Kuro no Senki (LN)

Aldemilan Palace… This palace on the outskirts of the Imperial capital is a symbolic building of discord between the old and the new nobility.

At the heart of the palace is the old brick castle.

There is a new castle hall to its east and west, and a front yard covered with gates and cobblestones to the south.

Once there was a small garden north of the Old Castle Hall.

It doesn't mean there are rare plants or beautiful flowers in the garden.

It's a garden that even makes you feel lonely.

What he liked about it, Ramal V sat in an old chair unworthy of an emperor, never tired of looking at the small garden.

No, maybe that little garden was what Ramal V deserved.

But that little garden no longer exists.

It was destroyed and became part of the planned construction of the temple.

The temple is to be served by a six-pillar god and the outer walls are to be sculpted on the subject of the history of the Empire.

Alfort seemed to position the temple as a symbol of reconciliation.

It is an expression of the determination of the next emperor of Alfort to review not only the former nobility and the new nobility, but also the way the temple and empire are.

Not a bad idea.

Not bad, except that you have no understanding of the causes of discord between the old and the new nobles.

Phew, and Betil Piske stared at Alfort's next emperor's back and exhaled a deep sigh.

The cause of discord between the old nobility and the new nobility lies with the old nobility.

Thirty years ago, the Empire, with the help of a mercenary regiment, converged civil unrest and the chaos created by it, and the head of the mercenary regiment was recognized for his accomplishments and given a title and territory.

"With help" is the old nobility's saying, and "title and territory" hides the inconvenient part for the old nobility.

To put it again in the position of the new nobility, it would have been driven to the native forest by the citation of putting oneself at the forefront instead of the old nobility and doing countless dirty jobs.

The old aristocrats also have a say.

The new aristocrats are unsatisfactory educated adults.

As a mercenary, my talents as a bureaucrat are unknown.

At the time, the Empire could not afford it.

There was no way I could get someone with no track record in that situation into a key position in the country.

It can also be said that the old aristocrats chose the surest way to rebuild their country.

After all, that's just what the old aristocrats said, too.

Betil stared over Alfort at the planned construction site.

A large number of men are now digging back into the ground in the middle of foundation work.

After laying the foundation in limestone, a marble temple is built on it.

So far, no significant delays have occurred as far as he can see, but Betil was convinced that the temple's architecture would not go as planned.

The reason is the price of marble.

The largest marble region in the empire is Baron Bowties territory.

There lived a minotaur with a stone-cut business, but Baron Bowties sold them off with four thousand gold coins.

From Betil's point of view, all I can say is foolishness, but Baron Bowties is right in that he exercised his rights.

Marble output has declined because of Baron Bowties, and the price of marble continues to rise as a result of the leaps of merchants who have heard rumors about the construction of the temple.

Even if the price problem is solved, this time the transport of marble becomes a problem.

Concrete would suffice, and Betil gets sick of the problems caused by the marble temple.

If I were forgiven, I would have uttered words that would make the people around me smile.

I can't do that, so Betil just has to exhale.

There are people in the world who can't get to the right answer while understanding the premise correctly.

Alfort is extremely honest in that regard.

Guide incorrect answers because you do not understand the assumptions correctly.

There will be no logic without more gaps.

Why? I have the feeling.

Though a concubine child, he should have been blessed with the environment.

Some insights are well educated and to the point of pinching your mouth at a conference.

And yet Alfort is all about misunderstandings.

Betil sighed, wondering if the Empress Tilia had any resemblance.

In that sense, it can also be said that Alfort is a degraded product of the Empress Tilia.

You don't know, Betil judges in the light of her own experience.

When I was younger, Betil assumed that the world was moving so that the gears would engage.

Not now.

The natural world may be moving along God's created order, but the human world is not.

The only thing that seems to be order is the top, and the human world is moved by emotion and profit.

A knight hands on someone else's wife and behaves uncooperatively for emotional reasons.

The opinion of a loud idiot takes precedence over a well-reasoned opinion.

Some humans don't, but very few.

And the bad money drives away the good money.

Count Rio Cairon seemed pleased with that kind of human silliness addition and subtraction.

