NOVEL WEB Book 3: Chapter Ep
When Prince Wein had first visited the fortress, it was on a cold winter’s day.
Someone had welcomed him warmly out of politeness, even though the figure harbored anxiety. This person was already past their prime. It wouldn’t be strange at all to consider retirement, said the whispers after this banquet. Thinking about it made the commander’s old bones grow cold.
Oh, why couldn’t Wein have been born twenty or even ten years earlier? If he had, the soldier could have rushed around the battlefield by Wein’s side—
“I bet that’s what you’re thinking.”
The person in question jolted, agitated. Wein turned to make eye contact and spoke as if reading an open book.
“Screw age. Whether you’re one or one hundred, utility is the most important. And I’ve never once thought of you as useless.”
“……”
“Or are you already giving up on yourself? You think you can’t do anything more?”
“No!” came the shout with more force than intended. Surprised by this unexpected response, the old soldier began to speak with an unbudgeable determination. “No, I would never think any such thing.”
“In that case, quit worrying over nothing.” Wein beamed. “Come on, Hagal. It’s too soon for you to wither up and die. Let’s cause trouble for this continent together.”
And with that, Wein faced Hagal and held out his hand—
Light footsteps echoed like music. General Hagal was the one playing the tune. He continued without a word down the empty hallway.
The tranquil space was one of the royal villas of Natra. It was built primarily as a place for the royal family to come and rest, and it was currently occupied by only one person.
“I have come as you summoned me.”
Arriving at the innermost room of the villa, Hagal bowed his head and knelt.
A large bed was before him, containing a thin man.
“…It’s been a while, Hagal,” the man said weakly. “I haven’t seen your face in quite some time, but it looks like you’re doing well.”
“Yes. I was relieved to hear that Your Majesty’s condition has stabilized. I pray for your swift recovery.”
This was King Owen of Natra. He had been weak since birth and had most recently collapsed due to a sudden change in the weather. Even now, he recuperated in the imperial villa.
“Hagal, I called you here today for one reason alone. It concerns Wein,” Owen said. “Time has passed since the country was put into his hands. How do you think he’s doing?”
“Yes. Needless to say, he is gentle and firm, and his compassion has made him popular among the people. His wisdom is unfathomable to those as ordinary as me. I believe no other is more qualified than Prince Wein to rise up as the next leader of Natra.”
Hagal’s comments were unreserved and honest. Every word came from his heart.
“Well, then— Does he have talent worthy of your service?”
This was a complicated question, but Hagal replied without hesitation.
“Yes. If I can assist Prince Wein in his righteous rule, it would be a lifelong honor.”
“I see…” There was relief in Owen’s voice. “Hagal, I believe I’ve done you wrong. Keeping you close at hand and allowing your skills to rust away has caused me enough regret to last a lifetime.”
“Not at all, Your Majesty.” Hagal shook his head. “For me—a man who had wandered many years and lost my own skills—it was Your Majesty who allowed me to find a new place to belong in this land. Without you, I would have died in a nameless ditch somewhere.”
Owen smiled. “I see… But you did well, Hagal. You’ve endured obscurity for many years. This will be my last order to you.”
Owen continued. “Fly, General Hagal. Take those enormous wings and rise to the top with my son.”
A flood of emotions overcame Hagal, and he bowed very, very deeply.
“Your loyal servant shall most humbly accept—”
“I see, so that’s what happened. Caldmellia gave a disappointing frown as she heard the report from Ibis upon her return. “I thought we might inflict more suffering on the prince, but I understand that we cannot deal with him through ordinary means.”
Kneeling before her, Ibis’s expression grew grave.
“…Lady Caldmellia, I have no excuse for my failure to accomplish your task. I am prepared to accept any punishment you see fit.”
At this, Caldmellia let a light smile play across her lips. “Hee-hee, punishment, huh? I have no reason at all to punish you.” Caldmellia knelt and gently stroked Ibis’s hair. “You are all my precious, precious children. Without you, I would simply be a mischievous old lady. Come, raise your head. Why don’t we think of a plan to break this continent beyond repair? After all, enjoying life is the secret to youth.”
“Yes ma’am…! Thank you, Lady Caldmellia…!”
With this, the monster bared its fangs, ready to rip apart the next story. No one yet knew where she would strike—
“AAAAND DOOOOOOOOONE!”
In an office in the royal palace of the Kingdom of Natra, Wein scraped his pen across the final sheet of paper in a pile of work, looking up at the ceiling.
“I’m finally done dealing with Cavarin, but… Agh, I seriously can’t take this anymore. No more work today. I’m takin’ it easy.”
Wein moaned, and Ninym started to collect the documents.
“Good job. It’s a good thing we were able to safely reconcile with Cavarin.”
After they expelled the soldiers from Cavarin and liberated the capital of Marden, Cavarin approached the Allied Forces about the possibility of reconciliation. They’d lost the war on top of their king and begun to fall into serious instability. Deciding they could no longer fight was a smart decision on Cavarin’s part.
However, the pretext for their proposed reconciliation came as a surprise. Cavarin claimed the war was all General Levert’s idea and that he had been the one to kill the king. They placed all the blame on him.
