#79
“Ahem.”
Lord Theovan cleared his throat to draw attention to himself. Then he addressed Enrique, who was looking at him:
“If you don’t mind, I’d like to speak directly.”
“Go ahead.”
“I believe you’re already aware that our Ruben will be waging war against the Monta and Baron alliance this time.”
“Of course.”
“Before the war officially begins, we at Ruben wish to form an alliance with Shamier.”
“An alliance?”
Enrique slightly furrowed his brow, just as his father had done earlier.
“In this situation, an alliance… Are you asking Shamier to participate in the war?”
Enrique asked in a somewhat stiff voice. Lord Theovan nodded.
“That’s correct. However, we’re not requesting a large-scale military deployment. Prince, do you remember the wedding gifts Ruben sent to Shamier?”
“I do.”
“Because of that, Shamier must have acquired a powerful cavalry unit. All Shamier needs to do is deploy that cavalry unit in the war. And keep Monta in check from behind.”
“Even if that’s all, it doesn’t change the fact that our Shamier would be forming an alliance with Ruben and intervening in the war. And we have no particular reason to jump into this war.”
The King of Shamier said in a heavy voice.
Enrique observed his father’s expression. Enrique’s father had lost two grown sons in a past war with Baron. It was unlikely that the King of Shamier, carrying such pain, would throw his country into war again.
“Of course, from Shamier’s perspective, you might think there’s no particular reason or benefit to getting involved in this war. But I believe your thoughts might change a bit when you hear the proposal I’ve brought.”
“Forget the proposal. Our Shamier has absolutely no intention of getting involved in the war, so understand that.”
The King of Shamier said firmly. Enrique tapped the armrest while observing Theovan’s confident gaze. Ruben must have anticipated the King of Shamier’s refusal. Yet, the fact that he maintained such a confident look suggested that he had brought a very appealing proposal that might tempt Shamier.
“Father.”
After finishing his thoughts, Enrique called out to his father. The King of Shamier looked at Enrique with an expression that suggested he didn’t particularly want to hear more. In normal circumstances, Enrique would have considered his father’s feelings as much as possible, but the situation was different now. He had a feeling this was a very big opportunity.
“Why don’t we at least hear the proposal? There’s no harm in listening, is there?”
Enrique persuaded his father with diplomatic words. And before the King of Shamier could answer, he added:
“I’m curious about what Ruben’s proposal might be. Your grandson also wants to hear it.”
As Enrique spoke while stroking his swollen lower abdomen, the King of Shamier’s stern expression instantly softened.
“…Since the prince insists so much, we’ll at least hear the proposal.”
The King of Shamier gave his permission. Lord Theovan smiled slightly. He looked confident of acceptance even before speaking.
“We at Ruben have no intention of ending this war halfheartedly. Once we’ve drawn our sword, we intend to see it through to the end.”
Enrique couldn’t help but be surprised by these unexpected words. His hand gripping the armrest involuntarily tightened.
“See it through to the end… Surely you don’t mean you intend to completely conquer Monta and Baron?”
In response to Enrique’s question, Theovan nodded heavily.
“That’s correct.”
A heavy silence briefly fell over the audience hall. Even the ministers lined up near the King of Shamier looked shocked. To completely conquer Monta and Baron – this was an enormous statement and declaration.
“Is Ruben truly intending to restart a war of conquest?”
The King of Shamier asked quietly.
“Not necessarily. We at Ruben are solely aiming to conquer Monta and Baron. You need not worry at all about the war spreading to other countries afterward.”
“Hmm…”
The King of Shamier let out a thoughtful sound. Beneath a calm exterior, Enrique’s mind was racing with complex thoughts.
He knew that Anture’s beating of the Monta envoy would become an issue. He had also anticipated that Anture might be considering war with Monta. Even Baron’s participation was within Enrique’s calculations.
But that was as far as it went.
Since Anture’s goal was to fully possess Enrique, he thought it would end with sufficiently trampling both countries to obtain reparations and break off the engagement. But to think they intended to completely conquer Monta and Baron… Even Enrique hadn’t dared to consider that far.
