Volume 2 Chapter 13 (1/2)
Editors: Grey & Tan.
Chapter 2 Episode 13
(Wavering People 2)
103rd day after being summoned to another world.
”What should I do, I wonder...”
Earl Bergston who extended the date for his reply until tomorrow repeated such words again and again inside his personal office.
”That guy... what he said is reasonable... how have I not notice such thing when the n.o.ble faction invites me to join them...”
His words are filled with regrets. (Tan: Maybe “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 n.o.ble faction, he only has two choices left;
Either stay with the n.o.ble 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 n.o.ble faction and the Knight faction.
And then there's another problem. The man who brought this talk to him says that he should join the princess' faction.
Even looking like this, Earl Bergston has sufficient knowledge about the power balance within the royal palace. A n.o.ble won't 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 princess' power base, General Hodram basically held the real power.
”That man that comes with Meltina-dono... He seems to be directly under her highness the princess. If that is the case then... This is not an invitation to join the Knight faction but the princess' faction.”
Depending on how the princess makes her move, after they won against the n.o.ble faction, there might be a war between the princess' 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.
”To support them, one must have the resolution to throw away everything...”
He has to be prepared to throw away the wealth and territory that the Bergston family had built up over the years.
”The problem is whether the princess could win or not...”
In the end, the entire problem ends up with that question.
Whether or not, his support will bring the princess' 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.
That's why, at the time when Meltina offered an invitation which he rejected, and also at the time when he accepted the n.o.ble faction offer, he feels a slight disdain toward his own self.
”Back then, there's not even one possibility that the princess' faction could win...”
Meltina's 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 won't 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 a.s.sistance 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 won't be as simple as just saying”Good work!”.
And Meltina was unable to understand that.
She just talks about loyalty to the princess like a broken recorder.
With just that, she won't be able to persuade any n.o.ble.
That's 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 n.o.ble’s 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 princess' messenger called Mikos.h.i.+ba Ryouma.
”I don't know who that guy is... but... he's sharp. To the point that I think he was too sharp...”
Mikos.h.i.+ba Ryouma.
Someone who has the brains suddenly appear within the princess' 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, there's the possibility that the princess' future might change as well.
The n.o.ble 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 n.o.ble faction.
It can be said that there is a big possibility that they would be swayed toward the princess' faction.
The princess' 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.
That's why the Earl feels troubled.
”Ah... What should I do...”
*KonKon*
”Master? The dinner is ready. The visitors are waiting in the dining room as well.”
It was the voice of a maid who works in the mansion that returned Earl Bergston’s 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 o'clock in the afternoon, which means Earl Bergston have been inside his room for around 5-6 hours.
”Ah...Yes... I'll immediately go.”
After saying those words to the maid, Earl Bergston tidied himself up and went toward the dining room.
”Dear? Are you worried about something?”
After having finished dinner, worried about her husband, Earl Bergston’s wife entered his office.
”What? Oh, it's you... there's nothing I'm worried about. What's wrong?”
After he had tried to hide his fatigued self, he told his wife to sit down on the sofa.
”You looked strange during dinner after all... Are you sure that there's nothing you're worried about?”
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.
”No... Everything is alright. You don't have to worry about anything.”