On top of that, Cavarin insisted that they wished to form friendly relations with the Allied Forces. Under the conditions of reparations and mass withdrawal from former Marden territory, a peace agreement was signed.
“Couldn’t you have gotten them to cough up a little more?”
“Well, that’s just how things worked out. I figured other countries besides Cavarin might get involved if I got greedy.” Wein sighed. There was no question the entire Western continent had been carefully observing the war. Especially leaders like the Holy Elite. He didn’t want to do anything that would give them any extra excuses to intervene.
“It would have been a different story if I’d been elected as a Holy Elite, but…well, that ship has sailed.”
“With this mess on the sidelines, it couldn’t be helped.”
Ninym was in a good mood. She had personally been against him becoming a Holy Elite, and now there was no chance in hell of it ever happening.
“That aside, I know you just completed the first load of work, but unfortunately there’s still more to do.”
“Ugh, what else is there?”
“A meeting with Zenovia. You can’t skip out on it. See, they should already be arriving by now, so let’s head to the audience hall.”
Damn, that’s right. Wein groaned as he got up and slouched toward the audience hall.
Once he arrived, he found Zenovia already there.
“Thanks for coming, Princess Zenovia.”
Zenovia smiled as he greeted her. “I’m pleased to see you again, as well, Prince Wein.”
The two continued to exchange stiff greetings. Since they were in an audience hall with the chief vassals of Natra standing nearby, this was the way things had to be.
Standing next to Wein, Ninym whispered in his ear.
“Our policies from here on should include recognition of Marden as an independent nation, right?”
“Yeah. I did promise, after all.” Wein nodded and chuckled. “More than anything, with the loss of a Holy Elite throwing off the balance of power in the West, it won’t be long before they crumble. Not that I want anything to do with it. And! That’s! Why! Marden will make a nice shield for our western borders.”
“Wow, how unfair…”
“Nope, it’s fair and square. This is what politics is all about.”
As they continued their quiet exchange, Zenovia spoke up.
“…Words cannot describe our gratitude for all the assistance you provided during the war. Because of you, our ambition of taking back the royal capital has been fulfilled.”
“It was nothing. I thought Cavarin was playing dirty to begin with. Besides, more than anything, it can be attributed to the zeal of the Liberation Front… It’s unfortunate that Prince Helmut succumbed to his wounds from this last battle.”
“Your words bring Prince Helmut peace in the next world, Your Highness.”
As they had secretly agreed upon behind the scenes, Helmut was now officially deceased. Not many knew the truth.
“However, the loss of Helmut has caused unrest among the people of Marden who have only just been freed from Cavarin… I therefore have one more request.”
“Ask away.”
It was here that Zenovia would declare Marden’s independence and her own ascension to the throne as queen, which Wein had promised to support. With this, one matter would at last be settled.
Oh, I love a happy ending. Love to work things out in a civilized manner!
A weight fell off Wein’s shoulders.
“I hope you will allow our territory to swear vassalage to the Kingdom of Natra.”
“…Come again?” Wein’s mind froze over. Locked in place, he confirmed, “…Vassalage?”
“Yes.”
Wein blinked.
The chief vassals around them stirred, and Zenovia spoke loudly enough for everyone present to hear.
“I am of the royal family of Marden, but I am only a woman and not yet capable. I do not have enough skill to lead my nation.”
Through vassalage, the current Marden territory would essentially become part of Natra.
In other words, it would become a territory that Wein was duty bound to protect.
“It is clear to me that we can only survive by depending on your resourcefulness and mercy, Prince Wein. I ask that you allow us to sit at the foot of your table.”
“Well, uh…”
This was a problem. A huge problem. His plans would all fall apart. But everything she said made it hard to turn her down. Plus, the vassals in the audience hall all nodded as if egging him on.
“Your Highness, we may have crossed swords with Marden before, but now we are brethren who fought side by side. We should accept,” urged a vassal.
“Um, wai—”
“It’s been two hundred years since Natra’s founding… Our nation is finally making great strides.”
“No, I said—”
“In this era of unrest, let’s show them we’re the great leaders of the north!”
“…” Wein quietly glanced at Ninym next to him.
…Ninym, help! he screamed silently by making intense eye contact.
There’s nothing we can do. The vassals have already reached consensus, all while we’ve been overwhelmed with our routine duties, Ninym replied by flickering her eyes.
NYAAAAAAAGH?!
In other words, Zeno had realized Natra might use Marden as a buffer. To prevent that, she had prepared to announce the vassalage while Wein was swamped with work. Summoning Zenovia to the audience hall in Natra reinforced the fact that Natra had higher status between the two—at home and abroad. However, for her, it was the ideal opportunity to announce her intentions.
“I’m sorry. But you did say that mutual advantage was what makes a country?” Zeno whispered, sticking her tongue out subtly enough that no one else would notice.
WHY THE HELL IS THIS HAPPENING TO MEEEEEE?! Wein screamed in his heart.
Spring.
Two years after the crown prince of the Kingdom of Natra was appointed as regent.
Marden had formed an alliance with Natra and liberated its capital from Cavarin rule. And then it had declared itself a vassal of Natra.
This incident would become known as the first step toward greatness in the kingdom, and the story would be told for generations.