Chapter 197

Chapter 197

***

People don't change. You don't fix and reuse humans. I occasionally hear such sayings. But was that true?

The me of childhood and the me of now were different, and how can I be sure the future me will be like now?

If a person changes, what mmade a person change? If they changed was it growth, or corruption.

Even looking back at oneself you can only vaguely know, there was nothing clear. Because it was difficult for all humans to be strict towards themselves.

One person between Rickart and Marie definitely had to stay in the Kingdom, and Rickart was chased by a busy schedule in the Royal Castle lately yet occasionally fell into contemplation.

In his past life he lived purely like a machine, and in his current life he occasionally thought a lot when young, but it seemed he couldn't did so lately.

The reason why was because when he was young he had various questions about the world.

If asking oneself were those questions resolved now? It didn't seem exactly so. To speak a bit more accurately, determining my own answers and making my own path.

Even if having experienced tragic matters in the past, if one can cultivate the present diligently and make a hopeful future what could be more rewarding than that?

It's not that the passed past was unimportant, and looking back was a sufficiently valuable matter, but one shouldn't be fettered. Rickart thought so.

Merely, at first the Master's Federation was created to protect Stormhearts and the respective organizations of his family and friends.

However as they made it, he thought it would be good if other people could also receive help like this.

As a result the work gradually grew. Moreover because it was the first time doing the work, even Rickart with an extraordinary brain couldn't predict everything and formulate a plan.

Amidst that an incident completely happened eventually.

"It seems they have already formed a dense siege net from afar and narrowed it down. They do not attack hastily, and setting up several temporary posts intermediately they do not permit even the attempt to break through the siege net at all. The Fifth Prince attacks but actually it is a situation where the Federation has to attack so it is twice as troublesome. The Queen abandons the headquarters and says she will fight a desperate resistance together with your father in the Stormhearts Castle."

Paolo said. He who was at least free to move compared to Marie, fortunately while briefly out of the headquarters an incident occurred so he came running to Rickart in one breath to report.

Rickart sat on the throne made of stone steeped in eternal history, and heard that story. Wearing a sword at his waist and an iron crown on his head, his posture was slightly crooked.

Outwardly there was no big agitation but inside his heart sank.

However unlike ordinary people, Rickart was a type whose heart pounded thump-thump when facing a crisis but whose head cooled down chillingly and thought faster than usual.

Because his body instinctively knew what increased the probability of escaping the crisis lay in cold-headedness, not an emotional response.

"Other members of the Council of Six?"

"Sir Bori and Sir Ice are by her side. Sir Bolka and Sir Karlrich, and the Benzinen group of Esk are conducting sabotage in the rear but how big an effect it will see is unknown."

Sabotage meant the totality of a kind of interference operations. Cutting off supply routes, disturbing the rear, leaking false information, and all interference activities like instigation, destruction, subversion, confusion against the target group.

Because the Master's Federation was not an organization operating an army that was the best they could did. They couldn't clash in field battles.

The Fifth Prince used his brain well, seemingly grasping that characteristic well and slowly narrowing the siege net.

"......"

Rickart seemed to think calmly even hearing a report worthy of being greatly surprised. At least that's how it looked to Paolo.

So Paolo admired Rickart once again. Because he thought he would run wild but he didn't.

Despite his hometown and wife being in danger Rickart tried to grasp the Fifth Prince's intention first. For what reason was he aiming for Marie, Stormhearts at this time?

Truly intending to eliminate Marie? If it becomes like that he becomes mortal enemies with me but there wasn't much profit. Disbanding the Master's Federation wasn't a big gain from his perspective either. By needlessly hitting the Master's Federation wouldn't it result in an advantageous outcome for his archrival the Second Prince.

"How about requesting help from the Second Prince? Suppose he attacks from the flank while the Fifth Prince strikes Stormhearts, since we would be able to take a sufficiently advantageous position."

"No. The Fifth Prince has already matched words with the Second Prince."

"......Are you certain?"

"In politics or diplomacy an enemy becomes an ally like flipping the palm of a hand, and an ally sometimes becomes an enemy too right? If a third, common enemy appears a temporary alliance can be formed as much as they want. Marie would have been a hindrance to both of them, and since she stimulated many nobles in the meantime they would consider the justification sufficient."

"Then we have no choice but to raise an army too. Issue a mobilization order even now and if you lead the Royal Knights and go first before that I will protect the Royal Castle."

Rickart pondered deeply at Paolo's words, then shook his head this time too. Paolo knew well how to formulate wise and subtle stratagems, but his military strategic insight couldn't compare to Rickart's.

"No. I don't move. Because what the Fifth Prince wishes for must be me moving."

"Yes? What does that mean?"

Since Marie and Stormhearts were in an urgent emergency right now yet he spoke a story from another perspective Paolo couldn't understand quickly.

"The Fifth Prince, so probably he and the Second Prince made an agreement. What would they have agreed upon? From what I see it is stripping Marie of her current position. I take charge of the Chairman position again, and Marie stepping down and entering the Royal Castle. Because what is most threatening to those two is not my military power but the person herself who has the right to inherit the Imperial Throne. Probably if I take charge of the Chairman position they will say they will officially recognize the Federation. But if it becomes like that, wouldn't it be no different from the Adventurer's Guild that was under the Emperor in the past? It means they become a puppet. As you Paolo also know Marie decided to become the Emperor, and I also agreed. Suppose my judgement is correct, and the Fifth Prince makes such a proposal, if I accept the proposal our goal is frustrated."

