Chapter 371
While Liberta was accepting the dwarves and working on creating a town unlike any seen before in this world, a change began to occur in the Royal Capital as well.
"Lotus, how many is this?""This makes the twelfth case today."
In the study of the Lion Duke, Lord Adelgard, in his mansion in the Royal Capital, the master of this house began to massage his eyes, tired from continuously reading documents, as if to soothe them.
"Since the fall of House Boldrinnde and the purge of the northern nobles, there's been an endless stream of nobles wanting to join my faction.""Yes, primarily those from the neutral faction are expressing a desire to join us. Additionally, several houses from the Royalist faction have made discreet contact wishing to discuss matters, and messengers have also come from nobles in territories adjacent to ours, both east and west."
Undoubtedly, the Adelgard Ducal House is currently the most influential noble house on this continent.It is said to possess military strength capable of overwhelming the Royal Family and other noble houses with just its private troops. Furthermore, it has established relations with other nations and is beginning to dominate in terms of resources as well.
"Even Iris has been receiving an incessant stream of marriage proposals.""Yes, nearly every high-ranking house has sent one; there are few who haven't.""My head started aching when I heard that families without eligible sons of age were considering breaking off engagements.""You must watch your step as well. A trend has begun where money is being sent to financially struggling houses within the faction. Fortunately, the covert operatives Lord Liberta strengthened for us are active, allowing us to detect this beforehand. It has become a rumor and now acts as a deterrent."
Nobles easily adapt to such trends.Especially when one's influence is strong, this tendency becomes pronounced.
"The person who set this trend in motion seems to be enjoying himself doing outrageous things out in the frontier.""According to reports from Lady Esmeralda, he has already completed city walls surpassing those of the Royal Capital surrounding his settlement and has created numerous unseen golems..."
That said, switching factions isn't so simple.In these times, a house that declared neutrality isn't trusted if it simply joins another faction. If a house that belonged to a faction tries to move to another, it will be scorned and looked down upon by its former faction, and will also be underestimated and distrusted in its new one.
Switching factions requires a legitimate reason.
For example, a political marriage is a prime example.This is one reason marriages between nobles are called political tools.
"...I never thought the day would come when I'd be grateful my house has no sons.""Nor did I."
There are two children in the Adelgard house, both daughters.Normally, as nobles, they would be anxious about lacking a male heir. But if a son existed in the current situation, a bloody battle for the position of official wife would ensue. Others would try to offer women as concubines, or even prepare positions as mistresses.
Even the Duke of Adelgard, who knows such noble affairs, is exasperated by the nobles who are now desperately trying to get close, to the point he thinks he would absolutely hate such a hell.
Lotus also has thoughts on this situation and, while preparing tea, agrees in a way that seems to sympathize with his serving Duke.
From Duke Adelgard's perspective, he has a sense of having sent his eldest daughter, Esmeralda, off to be married, so effectively only Iris remains at home.The number of marriage proposals for Lady Iris is staggering. Until now, it was publicly known that her health was weak, and even as a ducal house, they weren't supposed to be this proactive. It's an incredible about-face.
"Normally, I would be overjoyed to have my daughter praised... but when showered with such flattery, it feels insincere instead.""It seems moderation is best in all things."
With a *hmph*, he tosses the marriage proposal letter he was just reading onto the desk. Instead, he picks up the tea Lotus prepared and takes a sip.The sender of the letter is a Marquess house, a somewhat distant relative but with at least some blood connection to the Royal Family.
It's a noble belonging to the same Royalist faction, but even within that faction, there are sub-factions leaning towards the Royal Family, those leaning towards the Duke, and also nobles taking a neutral stance.The fact there are further factions within each faction shows they are not monolithic.
Within the Royal Family, there is no male child of Iris's age who is not already betrothed. Looking for an older man would put him at an age where, poorly chosen, the difference could be that of parent and child.
If the Ducal house's position were weak, they could order her to marry such a man. But in the current situation, Duke Adelgard holds the upper hand in terms of influence.
If they were to make such an impertinent move, their impression would worsen. At best, they would be ignored; at worst, they would be treated as enemies without question.
"However, marriage discussions are unavoidable one way or another. There is also the matter of Lady Iris's enrollment in the academy. For nobles of this country, enrolling is customary for forming connections, but in that place, Your Excellency cannot personally protect her. They will surely devise various means to ensnare Lady Iris.""...Hmm."
The biggest concern in that situation is Iris's age.Too much time has passed to call it 'a little while ago,' but at the time, she fell ill and her body weakened.Naturally, they judged enrolling in the academy impossible and postponed it. However, Liberta completely cured her illness, and due to his kindness, she has become one of the house's most capable individuals.
"We have been using health concerns as a public excuse, but how long will that last...""Indeed."
His Excellency stands up, walks to the window overlooking the inner garden, and looks outside. He can see Iris, vigorously holding a training shield and sword, sparring with the private soldiers of the Adelgard house, whom Liberta had trained.
When she first started leveling up, her movements still seemed amateurish. But having known the pain of being unable to move her body due to illness, and then the joy of being able to move it after being cured, and further, hearing her sister Esmeralda's adventure stories, combat training has completely become her hobby.
