Earl Bergston who extended the date for his reply until tomorrow repeated such words again and again inside his personal office.
āThat guyā¦ what he said is reasonableā¦ how have I not notice such thing when the noble faction invites me to join themā¦ā
His words are filled with regrets.
In case if Bergston Earldom were to stay as a neutral faction, it would not matter who won. However, since he was deceived by the sweet temptation and joined the noble faction, he only has two choices left;
Either stay with the noble faction or join the Knight faction.
If he were to return back as a neutral faction, then he would just end up being targeted by both the noble faction and the Knight faction.
And then thereās another problem. The man who brought this talk to him says that he should join the princessā faction.
Even looking like this, Earl Bergston has sufficient knowledge about the power balance within the royal palace. A noble wonāt be able to keep their territory without that kind of knowledge after all.
Thus the Earl understood that even if the knight faction is the princessā power base, General Hodram basically held the real power.
āThat man that comes with Meltina-donoā¦ He seems to be directly under her highness the princess. If that is the case thenā¦ This is not an invitation to join the Knight faction but the princessā faction.ā
Depending on how the princess makes her move, after they won against the noble faction, there might be a war between the princessā faction against the Knight faction. Like this, it was natural for him to feel hesitation; after all, he was being invited by the smallest faction, which is inferior in all sense.
āTo support them, one must have the resolution to throw away everythingā¦ā
He has to be prepared to throw away the wealth and territory that the Bergston family had built up over the years.
āThe problem is whether the princess could win or notā¦ā
In the end, the entire problem ends up with that question.
Whether or not, his support will bring the princessā faction victory.
For Earl Bergston, his loyalty to the royal family is not that low; however, it is also not that high to the point of sacrificing his house and family.
Thatās why, at the time when Meltina offered an invitation which he rejected, and also at the time when he accepted the noble faction offer, he feels a slight disdain toward his own self.
āBack then, thereās not even one possibility that the princessā faction could winā¦ā
Meltinaās way of negotiation is simple.
She just talks about justice and loyalty to the royal family in earnest.
Of course something like that was important, however, it is not enough to convince the heart of the neutral faction.
And if one were to wonder why.
Someone who can emphasize loyalty and true justice wonāt be part of neutral faction after all.
Before Meltina invites him, she asked him to pledge his loyalty to the princess.
However, what Earl Bergston wanted to ask was what kind of reward the princess will give in exchange for that assistance and loyalty.
Helping the princess and all is great.
But moving the soldiers cost money to buy armor, weapon, and food.
If a soldier shows an achievement, then he must be rewarded.
It wonāt be as simple as just sayingāGood work!ā.
And Meltina was unable to understand that.
She just talks about loyalty to the princess like a broken recorder.
With just that, she wonāt be able to persuade any noble.
Thatās why Earl Bergston abandoned the princess.
Even if Meltina, who was being called as a close aide to the princess was there, he had no choice other than to think that the princess does not have talented people around her. With that being the case, he felt lucky to be invited by the nobleās faction instead.
After all, no matter whom, they will join the side that is most likely to win.
All the more if they were being offered the possibility of gaining power and increase in territory.
However, due to that, the Earl is currently suffering.
Due to the princessā messenger called Mikoshiba Ryouma.
āI donāt know who that guy isā¦ butā¦ heās sharp. To the point that I think he was too sharpā¦ā
Mikoshiba Ryouma.
Someone who has the brains suddenly appear within the princessā faction whom he thought does not have such a person.
Although the Earl had just met him today, he can feel that the judgment ability of that man can be trusted.
He also shows a considerable capability in diplomacy.
Thus, thereās the possibility that the princessā future might change as well.
The noble faction is also currently looking for additional support by offering the same rewards to the neutral faction.
However, after listening to that man, the Earl thought that only fools would believe the noble faction.
It can be said that there is a big possibility that they would be swayed toward the princessā faction.
The princessā faction can also handle General Hodram in the same way.
With that being the case, if that man was there, it is possible for the princess to hold all of the power.
Thatās why the Earl feels troubled.
āAhā¦ What should I doā¦ā
*KonKon*
āMaster? The dinner is ready. The visitors are waiting in the dining room as well.ā
It was the voice of a maid who works in the mansion that returned Earl Bergstonās sanity back.
At the time he looks out the window, the night has already dominated the sky. The negotiation with Ryouma had ended around 1 oāclock in the afternoon, which means Earl Bergston have been inside his room for around 5-6 hours.
āAhā¦Yesā¦ Iāll immediately go.ā
After saying those words to the maid, Earl Bergston tidied himself up and went toward the dining room.
āDear? Are you worried about something?ā
After having finished dinner, worried about her husband, Earl Bergstonās wife entered his office.
After he had tried to hide his fatigued self, he told his wife to sit down on the sofa.
āYou looked strange during dinner after allā¦ Are you sure that thereās nothing youāre worried about?ā
Although the Bergston family chef cooked a whole roasted chicken, the Earl did not eat much.
One can also see that he did not enjoy the meal either.
āNoā¦ Everything is alright. You donāt have to worry about anything.ā
āNo! You canāt be like that. 20 years had passed since Iāve been married to youā¦ It is impossible for me not to notice that your behavior is strange!ā
Sheās just a wife worried about her husband from the bottom of her heart. Although one can say it was political marriage, sheās a wife who comes to love and respect her husband who turned 43 years old this year, and he also loves his wife too.
