“So then,” said Ashude, “have we learned who will rule over Kuat and Purledo?”
“Ars Louvent has been granted both counties, Your Lordship,” Raddas replied.
“I see. As expected, I suppose. The creation of the airship would merit such a reward. I’m sure nobody dared to oppose it.”
“With this, House Louvent has become one of the most prominent of Missian’s nobles─though considering how much their lord has accomplished, one might even say the territory he holds was insufficient up until now,” Raddas added.
“I’m sure his presence in Missian will only grow more prominent as time goes on,” said Ashude. “The question is, does Couran have what it takes to keep Ars Louvent under his control?”
Ashude had his doubts. In his mind, House Louvent’s allegiance to Couran could only last for so much longer.
“So then, Your Lordship, what will Seitz’s next move be?” Boroths asked.
“Given Missian’s ascension, I believe that the other duchies will soon begin forging temporary alliances,” said Ashude. “Perhaps on a grand scale. It’s possible that all the remaining duchies will join together, assaulting Missian from all sides. No matter how mighty the airship might be, it will do little good against five duchies at once.”
Fighting a war against five enemy nations would mean having to deal with a tremendous number of enemy soldiers. It would also mean fighting on numerous fronts at once, making the defense of Missian’s own territory an incredibly difficult task.
“If that comes to pass, it will be a chance for Seitz to slip away from Missian’s grasp and regain its independence,” said Boroths. “Perhaps if Missian is invaded, we should join in the effort and invade as well?”
“It won’t be that easy,” said Ashude. “Scheutz is far more likely to strike at Seitz than at Missian proper. They’ve coveted our territory for many a long year, and since they lack a shared border with Missian, any territory they managed to conquer there would be of little use to them.”
“Scheutz… I see now. That is troublesome indeed…”
“Of course, if they do forge an alliance of that nature, we’ll want to learn of it as soon as possible. We should send agents into each of the other duchies with instructions to gather information on the matter.”
“Understood, Your Lordship…though as we lack sufficient spies at the moment, we’ll need to hire new agents for the task.”
“Very well─but make sure they can be trusted,” Ashude cautioned. Boroths nodded in reply. “For the time being, continue to follow Missian’s commands. Feign subservience as much as you can bear. Betrayal hurts the most when it comes from where you least expect it, and as matters stand, any rebellion we raised would be quashed.”
“Yes, Your Lordship.”
“And, finally…take extensive care to keep watch over Ars Louvent. His newfound standing will expand the influence he holds over Missian. As his territory grows, so too will his ability to find new talents to bring into his fold. There’s no telling what monsters he’ll discover…and even should all the duchies come at him at once, he holds the potential to turn the tide against them.”
“I wish I could disagree, Your Lordship, but alas,” Boroths bitterly replied, memories of his own war with Missian flashing through his mind.
“How fares the king?” asked Ashude.
“The same as ever, Your Lordship. He has little interest in anything other than the arts, and has delegated the kingdom’s management to his subjects.”
“I see. I had thought that gaining such great standing might have changed him, but it seems that some rare individuals are immune to the seductive allure of power. Try to procure a piece of art or two from the other duchies for him, from time to time. He’ll love it,” Ashude replied offhand. He was well acquainted with Kyle, and knew how to best control him.
“It will be done, Your Lordship.”
With that, the meeting came to an end and Ashude returned to his estate.
○
“Seitz is ours. The question is, what next?” asked Couran. He sat in his office in Castle Arcantez, speaking with his right-hand man, Robinson, about Missian’s long-term strategy.
“To start, I believe we should prioritize building up our military and strengthening our hold over Seitz,” Robinson replied. “Although they have ostensibly become our vassal state, so long as the former duke Ashude lives, we won’t be able to let our guards down. We’ll need to ensure they are defanged before we turn our gaze elsewhere.”
“Agreed. Ashude is a dangerous man, and we can’t afford to ignore him. He wouldn’t have surrendered without a very good reason, and that means he may well have a plan in mind already. In regard to our military, we’ve already thrown all available resources into the construction of more airships. I’ve also provided Shin, the inventor from Canarre, with all the funding he could need to create a new model that should prove even more capable than the first ones. A vessel even more powerful than the ones we’ve already made will render our foes powerless to resist us,” said Couran. “I will strengthen our military, challenge the other duchies, and bring all of Summerforth under my grasp. And so, the Missian Empire will come to fruition,” he added, a powerful flame of ambition burning within his gaze. That was Couran’s ultimate goal: to conquer the duchies and rule over the continent as its absolute and indisputable leader.
