novelraw Chapter 86: Directory Government - Kingdom of Alps
Chapter 86: Directory Government - Kingdom of Alps
Finding the delegation alone insufficient, the Germania Empire requested that both the Kingdom of Francia and the Germania Empire bring their respective heirs to the throne to a meeting in the neutral Kingdom of Alps.
Although they yielded slightly, it was also true that they had deliberately stalled, so this time we had no justifiable reason to refuse.
Even if both sides knew this meeting was less of an actual negotiation and more of a preparation to declare war after reconfirming the impossibility of compromise.
Still, I thought we could buy about a year, but in reality, we managed to buy about half a year.
It's not just about buying time; the burden on the Empress will increase, and there will be quite a few lords who defect, so even this will be a great help...
Anyway, having left the capital, our delegation arrived in Franche-Comté, a region in eastern Francia, and visited an orphanage.
"Saint, Saint, oh. Should I call you Princess now?"
"You can call me whichever you're comfortable with, Pierre."
"Wow, the Saint remembers my name!"
"Of course~ Pierre has a good name. It's a cool name, isn't it?"Eris, who patted the head of the delighted orphan boy, glanced at me.
It's obvious that she's smiling mischievously behind the veil.
The Princess, soon to be 20 years old, is being childish about a child's name.
Eris, who looked at me for a moment, soon turned her gaze away and greeted another child.
"Hello, Saint!"
"Sophie, is your mother healthy now?"
Eris had been traveling around the country doing charity work for orphans and the poor, but I wondered if she remembered all those children's names, and as expected, the girl answered with a bright smile.
"Yes, thanks to you, Saint!"
As I watched Eris happily greet the children, I recalled the conversation I had with her before we left.
-Honestly, even if you go, you won't be able to stop the war. This is a meeting opened to achieve the results the Empress wants. Talleyrand will handle the actual negotiations anyway.
-But if I don't go, won't their justification be stronger?
-...Yes.
-Then I must go.
Eris answered so simply, and then added with a smile.
-It's not much of a substitute, but Marquis, you'll come with me, right?
-Huh?
-So you were going to send me alone with the chairman of the Revolutionary Party who hates royalty? Wow, you came all this way with me and you're going to abandon me...
-...Talleyrand isn't that thoughtless of a person.
-I'd like to leave a little early and visit the places where I did charity work last time, so please give me some support. Honestly, it's difficult for me to ask the Revolutionary Party's Leader for such a favor, isn't it?
Awakened from my thoughts, I watched Eris scatter light, and the orphans rejoiced at the sight.
Traveling such a long distance must be tiring, but she visits every place we pass through, taking care of the poor and sick, or playing with orphans. She has a lot of energy.
What Eris really wants to do, perhaps, is not to sit on the throne and rule as queen, but things like this.
Will the benefits we gain by putting Eris on the throne be worth the freedom that this noble princess will pay as a price?
While I was having slightly troubled thoughts, Talleyrand, who had been quietly watching beside me, spoke.
"...Indeed, it's not just for show."
His attitude, cynical at the beginning of the journey, had surprisingly changed. So I smiled slightly and turned my head.
"It's something you can only do if you enjoy it."
Talleyrand had an ambiguous expression.
Maximilien Le Jidor and the Revolutionary Party were wary of me.
They thought my very existence tarnished the significance of the revolution.
Then, what about Eris?
Eris is not even a noble, but royalty.
According to their original revolutionary ideology, she should have been the first to be eliminated. In fact, before the regression, she was framed and executed.
However, no one in the National Assembly could be more moral than Eris, and no one in this country could be more loved by the people than Eris.
Talleyrand, who had been quietly watching Eris, spoke softly.
"The fundamental ideology of the revolution ultimately stemmed from reclaiming the rights of the Third Estate that had been taken away by the oppressors."
The 'Theory of Social Hierarchy' published by Bishop Richelieu and Sieyès, or rather Halphas, triggered the revolution, but it also imposed a fundamental limit on their revolution.
Christine and I knew that much of the content of the 'Theory of Social Hierarchy' was induced by the Abyss Corporation, but we ultimately did not reveal it.
Even if it were true, as nobles, it would only be seen as a ploy to undermine the foundations of the revolution.
