Chapter 47

As Victor led his troops back to their camp, one of his aides approached him.

"That was quite something, wasn't it?"

"Yes, it was almost too easy, to be honest. I was taken aback by how smoothly things went."

The meeting had been dominated by the other side, with almost no input from them. Despite his best efforts to maintain a neutral expression, Victor was genuinely surprised by how effortlessly the meeting had proceeded.

"Did you see the lineup of their attendants? They were all young vassals. It seems the experienced ones were likely taken out by the vampires."

"Young princess, young vassals. Perhaps they lacked the capability to handle the situation properly."

"Perhaps. From the information we gathered beforehand, we knew the princess was somewhat emotional. The vassals seemed to have little experience beyond paperwork. Negotiations with foreign countries require not only talent but also experience. They were thrown into a major role without any preparation. It's like navigating a maze without a map."

"Focused on short-term issues, unable to take a long-term view, and prone to narrow-mindedness. A sudden change in the internal structure of the organization will lead to confusion, which will spread and likely persist for a long time."

In short, if something were to happen, the Commune would likely be slow to respond. On the other hand, this made the Commune's actions more predictable. The Vaiscel Empire could anticipate their moves and act accordingly.

"However, do you think we should return the territory?"

"We will, but it will likely drag on. Depending on the situation, it might even be abandoned."

Victor smiled to himself.

"Princess Rozeline made a mistake. Returning the territory should have been the top priority. Even if the people revolt, with the information we have, we can take measures. Of course, that's only if the Commune can handle it."

The butler's words were true. That was why they had been moved by the Commune's representatives. It wasn't wrong to be cautious, but in this case, it was a misstep. The people, who were already emotionally charged and felt abandoned by the government, would see this as proof of their neglect.

Victor didn't think the Commune had overlooked this point. They simply had no choice.

The territory occupied by Vaiscel was vast, about a third of the Commune's land. It had suffered from vampire attacks and the war, losing many lords and soldiers. If the Commune were to regain control, they would need to immediately support the reconstruction of the territory, sending new personnel and supplies.

However, the vampire attacks weren't limited to the northwest. The entire Commune had suffered, and there were no surplus resources. The Commune simply didn't have the resources to support the northwest.

In contrast, Vaiscel, a major power, had suffered only minor damage from the monster invasion in Brandenburg. Even if they sent personnel and supplies to other countries, they still had sufficient national strength.

Given this, even if the vampire issue were resolved, the Commune would still need to rely on Vaiscel.

"Are there nobles who will demand fiefs for their participation in this campaign? How will you handle their dissatisfaction?"

"Indeed, there might be dissatisfaction over not receiving fiefs from the occupied territories, but if we provide sufficient rewards, it should be fine. We could even give them part of the direct-controlled territories. This is not an invasion but a mission to liberate the Commune. Even if the nobles know it's just a pretext, no one will openly complain. Besides, the damage in the occupied territories is worse than expected. There won't be many takers for such land."

The nobles weren't fools. They realized this wasn't a war of justice. They remained silent for the sake of national and personal interests.

"However, the results may not fully meet their expectations. But a shrewd noble would understand that, even if the land is a strategic point with future potential, the costs and time required for reconstruction would make it unattractive. Especially since I've declared that the land will be returned to the Commune, there's no room for maneuver."

"Prioritize support for the occupied territories. There's a possibility of vampire attacks. Form supply units with this in mind."

"A large-scale force will be necessary."

"That's fine. The international trade has been devastated by the vampires. If we don't ensure the safety of the roads, merchants will stay away, affecting our economy in the long run. Externally, sending large-scale support will also increase positive feelings toward our country, especially among the people of the occupied Commune. To them, we are the righteous ones."

The more support we provide, the more the people in the occupied territories will trust Vaiscel and resent the Commune. Even if the territory is returned, a rebellion could break out at any time, possibly incited by Vaiscel's schemes.

Victor is a young emperor. His reign is expected to last several decades. Even if the Commune can't be taken now, in ten or twenty years, the people in the occupied territories will welcome the Vaiscel army with open arms.

To achieve this, he will gradually infiltrate the poison. One day, this poison will cover the entire Commune.

"Doing nothing will gain you nothing. This mistake will be costly, Princess Rozeline."

"Still, I was surprised by Lady Alexia."

Victor's face showed a hint of exasperation.

"I thought she was more rational, but perhaps she's just a young girl, even if she's called a saint."

What surprised Victor during the meeting was Alexia's behavior. She interrupted the emperor, fixated on one man, and showed her emotions openly. Her actions were so out of character that she seemed like a different person.

"Her obvious reaction. Perhaps she was cold and calculating because this man wasn't there."

Previously, Alexia showed no emotion and followed the emperor's orders calmly. However, since the battle in Clermont, it seemed she had developed emotions.

(Could it be that she has fallen in love and gained emotions? ... No, that's absurd.)

