Chapter 25

A certain Marquis, who worshipped the First Prince from the bottom of his heart, had been terribly irritated recently. The rumors exchanged by civil officials in the corners of the room grated on his ears. “I hear the application system the Third Prince intervened in has become much easier.” “They say wasteful processes have been reduced, and the worksite is saved.” “It seems the logistics regulations have also been reviewed.” The Marquis let out a cold breath. —Superficial revisions. What good is that? Once, in the court, the Third Prince was called this: The Prince who can do nothing. Incompetent. Average with the sword. Silent in political affairs. No political engagement, remaining single. An existence whose value as a pawn of the Royal Family was thin, laughed at in the shadows. Yet now, he is beginning to be evaluated by those around him simply because he is succeeding in revising systems one after another. The First Prince is the one worthy of being King. For the Marquis, that was an unshakable truth. At such a time, a hurried report came in. “Marquis! The senior official in charge of foreign affairs has been taken to the infirmary!” “What happened?” “Severe stomach pain, they say. This morning, faced with the materials for the negotiation with the neighboring country, he suddenly turned pale…” The Marquis narrowed his eyes. The neighboring country. A great power boasting territory and armaments double that of their own country. He hears that for the negotiation in three days, the other side will approach with a hardline stance. His stomach probably gave out under the pressure. But what floated in the Marquis’s chest was not sympathy. —Opportunity. The Marquis immediately headed to the First Prince. “Your Highness, I have a request.” “Regarding the foreign affairs official, I assume.” “Yes. It is necessary to appoint a proxy.” “Who is suitable?” The Marquis said quietly. “How about having His Highness the Third Prince gain some experience?” After a silence, the First Prince nodded. The Marquis bowed deeply and exited.

In the silent office, the First Prince looked down alone at the map on his desk. He understands the Marquis’s aim. He intends to test the Third Prince, and if he fails, lower his evaluation. But that is merely the surface layer. The problem is the neighboring country. —So they finally made a move. Faster than I thought. He narrowed his eyes slightly. There is no surprise. Rather, it feels closer to simply being slightly ahead of schedule. For the past few years, while rapidly expanding armaments, their trade volume has decreased. The numbers in their financial reports are clearly distorted. Proof that there is strain in their domestic administration. The more hardline the demands appear, the more impatience lies behind them. “…Hmm.” The First Prince let out a small breath. How far can the Third Prince read? And how far can he move the board? This is not a bad opportunity. “It seems things aren’t moving exactly according to the Marquis’s expectations, huh.” A faint smile floated on his lips.

