CH 314

“Uhhn… uuuhhnnn…”

Only my mumbling echoes. It’s not like I’m snoring, talking in my sleep, or having trouble communicating. It’s been a few days since we signed a treaty with the Demon Country. It’s only about a week more that I can stay in the Caan Knighthood.

I’ve researched various precedents, but no, the ones I researched are with court bureaucrats, so after all, there is no example of a Feudal Lord being allowed to enter into diplomatic negotiations without permission from the Crown and sign a treaty. There is a precedent for being punished for trying, though, so I will likely be punished to the same extent if I follow the precedent and follow the process used then.

As in the previous cases, the punishment given without considering the content is at least the destruction of the House, and in the worst case, the killing of the whole family tree and allies.

When it was discovered that a Border Lord was negotiating for peace with a neighboring country that was still at war with Ploiss, all those who led the peace negotiations with the Lord were decapitated. Due to the destruction of the House, the next lord was established in the territory, and the border dispute continued.

In this case, I was exhausted from the war that lasted for many years, and it was unavoidable to try to find peace.

In the case of colluding with another state and inviting their army to the Kingdom of Ploiss with the intention of overthrowing this state, the whole family tree and allies were killed. Since this case is a matter of treason, it would be natural.

In my case, it’s not like I’m planning to overthrow the country by inviting the Demon Country here, but… just like in the previous example, I’m exhausted from the long-lasting war, and I had no choice but to conclude a peace treaty. It’s not like I was trying to do something criminal.

On the contrary, if it spreads that I signed a peace treaty with the Demon Country without permission, it could be said that the Border Lord is colluding with other countries and inviting enemy forces to overthrow the nation.

In reality, I think that even Duke Nassam and Duke Bayen have diplomatic relations with the Principality of Aust, engage in collusion, and repeatedly do things that are harmful to the Kingdom of Ploiss… perhaps, after being given the authority, they are conducting diplomatic affairs with the Principality of Aust as an open secret.

It’s true that the Kingdom of Ploiss is directly engaged in diplomacy with the Principality of Aust, but that alone can’t be said to be effective, so as an exception, Nassam and Bayen are negotiating with the Principality of Aust, ostensibly not in diplomatic negotiations.

If they find out that I signed a peace treaty with our long-standing enemy, the Demon Country, without permission, those who want to kick me out will immediately make a fuss claiming treason. It’s very bad as it is already.

Even I never thought it would go so smoothly…

In the first place, Mikoto suggested it casually, so if I could go sightseeing in the Demon Country so easily, I thought I should go.

We decided to have a formal meeting with the Emperor over there, and even a diplomatic mission was sent back here with me. Even I thought the mission was nothing more than a simple inspection visit or a mutual visit for politeness’ sake.

Normally between nations, well, I’m not a representative of a nation, but anyway, I don’t think that treaty negotiations between powers can be concluded with just one diplomatic mission and a few days of negotiation and consideration, can it? Treaties are negotiated for at least several months, and sometimes years, before they are finally concluded. Who do you think will decide that in just a few days?

While laying the groundwork for the start of diplomatic negotiations, I should have properly communicated our request, and then I should have thought that it would be fine to set up a crossing with the Demon Country to the Kingdom of Ploiss… but it proceeded too quickly, and I just signed the treaty.

It’s true that I was an idiot, but… I wouldn’t have thought it would go so easily… Is this… a pitfall trap?

I have to do something. The entry into the treaty cannot be forcefully postponed, let alone revoked or canceled. If that happens, I will lose credibility in the international community and diplomacy. In the first place, there is also a second party, and though they aren’t claiming “I knew this would happen!”, if the other party asks for the fulfillment of the treaty’s terms, there is no choice but to respond.

On the other hand, if only House Caan signed a peace treaty with the Demon Country, I would be executed no matter how light the crime, and at best my family tree would be destroyed, at worst I would be responsible for the execution of my family and allies.

