A Famous Traitor and Treacherous Genius

62 – Duties of a Nobleman (2)

The governor of Morgania, that is, Carmen before her return, used people to the extreme.

After the empire took over the kingdom.

She rose to the position of governor and actively hired commoners as administrators to rule the kingdom.

Of course, they were well-spoken commoners, but in reality they were wealthy people with no title.

A class that either does not buy titles, or tried to buy them but did not buy them because they were too expensive, but built knowledge based on economic wealth.

The empire used to call them ‘bourgeois’, but from the empire’s point of view, they were just a piece of cake that could be easily exploited.

Tinkering.

Although it is a vulgar expression, there is nothing wrong with the word because its actual usage was like that.

To put it in a better way, they served as a buffer in charge of the kingdom’s administration until the empire’s talents infiltrated the kingdom.

Still, Queen Carmen does not hesitate in using her people to the extent of using them.

Even if you rule people with torture.

Yes.

“You send a 13-year-old child to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and force her away from her parents.”

Carmen will do whatever it takes if necessary, to the extent of saying she would take a child like me to the scene of a battle of political diplomacy.

“Don’t you think this is too much, Viscount Hex?”

“Are you an ordinary 13-year-old?”

Viscount Hex sat across from her carriage and laughed at me.

“Using his father to hunt down the empire’s henchmen, the [Shadows].”

“Oh, did you call me aside to talk about that? If that’s the case, just-“

“No. I thought you might get bored while I was going, so I wanted to talk. I’ll send all three of you back when this is over, so you should make the most of it, right?”

Three people.

Clearly-

“No. 9, No. 18, no. 27.”

That’s not what I said.

“There was a number engraved on the body. That too with magic.”

This is what Viscount Hex said.

“I thought the Empire was amazing. They handled their espionage organization as well as we did. They were thinking of using the royal blood and illegitimate son as a spy.”

“As expected, is that so?”

“Didn’t you know that?”

“I was just guessing. If all people with white hair have imperial blood, then Letard is also imperial family of the empire?”

“Well.”

I knew it.

“That’s surprising. I thought you knew everything.”

“There’s no way you could know all that.”

“For something like that, didn’t you react like that? Didn’t you send it to us instead of killing it because you were of imperial blood?”

“I sent it to you to check, and it was checked. Nothing more, nothing less.”

“Hmm… Well, then let’s do it like that.”

However, when dealing with Morgania, you should not give any variables at all.

“The Shadows seem to be more numerous than I thought. If there are regular Shadows who are not of imperial blood, I think there are probably around a thousand people.”

“Isn’t Morgania that much of a spy?”

“At least we don’t use our noble bloodline as a card like this, right? That’s not the queen’s taste.”

“Is it okay to include personal preferences in intelligence?”

“Of course. The intelligence organization operates according to the rules and routes set by Queen Carmen.”

Viscount Hex extended three fingers toward me.

“Since you saved them and sent them away, we are sending them back alive as well.” We will give them good mental education.”

“…”

“If you don’t listen to me, I’ll threaten you and ask you to go back to the ‘secret room’. If you do that, I’ll immediately start crying and making a fuss and begging you not to let me go.”

“I don’t really want to make you cry like that.”

Intimidation and control through fear is the crown prince’s way.

It’s not my style.

“I understand. If you send it to me, I will take care of it. So, would you please return the carriage?”

“When I get home, I’ll be at daycare.”

“Now that I think about it, I think I left without even being able to properly say goodbye to my lovely younger siblings, Lettar and Ruby.”

“You don’t love noir?”

“…Viscount Hex.”

A sigh comes out naturally.

“Is the situation so urgent that you have to kidnap me like this?”

“It’s not like my feet are on fire, but should I say it feels like water keeps rising from under my feet when I’m sitting still?”

Viscount Hex smiles and waves his outstretched finger at me.

“Would you like to guess?”

“…I don’t think the ministers I brought around will be of any help.”

“That would be the case under normal circumstances. But the queen is not the person with the highest authority in this meeting.”

“Of course, I have to jump.”

I pointed to the carriage door.

“If it’s a matter of serving an incompetent king, it has nothing to do with me.”