Most of all, he didn't seem to like being caught up in human silliness additions and subtractions because he had fled to Marquis Elakis territory and had no phonetics for more than a month.

At the end of the day, neither Empress Tilia nor His Highness Alfort knew the reality very well.

For example, hunger, for example poverty… I have not actually experienced it with Betil, but I have seen many times the reality created by hunger and poverty.

You don't even know how it feels to be writing to the family of Betil's dead men.

Betty may accept bribes and be eligible to participate in enlistment examinations.

I wouldn't hire him if I didn't have any prospects, and if hiring him doesn't help, I'm going to use him as a horse caretaker and kick him out early.

Remembering the face of his former subordinate, Betil glanced at him.

One of them had excellent skills, but didn't mind not trying to understand reality.

The other transferred to the other battalion during its busiest period.

"Pi, Count Pisce, ah, by what criteria are those who work there employed?

"Supposedly it's the Treasury that's arranging it, but I don't even know the details of it"

Blur in my heart that I won't know.

Betil is the Knights of Kingsguard.

The work of the military bureau can also speculate, but not even about the other bureaux.

"... well. Heh, if only civilians could be given jobs as well."

"I thought that was a good idea."

Happy that he was praised, the next emperor of Alfort smiled as if to hurry.

"... oh, I've been waiting for you"

"Ralph, Count Libra"

When Betil returned to the office in Alfilc Castle, the bald old man...... Count Ralph Libra greeted him.

Honestly, Betil doesn't like Count Ralph Libra.

Because I feel like I'm being explored in my heart even when I'm having a normal conversation.

Count Libra is a credit for bringing up the Imperial Army during the Civil War, but I would like to wonder if the lack of hope of this old man might be the reason why the Imperial Army could not be turned into a single rock.

"Wasn't Count Libra in charge of security around Alfilc?

"What, you don't know? The Kingsguard Knights have been relocated. By order of His Highness Alfort, of course."

Betil almost stumbled on the spot.

Neither did I consult myself, nor did Alfort ever decide to change placements, but it was equally shocking that Prime Minister Alcor had admitted it.

Relax and head to his desk, Betil slipped back to the chair.

Unless you were in front of Count Libra, you were holding your head.

"I don't know how you feel. But it's a formal order. You can't say no."

……

The Imperial Army is positioned like the eyes of a net.

This is an arrangement that presupposes being invaded by the enemy, but the Knights of Kingsguard are positioned in a location that is considered a stronghold compared to other battalions.

Ear damage is good when it comes to consolidating the defense of the imperial capital, but the losses are immeasurable when the harbour under the direct jurisdiction of Emperor Kai, guarded by Baroness Nam Korne, or the mining city Kinza, guarded by Count Lucas Lesato.

"The Earls of El Nato and Lesato are not moving. It's not as bad as having a head."

Count Libra handles his beard and laughs like a favorite, but Betil can't trust the old man in front of him at all.

I'm pretty sure I'm thinking about the future of the Empire.

But Betil can't help but seem to think of the future of the Empire for his own benefit, not that Count Libra is purely thinking of the future of the Empire.

"I'm too old for that. He's the last man to serve. With that said, where did Count Cairon and Viscount Hamal go?

They'll be in Marquis Elakis.

Ho, and Count Libra narrowed his eyes.

Perhaps Count Libra knows of their absence.

Anxiety springs up Betil's chest about how much information she has given herself to this old man.

"... Give it to me"

Count Libra stood up dauntlessly and again handled his beard.

"There's so much I have to do."

Confirming Count Libra was leaving the room, Betil sighed deeply.

"Absolutely, a nasty old man."

Whether Count Libra is here to explore Betil, or not, we must be vigilant.

Betil reached out to a bunch of paper placed on her desk.

Use paper instead of parchment.

This is also what Alfort suggested at the meeting.

According to Alfort, it's more economical than killing sheep and making parchment.

Although I have to lean my neck to say if the paper imported from the group of free city states is cheaper than the parchment paper made within the Kepheus Empire.

When Betil visited the office, Chancellor Alcor was in the middle of an administrative process.

