Maou No Utsuwa

Reconciliation negotiations between the Empire and the Kingdom have finally become a big deal.

Negotiations are taking place at the border consulate halfway point between the two armies. There are bilateral negotiating delegations gathered there.

As for the last packing, Kalk, who officially became prime minister from the Empire, also participated.

"Now let's review the terms of harmony. Our country's demand is for the immediate withdrawal of the Royal Army from the eastern border territories. Are you sure about this?

Even when it comes to the last stuffing, the imperial side is not entirely giving way either. Until the end, I do not intend to spare any effort to bring it to favourable conditions.

"Ha? That's crazy. At the moment, the eastern border territories are under the control of the Kingdom. Isn't it too convenient for the Empire to tell you to give that away?

Naturally, the kingdom is the same. I'm not giving up until the end.

"Originally, the eastern border territory was the territory of the Empire. There is an affair in the kingdom that has attacked there. Instead of asking them to give in, they're offering to stop the illegal occupation."

"But it is. The Lord of the Eastern Frontier, you say, wants control of the kingdom. How about ignoring that intention?

"Isn't that a little exaggerated? Not all borderline lords follow the kingdom."

"It is true that there are lords who obey, even if not all. I'd like to know what the Empire thinks of this point."

Even as a kingdom, this is not an easy place to give way. If we abandon the neighborhood lords we obeyed here, we will lose the influence of the kingdom ahead.

"Those are rebel lords from the empire. Hand it over immediately."

"That's impossible. You can't betray someone who's loyal."

"Originally, that loyalty was directed at the Empire."

"But now it's in the kingdom"

"Are you not willing to give in?

"There isn't."

"So what do you think the border territories that are loyal to the Empire should do?

I can't help but push questions extensively. Chancellor Kalk missed the debate a little.

"Hmm. About that, I can't help it. I'm not here to force you to change your loyalty."

"I see. Can we agree on this point?"

Chancellor Kalk, who finally thought the Kingdom had shown a compromise, went into the lookout, but the kingdom side has quickly put forth conditions for it.

But we need to get the Lord's territory back to us immediately.

"What about that? Just give me the territory I earned from the battle, and that's what betrays the Lords who are loyal to us."

"The territory gained in the battle, stay put. I see. So the territory under our control belongs to our country?

"Then the story goes back to the beginning."

"This one is fine. Let's pack the terms from the start."

"... I thought it was the last stuffing?

Doubts arise here with Chancellor Kalk. Negotiation is just a ritual, in the eyes of a large crowd. The current exchange is a performance for the Eastern Border Lords on both sides.

The actual negotiations are taking place in an invisible setting, and each compromise also, to a lesser extent, shows. For its part, the Kingdom has almost acknowledged the inability to secure the territory of the Eastern Frontier Lords in its own country.

That didn't end because it brings out the tone of correspondence to Northende in exchange for further concessions. This thought of Chancellor Kalk, long before he cut it out, is coming off.

"This one, I don't think so. When did that happen?

"I see. Let's discuss the terms from the beginning."

I cannot be perplexed forever in the negotiating arena. Chancellor Kalk decided to change his mind and come to the negotiations.

"Conditions of harmony leave the current dominated areas intact. How about this?

"No, I will return the realm of my lord, who vows allegiance without change to the Empire."

"Then the territory of our country and the Empire will be an enclave. Are you going to be left with a post-harmonious spark?

"I see. So how about an equal exchange? The territory of the peripheral lord who has obeyed the kingdom shall come to the side of the kingdom, and the territory of the lord who remains under oath of allegiance to the empire shall come to the side of the empire."

"That's an insane way of thinking. The peripheral lord of the Empire was formerly king of a nation. Tell the Empire to let go of the patriarchal lands. No, the treatment of borderline lords in the Empire is miserable"

"... reluctantly. I had no choice but to make this proposal to meet your demands."

"No, no. The Kingdom has no such heartless thoughts. It's obvious that there's no such thing as frontier territory in the kingdom."

"I'm not talking about that right now. We're discussing terms of harmony."

"This is what we talked about with that connection. Good. Conditions of harmony, as I said earlier. Borders shall be defined in the areas currently under control. How about this?

"… hypothetically, only hypothetically, but for drinking that condition, there is an alternative condition"

When it remained unclear, Chancellor Kalk finally decided to enter the packing of specific conditions. This is the weakness on the part of the Empire. It is on the imperial side that we are in a hurry to reconcile in order to tackle the domestic problems ahead.

"Hmm. Let me ask you something."

"Can you think of a joint struggle against the Demons?

"Here, Demon Clan? Again, why is this?

"The turmoil on the continent today, to say the least, was caused by the Demons. As an empire, we think we should end its roots."

"... Hmm. So the Demon Crusade. Not a bad condition, are you sure that's okay?

"Ultimately, we'll take it back, but this is the story we took with us. I don't think it's ever going to happen."

