Chapter 25

I entered the undefended royal capital with thirteen thousand troops. In front were Kivik’s men. As I wasn’t a lord or much of anything by birth, my milk sister Laviala was the only vassal who had always been with me. Kivik was therefore my second-longest-serving vassal. He’d had faith in me before I was anyone important; his service was sincere. I’d reasoned that if I was going to reward that loyalty, this was the time to do it. My guardsmen followed after Kivik, and I followed on my horse. Special ability Conqueror’s Presence acquired. Takes effect when recognized as a conqueror by many at once. All abilities are tripled from the usual. Additionally, all who lay eyes on you experience either awe or fear. Abilities tripled?! What an incredible power. No country has a commander like that. Of course, since I was going to be regent, I might need that much power. The Kingdom of Therwil would be mine to rule. Onlookers—tons of them, since this was the capital—were gathered on both sides of the road. I could hear their hushed voices. “So that’s Marquess Alsrod Nayvil.” “What a bold young man.” “Word is he’s only twenty-three.” “They say he’s a genius of war.” “Even better, I heard he made his land very rich.” My reputation was outstanding. I had been rather careful about the occupation, after all. A resplendent and ostentatious carriage came up from behind me. Crown Prince Hasse and his family were riding inside. It wasn’t ideal to show the royal family to the masses, and besides, even if I could defend myself against an assassin’s arrow, it’d be impossible for Hasse to do the same. Thus, I’d put them in a carriage. The vassals still in the royal palace prostrated themselves and welcomed us in. They were the officials, bureaucrats, and nobles who weren’t strongly tied to either royal line. Rather than fleeing the capital with Paffus VI, they’d stayed to recognize Hasse as the new king. Also included were those who’d been hiding out after getting on Paffus VI’s bad side. People who’d been instrumental during the time of Hasse’s father, Grandora III, were back, thinking they could return to power. That day, Hasse entered the castle with a certain level of ceremony, and perhaps unsurprisingly, he wept with emotion. For Hasse, this was a long-awaited return home. Even though I was using him, I felt like I had done a good deed as I watched. The next morning, Hasse’s coronation ceremony was held in the capital’s Therwil Cathedral, which had the most authority in all the kingdom. Our story was that Paffus VI had merely been calling himself king, so by excluding him from the number of kings, Hasse was succeeding his father, Grandora III. These facades were so much extra work, but future historians would decide for us the real order of succession. Thus, the new king, Hasse I, was born. Ah, the conquest of a capital is a sweet victory indeed. I was just as thrilled when I took Kyoto myself. Oda Nobunaga seemed to be enjoying himself even more than usual. But your conquest wasn’t always smooth sailing, was it? I don’t want to find myself in trouble one of these days. If nothing else, you’ll be butting heads with Hasse before long. He’s the king; he will want all the power for himself. When that happens, your fate will depend on how you handle it. I guess a honeymoon can’t go on forever, huh? There’s something a bit different about this from my time, though. The former king, that Paffus fellow, is still alive. In that case, this Hasse will have to depend on you. For me, the former shogun, Yoshihide, simply died. Interesting. So if I side with Paffus, that alone would put Hasse in a crisis. I’d have to keep that in mind. It could be key. The day after the coronation celebrations were over, I was formally appointed as regent. Naturally, I was the first in the Nayvil clan to reach such a rank. No one else had even advanced past viscount. “I shall do everything in my power for the glory of Therwil.” That was no lie—but that glorious kingdom was going to be mine someday. “Sir Regent, if you have any desire at all, name it. As king, I would like to grant your wishes as soon as possible,” the new king said generously. “Well, I would like to have a few cities as my personal territory.” I would gather wealth for myself. Everything that followed would go more smoothly. “Very well. Would you also take a look at my ideas for which new lords to appoint?” “Certainly. That would be my duty as regent.” There were more people from the old nobility—the ones who hadn’t even supported Hasse—than I’d expected. This man really didn’t understand his position. “Your Majesty, it would be better to reward those who long served you in war and politics. Would the people who only finally returned come with you if you were ever forced