Chapter 236

“Long ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍live the King!”

“May ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍God protect the King!”

“Long ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍live His Majesty the Great King and His Grace the Duke of Bourgogne! Let us celebrate this splendid victory forever!”

Although ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍there had been some noise(?) and misunderstandings(?), the victory ceremony proceeded in dazzling fashion.

The ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍people delighted in seeing the capital bustling again after so long, while the victors—the King and the Duke of Bourgogne—did their utmost to conceal their discomfort and somehow present themselves as worthy winners.

“Thank ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍you for coming, Margrave of Bellua.”

He had even offered me such pleasantries with a bright smile. I did not know whether he was merely mindful of the public gaze, or whether he acted this way because my growing power weighed on him.

“Not at all. Of course I had to come. Even in the distant southern regions, Your Grace the Duke of Bourgogne’s renown has spread far and wide. Congratulations on your victory.”

In any case, sensing an atmosphere that seemed to be flowing in a good direction, I quickly let my tongue dance. I kept myself as low as possible, catering to the Duke of Bourgogne’s mood.

If doing even this could soothe his wariness by even a small degree, how good would that be?

“Ho ho. Renown, you say? If anything, the rumors that spread when you came here seem even more impressive, do they not? To manifest a miracle yet again—truly remarkable. Thanks to you, we have purged every last vile cultist that had been operating near the capital. The citizens are singing praises because of it.”

“A-ahaha….”

Damn it. Far from being soothed, his wariness seemed to have grown even sharper.

The things he said, casually slipped in, had such an edge to them.

‘Honestly….’

With a sigh inside my chest, I glared at Bishop Marco in the distance, where he was selling me out while delivering a most benevolent sermon(?).

If that goat beastman had not gone and fed the Second Lord Gertman such strange advice, this would never have grown to this extent!

“It was nothing, Your Grace. As a subject of His Majesty the King, is it not only right that I do what I must? I do not know how you may think of it, but unlike the idle rumors that circulate in the world, I have always thought only of the Kingdom. And of the ‘promise’ between Your Grace and myself as well.”

“Hm…. Well, if you say so, then I suppose that is how it is….”

When I mentioned our past promise, the Duke of Bourgogne finally seemed to withdraw his suspicion by a single step.

His expression still did not look particularly pleasant, but at least he offered me further pleasantries and moved away, saying we would meet again.

“Ha… I am going to die.”

Wiping away the cold sweat that ran down, I let out a breath of relief.

At the very least, “we will meet again” meant there was still, however faint, a thread of conversation left between us.

At that next conversation, I would have to present something that would benefit the Duke of Bourgogne as much as possible.

Just then—

“Ho ho, your expression still does not look good. It seems things are not going smoothly?”

“Ah, Magician Agpiel.”

Magician Agpiel, who had been watching the nobles from the side, sidled up and asked. Since he knew the full context so well, he seemed to have grasped the situation at a glance.

“The Duke of Bourgogne’s wariness has reached an extreme.”

“That is only natural. If I had a rival like you….”

As he spoke, Magician Agpiel swept his eyes over me from head to toe, then clicked his tongue while shaking his head from side to side.

That reaction made my temper flare before I even realized it.

“A rival like me?”

“Cough. Are you not the one who crudely splits even monsters apart with sheer strength?”

“…That is only because the monster keeps reviving, is it not? Besides, I am not the Duke of Bourgogne’s rival. I am a collaborator, if anything!”

“But the people of the world do not see it that way, do they?”

“Which is exactly why I am wronged, Magician Agpiel!”

Was it not enough to drive a man mad? I was someone who only wanted to quietly grow my domain, yet everyone around me kept poking and prodding me, and when my territory expanded by accident, people grew wary and called it ambition.

“Grrr!”

I was exhausted. Truly exhausted.

“Heh heh. People do not want the truth of a rumor. They only want the rumor to feel credible. And do you know this? The more you try to explain yourself, the stronger that rumor will become.”

“Ugh….”

The advice was sharper and more cold-blooded than I expected, and for a moment I lost my words.

Even in the modern world, what he said often proved true. Even with plenty of channels for explanation and high levels of education, it was difficult to correct false rumors—so what would it be like in the era of [Pangea Universalise]?

It would be even harder.

No, I would count myself lucky if it did not spread, after passing through only one more mouth, into even more outrageous nonsense.

“So summon the knights dispatched to the central region quickly.”

“As it happens, I have already sent a messenger to Count Steffen. I told him to wrap things up there as quickly as possible and come to the capital.”

“Heh heh. Well done. Now I can finally set my mind at ease.”

To my eyes, even that… It looked like nothing but a harsh response, but what else could I do?

I could see the situation worsening, so I had to do something, even if it was this.

With a sigh, I prayed that this trip to the capital would end without any further trouble.

Please.

---

“Oh! Your Excellency, the Margrave of Bellua!”

I wanted to do nothing outside, to simply shut myself away in the villa assigned to me, but I could not.

“Yes, Baron Vigneux. Have you been well?”

No sooner had I parted from the Duke of Bourgogne than I found myself frantically engaging in social obligations.

