Chapter 75

### Map of the Kingdom of Demorgal

In the Kingdom of Demorgal,

The decision to strip Prince Carlo Demorgal of his position as crown prince has been made.

As a result, the demotion of the Carlo faction, centered around Tonino, has been decided.

Additionally, the Braus family, one of the factors in the recent war's defeat,

has been sentenced to the execution of the family head, Braus.

The succession of the Braus family will be determined by the eldest son.

The treatment of Rene Braus, who surrendered the city of Braus without a fight, and Prince Carlo remains undecided.

The Kingdom of Demorgal has suffered a significant loss of national power due to the recent war.

Territory has been lost to the Kingdom of Roselle and the Kingdom of Rosais, and the population, which was over 450,000, has dropped to 350,000.

The only fortunate thing is that all the territories lost were those of the border nobles.

The Demorgal family itself has not suffered significant losses.

However, the cohesion of the kingdom has rapidly declined due to the failure to protect the territory.

In the Kingdom of Demorgal, a significant issue is about to arise:

the issue of royal succession.

Originally, the matter would have been settled with Prince Carlo ascending to the throne, but with Carlo's fall from grace, the issue has reignited.

The conflict is between the second prince, Pax Demorgal, and the third prince, Ald Demorgal.

Both have powerful nobles supporting them, making the conflict inevitable.

### The Kingdom of Faldarm

"Ha ha ha, Demorgal is gone!! Cheers!!"

"You can't laugh about it, Your Majesty. This only strengthens the Kingdom of Roselle."

The advisor criticizes the king of Faldarm, who is drinking wine.

"Haha, you're too serious. Listen, always look on the bright side. Besides, there's one good thing: the Kingdom of Gilbert."

"Indeed, the expansion of the Kingdom of Roselle has brought the Kingdom of Gilbert and the Kingdom of Roselle into contact..."

This means that the Kingdom of Roselle, which was previously targeting only Faldarm and Demorgal, now has to deal with Gilbert as well, making it harder for them to launch military actions.

"Besides, Gilbert's southward expansion will likely stop. Well, it was already failing due to interference from Zordias. Heh, that's what happens when you try to outmaneuver others."

"But is there any way to fundamentally stop the Kingdom of Roselle's invasion?"

The advisor asks, and the king of Faldarm smirks.

"Heh heh..."

"Y-You don't mean..."

"Cheers!!"

"Of course, that's what I mean..."

The Kingdom of Faldarm is blocked to the south by the Kingdom of Gilbert.

Territorial expansion is impossible.

The only option is to make the most of what they have.

Focus on internal affairs, enrich the country, train the army, strengthen ties with the nobles, and build fortresses.

This is the only best strategy for the Kingdom of Faldarm.

But this strategy seems to have been correct, as it managed to hold off the Kingdom of Roselle for a while...

### The Kingdom of Gilbert

"Damn Zordias..."

King Gilbert angrily slams his fist on the chair.

The southward expansion of the Kingdom of Gilbert was proceeding smoothly.

They were attacking a region known as the Ununified Territories, a cluster of small states.

The largest of these states had a population of around 10,000, and the average was a few thousand.

These small states were unable to resist the Kingdom of Gilbert and were gradually conquered.

But the Kingdom of Zordias intervened.

They formed an alliance with the states in the Ununified Territories.

This halted the southward advance of the Kingdom of Gilbert.

Worse, it brought the Kingdom of Roselle into contact with them.

The Kingdom of Gilbert had to urgently fortify their borders.

"I won't give up. Gather more troops. We need to strengthen our national power before the Kingdom of Roselle launches a full-scale invasion."

King Gilbert's ambition continues.

### The Kingdom of Zordias

This is one of the seven kingdoms with a 500-year history.

The territory is vast, but the land is mountainous, and the population is not large.

"Listen, we must prevent Gilbert's southward expansion at all costs. If the Ununified Territories are invaded, our country will be next. Our country is a natural fortress, but if the outer defenses are breached, we will fall."

King Zordias actively supports the states in the Ununified Territories to protect them from the Kingdom of Gilbert.

Of course, this support is not free.

The states in the Ununified Territories provide grain at low prices.

The Kingdom of Zordias cannot produce much grain, so this is very helpful.

"Your Majesty, a special envoy from the Kingdom of Carn has arrived."

"Hmm? What is it?"

### The Kingdom of Carn

This is not one of the so-called seven kingdoms.

It is a new and growing nation that emerged about 200 years ago from a small state.

Many immigrants from Pheonicia and Kirisia have brought high technological skills, making it one of the most advanced in the Adelnia Peninsula.

The current goal of the Kingdom of Carn is to unify the Ununified Territories.

This means that direct military invasions by the Kingdom of Gilbert and alliances like those with the Kingdom of Zordias are very annoying.

"I have already told Zordias not to interfere in the south. This should limit Zordias' influence in the southern Ununified Territories. Of course, that's assuming they keep their word."

King Carn sits in a Kirisian chair, sipping wine from a Persis glass and eating Pheonician figs.

"So, how is the subversion going?"

"Yes, three states have agreed to form an alliance with us."

"Good. I will send my daughters to those three states. I have a few daughters who are around 14 years old, right?"

King Carn has many concubines and mistresses, so he doesn't keep track of the number of his children.

"Understood. I will prepare for the marriages."

"Thank you."

King Carn is unaware that something troublesome is awakening beneath his kingdom.