out of the capital?” “I see… You’re right, Sir Regent… However, I can’t quite give all the land to just your vassals, either…” Apparently Hasse had expected I might complain. “Yes, but if you do not place trustworthy people in the capital’s vicinity, you will be in danger should Lord Paffus attack. This is not a time of peace. Please understand we are at war. I am not asking you to show favor to my vassals. I am saying that you must be prepared for the enemy and his plans.” “R-right… When you put it that way… People who don’t know war would hardly serve as a wall if I put them nearby…” It looked like I could get him to distribute the new lords in a way that was quite convenient for me. The right words for convincing Hasse naturally came to mind. Maybe this was the work of that Conqueror’s Presence ability. Right now, most of the capital’s inhabitants saw me—and definitely not Hasse—as a conqueror. He questioned me about several other important problems. I answered them all very carefully. Because of my position, I couldn’t ignore state politics, so it was what I had to do. I needed to balance that well with furthering my own interests. However, one of those questions was a bit unexpected. “Sir Alsrod, because of you, I was able to become king and then make you regent. Once again, I thank you,” Hasse said, although it seemed the time for such thanks had passed. “Not at all. That was the plan from the beginning.” Just what was he getting ready to say? “And so I can finally speak freely with you about my marriage proposal.” “Marriage proposal?” “My sister, who can only remember life as a wanderer. She’ll be thirteen. Will you not take my sister as your official wife?” Even I hadn’t expected that… To be honest, I was at a total loss. If he’d been asking me to take his vassal’s daughter or sister as concubine, I wouldn’t have even been surprised. This, however, was a different story altogether. “Your Majesty, I already have Marquess Ayles Caltis’s daughter Seraphina as my official wife… Therefore, I am afraid this proposal to take your sister as my wife would be impossible…” “She’s the daughter of a marquess. This is the king’s sister. Her rank alone is obviously higher than your wife’s now. In my days as a wanderer, it always saddened me to think I’d have to give her away to some nobody, but now I can give her to you with no regrets. It would make my late father very happy.” The new king Hasse would not give up on this idea so easily. What a mess… “If you marry my sister, you’ll be my brother-in-law, and I would very much like you to become a relative of the royal family.” That certainly was a good offer. Hasse himself must have realized that I, the manager of all his affairs, would come to have tremendous power, so he probably wanted to keep me in check by making me like a brother. I wouldn’t say it to his face, but there was something in it for me, too. If she and I had a baby, that child would have royal blood. That’d be powerful justification when I founded a new dynasty. But how would Seraphina feel about all this…? Not happy, certainly. I couldn’t bear to break my wife’s heart with a political move. Normally when one married a woman of such obviously high stature, the original wife was subsequently treated as a concubine. How humiliating for Seraphina. “Your Majesty, if you say your sister is still thirteen years old, then surely there is no need to rush. She would not have even had her profession-bestowal ceremony yet. Waiting for that would still leave plenty of time…” “If I were not king and still living in obscurity, I would have done so, but now you are regent. It seems natural to me that we bind ourselves together with marriage ties.” What was I to do? He had the better argument. Besides, depending on the situation, I might be able to usurp without inviting hatred for overthrowing the royal family by force. This could be a shortcut to my goal. Still, how should I explain this to Seraphina? Surely she wanted her own child to be king, too. What woman wouldn’t want that? “A-anyway…Your Majesty has only just become king, and I have only just become regent… We need not rush… Besides, there are still many around the capital who don’t think too kindly of us—we will still have plenty of time after we’ve finished subjugating them.” That was a fact. Even supposing no one came to make a surprise attack, there were people keeping a watchful eye on us, including the supporters of the former king, Paffus VI. “Very well. We’ll set this discussion aside for now. But do give it some thought, Sir Regent.” “Actually, Your Majesty, you should think about getting married yourself.” Hasse had both wives and children, but they were the sisters of vassals or the daughters of lords he had stayed with during his