"I see. There's plenty of room for consideration here, too."

"So?"

"Let's open it to His Majesty the King."

"Never."

"However, I would like to confirm the details of the conditions. There must be no mistake."

"Absolutely."

"The Kingdom will incorporate the present areas of control of the East and the South into its territory"

"Become!?

Once, on the negotiating table I thought I would settle down, the kingdom side brought out the rubbing material.

"Oh? Was it suddenly different?

"We're not talking about the South"

"But fighting is also taking place in the South. Though my country should have a significant part of the eastern South under its control?

"Isn't that what you call domination? It's just the army moving around."

"I don't call the military garrison domination. This seems to have been fundamentally a recognition for our country and the Empire. What is what the Empire calls domination?

"It's not just the military, it's under actual political rule."

"That was a trick."

"Deceive?"

"My country has yet to send a civilian. Doesn't that mean that the East isn't under our control at all?

"It's..."

"Then our country has nothing, just pulls back to its original home country. What do you say instead of telling me to cheat on this?

"I didn't say that. Finely pack the area."

"Including the South, right?

The South will return it unconditionally.

"Conditions have changed again. It won't last forever."

"... is that what you're willing to sum up harmony with?

You don't have to be Chancellor Kalk to think this. In fact, the kingdom is not willing to sum it up at this point.

Naturally, I'm not even going to tell the negotiators that honestly.

"Of course. That's why I'm here."

"But imitate the kind of negotiations that were getting wrapped up back on the blank."

"No, we don't know exactly what was going on."

"The lower negotiations should have gone pretty far. You wouldn't say you don't know that, would you?

"Of course that is. But there still seems to be time. You don't have to waste that time."

"Do you have time?

"Yeah. The Empire is still laid back. We can't help but rush our country."

"That's not true."

"So who will the Empire sign it, if the terms of harmony have come together?

"It's..."

I didn't think Chancellor Kalk would bring up this story here.

"My country will be in the seat of the Treaty of Reconciliation by His Majesty the King. Naturally, the Empire would be more present to fish for it, wouldn't it? When I say fish, there must be only one person."

"... you know His Majesty the Emperor can't leave"

"Yeah, I'm not exactly the one in the hospital bed. If His Majesty the Emperor cannot do so, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince may be replaced. You don't think the kingdom's opponents don't even have to let His Royal Highness out, do you? I think that's taking our country too lightly."

"It's..., of course"

"So where is His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, or whoever can be it, now? Why don't you head east?

"No."

"Look, the empire is laid back. If you're still in the Imperial Capital, you've still got two months. We still have plenty of time to negotiate."

There is no will on the part of the Kingdom to hasten to settle the peace negotiations. This is obvious, but Prime Minister Kalk can't think of any reason to do it.

"... I am in full power. This shouldn't be a problem."

"Okay, let me ask you something. By whom is that the authority granted?

"To Her Majesty the Empress."

"That's crazy. In the Empire, Her Majesty should have no real rights in national politics. I'm guessing the prime minister isn't planning this, either?

"That's not true!

"Hmm, well, let's believe that. Otherwise, the negotiation itself will not be possible."

"Naturally."

"Then again, the terms. Our country's current areas of control in the East and the South are on our national territory. Instead, you think the Empire wants a demonic crusade together?

"Take the South off. The kingdom's dominant area at the moment in the East is to the kingdom. On top of that, I ask you to promise me a demonic crusade together."

"Hmm. Is that the point you can't give way to?

"... yes"

"Once we get it back, let's have it. There's no one there right now who can judge the terms of the negotiations. Even in this case, we cannot make the final adjustments under these circumstances."

"So I have that authority."

"Next time I want you to show me a sign that you can see that. So for the first time, I think I'll take a negotiating seat?

"... ok"

"Okay, go ahead. Pick it up today."

"Excuse me."

Chancellor Kalk, along with rough footsteps, goes towards the exit. I can't seem to hide the anger I was holding back in the negotiating arena anymore.

Nor does he know, from the Kingdom's side, that he will be the object of ridicule.

"Because the prime minister of my predecessors said he was coming, I was wondering what kind of cutter he was."

"I don't know what happened."

"I guess we've only negotiated in the position of the strong. Or have you never even negotiated?"

"Exactly."

"There may be an indication. It would have been all about negotiations with defeated countries, such as diplomacy in earlier generations. I wonder if the Chancellor ever bothered to leave."

"Is that so?"

This presumption was true. Even when considering foreign policy, it was not for Chancellor Kalk to actually be in the negotiating arena and take charge of difficult negotiations.

"If that is the case, that man is much stronger. Well, you knew that from the beginning."

"Really? I'm not on the spot and I don't know the details"

"Neither do I. I wasn't allowed to. But even if you don't see it on the spot, you can tell."

"Where is it?

Position with negotiation as its task. When you say this, you can't ask for details.