Eventually summoned, the Third Prince bowed his head calmly. “I understand.” Neither surprise nor bewilderment. Just quiet acceptance. And then, the Third Prince immediately began to move. Since he received the order, there is no hesitation. He will simply fulfill the given role to the best of his ability. As soon as he returned to the office, he fired instructions to the civil officials. “Get me the records of negotiations with the neighboring country for the past ten years. Extract the agenda items, points of concession, and points of breakdown.” “Yes, sir!” “Also, reports on the neighboring country’s military buildup in recent years. I also want their financial situation, domestic dissatisfaction, and movements of noble factions.” Marc blinked his eyes at the rapid-fire instructions. “Your Highness, going that far…?” “Sitting at the table without knowing the opponent is like going out onto the battlefield unarmed.” It was a matter-of-fact tone. Know the enemy and know yourself, and you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. The Third Prince sat in his chair and began looking through the materials. There was no hesitation in the hand turning the pages. Diplomacy is like a battle fought on a table. How much information can you gather? How much can you understand the opponent’s desires? And can you arrange your own country’s interests into a form that is “acceptable” to the opponent as well? The match begins before you even sit at the table. Inside the materials, there was a prior notification from the neighboring country. The nominal reasons were gentle. ‘Resource Management for Reduction of Border Disputes’ ‘Economic Mutual Assistance Alliance Aiming for Permanent Peace’ ‘Sacred Blood Covenant Uniting Both Royal Families as One’ Peering at it, deep wrinkles were carved between Marc‘s eyebrows. “…Where in this does it say it is a friendly notification?” Unsuppressible irritation seeped into his voice. Slight strength went into the fingertips holding the paper. “They wrap it in words of peace… but the contents are filled with the intent to steal.” The Third Prince said nothing and read on. But the meaning was obvious. Lease of the border iron mines for twenty years, free of charge. Abolition of tariffs for ten years and free passage of merchants. The marriage of a female member of the Royal Family, or equivalent, to the Crown Prince of the neighboring country. It was content that made the reason for the civil official turning pale very clear. This is not a negotiation. It is a demand. Almost close to an order. The Third Prince understood immediately just how one-sided the content was. Free lease of iron mines. That is equivalent to handing over the source of weapons and currency to another country. In twenty years, the neighboring country will prepare armaments based on those resources, while their own country cannot even dig, and only the difference in power will widen. Abolition of tariffs and free passage. That is market erosion under the guise of trade. If cheap goods from the neighboring country flow in, domestic merchants will not be able to stand. Money will flow out, and the domestic economy will quietly weaken. If the flow of people increases, internal affairs will also be easily penetrated. And the marriage of a royal. This is no proof of friendship. It is a hostage. Moreover, this demand is based on the “Mutual Non-Aggression and Blood Alliance Priority Treaty” concluded five years ago. The article says: “If both countries deem it necessary, marriage between the Royal Families can serve as proof of the alliance.” Refusal would be questioned as a treaty violation. Acceptance would bind the Royal Family to the neighboring country. Clauses to whittle down the country without fighting. The Third Prince set the notification aside and looked down again at the materials prepared by Marc and the others. Recorded there was another face of the neighboring country. Financial tightness due to military expansion. Conflict between the noble class and the military. Impatience to secure trade routes. He stared at the materials in silence for a while, eventually letting out a small breath. “…I see.” A quiet voice fell. “What they desire is face and profit, is it?” Muttering quietly, he layered scribbles onto the paper. Marc recommended he rest many times, but the Third Prince shook his head. “Time is precious.” On the desk were organized materials, papers with main points written out, and numerous anticipated questions and answers. The figure of the Prince once laughed at as “incompetent” was not there. There was only someone quietly and steadily arranging the board. Eventually, the Third Prince headed to the diplomatic preparation room. Inside the room, civil officials were hurriedly spreading out materials. The atmosphere was tense. No one could hide their impatience. Amidst that, the Third Prince‘s voice echoed calmly. “Those who can go home on time, go home.” The civil officials looked up. “But Your Highness, time is—” “Documents arranged in a rush have holes. Rest today, and tomorrow, let’s work out the details with clear heads.” It was quiet, but a tone that allowed no argument. And he continued. “We will create the draft for the treaty revision by tomorrow.” The civil officials gasped. “Revision, you say?” “If we leave it as is, we will be pushed around. We will change the framework from our side.” An assertion without hesitation. “We will reconstruct the articles. Prepare three alternative drafts. Lay the groundwork tomorrow. Swiftly, and carefully. Transmit this to each department.” Precise instructions flew. Impatience disappeared from the movements of the civil officials. Instead, colors of understanding and acceptance appeared. They knew. That the numerous revisions the Third Prince had carried out recently were all successes. The Marquis was watching that scene from outside the corridor. The Marquis gave a small snort. —It seems he is keeping up appearances, at least. The country won’t tilt over diplomacy of this level. Rather, if the Third Prince exposes his incompetence here, the surrounding overestimation will quiet down. Whichever way it rolls, the First Prince‘s prestige will not waver. He must be desperate in his own incompetent way. There is no way he can withstand the pressure of that great power.

The sun was still high, and outside the window had just begun to be dyed in twilight. The Marquis turned on his heel without looking any further. If it’s this level, the result is visible. It was sufficient to judge so. The Marquis passed through the castle gate as he was and boarded his carriage.

With this single matter, the Third Prince‘s reputation will fall to the ground. He did not doubt that the board was set.

After that, the lights in the diplomatic preparation room did not go out even as the night deepened.