“Wait! Stop. Please. I’m going to die if I don’t take you with me.”

“Viscount Hex is dying, not me.”

“Heartless guy. If Queen Carmen is your mother, then I’m at least a political uncle!”

“I know well because I have several mothers, but I don’t have any uncles, so I don’t know what it’s like.”

“Ha…”

Viscount Hex covered her face with both hands in frustration.

“Please, save me. You understand to some extent that the situation is serious enough to open your hands like this to a 13-year-old.”

“Literally, to some extent.”

I felt like if I played any more, Viscount Hex would really end up with a hole in his stomach, so I adjusted my posture and sat down.

“I’m just kidding. I was just being a little grumpy. I was supposed to make dessert for Jabeth and Ellie today, but I got kidnapped like this.”

“…”

“I’m talking about Princess Naria and the one White that I have exclusively with me.”

“Oh, I see. What were you planning on giving me for dessert? Magic herbs for research?”

“Pound cake topped with dried somnus petals?”

It is delicious and nutritionally excellent.

Although a lot of flour and honey are used, somnus petals and pollen added during the kneading process help absorb mana.

Above all, Astasia likes Somnus.

It’s not just because I enjoy eating it, but because I enjoy the mana in Somnus on my tongue.

‘It’s a blessed body.’

When I chew somnus, it tastes a bit bitter, but Astasia tends to feel it like sweet sugar.

I feel like it’s a difference in constitution that accepts mana.

For reference, naria is spicy.

“I see. Did I interrupt Master Gibraltar’s date?”

“Yes. If it were my father, I would have taken out the knife first.”

“You tear people to pieces with your language.”

“This much?”

“It’s because you know my position and yet you’re pushing me like this is evil itself. Are you okay?”

Viscount Hex raised his dripping glasses and lamented.

“The Minister of Foreign Affairs must work for the historic position of peace between the kingdom, the empire, and the two countries.”

“I never thought something like this would happen when I was here.”

“It’s fate. Accept it.”

“Haaa…”

Viscount Hex lamented deeply again.

“Then, let me ask your opinion.”

“Yes.”

“How can I solve this situation now?”

This is not a lament about the current situation, but a lament from a working-level worker who is trying to find a solution to a hopeless situation with no real breakthrough in sight.

“I’ve only been on this carriage for 30 minutes.”

“You know everything.”

“What do you know? Do you think I’m reading the future?”

“No?”

“If you really ask that seriously, I’m even more embarrassed by what you’re asking.”

It’s not about reading or seeing the future.

Since we know the future to some extent and have experienced the future, we know people’s tendencies and can only infer how it will work at the present time.

“When it comes to news from the County of Sirene, I just heard rumors. The latest news is probably from two days ago.”

“…”

“Really. I swear on my mother.”

“Why do I feel like there is a lack of trust when I say that I risked my mother…” ” ? I should definitely feel trustworthy.”

“Father bets too.”

“Hehe. If you say it that way, there’s nothing I can do. Unless you’re the world’s most immoral person.”

Viscount Hex adjusted his posture and sat down.

“First of all, Queen Carmen wants you to interpret the imperial language by her side.”

“Isn’t the Viscount better at speaking Imperial?”

“Simultaneous interpretation is impossible.”

Do you feel pressured?

Or does it mean that you trust me that much?

“First of all, it is clear that Queen Carmen does not trust the Empire’s interpreter magic machine.”

“That’s right. We can’t rely on magic machines prepared by the enemy.”

Whether it’s the role of insurance or anything else, it’s a reasonable reason.

“But you called me with only simultaneous interpretation? There must be at least one person in the royal capital who can provide simultaneous interpretation in the imperial language.”

“A symbol of participation in negotiations as Gibraltar’s representative?”

“…I heard you’ve been writing letters a lot lately, but you’ve been doing some really cute things behind the scenes.”

“Wow, you recognized that right away. As expected, it’s amazing.”

“Use it.”

I understood it right away.

My father sold me.

“How can a man called a father take revenge on his son like this?”

“Revenge?”

“It’s nothing.”

Could it be because of the thing that caused the container to be dragged?

