In short, if the Duke Schatteluren’s daughter becomes my wife, the Duke himself would become quite and very beneficial, but the others wouldn’t stay silent… Essentially, it could be the trigger for Romeo’s political struggles. In some cases, it might even put you in danger…
The court struggles, full of schemes and stratagems… frankly, even Romeo wouldn’t consider that an outsider’s concern.
Beneath the surface, various schemes are brewing to an extent that’s not entirely a joke. In the worst-case scenario, Selma could become an inconvenient presence, be targeted by assassination attempts, and be in danger of her life — such a dangerous thing can’t be definitively ruled out. After all, there are even professional assassins around… According to Rein, there are plenty of dangerous poisons too… To think such a cute girl would get caught up in political struggles like that and lose her life, that’s no laughing matter.
“Hmm, well… They also have a daughter, and we were classmates at the academy, you know… Those two also volunteered for the Royal Guard, but I cleverly maneuvered so that my platoon was chosen as the first to go, and I managed to outwit them. As much as I might look like it, I’m quite cunning, you know. Even as a woman, to be strong, cunning, and resilient… that’s the family motto passed down in my household? But that means you’re worried about my safety, doesn’t it? Husband, you are truly a kind person… I find myself falling for you all over again. Ehehe…”
…Now that I think about it, that’s right.
At the court banquet, those two also, at the same time, said something like, “We have a daughter of marriageable age, would you take her as a wife?”
And I, similarly, replied, “Let’s think about it positively…”
This is bad… there’s a high possibility of ending up with three new face brides! Damn, in this world, that response was a no-go. Aage also told me that.
When negotiating, if you’re going to refuse, refuse so clearly that there’s no room for other interpretation. It seems my habit from business negotiations in Japan unconsciously slipped out. Aage was listening next to me, and even though he advised me to refuse the offer, I replied, “I’ll think about it positively, so perhaps again someday.” He got really angry, asking if I really said that.
Indeed, “thinking about it positively” can be interpreted as “it depends on your conditions.”
In the world of Kyoto and Osaka merchants, “I’ll think about it” means refusal. For Japanese people, it’s used as a gentle refusal to spare the other person’s feelings… it’s a common phrase in political speeches too…
In reality, when I met with the three great aristocrats, due to my position, I explained that it would be problematic to accept such political marriages. I made them understand that, and it was to the effect of “I’ll think about it positively, so for today…” By saying that, I thought I had ended the conversation.
But it couldn’t possibly be understood that way on their end. If it wasn’t a clear refusal, it must mean there were some conditions for acceptance… that’s probably how they thought.
They are desperately trying to figure out what I want.
I don’t quite understand what the conditions are, but as long as they keep throwing out strong cards and pushing hard, I’ll eventually put out some requests or conditions for exchange… and then it’ll be negotiation time. Duke Schatteluren thought, “This is probably what it’s about.”
Offering his own daughter, something like that is the strongest card in history, present and past. To play the strongest card from the first move, that’s the mark of a gambler. Duke Schatteluren has launched a serious, all-out offensive… that must be it. In fact, I can’t just refuse this; I have to accept it. After all, this child isn’t an object. …I should take a step back… A strategic retreat is the best course of action. After all, the major event awaiting me is Kuroie’s personal expedition. Before such a major event, I can’t afford to be bothered with trivial matters like my wife. Of course, in terms of strengthening the domestic political base, this is unavoidable, but the schedule has already been decided.
Frankly speaking, peace negotiation conferences are decided even before the meetings begin, in the preliminary negotiations… that’s how it is. The final negotiation between representatives of countries often becomes a last hope, a gamble for a comeback if the preliminary negotiations go awry. Or, it becomes a farce where everything has already been resolved… it’s one of these two. And the person in charge of these preliminary negotiations beneath the surface is precisely me. Therefore, public duty takes precedence… that’s only natural, isn’t it?
In the case of an expedition like crossing Ormechia, it’s stipulated that a vanguard team will travel in advance. They’ll be responsible for informing the villages and towns along the route in the country, the border security of Ormechia, the representatives of towns and villages on the Ormechian side, arranging for provisions, and selecting resting places, as well as conducting all sorts of on-site surveys and negotiations. I’ve decided to have myself included in that vanguard team and make my escape ahead of time.
