CH 222

The 3 were stunned for a while, staring at the door Flora used to leave the room. It seems that their brains refuse to understand what happened. Or rather, they don’t want to think about anything at all.

“Fuu~~~~…………” Wilhelm groaned. “Ludwig…… do you understand?”

“………… Yes,” Ludwig murmured.

He knows what his father is trying to say. Why didn’t he tell her all these details about Flora? Ludwig was aware that Flora had been visiting the royal castle, had official business, and discussed something with his father and the Prime Minister, but they stubbornly refused to give any details until today.

That would be just right. He didn’t don’t know what would have happened if his younger self had been told this. He still doesn’t know if he should have heard all this…

“No matter what, you should never turn Princess Flora into an enemy,” Dietrich said.

“Right……” Ludwig said.

If Flora becomes an enemy, the Kingdom of Ploiss will perish. He reluctantly knew that much. He wondered if there was any student at the Academy who’s already put up a strategy in case of war against several other countries.

All of the materials, research documents, and strategic plans that Flora put out on this occasion included things that even experts could not come up with and things that would have to be studied for decades to come.

They’ve never heard of a canal construction method like that. Compared to the canals that were built in the Ploiss in the past, those were like river flood control projects for creeks.

A series of new ships, a number of bridge types other than drawbridges that were not introduced but written in research documents that ordinary people would not have thought of, then war strategies that even a professional soldier or a veteran general would not have thought of.

None of this is playing around or a child’s fantastic ideas. The materials and research are genuine, and even if you let the best people in each facet of Ploiss do it, they won’t be able to do anything better than what Flora has already accomplished.

There is nothing left in this place because Flora has already taken back her documents. 1 It’s as if everything that just happened was a dream. Rather, they wanted to think it was all a dream.

If, as Flora says, 50 super-giant ships that surpass the carrack will be completed in 2 years… Ploiss would not be able to win a war against the Carruthers-Caan Alliance in 2 years.

A continental state with an overland army and a maritime state with a mostly naval force cannot coexist in one government. But what if they allied with each other?

The Carruthers Margraviate is a keystone in the northwest with an army that surpasses even a small country. If they shared a land border, a small country like the Kingdom of Hollant could be crushed by House Carruthers alone. Even if it’s no match for the entirety of the Kingdom of Ploiss or the Kingdom of Frasia, it still has that much power.

Of course, it is a small continental territory with such an army, so its navy is poor. Historically, the Kingdom of Ploiss is a continental nation and had no choice but to have a powerful land army for national defense. That’s why House Carruthers also has a similarly strong land-based military.

Therefore, even if the Kingdom of Hollant is overwhelmed in land battles, naval battles are not possible. The reality is that there is nothing they can do if the Kingdom of Hollant enacts a naval blockade or launches an attack on a coastal city. If it was connected by land, it would be fine to concentrate on the defense of the coastal area and attack the homeland of the Kingdom of Hollant, but in the current situation, it is impossible to attack the homeland because they have to pass through the Kingdom of Frasia’s territory.

But… what would happen if a powerful navy joined them? What if it were possible to overwhelm the navy of the Kingdom of Hollant, seize control of the sea, and land a large overland force directly in the Kingdom of Hollant by sea transport without going overland?

If that happens, the Kingdom of Hollant will fall in no time. And that threat isn’t just effective against Hollant.

The House Caan Navy, which has overwhelming power that surpasses the Hollant Royal Navy, can travel along the Hulk Sea coast and the major river coasts of the Kingdom of Ploiss as if they owned them all. Ploiss has its seas and rivers blocked, and there is no telling when and where the Carruthers Army will land on a super-large ship.

In addition, they are commanded by Albert von Carruthers, the Hero of the Frontier, fighting on the front line is Maria von Carruthers, also known as “Bloody Maria”, and… all are working for and directed by the unfathomable monster, Flora Charlotte von Carruthers, or rather, Floto von Caan.

They don’t feel they can win……. in that case, it would be better to fight Frasia without Carruthers.

If they’ve come this far, they’re in luck. They believe that Flora will not betray Ploiss, and they have no choice but to act so that Ploiss will not cause Flora to betray them, rather than trying to stop Flora poorly and alienating her.

With Flora’s track record and ability, any country would name any price to get her. If Houses Carruthers and Caan all defected to the Kingdom of Frasia, Ploiss and also Aust would have no choice but to be trampled on by both. The focus should no longer be on the Principality of Aust but on Carruthers and Caan.

“Listen, Ludwig,” Wilhelm said. “Remember all~ll of this. Don’t misjudge the situation, okay?”

“Yes!” Ludwig said. “Leave it to me!”

It made Wilhelm and Dietrich slightly uneasy. Ludwig seems to think that it would be good if he could marry Flora and become a good couple… however, those two thought that the dream might not come true any longer.

After all, Flora is de facto a princess of an incredibly powerful kingdom. It would be more terrifying to force them to get married just because of Ploiss’s convenience. In that case, it would be better for her to become an ally rather than forcing her to marry into the royal family.

“Then I will establish a law concerning the canal as soon as possible,” Dietrich said.

“Mm. I’m counting on you,” Wilhelm said.

Flora explicitly asked for collaboration with Ploiss for the canal construction. The discussion sounded as if House Caan is the master and the Kingdom of Ploiss is the slave, but it’s how it is in reality.

The new canal will use new technology, new techniques, and construction methods. It wouldn’t be strange for them to be top secrets that were polished and kept classified for tens or even hundreds of years.

In other words, the construction of this canal has a strong implication that Ploiss will be taught the techniques and construction methods of House Caan in exchange for part of the funds and manpower. Ordinarily, it wouldn’t be something that would be easily shared just because you pitched in for the resources.

