It is the second day since the end of the war.
A group of noblemen gathered at a high-class restaurant in the capital of the Grates Kingdom.
“To the end of the war, and the eternal development of the Kingdom.”
“To the end of the war, and the eternal development of the Kingdom.”
The nobles raised their wine glasses with elegant postures and smiled broadly.
Before, they had to worry if a glass of wine was poisoned, and they were criticized for drinking alcohol during the war. But now, they could drink as much as they wanted.
Even if someone had put poison in it, it would be a violation of the armistice agreement, and the Grand Master himself would draw his sword and charge at the Empire.
“To Sir Wilhelm, the symbol of peace.”
“To Sir Wilhelm, the symbol of peace.”
Gulp gulp.
The nobles elegantly emptied their wine glasses and picked up their forks and knives.
They no longer needed to use silver tableware to check if their wine or food was poisoned.
Of course, old habits die hard, so they still drank cautiously, a little at a time, like birds drinking water, and their tableware was still made of silver.
Still, they couldn’t be happier than they were to be able to eat and drink so comfortably, just from the fact that the war was over.
The Empire often assassinated those responsible for the war, especially nobles.
“Let us eat and talk at our leisure.”
Chadwin, the middle-aged nobleman with orange hair sitting at the head of the table, slowly opened his mouth.
“It is because we all fought bravely in the war against the Empire that we can now eat and drink with such peace of mind, but it is especially thanks to the help of Sir Wilhelm.”
“Yes, that is correct.”
Everyone nodded.
From the moment they offered a prayer of gratitude to someone before their meal, they had expressed their gratitude to the shield of the Kingdom, whether aloud or in their hearts.
“It is truly a pity that we could not recruit such a Sir Wilhelm into our ‘Aristocratic Faction’.”
The Aristocratic Faction.
Even before the 12-year war, the royal family and the nobles had been in conflict, and during the war, the alliance of nobles had many incidents and accidents in the war against the Empire.
“Fortunately, the fools who were hit in the head by the Empire’s magic rifles for 12 years are gone, and now only true nobles remain. As nobles of the Grates Kingdom, we have a duty to lead the era of peace. In that sense…”
The nobles who survived those incidents and accidents nodded to each other simultaneously.
“We condemn the royal family for the ‘marriage of Sir Hans Wilhelm’ that was unilaterally decided by the royal family. This is the stance of the Aristocratic Faction.”
At Chadwin’s words, everyone momentarily put down their cutlery.
“If anyone has any objections to this stance, please present their opinions without hesitation.”
If asked to speak their opinions while their knives were down, everyone would have stayed silent.
“There are none.”
“I also agree. I have no objections.”
“The royal family’s decision was hasty, and it is not the path for the Grates Kingdom. I oppose those who oppose.”
One by one, the nobles gathered for the meal all agreed with the proposed agenda.
“Sir Hans Wilhelm’s marriage is a matter for Sir Wilhelm to decide. Is he to marry because a spinster princess is pitiable? That’s not right.”
“That’s right. We all know the contributions of the Princess Knight, but personal and public matters are separate. How can the position of Sir Hans Wilhelm’s spouse be decided so arbitrarily?”
“Everyone is speaking indirectly…”
Chadwin smiled and looked at everyone.
“As those who each have daughters, and some have even adopted noble young ladies from fallen kingdoms as their adopted daughters, there is no need to hide the fact that everyone is aiming for the position of Count Wilhelm’s ‘father-in-law’.”
“Ahem.”
“That is…”
“It is the same for me. Let’s be honest. As those who survived by being culled and culled again for 12 years, and remain as nobles of the Grates Kingdom.”
Clap.
“Let’s not cross the line in our daughters’ attempts to seduce Count Wilhelm and marry him, even if we are rivals. Unlike the royal family.”
“Hmm.”
“And if it were Count Wilhelm, he could even declare that he would take all of us as fathers-in-law, so there is no reason for us to get angry and fight already. We could be father-in-law number 1, father-in-law number 2… even father-in-law number 13.”
“Hmm.”
Despite the crude expression “father-in-law number 13,” none of the nobles gathered for the Aristocratic Faction meeting showed any signs of discomfort or dissatisfaction.
Why?
“He is the savior of my life. Even if my daughter is not chosen, it is enough of a blessing if he takes in the daughters of our Aristocratic Faction as his wives.”
“He helped prevent my family from falling due to being accused of treason over Count Steven’s issue, so how can I not repay him? Offering suggestions for establishing a foundation is not enough. Yes, that’s right.”
“Frankly, even if he took them as concubines or maids of the family, who could say anything? He wasn’t forcing them by grabbing their hair.”