Because when I fooled the Whites with full body armor, I tapped the mask with my hand and spoke informally and treated them like coachmen?

‘You both had no choice but to do that, right?’

If that’s the reason you sent me to work in secret like this, then I will exact the slightest revenge on my father as soon as I return.

“Once everything is over, I don’t think it would be a bad idea to ask Queen Carmen to visit Gibraltar.”

“Meet Naria once?”

“There’s that, but I’ll ask my father to meet him. Hehe.”

“…”

Her mother might be a little frustrated about drinking wine alone with Queen Carmen, but that’s a minor problem.

‘Honestly, what if something happens when the two of you see eye to eye?’

Having Carmen Morgania on Gibraltar’s side is a good thing for her mother, too.

“Grey. Even if it means Princess Naria is exposed to the king, I will do whatever it takes to get Queen Carmen to visit Gibraltar.”

“…For some reason, I feel like I shouldn’t listen to the proposal.”

“Still, listen. Since you’re not jumping out of the carriage, you’re going to listen.”

“Okay, tell me. What on earth is making it so difficult for the Viscount? Of course, Saint Geo Nostrum?”

“Yeah. But, that is.”

Viscount Hex took something out of his pocket

“He suggested that we start with a party to encourage reconciliation between the kingdom and the empire. His Majesty the King said.”

“…If you go?”

“Yes. Also, a masquerade ball.”

“Huh…”

A white, half-mask that covers only the eyes, like something used in an old-fashioned play.

“I want you to hide your identity and become Queen Carmen’s partner.”

“Even though His Majesty the King is fine?”

“It’s okay. You’ll just have to drink alcohol again. I’ll bring a lot of newly made liqueur as a gift from the empire.”

“Well… Then there’s no real problem, right?”

Although it is frustrating to see an incompetent king engage in such antics and sometimes makes me want to kill him, it is not an unexpected problem.

“I don’t think we can’t control variables to this extent in Morgania. Moreover, isn’t the Archduke also participating?”

“That’s right.”

Another Master of Nostrum is also scheduled to participate in the banquet, which should have been a negotiation.

“I didn’t think there was any problem, no matter what your height did. But…”

“Hmm. “I guess I can guess.”

Naturally, the empire should have been outraged by this ridiculous proposal.

“From the empire’s perspective, they lost their naval captain while trying to create a peaceful atmosphere with the kingdom, and are creating a solemn place of mourning by even holding a memorial service.”

To sum up the incompetent king’s proposal in one line:

“Isn’t it like a neighbor’s funeral to their house and having a crazy drinking party while they’re inviting at it?”

“That’s right. That’s accurate.”

There is no other person in the world more crazy than this.

“And this is the part that really hurts…” ” .”

“The crown prince would have accepted it.”

Correction.

“If a person dies, he dies, and wouldn’t you say that the kingdom and the empire should show harmony with each other so that his death is not in vain?”

There is one person.

“A person has died, but our king wants to party regardless. The crown prince wants to overcome that death, embrace it in his heart, and move on to a bright future. Wow, I never thought the preparation would be this serious. “

The problem is that they are so capable compared to us.

“I was wondering if I should prepare a funeral, but it turns out I have a festival.”

“It’s a festival, right. A festival where the long war between kingdoms and empires will now come to an end.”

“…”

“Don’t take it too seriously. Maybe, if there were people like me in the Empire, they would think that way.”

Obviously.

“If two countries join hands because of one person’s death, then it is a meaningful death.”

“…”

“Wouldn’t that be a much more worthy death than dying a miserable death?”

The memorial and banquet of the kingdom and empire was decided to be a ‘masquerade ball’.

“More than that, if there is a reason why Queen Carmen singled me out, that would be it.”

The empire is officially supposed to have only one crown prince in attendance.

“Is Chairman Erwin coming too?”

Of course, there are also attendants following you.

“If that’s the case, I can’t help it.”

If Chairman Erwin comes, I have no choice but to obediently assist Queen Carmen by her side.

“It’s the day I meet my mother for the first time in a long time, so I’ll happily participate. Oh, and.”

I’m glad to meet you because I’m not the only mother.

“I might be able to meet my father too.”