“What’s Yulville thinking?” I wondered aloud.
“That’s what we’d like to know. It’s also curious that he used surveying the Mystic Forest as a cover for staying in Peylon. His investigations apparently had the approval of the royal palace, but I can’t imagine who there would’ve been willing to give him that.”
So they were in Peylon? Well, that connects some dots.
“They probably only looked for the approval of their managers, the ministry of domestic affairs,” I told her. “The ministry wants the Mystic Forest under their jurisdiction—there’s too much money to be made from monster materials.”
The minx was certainly aware that our house was closely tied with the ministry of domestic affairs, with many of us finding employment there. It was just like how Aspozat had a history with foreign affairs. Though we didn’t require our kin to work there, good connections make any job easier.
“Indeed, your house has a history with them. But are they really so foolish that they think the Mystic Forest can be managed by humans? They ought to come to Peylon and take a good look in person.”
The Mystic Forest had been a part of her life since the day she was born. She was also no stranger to the dangers it posed—something nobody from the royal capital could understand.
“So both Lord Bilbroza and the ministry have their eyes on the Mystic Forest,” I said.
“Does that old man’s reach extend to the ministry of domestic affairs?”
“It wouldn’t surprise me. They have members of the noble faction among their ranks.”
“I shouldn’t let that shock me.”
The royal faction had always been more strongly involved in foreign affairs. They were the ones who negotiated with the southern petty kingdoms, and had used their diplomatic skills to avoid a war with our northern neighbor Garnoban. Their comparatively weak role in domestic affairs was now working against them.
“At the royal palace, people are starting to see the Knights of the White Summit as a de facto asset of the ministry of domestic affairs.”
The White Summit was an order of mages that was dispatched wherever in the kingdom they were needed. They handled a much broader swath of duties than the other orders. While this had meant they were always working at the behest of the ministry of domestic affairs, that had become much more apparent in recent years. And now the noble faction was sinking their claws into the ministry.
I couldn’t help but ask, “I know you’ve already said it, but is it really true that Lord Yulville participated in the hunting festival?”
“It is. He tried making some surreptitious movements, but he picked the wrong mark. He picked Lord Zokbahr of all people.”
“What did he do?”
“He suggested that Lord Zokbahr consider changing factions.”
“How reckless...”
House Zokbahr was a house of warriors from the south. They were as old as the kingdom itself, and known for their fierce loyalty. A little urging from Lord Yulville would never sway a man like that.
“Indeed. Reckless.” The minx looked contemplative. “Yet why would Lord Yulville do something so transparent?”
“If someone wants Zokbahr in a different faction, they’re probably from the noble faction. Since Yulville is neutral, he was probably acting on behalf of someone else.”
“That ‘someone else’ was probably the old man. That’s obvious enough to not warrant concern. At this point, there’s nothing surprising about Yulville’s favor for the noble faction. But why did he make a blatant attempt in the middle of the royal faction’s biggest event? I can’t begin to wrap my head around it.”
The minx seemed to think there was some ulterior motive. It was this very masculine strength of hers that made so many people fear this woman. She could accurately assess any situation and turn it to her favor. I was sure old Bilbroza was feeling the pain of crossing her already.
So she thinks there’s more to what that old man is doing?
“Maybe you’re overthinking it?” I thought aloud.
“You’re just not thinking enough. Just like always.”
Rude as ever.
“Thand, don’t you think it’s a little shameful to leave everything to your wife?”
“Hm? Oh, no,” he answered. “I just thought Sheila was better equipped to converse with you.”
That grin of his reminded me of our academy days. Even after all these years, I didn’t find him any more agreeable.
“That aside,” the minx continued, summing up our conversation, “we now have much more reason to believe that the noble faction is trying to use the ministry of domestic affairs and the Knights of the White Summit to make the Mystic Forest their personal property. A naive move on their part. I can only hope they personally feel the brunt of their own idiocy.”
“Once the overflow begins, what if we throw their leaders into the forest?”
“Oh, now that’s a fine idea. We’ll have to figure a way to lure them out.”
Damn, I should’ve kept that to myself.
I meant it as a joke, but the minx was enthused, like she really might give it a shot. Glancing at Thand, I just saw the man smiling—that infuriating smile. He wasn’t going to do anything to hold this woman back. I let a heavy sigh escape me, but I forgave myself for it.