After thinking for a moment, Enrique addressed Theovan.
“I understand Ruben’s intentions. I believe the Ruben Empire is more than capable of dealing with Baron and Monta. But why do you specifically want our Shamier to participate?”
“Rather than explaining the reason myself, I’d like you to first look at this draft agreement.”
Lord Theovan pulled out a scroll from his breast and held it out with both hands.
At a nod from the King of Shamier, the head servant approached and took the scroll to pass it on. Enrique forcibly suppressed the urge to jump up from his chair and view it alongside his father. Instead, he quietly watched as the King of Shamier unrolled the scroll and read it.
“Hmm…”
After reading through the entire scroll, the King of Shamier let out a faint thoughtful sound. The creases between his brows deepened and lightened repeatedly. After some time had passed like this, the King of Shamier handed the scroll to Enrique. Enrique took it and immediately began reading.
As Enrique read through the draft, the creases between his brows also deepened and lightened repeatedly. Only after reading through it twice more in succession did Enrique raise his head.
“Shamier forms an alliance with Ruben, deploys its cavalry unit, and keeps Monta’s rear attack in check. After the war ends, in return, it gains ownership of Monta’s territory?”
As it was a draft of an agreement between countries, the wording was verbose and complex, but the essence was just that one line.
“That’s correct. After successfully conquering Monta and Baron, Ruben will own Baron’s territory, and Shamier will own Monta’s territory.”
Upon hearing Theovan’s words, the ministers began to murmur. Enrique’s hand holding the draft agreement involuntarily tightened. The ambition rising in his chest was almost uncontrollable.
Originally, Shamier was a country that survived on intermediary trade. What Shamier desperately lacked was a port. But if it were to absorb Monta’s territory, which bordered the sea, Shamier would be able to engage in maritime trade with the entire continent via sea routes!
Just the imagination of it sent excitement and euphoria coursing through his body. The glorious future of Shamier flickered before his eyes. But Enrique tried to remain calm without revealing his inner thoughts. This was a crucial decision that would determine Shamier’s national fate. It wasn’t something to rush into just seeing the good points.
“This is a very significant matter, so a decision can only be made after detailed discussions among my father and the ministers.”
As Enrique spoke calmly, Theovan nodded as if he had expected this. Enrique clenched his fist as he watched Theovan bow and withdraw. And he thought of Anture, who must be behind all of this.
‘Anture… Since when have you been planning such an enormous scheme?’
*
After Theovan withdrew, everyone, led by the King of Shamier, moved to the conference room. As soon as the King of Shamier took his seat, those who had barely been holding their tongues began to pour out excited words all at once.
“Your Majesty, this is a war we absolutely must win. It’s only right that our Shamier participates as well.”
“That’s right. We’re talking about Monta’s territory. Monta operates no less than two massive trade ports. If we absorb Monta, our Shamier will be able to accumulate enormous wealth!”
“I agree as well. The condition is simply to deploy only the cavalry unit without a large-scale military dispatch and just keep Monta in check from the rear. That level of military power is certainly worth investing.”
Usually, when deciding on such important matters, factions tend to form. But most of the ministers came forward actively advocating for participation. The potential gains far outweighed the investment. Especially since the alliance partner was the Ruben Empire. No matter how much Baron and Monta formed an alliance and responded jointly, there was no thought that they could defeat the Ruben Empire.
“But this is war.”
The King of Shamier said with a gloomy face. Enrique read in his father’s eyes the sorrow of losing his sons in the past, and the fear that it might repeat. Moreover, one of the opponents they would be fighting this time was Baron, who had caused the loss of his sons. The King of Shamier was worried that tragedy might repeat itself.
But Enrique, who knew his father well, could glimpse beyond the King of Shamier’s gloomy gaze a faint flickering desire for revenge. This was his father who had to negotiate with Baron and maintain peace as a neutral country even after losing two sons. How terribly must his insides have rotted every time he saw Baron’s envoys.
