trouble.
However, Magician Agpiel seemed to find what happened at the banquet hall strange.
“By the way, when did you become so close with the Elf King, the Prince-elector of Bohemia? It's quite a new sight.”
“Pardon? What are you talking about all of a sudden, Magician Agpiel?”
He threw a question at me as soon as we arrived.
“What you said to Baron Veno. Weren't those the words you heard from the Prince-elector of Bohemia?”
“Haha. No way. I just made it up.”
“???”
At that, Magician Agpiel looked at me as if I were crazy.
“Do you really think the Prince-elector of Bohemia would repeat the same mistakes as the Holy Emperor? Well, it doesn't really matter if he does.”
“What do you mean?”
“It's not my land to rule anyway. Besides, it was just talk over drinks, so it's ridiculous to argue about its binding power. Haha.”
“……”
At my sly words, Magician Agpiel's mind went blank. What was he going to do if he got caught!
Feeling his gaze, I just shrugged my shoulders.
“Well, it was all done for a good outcome, so what would the Prince-elector of Bohemia say? From what I've seen, that Elf King doesn't seem to be a petty person, Agpiel.”
“You really….”
Magician Agpiel had much to say but forced himself to hold it back.
“Still, be careful. A person's trust is like a lamp's flame, it can be extinguished by a small breeze.”
“I understand. I will be careful from now on, Magician Agpiel.”
It wasn't wrong, so I decided to be mindful.
“By the way, do you think he will accept?”
“You mean Baron Veno?”
“Yes. I thought he was almost won over, but his resolve was stronger than I expected.”
“He is a dwarf, isn't he? The loyalty of dwarves has been like an ox's sinew since ancient times.”
“That's why it's a shame. If Baron Veno had turned his back, things would have been much easier from now on.”
“?”
At that, Magician Agpiel looked at me with an expression that said, what kind of absurd thing are you saying.
“In any case, what Baron Veno needed was a trigger. Since you provided the trigger, he will naturally move. So don't worry. Your proposal was perfect. It suited the taste of a noble perfectly.”
Indeed, it was a proposal that offered both justification and substance. Anyone who could think would never be able to refuse it.
And sure enough.
The next day.
“Margrave, Your Excellency. I will follow your army and join you in driving out the false oppressor. Please accept me.”
Just as Magician Agpiel had assured, Baron Veno led his army and joined me.
“Oh-!”
Of course.
-Tiriring!
[You have made a noble of the Kingdom of Aragon betray his king with your insidious tongue. Be careful. Conspiracy seems easy and convenient, but it sometimes makes people uncomfortable and leads them to distrust you.]
[Notification: Infamy increases.]
“Oh….”
Another kind of exclamation came out along with it.
Damn it.