Today, I'm updating early because I have plans. I'll make adjustments to the story's development based on the reactions I get. Well, then.
"Was it good?"
While I was in the room putting together some documents, a casual question came from Fine, who was making tea.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean about getting the Count Berts on your side. While there are parts to sympathize with, it can't be denied that it was his own doing. After giving his young wife so many things, when he couldn't control her anymore, divorce... as a woman, it's hard to accept."
"Well, if you look at it that way, Count Berts is the worst kind of man."
"Is there another way to look at it?"
The way she says it so directly, she must be quite dissatisfied. Well, it could be taken that he talked about love and then cut her down when he was tired of her. It's no wonder women would be dissatisfied.
However, this issue isn't just about the two of them.
While putting together the documents, I explained.
"Count Berts' ex-wife, Bettina, is from the Daum family, a noble family in the south. The Daum family is related to the Krüger family, the largest noble family in the south. Have you heard of them?"
"Of course. I believe one of the Empress's consorts is from the Krüger family, right?"
"Yeah, the Fifth Consort is the current Duke Krüger's sister. So, it's a ducal family with close ties to the royal family. Now, the question: Who is the Fifth Consort's child?"
After thinking about my question for a moment, Fine clapped her hands as if she remembered.
But she answered hesitantly.
"Princess Zandra and..."
"The Ninth Prince. For now, his younger brother isn't relevant. The important point is that Bettina is connected to Zandra."
"Connected...? But I don't think the connection through her mother's family is that deep."
"Normally, it wouldn't be. But this time, it's a bit different. By the way, do you remember what kind of support base our rivals have?"
"Oh, yes. Prince Eric is supported by civil officials, Prince Gordon by military officials, and Princess Zandra by mages, right?"
She remembered it.
Well, I'd be in trouble if she didn't remember this much.
After telling her she was correct, Fine was overjoyed. She's such a low bar to clear.
I continued the conversation.
"Then, among them, which one do you think has the weakest support base in the capital?"
"The capital? Not the empire?"
"Yeah, the capital."
"Um... the strongest is obviously Prince Eric. So, it's either Prince Gordon or Princess Zandra... Ah, I got it! Prince Gordon!"
"What's your reasoning?"
"Military officials are on the front lines, so they must be weak in the capital."
"Your thinking isn't wrong, but that's incorrect. There are military officials who don't go to the front lines. The correct answer is Zandra."
"Ah, I failed... Why is Princess Zandra weak?"
I thought about how to explain it clearly and picked up a cookie from the desk. It must be because Crista liked them. Today's cookies were animal-shaped.
I took a lion, a bird, and a wolf cookie, placed the lion and bird on a plate near me, and scattered the crushed wolf cookie around them.
"Oh... you did so well..."
"That was bad of me. Now, these two on the plate represent Eric and Gordon, and the scattered ones represent Zandra. Do you understand what I'm saying?"
"???"
"You don't get it. Okay, let me explain. Civil and military officials are often in the capital in their official capacities. But mages aren't a national position. While some are in official positions, they are scattered all over the place, including among local nobles and border military officials."
"I see! So, Princess Zandra's supporters aren't numerous in the capital, right?"
"Exactly. Now, this is the main point."
"Wait...? Wasn't that the main point...?"
Fine stepped back, fearing it would get more complicated.
I chuckled and tried to explain as clearly as possible.
"To put it simply, Zandra, due to her support base, has fewer supporters in important national positions compared to the other two. Gordon can convey his will to the emperor through military officials, and Eric through civil officials, but Zandra doesn't have that channel. This is a problem for Zandra, right?"
"Yes, I think there's a huge difference between having supporters who can participate in the council of ministers and not having them."
"Exactly. So, Zandra has been trying to get her supporters appointed as ministers."
"Is that possible? Isn't the appointment of ministers decided by the emperor?"
"Well, there are ways to do it."
I said this and stacked the cookies on the plate vertically.
Fine tilted her head, looking at them. To someone unfamiliar, it might be a charming sight. I can't show this to Count Berts. He'd probably propose to Fine.
