「Marius-dono. I’m sorry to impose on you on such short notice」
「Don’t mind it, Loic-dono. Thank you for your prompt action」
After a light greeting exchange, Marquis Blaureite looked at me.
He speaks up with a slight smile mixed with a troubled look.
「I thought we were going for a simple investigation, but it seems that we’ve gotten involved in some troublesome situation」
「No, there was no harm on us」
「You didn’t bring Euphilite with you」
「Yes. She’s with Silka-sama right now」
「I see. Silka-sama must be hurt. I feel bad for her」
The Marquis looks sad, thinking that the girl is in despair.
She’s more pissed off than sad.
After that light conversation, the Marquis urged me to sit down, and the Duke and I sat on the sofa.
Then, the Duke takes out a letter from his pocket, places it on the desk, and sits opposite to the Marquis
「I didn’t expect them to make such a one-sided declaration of cancellation. Furthermore, they made this decision without talking to me. They must’ve gained the support of Skesoul and Zornwick」
The two names the Marquis mentioned must’ve been a house within the five families.
Are you saying that the two families worked together to break off the engagement one-sidedly?
The Marquis, who was biting his lip lightly as if he was thinking, exhaled through his nose and continued…
「The light magic that the Dawson house obtained is the same light magic that Kotori gave up before」
「I can’t say for sure as the skill value is unknown, but the timing is probably right」
「Kotori, don’t misunderstand. I’m not blaming you. This is what Marius-dono petitioned in advance. This was just a confirmation. Don’t mind it. Well, I’m inclined to complain a little, but that’s not going to make anything better」
「Thank you for your generosity」
Phew.
I’m relieved that the Marquis isn’t angry at me.
I mean, the Duke must’ve put something in his letter that covered me?
I looked at him as he was sitting next to me and smiled to show him my gratitude. Then he smiled back as if to say that I shouldn’t worry about it.
I don’t want him to drink too much but I’ll bring him some good sake next time.
「Still, this is a troublesome situation」
The words Marquis muttered sounded like a question to himself than to us.
He looks like he’s thinking for a moment, then he speaks to the Duke.
「Before talking about the future, let me apologize first. I’m sorry for the Carlitz house」
「Loic-dono, there’s no need for that. I’m also looking for my own interests. Don’t let it bother you」
「Very well… It helps to hear that. Then, I have to ask. What’s your response to Marius-dono breaking the engagement?」
「I don’t think it’s possible to mend this. We’ll have no choice but to accept the broken engagement. However, our prestige is on the line if we don’t make a protest. So, I would seek a meeting with the Sisgran house today」
「Very well. I’ll accompany you. If I tell them that I’m coming, you won’t have to wait」
「That’s reassuring. Thank you」
I knew that the Marquis was a big part of that engagement.
And so, the Duke got on board because he thought he would profit from it.
Well, This is within expectations.
The two finished talking, and they looked at me, asking “What about you?”
Huh? Me?
When I said nothing, the Marquis spoke to tell me what was going on.
「What are your thoughts, Kotori-dono. If you have any ideas, please tell us」
No, no, even if you ask me, I don’t know what to say?!
I don’t have much information, so there’s no way you can get anything from me.
So, I have to be honest here.
「Err, uhm, I’m sorry to say this but may I?」
「We don’t mind, say it」
「That’s… You see, Euphy and I were approached to do a survey shortly after visiting this country, so while we have some understanding of the situation, there are still a lot of unknowns. For example, why did two of the five families support breaking off the engagement as mentioned earlier, after hearing it, I couldn’t guess what would happen as a result. Therefore, I’m not sure how to answer」
The Marquis looked surprised at what I said, which I gave out looking timid.
「I see. I know I asked you to investigate the situation in such a short time so I didn’t give that much explanation. Hmm, you got involved this far… I suppose an explanation is in order」
Is the Marquis going to explain things?
Duke Carlitz sitting next to me has a nonchalant face, different from when he’s drinking, but Marquqis Blaureite is also a noble person so there’s an image.
To think that he’ll do the talking.
「The story isn’t that difficult to follow. It was just six months ago. It all started when Holes-dono, the eldest of the Sisgran family, was struck with the Mauler Disease As a result, the second prince became the next head of the family, and we were forced to move in that situation」
He’s having trouble because of some mysterious illness from the start, it’s unstoppable so let’s stay silent.
「Kotori, are you aware that the second prince’s mother is the daughter of one who holds the position of Cardinal for the Order of the Winged Goddess?」
「Yes. The Duke told me before
「Then I’ll omit the explanation. If the second prince, whose mother’s influence is strong, becomes the head of the house. The Sisgran house will tilt from a neutral standpoint and towards the Winged Goddess. Considering the well-being of this country, it’s undesirable」
「Is that about the Nyhied Kingdom?」
「Indeed. Our country is sandwiched between two strong countries. If we lose our current balance, the tension between nations will increase and our peace will be in danger. Nevertheless, the Thornwick house has shown an attitude allying with the Winged Goddess, and the Skesoul family is leaning toward the Winged Goddess as well. Well, our Blaureite house is also connected to the Nyhied Kingdom, but I want you to have the idea of using it instead of following the country to survive」
In short, this is about the future of the country, which is a buffer, between the Nyhied kingdom and the Winged Goddess territory.
And so, Marquis Blaureite has the territory to the west of the country, which is geographically close to the Nyhied Kingdom. He has a close political relationship with them, so having a fiance who is at least in the neutral position, and has more influence, means that Silka-chan is sent over so the influence won’t go further.
I guess the Marquis’s wording is true, but I feel like he’s moving things in consideration of his interests.
Haa, this politics talk that I have no connection with is so strong that it’s frying my brain.
After hearing this, it seems that all five other lords had approved the engagement.
「Putting Thornwick aside, there was some transaction from behind as Skesoul, who had a neutral stance in this matter, changed his idea. Most likely, from the Dawsons who want to push their daughter. Due to the deep ties to the bookstore of fertility, they have enough power to move the two houses. It’s also heavily used by the second Queen, and Silas-dono is a big existence」
I heard that Ringlet-chan’s house has the count title, so I thought that business alone wouldn’t have that much power, but they have an influence too.
So, what’s the bookstore?
Why can you move a great noble if you have a connection with bookstores?
「What’s the bookstore of fertility?」
「It’s a commercial division operated by the Winged Goddess group. If you compare it to this country, then it would be something like a business circle managed by the nobles. Just think that the country is running it. Although it’s a bookstore in front, it handles not only books but various other things. The Dawson house is the only house that can trade with them directly from our country, and so they’ve made a big fortune. No noble in Loureshou is uninvolved with the items the Bookstore of Fertility is selling」
「I see. I understand now. Thank you」
So they’re the only noble family who can trade directly with the commercial division of a major power.
This sounds like a lot of money.
But, if that were their strength.
「Kotori, do you have any ideas」
「Huh? No, nothing」
「Really? It seemed like you had something in your mind」
That was close.
I guess my thoughts were showing on my face that the Marquis got suspicious.
Actually, I wasn’t thinking of something big.
The only thing on my mind was just harassing the Dawson house.
I fixed my face which was leaking my thoughts to its normal state, and the Marquis who lost suspicion dropped his posture.
「Very well. I hope you understand the story so far」
「Yes. However, I still don’t have any ideas…」
「It’s inevitable. What Kotori can do is limited. Even I didn’t expect that much」
That’s true, but the bluntness is painful.
You shouldn’t have asked in the first place.