「I knew it was coming… but it is finally here, then.」
「Yes.」
The setting was the King’s office within the Univance Kingdom.
King Wilmott still held his duties until the New Year, but he had no complaints regarding the work of Schnitt, the next King, who had been managing the actual state affairs as Prime Minister for several years.
King Wilmott, sitting on the sofa and relaxing like a retired old man, frowned at the official letter that had been delivered.
The sender was the Minister of Internal Affairs of the Selswin Republic. The subject was 『Discussion Regarding the Anti-Dragon Allied Forces.』
「Since when did the Minister of Internal Affairs of that country begin handling foreign affairs as well?」
「I do not know. At the very least, it must be a recent development.」
The young future King, who had been considering future personnel changes at his desk, also looked exasperated as he scanned the letter, which clearly wasn’t their true objective.
「According to this, it says the Minister of Internal Affairs will come in person because there is an 『important matter he wishes to discuss』. It seems the information brought by the witch the other day was correct.」
「I see. So that means they intend to bring a baby who they claim is Argusta’s “child”?」
「And likely someone claiming to be the mother as well.」
Schnitt rotated his shoulders slightly and shifted his focus.
The current King, who had been observing his son’s reaction, spoke up.
「What about the report from Halfren?」
「It has arrived. There is no doubt that the woman claiming to be the mother is Lady Larshum, the second daughter of the mid-tier noble House of Logray.」
There was no error in his words, he had memorized everything. Even so, Wilmott questioned him further.
「Are there any other candidates?」
「I had a thorough investigation conducted. She is the only missing daughter of the appropriate age who fits the description.」
「Then there is no mistake.」
He took pride in the domestic investigation network he had built since his youth, which was one of the finest on the continent.
Halfren, who had inherited it, had strengthened it further by recruiting his own unique personnel. The accuracy of the report was unshakable.
Wilmott closed his eyes and fell into deep thought.
「This is troublesome.」
His true feelings leaked out.
Schnitt could only give a wry smile upon hearing that.
Wilmott, as the King, had made a promise under his own name.
『I will never allow any trouble to come from the matter of Argusta’s lover.』
「No matter how I think about it, we cannot settle this quietly this time.」
「The enemy will be extremely wary of methods such as assassination.」
「Yes. If one of our agents were to be captured, our position would become overwhelmingly disadvantageous.」
The Republic was prepared to use a method equivalent to blackmailing a nation.
It was easy to imagine that their security would be tight.
「What shall we do on our end?」
「Yes. Lady Larshum crossed over to another country without the Kingdom’s permission. The Republic will likely insist that it was an act of 『exile』. Therefore, we will strike at that specific point.」
「Continue.」
Prompted by the current King, Schnitt began to voice his plan.
「Lady Larshum has defected and is now a citizen of the Republic. There is no precedent for a foreign national filing a 『paternity claim』 against a member of our Kingdom’s royalty. Therefore, I will move to establish a new law immediately.」
「I see. It is not a bad move, but won’t the nobles who are being bribed with the Republic’s pocket change oppose it?」
It was a predictable reaction.
That was exactly why Wilmott wanted to hear the details of his son’s thinking.
「Yes. That is why I will propose two laws simultaneously: first, that 『if a foreign citizen claims paternity, it will not be recognized unless the parentage is clearly proven,』 and second, that 『if a foreign citizen claims paternity, an inquiry commission must be held.』」
「I see. So, you will let them reject the former while forcing the latter through?」
「Exactly.」
Wilmott fell back into thought. It was certainly not a bad method.
However, it was weak. One might even call it far too fragile.
「And what if the inquiry commission recognizes the child as 『Argusta’s son』?」
「…There is a possibility. However, the opponent fled this country for a time. Any evidence that the child is of Argusta’s seed is—」
「You are being naive, Schnitt.」
「What?」
Because he was the serious eldest son, he tended to expose his weaknesses in situations like this.
「If the enemy were Halfren, he would simply manufacture and submit evidence. Evidence… meaning witnesses.」
「……」
The son pressed his lips tightly together at his father’s words.
「If only one person went missing, they would track down those who were socializing at the same time and still remain in this country, then tempt them with gold. What if they were told, 『You only need to say that Larshum and Argusta were meeting in secret』, and were handed a fortune? If they are told it won’t actually overthrow the country, the sons and daughters of impoverished nobles will be bought off easily.」
Yes. That was the strength of the Republic, an economic superpower.
「…Indeed, I had not considered such a method.」
Schnitt’s shoulders slumped as he realized his oversight.
However, Wilmott did not lower his evaluation of his son for such a thing. Their specialties were simply different.
「I have had you learn the public face of the nation. And I have had Halfren learn the shadow side. Do you understand what that means?」
「…That the two of us must manage the country together.」
「Exactly. You two are two parts of a single whole. Talk to Halfren and decide on a course of action. However, you do not have much time.」
「I understand.」
Wilmott, who would become the former King and retire in half a year, was relentless in training his son.
Even if this matter resulted in failure, he was prepared to shoulder all the responsibility himself.
The only slightly troublesome part was that Argusta’s thoughts were the only ones he couldn’t quite read.
「In any case… we must eventually tell Argusta everything.」
「Yes.」
Wilmott turned a kind gaze toward his nodding son and spoke as a father.
「One really shouldn’t become a member of the royal family. It is nothing but trouble… one can never truly relax.」
「That is true.」
「Thinking of it that way, perhaps the lifestyle Argusta speaks of is a sort of ideal after all.」
To live a life of peace and quiet in retirement… even if such a thing was a grand luxury.
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