Even that smart Paolo seemed to somewhat understand and not understand.

Simply speaking the Fifth Prince was currently doing a kind of transaction or threat saying Rickart you continue playing house with the Federation or whatever, and have Marie guard the inner room.

From Rickart interpreting the current state of affairs, it was so. In case that interpretation were wrong it was truly dangerous.

"And one more thing, as you also know the Master's Federation struggles in field battles but we established it to do siege defense battles definitely no matter what happens. If the army of Adelorn mobilizes every time there is a matter like this what is the reason for the Federation's existence? I think Marie or my friends understand this part. Especially it is true that Marie was hasty but it was a part we had to address eventually. What is different between before establishing the Federation and now, is that preparations are complete. I intend to bet on that."

"......"

Putting it nicely he had extraordinary guts, putting it badly it seemed like he was throwing his weight around when it wasn't a situation for it. This was literally something like a hero's qualification, surpassing the problem of intellect or intelligence.

Because in the one in ten thousand chance someone might be able to think like Rickart, they wouldn't be able to execute like Rickart.

"You said the Viola Clan and Benzinen are doing sabotage right? Then they can't throw in a lot of personnel into the siege. Suppose the Fifth Prince overdoes it, it only gives a chance to the Second Prince. It's making the same mistake as losing to the Second Prince last time. Even if they temporarily joined hands now, how much could the Second Prince endure if he shows a gap?"

"......But suppose, all these judgements of the King, are wrong?"

"Whether a swordsman or a merchant, isn't it the same that someone with a gambler's temperament succeeds greatly? However merchants like you don't risk their lives and gamble. I am a swordsman and a knight, and a King. Family is important but if I were only going to care for my family I wouldn't have quit the shepherd work in the first place either. Looking at the whole I see this judgement as correct."

Conversing with Paolo Rickart seemed to gradually solidify his resolve. And actually, he didn't mobilize troops and didn't take any measures whatsoever.

As two days passed like that, an envoy actually came from the Fifth Prince's side.

Rickart received him calmly sitting on Adelorn's sacred throne created in the distant past. Though Raimund or other retainers glared exactly as if they would kill the envoy immediately.

The person who came as an envoy rolled his eyes looking here and there, then swallowed his saliva once and braced his mind.

"I meet the King of Adelorn. I am the Twenty-fourth Prince, called Harwich. The reason I visited this time is to deliver the will of Prince Bellator, and to hear words regarding it."

If he was twenty-fourth his succession rank was higher than Marie who was thirty-second. However, since succession rights were almost non-existent if not a child of the Empress there wasn't much difference.

Merely, there was a singularity that if the world was chaotic one could win the Imperial Throne with power. That was the difference between Marie and Harwich. Whether one had power, or didn't have it.

"Since the situation is what it is I cannot welcome you. However since you came as an envoy I will guarantee your safety. Speak your business comfortably."

As Rickart spoke calmly without anger unexpectedly Harwich who had been tense was rather bewildered. Because it was completely different from the reaction he expected.

Thanks to that he could somewhat lessen his tension more, and Harwich cleared his throat and said.

"Ahem, hem. What Prince Bellator conveyed is, since his sister Queen Martelia is not alone (pregnant) how about she stays in the Royal Castle. Traditionally men take care of external affairs, and women take care of household affairs is a universal custom throughout the entire Empire, so he said if the King steps out to the work of establishing justice and the Queen takes care of the Kingdom inside and outside would be in harmony."

At Harwich's words Paolo who was closest to Rickart flashed his eyes open. Because Rickart accurately pierced through the Fifth Prince's intention.

Hearing it directly from the envoy's mouth, the words Rickart said previously almost sounded exactly like a prophecy too.

And upon confirming it through the envoy's mouth Rickart, let out a big sigh of relief inside and smiled pleasantly.

"Indeed it is a word with reason. I will consider it. Prince stay and rest slowly. Since I will give you a good answer soon, eat and drink with a comfortable mind and rest."

Rickart hid his thoughts and spoke slyly exactly like raising several cunning snakes in his belly. His tone also became polite establishing courtesy to the Prince.

He didn't think it had reason either, and the word saying he would consider it, and the word saying he would give a good answer soon were not sincere either.

What Rickart wished for now was to hold the envoy for a long time and drag time. Because even if the Federation couldn't clash frontally with the army and defeat it, as time went by they could weaken the army.

The envoy not knowing anything smiled brightly and said.

"Thank you, Your Majesty. Indeed you seem a person befitting the reputation of the Empire's greatest hero."

"I do not like flattery, but praise heard from a Prince's mouth is endlessly pleasing. My Queen is a royal, and you are also a royal so calculating it aren't we all the same family?"

"That is true."

As he soothed him a little with words the envoy even laughed sneaking. To the extent of forgetting the Fifth Prince's directive to hear Rickart's answer as quickly as possible and return.

Paolo watching from the side, seemed his help wasn't greatly needed anymore apart from matters related to commerce.

Because now truly, if politics politics, if diplomacy diplomacy, Rickart was a seasoned King in all aspects.

Isn't it exactly like placing the two Princes and Great Nobles on his palm and playing with them. Paolo found it hard to believe Rickart was still growing.

A King this outstanding in all aspects, he was certain there wasn't any early on and wouldn't be any in the future either.