### The Kingdom of Evill

The Kingdom of Evill is located between the Kingdom of Zordias and the Kingdom of Rosais.

It is one of the so-called seven kingdoms.

"What do you think?"

"About what...?"

King Evill frowns in displeasure.

"The new king of Rosais."

"Oh, that... Yes, he seems to be a strong young man."

"Are you an idiot? That's not what I'm asking. I'm asking if that boy is a threat to our country or not."

King Evill says irritably.

King Evill is usually irritable, so his advisors are not particularly tense.

"If you are worried, why not form a marriage alliance?"

"Marriage...?"

King Evill thinks for a moment and shakes his head.

"Let it be. He will refuse. That would damage my reputation."

"Is that so?"

"Of course. He is not of the royal bloodline of Rosais. If he were to marry one of our princesses, it could lead to internal interference, suspicion from the nobles, and a deterioration in relations with his current wife. It would be a hundred harms and no benefits. There would be no advantage for us to form an alliance with them."

The Kingdom of Rosais is relatively wealthy.

The Kingdom of Evill, while not as mountainous as the Kingdom of Zordias, has few plains, meaning it cannot produce much grain.

"Let's maintain a friendly relationship. First, we need to assess the new king's character. Is he expansionist or focused on internal affairs?"

### The Kingdom of Belvedial

"This is a serious problem."

"Is it about the Kingdom of Rosais?"

The advisor nods.

"Yes. The Kingdom of Rosais has finally achieved centralization. This means they have become a unified force. Moreover, they are actively trading with Kirisia through the paper industry. This is a serious problem..."

The strengthening of a neighboring country is a concern that must be addressed.

The Kingdom of Rosais will undoubtedly seek to expand its territory.

After the incident with the Kingdom of Demorgal, they are likely to become more militarily aggressive.

The first target for expansion will likely be the Kingdom of Belvedial.

The Kingdom of Belvedial has many plains and produces a lot of grain.

This wealth makes it an attractive target.

"Is there any way to weaken them...?"

"I have a suggestion..."

The advisor's words catch King Belvedial's attention.

"What is it?"

"Well, here it is..."

### Lezard

Lezard is a city-state of Kirisia, a colony of Claris.

However, it is not directly ruled by Claris.

It is more of a vassal state.

Lezard is governed by powerful merchants.

The topic of today's meeting is the new king of the Kingdom of Rosais.

"Einz, we would like an introduction to the King of Rosais. Everyone should have the right to trade. I understand that you have priority, but..."

"Yes, I shouldn't monopolize it. Besides, I can't supply all the goods alone. Here's my proposal..."

Einz smirks and continues.

"We should form an alliance with the Kingdom of Rosais."

"An alliance...?"

The city-states of Kirisia, including Lezard, have never formed alliances with other ethnic groups.

This is because they believe they are superior and strong enough without the help of others.

"I understand that you may be reluctant to ally with barbarians. However, there are recent movements in the Persian Empire. If our homeland and Persia go to war, they will have no time to support us. What if Pheonicia or other Adelnia states attack us then? It would be dangerous. We need allies."

Einz's reasoning is sound.

However, the Kirisians have a deep aversion to monarchies.

The Kirisians prefer a republic and are allergic to absolute rulers.

Moreover, the Kingdom of Rosais is still a different ethnic group.

"Actually, one of the King of Rosais' wives is half-Kirisian."

Einz plays his card, and a murmur runs through the council.

"So, what if we help make her son, Tetra, the crown prince, and then marry him to a daughter of one of our powerful families in Claris?"

The council members' attention focuses on Einz.

"Also, the new king is looking for people who can speak Kirisian. We can meet this demand as merchants. In a few decades..."

Einz smirks.

"The Kingdom of Rosais will become one of our Kirisian states."

"Good reaction."

Einz hands his coat to a slave upon entering his home.

The proposal was not approved, but the reaction was better than expected.

The council members of Lezard, a colony of Claris, are all money-hungry.

If they see a profit, they will quickly agree.

Einz sits down and takes out a piece of paper.

It is the result of the investigation into Tetra's mother, Helen.

There is a Kirisian colony city called Gehenna in the Adelnia Peninsula.

Gehenna is a colony of the city-state of Alt.

Gehenna is ruled by a tyrant named Abraham, a noble from Alt.

Gehenna is effectively independent from Alt and has become Abraham's kingdom.

Abraham has a daughter named Helen.

About twenty years ago, she ran away from home in protest of Abraham becoming a tyrant and has been missing since then.

Investigations revealed that Helen and Radu met about twenty years ago.

Using magic, it is possible to determine if Tetra and Abraham are related.

If Tetra is Abraham's granddaughter, making her son the crown prince would be easier.

However...

"Ah... The problem is that she is from Gehenna."

Einz is originally from Alt but is now a council member of Claris-Lezard.

If the bloodline connection to Abraham is revealed, the Kingdom of Rosais will naturally strengthen its ties with Gehenna.

That would be counterproductive.

"For now, I'll keep this stored away."

Einz carefully puts the document in a drawer.

"Hey, Einz! I'm back."

The door opens.

It's his brother, Nicolaos.

"Ah, brother. Welcome back."

"Hey, Einz. ...Do you have any job opportunities?"

Nicolaos, who sold all his slaves and land when moving to Lezard, has a lot of wealth but is worried about being unemployed.

"Well... You're not cut out for business..."

Einz thinks for a moment and says,

"Why don't you go to the Kingdom of Rosais? Your extensive knowledge might be useful to the new king."