Confederation of the Santea Empire.
It was an alliance of several human-centered nations united around the Santea Empire, and the core of the main storyline of RaSa’s worldview.
Calderic did not have direct borders with Santea.
This was because there were several neutral countries in the middle between the two powers.
However, even though they claimed to be neutral, it was only for show. Most of the countries were almost absorbed by Santea after the invasion of the demons.
So far, only two countries could be said to have remained in the realm of neutrality.
Earth Hill Kingdom and Kajor Kingdom.
Two countries that claimed to be neutral between the two giant powers of Santea and Calderic.
Two weak states, whose total national strength was less than one of Calderic’s Lord’s territory, had remained in the camp of neutrality for several reasons.
There were political reasons.
The Neutral Nations Conference held in Earth Hill was a gathering place for Calderic, Santea, and the royalty of the other neutral countries.
It’s here.
I rode Ti-Yong and quickly flew to my destination. I looked at the castle of the Overlord that appeared in the distance.
As I lowered my altitude and approached the entrance of the castle, I saw the figures of two people who seemed to wait for me. They were the Overlord and the chief of staff.
Ti-Yong flapped its wings and landed right in front of them.
I landed first by using space lead, and Asher, who followed me, bowed her head to the Overlord.
“You’re here, Seventh Lord.”
The Overlord greeted me with an innocent smile, as always.
She looked at Asher with a strange look, and then flashed her gaze to Ti-Yong with a twinkle in her eyes.
“I heard you went to the Glide Mountains to get a wyvern. Was it this black wyvern?”
When the Overlord stared at it, Ti-Yong turned its head away with a look of reluctance.
In response, she smiled and turned her gaze back to me.
“By the way, Seventh Lord, I heard you rode the Second Lord’s wyvern and went together to the Glide Mountains. The two of you were so at odds during the emergency call, so how did you even get close?”
Did she even know about that?
I changed the topic without bothering to answer.
“When are we leaving?”
“Um, well? As long as the Seventh Lord doesn’t mind, we can leave right now.”
I looked at her attire as she answered indifferently.
She was wearing a black dress, as always. Was she going to leave in that attire?
We’re now about to head to a neutral country, so I was a little taken aback by her atmosphere. It seemed as if she was going out for a drink rather than a meeting.
“Are only the four of us going?”
“No. The chief of staff will remain, so there will only be three.”
“I thought we would move in a procession, but it seemed that that wasn’t the case.”
The Overlord smiled and said.
“It’s useless and cumbersome. I’m going there myself, so what else is needed?”
It sounded quite arrogant, but there was nothing wrong with it.
Anyway, as soon as we arrived at the Overlord’s castle, they decided to travel to Earth Hill immediately.
Soon after, the Overlord brought her own wyvern, a black wyvern like Ti-Yong. If there was something different, it was the eyes. This guy had blue eyes instead.
I asked the Overlord.
“Is there a particular reason why you want me to accompany you to the conference?”
To my question, she just smiled and didn’t answer.
I really couldn’t figure this woman out.
“Shall we go?”
Darkness shrouded the Overlord, and her attire changed.
Rather than the dress from before, it was a simple and moderately flashy garment.
After changing her outfit, she lightly jumped onto her wyvern’s back.
Looking at the scene, I couldn’t help but feel a slight sense of alienation.
I already knew that the Overlord owned a wyvern, but that she rode a wyvern herself was just a little weird. It’s because of her actually being a dragon.
Oh oh!
The Overlord’s wyvern roared vigorously and flew into the sky first.
Asher and I, riding on Ti-Yong’s back, soon followed and set off.
The distance to the neutral country was only a little longer than the distance between two territories, so it wouldn’t take much time.
They held the Neutral Nations Conference this time in the Earth Hill Kingdom.
This grand summit, which began with the intention of mutual solidarity and cooperation, was held in neutral countries every three years.
A place to peacefully discuss the future of the continent, including Calderic and Santea, as well as royalty from neutral countries.
...Of course, those things were just for show, and in the end it was all about power struggle.
In particular, looking at the current situation, it’s not expected that this meeting would end with a mere war of nerves.
It was because the Kajor Kingdom was intent on declaring war with the Earth Hill Kingdom at this meeting, planning to present their cause in earnest.
That was also the reason I followed the Overlord and took part in this meeting with little hesitation.
Earth Hill Kingdom...
I remembered a man I had previously met in the Fifth Lord’s territory.
Teir Bamon, the second prince of the Earth Hill royal family.
If he returned to his kingdom, we would probably meet again at this meeting.
***
“You pitiful bastard. Now you’ve crawled into the castle and shamelessly showed us that foolish face...”
“...”
“I don’t want to see you, so go away.”
