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Volume 4 Chapter 1 Part 4

With a gentle smile, Stark’s Diplomatic Mage replied. Diplomatic Mages are tough beasts in their own right, and no matter how upset they may be on the inside, they never allow these emotions to show on their faces.

「A very fortunate turn of events indeed. That is exactly why I demand the Lords from the independent countries that are bordering the Fantasia Union to swear loyalty to me: so that it would be easier to re-establish friendly relations with the Fantasia Union and strengthen the bonds between the two forces that much easier. But if it happens that the peace talks break down and war between the two forces breaks out again, then it would be impossible for a subordinate Lord to refuse to mobilize and fight for the Factory Alliance, right? In the same way, I would not have any obligation to go save an attacked independent Lord with all of the Factory Alliance’s military strength, but if said independent Lord were to swear loyalty to me… that would be another story entirely. 」

After Marine said so, she looked at each of the Diplomatic Mages of the three independent countries.

「As you wish, Lady Marine. 」

The three Mages bowed to Marine respectfully.

「I will give you a deadline of ten days to make a decision. Please reply whether you will obey me by then. 」

「I will be sure to tell that to my master. 」

Stark’s Diplomatic Mage answered on behalf of the three, and the three returned to their original seats.
「Just like all of you heard just now, Fantasia Union is asking us to engage in peace talks, so I would like to hear what all of you Lords have to say about that. The conditions that the Union is presenting are much the same as they were before 「The Tragedy of the Grand Cathedral」. 」

At her statement, the Diplomatic Mages all roared at once.

「Impossible… 」

Marine heard someone muttering.

「Are… are we really sure that this story is true and that is indeed the case? Because personally, I find it somewhat hard to believe. 」

A Diplomatic Mage who served Nord’ 「Ocean King」Erik looked around, and after confirming that no one was officially speaking to deny that, he made a face that looked like it was filled with regret, most likely because he was aware of his master’s actions and that he was committing them cautiously and consciously simply because of how bold his personality was.

「I swear by my Crest… 」

Marine materialize her Crest which shined on the palm on her right hand and she held it up for all the Diplomatic Mages to see. To swear by a your Crest means that you are prepared to forsake it if the thing you sweared for would be proven to be a lie.

「I am satisfied with this. 」
Erik’s diplomatic Mage bowed again, impressed by Marine’s display.

「Then today’s meeting is over. 」

Marlne straightened her posture and she declares loudly.

「The next meeting of the Factory Alliance’s Lord’s Conference is going to be held in 10 days. 」

Aubest then continued in a businesslike tone of voice.

The Diplomatic Mages of their feudal Lords bowed their heads to him and Marine, and then they proceeded to leave the conference room after another in silence.

「Well now, I wonder what kind of answer will I get? 」

After all the Diplomatic Mages were gone, Marine looked back at Aubest and asked.

「Lord Stark will most likely not accept your order of subordination until he really confirms your resolve and the direction in which you want to take the Factory Alliance, Lady Marine. The remaining two countries will most likely agree to your ultimatum, but I think they will delay coming to this castle for as long as possible. 」

「Yes… that is more or less what I am expecting as well. 」

Subordination is equivalent to entrusting one’s life to the Lord, so Marine also knows that the answer to an order of subordination is not going to be one that is going to be easily reached.

「How will the feudal lords react to the Fantasia Union’s proposal? And above all, how will the actions of the 「Ocean King 」Erik be judged… 」

「I think that speculation about these questions is meaningless. Let us wait for a formal response and see what happens then. 」

「Yes, you are right. 」

Marlene looked up at the sky and sighed. If it mean that the Lords of the Factory Alliance will be willing to accept her marriage with Alexis once more, then she was willing to go through with making peace with the Fantasia Union, even though she knew that this scenario was not too realistic.

(Alexis…)

Marine thought of the handsome face of the Marquis of the Ducet family ,but she immediately shook her head and threw his image out of her mind…

「Gerhardt! 」

And she called the newly appointed Commander of the Heavy Knights of Waldrind, Gerhard Konnen, who was made Commander earlier this year.

The former Commander of the Heavy Knights of Waldrind has given up his position and rank, taking responsibility for the defeat at Selvis and for the incident in which one of the Captains of the Heavy Knight units plotted to revive the Demon Lord along with the Black Witch and the Vampire King, and Gerhard, who was the cousin of the former Commander and one of the Vice Commanders of the Heavy Knights became his successor.

「What do you require of me, my Lady? 」

Gerhardt advanced in front of Marine, the sound of his heavy footsteps echoing loudly through the full set of armor that he was wearing even during the time of peace.

「I want you to start preparing for the battle with Stark. I am going to start making my own preparations as well. 」

「Understood! 」

The Heavy Knight Commander bowed respectfully and called the Knight Captains who were in the hall together. Aubest and other Mages joined them, and a military council on how they should go about subdueing Stark has started.

* * *

May 28, 2013 of the Continental calendar.

Siluca and Theo were staying in Vilar’s castle after returning from the Lord’s Conference of the Fantasia Union which was held in Halusia, which was held so that the members of the Fantasia Union could discuss what they wanted to do about the Factory Aliance and the potential threat that it posed.
However, once it was decided that the Fantasia Union was going to try to make peace with the Factory Alliance, there was pretty much nothing else that they could do. All that they could do now was to remain on standby and watch the progress of the negotiations.

With Artuk as the leader, neighboring regions united and were preparing for the eventuality of the fight against the Factory Alliance. And when the discussion was settled, all the Lords returned to their respective countries.

Siluca felt as though her soul had been left behind in Halusia, even as she completed one task after another as from the pile of work that had accumulated during her absence.

Until the last moment, the Lord’s Conference was going exactly how Siluca envisioned it was going to go, but that was all overturned by a single sentence from Alexis Doucet, leader of the Fantasia Union who wanted to make Vilar Constance, the Earl of Artuk into the Union’s leader in his place.

Siluca knew that Villar, the grandson of Jürgen Kraische, the Iron-Blooded Earl could not become the leader of the Fantasia Union, but apparently Alexis thought that it would be no problem if Vilar were to assume the central role in the Union, since in his eyes he was much better suited for the position than he could ever be.

She never thought that Alexis would endorse Vilar as the leader in the first place, however, naturally, Villar had no choice but to decline the offer, and with no better candidate for the position, Alexis Ducet remained the leader of the Fantasia Union, and Vilar promised that if he chose to pursue the path of making peace with the Factory Alliance, then he would respect his decision. But now that Vilar declined to be the leader of the Fantasia Union once, he could no longer run for that position again in the future, even if he wanted to.

「It is as if the Fantasia Union’s demise has already been decided! 」
After the Conference ended, Earl of Leclerc, Kurt Gallas said indignantly after the content of the verdict of the Conference had already spread across the continent. The allied Lords who were thinking of going independent should be deterred, since not everyone was bound to be happy with the verdict that cemented to path of reconciliation with Marine Kraische and the Factory Alliance.