And in the midst of running around like that, I met Baron Vigneux again as well.

“Thanks to Your Excellency, everything is going well. Countless merchant guilds come and go through my domain, and because you use it as a midway hub for inland waterways, my domain’s tax revenue has increased greatly.”

At the welcome news, I nodded. I had ordered the officials and merchants to accommodate Baron Vigneux as much as possible, and it seemed everything had proceeded smoothly.

It pleased me greatly that things now turned of their own accord without my direct involvement.

Then, as a thought rose in my mind, I asked carefully.

“I am truly glad your domain has grown prosperous. Ah, but… the people around you… are they still well? There have been no troubles, have there?”

I meant the Baroness of Vigneux’s territory—the woman who had once fallen into ergot poisoning because of an affair. Remembering that commotion, it had been an awkward matter indeed…

“My relationship with my wife has recovered greatly. If anything, that incident made me realize what a wretched husband I had been. These days, we are sharing deeper love than ever.”

“Oh… that is truly fortunate.”

It seemed he had overcome it through the power of love. The Baron Vigneux’s face as he spoke held unmistakable happiness.

If things were like that, there would likely be no further upheaval in the Vigneux territory.

I did not want my trade market supply network to be shaken by outside factors. In many ways, it was a relief.

“Ah, right. Your Excellency!”

As I smiled in good spirits, Baron Vigneux suddenly made his eyes sparkle.

“Recently, I heard news about Your Excellency. It moved me deeply.”

“Mm…. News?”

News, all of a sudden.

And why would Baron Vigneux be moved by news that even I did not know?

‘Something… something feels ominous.’

For some reason, I felt as though I already knew what words were about to come from his mouth.

Surely not.

But—

“Did you not say you would ascend to the throne? That is why you performed such miracles near the capital. Hahaha! As I came here, I heard this news, and I was overjoyed! Your Excellency—if you are willing to take the King’s seat, I, as the foremost, and five nearby lords will gladly support you.”

-DING!

[You have heard the rumors circulating around you. You have now become a highly plausible challenger to the throne in the eyes of the nobles who follow you. A rumor sometimes becomes the truth. You must be careful. Influential figures within the Kingdom will hear such rumors as a threat.]

[Notification: Your relationship with the Duke of Bourgogne worsens.]

[Notification: Rebellion! The War of Succession event has been activated.]

[Rebellion! War of Succession event: Progress 1%]

[Notification: Move quickly. If you remain still, you may not know what your followers will do in your absence.]

As always, “surely not” only existed to ensnare people.

“…….”

---

“Grrrraaaaaaaaaaagh!”

I felt like I was going insane.

How could things possibly develop like this?

After calming the highly excited Baron Vigneux as much as I could, I hurried straight to the annex palace.

The warning in the system notification window did not feel ordinary.

“Hm? What brings you so quickly?”

“Do you have something for us to do?”

The moment I entered the annex palace, my vassals and officials all looked at me with bewildered expressions.

Someone who should have been in the banquet hall had appeared here, so of course they were puzzled.

But I had no time to explain. I only wanted to set things in motion at once.

“Send out trustworthy people and have them inquire into the rumor.”

“Yes? What rumor do you mean…?”

“The rumor that I intend to take the throne.”

“W-what is that supposed to mean?”

At my abrupt words, everyone seemed deeply startled. But I ignored them and poured out my orders.

“A rumor is spreading in the world that I am trying to ascend to the throne. And it seems some nobles are actively stepping forward and forming an organization.”

“H-huh?”

“What in the world…?”

“Are you not pouring all your strength into reconciling with the Duke of Bourgogne?”

“Exactly! And yet those madmen are trying to turn my efforts into nothing!”

It was enough to make a man mad.

It was not as though the Goddess of Destiny were forcing me to ascend to the throne against my will, so what in the world was this?

“I want to end this needless impulse. If this rumor continues to spread, and we cannot stop the nobles who are leading that gathering… then what remains is war, and only war.”

“Hm….”

Only then did my vassals and officials seem to grasp the seriousness of the situation.

“Then what would you have us do, Your Excellency?”

“Release people at once to inquire into the rumor. And quickly identify the nobles who are creating that gathering.”

“Is it enough to merely find them?”

“Mm.”

Is it enough to merely find them?

Behind that question, there was surely some physical intent mixed in.

But it would not need to go that far. At least, not yet.

“Do not get ahead of yourselves. A warning—only that far. If we move carelessly, the Duke of Bourgogne may notice at once and act even more fiercely.”

For now, it seemed the Duke of Bourgogne did not know. If this reached his ears, it would truly become irreversible.

“So erase every trace as much as possible. Before the Duke of Bourgogne catches on, make it so that, in high society, it is as though such talk never once wandered about.”

“Understood, Your Excellency. We will move at once.”

At my order, my vassals hurried outside. Watching their backs, I prayed there was still a little time left.

But somehow…

“Your Excellency. A guest has arrived.”

“A guest?”

“Yes. An envoy of the Duke of Bourgogne. An invitation has come—he wishes to speak with Your Excellency alone.”

The timer, mercilessly, might have been moving far too fast.

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