travels, so they were too low socially for any to be his official wife. “True… But your daughter is too young still, and your sister is married. Let’s see, who would be suitable…?” Good, I got him to change the subject. Seraphina was actually supposed to be coming to the capital from Maust soon. Maybe I’d casually bring it up then to see her reaction… As I couldn’t leave the capital for some time, my wife Seraphina came with a lady-in-waiting. Fleur had only just given birth, so she was still recuperating at Maust. As the regent’s wife, Seraphina adorned herself in the fanciest dress she’d ever worn. There was currently no woman more powerful than her in all the kingdom. “You look even more handsome as a regent, darling,” Seraphina complimented me teasingly when I saw her. “That might be my profession’s fault. It seems to enhance my charisma the higher my position gets.” “How’s this, darling? You don’t think anyone in the capital will laugh at me with this on, do you?” She spun around once in front of me, her dress fluttering slightly. It was like a great flower had burst into bloom. “Nobody would be brave enough to laugh at you now, Seraphina.” “Also true. You know, coming to the capital was my dream, since my home was so far away. I studied the monarchy, but putting that knowledge to use in the countryside means something different from in the capital.” Instead of being intimidated by this unfamiliar capital, Seraphina appeared entirely unbothered. Valiant was a word most often used to describe warriors, but Seraphina had it in her, too. “Seraphina, I know this is rather sudden, but there’s something I want to tell you. It’s about politics. A new problem has arisen since I’ve arrived here.” “Of course; I’m your wife. I’m glad to hear my husband’s troubles.” That night, I visited Seraphina’s quarters. First I discussed plans to exterminate the lords rebelling against the new king as well as whom to send as overseer for the cities now under my personal control and so forth. Even with things I more or less knew the answer to, Seraphina sometimes gave suggestions from a different perspective, so it was actually quite helpful. Hearing about people’s reputations among the court ladies was particularly useful. That was basically an indicator of whether the people I mentioned were refined and sophisticated. Locally powerful merchants and creative eccentrics abounded in the cities around the capital. Appointing someone uncivilized as overseer would risk mockery from the merchants and a loss of respect. “That Kelara girl is head and shoulders above the rest when it comes to old customs. And her table manners are just perfect,” said Seraphina. “Still, it’d be a waste of talent to make her overseer of just one city.” “Good point. Maybe I’ll ask Fanneria; he used to be a merchant.” “But he was a rural merchant. I don’t think he could contend with the real merchants in the capital.” “A harsh assessment. But I guess someone who’s lived in the capital would be better in a ruthless competition.” We had a lively conversation, as always. As it went on, I kept looking for a chance to bring up what I really wanted to talk about. “Also, His Majesty said something to me…which I genuinely want your opinion on.” “So now comes the real topic of the day, huh? Go on, tell me.” Realizing this was an important conversation, Seraphina actually leaned in excitedly. Wishing I didn’t have to disappoint her, I gazed intently into her eyes as I explained the situation. Without any change of expression, Seraphina stared back into my eyes as she listened. “…And that’s everything. Honestly, I’d really like him to drop it myself. I already have a wife.” “Why does that bother you so much, darling?” Seraphina asked, undaunted. Of course. I should’ve just turned him down. “You should absolutely accept his proposal! Power will just fall into your lap!” Seraphina exclaimed, grasping my hand tightly. “Huh?! You don’t mind…?” “I told you I want to be a hero’s wife. That won’t change as a concubine, and I won’t be any less powerful. In fact, I can’t wait to guide someone so young.” That convinced me—Seraphina really was valiant. Her father, Ayles Caltis, had called her wild. She might’ve been even more ambitious than I was. Next, I discussed my concerns about this marriage with the king’s sister. I could now focus more on the political side of it than on Seraphina’s feelings, so that was a relief. “But if I have a child with her, yours might never be king. Any child with royal blood comes first in the line of succession.” “I told you before. If my child isn’t meant to be king, then he doesn’t need to be,” Seraphina said without hesitating. “I’ll support you on your way to becoming a hero; that’s why I married you. So it should be obvious what you