"To claim she is in weak health while like that would be difficult.""Yes, that would imply even we are in weak health.""Indeed."
Now, even that amateurishness is beginning to fade, and she is becoming capable of fighting on par, if not better, than the soldiers.She still loses more often due to the experience gap, but for a girl who didn't even know the first thing about combat to become so skilled is an achievement in itself.
"So that means...""Yes, we should take some measures, I believe."
Regarding that very matter, as a noble lady, one would clearly want to say she's beyond being a tomboy and is simply 'no good.' However, she has also properly learned other etiquette and manners, and her academic studies are impeccable.She embodies 'excellence in both literary and military arts.'
Therefore, Duke Adelgard, with noble sensibilities, turns a blind eye, saying she is merely exercising.Inwardly, as a father, he thinks it's good, though perhaps a bit excessive at this stage, for her to have learned self-defense so she can knock strange men flat if needed.
"So the most reasonable option is still that one.""Yes. Sending her as a diplomat to Lord Liberta's place seems most reasonable.""So that's how it is."
Currently, the balance of power within the country is heavily tilted.At a glance, it may seem the Royalist faction, which has the Adelgard Ducal House on its side, is regaining power. But the reality is a recovery of authority driven by the Adelgard Ducal House.
With the fall of the northern House Boldrinnde, the previous balance between nobles and the Royal Family has tilted toward the Royal side, and signs of decline are beginning to appear in noble authority.The King suppresses the heads of the nobles.That, in itself, is the proper way of a feudal system.
However, the nobles who have been freely wielding their authority until now do not see this as good.The nobles belonging to the eastern and western ducal factions are at the forefront, followed by the neutral faction—the weathervane faction.The actions of the forces trying to restore that power balance can be roughly divided into two categories.
The first, as mentioned before, is the marriage strategy to establish blood ties.This is about the position of a diplomat from the Kingdom to be dispatched to Liberta's independent territory. It is highly likely to be recognized that the Adelgard Ducal House will shoulder this role. By connecting with the Adelgard Ducal House, they aim to catch the spillover benefits that Liberta brings.
In fact, because there was a noble who tried to pull something using diplomatic privilege as his opening move, the individuals Liberta accepts are now limited to those he can trust.
The only one with both Liberta's trust and a noble position is Duke Adelgard.That is why he is seen as the most likely candidate.
Currently, Liberta is perceived as having been granted a fief in the frontier.At first glance, it might look like exile. But upon hearing that the Adelgard Ducal House supports him, it's in a noble's nature to suspect there's something behind it.
If they try to investigate, they can easily gather basic information using merchants or adventurers.That basic information includes confirmation that incredibly large city walls have been built far away.
Judging by their appearance, they are not flimsy but sturdy walls.The amount of manpower, time, and materials required to build such things is enormous.Any noble can calculate that much and has the intelligence to investigate the flow of people and goods.
But upon investigating, they notice something odd again.The people who went to the frontier are only merchants who lived in the Royal Capital and immigrants from the eastern continent. They later gathered information that a group of dwarves came from the western continent, but that's too few for a workforce. As for the flow of goods, they are buying food via the Adelgard Ducal House, but they are not purchasing construction materials.
Yet, inexplicably, enormous city walls have been completed.
That alone suggests 'something is there.' And of course, those who think that obtaining that 'something' could bring not just enormous profits but incredible power are emerging in droves.
Naturally, they would try to connect with the Adelgard Ducal House, which is linked to Liberta, who possesses such technology and production capacity.
Knowing that his daughter is staying with Liberta, the nobles believe he has already established a solid connection.
They are shrewd about profit—no, in this case, it's more apt to say they swarm to profit.
The forces promoting marriage are those who spout pretty words about how monopolies are bad and things should be equal, trying somehow to connect.
And the second faction consists of forces trying to obtain the position of diplomat before the Adelgard Ducal House does, to connect directly with Liberta, enhance their own authority, or try to bring down the Adelgard Ducal House.
"Sending Lady Iris would not only strengthen the connection with Lord Liberta and bring benefits to the Adelgard Ducal House, but it would also help restore some of the Royal Family's power and serve as a check against other houses—a brilliant move.""In exchange for pushing troublesome nobles onto the Royal Family, we share the benefits. We elevate our house's authority, establish a position equal to or above the Royal Family, and plan for the country's stability... Will Liberta understand and agree?""Rather than exchanging letters, I believe it would be better for Your Excellency to speak frankly once and show your sincerity. I think Lord Liberta is that kind of person, even if it's a busy time.""That's true. Next time Esmeralda comes, I'll express my desire to visit the pioneer village once myself.""I recommend taking a proper rest for that occasion. If you are not in perfect condition, your heart might stop from the shock.""It seems we must be wary of Liberta's unexpected actions more than the discussion itself."
However, even the somewhat weak-kneed Royal Family would not consider sending a noble likely to be disrespectful to Liberta as a diplomat.Understanding this, Duke Adelgard and Lotus found themselves needing to be more wary of surprises from within their own ranks than from external enemies.