Suddenly, the minx’s lips twisted into a grin as well. “Oh, that’s right. Your son will hit his deadline next month.”
“Deadline? What deadline?”
“He has a set time frame to court Lera. If he doesn’t win her over before the deadline, we’ll forget about his proposal.”
“What?”
What does that mean?
“You see, his abrupt proposal last year came as quite the shock to Lera. I understand your son was in something of a panic, but there are still steps and formalities to be taken during these matters, are there not? So it was my idea that if he manages to win Lera’s heart before her next birthday, then I’ll formally begin negotiations with you.”
This can’t be.
I recognized this smile of hers from our student days. She made this same face when giving someone a deadline like she did to my son. I forget what it was for, but it was something that seemed feasible at first, only to turn out practically impossible. In other words, this minx didn’t actually envision my son swaying that girl.
I let out another brief sigh. I’ll be the first to admit he wasn’t exactly a smooth talker.
“However, looking at him now, he might not be such a poor fit for Lera after all.”
“What?”
“As the child of a noble, Lera has to get married one way or another. In which case, I’d prefer she have a partner who understands and supports her.”
That was true. As a young noblewoman, her house required that she get married. If she remained single forever, people would begin to suspect it was because there was something wrong with her.
On top of that, Sheila said the girl would be taking a groom into her house. If she was inheriting her house, then she would inevitably need a successor, which would necessitate a husband. However, I had some trouble believing that my son was really an ideal candidate.
“Do you think Yuin’s capable of that?” I asked.
“If nothing else, I don’t believe anyone else would try to reach the same layer of the Mystic Forest as Lera.”
“He did that?”
What the hell has that boy been up to?
I had been told he went to Peylon for training on how to counter mysticstock. They said more of those had been appearing in the environs of the royal capital. Yet he was running around like a loon, making marriage proposals, joining the hunting festival, returning home late.
After all that, I find out he had been working his way through the Mystic Forest? Had he forgotten he was my heir? He very well might have, or else he wouldn’t have proposed to a girl who couldn’t even leave her own house. Perhaps it didn’t matter either way.
“Has he lost his mind?”
“My, I’d say he’s doing quite well. Unlike you, he’s skilled in both magic and bladework.”
“Oh stop it.”
When we were students, I had been found to have little talent for swords or spells, so I dedicated myself to statesmanship. To this day I think I made the right choice, but it still left me feeling inferior. I certainly never expected my son to join the Knights of Obsidian. I figured if anything, he might join the Golden Lion, whose duty as royal guards kept them in the palace at all times.
“Nonetheless, as long as Sir Yuin doesn’t give up on Lera, he has a chance. For the time being, anyway.” The minx smiled again, a predatory glint in her eyes.
Oh, my son, do you truly want to marry a girl tied up with this woman? There’s plenty of other fine ladies out there.
However, I couldn’t deny that that girl’s perfectly controlled mana made her a good fit for Yuin. Those with compatible mana also shared compatible personalities. That must have been why he had made such a sudden proposal. I could understand his mindset. Even so, I couldn’t pretend he had made a good pick.
“But I must say how funny it is to see a member of the neutral faction pay our house a visit.”
“I might be neutral, but I don’t recall ever opposing you. We’ve never forgotten our loyalty to the crown.”
“Indeed. And your house’s role in organizing the neutralists has given us much peace of mind.”
Nobody could dispute that House Fezgahn had sworn their loyalty to the royal family. However, that wasn’t to say we were blind to the logic in the noble faction’s assertions that it was the power of the noble houses that strengthened and brought prosperity to the kingdom.
If the royal family gained too much sway, then things could get messy if a tyrant took the throne. However, a weak royal family would leave the kingdom on uncertain footing. Our house believed that it was best if the crown and the nobles were of equal power.
It was for these ideals that we couldn’t accept the noble faction’s recent activity. They appeared ready to make a power grab if left unchecked, and we couldn’t let that happen. Thus our best option was to work with House Aspozat, head of the royal faction.
“We’ll run our own checks on the noble faction,” I said.
“If you would.”
First, we had to figure out what old Bilbroza was up to. He was a crafty man, but we’d regret it if we waited any longer. I wished my intuition could just once be wrong at a time like this.