āIs it because of the visitors that came today?ā
The Earl who didnāt show anything wrong this morning, suddenly shut himself up inside his office from the afternoon until night.
Thus it was natural for her to think that as the cause.
The earlās wife looked at his face and began to ask a question.
āBy any chanceā¦ is there anything to do with the royal palace?ā
Although sheās a noblemanās wife, a woman is someone who would not understand about a power struggle.
No, in a sense, usually women are more sensitive to this kind of things.
Much more when we talk about the life and death of the kingdom itself.
His wife who saw his attitude thought that her guesses were right.
āDearā¦ Arenāt we a married couple?ā¦ Even if I cannot help you with it, wonāt you share your problem with me even if itās just a little bit?ā
Listening to his wifeās words, his heart somehow feels relieved.
He wants someone to hear about the things that he kept inside his heart.
After all, the Earl feels anxious to the limit right now.
āI donāt understand much about politics, but I donāt think the princess would treat you unfairly when she wins if you help her in a time of crisis like this.ā
Although she hesitated, his wife told him what she thinks after she heard the story from her husband.
āI know about that. But that is not the problem. The problem is whether the princess can win or not even with my help!ā
He did not tell everything to his wife.
The fact that thereās a lack of talented people among the princessā faction.
Which means he might be able to get a good position if the princess wins.
But that is āifā the princess wins.
āDearā¦ If that is the case then you just have to make the princess win, no?ā
The Earl froze after hearing his wifeās words.
āYouāre a smart person. Iāve never doubted your ability ever since I married youā¦ I believe that youāre someone who can support this Rozeria Kingdom. Thatās why I donāt like it when I see you wavering like this! Please regain the confidence you once had! If this was 12 years ago, you wouldnāt be hesitating like this! If itās the former you thenā¦ā
āThe formerā¦ meā¦ā
The Earl recalled the old him whoās brimming with confidence.
Twelve years ago, at the time when Earl Bergston was still in his early 30s, he was regarded as one of the most influential people in the country.
It all crumbled down at the time when Duke Gerhardt had defeated his wifeās father, Marquis Ernest, the Prime Minister of Rozeria kingdom in a political strife. Marquis Ernestās territory was confiscated, and the family name had ceased to exist.
At that time, most of his blood relative was banished from the kingdom.
Only his wife and her sister who married into another family that was able to stay within the country.
As a result of that, Earl Bergston was kicked out from the central politics.
It was not because of his ability.
But because his wife is the daughter of their political enemies, Duke Gerhardt doesnāt want him near the central politic.
12 years since then, the Earl desperately tried to protect his territory.
He joined the neutral faction and waited for the storm to pass.
Due to playing defense all this time, Earl Bergstonās fangs have become dull.
āI wonāt worry much if it was the former me huh?ā¦ā
I wonāt be this worried.
Because I had absolute confidence in my ability.
(If myself from 12 years ago were present here, what would I do? Will I wait for Meltina-dono to come and offer me an invitation? Noā¦ I would proactively be part of the princess faction and help her highness with my strength. Will I also consider whether the princess would win or not? Stupid! If that is the case then I will just make her win with my own power!)
The words from his wife immediately made the man who had been playing defensive for the past 12 years returned to his former glory self.
His ambition and self-confidence is gradually coming back.
āI will be joining her highness the princessā faction, glory or nothing! Naturally, your fate might also be doomed with mineā¦ Will you stay by my side until the end?ā
āAbsolutely. Even if I end up with a guillotine over my neck, I will still follow you until death, my dear!ā
After hearing his wifeās determination, Earl Bergston finally decided.
And the Earl who has already made his decision this time wonāt waver.
He decided to make the princess the ruler of this kingdom with his own power, whether or not she will win does not matter anymore.
āI will immediately go to Ernanās place. Please help me with the preparation.ā
āNow?ā
The wife showed a perplexed face. Itās already passed 8pm oāclock.
Even if he goes out now, itās already late.
āThatās right. Iāve delayed answering Mikoshiba-dono until tomorrow. But wonāt that be boring if I said āYesā to them just like that?ā
-
Earl Ernan Zerev.
He is a noble who owns lands bordered to Earl Bergstonās land.
And he is also the man who took the sister of Earl Bergstonās wife as his wife.
He is also part of the neutral faction, and is also being antagonized by Duke Gerhardt.
(Having me switch side from the noble faction to the princessā faction is the achievement of Mikoshiba-donoā¦ But having Ernan move to the princess faction will be my achievement. Beside, Ernan is my brother-in-lawā¦ He is someone whom I can trust.)
Earl Bergston, who is going to participate in the princessā faction, has regained his former vigor.
Even if Earl Bergston joins the princessā faction, it would only end up as Ryoumaās achievement.
There would be nothing to evaluate from Earl Bergston who changes side.
However, what if he brings other nobles together with him?
That would be Earl Bergstonās achievement.
Thatās why, since he wants to secure a good position after joining the princessā faction, he cannot afford to fail here.
āYou must keep Mikoshiba-dono entertained as much as possible tomorrow. You hear? Do not let him leave before I return!ā
āI understand. Please be careful on your way.ā
Seemingly happy looking at her husband who regained his former radiance, she bowed her head to her husband who leaves the house.
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