I’m trapped in all directions! It’s hell to move forward, even if it’s self-inflicted, and hell to retreat.

“Miss Flora, Sir Kanbee would like to meet with you, how would you like to proceed?” Katharina said as she entered.

“Aah, yes. Understood. I will see him,” I replied.

Will we still have meetings? I don’t understand if it’s a simple meeting or a continuation of negotiations, but meeting Kanbee means…

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I think Kanbee doesn’t like me. He would at least be pretty hostile. Why would someone like that want to meet and talk to me, not as part of the diplomatic mission?

I came to the reception room where Kanbee was waiting and entered without hesitation.

“Thank you for waiting,” I said. “I understood that you’d requested a meeting with me, but what exactly can I do for you?”

“Let me be blunt. As a diplomat of the Yamato Empire, I was against the previous treaty,” Kanbee said, as soon as I sat down.

He seems to have an impatient personality. I don’t like waste, but this type of person will probably be disliked here. Unless it’s an emergency messenger like in wartime, usually we’ll have a cup of tea and make a little small talk before we get to the point. It is customary and considered polite not to immediately launch into the main topic the moment you sit down like this.

There was a phrase that bothered me. “Yamato Empire?” Kanbee is a diplomat from there. And since Mikoto’s father, the King of the Demon Country, is called the Emperor instead, the Yamato Empire must be the Demon Country’s name. But until now, I didn’t even know it was called the Yamato Empire. And as for the meaning of Yamato…

Well, that’s good to leave for now. More important is what Kanbee is talking about.

It was clear from the negotiations that Kanbee was against the treaty. Kanbee had a terrible look on his face when I stated the conditions. Moreover, he was glaring at me, the negotiating partner, so there was no way he would have agreed. If Kanbee had more authority, he would have yelled at me not to mock them and kicked his chair over.

I knew that from the time of the negotiations… but why is he going so far out of his way to tell me that now?

“Other members of the diplomatic mission were touting this treaty as a diplomatic victory for the Yamato Empire,” Kanbee said. “I tried to convince them it was a complete defeat, but they would not listen, so the official documents were sent to Yamato saying as much, and was even accompanied by a statement, saying that the treaty should be concluded as soon as possible.”

I see……. Certainly, I thought that the people around him were awfully quiet, but didn’t they realize how serious the technology leak was?

“Therefore, I sent the Emperor a letter of opinion separate from the mission’s official report,” Kanbee said. “’This condition is too unfavorable for our country, and we should not conclude a treaty. Even so, if a treaty is concluded, ’……”

Kanbee goes silent. I could somehow imagine the words that followed. You can tell by looking at his eyes.

“I said, ‘I’m quitting my job and leaving the country.'”

Yep……. I thought that would be the case. But why are you telling me that now? What’s the point?

“It is not as if the Emperor failed to understand the terms of the treaty, nor did he fail to understand the significance of the treaty,” Kanbee said. “His Majesty was saying this was support from a father to his daughter.”

Does that mean that Kanbee also sent a letter similar to the one I received from the Emperor? And, even if Kanbee heard that, he wasn’t convinced.

“I understand what the Emperor is saying. Certainly, it would be beneficial for our country if we let House Caan guard our Heavenly Fall Shrine. House Caan will also be quite useful in expanding the power and influence of our Empire as it does the same. However! I’m still not convinced!”

Bang! Kanbee slammed his hands on the desk and shot out of his seat. Kanbee’s face gets closer to me as I shrink in mine.

“To be with this country! To be with House Caan! To be with you! Is it worth it!?”

I don’t know if you ask me. It’s not for me to decide that but for those around me who are watching, waiting to see what my actions will be. If the Emperor thought so, it would be so for him, and if Kanbee didn’t think so personally, so it would be for him, as well.

“It’s not you who decides how others value me,” I said. “Just as your evaluation differs depending on what you think of yourself and those around you, I don’t decide my value myself, either.”

