Chapter : 123

Giving strength was nothing special. It was just praising and mentioning Gertmann, the second son of the Duke of Bourgogne, to everyone I met.

-Have you seen the second young lord? He is better than I thought.

-Lord Gertmann is very fair, isn’t he? He works so well that it seems good to collaborate with him. I plan to proceed with related matters through him in the future.

-You are truly blessed. To work with someone like Lord Gertmann. If I could, I would like to bring him to my territory…. Unfortunately, since he is the Duke of Bourgogne’s second son, it is impossible.

In a way, they were very childish lines, but there were two effects gained by doing this.

First.

Appealing to the presence of the second son, Gertmann, who had only been playing a supporting role without any presence until now. Showing the influential people of the Duchy of Bourgogne, who only looked at the first son Charles, that there was another option called the second son Gertmann.

Next, and most importantly, the second.

As long as I continuously said I wanted to work through the second son Gertmann, the influential people of the Bourgogne region had no choice but to use Gertmann to establish a connection with me.

In the era of [Pangea Universalise], a meeting between nobles was not something that could happen just because one wanted to meet.

Having appropriate fame and appropriate connections to create a link was the culture of face-saving for nobles of this era.

In short, Gertmann inadvertently became the key man one must meet if they wanted to communicate with the Margrave of Bellua.

“You are truly…. Truly a fox, a fox.”

“Oho. Magician Agpiel. I just did it purely because that friend works well.”

“Tsk tsk. Is that so.”

“Khm, still, as you said, I didn’t blatantly scheme.”

“That is why I am not saying anything….”

Magician Agpiel shook his head while speaking.

Actually, the effect was better than expected, too good. People were really contacting the second son Gertmann to meet me.

Gertmann, who had never experienced such a thing, innocently came to me and asked if he could arrange a meeting.

Truly…. He was an innocent friend, untainted by the world.

‘Hmm…. Then should I just check the Duke of Bourgogne’s reaction now?’

Since I touched it this much, there must be a reaction. Depending on the degree of reaction, it would be decided whether it was truly pure goodwill or if there was an ulterior motive.

* * *

There was no way the Duke of Bourgogne wouldn’t know about this situation. He was a man whose goal was to break away from the Elang Kingdom and establish his own kingdom.

The Duke of Bourgogne was someone who saw what was happening within his territory as clearly as if it were in the palm of his hand.

“Haha, the young fellow is quite insidious.”

Thanks to that, the Duke of Bourgogne had to let out a hollow laugh in disbelief after receiving the report on this matter.

Should he call it clever?

If he got angry over this, the public who knew nothing might think he was causing a dispute over a trivial matter.

But look.

With just three inches of the Margrave of Bellua’s tongue, factions were about to form in the Duchy of Bourgogne.

“We must take action. Father-!”

The first son, Charles, shouted, huffing and puffing. He seemed quite angry.

Charles had received all the attention in the Duchy of Bourgogne until now.

But suddenly, eyes were turning to the second son Gertmann?

“This is unacceptable. Father. How dare he…. The Margrave of Bellua is doing something beyond his station.”

Charles had absolutely no intention of sharing his territory with his brother, nor did he ever imagine that his brother Gertmann would dare become his competitor.

“Haha…. Right, my first son.”

Of course, the Duke of Bourgogne was displeased with his first son acting like this.

“For what reason will you take action? Just for the trivial reason that he praised your brother?”

“Uh…. Well….”

Only then did Charles become flustered and start to slur his words.

Even he thought it was petty to say something for such a reason.

“Tsk tsk…. Lacking, truly lacking.”

The Duke of Bourgogne clicked his tongue.

“If you respond emotionally to things like this, you will eventually suffer a loss. If the succession structure is shaken by such a trivial matter, will the people under you trust and follow you?”

“B-but father…. If we leave it alone, won’t it grow like a poisonous mushroom?”

“Why don’t you think of using the opponent at all?”

“What…? Use him?”

“Use the Margrave’s praise. embrace his praise generously. Rather, if you praise the second son, wouldn’t your reputation and position rise even more?”