The King of Earth Hill, Longford, glared at the man in front of him. His eyes were filled with love and hatred, but he soon withdrew his gaze.
The man, Teir, bowed his head and stepped out of the room.
The Earth Hill Kingdom, the capital city of Seraf.
The capital, which he returned to after a long time, had not changed at all. But because of the upcoming meeting, the atmosphere was much stricter than usual.
Teir, who reached the garden outside the palace, let out a small sigh.
'I’m already regretting it...'
He wondered if he had come back for nothing.
After leaving the capital for a long time, he suddenly returned without warning, so it’s natural that he had nothing to do in this situation.
He was just wandering around in and out of the palace like he was doing now.
Teir was lost in thought as he touched the leaves of the bush.
Originally, he had no intention of returning to the royal castle just because the meeting was approaching. It had nothing to do with him, anyway.
Nevertheless, there was one reason for returning home after a long wandering.
A man I met before in the Fifth Lord’s territory.
It was because of his words that kept on lingering in his mind after he introduced himself as the Seventh Lord.
'...Go back to where I belong.'
What did he mean by that?
He even said that he might be of help to Earth Hill someday, in relation to the unusual situation in the two neutral countries.
Teir couldn’t figure out anything.
Was that man really the Seventh Lord of Calderic?
“Hey.”
Hearing the voice calling him, Teir turned his head.
A woman in a neat dress was standing on one side of the garden before he knew it.
Teir stared at her for a moment, then smiled faintly.
“Are you here to greet your brother, Seri?”
She replied with a slight frown.
“Do I have to treat the idiot who came back after wandering around for almost two years like a brother?”
“...”
“So, what are you really doing here, Brother?”
She said that, but she still didn’t hesitate to call him ‘brother’.
Teir continued to fidget with the leaf he was touching and quietly passed the answer.
Seeing his listless attitude, Seri’s expression was filled with pity, sadness, and regret.
She opened her mouth again and asked.
“Why did you suddenly come back? You left after saying that you would never come back.”
“That’s right. I’m sorry for making it even more confusing, returning at a time like this.”
“Argh, that’s not what I’m saying! Who said I didn’t like my brother’s return?”
She groaned and let out a deep sigh.
There was an awkward air for a moment, followed by a calm voice.
“Why did you leave in the first place? You clearly...”
“Stop.”
Teir cut off her words adamantly.
“Stop it, Seri. You know that wasn’t the problem.”
“...”
“Rather than that, what are you doing here? Have you finished all the preparations? Are there any problems?”
Seri couldn’t say anything more as he forcibly changed the topic.
She swallowed the suffocation welling up inside her and calmed herself down.
“Don’t worry about it. If there was a problem, I wouldn’t be here.”
At the blunt reply, Teir smiled bitterly and said.
“The people from Santea have arrived, and now only Calderic is left.”
“...Yes.”
Not only the royal family of each neutral country but also all the people from the Santea side, including the emperor, arrived at the castle just yesterday afternoon.
Seri suddenly thought of an annoying person, and her mood sank even more. The first prince of the Kajor kingdom.
She said to Teir.
“Anyway, don’t hang around outside and just stay in your room. Until the meeting is over...”
Then footsteps were heard.
Seri looked away and frowned at the people coming this way. A man and a woman in colorful outfits and an escort knight.
“You are here, Princess Seri.”
Among the two who came closer, the man opened his mouth with a greasy smile.
Jordan, the first prince of Kajor Kingdom, and Olivica, the Second princess.
They were one of the representatives of Kajor who accompanied the King to take part in this meeting.
“I was looking for you. It’s a nice day and I’m going to have tea with the other princes and princesses. How about joining us?”
Seri swallowed the irritation rising inside and managed her expression.
There was still quite a bit of time left until the talks, so the neutral countries who came to the castle were interacting with each other and building friendships. And it was all centered on Kajor’s first prince, Jordan.
In fact, when all sides were already divided, Earth Hill had no allies. She was well aware of that fact.
Even so, they continued to come and showed their face to her with the obvious purpose of embarrassing her in front of everyone.
“I’m sorry, but I’m busy preparing for the conference, so I don’t think I have time for that.”
“You keep giving that reason. But looking at it, aren’t you relaxing now? This is really embarrassing.”
Princess Olivica intervened.
“It would be better not to refuse this time, Princess Seri. The fourth princess of Santea will also join us.”
“So what?”
“I mean, we’re giving you a good opportunity to have a private conversation with a precious person. So stop refusing and hang out with us.”
There was a subtle condescension in his voice as he said that.
The royal family of the Santea Empire were noble beings who were of a different rank, even to the royal family of other countries.
It was to show off his friendship with the fifth prince by preparing a private tea party including the other royals of other countries.
