Dragon Knight Chronicles ~ From a mere mercenary, rise to success through tactics! A small harem with the princess and the lord's daughter!? I'll also develop my territory! ~ - Chapter 64

Chapter 64   A Visit to the Chancellor

January 566 of the Unified Calendar—

The New Year’s banquet was canceled due to the devastation in the capital.

Thus, this year, I came to the capital alone.

The annual Grand Strategy Meeting was held in the Great Hall of the royal palace.

Her Majesty the Queen sat on the throne at the head of the room, with a strategic map spread out on the table, surrounded by the civil and military officials.

Since Marquis Clock was still at the western front, I, as a vassal, was seated in one of the highest positions.

Chancellor Fischer was bedridden due to an epidemic. Considering his age, it was likely too much for him to handle.

Many of the younger nobles loyal to the Clock faction were also at the front, so the meeting had quite a few empty seats.

“Ahem, let us begin.”

Alcock, acting as the meeting’s facilitator, recited praises to the kingdom, then bowed to the Queen, who served as chairperson, before turning to address the assembly.

“We are facing difficult times with the ongoing war. But we must show those despicable Fletcher Republic dogs what we’re made of!”

“That’s right! That’s right!”

“Down with the Republic!”

The capital had been ravaged by a raid.

Voices filled with hatred toward the Republic rose from the many long-serving noble families of the kingdom.

After waiting for the voices to quiet down, Alcock continued.

“But the Republic is strong. Therefore, I propose we fight alongside our longtime allies, the Cade Confederation. What do you all think?”

“Good idea. That’s the way to go.”

“I agree!”

The nobles’ voices of approval were loud.

“…That being the case, Marquis Rillburn, could we ask you to negotiate the terms of action with the Cade Confederation?”

Suddenly being addressed, I panicked.

I’ve never been good at these kinds of meetings, usually feigning sleep to avoid them, but this time, that wasn’t an option.

All eyes in the room turned toward me at once.

“…I could go in February, once the snow begins to melt.”

Alcock looked dissatisfied.

I could sense the pressure for me to go sooner.

However, the land of Jif, which the Republic currently occupies, is rugged with deep snow. It would be more reasonable to mobilize troops in March.

“Understood. Then please proceed as early as possible in February.”

“Understood. I’ll begin preparations immediately.”

I excused myself from the meeting under the pretense of preparing for the diplomatic mission and then headed to Chancellor Fischer’s residence, where he lay bedridden.

◇◇◇◇◇

As I arrived at the chancellor’s residence by carriage from the royal palace, the gate guards recognized me, and a maid promptly escorted me inside.

“Excuse me. How are you feeling, Chancellor?”

“Oh, if it isn’t the Marquis of the East?”

The chancellor seemed to be in somewhat better health, sitting up in his bed. With his thin, frail hand, he rang a small bell, and a maid brought tea and biscuits for the two of us.

“How was the meeting?”

“…Well, it seems we’ve decided to ally with the Cade Confederation and march against the Republic.”

“Hmm. We’ve been at war for years now, and it’s time we focus on domestic affairs…”

“Indeed.”

The old man took a biscuit, nibbling on it with a wry smile.

“But the capital was burned down. As a nation, we must respond in kind, or we’ll lose face. If I were younger, I might have sided with the war hawks.”

It was rare for the chancellor to support the pro-war faction.

“Will Cade side with us?”

“That depends on your abilities, doesn’t it?”

The old man chuckled quietly, his gaze lowering. He seemed to have already figured out that I had been chosen as the negotiator for this mission.

“Whether they become our enemy or ally will depend on how much we’re willing to concede. This time, you’ll have to make significant concessions…”

“Thank you.”

The chancellor’s advice to “make significant concessions” was reassuring. He likely intended to pull some strings with the royal palace’s bureaucrats, which would lighten my burden considerably.

“And it seems that Marquis Clock, still on the western front, has yet to return. If we had his forces, Cade Confederation wouldn’t dare underestimate us…”

I couldn’t help but grumble a little to the old man.

“Haha… They might already hold more power than Her Majesty the Queen herself. I doubt they care much about the struggles we face.”

After saying this, the old man coughed slightly and lay back down on his bedding.

“Forgive me, but I need to rest.”

“Please, don’t worry.”

“It seems my time is running out. I must recommend a successor to Her Majesty…”

The old man shifted his gaze to the birds outside the window, whispering with a hint of sorrow.

“No, no, we still need you, Chancellor Fischer, to support the royal court!”

“Haha, thank you. But even if I recover from this illness, every old soldier must eventually step aside. I don’t want to make a mistake when that time comes…”

As he spoke, the old man soon drifted into peaceful sleep.

I quietly stood up, careful not to wake him, and left the chancellor’s residence.

◇◇◇◇◇

After leaving the chancellor’s residence, I wandered around the royal capital. While observing the new city development plans, I enjoyed some window shopping.

The streets of Shampur, which I had been worried about, were largely restored. The old districts were being refurbished according to the new urban plan.

Once I finished my tour, I entered a large shop. A beautifully crafted comb caught my eye. I decided to buy it as a souvenir for Io.

“Hey, how much for this coral comb?”

“As expected of a noble, you have a good eye. That’ll be 500 taels.”

I took out five large silver coins from my leather pouch and handed them to the shopkeeper.

Lately, I found myself walking the streets in these noble-like clothes more often. As I gazed at the beautiful sunset, I couldn’t help but think about how much things had changed, for better or worse, since the old days.