All those present had been helped by that hero, directly or indirectly, at least once.
“So, everyone. We are—”
“Excuse me, Your Grace.”
The restaurant manager suddenly opened the door and entered.
“What is it? Dessert is not yet—”
“I have something urgent to deliver.”
“Urgent?”
“Count Wilhelm’s mansion has ordered bento boxes from our restaurant.”
“What?”
At the word “bento boxes,” Chadwin and several other nobles almost stood up, dragging their chairs.
“Suddenly? What kind of bento boxes!”
“…They are bento boxes with preservation magic for long journeys. Enough for about 30 people to eat for at least five days.”
“!!”
“And—”
The restaurant manager added very cautiously.
“They didn’t seem to have any intention of hiding where they were going. At least… abroad.”
“!!”
Crash!
Chadwin slammed his hands on the table and stood up, his chair falling backward.
“Abroad! How nonsensical!”
“Oh no. Could it be because of what the royal family did…?”
Those gathered here were the Aristocratic Faction of the Grates Kingdom.
While they thought within the boundaries of Grates, they all knew that there were naturally others in other kingdoms and countries who thought the same way.
This was because among the adopted daughters of the nobles here, there were those from countries destroyed by the Empire.
After such people married the shield of the continent, would they have never said, “Please revive our kingdom”?
“These damn royal family members!”
“Tsk! After all, the era of peace has arrived, and because of what the King did, this chaos is inevitable…!”
“This is not the time! Let’s immediately submit a petition!”
Despite the rampant royal blasphemy, the nobles couldn’t even finish their meal properly and began putting on their coats.
“The party’s policy is one!”
“Count Wilhelm’s marriage…”
“Invalid!!”
The reason for declaring it invalid was simple.
It didn’t matter who he married.
Whether it was a commoner, or even a truly beautiful slave, they would attend as guests and sincerely clap their hands.
Even if she were to become a secondary wife or concubine to the Count’s mansion, the Aristocratic Faction would have felt relieved and grateful just for establishing kinship with the Count’s family.
But that was a story within the Grates Kingdom.
“If Count Wilhelm leaves for another kingdom because of the royal family, what a loss to the country!”
The Aristocratic Faction.
They were the nobles of the Grates Kingdom who had survived the 12-year war with the Empire, as well as the temptations and assassination threats from the Empire.
“We must prevent Sir Wilhelm from going to another country!!”
—
“Master. Where are you going?”
“I don’t know. We’ll have to discuss it from now on.”
After expelling Princess Sylvia, I instructed Robert to deliberately create a situation where rumors would spread.
“It is true that the Aristocratic Faction is at the restaurant, isn’t it?”
“Yes. Even if the Aristocratic Faction didn’t notice, the people monitoring the mansion would have reported the fact that bento boxes were ordered to Chancellor Winchester.”
“The quantity of bento boxes?”
“I ordered enough to be discarded. Enough to travel to the northernmost part of the Kingdom Alliance.”
“Well done. It may be a false hope for other kingdoms or powers, but it can’t be helped. Robert. Unfold the map.”
“Yes, Master.”
Shhht.
As Robert manipulated the magic crystal sphere, a large map unfolded below my room.
A vast continent reminiscent of Europe.
The name of the continent itself is Europa.
And in the western part of the Europan continent, there is only one color, and that is the Empire.
In reality, it is a vast empire that encompasses territories such as Britain, France, Portugal, Spain, and the Netherlands or Belgium.
The Grates Kingdom is located at the forefront, bordering that Empire, around Germany.
To the south, north, and east—excluding the west—there are many minor kingdoms, which is the current political situation on the Europan continent.
“Robert.”
“Yes, Master.”
“Where would be a good place to seek asylum?”
“…Is asylum decided?”
“Yes. If I stay here, I feel like I’ll be threatened and forced into marriage.”
I flicked my finger over the map spread on the floor.
Whoosh.
Mana flowed out, creating a cluster of light, and various luminous figures began to appear on the land near the Grates Kingdom.
“Robert. In your opinion, what would be the best country for me to seek asylum in?”
“Well, naturally—”
Robert spread his arms as if asking what was so obvious.
“A place with many beautiful women.”
“You know me well.”
As expected of Robert.
“It’s just…”
“Just?”
“It’s a matter of taste.”
And this is a very important issue for me.
“Elves, beastkin, fairies, sirens, vampires…”
The 12-year war.
The human kingdoms bordering the Empire have already been annihilated, and most of the countries with a similar standing to the Grates Kingdom are not human countries.
“Ah, shit.”
This is a big problem.
“There are too many options, and that’s the problem.”
There are many beautiful women everywhere.