need to do.” When she put it that way, the answer was pretty clear. “You’re right. Paffus’s cronies are still everywhere. Until we quash them all, it’d be better to have close ties with the king.” Lots of people had held power as regent. But pretty much none of them had managed to hold on to it, because the people who wanted them gone always conspired against them. The previous regents had had especially little in terms of personal troops, so when uprisings had happened everywhere, they hadn’t been able to cope with all of it. “All right. I’ll tell the king I’m ready to take his sister as my wife.” “Sure, as you should. But for today…” Seraphina moved in closer. “I want you to make love to me. I had to wait so long during your campaign for the capital.” I hugged Seraphina very, very tightly. “I won’t lose to some girl.” “I know. I don’t expect my love for you to fade, either.” When I told him I was ready to accept his proposal, Hasse was even more pleased than I’d expected. He then said he’d arrange a meeting between me and his sister, Lumie. Speaking of, I didn’t remember ever meeting a girl called Lumie, the reason being that she’d been put into a convent. If Hasse had failed to obtain the crown, he’d intended to just have her be a nun. To be fair, being with Hasse might put her life in danger. The longer she spent studying at the convent, the safer she was. In any case, she was quite far back in the line of succession, so leaving her there wasn’t an issue. Of course, my wife-to-be was young enough to be called a child, so the marriage would be something of a formality. King Hasse wanted to make his regent into one of his relatives. She may have been put in a convent, but she was unmistakably royal. I was a bit worried she’d be proud and horribly arrogant. If she complained about me to her brother, Hasse, it could make me look bad, too. Taking a seat in the meeting room, I waited for her to come. Guards stood outside, but inside the room would be just the two of us. However, even as the arranged time came, Lumie didn’t appear. Weird… Is she late on purpose, trying to show she’s above me? Hey, Alsrod, I can feel someone’s presence. Someone else is here in the room. I’m sure of it. Apparently, Oda Nobunaga could sense people’s presences. What a cool profession. It can’t be an assassin, can it? I put a hand on my sword. I was good enough to take them if it was one or two. No, they clearly don’t mean to kill you. The window was closed, yet I thought I noticed the curtains swaying unnaturally. “Is someone behind that curtain?” I asked carefully, trying not to scare them. After I called out, a young girl with her hair neatly tied up peeked her face out from the curtain. “Oh dear, you finally caught me!” Smiling broadly, she walked briskly up to me and bowed her head. “How do you do, Your Excellency? I am Lumie, the new king’s sister.” She at least didn’t seem to be afraid of me. I stood up from my seat and greeted her. “Pleased to meet you. I am Alsrod Nayvil, Marquess of Fordoneria, now serving as regent.” “Wow… You are quite a tall gentleman,” she gushed, as if she’d seen a rare animal. Lumie stood up on tiptoe and tried measuring her height against mine. I was over a head taller, by the way. “I don’t think I’m especially tall for a man. Maybe you’re just small, Princess.” “I also thought all gentlemen grew beards, but not you, I see. In fact, your chin is smooth and clean.” “Yes, beard hair bothers me, so I shave it off.” This girl says strange things, I thought, a bit amused. “I hardly ever got to meet any gentlemen in the convent, so I was frightened. That’s why I was watching from behind the curtain. I was going to try to run if you were like an orc or an ogre.” “Don’t worry; they only live in the Northlands or on the frontier.” I could tell right away from our conversation that she was really sheltered—very befitting of a princess indeed. “Besides, I heard you’ve proven yourself in many battles in the past, so I thought maybe you were quite a barbaric man.” I laughed out loud. She was such an honest girl. “I will not deny being barbaric. I have even killed people on many occasions. In your convent’s teachings, I might be a terrific scoundrel.” “Not at all.” She shook her head. “You know, I can tell if someone is a scoundrel or not by looking in their eyes. You have bright eyes. So you’re a good person.” “Perhaps they only look so because I kill without remorse, not because I’m a good person,” I said, deliberately testing her. “Don’t worry. I can tell by the way they shine that you’re not a bad man. So you pass.” Lumie suddenly came over and hugged me tightly. “You might be rather frightening, but you’re not a bad person. I’ll be your wife. I can’t wait.” “What if I’m secretly a monster in disguise?”