“I believe the other duchies will be quite wary of us now, Your Majesty. They may even choose to form alliances and wage war upon us,” Robinson said in a somewhat reproachful tone.
“I wouldn’t be so sure about that. However powerful Missian might appear to them, they won’t discard their old grudges and join hands so easily. And even if they do, there isn’t a chance they’ll have the wherewithal to coordinate with one another and fight as a united front,” said Couran. He believed that Missian had, for all intents and purposes, already won any war that could be declared on it. “And if through some miracle they were able to work together, we would defeat them. The airship has given us the means to do so.”
Robinson fell silent, a frown spreading across his face. The airship had indeed seemed all but unbeatable in the war with Seitz─but there was no telling whether the same would prove true in the next war. Seitz had gone into the war with numbers inferior to those of Missian, but if a combined force were formed, Missian would be forced to fight a foe with greater numbers and resources to work with. Robinson, at least, wasn’t certain that it would be a battle so easily won.
“Well, in any case, there will be no more political maneuvering or pretensions of peace. If the other duchies choose to attack, we’ll have to rise to the challenge,” said Couran.
“I suppose so…”
In Couran’s mind, now that Seitz had been claimed, it couldn’t be let go again. If that meant alarming the other duchies into pooling their armies and going on the attack, then so be it.
“Incidentally, Your Majesty…are you certain it was wise to grant two new counties to House Louvent?” asked Robinson.
“Was it wise…? Ars is the man who found the airship’s creator and chose to invest in the project. His achievements in battle more than merit the reward. I’ll admit I have some reservations about how he’ll cope with a territory so large, granted so suddenly, but Ars’s people are the cream of the crop. They have what it takes, I’m sure. In fact, he has so many of them that they’d almost be wasted on him if I didn’t give him more territory to manage!”
“I certainly don’t mean to belittle the work that Sir Ars has done, and I do not believe him incapable of ruling over the counties. However…with such vast swaths of territory under his control, I cannot help but worry that House Louvent has grown perhaps too powerful.”
At that, Couran caught on to what Robinson was insinuating.
“And? If Ars has grown powerful, then what of it?” he asked with a scowl. “Do you believe he’ll try to dethrone me? Ars has done great things for Missian, and has never given me cause to question his loyalty. He would never betray me.”
“For now, no…but one can never tell how one with power will choose to wield it,” Robinson replied. Couran’s wrathful glare had made him flinch, but he still spoke as candidly as ever.
“Hmph! You’ve always been a worrier, Robinson. No need to fear. Even if Ars were to rise up against me, he would be crushed. He may rule over three counties now, but Canarre and Purledo are both small, and while Kuat is indeed a large city, it’s still smaller than Velshdt, which is only the fourth largest in Missian. He hasn’t gained as much power as you seem to fear,” said Couran.
“Perhaps, but it bears considering that Canarre, a minor city in a corner of Missian’s borderland, has gone from a place of little significance to a flourishing economic center after a small matter of years under House Louvent’s rule. If Purledo and Kuat develop in the same manner, it’s easy to believe that the power he holds will grow at a rapid pace…and he may give rise to another invention akin to the airship, as well.”
Now Couran fell silent. He spent a few moments in thought, considering House Louvent’s wealth of followers and their past achievements…and found himself unable to dismiss the possibility that even if all of Missian rose up to oppose them, House Louvent could still somehow pull off a miraculous victory.
“Point taken,” said Couran. “I will take your concerns into consideration, and send someone I know I can trust to take up a position within House Louvent. If I claim to be lending a helping hand to manage his new territories, he’ll never suspect a thing. I wouldn’t want Ars doubting my intentions and losing faith in my rulership.”
By dispatching a watchdog to keep an eye on House Louvent, Couran would gain a degree of insurance. If Ars did ever choose to plot a rebellion, Couran would have a chance to learn of it long before it came to pass.
“A sound decision, Your Majesty. You will have no need to fear House Louvent’s disloyalty this way─though of course, I would prefer not to doubt them at all, were it only safe to do so.”
“No need to bother. Doubting my closest allies is one of your duties. I’m certain those doubts will prove groundless this time, but a little caution never hurts. Your paranoia is an asset, and I trust you’ll continue to wield it for my cause.”
“Of course, Your Majesty… I am your loyal servant, now and forever,” Robinson replied with a long, deep bow.