However.
"Have you changed your mind a little now?"
Talleyrand smiled bitterly.
"In the end, I have to admit that dedication to the people is not based on social status."
See, in the end.
"There can be problems with ideology or people. The only difference is whether you accept change or not. The old regime failed because it couldn't, so we, who brought it down, must be different."
Even if this revolution has demonic machinations and limitations, if we face them directly and change, we can overcome those limitations and move forward.
Talleyrand looked at me, furrowed his brow slightly, and then answered.
"I admit it, but that doesn't mean the Revolutionary Party will become ardent supporters of Her Highness the Princess and the Marquis."
"Haha, I don't expect that either, nor should they. Frankly speaking, without your revolution, I wouldn't be able to live with the same thoughts as I do now."
Talleyrand twisted the corners of his mouth slightly and smiled.
"Well, it seems we still have a lot to learn from each other."
*
We followed the narrow and rugged mountain paths of the majestic and rugged Alps and arrived at the entrance gate to the mountain range, built by the dwarves.
The dwarf who came to greet us with soldiers was wearing full metal armor.
A stocky body about the height of my waist, with a muscular build.
Additionally, a grim face with a bushy beard that almost reached his waist.
It's the first time I've actually seen a dwarf, who I've only heard of in stories-
"Commander Glasstec!"
"Hahaha, welcome! Talleyrand, friend of the dwarves!"
As soon as the seemingly dignified dwarf saw Talleyrand, he welcomed him warmly.
"I'm glad to see you again, friend of Francia!"
Talleyrand greeted Glasstec with a friendly hug.
As we were all bewildered, Glasstec spoke to me.
"Greetings, I am Glasstec of the Seventh Peak! I am the commander-in-chief of the Gate Guard!"
They said they use the peak they were born on as their family name, and the Gate Guard is the name of their army.
In other words, he's my equal.
"Nice to meet you, Commander Glasstec of the Seventh Peak. I am Pierre de Lafayette, Commander-in-Chief of the Francia Army."
"Glasstec is fine, Commander Lafayette! A friend of Talleyrand is a friend of mine! Now, I'll show you the way!"
Glasstec began to guide our party without even glancing at Eris, who was clearly above me or Talleyrand in the order of precedence.
-Dwarves interpret a man speaking to an unmarried woman as flirting. So even if they ignore Her Highness the Princess, it is their way of showing respect, so please be understanding.
Talleyrand told me before entering, but it feels a bit strange to see it in person.
Eris herself doesn't seem to care, while looking around with curious eyes and chattering to Lord Beaumont.
We followed Glasstec's guidance, passed through the gate, and descended into the tunnel.
The tunnel, carved entirely out of the mountain and reinforced with stone, looks crude but is wider and sturdier than any human building, and the tunnel entrance is lined with muscular dwarves armed with muskets.
And during that time, Glasstec never stopped talking.
He really didn't stop and talked incessantly, so we half-listened and half-ignored him as we followed.
"Did I tell you how Talleyrand and we became friends? To tell you that first, I must tell you what this friend did for us! As you know, we eat potatoes, cheese, and beer as our staple foods. Even humans know that much!
But this friend Talleyrand, He's impressive! A human! He had deep insight and research into the food culture and taste of us dwarves! So he made a wonderful dish that suited our taste with wheat, which we thought was garbage and didn't even look at, and let us taste it!
I thought humans were not a very trustworthy bunch, but if a person can show such sincerity and consideration....! He can become a friend of the dwarves! Yes, indeed! After becoming friends with Talleyrand-"
I only heard that Talleyrand managed to sell our wheat along with mithril, but hearing it like this, it seems to have been quite a big deal.
That aside.
Where did the arrogant, taciturn, and grumpy dwarves go?
After passing through that long tunnel, the soft light of magic lamps illuminates a huge cavity that seems to have been carved out of the entire mountain range.
Beneath the high ceiling of the cavity, countless buildings and dwarves are moving around, showing a completely different cityscape from a human city.
"Wao-"
I heard Eris softly exclaim. When I turned my head, her long hair swayed as she took off her hood, shining silver in the light of the magic lamps.