From the very lifetime of Ramal V, Chancellor Alcor was in charge of the national government of the Kepheus Empire in one hand.

That is also only with the full confidence of Ramal V.

If Alfort officially succeeds to the throne, Chancellor Alcor's powers will be greatly limited.

Betil has respect for Prime Minister Alcor's continued work in such precarious circumstances.

Well, I feel like Chancellor Alcor is the seed he sprinkled himself.

"... Chancellor Alcor"

"Count Pisce or a protest against moving the Kingsguard Knights?

Speaking up, Chancellor Alcor said as if he had seen through Betil's heart.

I assume you're assuming a matter that's going to be questioned.

"It's like that."

"How is Your Highness?

Betil sighed remembering how Alford was doing.

"I wonder if His Highness is floating and not seeing underfoot."

"Such a man takes over the throne. Shouldn't some disadvantage meditate on your eyes?

Are you thinking about what happened after His Highness took over the throne? and Betil stared at Chancellor Alcor.

If he succeeds to the throne, Alfort will have the power of command over the Kingsguard Knights.

Speaking of the Kingsguard Knights, the cost of maintaining and operating them is paid by the Military Service, so it's not just possible to move by order of the Emperor.

But much of the land protected by the Kingsguard Knights is abundant enough to twist funds to support a thousand generals.

In other words, if you have to, the Kingsguard Knights can move without having to be provided with a budget by the military bureau.

Prime Minister Alcor's intentions are clear, but Betil is anxious.

Because it felt like Chancellor Alcor was just looking inside the Kepheus Empire.

"I'm not just thinking about the inside, I'm thinking about the outside. Especially since we must continue our friendly relations with the Kingdom of Holy Argo."

Chancellor Alcor told me to whine to myself.

Are you saying it's useless to say otherwise?

No, Chancellor Alcor wouldn't trust Betil that much.

"The other day, the Holy Argo kingdom did me a favor. He wants us to help cut the power of the temple."

"... he said he can no longer be shaped at last"

Neither is the Kingdom of Holy Argo a single rock, as the Kepheus Empire is.

The conflict between the royal and temple forces in particular is serious.

That's enough to help the Kepheus Empire, so I can say it's a pretty serious matter.

"Speaking of old age, King Magnus has lost his wisdom. He may be plotting to rival the Kepheus Empire and the Temple forces by pretending to ask for help. We can't stand up for ourselves."

Most importantly, Chancellor Alcor continued.

"I don't care if you cooperate in secret."

The cooperation will be pre-built, Betil concludes.

Just like King Magnus, Chancellor Alcor is up to something.

Who to send, but enough to tell Betil, so it would be someone from the Kingsguard Knights.

Betil would not choose Count Hernato of the Second Kingsguard Knights, Count Roy Akbens of the Fourth Kingsguard Knights, Count Nage Hiades of the Sixth Kingsguard Knights, Count Ralph Libra of the Seventh Kingsguard Knights, and Count Lucas Lesato of the Eighth Kingsguard Knights.

"But dispatching Kingsguard knights at the discretion of Chancellor Alcor is"

"It would be nice to ask His Highness. We have to work together in secret."

In other words, you take the word, and Betil judges Chancellor Alcor's words that way.

Not a hand to use on a child, but there's no reason for Betty to say this and refuse either.

"Okay, so"

That being said, Betil left Chancellor Alcor's office behind.

I'd like to avoid coming and going between the two clerks, but Betil's headed to Alford's office.

Well, it didn't start now to bring the two factions in and out like bats, but thank goodness the scale of the story is too big for me.

If Farna, Alfort's mother, is not an Alcor Chancellor, she resigns her position... and she doesn't have to do that much to stop acting.

It is also significant that the Deputy Commander of the Ninth Kingsguard Knights will drive back the nobles who have no plans to climb the castle.

Maybe you're not coming back? and Betil sighed remembering the character of Count Rio Cairon.

Not surprisingly, that man wouldn't have to come home.

That sounds more like Count Rio Cairon.

Betil stopped in front of Alford's office and knocked on the door.

After waiting a while, the door opened.

