Chapter 46

In the capital of the Commune Union, Clermont, the city gates were still in ruins, and there was no clear timeline for their restoration, not long after the ceasefire with the Vaiksel Empire.

The Emperor of the Vaiksel Empire, upon receiving a report from Lady Alecsia, immediately proposed a truce. The Vaiksel Empire then set up camp at a distance from Clermont and expressed a desire to hold talks again, which Rozeline accepted. It was decided that the Emperor of the Vaiksel Empire would be invited to the royal palace of Clermont.

The room in the royal palace of Clermont where the Emperor of the Vaiksel Empire was to be received had only a few people present. The room itself was not as large as the throne room. The talks were to be held with a limited number of representatives from both countries, so only the minimum number of people were gathered.

This must be a highly confidential and important meeting, given the need to keep it secret from others. The tension was palpable, and even the slightest movement was restrained, with no one making a sound.

I wondered if I should be participating in such a meeting, but I couldn't refuse Rozeline's request. She was quietly and composedly acting as a princess, making it difficult for me to speak to her. I stood beside her, unable to say anything.

"His Majesty, Emperor Wilhelm Victor von Vaiksel of the Vaiksel Empire, has arrived!"

One of Rozeline's subjects announced this with a tense expression. I could feel the air becoming even more tense.

A young man with ash-brown hair entered the room shortly after Rozeline's subject, followed by a few imposing men and Lady Alecsia.

I had met this young man once during the ceasefire. He was the Emperor of the Vaiksel Empire. His face was full of confidence and charisma, exuding a sense of bravery. Even upon closer inspection, he had an aura that set him apart from ordinary people. He had the power to draw attention and inspire awe, even on his own. That must be what charisma is.

"Thank you for coming, Your Majesty. I welcome you from the bottom of my heart."

"I appreciate your welcome, Princess Rozeline."

Rozeline, using a more formal tone than usual, conveyed her intention to welcome the Emperor. The Emperor responded with a relaxed expression.

But in the next moment, the Emperor suddenly bowed his head. This unexpected action caused not only Rozeline's subjects but also the Emperor's subjects to be taken aback.

"Your Majesty!"

"I apologize."

In response to Rozeline's shock, the Emperor offered an apology.

"This war. My country believed that yours was already under the control of vampires, and we inflicted great harm upon you. This was due to my misunderstanding. I wish to apologize again."

The Emperor's expression was dark and somber, as if he truly regretted it. The contrast with his previous confident demeanor was stark, emphasizing the depth of his regret.

Even with the involvement of vampires and various factors, it must have been difficult for Rozeline's subjects to not feel resentment towards the Vaiksel Empire, which had attacked their capital. The tense atmosphere was not just due to the presence of a foreign dignitary but also because of the anger towards the enemy nation that had invaded them just days ago.

Despite the risk of losing his dignity by apologizing in front of foreign royalty and subjects, the Emperor showed no hesitation. His appearance was regal, but he seemed to be a surprisingly considerate person, which left a good impression.

"Your Majesty, please raise your head. The war between our countries was a tragic event, but it was all due to misunderstandings between us. I do not intend to blame your country alone for the actions of the vampires."

"… I am deeply grateful for your compassion, Your Highness. My country will do its utmost to support the reconstruction of this land."

The deep-seated grievances between the two countries, especially the Commune, would not be easily resolved, but the public acknowledgment of reconciliation at this meeting would be a positive step towards improving relations. I could feel the tense atmosphere, which had been so oppressive, easing considerably.

"As part of our support, we are willing to assist in the eradication of the vampires that have infested your country. Specifically, we plan to dispatch part of our army to your country."

"Part of your army?"

"Yes. The problem of vampires increasing their followers is not just a concern for your country but also for neighboring countries. Vampires must be eradicated as soon as possible. This is an issue that requires close cooperation and information sharing between the Commune and the Vaiksel Empire. If we do not, we may allow the same kind of vampire activity to occur again."

I thought, "That makes sense."

Vampires can increase their followers by drinking human blood and can blend in with humans because they look the same. This is why the Commune's royal palace was occupied before anyone noticed. This incident occurred in the Commune, but there is no guarantee that it will end there. It is something that needs to be widely known in neighboring countries. The Vaiksel Empire did not know that the Commune had retaken Clermont, which is why the war escalated.

If the Vaiksel Empire and the Commune had shared information, the same damage might have been prevented. Moreover, the Vaiksel army, which had defeated the vampires in the northwest of the Commune, would be a great help.

"I understand. We are also committed to eradicating the vampires, so the support of the Vaiksel Empire is more than welcome. We accept the support of the Vaiksel Empire."

After a moment of thought, Rozeline responded. It didn't seem like a bad proposal, and it was surprising that she, who cared for her people, hesitated. Ah, that's right. As a princess, she must consider not only immediate benefits but also the political implications of owing a favor to another country.

"Regarding the territory in the northwest of the Commune—"

The Emperor hesitated as he spoke. I had heard that the territory in the northwest of the Commune was occupied by the Vaiksel Empire. Even though it was temporarily under the control of vampires, it was originally Commune territory. With the Commune government still in place, the Commune might suspect that the Vaiksel Empire intended to invade if it remained there.