I did accept the role of captain to take care of the Royal Guard, but as a negotiation representative for the vanguard team, it’s very close to the world of diplomacy… a position that has influence externally must accompany them. Thus, it will be faster to have me go. I’ll do that before things get complicated. After all, if I want to return, Kuroie can just pick me up in an instant.
What about this child… If I were to make this child a candidate for my wife, it would definitely become a seed for political strife. I’ll just talk her into it, put it on hold, and leave her behind. Postponing the problem… that’s good enough! Besides, Selma, before all those other issues, as the captain, she shouldn’t be sneaking into people’s rooms at night, neglecting her subordinates. Either way, I need to consult with Kuroie and Aage. That would probably be the best course of action.
“Anyway… Selma and the others also arrived late yesterday, so they haven’t greeted Kuroie yet, have they? Well then, for now, I’ll give you a mission… First, tidy yourself up and gather all the members of the first contingent. You will accompany me to greet Kuroie. As your first mission, it’s quite an honorable one, don’t you think?”
Well, while she’s greeting, I’ll have them consider her treatment… that’s what I’ll do! I’m sorry, but I’m going to use my authority as captain right away, okay?
“Y-Yes! It’s an honor! I will do as you command! Oh, but I was in the middle of changing… P-Please don’t look too much this way! It’s… embarrassing!”
Did she just realize now that she was still in her underwear while changing? Embarrassed, she starts to hurriedly change into the Royal Guard uniform, which looks like a maid’s outfit, her ample chest swaying… It has shoulder pads and a breastplate, and it’s an armed maid-like outfit with a red base, but it’s quite cute. Oh, and the costume design is by the great Master Monjirou, so the skirt is short, reaching knee-length, with a peek of her navel, and lots of frills, making it exquisitely cute. Damn, seeing it in person has a devastating impact! As expected of the great Master Monjirou! Yes, yes, it’s really good…!
“Then, Second Lieutenant Selmaile, I will now gather the first squad… um, where should we assemble?”
…What can I say, she finally finished changing… It took a good 30 minutes! After all, this child… she didn’t even bring a comb, so I had to help her fix her hair. Well, she did have a brush for grooming her tail hair… I’ll just keep quiet about the fact that it’s a cat brush and not for humans. She herself said, “Please do an inside-out braided crown half-updo!” but at that point, I had no idea what she was talking about! So, I compromised with a casual straight style. You know, women’s hairstyles and combing are completely different from what I’m used to… I’m sure for most men, there are few who wouldn’t find this an unreasonable request, what do you think? I thought she could manage to change on her own, but… after spending a ridiculous amount of time fumbling, she had buttons mismatched and her skirt on backward… she was completely hopeless! In any case, I learned that she’s an incredibly clumsy child. Come to think of it, this child… at home, maybe her maids or servants used to dress her while she just stood there… In fact, I had to help her put on clothes other than her underwear, and naturally, I touched her here and there, but she didn’t show any signs of caring… It felt like she was completely used to being dressed by others, so my guess wasn’t far off… That’s about how it was. She can’t even dress herself, yet she goes for night raids… Do aristocrats, after the deed is done, call their servants and tell them to dress her…? Anyway… I’m somehow really tired.
“Oh, ah, the assembly point? R-Right… For now, just gather in front of the convenience store. Also… when you leave, use the back entrance… do you understand? And one last thing, turn around once more!”
As I said that, she happily put her hands up like she was cheering and turned around. Well… at first glance, it seems okay, right? I did my best!
“Okay, is it alright? Well then, have a safe trip.”
“Yes! Husband! Thank you for helping me get dressed! I understand the back entrance. My family’s spy received a blueprint of this building beforehand, and I’ve memorized it perfectly! Well then, I’m off!”
…Oh, so the Schatteluren family’s people were already infiltrating. They’re really thorough… And a blueprint was made… Where did that leak from? She can grasp the exterior to some extent, but could they have snuck into the building secretly… Who could the spy be, I wonder? If they’re mixed in with adventurers, I can’t tell them apart. As Selma was about to leave the room with a surprisingly agile movement, she looked back one last time, gave a bright smile and a bow, and then exited through the back entrance as if she knew the way like the back of her hand.