"Oh, Count Pisce"

"What about His Highness?

Encourage Farna to enter Betil with a smile on her face.

Betil enters the room and salutes Alford.

Alfort's office was far bigger and more luxurious than that of Chancellor Alcor.

The carpet laid on the floor is so soft that I wonder if it will sink down to my ankle, and the desk that lies ahead also exhausts a word of luxury.

The same goes for chairs.

Alfort welcomed Betil so that he could be buried in the chair.

I guess I feel something thin because the clerk's office is very similar to Alfort, the owner of the room.

Look fine, but the contents are empty...... if the contents were accompanied at Alfort's age, that would be unnatural...... so Farna would have smiled slightly.

"Pi, Count Pisce, what can I do for you?

"I asked to say hello"

Alfort leaned over in an apparently discouraged manner.

I would have imagined myself solving one problem after another with the Empire, but if it was a problem like solving it in Alfort's word, other humans would be doing something about it.

Betil shakes the right topic to Alfort.

Praise the weather story, progress in building the temple, and the idea of using paper instead of parchment where Alford seemed lazy.

Farna, who had refrained, looked sinister.

"With that said, I met Count Ralph Libra?

"Or was he saying something?

"No, nothing"

Flushing Alford's questions lightly, Betil continues her public discourse.

After time and seeing Alfort's eyes clouded by fatigue in good health, Betil decides it's a good opportunity.

"... or a request for cooperation from the Kingdom of Holy Argo"

I haven't heard anything else.

Oh, I see, and Betil nods.

"Because it's only unconfirmed information. But for the sake of friendly relations between the two countries, there's no way we're going to let the offer stand in the way."

……

Betil said, Alford nodded with a strange look on his face.

"If such an offer were made, Your Highness, you would spare no cooperation?

"Oh, yeah."

I see, and Betil nods and resumes the public discourse.

Ask about the candidate as I recall along the way.

"Then let me leave the matter to you, including the candidates."

"Oh, uh... I'll leave it to Count Pisce"

After a long and long greeting, Betil asked, Alford nodded in a way he had no idea.

Betil walks out of Alford's office into the hallway.

I thought they were coming after me, but Farna didn't.

Report to Chancellor Alcor and go home after all the chores.

Betil's mansion is located in the Third District of Teito.

The Pisces are only old court aristocrats.

Untying the history of the clan doesn't make one puff right now.

I've never extremed luxury, and vice versa, I've never declined to the point of falling.

Generally speaking, the Historical Lord has successfully performed court aristocracy.

No, if you mean Lumpy, Betil's generation is the most prosperous in the history of the clan.

My life is smooth and full of sails, Betil said, something that made me feel proud every time I looked up at the mansion, but I've been sighing a lot lately.

Life seemed rough when it was a smooth sail.

It might be a good idea to behave a little more faithfully, Betil said, opening the front door.

"Welcome home, you"

"I'm home now"

It wasn't the maid who welcomed Betil, it was his wife.

My wife is the daughter of my last boss, who runs a leisurely and comfortable life in just a few territories.

My wife doesn't have any brothers, so the territory should belong to Betil... but I don't think it's a bad idea to have a relaxed life these days.

My wife... well, she's a normal woman.

I'm not beautiful, but I'm not scrupulous.

When it comes to yarn, it's a characteristic.

Approximately, a nobleman and all, when Betil returns, she greets me on purpose.

A woman I don't know very well is a thought I've been holding since I met her to this day.

I feel insufficient and surround my mistress, but in a while I will be breaking up with my mistress.

For some reason, you don't last long with your mistress.

Betty loves her uncertain wife, even though she thinks she loves her mistress.

"Do you want to take a bath? Would you like to eat?

"Take a bath."

It's the same as usual.

Betil bathes in moderately warm water, as usual, and takes a meal that is qualitative but also out of the stomach.

The day you finish your clerical work is lined with salty meals on the day you move your body with a thin flavor, exercises, etc.

Finishing her bath and meal, fully filled Betil rolls into her bedroom bed.

I feel the warmth of my wife...... Betil went to sleep in a happy mood.