I took the duke and his entourage outside of the Filsand capital. I’d already promised to show them my means for eliminating the undead from the Twilight Wastelands.
“Why the suspense?” The duke was growing more and more interested. “Just tell us already.”
“What manner of trickery is he up to now…?” the court sorcerer still looked pale in the face.
“They’re running a bit late. According to my calculations, they should be here any minute… Oh, there they are.” I squinted toward the Twilight Wastelands and saw some figures on the horizon.
“There who are?”
The number of figures grew and grew. They were coming closer at an amazing speed.
Rattle, rattle!
Rustle, rustle!
“What the hell?!”
“I-It’s the undead!”
The officials cried out in alarm. Indeed, the formation heading straight for us at terrifying speed was full of skeletons armed with rusted weapons. Among them were walking corpses with rotting flesh, and ghosts surrounded with a yellow aura.
“Wh-what is this?! Is this your doing, Margilus?!”
Even my friends, who knew what was going on, were nervous. The duke broke out into an oily sweat. After all, we were staring at a troop of about a hundred undead. As expected, the duke’s guards and the court sorcerer prepared themselves for battle.
“I used a spell called Control Undead on one of the undead in the Twilight Wastelands. Oh, there he is.”
Rattle, rattle!
The Death Knight upon whom I’d cast Control Undead in my earlier experiment came forward and saluted me. For some reason, it seemed more powerful than the last time I’d seen it. I had given it very specific orders: “Gather undead weaker than yourself under your command. Build an army and destroy any undead that do not obey.”
I was using the undead to eliminate the undead. This was my great strategy for the Twilight Wastelands. So far, only this one Death Knight was under my command, but I could add as many as I wanted. Even if it took time, it should be possible to eventually eliminate all of the undead from the Twilight Wastelands.
Two days earlier, in order to bring them to Filsand, I’d cast the Forced March spell on them. I’d actually hoped to use them in the battle to defend the city, but it turned out they couldn’t move quite fast enough for that. Still, the fact that I was able to show the duke and his entourage my work meant that I hadn’t wasted the spell.
“Dragons, giants, now the undead…” The duke, despite the bitter expression on his face, seemed convinced.
“I just don’t know anymore! This is all completely outside my expertise.” The court sorcerer’s eyes were wide with petulant anger.
✦ ✦ ✦
Several days later…
In the end, the duke yielded to our requests. Elisabel laughed at herself after hearing their decision in the guesthouse.
“That’s that, then. This shall be the final official act of diplomacy of one Elisabel Roney Filsandia, daughter of the duke. But it seems that, here at the end, he finally accepted me as his own flesh and blood.”
Up to now, Elisabel had used her rationality, goodwill, and cooperation as her greatest weapons in negotiations with other countries. That was the motive I spoke of before. The reason propelling Elisabel through our sham of an offer.
She had already removed herself from Filsand. That’s why, as a final farewell, she wanted to leave her mark on her father as his daughter.
Elisabel busily prepared herbal tea and sat next to me. “Here you are.”
I remembered seeing the snacks served with the tea before. “These are Lutz fruits?” I took some of the candied fruits customary among the Schultz. The taste was great. It was strong, but that went well with the bitterness of the herbal tea.
“Yes. The Schultz were kind enough to leave some with us.”
She’d also gone as a liaison between Filsand and the Schultz clan. Not only that, she’d listened to the complaints and desires of the clan and mediated with the residents of Filsand.
Maybe that helped her feel some goodwill toward the Schultz.
“I see… Were they harsh toward you?”
“Of course they were. At first, they even threw stones at me.” Elisabel spoke casually, as if it was nothing.
“Good god… But things are okay now?”
“Yes. It seems they’re starting to trust me.”
Elisabel had always worked as a diplomat for Filsand. Even though her mother was a Schultz princess, her people had suffered many years under Elisabel’s tyrant of a father. It wouldn’t be easy to build a trusting relationship with the clan.
“I see. You did great.”
“Really, talking is the only thing I know how to do…”
She had incredible diplomatic ability. More than that, I was impressed by her policy of speaking to everyone as equals.
I stroked her blonde hair without thinking. I thought she would pull away, but instead she just smiled.
“Actually, I was finally able to speak with my father last night…”
Until now, we had just been chitchatting. Now, as she prepared a second cup of herbal tea, she cut to the chase.
“How did it go?” I asked.
“I think he said more or less the same thing he told you. In the end, I was just a tool that he called his daughter.”
That damned duke. Even if he felt that way, he could at least make up a kind lie to tell his daughter. Not that I had much of a leg to stand on, considering I hadn’t figured out a single thing I could do to help bring father and daughter closer together.
“He did say one other thing…”
“Hmm?”
“He said, ‘You won the bet.’”
Ah, the bet. I remembered the duke using those words to Elisabel before.
“I think that’s the first time my father ever said something real to me.” Elisabel smiled again. But this time, the smile wasn’t completely happy. It was the same look she’d had when she described her birth as a “sin.” Though, on reflection…maybe it wasn’t exactly the same.
“What do you want to do now?” I asked her.
“I have just one thing in mind.”
There was something different about the shine in her red eyes as she stared at me.
“Will you let me help you with your work? You’ll need a diplomat, and I could manage your civil services besides.”
“Are you suggesting you leave the duke’s family and become my employee?” I knew she’d planned on leaving home, but I never imagined she would want to work for Castle Getaeus. Perhaps I should have.
“Yes. After all, I genuinely enjoy working on diplomatic missions. What could be more rewarding than forming an alliance that fights daemons?”
Diplomacy… I’d always left our diplomatic and domestic affairs to Ild.
There was a certain twinkle in her eyes. “Of course, it would be even better if you took me as your wife.”
“I’m sorry, but I’ll have to decline.”
“Oh, that’s too bad.” She grinned mischievously.
Truthfully, the matter of our engagement hadn’t been completely settled yet. “I’d like to ask you one thing. With your abilities and contacts, you must have other options. Why’d you choose me?”
It was maybe a bit crass, but I felt the need to get right to the point. I wasn’t reckless enough to dance around the issue with a battle-hardened diplomat like her. I also thought she would be interested in my true intentions.
“Well,” she blinked, surprised. “Are you sure you’re not underestimating your influence? I want to help you turn Castle Getaeus into a continental hub.” Then she added with a sly smile, “You know, this is the first time in my life I’ve ever been able to stand up and proudly declare a dream of my own.”
I paused for a long moment. “I see.”
After overcoming the grudges against her mother and father’s scheming, she was finally able to choose her own life. And her own dream. Heavy stuff.
“Welcome to the team, Counselor.”
“It’s my pleasure, my lord.” She curtseyed, lifting her skirt slightly by the hem.
Her manners were as perfect as they had been on the night of our “engagement.” The only difference was that her smile had transformed from the hollow expression of a painted doll to that of a vibrant girl.
This was the real Elisabel.