Dungeon Defense (WN)

Following the Grand Duke's instructions, I entered the ballroom of the palace.

With the exception of the Serpent Duke, 14 Grand Dukes sat down. About half of them were Vampires or Elves, and the other half consisted of Hoes and Cat Tribes, and Centaurs, Orcs and Goblins. You can see how clear the ranking of the factions in the horse system is.

All the Grand Dukes stood up and greeted. Pymon and I shook hands one by one with the Grand Duke.

“You're still beautiful, Your Grace. ”

“With you two together, the eyes of the little ones are breaking. ”

A few polite greetings came and went, and we were seated at the top. Daisy and Ivar stand beside us, escorting us.

“Everyone sit down. ”

“Yes, Your Majesty. ”

“Let me get this straight. ”

I looked around at the ducs.

“I publicly apologize for coercing you at the last ball. It was an act of disregard for your long accomplishments and stature. ”

“This is a terrible thing to say. ”

The Serpent Duke spoke for the others.

“How can the Lord of Manma bow to us who are merely servants?" It's an honor and an honor just to acknowledge our little efforts. ”

“Thank you again for your generosity. To Manma.”

I raised the wine. Then the ducs picked up their glasses and said, For Manma, and according to my shipyard, the ducs drank wine. As the servants wandered around the table, they poured a new glass of wine.

Now, that's the point.

“An agenda for abolition of slavery will be re-enacted the next night in Valpurgis. ”

“ ……. ”

“The reason why the agenda was not aligned was because there were disagreements between the plain and the mountain tribes. Whether or not it should be included in the freeing of slaves to the human race, that was the issue. And...”

I glare at Pymon with a slight turn of face. Pymon nods.

“Our mountain tribe decided to yield a footstep to the plains. ”

“Your Majesty, on the next Valpurgis night.... ”

“Yes, there will be liberation for all but the human race. ”

An uncomfortable stream of air flows through the Grand Dukes.

“Well……. ”

“Hmmm.”

The Grand Dukes enslaved the other horsemen and gained immense power and wealth. I heard you were gonna lose your interest in this, but you're not gonna be happy about it. The Serpent Duke said about a paper towel.

“Your Grace, please do not doubt the loyalty of the Sausans. No one empathizes as much as we do with the cause that every Demon should be equal under the Demon King. ”

“I understand 10 minutes. ”

“All the Sausans want is mercy. Unfortunately, there is a need for evil in the world. ”

The Serpent Duke waves his hands together like a merchant.

“By forcing a handful of slaves to labor, as a result, free people can actively participate in politics without the burden of living. Every time the Moon Blitz rose, we supported a vast army of veterans in our horoscope system, but if slavery hadn't supported the industry behind us, it would never have been possible for that group of veterans to form. ”

“ ……. ”

“Your Grace, much of our dedication comes from slavery. You have to understand that. ”

Freeing slaves reduces their power and wealth.

In this case, the amount of aid they give the Demon King and their troops will be reduced.

In other words, the Grand Dukes warned that if they freed slaves, they would no longer actively support the Demon Prince.

“Of course, I don't intend to force unilateral bleeding. ”

“Oh. What does that mean? ”

“I will give you the territory of the continent. ”

The Grand Dukes rumbled.

“Excuse me, Your Majesty. How much land are you willing to give to the Sausans? ”

“A map.”

Ivar pulls a large scroll out of his chest and opens it. On the map of the Habsburg Empire, the territory to be distributed to the Grand Dukes was colored separately.

“It was originally owned by six Demon Kings, including the Reverse Balepor. As you can see, quite a lot.”

“… indeed, Your Majesty. ”

“I intend to distribute this land to you as fairly as possible. If you wish, you may share your share. I promise you total freedom. ”

“Hmm.”

The ducs whispered to the people sitting next to them. Perhaps the Dukes who were friendly in the beginning took up a close position. The acolytes rush back and forth, conveying their master's thoughts to the other party.

How much opinions have been drawn up?

The Grand Viper whispers to the acolyte and nods.

“On behalf of everyone, thank you for your generous offer. Your Highness, can an agenda to distribute the continent to our Grand Dukes pass through the night of Valpurgis? King Barbato, for example, would hate for us to enter the continent. ”

“This proposal will be made informally. ”

The Grand Duke frowns.

Only the Serpent Duke kept a flat expression and asked again.

“I'm sorry, but the word informal never sounds favorable to Sosin. ”

“I can't officially grant you a position like the Earl or the Baron. Then you will be on par with the Demon King. ”

“If I may?”

“You will be appointed bureaucrats of the Habsburg Empire. ”

It was a basic trick.

