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Volume 4 Chapter 3 Part 6

The Earl of Leclerc shouted while pointing his finger at Marquis Dawson.

「H-How dare you! 」

The Marquis got so angry at that accusation that he stood up from his seat.

「Both of you, please quiet down! 」

Alexis ordered the two Lords to calm down, even though he himself was greatly perplexed by the situation, and then he flanked towards Sefaud.

(No, no, just ignore me already!)

Sefaud cried out in his heart.

「What if the Kraische family was to be recognized as the Emperors, and all of the Lords from the Fantasia Union were to swear their allegiance to them? 」

Alexis asked with the eyes that indicated that he was still hoping for a peaceful resolution of this conflict, but his words only resulted in the turmoil in the meeting hall getting that much worse, because such a turn of events would be tantamount to the Fantasia Union declaring its unconditional surrender to the Factory Alliance. These words of Alexis also caused Sefaud to want to burst into laughter.

(At this stage, this man is already beyond saving.)

As for his fiancée, Marine, she has already given up on Alexis.

「I want to save the Earl of Artuk. And in order to do that, there might be no other way.

“I understand your feelings, Your Lordship, but the Factory Alliance has already declared that the Fantasia Union is going to be destroyed on the field of battle, and no matter what other conditions we are going to present to it, its decision cannot possibly be overturned right now. Also, the idea of making the Kraische family Emperors no longer makes sense, because while the Kraische family is still the leaders of the Factory Alliance, it is now just one of the Electors, candidates to become Emperor if you will. During their last Lord’s Conference, it has been decided that the most influential Lords of the Factory Alliance are going to create an Electoral Council that will appoint Prince-Electors. A powerful monarch of the alliance will be appointed as the prince-elector, and after the Alliance unifies the continent, it is said that the Emperor will be chosen from among them through discussion. 」

Sefaud should have reported that earlier as well, but now it was too late to worry about that.
Sefaud then speculates that Dartania’s new Viceroy Milza will also be named Elector.

「Why is Marine insisting on setting everything through military means? 」

Alexis wondered about that matter.

「It is just going to be my assumption, but… 」

Sefaud could not take it anymore and laughed out loud as he looked around at the mighty Lord of the Fantasia Union.
「Is it not because she does not want to continue this kind of pointless discussion? To be honest, I am sick and tired of it too! 」

As he spat those resentful words out, Sefaud took out the bottle of poison he had hidden and tried to drink its contents, but before he knew it, a maid behind him snatched the bottle out of his hand.

It was clear that the maid was a Shadow. As expected of the maids assigned to Alexis.

「I will not let a rude and disrespectful person like you die such an easy death. 」

The maid said while smiling mysteriously.

「So in the end, even my death could not go as I planned, just like my entire life… 」

Sefaud burst into laughter again, and then he was led out of the chamber while still being restrained by the maid while the sound of his laughter echoed.

「Let me offer my sincere apologies for my contracted Mage’s rude behavior just now. 」

Alexis looked around at the Lords gathered in the room and apologized, but the Lords were all equally stunned by the unexpected event.

「I believed that we could still reconcile with the Factory Alliance, but it seems I was wrong… 」

Alexis let out a cry of grief.

「But I still believe that the Earl of Artuk must be saved at all costs. For that, I am prepared to do whatever it takes. 」

「The Earl of Artuk already has his castle surrounded: by Dartania from the sea and by the Heavy Knights of Waldrind from the land. There is nothing that we can possibly do for him anymore. 」

Marquis Dawson shows a regretful expression. Seeing that, the Earl of Leclerc Kurt was convinced that his suspicions were indeed correct.

(There seems to be a secret agreement between him and the Factory Alliance after all…)

But that was probably a part of the Factory Alliance’s strategy. Marine Kraische most likely intended to make Marquis Dawson, who is in personal conflict with the Earl of Artuk an internal enemy that would destabilize the Fantasia Union from within.

(But even if I know about it, there is nothing I can do about it…)

Alexis insisted the peace could be brought to the entire continent if he and Marine Kraische got married to one another, but many of the Lords, starting with Marquis Dawson, did not care about peace on the continent in the slightest. Instead, they were only focused on protecting their own private interests, titles and territories.

If the forces of the Factory Alliance attacked them, they probably think that they could get away with their hides unscratched if only they promise to swear loyalty to Marine Kraische.

「I plan to invade the Factory Alliance territory from the north of the continent. If we threaten Waldrind from behind, then it is possible that the army that is currently stationed outside the Earl of Artuk’s castle might be compelled to withdraw to go back and protect their homeland. 」

「Waldrind will not return back to their country until its army takes the Crest of the Earl of Artuk to present it to Marine. Besides, if you move your army to the north of the continent, The Ocean king Eric will not stand idly by and let you do however you please. 」

「Eric is steadily increasing his power even without moving his army. Sandormere, Vanberg, the small continent of Bretland… has been harassing all of these countries, not to mention him being all over the North Sea. 」

「Is it the same for you? Why do you not see Bratland that such a move would only serve to make the Factory Alliance stronger?! 」

「Marquis Dawson, are you telling us to simply let the territories of the Fantasia Union and neutral territories allied to it be devoured by the enemy? 」

「I did not say anything of the sort… 」

Marquis Dawson was at a loss for words.

「If the possibility of The Ocean King’s retaliation against you terrifies you so much, then maybe I should make my own move by myself? That way, I will be the only one to sacrifice myself after the Earl of Artuk! 」
The Earl of Leclerc left only those bitter words behind him as he stood up angerly, kicked down his chair and left the room without saying anything else. No other Lord dared to follow him, but his abrupt withdrawal left a heavy atmosphere lingering in the room.

「Why…? 」

Alexis muttered dumbfoundedly.

「Were you not the one who told us that my marriage with Marine will be the one for the sake ending the Age of Chaos and bringing lasting peace to the continent? 」

Tears began to well up in the eyes of the young leader of the Fantasia Union. Seeing that, Marquis Dawson quickly stood up from his seat and clapped his hands loudly.

「Alright gentlemen, I think it would be best if we ended the meeting here for today. It would seem that the preparations for the banquet have already been completed, so let us move to the main hall. 」

* * *
August 17, 2013 of the Continental Calendar.

The queen of Haman, Edochia, brought a bath into the hall where the throne was located, and bathed in it elegantly, with fragrant oils and rose petals floating in it. Many courtiers and maids are working as usual in the hall, and there were also people who came to make petitions, but it’s a common occurrence, so no one seems to be upset. That is why she is called the Immoral Queen.

While she was listening to the petitions of the people who were coming before her, she had several men wash her body for her. They were all queen Edochia’s lovers. Also, just a few steps away from the bathtub in which the queen was bathing stood a man named Solas, who was queen Edochia’s contracted Mage. Although he was almost sixty years of age now, he was queen Edochia’s very first lover. When he was in charge of the young Edochia’s education as her private tutor, he was seduced by her and could not bring himself to refuse her advances.