Victor shook his head to dispel the ridiculous thought. He had never heard of Alexia knowing this man. From her calling him "teacher," it was clear they were close, and it was reasonable to assume she had feelings for him. So, it wasn't that she had developed emotions but rather regained them. Reflecting on her unauthorized orders in Clermont, it might have been because she knew this man was there.

"Was it a good idea to leave her as an envoy?"

"More importantly, using Alexia now is risky. She might disobey orders, lean towards the Commune, or even act for that man. It might be better to use her for the Commune."

It was difficult to let go of someone with her charisma as a saint. The best course was to guide her in a way that would be useful.

"Subtly let the head of Zavarish know that we decline his persistent offer to make the saint his bride. We don't need a woman who is infatuated with another man and acts selfishly, even if it's a political marriage."

Victor had considered Alexia as a candidate for a political marriage due to her intelligence, beauty, and charisma as a saint. However, while he didn't expect mutual affection in a political marriage, he didn't want a wife who would be infatuated with another man and act recklessly.

The head of Zavarish, who persistently tried to win her favor, was becoming increasingly annoying. This was a good reason to distance him.

"Chaos, the mage. He seems ordinary."

"I agree. During the meeting, he seemed to have the princess's trust, but that's all. He might have talent in magic, but not in politics. However—"

It was unusual for a foreigner like Chaos to participate in a meeting with another country. He must have gained strong trust from Rozeline.

However, during the meeting, he didn't take any initiative. He might be just an ordinary person with no political experience, no matter how skilled in magic. Alternatively, he might be acting cautiously due to his foreign status.

From his appearance, it was likely that this Chaos was the same person the Castel Kingdom was searching for.

(Why did he get close to the Commune's princess?)

If he had obvious ambitions, it would make sense. But if he had ambitions, it would be more strategic to align with Castel. He had already earned favor in Castel and could have received decent treatment if he wished. Castel was a stronger country than the Commune. If he wanted to align with a country, Castel would be the better choice. Perhaps he thought he wouldn't be given an important position in a major country.

Chaos seemed to have little interest in honor. He readily agreed to hide the fame of saving a town and defeating Alexia in the vampire battle. He probably didn't consider it an honor. His acquaintance with Alexia might be related to this.

Even when Victor tried to sway him with a position, he brushed it off lightly. This indicated that his actions were not driven by ambition.

Was his closeness to the princess just a coincidence? But if it was a coincidence, why did he stay in the Commune? His actions were too selfless and lacked any apparent motive. The lack of information about Chaos made it difficult for Victor to understand his motives.

Victor had only managed to gather that Chaos had appeared in a village in Castel a few months ago. Despite Castel's extensive search, it was unclear when Chaos had arrived on the continent. Black-haired boys were rare on the continent, yet there was no information on how he arrived in the village or any sightings before that.

However, the meeting provided new information.

(Alexia called Chaos 'teacher.' This means they knew each other. A deep bond like a teacher-student relationship suggests a long-term connection. So, Chaos must have stayed in Vaiscel for a long time.)

Victor didn't miss Alexia's slip. He had assumed Chaos traveled from Castel to the Commune by land. If he had used a dragon, it would have been easy to trace his movements. Castel would have checked the airports first.

So, Chaos must have traveled by carriage or on foot. Given the distance and time, it was natural to assume he traveled from Castel to the Commune by carriage. The first confirmed sighting of Chaos was in a region of Castel, leading Victor to believe that Castel was the first country he visited and that he had never been to Vaiscel.

But what if the premise was wrong? What if Chaos had arrived on the continent much earlier, first visiting Vaiscel, then Castel, and finally the Commune?

"Find out about Alexia's actions before she became a saint. Alexia and Chaos know each other, so there must be a connection. It was probably after she entered the magic academy."

There were few opportunities for a noble lady and a mere adventurer to interact.

If Chaos was an equal mage to Alexia, he might have been recruited as a teacher by the head of Zavarish, but Victor considered this unlikely. Such a person wouldn't remain unknown. Moreover, the head of Zavarish, despite his strong ambitions, was a capable and experienced noble. He wouldn't have overlooked Chaos's existence and failed to recruit him.

So, the period when Alexia was at the magic academy was the most likely time for her to have interacted with Chaos. This coincided with the period when she was called a dropout before becoming a saint.

Victor couldn't understand why the ambitionless Chaos had aligned with the Commune's royal family. He had heard that Rozeline and the late Duke Charteau had heavily relied on Chaos for the vampire hunt, assuming he was a mage of equal or greater skill to Alexia.

If the Duke had also recognized Chaos's uniqueness, perhaps he had tried to keep Chaos in the Commune to prevent him from leaving.

(If so, the Duke must have done something quite ruthless.)

Perhaps he was holding Chaos captive by exploiting some weakness. This was Victor's conclusion.

(If Alexia learned unknown magic from Chaos, then—ha, what divine power?)

Victor cursed the church in his heart. If Chaos had nurtured Alexia, a dropout from Vaiscel's magic academy, into a saint-level mage, it meant that such wisdom could be imparted to others.