“Ah…!”

Only then did Charles let out a sigh of realization.

“It will be an opportunity to clearly show who is the one handling things and who is the one being handled. Rather.”

“Yes. And furthermore, intercept it. Make it go through you in the middle. You can just say you heard it and will convey it to the second son to arrange it.”

“Certainly. Then I will go through with it anyway. Father.”

Charles’s face brightened as if the solution was satisfactory.

Truly lacking, so lacking.

The Duke of Bourgogne was slightly annoyed that he had to step in for such a matter, but he also felt interested for the first time in a while.

Like the loose tension was tightening up?

‘A quite decent fellow has appeared after a long time….’

Revealing insidious schemes already, if they joined hands, they might be able to paint a quite decent picture.

Just in time, since he maintained an independent force in the southern region, if that happened, it would surely feel like a terrible result from the King’s perspective as well.

‘Of course…. I must proceed with what I am proceeding with.’

The Duke of Bourgogne had never thought that he, who tried to strike first, would be struck first.

* * *

“Oh….”

“Haha. Certainly, the Duke of Bourgogne is formidable. He properly flipped the board I painstakingly made.”

“See that. Didn’t I say he was insidious? Magician Agpiel.”

At first, it seemed to shake a little, but suddenly the first son Charles stepped up and seized control of this situation in an instant.

The second son Gertmann was pushed to the background before anyone knew it, and the first son Charles began to directly manage major affairs.

If he were an ordinary noble, the second son Gertmann would have forgotten his place and acted indulgently.

But the second son Gertmann’s choice?

Far from enjoying the attention focused on him, he was willingly following the family’s orders without complaint.

“It seems your plan will go completely awry? Far from insurance, it seems it will become a completely rotten rope?”

“Hehe…. Indeed. It is certainly more solid than I thought.”

At Magician Agpiel’s words, I smirked.

Well, isn’t it one of the best families in the kingdom, no, almost the continent?

The response of the Duke of Bourgogne’s family was truly neat and standard.

“But still, we can know this from it. As you said…. The Duke of Bourgogne must have some ulterior motive. Haha.”

“You realized that just now? My words are correct, right? Magician Agpiel.”

Even though he saw through the scheme, the Duke of Bourgogne was still kind. No, rather, the first son, Lord Charles, was approaching me to treat me even better.

Even if there was something regrettable, he wouldn’t go this far.

Surely, he intends to gain something by inducing my carelessness….

‘I wonder what it is?’

While thinking that, contact came from my territory.

It was a letter sent by Chamberlain Hamil.

-Recent trends are suspicious.

-Meetings between Juana and the feudal vassals are becoming frequent.

-People using the accent of the northern region of the kingdom are secretly attending those meetings.

As expected, as expected was as expected.

* * *

The fun thing about the world is that there is always something called a variable.

Because of this variable, the expected result was often overturned. Just like when he won the War of Succession with the Anjou Kingdom.

So King Valois always liked variables.

At least until just now.

“Interesting. So you mean the operation in the east was all in vain?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I apologize. I have no face to show you.”

“Apologize for what. It was just bad luck.”

At Chancellor Richelieu’s words, King Valois clicked his tongue.

This matter.

Truly, as he said, it was just bad luck. How could the Margrave of Bellua pass through the operation area right then, and how could the Margrave know the cure?

It was truly a terrible coincidence and a terrible variable.

“How is Baron Vigneux’s movement? Richelieu.”

“Fortunately, Baron Vigneux doesn’t seem to have grasped it exactly yet. Of course, it is a situation where it is difficult to talk about it recklessly. However….”

“However?”

“Intelligence suggests that Baron Vigneux is likely to go under the Margrave.”

As the report continued, King Valois felt despondent. Work done for a long 4 years. How much effort had he put in to approach the relative of the Holy Roman Emperor as a servant?

But everything went wrong, and someone else picked the fruit.

“It is a pity, as it was another card to pressure the Duke of Bourgogne.”