First, we continue to bind the territory captured by the six opponents to the Emperor's estate. However, the Grand Dukes are dispatched to various locations as "caretakers of the territory on behalf of the Emperor." The real owner of the land is the Grand Duke.

“The emperor has the right to personally appoint a custodian. You don't have to ask for consent on Valpurgis' night. Even if some of the Demon Kings oppose it, there's nothing I can do. ”

The ducs whispered to each other once again.

The only sound of grumbling settles quietly, and one of the ducs stands up. The Hou Duke, with his head cut off from his fat body, was ruling over Ullabala Hell.

By the way, the Grand Duke was particularly unpleasant when he was threatened by me at the last ball. On the other hand, the content of the horse was quite aggressive compared to the politeness of Attu.

“Your Grace, the promises you made to us from Songdu seem to require collateral. ”

“Dambo? Tell me. ”

“The emperor can rely on the control of the territory independently, which means that, upside down, he can relinquish the custodian at any time. ”

In Duke Ulwala's remarks, others, well, hedged their jaws.

“Your promise is neither glamorous nor permanent. ”

“ ……. ”

“In order to make a promise not a temporary comfort, but a permanent contract, you must entrust some assurance to your dissidents. ”

I raised my mouth.

“What do you want? ”

Then the Grand Duke of Ulbala bowed his head halfway.

“Marriage alliance, Your Grace. ”

Marriage. People murmured in sudden words. In a clumsy atmosphere, Duke Ulwala continued to speak confidently.

“I understand that King Dantalian has not yet officially welcomed his wife or taken a concubine. Your Grace, the Sausans have grown up daughters. Please accept the Sausans' supper as your concubine. ”

“What……! ”

Pymon gets excited and tries to kick in. Pymon's appeal has now reached 80. But if you tell me to bring in my concubine alive, of course I'll be furious.

I quickly held Pymon's hand and restrained him. Pymon looks this way and says with his eyes. This is a ridiculous offer. I shook my head. Then Pymon suppresses his excitement and puts his ass back on the chair.

Meanwhile, the dukes were joining him one or two by one.

“By making a stronger ally than blood, may you allow us to trust you, forever and ever. ”

“Your Grace, it would appear that Duke Ulwala's proposal is indeed appropriate. ”

“Please spare me, Your Majesty! ”

Immediately, the ducs began shouting at Lee Dong-sung.

…… this was a moving script.

The Grand Dukes looked as if they had never heard of a marriage alliance, but they could not accept such a serious matter without discussing it. There was talk between the Grand Dukes in advance. And now I'm here to talk.

I looked at the slimy Serpent.

The Serpent Duke nodded his head and respected the town.

“I believe that the dissent is also an appropriate offer. Your Majesty, please grant me your blessings. ”

“ ……. ”

When I had a concubine, the ducs planted spies in the heart of the empire.

As long as I was the Grand Duke's biological daughter, even if I was the supreme ruler, I could not treat them as I please. I had to treat her as a concubine. Then they could use the status of "concubine of the palace" to plot something like that.

A bug in the heart of a lion.

The ducs who are raising their voices there must be thinking that way. Whereas I was reminded of the word 'sacrifice'.

Sacrifice.

Sacrifice by necessity.

I opened my mouth.

“Good.”

“I can't... …. ”

Pymon looked at me with an unbelievable face. I gave Pymon the "I'll talk to you later" sign with my eyes. Still, Pymon looks dejected.

“However, I feel burdened to accept all of your meals. I only take seven as my concubines, not fifteen. In addition, this is a final condition, not a bargain. ”

The Grand Dukes get up in unison and bend at the waist.

“The castle is doomed, Your Majesty! ”

And as promised, the servants entered the banquet hall with all kinds of delicacies. Cooking was fast on the table.

The ducs raised their glasses, smiling face to face. When I proclaimed the glory of Man-Man, the dukes said, "Hail, Dantalian Emperor! Long live King Pymon!” Then I poured a drink. Suddenly, the air in the banquet hall was hot.

“ ……. ”

The only person left out of the air was Pymon.

As the toast approaches, Pymon is silent with a glass in his right hand. Her eyes darken and sink deep. The ducs laughed, chattered, and drank. Pymon just quietly raises his glass.

“... Excuse me. ”

Pymon puts his glass on the table and stands up.

She grabs both ends of the dress and quickly steps out of the ballroom. If I'm not mistaken, Pymon shed a single tear on his feet.

After he left, the atmosphere of the ballroom became heavy for a moment. However, they skillfully switched the topic to boost the air again.

I got up from the chair.

“If you'll excuse me. ”

“Take your time, Your Grace. ”

The Serpent Duke bows his head.

I went after Pymon and left the ballroom.