“Ah, yes. Come to think of it, you’re here too. Aren’t you Prince Teir, the pride of the Bamon royal family?”
Jordan said with a slightly surprised expression, as if he had only found Teir standing next to Seri.
Seri frowned at the openly sarcastic tone.
“I heard the news that you ran away, but it seems that you came back. How about it? Would you also like to join us?”
“It’s fine, so I’ll decline.”
Teir replied with an expressionless face.
At that, Jordan smiled.
“Well, I understand. I hope the princess doesn’t intend to reject my invitation again.”
“I’m sorry, but I already said I’d decline because I don’t have time.”
Jordan’s eyebrows twitched, and Olivica frowned and snorted.
“Princess Seri, do you think anything good would come out of being so stiff? Don’t you even know the situation you’re in right now?”
“Okay, Olivica. Let’s go.”
The two turned and walked out of the road garden.
“By the way, princess. In what direction do you think this meeting will go?”
Jordan paused for a moment and looked back at Seri.
“If you think it will end halfway like last time, you are very mistaken. You know it doesn’t matter if we declare war on Earth Hill, neither Santea nor Calderic will try to intervene.”
“...”
Seri glared at Jordan with a stiff face.
Jordan laughed, seeing her like that.
“Let’s see if you can continue to act like this after the meeting is over. Then...”
Ohhhh!
At that time, a huge roar rang throughout the castle.
Jordan and Olivica raised their heads in surprise. It was the same with Seri and Teir.
From the other side of the sky, two huge black objects were flying rapidly toward the capital.
“Wyvern...?”
Jordan and Olivica, who had been staring blankly at the scene, hurriedly left the garden.
The sudden appearance of a wyvern meant only one thing in the current situation.
Finally, the Overlord of Calderic had arrived at the royal castle.
“...Overlord of Calderic.”
Said Seri as she also hurriedly moved on.
Teir hesitated, then followed.
***
Suddenly, many people gathered at the main gate of the castle.
Not only King Longford of Earth Hill but also the kings, princes and princesses of each neutral country, and many retainers.
The royal family of all the neutral countries who took part in the conference gathered at the meeting, except for those from Santea.
Even though the organizer of this meeting was Earth Hill, the other participants couldn’t dare not to show their face in front of this incoming guest.
In a chilly, frozen atmosphere, everyone stared with eyes full of tension at the woman walking towards the entrance of the castle.
The Overlord of Calderic, Rashtain.
There was only a young human male standing beside her without a single procession.
However, with just that, the two overwhelmed everyone present.
Longford calmly stepped forward to greet the two.
“Thank you for taking the time to come to Earth Hill, Overlord.”
The Overlord snorted and looked around.
“Yes, King Longford. We must be the last. Let’s go inside.”
“Yes. But this person...”
Longford looked curiously at the man standing next to the Overlord.
This was because, until now, she had rarely accompanied anyone to a meeting.
The Overlord smiled and said calmly.
“He is the new Seventh Lord of Calderic.”
“...!”
Everyone stared at the man in amazement.
The new Seventh Lord of Calderic.
The person who recently killed the same Lord, the Tyrant, and was currently causing an uproar on the continent.
The person who had been shrouded in a veil, knowing nothing about him, was walking with the Overlord in this meeting.
“...”
Even before the Overlord spoke, there was a person who had been staring blankly at the Seventh Lord. It was Teir.
The man I had met before in the Fifth Lord’s Territory, with the appearance I remembered in my head, was standing next to the Overlord.
Teir realized that his identity was really the Seventh Lord and thought, what the hell was going on?
The Overlord and the Seventh Lord walked and the crowd split on both sides.
The young royals, who had taken part in the meeting for the first time, and meeting the Overlord of Calderic, could not raise their heads recklessly because of a sense of intimidation.
Likewise, Seri, who was glancing at the two with her gaze down, suddenly looked back at her brother standing next to her.
Because he was staring at them so blatantly.
'What is this fool doing?'
She stabbed Teir in the side to warn him, but then hurriedly lowered her head again.
It was because the eyes of the Seventh Lord were looking this way for some reason.
I thought it was a simple glance, but the Seventh Lord soon stopped walking in front of the two.
“...”
Everyone’s eyes were focused on the Seventh Lord who stopped walking.
The Overlord looked back at him as if wondering, and Longford’s expression hardened as he stood beside her.
Seri tried to calm her thumping heart, thinking if they had made a mistake.
After a brief silence, the Seventh Lord’s mouth opened.
“It’s been a while, Teir.”
Everyone looked at Teir in amazement as the Seventh Lord greeted him casually.
Such a good ending
ReplyDeletethanks you for the chapter
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