But I wasn't distracted by her and crushed the lion cookie on top.
"Ah!? Again!?"
"It's fine since we're going to eat them anyway. This is the method to get the person you want appointed as a minister."
"What do you mean?"
"Let me rephrase it. The lion on top is the current minister, and the bird below is the ministerial candidate. If the lion on top is crushed, the ministerial position will go to the bird."
"I see! So, you recruit the ministerial candidate and then oust the current minister!"
She's getting better at understanding. She's not stupid; she just isn't good at this kind of intrigue. Sometimes she's so simple it's scary.
"Exactly. Appoint your supporter as a deputy minister or a similar position, or recruit them. Then, when you oust the minister above, you can bring the minister into your fold."
"I see... So, how does this relate to Count Berts?"
"Ah... What's Count Berts' position?"
"Deputy Minister of Public Works... Ah!?"
Finally, the pieces are connecting.
Well, it's pretty complex, so it's understandable.
"Zandra was manipulating Bettina through her mother's family. For Bettina, the instruction to indulge in luxury was welcome. She probably jumped at the chance. Recently, Zandra has been giving Bettina new instructions."
"There are more...?"
"This is important. Bettina was having an affair with the current Minister of Public Works. It seems the minister initiated the relationship, but Bettina probably seduced him. The minister's wife is the daughter of a friend of the emperor. The emperor apparently introduced them. It's clear he would be furious if he found out about the affair."
"Wait... Was it all planned from the beginning?"
"Yes, it's Zandra's script. She provided a beautiful woman to the Count Berts, who wasn't getting attention from women, and used her to torment him. At the same time, she was working to oust the Minister of Public Works. When the time was right, she planned to help Count Berts and have him inform the emperor about the minister's affair. And voilà, her supporter would be the minister."
"Wait a minute! So, that means..."
Fine looked shocked, and I smiled slyly.
A plan spanning several years is quite a feat. It probably started when the Crown Prince died, but it failed at the last step.
"Yes, I completely stole Zandra's plan. She must be furious right now."
"Such! But what are you going to do with Princess Zandra when Lord Al and Lord Leo are leaving the capital!?"
"We need to attack Zandra because we're leaving the capital. If we leave, we can't avoid being attacked. But if we're attacked by all three forces, we won't be able to withstand it. What if the balance of power among the three forces is disrupted? Zandra, who has lost an important plan, will be in a state of confusion. Eric and Gordon won't miss this opportunity. We can always strike, but Zandra can only attack now that she's weakened. I would go after Zandra's forces."
"You thought that far ahead...?"
"All thanks to Sebastian. He extracted important information from the assassin and investigated Count Berts' surroundings."
Zandra is foolish to do such things.
To send the assassin she used to manipulate Count Berts against me... Thanks to that, her plan was exposed. She probably didn't think he would talk, but she underestimated us.
"By the way, I've been wondering... What exactly is Sebastian?"
"Huh? I didn't tell you? Sebastian is a former assassin. And a very skilled one, known as 'The Reaper' across the continent."
"!? Why is such a person Lord Al's butler!?"
"That's for another time. It's a long story. Anyway, after hearing all this, do you still have complaints about helping Count Berts?"
"N-no..."
"Right. Probably, the part where he wasn't getting attention from women was also Zandra's manipulation. He's been a deputy minister for three years. Usually, women would come to him."
"He seems very pitiful now..."
"Yeah, he was manipulated for years. That's why I helped the pitiful Count Berts. Of course, we're using him, but we're not much different in that regard."
I said this and finished putting together the documents.
They are about the Minister of Public Works' affair. I'll have Count Berts submit these to his father.
This will lead to a covert struggle with Zandra. Gordon will surely move decisively, and the struggle for the throne will intensify.
But that's fine. Gordon is Zandra's enemy, and Zandra, with her personality, will avoid being defeated by Gordon.
If they destroy each other, we will benefit, and in such a situation, Eric won't act aggressively.
I'll let the two forces weaken each other while we're away from the capital.
Thinking about this, I put the crushed cookies in my mouth.