In the first place, House Caan has the power and funds to complete this construction works alone without the aid of Ploiss. That’s why the kingdom agreed to help, as otherwise, House Caan would immediately set to it by themselves.

If they miss this opportunity, they may not be able to improve the civil engineering and construction technology of Ploiss. House Caan said they would teach them in exchange for funding and workers, so the start was limited to give her time to change her mind.

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“Make sure to get it done within a month,” Wilhelm said.

“Right…” Dietrich said.

It’s easy to say but it’s not that easy in practice. For the next month, not only Dietrich but also the related nobles and officials would not spare time even for sleep to put together the bill as soon as possible.

In Margarete’s private room, 3 people were scooping up pudding with spoons.

“The court cooks have done an amazing job, haven’t they?” Flora asked.

“Nn~!” Eleonore hummed. “Ms. Puddin’s puddin’ is better~!”

Flora’s opinion was honest but it seemed Eleonore didn’t feel the same.

“I didn’t expect to head up to the castle today, so I didn’t prepare anything…” Flora said.

She can’t help but be happy to hear that her pudding tasted better. It would take time to make it from now on, and she shouldn’t have entered the royal castle’s kitchen so many times anyway. If anything happens then, it will raise unnecessary suspicion. There was no reason to take such a useless risk.

“I’m not that good at cooking, so it’s better to have a professional chef make it, isn’t it?” Flora said.

“No, I don’t think so,” Margarete said. “Your pudding, Lady Flora, how do I say it… ah! It tastes so much gentler! Yes, the castle’s cooks may be more elaborate in a number of ways, but I, too, prefer your pudding, Lady Flora.”

Flora thinks this is better than her pudding, but these two say her pudding is better. More than half of it is flattery, but it doesn’t make her feel bad, and it’s useless to keep denying it, so she accepts the compliments.

“Thank you very much,” Flora said. “… So, Lady Margarete, how’s your progress with Prince Ludwig?”

“Huh?!” Margarete cried, stiffening at the sudden change.

“I think it would be best for you to marry Crown Prince Ludwig, Lady Margarete,” Flora said. “I’ll spare no effort to help you with that goal.”

“That’s……” Margarete mumbled.

Margarete can’t say anything. In the first place, Flora is Ludwig’s fiancée, and though she says this now, Ludwig fancies Flora. Hence, even if Flora herself told her that, it would only cause her trouble.

“It is summer,” Flora said, “so did he at least invite you to cool off?”

“No… we haven’t been anywhere…” Margarete said.

Margarete and Ludwig have made no progress at all. It is true that the two are close friends, but for Ludwig, Margarete was nothing more than a close childhood friend. Of course, they could have gone out somewhere to cool if she had invited him. But Margarete couldn’t do that.

“Well… hmm… well, the lingering summer heat is still quite severe, so why don’t you invite him to go out on a boat?” Flora said.

“Umm… I’m not very familiar with such things…” Margarete said, shrugging.

Margarete has never done any recreation on a boat and knows nothing about them.

“Even if you don’t know anything about them…” Flora said. “I think it would be good if you could ask Crown Prince Ludwig to sail it for you… if that’s the case, how about enjoying the coolness of the evening?”

“Um… what should we do then?”

Margarete can’t figure out what to do from just that.

“You don’t really have to do anything,” Flora said. “You’ll go outside on a hot summer evening to cool off. I was thinking of you inviting His Highness Ludwig and having a chat with him while watching the sunset.”

“Even if I talk alone with His Highness Ludwig, I won’t be able to come up with a single interesting topic… besides, His Highness Ludwig wouldn’t enjoy talking to me…”

“Ah…”

Flora finally understood when she saw Margarete looking down. Margarete is withdrawn and lacks self-confidence. She thought she’d be as overconfident as Helene, but Margarete is too shy. Because she is cynical and lacks self-confidence, she is unable to act proactively by herself when she has the opportunity.

“Haa… I understand… well then in that case, let me work on you, first,” Flora said.

“……… Huh?” Margarete said, tilting her head in confusion.

Flora smiled fearlessly. “First of all, the Lady Margarete Remodeling Plan… if it’s about capturing Crown Prince Ludwig’s heart, there’s nothing we can do if you don’t change first, Lady Margarete.”

“Ah… um…?” Margarete muttered timidly.

She was worried about Flora’s sudden change in appearance but the words never reached her.

“Fuh-fuh-fuh…” Flora muttered to herself. “With this and then that… because of that… ah, that too… and then… mmfufu…!”

“Hii?!” Margarete squealed.

She felt something cold run down her spine and tried to escape. However, her arm is tightly gripped and she can’t flee.

“Don’t worry, Lady Margarete. It’s only scary at the beginning. Once you get used to it, there’s nothing to worry about. Everyone can get used to anything. Right?”

“Wh-What in the world are you going to do to me…?” Margarete said.

“Look forward to it once the fun starts,” Flora said.

What will happen to her? Margarete is anxious but also afraid to hear the details. But it’s scarier to leave everything to her without asking anything about it.

“Eleonore want play with Ms. Puddin’, too~!” Eleonore cried.

“Ah… that’s right… do you also want to play, Princess Eleonore?” Flora asked.

But no matter how much she wants to take the princess around, let alone get permission to participate in some odd plan, she can’t explain it. And even if they did get permission it would be difficult to take the princess out of the castle.

“Yah! Gonna play with Ms. Puddin’~!” Eleonore cheered.

“Hahaha…” Flora chuckled, a bitter smile on her face.

“Puh!” Margarete snickered.

Though still a little nervous, Margarete decided to leave herself in Flora’s care for a while.