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YES, they truly are, I thought, chuckling to myself beneath my hood.
When he had first told me to go west, I hadn’t understood what he was thinking. But after that, he’d said I could use my bodyguards as I pleased, and I’d finally grasped his intentions. Essentially, he was telling me that if I wished to become queen of Eyland, I would have to use the people he gave me to kill the king myself.
What a fearsome man, to make a saint such as myself dirty her own hands. He had surely wanted to test my resolve. And on top of that, it had been the optimal choice to entrust this plan to me, someone from Eyland who was familiar with the country—I could spread monster meat consumption to western Eyland as I went about my task. Everything Lord Mars did had a deeper purpose.
Oh, I can hear death throes coming from behind me.
With this, my preparations were complete. Now that Eyland had lost power, a change of leadership was sure to occur in the Theocracy of Mauve as well. Lord Caim would get that done for me. It was only a matter of time before the pope who had neglected me would abdicate his position. All that was left now was for me to take the papacy and annex Eyland.
The people would no doubt welcome me with open arms. After all, everyone was fed up with the Eylish royal family after they had been idiotic enough to implement a scorched-earth policy.
…But I mustn’t rush things.
I was a saint. I had to make it look as if those around me were nominating me for the papacy, and only then would I unwillingly become pope and reluctantly annex Eyland. Farune would have an important role to play. Once everyone saw that I was the only one who could restrain that terrifying country, they would have no choice but me.
This was all according to Lord Mars’s plan. It was all a scheme enabling Farune to slowly take over Eyland. My trifling aspirations were nothing compared to that man’s colossal ambition.
Now, on to the next preparations. I really have so much I need to get done.
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COUNT Wolf awoke to the sight of an unfamiliar ceiling.
“Where am I?”
He unconsciously placed his hand on his chest. The wound from Ogma’s sword was gone.
“Was that a dream? No…it can’t have been…but where am I?”
He looked at his surroundings, and saw that he was lying in bed inside what seemed to be a private home. It was furnished somewhat crudely for the noble count, but he had a great deal of experience sleeping on the front, so he didn’t really mind.
He gently made sure that he could move his upper body, then got out of the bed and stood up.
It doesn’t seem that I’m in Gardon. Did Farune take me prisoner? But there’s no one guarding me. And I’m not bound, either. What the hell…?
His consciousness was still somewhat hazy, but he decided to go outside before he did anything else. He turned his gaze toward the door, which slowly opened as if on cue.
“Good. You’re awake.”
The speaker was a beautiful woman, close in age to the count’s daughter. Her expression was brimming with affection, and he could tell that she had been truly concerned about him.
“And you are?” the count asked.
“My name is Maria,” she replied.
The name instantly snapped Count Wolf out of his stupor. “Maria?! So you’re the saint who sided with Farune!” He was about to fly into a rage, but she quietly corrected him.
“Lord Wolf, I most certainly did not take Farune’s side.”
“What are you talking about?! You healed Farune’s warriors on the battlefield!”
“What would you suggest I should have done? Should I simply have stood by and observed the war? Farune is incredibly powerful. The course of battle would not have been affected whether I healed them or not.” Maria lowered her eyes sorrowfully.
“You’re wrong! If you hadn’t worked a divine miracle on those brutes—”
“Lord Mars would simply have gone to the front lines himself. He possesses strength that rivals that of an entire army. I saw his power in the arena, so I know. He would have absolutely crushed the Eylish army. Also, Third Princess Cassandra is waiting back in Farune. She’s the Swordmaster called the Red Demon. No one can beat Farune.”
“You mean to say that Cassandra is the Red Demon Swordmaster?! I heard rumors, but are they true?” Count Wolf was old enough to know about Cassandra’s rampage through central Ares; he had heard countless tales of her exploits. He knew very well that there was no denying her strength.
“Yes. I believe she’s Lord Mars’s teacher, and even he can’t hold a candle to her. The coalition army never had a…” Here, Maria paused, somewhat dramatically. “Actually, perhaps it’s a stroke of good fortune that the war ended before Lady Cassandra came to the front lines. After all, she is merciless, and demonically strong, just as her nickname suggests. Who can say how many coalition soldiers would have fallen to her sword?”
Count Wolf grunted, speechless. Cassandra had destroyed a country on her own. Maria was certainly right that there was no telling how many casualties there might’ve been had someone like her appeared on the battlefield.
“But despite all that, I still hoped that you would survive, Count Wolf,” Maria said pleadingly, her hands clasped as if in prayer.
“Me? Why?”
“You are someone who can become the pillar of Eyland,” Maria explained. “You fought long for your country, and you love and are loved by the people. There is suffering in store for Eyland. But if you’re there, Count Wolf, the people will no doubt feel at ease.”
Count Wolf furrowed his eyebrows and shut his eyes tightly. “No, I swore my loyalty to the king of Eyland. If he dies, I intend to die along with him. That is the code of those of us who are knights.”
“Do you think you could possibly concede on that point?” Maria ventured. “Much blood may be spilled if Farune rules this land directly. But if you accept Farunian control and become the new ruler under Farune, you may be able to avoid that bloodshed!”
“Me? No, I took up arms against Farune,” the count said, baffled. “I couldn’t serve in such a role now…”
“I’ll ask King Mars,” Maria said, undeterred. “Farune mainly governs other countries indirectly. He should be searching for someone to rule Eyland, and he’ll surely welcome you as a worthy candidate. Of course, I’ll also do what little I can to help!”
Maria stared into Count Wolf’s eyes. He looked back at her. Her unclouded gaze expressed a pure desire to achieve her goal. He could sense an intense willpower there.
The count let out a deep sigh. “Very well. Certainly, someone must take on the role of fall guy for the sake of the people of Eyland. I’ll resign myself to the humiliation.”
“Thank you very much! Now, let’s—”
“Wait. You’re the one who’s most fit to be ruler, Saint Maria. I’m from an older generation, and I’m not suited to lead. I’ll accept your proposal if it’s the other way around. You rule, and I’ll support you,” Count Wolf said with a grin. “I can’t compromise any further.”
Maria’s expression was confused. “But I’m a commoner, and my status…”
“That’s no matter,” Count Wolf insisted. “It’s a new age, so I’ll support you. Take heed, Lady Maria. The time has come for you to stand on the stage of history.”
The two continued their conversation for a while longer, and in the end, Maria reluctantly accepted the position of ruler.
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PHEW, exactly as I expected.
The honorable soldier Count Wolf would never be willing to accept the position of ruler. That would have been clear to a five-year-old child.
The new Eyland I was to rule would have far too few capable people. Soldiers were especially lacking in number. If I asked Lord Mars, I could definitely get him to deploy some of the Hundred, but it was also essential for me to have my own underlings for when I really needed them. In that sense, Count Wolf was the perfect pick. He could be both a punching bag and a protector for the country. Healing him had really been worth it.
I’ll have him spend the rest of his life working for me.