Chapter 39

In the Kingdom of Rosais, the country's policies are decided through consultations with the nobles.

The meetings where the king and the nobles discuss are called the Noble Council.

Incidentally, the nobles are divided into two types: the major nobles, known as lords, who own territories of a certain scale, and the minor nobles, known as landowners, who own smaller territories and are under the control of the lords.

In principle, the lords are considered equals.

The king controls the lords, the lords control the landowners, and the landowners control the people. This is the political system of the Kingdom of Rosais, excluding the king's direct territories.

Since the area of land governed by the lords is larger than the king's direct territories, the King of Rosais cannot implement a centralized government. This is why the Kingdom of Rosais remains a small country.

"King Rosais, is it really appropriate to entrust the territory of the House of As to a man of unknown origin!"

Rigal Diber, the most powerful major noble in the Kingdom of Rosais, shouted loudly.

"Unknown origin? I've known that man for several years. Every time he visits, he gives me honey for free. He's a good young man. Besides, there's a rumor that he's the child of a griffin and a human who fell in love. I don't see any problem with him."

Incidentally, this rumor is actually circulating.

The story goes that the griffin is a terrifying creature that devours humans who enter the forest, but there is a village in the forest. The villagers are special, and the village chief must be the son of the griffin!

Now, the story has grown to include tails and fins, and even wings.

There are two versions of the story: one where the girl, offered as a sacrifice, is the griffin's real child (whether she was forced or they fell in love), and another where the girl, who was impregnated by a god while still a virgin, was abandoned in the forest by her parents, who were concerned about their reputation, and was then found by the griffin.

The latter version is more prevalent.

The idea is that a child cannot be born from a union with a beast, but it is not appropriate to question whether a child can be born from a union with a god.

After all, it's just a rumor, and only the people around the forest and the former Kingdom of Ferm's subjects, the people of Almus As, believe it.

"To us, he is just a man of unknown origin. There were more suitable candidates than that boy."

"Hmm, I don't understand. Lord Barthol's territory has increased. Other suitable candidates? I don't understand. Are you saying that all the soldiers who participated in this war should be given land? Hmm, they lack education. Lord Almus can read and write in Keresian and is good at mathematics. I think it would be fine to entrust the territory to him."

Almus, thanks to his lessons with Tera, can read, write, and speak Keresian and is proficient in mathematics.

In this region, being able to perform the four basic arithmetic operations is considered highly intelligent, and being able to read, write, and speak Keresian makes one highly sought after in the workplace.

Even among the relatively well-educated lords present, how many can perform the four basic arithmetic operations and read and write Keresian? Probably no more than 20%.

Rigal, of course, cannot. He is, after all, a rural noble.

Incidentally, Tera, who had already mastered Keresian by the age of ten, is in a different league altogether.

"What's wrong with the three who participated in the war deciding among themselves?"

At these words, the nobles averted their eyes.

They had all been afraid of the King of Ferm and did not send troops.

The King of Ferm's defeat was largely due to the black powder, a weapon against which there was no defense.

It could be said that they fought well.

"But that territory needs to be prepared for the invasion of King Domorgal. Such a man of unknown origin..."

"A man of unknown origin is more trustworthy than someone who hid in fear of the King of Ferm."

With these words, King Rosais glared at Rigal.

Under his gaze, Rigal flinched.

"Is there anyone else who objects?"

No one answered.

"Then the meeting is adjourned."

Thus, the Noble Council ended.

"That good-for-nothing. How detestable."

"Come now, Lord Rigal. Calm down. The king has only two years left. Then the throne will be yours."

Rigal's confidant, Vermot, said.

Vermot is sixty years old.

He has no grandchildren. In fact, he is not married.

A man who has devoted his life to the Diber family.

Therefore, he is highly trusted by Rigal.

Rigal generally surrounds himself with family members as his retainers, but there are a few who are not family. They are all recommended by Vermot.

In other words, Vermot is Lord Rigal's wise advisor.

"Anyway, the engagement to Princess Yuria is mine for the taking."

"Lord Rigal, you must not be complacent."

Vermot warned Rigal.

"Which side are you on?"

Rigal asked his confidant with a look of exasperation.