However, the Vaiksel Empire had reclaimed the territory from the vampires at great cost. It seemed unlikely that they would hand it over easily.

The issue of territory is a delicate problem that occurs in various countries in the real world, and it is easy to see that finding a solution can be difficult. However, it cannot be ignored. Depending on the Vaiksel Empire's response, the hard-won reconciliation could be undone.

"We are considering returning the territory to your country. However, it will take time for our army to withdraw from the northwest of the Commune. We would appreciate some leeway."

Surprisingly, the Emperor declared that he would return the territory. I thought he would propose dividing the territory and governing it together, which would benefit the Vaiksel Empire, but it seems that was not the case. If so, what was the Emperor concerned about that made him hesitate?

"But before we make that decision, I have a question for you, Princess. Are you familiar with the situation in the northwest of the Commune?"

"The situation? What do you mean by that?"

"The damage caused by the vampires in the northwest of the Commune."

Rozeline reacted.

"I would like to introduce someone to you, Princess. Would it be all right to bring them in?"

Rozeline nodded silently. Her body seemed unnaturally stiff.

A middle-aged man entered the room shortly after. Rozeline's eyes widened, recognizing him.

"It has been a long time, Princess Rozeline."

"You… You served the Duke of Mayen."

"Do you remember me? I have served as the butler of the Mayen family for a long time."

Duke of Mayen. I recognized the name. He was a noble who was said to have been killed by the Vaiksel Empire.

"The Duke… The Duke of Mayen was indeed—"

"The Duke was turned into a vampire's follower and was later killed by the Vaiksel Empire's army. But perhaps it was for the best. At least he will not bear any more disgrace."

The butler's face showed a look of bitter sorrow, and Rozeline bit her lip slightly.

"But that is not all. The Mayen family was either turned into followers or killed. The servants were also tormented by the vampires. I alone was spared, perhaps to be used for menial tasks or out of caprice. I no longer have a family to serve."

As he spoke, the butler's face turned pale, as if he was reliving the events.

"The vampires also oppressed the people. The people, unaware of the vampires, sought help from neighboring nobles and Clermont. However, their pleas were rejected, and they were turned away."

I looked at Rozeline. Her reaction, with wide eyes, indicated that she had no knowledge of this.

"After returning in despair, they were punished. As a result, the people not only resented the Duke of Mayen but also the Commune government."

"But that's—!"

One of Rozeline's subjects could no longer hold back and interjected. I suspected that the people who turned away the pleas were likely vampires. If so, it was misplaced to direct their resentment towards the Commune government.

"Yes, I understand. I know that the Commune government was not functioning properly because the vampires had temporarily taken control of Clermont. However, even knowing the truth does not change the feelings of those who have suffered. Emotions do not allow for such rationality. If the government had recognized the vampires' activities and sent the army, things might have been different, but—"

That was impossible. The Commune had just been taken over by the vampires and had only just reclaimed Clermont. They then heard about the invasion by the Vaiksel Empire. There was no time to send an army to the northwest of the Commune.

"When the Vaiksel Empire invaded, the people rejoiced. To them, the Vaiksel Empire was the righteous force that had driven away the vampires, and the Emperor was their liberator. In contrast, the Commune… to put it bluntly, was seen as incompetent for allowing the vampires to ravage the land, and the royal family was mocked as incompetent rulers."

A wave of intense anger surged in my mind.

If Rozeline had been negligent and abandoned her people, their complaints would have been understandable.

But she had been working tirelessly. She had reclaimed the country from the vampires and had been busy with state affairs to rebuild it after reclaiming Clermont. Knowing this, it was infuriating to see her efforts negated and her dignity insulted.

In contrast, Rozeline said nothing in response. As a ruler, she accepted it without complaint.

As a ruler, she could not turn a blind eye to the pain, even if it was misplaced. The people who had not seen her actions firsthand could only judge by what they saw. To the people living in Clermont, she was the princess who had saved their country, but to the people living in the Duke of Mayen's territory, she was the one who had abandoned them and failed to save them. The fact that she could not save them was undeniable.

Understanding this, she did not argue. Ignoring her feelings, I could not let my personal emotions interfere.

"The people have been exploited. I have lost my family. That is why I understand their anger. The root cause of their anger is dead, so naturally, their resentment has been redirected towards the Commune government. The events were so brutal and horrific. The people are not calm; they are driven by emotion and may act rashly. The current peace is maintained by the Vaiksel Empire, but even if a new lord comes, the people will resist and not comply."

After the butler's statement, a silence followed.

It was frustrating. Defeating the vampires was not the end. The scars left on the victims' hearts were not easily healed.

"The problem is not limited to the Duke of Mayen's territory. The territories governed by influential nobles in the northwest of the Commune are in similar situations. Therefore, it is uncertain what will happen if the territory is returned to the Commune. That is why I wanted to know how you, Your Highness, plan to govern it after the return. Asking such a question is extremely impolite, but if the people riot during the vampire eradication, it could become a serious issue. As the one responsible for the lives of my country's soldiers, I cannot ignore this crisis. Therefore, despite the discomfort, I wanted to convey the facts to you, Your Highness."

"I appreciate your consideration, Your Majesty. Without your insight, I might have failed to understand the people's feelings. I am impressed by your discernment."

Now I understand why the Emperor hes