Moreover, Alexia's time at the magic academy was short, probably less than a year.

—In other words, with Chaos's guidance, it would be possible to mass-produce mages of Alexia's caliber in a short time.

"Haha!"

Victor laughed. Even with just Alexia, the war had been advantageous, but imagine having multiple such mages.

If Chaos's methods could be spread, and powerful mages could be mass-produced, the Vaiscel Empire, with its many mages, would have a military advantage over other countries. An invincible army of mages would be formed, making even Castel no match.

To find out what guidance Chaos had given, he could question Alexia directly. But it would be problematic if other countries learned of Chaos's value. While keeping Chaos's existence secret might be impossible, the relationship between Alexia and Chaos must be kept from other countries. Chaos must be secured at all costs.

This put the Commune, which had a close relationship with Chaos, in a favorable position. If Chaos was as significant as Victor imagined, his alignment with the Commune would hinder Victor's ambitions.

Did Rozeline realize that Chaos could disrupt the balance of military power and keep him close? Victor thought this was unlikely. If she had, she would have immediately interfered with Victor's recruitment and Chaos's response. She probably only saw him as a mage of equal skill to Alexia.

This left room for maneuver. It was clear that Chaos had not yet aligned with the Commune, and Rozeline had not denied it. It should be possible to recruit him to Vaiscel.

If he could secure Chaos, he could control Alexia, who was devoted to him. This might even make it possible to dominate the continent.

Victor regretted not seriously recruiting him. But how to sway an ambitionless man? Could he be lured by lust? Use Alexia? But Victor couldn't read Chaos's feelings towards Alexia.

Victor laughed at himself. He had easily concluded the meeting with the Commune, but now he was troubled by a single man, and he found it enjoyable.

***

Tea was poured into a cup with a gentle sound.

Just that, yet. What is this tension? The air was thick with tension, as if even blinking was forbidden.

Alexia's awkward but serious expression as she poured the tea. Irene, fidgeting, wondering whether to help or not.

Rozeline, completely still, affected by the atmosphere.

"Please, teacher."

Alexia offered the cup as if she had just completed a monumental task, utterly exhausted.

I wanted to thank her and drink, but her gaze was too distracting.

Her eyes were fixed on the cup. Standing beside me, she watched the cup as if in prayer, making it impossible to drink.

Is Alexia not used to making tea? As a noble lady, she might have her tea made by Irene.

I took a sip of the tea, her soulful cup.

"How is it?"

Alexia asked immediately. I couldn't tell if the tea was good, but I thought it was delicious.

"It's delicious. Thank you, Alexia."

Alexia smiled, seemingly satisfied with my response.

"Would you like some, Irene?"

"No, I'll pass. ... I don't want to drink tea for a while."

Irene might find it presumptuous to make tea for the princess.

I didn't think Alexia would be offended, and she seemed tired, so there was no need to be so formal.

Perhaps as Alexia's attendant, she was being cautious in this setting.

"I'm being served tea by a noble lady... Is a high-society tea party this tense? If so, I'm glad I'm a commoner."

"This is a one-time thing. It's too obvious..."

When Liam whispered to Havoc, Rozeline sighed deeply.

"Are they really the same person? The impression I got when I first met her is completely different. She doesn't seem like a saint at all."

"No, she's been like this since she reunited with Mr. Chaos."

"Oh, during that argument. Yes, that's true."

When Cornelia and the others joined us, Alexia was hugging her. To them, it must have looked like an argument.

"It's not an argument! A, a, arguments are something lovers do..."

"Alexia, your argument is unconvincing with that face!"

Irene warned Alexia, who was blushing and covering her cheeks, her voice trailing off.

"Wow, this girl is so obvious. She's cute in a clumsy way. It's like she's not trying to be cute. She reminds me of someone."

"Wow, our party's teaser is teasing someone. Honestly, I'm surprised."

"Will it hail tomorrow?"

"Shut up, you guys! I'll knock you out later, so be prepared!"

Havoc and the others responded in their usual manner to the party's usual banter. However, they suddenly realized the princess was present and panicked. They had completely forgotten.

"Still, is it appropriate for us, mere commoners, to be invited to this gathering?"

"Don't worry. You've been helpful during this turmoil. I wanted to thank you personally, not just as a princess but as an individual. Since it's just us, you don't need to be so formal."

Despite Rozeline's reassurance, Havoc still seemed uncomfortable. Being directly thanked by the highest authority of the country would leave anyone bewildered, no matter how informal the setting.

No matter how much she said to relax, it was an unreasonable request. It would only make them more conscious and unable to relax.

In my case, I was more comfortable talking to Rozeline than being surrounded by the public. As a real princess, she shouldn't be interacting this way, but since she herself had said to treat her as before in private, I had no choice but to be open.

Now, I was invited to a tea party in a room of the palace. It was a private gathering, and the only guests were Alexia, Irene, Havoc, and me.

When the tea party started, Alexia offered to serve the tea,