“-!?”

Kanbee’s expression changes. I get it……. You can do more. You should be appreciated more. You are better. That’s what he thinks, right? But the evaluation of the people around him is lower than the evaluation he gives himself. That’s why he’s so dissatisfied with his surroundings.

We know that Kanbee is confident. And he probably has the talent to think so himself. He just has a little high self-esteem and he doesn’t care about his surroundings. That’s why he is shunned by those around him and his relationships don’t go well.

Because human relationships don’t go well, work gets in the way, you can’t produce results, and the evaluation from those around you remains low. That’s why he despises the people around him more and more, and the idea that he should be valued more is ingrained in him.

It’s not just about Kanbee. There were many things like that in my previous life. Even I can understand both Kanbee’s feelings and the evaluations of those around him.

Kanbee’s ability is certainly high. If it were purely based on ability values, he should have been valued more. However, because he doesn’t care about their surroundings, he won’t cooperate with them, and even if they succeed, he will be hindered or underestimated. And he becomes more stubborn afterward. Soon people will say he is arrogant and confident.

“I have resigned from the Yamato Empire! From now on, I will live in House Caan’s territory, and will become a servant of this family! A servant of yours! To see this House’s s value!”

“Ah… I see, I see…”

In other words, it is a forcible self-marketing. Besides, it’s not like you’re willing to abandon your homeland and switch to this country yet, right? I know what you’re thinking.

But… knowing that too… I…

“Fine by me,” I said. “Then I’ll hire you on a trial basis, for a probationary period.”

“Huh?! I’m offering you my full services, here!” Kanbee yelled, angry now.

Well, I guess he’s pretending to be angry. In fact, the person who is most relieved to be hired for anything, even if it is on probation, is probably the applicant himself. After all, if he can’t get in, he won’t be able to fulfill his hidden purpose.

“I will close my eyes to your ploys for pity, but please be careful not to overdo it,” I said.

“Wha-?! What are you talking about!?”

It shows easily on his face… true, he’s excellent in terms of ability, but he was glaring at me even at the negotiation table, so isn’t he really unsuited for negotiations? Domestic affairs may be more suitable for him. Or maybe military affairs?

That’s fine. There are many uses for Kanbee. Now, no, rather we are always suffering from a shortage of excellent human resources. If even one more excellent person is added, there will be any number of jobs to be assigned.

“Helmut, please teach Kanbee the many things he needs to know,” I said as I looked over my shoulder.

“Miss. It will be done,” Helmut said as he stood behind me.

First of all, let’s have Kanbee learn everything needed to live in our home.

After seeing off Kanbee being led out by Helmut, I rest myself on the sofa in the drawing room. I changed from my upright sitting posture to a sluggish posture with my back resting heavily on the backrest. There’s only Katharina here, so there’s no problem with this showing. In the first place, I was just resting my body on the backrest. It didn’t break down that badly.

I was surprised when Kanbee said he was going to leave the country and move into our House, but that’s okay. I know the purpose behind Kanbee’s actions. I need to be careful to some extent, but I know he’s a useful guy, so I’ll use him as much as I can.

The Demon Country, rather, the Yamato Empire? What to do with the treaty with them…? Should I ever consider leaving the country like Kanbee? I can’t do that. Anyway, if I can get out somewhere, with my territory… ah……? Territory… Get out…?

“Ah!”

“-!?”

When I suddenly raised my voice and jumped up from the sofa, Katharina was startled! Her face is as clear as ever, but she’s definitely startled now! It became s kinda cute. It’s too cute to close your eyes and look like you’ve no idea what’s going on.

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Wait, that’s not what’s important. That’s right. That’s the thing! There was a way to convince the Kingdom of Ploiss and make a treaty with the Demon Country, rather, the Yamato Empire come into effect! With this, it looks like I’ll be able to go to the royal capital with dignity next week.