Volume 4 Chapter 26 (1/2)
Chapter 4 Episode 26
Editor : Starbuck11
”Everything has advanced as Your Majesty had expected... Am I right?”
Grisson sighed while he wiped his gla.s.ses with his handkerchief.
Anxiety floated on his face... It was a question whether he had such an expression because of the person in front of him or because his prediction was correct.
”Oh my, Arnold, if you sigh too much, happiness will escape from you, you know?”
Grindiena teased Grisson while she lays down on the sofa, inside a room where Ryouma and the others previously performed the negotiations.
Even though her dress would become wrinkled because of her action, Grindiena didn't seem to care about it.
Looking at her childish manners, Grisson leaked another sigh.
Despite looking like that, she was a lord worthy of respect who showed extraordinary talents in both political intrigues and warfare.
(If only her childish mannerism could be cured... But well, I guess no human is perfect, huh?)
Grindiena's slovenly behavior was painful to see, but there was certainly a part that makes it feels lovely as well.
It humanizes her... <tln: i=”” can't=”” word=”” this=”” properly,=”” basically=”” it=”” felt=”” like=”” when=”” you=”” saw=”” someone=”” so=”” smart=”” being=”” bad=”” at=”” doing=”” something=”” which=”” makes=”” you=”” feel=”” closer=”” as=”” fellow=”” humans.=””>
”Please don't joke. Being able to serve your majesty as I am, there's no happiness greater than this.”
”Hnn, I wonder, somehow your answer is a bit weird, don't you think so?”
Hearing Grisson's answer, Grindiena looked puzzled.
She felt his response was the exact opposite of what she had expected.
”Is that so ? I don't know what your majesty is thinking but, I swear that I have told your majesty the truth.”
it was a remarkable statement that might come out because he was a va.s.sal, but Grindiena only showed a bitter smile and didn't have any plan to tease Grisson further.
Within the ErnestGora Kingdom, there were four Generals.
Among them, Grisson was one of Grindiena's aides who had served her since before the time she usurped the throne from her father.
Although they never show it in public, there was a certain bond between them that goes beyond lord and va.s.sal.
”Well, let's leave it at that... So, has the army finished its preparations to move?”
”Of course. I've ordered my adjutant to leave the garrison in Manviz and ordered the rest of the army to move.”
The preparations for war had already finished.
The eighth chivalric order under Arnold Grisson's command was currently waiting for the war to start.
After that, they only needed to decide where to attack.
”The problem is where and how we're going to attack... If possible I don't want to wage a war inside the Zalda territory.”
For Grisson, although he didn't want the Zalda Kingdom to fall into ruin, if possible he didn't want to fight inside the Zalda Kingdom’s territory either.
Since it was difficult to move a large army in a mountainous area.
The Zalda territory was mostly filled with thick forest and mountainous areas that obstructed their line of sight.
It was extremely difficult to move a large army on such land. If he did something wrong, even just once, the movement of the army might get disturbed.
If nations have the intention of waging a battle with more than 100,000 men, it was better to perform such battle at a place where there were only a few things that could hinder the visibility, like an open plain area.
”Although we have informations from our spies, it does not mean we have detailed informations like a person who is familiar with the land... Well, first let us hear Mikos.h.i.+ba-dono opinion during the war council tomorrow, then after that, we can decide our next move. Probably, he already has a plan...”
”Indeed, probably that is right... Since looking at these letters, he seems to be a man that we should not make light of...”
Grisson eyes stared at Grindiena.
”The problem is whether or not he would become our enemy... How does your majesty see him?”
However, looking at Grindiena’s smile in response, Grisson could only heave another sigh.
It was good for us to be an ally, but if we become enemy, it will become troublesome.
Although Grindiena understands that, there was not even a single particle of anxiety appearing on her face.
”You don't have to worry Arnold. Mikos.h.i.+ba Ryouma would never turn against ErnestGora as long as the Alliance is standing, he knows very well the importance and profits he would gain from it.”
While laughing off Grisson's concerns away, Grindiena took a candy ball and threw it into her mouth.
Rozeria, Mist and the concerned country, Zalda. Three letters from the sovereign of these three countries were something that cannot be handled carelessly, yet it was being left on the table just like that.
(Geez... No wonder her majesty has the nickname of the northern female fox...)
Grisson swallowed the words of admonition that were about to come out, then he opened the letters present on the table.
”But still, he's quite a man. Being able to push a trade agreement while at the same time trying to form an alliance... Like this, all four countries would be able to earn profits.”
”For Zalda, since formally we have become the leader of the alliance, they can expect us to send a reinforcement. For them, to save their lives and their beloved country this was a small price to pay.”
Grisson nodded his head toward Grindiena's words.
”Rozeria which has exhausted their national strength due to the civil war should be the most reluctant about the current conflict. They would be pleased if the war end faster than predicted because my country joined the war... And because of the alliance, the Rozeria who seek a way to restore their national strength could get our backing, the war turned into a G.o.dsend for them.”
”Right, and from the agreement, the Mist would be able to strengthen their economic power due to the activation of the trade agreement. A splendid plan where n.o.body loses... That is if we looked only at the appearance...”
She was right, no one will lose from the agreement.
In fact, it was a splendid plan that ensures everyone gains profits from it.
However, these two are fully aware of Ryouma's intentions behind the scenes.
”He is really a clever one... Because he is the owner of the Wortenia peninsula, he would be the one who gains the maximum profits from this.”
Grindiena's eyes shone mysteriously while she looked at the map where Wortenia Peninsula was located.
The biggest problem of the northern route was the existence of the Wortenia Peninsula, also called the unexplored area filled with demonic beings.
A horrible land where monsters wander around and pirates make their bases.
However, with this agreement, his territory had turned into a gold mine.
Among the letters sent, other than defense matters, clauses on trade were also included.
Especially the standardization of tariff rates should greatly improve import and export.
This creates great advantages for ErnestGora and Mist which mainly had trade ports dealing with other continents, but it didn't mean the other two countries lost in term of profits either.
With the activation of a trade agreement, tax revenue should see some improvements.
Since all four countries will have to put more efforts into their commerce.
In line with that, the number of goods transported will increase at an accelerated rate.
If the land transportation couldn't meet their demands, the merchants will consider alternative ways via the sea.