The first thing I did was show up at the negotiating table, and I stumbled upon this surprise.

"It's a dangerous bet."

"But it worked as a result. On top of that, let His Royal Highness the late King Alexei and his own mother be known for their involvement, and let His Majesty feel somewhat intimate"

"Because His Royal Highness the late King Alexei is one of His Majesty's few weaknesses"

"It would be a negotiation based on knowing that. And I made this one drink my demands in the form of selling a favor"

"Indeed."

"Well, lucky for this one. At that point, the demons were no longer targeted by the Empire."

He says we need not just the technology at the negotiating site, but also the power to identify the right time to negotiate.

"Yes. But are you sure? If that were the case, I could have taken it in our favor at once."

"No, not yet"

And the kingdom was also measuring the period properly.

"Why not?

"There's still a trump card over there. We have to make it unusable."

"Trump card?"

"What do you least want our country to be in the negotiating arena right now?

"... it"

"Think about this right away. What are you doing here?

"I'm sorry"

"Her Royal Highness the Lady of Hildegand tells me to come out to the negotiating table and if the conditions do not meet, we will fight another battle. I'll lead the whole army next. I can't even look at you."

"Sure. But the longer we pull it off, the more likely it is."

"No, if that prime minister moves as this one thinks, his eyes will be gone. That's why we had today's negotiations."

"What's that?

"It's information from a certain muscle. I can't talk right now, but I'll know soon enough. Until then, I won't be distracted. Don't forget that."

"Yes."

"You can't fail, I can't. Never again."

Negotiator Vasily Serov on the Kingdom side. For him, it was the first opportunity to return the stigma given to him since his loss in the Royal College rivalry.

◇ ◇ ◇

And Mandarin Chancellor Kalk moves exactly as the kingdom thinks.

"I have no choice. Immediately proceed with the succession of Her Royal Highness Princess Claudia."

"Are you sure? For once, you'd better go back to the Imperial Capital and be open enough."

"If we do that, we'll be six months ahead of schedule."

"Not for so long."

"If you're going back and forth, you will, won't you?

"It's..."

Civilian officials found out that Chancellor Kalk wanted to remain the negotiating point himself.

Exactly what the kingdom is after.

The aim of Vasily, the kingdom's negotiator, is to hurt Chancellor Kalk's pride. That way, Chancellor Kalk has no choice but to take Crowdia as Crown Prince in order to remain Chancellor.

Measures after examining people for Chancellor Kalk. The Empire is riding on this.

It's in Vasily, who knows the loss, and it's not in Chancellor Kalk, who only knows the win, it's all around.

"Along with my succession to the Crown Prince, I will not forget to retrieve my power of attorney."

"... I was wondering whether the Crown Prince Succession should be led by Prime Minister Kalk himself"

"Why? We should have come after we fixed the steps."

"It doesn't necessarily go exactly that way."

Civilians at the forefront have already noticed the dangers of Princess Claudia. This civilian is one of them. But this civilian sentiment doesn't make sense to Prime Minister Kalk. Excessive confidence in yourself won't let Chancellor Kalk do it.

"What are you talking about? I've made up my mind in detail. There shouldn't be any."

"Well, at least give Lord Zion that step"

"Theon does not have such authority. It belongs to a civilian."

"But"

"Are you a part of Zion, too?

There is no faction in Lord Zion.

"Even so, you should be careful what you say. Theon was in a close relationship with Prince Therese. You can't be guilty of copying to defend it, can you?

"What sin? Do you realize that His Royal Highness Prince Therese is not guilty?

(i) Facts even a civilian knows. I know exactly how I pushed through the impossibility.

"That statement is also a problem."

"But!"

"Is that good? There must never be anything about inheritance that would break the empire. If that happens, that's what the kingdom thinks."

"I know that. Is that why you're allowed to rub your sins in the innocent way?

"It's just the shape. I won't make this public. It can only be secretly communicated to a limited number of powerful people. The honor of His Royal Highness Prince Therese will be preserved."

"Fulfill it. Is it?

"Enough is enough. If you cannot heed my instructions as Prime Minister, get off this assignment. There are many other alternatives."

"... then let me do that. Excuse me, sir."

And then one, a brilliant civilian, walks away from the place he deserves to be.

Chancellor Kalk doesn't even realize this. It's a typical old age situation, but this happens because there are people up there who don't even think of this as old age.

"At all, what is happening to the Empire? There is no organizational order or anything. This should still bring more talent back."

With a decree from Prime Minister Kalk on the Imperial Capital, the crown prince position of the Empire will belong to the Crown Princess Claudia.

And things will go exactly as Chancellor Calc thinks - not as Empress Claudia thinks.

Out of the thoughts of Chancellor Kalk, whose interests are supposed to coincide, and where the kingdom's interests are supposed to go against them, they let the Princess Claudia know how foolish she is, but only in this way can it be helped.

Whatever it is, there are alts behind it.