“At least it won’t have a big impact on the grand scheme. Wasn’t it just one of many plans anyway? Your Majesty.”

“Haha, that is true but…. The effort poured in so far has been in vain. How despondent must the friends who worked hard all this time be?”

At the King’s words, Richelieu bowed his head.

Everyone looks at King Valois and calls him an iron-blooded, heartless king, but he knew well that it wasn’t true.

A person with many surprisingly tender points.

But for the ideal he dreams of, he hides it thoroughly and acts. Despite the criticism of outsiders.

So Richelieu respected and sincerely followed his monarch, Valois.

“For now, I don’t think we should leave the Margrave of Bellua alone. He is getting too close to the Duke of Bourgogne. Your Majesty. They say they are joining forces to pioneer a trade relay market this time too.”

“That is true, but how?”

Breaking out of his sentimentality, King Valois asked back.

“We should either alienate them, or if not that, appease him to our side.”

“Hmm….”

Either a whip or a carrot.

Various methods flashed through King Valois’s head. But no method that he liked came to mind.

There wasn’t much he could give. Wasn’t he the one standing opposite the feudal lords in the first place?

Lost in thought for a moment.

Breaking the silence, King Valois looked at Chancellor Richelieu.

“I can think of various ways for the whip, but nothing particularly comes to mind for appeasement. What are your thoughts?”

“Would mine be any different? It is a traditional method.”

“Surely not marriage?”

Then Chancellor Richelieu nodded.

“Yes, isn’t there a princess just at the right age?”

“Hmm… That child is not easy to control.”

The King frowned.

His daughter, Maceania.

Raised in the Duchy of Aquitaine with its rich and free atmosphere, she was full of vigor, unlike a lady.

Even if he ordered, there was no guarantee she would follow obediently.

King Valois thought so.

“Since she is also royalty, she must know her duties well. Trust her and leave it to her. Your Majesty.”

“Hmm….”

With a reluctant expression, King Valois nodded.

Well, she was a smart child. Smart enough that if she weren’t a woman, he would have wanted to make her his successor.

As Richelieu said, she might know the meaning of her status as a princess well.

“Propose the marriage. Your Majesty. There is nothing bad even if he refuses. Since we have nothing to lose.”

“That would be true.”

“Moreover, if he accepts, it means we hold another threatening sword following Count Bozen.”

Correct words.

The moment the Margrave of Bellua accepts the marriage alliance, the Duchy of Bourgogne must worry not only about the Holy Empire but also about the Bellua Margraviate below.

A sort of three-way encirclement.

“But wouldn’t it be unlikely?”

Too optimistic a prediction.

Possibility is too slim.

“Would the Margrave accept the marriage proposal? Looking at what I heard through Baron Pierre, he seems like a formidable fellow. Doesn’t he show signs of trying to check us by sticking to the Holy See?”

“Well, he has done quite well so far. Haha.”

Chancellor Richelieu laughed heartily.

“However.”

Then stopping his laughter, Chancellor Richelieu continued with sparkling eyes.

“Just the fact that a marriage proposal is going back and forth will increase the burden on the Duke of Bourgogne. Actually, isn’t that the most important thing?”

“Right. That is the most important thing.”

“Besides, you know, don’t you? The Duke is a suspicious person. A person who has only manipulated others his whole life….”

The Chancellor trailed off again.

For a moment, King Valois anticipated the words that would come out of Chancellor Richelieu’s mouth.

“Surely you?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. How flustered would the Duke be if he experienced it directly? He should experience the same thing once.”

“Hahahaha. Right, that is enough. Let’s try splashing some dung water on their party.”

King Valois laughed heartily.

Scheming isn’t something only the Duke can do. As Chancellor Richelieu said, there was a need to feed him one.

“Chamberlain! Are you outside?”

“Yes. Your Majesty.”

“Good. Call the herald immediately. And…. Contact Maceania. Tell her this father wants to see her.”

Ideally, what expression will the Duke make upon hearing this proposal? And what choice will the Margrave of Bellua make?

King Valois was extremely curious about that.

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