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Volume 4 Chapter 1 Part 1

Chapter 1: Diplomacy

May 10, 2013 of the Continental Calendar

The capital of Waldrind, Bertha.

A Mage has been dispatched to visit the castle that has been ruled over by the members of the Kraische family for generations. He is a contracted Mage of Alexis Ducet, the Leader of the Fantasia Union, and his name is Sefaud Latkins. About five Years ago, he has been stationed in Waldrind to act as a Diplomatic Mage on behalf of the previous leader of the Fantasia Union, Silvestre Ducet. After 「The Tragedy of the Grand Cathedral」where both the Archduke Silvestre Ducet and Archduke Mathias Kraische lost their lives to the Demon Lord, he has signed a new contract with Silvestre’s son, Alexis, according to which he was to continue carrying out the role that Alexis’s father had assigned to him.

His straight black hair have been parted perfectly in the center, and their ends have been neatly trimmed. He wore a monocle with a silver chain on his eye and held his magic wand like a walking stick. He wore a glittering robe embroidered with the fire dragon crest, which was the symbol of the Ducet family, and while his black cloak fluttered in every possible direction, he continued to walk down the corridor in a gallant manner.

「Did he come here to advise me to surrender? 」

Having been informed about Sefaud’s visit, Marine Kraische, the current leader of the Factory Alliance looked at her contracted Mage Aubest Meletes and asked with a self-deprecating smile.

「Playing the guessing game is pointless now. We just have to wait and hear what he has to say. 」
Aubest answered emotionlessly.

Marine also knew that there was no need for guessing and that she would learn about it soon enough directly from the messenger, but on the other hand, she also thought that it would be nice if she received some words of comfort from Aubest, but she knew that this was never going to happen because her contracted Mage was not that kind of person.

She was well aware that a Fantasia Union’s Lord’s Conference was held in Halusia, the main territory that belonged to Alexis Ducet. She also received information that as a result of that Lord’s Conference, the Lords of the Union agreed to Alexis’s proposal of seeking a truce with the factory Alliance through various means. However, by taking Falvis and Clovis to make them a part of Fantasia Union, Vilar Constance, the Earl of Artuk threw the gauntlet to the Lords who sought a peaceful resolusion, but he still had the guts to arrive in Halusia as if nothing happened.

As a result of Vilar’s actions, Artuk now gained a connection to Ismeia by land, and made it so that it was no longer surrounded by the countries allied with the factory Alliance from every possible side.

Marine was asked for help by the Lords of Falvis and Clovis, but she was in no condition to respond to their please since not only did she she lost the battle of Selvis and the entire Selvis last year, but Ozer and Veltava’s movements were uncertain us well. Moreover, there were rumors that Viscount Pavel Murad, who ruled the peninsula of Stark, the neighboring country to the east, was plotting to break away from the Factory Alliance. He is said to have amassed his forces at a fortified fortress in the an Penelope Isthmus, where his people have been sighted transporting supplies and food.

The Murad Viscount family originally had a deep relationship with Dartania and Artuk, and gained wealth through trade in the South Seas. However, due to Jürgen Kraische’s expedition, it was incorporated into the territories of the Factory Alliance, so it was blocked by Dartania and Artuk, and the trade route was lost.

Since becoming an independent Lord due to 「The Tragedy of the Grand Cathedral」, he must have been waiting for an opportunity to break away from the Factory Alliance for good, and he saw the wavering prestige of the Kraische family as an opportunity to do so.

(That was a correct judgement of the situation on his part.)

It would be very difficult for the current Factory Alliance to raise a flag of rebellion against Stark, which can be said to be under Waldrind’s foot.

If the Fantasia Union used that opportunity to launch an all-out attack, Marine did not know if they would be able to counter it. However, as the head of the Kraische family and leader of the Factory Alliance, she will make sure that she fulfills her mission.

Marine took the throne and welcomed the Diplomatic Mage from the Fantasia Union.

「It has been a long time. 」

Sefaud bowed politely, and then he continued his speech praising Marine’s beauty. Marine made a gesture of waving her hand, and she interrupted him halfway.

「I am short-tempered, so I want you to speak to me with facts instead of needless flattery. 」

「I am sorry for offending you. If that is your wish, then I, Sefaud, shall convey to you the general intentions of the Fantasia Union without any exaggerated gestures and with a clear voice. 」

「I am listening then. 」

Marine calmed down and urged the Diplomatic Mage to speak.

「Well then… 」

The Fantasia Union Diplomatic Mage continued after arranging his breathing.

「The Fantasia Union wishes to make peace with the Factory Alliance. 「The Tragedy of the Grand Cathedral」has been officially deemed to the result of a scheme concocted by the organization called Pandora, so that tragic event can no longer be used to justify any further fighting between the two major powers. 」

「What did you say?! 」

Marine could not believe her ears. In the light of the recent events, it was unthinkable for her that the Fantasia Union would have the audacity to propose a truce.

「Are you saying that the Fantasia Union wants to make peace with the Factory Alliance after they took not only Selvis, but also Falvis and Clovis from us?! 」

Marlene tried to figure out exactly was Alexis thinking, but in the process of doing that she ended up raising her angry voice more than she actually intended.

「My lady, your anger is a justified one… 」
Sefaud said while clearly sounding shaken, or perhaps even afraid.

「But the intention behind this peace treaty is that once it is finally established, neither the Fantasia Union nor the Factory Alliance will matter anymore, and then Lord Alexis wishes to once again go through with what has been so rudely interrupted by 「The Tragedy of the Grand Cathedral」. 」

「So what you are saying… is that Lord Alexis still wishes to marry me so that our union could lead to the creation of the Grancrest? 」

「That is exactly right. 」

「In that case, I am afraid that it is already too late for that. First of all. First of all, neither the Kraische family nor the Doucet family have the Lords with the title of Archduke in their midst anymore, so even if we were to marry each other, an Emperor would not be born from it. 」

「You can always seek the subordination of the independent Lords to your combined powers. 」

「And do you really think that the independent Lords will accept subordination so easily? Originally, many Lords were against the marriage of our two families in the first place. It was only after Lord Silvestre Ducet and my father, Lord Mathias Kraische persuaded the Lords of both factions to accept it that the prospect of our marriage became something more than pure fantasy, and that was only possible because of their positions as the Archdukes… but there was a great many Lords who were not convinced about it regardless. You also said that the ones behind 「The Tragedy of the Grand Cathedral」are the organization known as Pandora, but I have a feeling that there might be an even greater power than them supporting them from the shadows… 」
「Personally I believe that the Fantasia Union and the Factory Alliance should put aside their differences and reconcile with one another in order to uncover the whole truth behind the incident and destroy the evil organization that is trying to bring back the time of Extreme Chaos. But there will also be something in it to gain for Lord Alexis and Lady Marine personally… you will be able to take revenge for the deaths of your fathers. 」

Sefaud insisted that Marine should go through with the reconciliation with the Fantasia Union, so it would seem that he had really come here for the peace talks. It was also interesting that the Fantasia Union wanted to go back to how things were before 「The Tragedy of the Grand Cathedral」even though the Union now had the upper hand over the Factory Alliance.