[VOL.2] CHAPTER 39 SECRET AGREEMENT

I was invited into the Kings living room together with Fraudia.

The King, General Dolus and Minister Walles were walking before us.

So thats the Kings living room.

I cant really relax with such an atmosphere.

The first to open their mouth was General Dolus.

About Gerg, are you sure?

Yes, I am sure. And theres something else I want to tell His Majesty.

Theres something I wasnt able to say back then.

Viscount Gerg had connections to Duke Armandi.

Is that true?

Minister Walles asked for confirmation.

As Duke Armandi is the present Kings greatest enemy they should be bothered by this.

This is also something I heard from the person himself. Fraudia was to be sent to Duke Armandi soon. She herself should know best about this.

Is that so, Fraudia?

Fraudia answered Minister Walles question in a clear voice.

Thats what the Viscount told me. I should be prepared because Ill soon be sent to Rejum-sama

Fufu, Rejum, he must have planned to use this girl as bait.

The King who heard this laughed in a gloomy, low voice.

I feel depressed just talking to them.2

We were talking like this when suddenly the door was opened and a person jumped in.

Father, is it true that Frau, that Fraudia returned?!

Princess

Aah, Frau, Frau, youre safe! This is3

The beautiful, blond girl had her eyes filled with tears as soon as she jumped into the room and embraced Fraudia.

That must be Princess Charlotte.4

Where on earth were you, Frau? Do you know how worried I was? Are you alright?

Im sorry, Princess. I was caught by some bad people while I was on my way home. But I was thankfully able to come back safely.

Well, like I thought! I knew that something bad must have happened for you to suddenly disappear in front of me. Thats why I asked the Minister and General to send out some soldiers countless times!

As the Princess said so she glared at Minister Walles and General Dolus.

The way she changed from a happy expression to glaring that quickly was scary.

Well, if we dont have any evidence we arent able to do anything

The Minister tried to hastily explain himself but the Princess seemed to ignore him.6

It must have been hard on you, right, Frau? But you did well to survive. How did you manage to escape?

Margrave Medici who also came here helped me.

After hearing Fraudias words the Princess seemed to finally notice me.

Do I really have that thin of a presence?

This should be our first meeting, Margrave-sama. Im Princess Charlotte.

My name is Carlo de Medici. His Majesty the King generously gave me the position of Margrave. Please forgive my rudeness as I come from a rural area.

I greeted her with a cool expression.

That guys popular after all.

Anyway, being disliked by the princess would be bad.

I heard you helped Fraudia. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

The princess thanked me elegantly and smiled.

I cant fall in love with her, I cant fall in love with her, I cant fall in love with her.

Because this girl will marry the Hero in the future.

No, its only natural as one of His Majestys faithful subjects to also serve Her Imperial Highness the Princess.

As I answered to her politely a gloomy voice drifted over from the side.

Hmpf, a faithful subject you say, but inwardly you think differently, right? Youre not thinking anything good about me either, do you?

Uwah, this King is seriously warped.

Mmm, Even though its troublesome, lets use a frontal attack!

Even if its like this, Your Majesty

What? Speak

I know that His Majesty is aiming for a centralization reform right now.

Fufu, nobody wants to hear the rest of those words.

I heard that there are many feudal lords who dont agree with His Majestys intentions. About that I, Carlo de Medici, want to tell His Majesty something.

Then just say it already.

The King was clearly irritated by this exchange.

I spoke in such a roundabout way intentionally to irritate the king.

I took a deep breath and continued to speak.

If His Majesty promises to let me keep my current position and power even after the reform, this Carlo wants to act as a shield for His Majesty and approves of the realisation of this reform from the bottom of my heart.

When I kneeled and lowered my head while saying this the King remained silent for a while.

Are you trying to tell me you want to support me?

Yes, of course, though just if you guarantee my social position and territory.

Are you saying the other nobles dont concern you?

Im not interested in anything else as long as the results are favourable for Franz Kingdom and myself.

Hoh, You dont care what happens to the other nobles?

The King asked again with a surprised face.

It would be more than convenient for the number of nobles who could become my rivals to decrease.

Using the Kings authority Ill disperse the nobles who look like theyd become rivals and after the number of competitors has considerably decreased Ill arrest the King and aim for the throne, but itll fail in the end because the Hero will stop me, thats the scenario I wrote for Carlo.

I dont care what happens to them. Even if Im a noble as Im just an emerging noble I am not particularly close with the other nobles. Rather it should have been obvious with this case that Im on rather bad terms with Duke Rejum. My true intention is it to borrow his Majestys power to oppose those nobles including Duke Rejum.

I intentionally grinned as I said this.

It seemed like it went as well as I expected.

Interesting, if its like this I wouldnt mind joining hands. Superficial flattery and pretty words do not deserve to be believed. Carlo, do you have any conditions for lending me a hand?9

Yes, of course, I will send soldiers in case of an emergency. Please grant me permission to organise a new army to enrichen our military strength and please let us pave the road between the Capital and Braham to promptly be able to move the military.

I heard that it was basically forbidden for nobles to organise an army without permission as they could pose a threat to the King.

Even if a noble were to send out soldiers it would take a long time to reach the Capital on an unpaved road.

I want to clear these two conditions by all means for Carlo to win the war against the barbarians, the fight against the nobles and also for Carlos coup dtat on the King in the future.

The King believed that Carlos soldiers were weak so it wouldnt matter and he would also be troubled if they would take too much time to get to the Capital so that was OK as well.

Fumu, thats fine. Discuss the details with Walles. Thats fine, right, Walles?

Certainly

With that said, Ill leave the detailed negotiations with Minister Walles to the tactician Nals.

Well then, there is another condition I havent said yet.

I fear I have another request, your Majesty.

Lets hear it.

I took a deep breath.

Aah, Im nervous.10

I would like to clarify my position and would need a title to be able to stand on His Majestys side and to oppose Duke Armandi.

I see, a title, huh? What do you want?

Im single. If possible Id like to ask for Her Imperial Highness Princess Charlottes hand.

Are you telling me to give you Charlotte as your wife?

The Kings tone of voice became lower.

OK, this is the crucial moment, Carlo.