Chapter 137: Leo’s move

That concludes the report, Your Highness. It seems that His Highness Arnold plans to remain by Finne-samas side.

Leo was receiving the report in his room.

Reporting to him is a young man with brown hair who is slightly younger than Leo.

I seethat is so like Nii-san isnt it.

His determination may be splendid but a determination without an ability to back it up is meaningless, Your Highness.

The name of the brown-hair young man who evaluated Arnold as such is Utz von Lermann.

He is the son of Marquis Lermann, one of the first nobles who gave Leo his cooperation. When Leos faction was still weak, he went around to the rural areas to convince various nobles to give their support. It could be said that he is one of Leos most trusted nobles.

You are saying that Nii-sans action is meaningless?

His decision to stay with Finne-sama is splendid but I do not think that he would be able to last long against the nobles. I think that it would be wiser for him to take his distance here.

What you say is reasonable Utz. Certainly, it would be wiser to withdraw from the start if he will eventually be eliminated. Still, it is a good choice as long as hes not, right.

That is the problem, Your Highness. His abilities and the decision he made doesnt match. The nobles aiming for Finne-sama will try everything to eliminate His Highness Arnold. After all, if they cant do that then they certainly are not suitable for her. That was the reason His Highness Arnold gave. I am worried that he wont even last a week.

Leo bitterly smiles at Utzs evaluation of his brother.

Considering the general reputation of Al, a week is already a long period of time. This means that Utz does properly evaluate him.

However, Leos evaluation of his brother was far above Utzs.

I think that he can deal with anything that they will throw at him though.

Haa..Your Highness. Please stop overestimating him. Even though you two are twins, His Highness Arnold is still different from you.

Thats true. Nii-san is not like me. Thats why I am sure that he will find his own way to get through this.

Full confidence. Seeing him like that, Utz let out another sigh.

One of Leos few shortcomings is that he has too much faith in his family.

It is alright to believe in them but being too trusting is a flaw. Even if he is his twin brother, he needs to draw a line here.

Your Highness, the faction is gradually growing. We are not as small as before. If Your Highness put too much trust in His Highness Arnold I am afraid it will cause dissatisfaction in the future.

I am not. Even like this, I do draw a line even if he is my relative you know.

Leo unhesitantly tells Utz while looking straight into his eyes.

Seeing him like that, Utz involuntarily put to silence. He never thought that he would put that much faith in Arnold.

Well, I get it that it would look like I am favoring my own relative. So how about this? Wont you try staying by Nii-sans side for a while?

I am to serve under His Highness Arnold?

He might need some human resource you see.

Your Highness really is going to leave this to His Highness Arnold?

The results were visible to Utz.

Their opponent is a large number of nobles who joined the Seagull Covenant. If they really set out on eliminating Al then Al will surely suffer a series of disasters.

Being on the receiving end, Al would retire in just a week. That is what Utz is thinking. Plus, it will also cause damage to Leos faction if Al loses here as well.

The number of nobles that support us because of Finne-sama is not a few, Your Highness. We also have the case of the Ajin company as well. It will negatively affect us if we do not provide sufficient protection for Finne-sama. I think that Your Highness should spearhead this endeavor, no one could complain about it that way.

The Hero Prince who solved incidents after incidents. Leo has become prominent in the succession war to the extent that it is not unrealistic to see him as the next emperor. His fame and achievement are in no way inferior to the Blau Mowe.

In the first place, the dissatisfaction here stemmed from the nobles who are getting jealous because they are afraid that Finne might be taken away by the Dull Prince.

The situation will calm down if someone who they can not be jealous of stands at the forefront. That is what Utz is thinking. However, Leo has a different idea.

If I step out the problem may temporarily subside but the nobles who lost will cause a fuss again. I will bet that they will start to cooperate with Eric-aniue in retaliation. After all, he is someone that has the ability to eliminate me. Once that happens, the battle for Finne-san will happen. I think the reason why Nii-san personally put himself on the line was that he wanted to avoid that development. Their pride wont hold if they cant even get rid of the opponent they are looking down on after all. Im sure that they will just put up with it and give up.

Still, there will be people who cant give up but since they will be in a smaller number, there is no problem if Leo steps up and shuts them down then.

Leo explains so but Utzs expression was only half convinced. He cant believe that Al would be thinking that hard about it.

I understand what Your Highness is trying to say but.

In the end, it will all depend on whether or not Nii-san can reject them. So, Utz, I want you to stay by Nii-sans side.

I shall obey your order but what will you do in the meantime, Your Highness?

I have something that I have to do by myself. I will leave this one to Nii-san. If I go out myself, the problem will only get more complicated after all.

Saying so, Leo makes a bitter smile.

The problem might be over if he declares that Finne is his but doing so will create him a lot of enemies. That is not what Leo wishes for.

Some of the nobles who participated in the Seagull Covenant are also taking part in the succession war but a large number of them still maintain their neutrality. For young nobles, the succession war is still unknown territory and is often advised to stay away from it by their parents and surroundings.

They certainly can ride on a winning horse now but it is also possible that they will become a purge target as well. If they want something out of it then they would need a strong political power and that is hardly something that a young noble possess.

I know that this day would come when we started to utilize Finne-sans popularity. It is still sooner than I thought though. I will leave Nii-san to you then.

As you wish. I shall support him with all my power.

Un, Even if you think that it is irrational, please follow Nii-sans instructions okay.

Even if I consider it to be a bad move?

Yeah. Nii-san often does something that would look like a bad move at first glance after all. I think you will be able to see something interesting you know. It is rare for him to take initiative like this after all.

Your Highness really believes..that His Highness Arnold will be able to solve this problem?

Of course. If Nii-san cant do it then no one can. This problem is that complicated. After all, our opponent this time is moving with emotions you see.

Since they are moving with emotion, you cant persuade them to stop using logic.

The best choice would be to avoid creating such an opponent but that is no longer an option.

Thinking that troublesome thing keeps coming up one after another, Leo internally sighs.

It is clear that this case is not an instruction from Eric. After all, Eric himself is currently away from the capital and he is not a person who would do some unnecessary things that cant give a definite result like this.

This is either the work of someone under Eric or a third party. That being said, as long as it can not be linked directly to the candidate for the throne, the Emperor will not get involved in this.

I guess this is the only opportunity I can use huh.

What is it, Your Highness?

Our strategist. This ceasefire period is an opportunity for us to prepare ourselves for the next conflict. It is as Utz said, a determination without an ability to back it up is meaningless. Looking back, all those who won the succession war in the past all have a wise man by their side. Just as Father has the Prime Minister, we need our own strategist as well.

Are you going to search for that strategist?

I have someone in mind. Its just that it wont go well unless I personally visit him myself. I have no chance to go out and persuade him until now after all. Well, it is not guaranteed that it will be a success even if I go out myself though.

Saying so, Leo stands up.

He already packed his bag and ready to head out anytime.

There is also information that he is always on the move so he might already be too late as well.

Alright, take care of Nii-san for me okay. I will be away from the capital for a while.

For Your Highness to go out personally like this, he must be quite a famous person isnt he.

No, he doesnt have that much achievement you know. Its just that he once lived here at the castle. He often played with me and Nii-san as well. His talent is top notch but his personality is a little problematic though.

That isis he an old friend?

Well, you can put it like that.

Leo smiles as he says so.

There is no worry on his face. He will simply do everything he can and he isnt worried about Al either.

After all, Al is a person who would immediately run away if he thinks that there is no chance of winning. And this time, he decided to stay and stood his ground.

In other words, theres a chance of winning.

While looking forward to the result, Leo departs from the imperial capital.

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