"Lord Rigal is the most powerful of the nobles. You will almost certainly be the next king. The ailing king cannot stop you, no matter how much he dislikes you. However, that boy. If he gains the support of many nobles in the future..."

"Hmph. That boy's victory was a fluke. I could have done it. It's impossible. He has no proper backing. If worse comes to worst, we can just conquer and destroy him."

Rigal said, puffing out his chest.

"That's a last resort! You have a tendency to be complacent. Be careful. You are to be the king, after all..."

Vermot began to lecture.

Rigal, listening to the lecture of his elderly confidant, left the palace of King Rosais.

"I am the man chosen by the fairies. I will be the king."

Rigal muttered.

"Father, will my fiancé be Rigal Diber? That man is a brute, and I don't like him."

"I agree. But there is no choice but to marry him. Given the current situation."

Rigal Diber is the most powerful noble in the country.

Rigal Diber himself has a little royal blood of the Rosais family and has many followers.

If anyone other than Rigal Diber becomes king, a civil war is bound to break out.

If a civil war breaks out, the surrounding countries will intervene.

It is doubtful whether they can win, and even if they do, they will lose a significant amount of territory.

"I guess I have to marry him..."

Yuria bowed her head sadly.

Her heart was filled with the sorrow of not being able to marry the person she loved, the envy of her best friend who took that person, and the disgust of having to bear the child of a man she disliked.

"Actually, when I was ten, I imagined that the Kingdom of Ferm had been destroyed, and I met Almus in the forest, married him, and reclaimed the country. It was so much fun. If only the King of Ferm had fought a little harder..."

"...In that case, wouldn't I definitely be dead?"

"You would be in a cell, healthy and not sick. When I rescued you, you would shout, 'I will never recognize this marriage!!'"

Yuria spoke about her fantasy with a smile, but a hint of sadness.

Incidentally, Rigal would be the first to die, killed by the King of Ferm.

She knew it was just a fantasy.

"The wedding... Tera looked so beautiful. I wish I could be like that... but, no, my husband is going to be that man. Maybe I should start training to pretend to enjoy it even when I don't. Should I practice that?"

Yuria sighed deeply.

Her eyes were slightly moist.

She couldn't stop the tears from flowing if she didn't keep talking.

"Wait, wait. I have a plan. Do you think I gave all the former Kingdom of Ferm's territories to Almus for no reason?"

When King Rosais said this, Yuria pounced.

She pushed King Rosais down.

"Dad!! Are you going to let me marry Almus?"

"Hey, you're heavy!! I can't breathe, cough, cough."

King Rosais coughed violently.

Yuria quickly got off him.

"You stupid girl... You've shortened my life by three months..."

"I'm sorry."

Yuria apologized, rubbing King Rosais' back.

"Now, about what I said earlier... It's impossible for now. The achievement of defeating the King of Ferm is offset by the current territory. More significant achievements are needed to demonstrate his high abilities. Besides, he has no allies."

The Kingdom of Rosais.

There is a reason for the use of the possessive 'my' in this context.

This 'my' is meant to separate the king from the country.

In other words, it is not 'I am the state.'

The Kingdom of Rosais is established through an alliance with the nobles.

In other words, the Kingdom of Rosais is formed by the Rosais family, a major noble, and other nobles who have gathered around them.

Therefore, there is a master-servant relationship between the King of Rosais and the nobles, but this relationship is almost equal.

Especially for major nobles with a population of over ten thousand.

The tax collection rights held by the nobles are not granted but are naturally owned from the beginning.

The King of Rosais cannot force the nobles to obey, and the nobles do not need to show any particular loyalty to the king.

Therefore, support from other nobles is essential for the succession to the throne.

Without it, even if Almus inherits the throne, he can only control the 30,000 people of the As territory and the 70,000 people of the Rosais territory.

The rest would all become enemies.

In other words, if he gains support...

"In other words, it depends on him. The possibility is low, but there is hope. I will do my best to help... don't cry."

King Rosais comforted his daughter.

The accumulated writing is about one-third of two chapters.

And I realized... Yuria's appearances are few.

That's strange? Even in a Yuria-focused chapter... Well, if Yuria, who is in an unstable position, met Almus regularly, it would be a big problem, so it can't be helped.

Yuria will probably become the heroine after two-thirds of the story.

Until then, it's Tera's turn.