Hmm, such a huge underground city.
Usually basements have a damp and musty smell, but strangely, this city doesn't have that feeling at all.
Do they have some special technology?
Glasstec guided us from the cavity and back into the tunnel through the gate.
"How long will we be traveling?"
When I asked, Glasstec immediately answered, not stopping his incessant chatter.
"But still, when it comes to beer, the Germania Empire guys are a little better! You Francia people need to learn how to make good beer. Ah, we're going to the Ninth Peak. The current King is from there. The meeting place is set there!"
"I see."
They built cities on each peak of the mountain range and connected them with tunnels.
In a sense, can it be considered one huge city-state?
Glasstec returned to the original topic as soon as he answered and started chattering incessantly. I started to respect Talleyrand, who listened and added interjections in between...
Anyway, with Glasstec's non-stop chatter as our companion, we passed through several gates and met the current Mountain King, Lazureen of the Ninth Peak.
Lazureen was a muscular dwarf like Glasstec, but he gave a somewhat mystical feeling thanks to his white beard that reached almost to his toes.
The dwarves choose the most capable craftsman as king when the king dies, but he feels more like a sage than a craftsman.
"On behalf of the Kingdom of Alps, I welcome the delegation of Francia who have come from afar."
Lazureen's voice was dignified and his words were short, so it wasn't as ear-splitting as Glasstec's.
Fortunately, it seems that Glasstec was not the average dwarf.
"Francia and Germania both have a friendly cooperative relationship with our country, so we have been appointed as the mediator to oversee this meeting..."
The moment I thought so, Lazureen, who had opened his mouth to look at us, paused, then his eyes flashed and he added.
"Know that those who are caught trying to cause trouble will face the judgment of the anvil."
"Of course, Your Majesty. There will be nothing to worry about."
I glanced at Talleyrand, who was still smiling. Is this the dwarves' diplomatic rhetoric?
Thinking we had no business with the Mountain King after greeting him, we were about to leave, but he called me.
"Are you Marquis Pierre de Lafayette?"
"That's correct, Your Majesty."
"I heard from Talleyrand that thanks to you, we secured mithril."
Heard?
What does he want to say? Thank you?
While I was thinking this, Lazureen stroked his white beard and said bluntly.
"You're a knight, aren't you? Show me your sword."
Not a 'I want to see it', but a... 'show it to me'...He's a very direct guy, isn't he?
Since the head of country asked to see it, I unfastened my sword and handed it to a guard. Lazureen took it from the guard, half-drew it, then returned it.
What was that?
"There's nothing to see."
Lazureen said only that and gestured for me to leave.
No, how rude.
"Then we will take our leave, Your Majesty."
As I retrieved my sword from the guard, Talleyrand spoke quickly, and we had to leave together.
Unlike Kroxx's side, this confirms my prejudices about these damn dwarves!
"Are you okay, Marquis?"
"Why would I not be okay?"
Eris whispered softly, so I answered with a chuckle.
It's absurd, but it's a different culture, so I have to bear it.
Thinking that, I walked and blocked Eris with my hand.
A man wearing the attire of the Germania Empire, not the commonly seen dwarves, is approaching.
"Greetings to the delegation of the Republic of Francia: Deputy Maurice Talleyrand, Marquis Pierre de Lafayette, and Princess Erisliste Lilianne De Francia. I am here to deliver an invitation to the Third Princess from Her Majesty Cecilia, Kaiserin of the Germania Empire and rightful heir to the Kingdom of Francia."
The rightful heir to the Kingdom of Francia, huh.
A sneer naturally formed.
Eris nodded, and Lord Beaumont stepped forward to receive the invitation and handed it to Eris.
"Her Majesty Kaiserin Cecilia will await the Third Princess's reply. Then I shall take my leave."
The attendant left after saying that, and Eris opened the invitation on the spot and showed it to me and Talleyrand.
"This is, well, classic."
Talleyrand chuckled with an amused expression.
"Hmm. Tea time."
Inviting a rival claimant to the throne to a tea party before the formal meeting?
"What will you do, Your Highness?"
When I asked Eris, she sparkled her unique purple eyes and answered energetically.
"I'll win!"
...Are you going to fight her...?