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Volume 4 Chapter 1 Part 2

「Is that opinion also shared by Vilar Constance, the Earl of Artuk? 」

「Since it was what has been decided at the Lord’s Conference, then he intends to obey that outcome. 」

「I see. 」

It seems that the Earl of Artuk was unable to take the initiative in the at the Lord’s Conference. Even though it was a perfect opportunity for the Fantasia Union to destroy the Factory Alliance, the Lords of the Union probably did not have the resolve to actually challenge the Alliance to a fight, and that is why they went along with the peace talks option.

(Alexis…)

Right now, Marine wanted nothing more than to summon the young leader of the Fantasia Union before her and scold him severely.

(Are you going to destroy the Union?)

Marquis of Halusia, Alexis Doucet, has an excellent appearance and a gentle personality. He is a wonderful young man with a great artistic talent. But he is too much of a dreamer, and he is definitely lacking in practical ability.

Marine met Alexis by chance in Elam, and since the first time they met, she ended up falling in love with everything about him, and she seriously thought that once the two of them were finally married and she would become his wife, then together they would be able to turn the world that he always dreamed of into reality.

However, thinking about it now, she might have been pushing for that too hard, which led to both her and Alexis making new enemies, which might have directly led to the dreaded event that became known as 「The Tragedy of the Grand Cathedral」.

Even now she still thinks it is her fault that her father died, and that is why she continued to wear the black mourning dress.

「In any case, it’s not a matter that can be decided on this occasion. We the members of the Factory Alliance will also hold our ow Lord’s Conference and discuss that matter thoroughly. Is that okay with you? 」

Maline said to Sefaud in an arrogant tone.

「I understand. 」

The Diplomatic Mage of the Fantasia Union bowed to her in an exaggerated fashion, and then he dashed out of the throne room as fast as when he dashed into it. When Sefaud was finally gone from the throne room, Marine made a big sigh and then she glanced at Aubest in frustration, annoyed that he did not offer any more words of advice to her.

「Is something wrong, Lady Marine? 」

「No, it is nothing. 」

Marine shook her head.

「More importantly, what are your thoughts about this peace talks proposal made by the Fantasia Union? 」

「I think there might be more to it than meets the eye, but overall it would be quite convenient for us. 」

Aubest answered Marine’s question immediately, but the tone of his voice and his expression were the same as usual, which caused Marine to think that I he really thought that it would be convenient for them, then perhaps he should show just a little bit of emotion. That indifference of his was what often made it difficult for her to make decisions based on his advice, but in this case she had to admit that she agreed with him.

「Regardless of the strategy that we are going to end up deciding on, what we need more than anything else right now is time. For as long as the peace talks are going to continue, we should assume the the forces of the Fantasia Union are not going to try and invade us, so we should call for the Lord’s Conference of the Factory Alliance at once. 」

「As you wish. 」

Aubest nodded at Marine and then he began to issue orders to his subordinate Mages one after the other.

* * *

Once his audience with Marine Kraische was over, Sefaud Latkins returned back to his mansion that was situated on the outskirts of the Bertha city. He then entered his office and contacted the Head Mage of Halusia with his Magic Wand.

「Well, how did it go? 」

A hoarse voice called out from the other side of the magic wand.

The contracted Head Mage of the Douse family has served at his post since the time of the previous head of the Fantasia Union, Silvestre Ducet. He was an old man over sixty years old, and was expected to retire when the status of the Ducet family’s head was moved to Alexis, but much to everyone’s surprise he made a new contract with Alexis at his own request. According to rumors, it was because he was simply unable to bring himself to throw away the high salary paid to him by the Ducet family.

「Everything seems to be pointing to Lady Marine intending to no respond to the request for negotiations. 」

Sefaud said bluntly, because that was what he managed to deduce from the attitude that Marine Kraische was presenting throughout the entire audience.

「That is just about what we were expecting. Do you have any idea what Lady Marine’s true intentions might be? 」

After a short interval where there was nothing but silence, the voice of the Head Mage called out to Sefaud once more. He would assume that Alexis should be listening to this report by the Head Mage’s side and so he would have preferred to report directly to the Fantasia Union’s leader, but the Head Mage did not allow it.

「Of course, I have no way of knowing what her true intentions might be, but there is still a number of things that can be deduced from the other person’s tone of voice, their reactions, and even the slightest movements of their body. If I was unable to follow upon any of those elusive signally, then I could not possibly call myself a proper Diplomatic Mage. 」

At this point, he could almost sense these kinds of things through his skin…

(But of course someone who was never in a similar position could not even hope to begin to understand what it feels like.)

Sefaud cursed at the Head Mage in his heart.

When this old magician also served Silvestre Ducet, that was the time when he still had his dignity and ambition in him. However, since Silvestre Ducet was replaced by Alexis, Sefaud’s impression was that he has weakened greatly.

(Perhaps he has given up on Lord Alexis and the Fantasia Union as a whole. If a full-scale war with the Factory Alliance does break out, then I am sure that he is going to immediately request his contract with Lord Alexis to be cancelled based on his age alone.)

Sefaud cast a contemptuous glance at the magic wand. Fortunately, magic wands can only transmit sounds, so the other party had no idea what he was doing right now.

(I should have escaped when I had the chance as well.)

A wry smile showed itself on his face.

For the past five years, Sefaud has been literally struggling to make sure that the marriage between the Doucet and Kraiche families was going to be established.

In addition to negotiating with the Factory Alliance, there were quite a few Lords, including Earl Vilar of Artuk, who were opposed to the union of the titles of the two Archdukes. He was doing his best to persuade those dissenting Lords to finally win the favor of the Lord’s Conference of the Fantasia Union so that the marriage between Alexis and Marine could finally be greenlit.

His name will not go down in history, but he was proud to have worked for the unification of the continent. However, the nightmarish incident in Elam destroyed years of Sefaud’s efforts in an instant.

Sefaud then re-contracted with Alexis because he wanted to somehow preserve the path of continental unification that he had created. However, after the conflict between Artuk and Waldrind last year, the tide of the times has turned toward the Great War instead of peace once more.

「Negotiations are meaningless if the other party is not willing to accept them. 」

Sefaud advised.

「The Margrave of Waldrind does not really want to fight the Fantasia Union. However, in the current situation, if she was to accept the peace talks just like that, her own allied Lords would oppose her, and that is what makes her so hesitant about accepting them. All you have to do is present conditions that will satisfy the Lords of the Alliance while allowing the Margrave to keep her own dignity.」

「The situation is in our favor, is it not? I am reluctant to even offer them any sort of breathing room or privilages. 」

Sefaud also has his own pride as a Diplomatic Mage. In the current situation, if a peace treaty were to be concluded on unfavorable terms for the Union, the person who was in charge of the negotiations would be the laughingstock of the entire world.