Chapter 182
Even if it wasn\'t so, the empire had been promoting a plan to join hands with the Holy Kingdom in earnest from the previous emperor.”
The reason why Pena\'s qualities are not known is because there is a risk that the friendship between the Merman Empire and the Zelnian Castle Kingdom will be broken if it is known.
On top of that, since the empire had recently been defeated in a war, they probably didn\'t want to miss the castle.
Therefore, the current emperor deliberately selected and sent the princess who showed talent in spiritism in order to get rid of her in the country.
Or, he deliberately volunteered to remain undetected.
I confided in front of her every single thing I guessed.
Of course, there are some flaws in this speculation.
Even so, wouldn\'t it be about half right?
I\'m so sure
“That’s right….
Still, Pena calmly listened to it without any objection.
“...This is roughly the reason, but what do I need to correct?”
“First of all. The Emperor... My brother knows about my talent. Of course, I only have a few close friends, including my older brother.”
“Hmm…
” “And the second.”
Pena still spoke calmly.
“The reason why I came to Ernesia Kingdom... is to hide spirit magic from the Holy Land, but it\'s half wrong... The reason my brother sent me in the first place is.”
“...Is it to provide an excuse for the Holy Kingdom to condemn the kingdom of Ernesia in the future?”
Pena shut her mouth for a moment.
“…Did you know?”
“I thought it was far-fetched, so I thought it was one of the possibilities, but it turned out to be true.”
As expected, the Merman Empire still did not give up its antipathy towards Ernesia Kingdom.
There is only one reason.
Originally, the current capital of the Ernesia Kingdom was a subject territory of the Merman Empire in the past.
However, the first king of the kingdom made it independent.
And he grew the territory and created the current kingdom.
Of course, the Empire couldn\'t tolerate the existence of the Ernesia Kingdom.
And even now, hundreds of years later, we cling to the past.
That\'s why they want to join hands with the Seongguk that interests them.
“The princess, who went to study in the Kingdom of Ernesia, opened her eyes to spirit magic due to their evil influence.
Do you think it doesn\'t matter as long as you can maintain your relationship with the Holy Land?
How much do you hate us?
I can\'t help but laugh because I\'m dumbfounded.
“I don’t know the details, but it’s probably right?”
There are some tricky corners.
The purpose seemed to be clear.
“Does Seongguk know about that?”
“I don’t even know about that… Huh? But why am I even talking about this? It\'s strange...
“Maybe it\'s because I\'m not really interested in wars and stuff like that? You don\'t really agree with that, do you?”
“Uh hmm… maybe that’s the case.”
Pena was puzzled, but understood without much doubt.
....Actually, during the conversation, he made eye contact with her from time to time and hinted subtly.
I was only thinking of inducing him to let out his true feelings to some extent.
Still, judging from how well he said it, even if it wasn\'t an allusion... he probably didn\'t quite sympathize with the current emperor\'s thoughts either.
It\'s because they\'re being treated as if they\'d handed over something that was difficult to deal with in the first place.
Plus.....
“...and I don\'t like it either... that these kids are being treated that way.”
Pena summoned the salamander, put it on her lap, and stroked it, making a sad face.
Come to think of it, Pena was reluctant to find out about possible elemental magic.
“Even if things go the way the emperor intended, if you think about the mad doctrines of the Holy Kingdom, neither Pena nor you will be safe in the end.”
It was easy to imagine how terrible it could be driven depending on its use.
I didn\'t specifically say it, but she didn\'t deny it either.
Either way, it\'s treated the same as a loser in the end.
I can\'t help but laugh at this
To be honest, I don\'t like this method very much.
Anyway, I got a rough idea of how she got here.
“But let me ask you one thing. Then why did you ask me to teach you Spiritual Art? To use the fact that I taught you spirit magic as an appropriate excuse later on?”
like later.
It is said that Arell taught the princess such wicked witchcraft!
To tell you that ....?
However, Pena made a face as if she had heard something strange.
“…I didn’t even think about that.”
“then?”
“Just in case. I thought it was necessary to properly handle spirit magic in order not to make any mistakes.”
“You mean it was just a coincidence that it was me?”
“And… I was worried about what Sele said.”
“Did I say believe me…?”
It\'s not like there was someone else who knew about spiritism.
I roughly understood that he didn\'t ask to prank me later.
Whatever it was, it didn\'t matter.
It wouldn\'t have had much of an impact on me.
“If you\'re offended, it\'s okay if I don\'t teach you any more.”
“It doesn’t really matter.”
I replied languidly.
Pena seemed to be surprised, but he didn\'t even care.
It wouldn\'t be a problem if the fact that I taught spiritism was later known.
Or rather, it should be known when the time is right.
I need to do that too for my purposes in the first place.
“It would have been better if I had taught and received attention.”
“…What are you thinking?”
“What is it? It\'s common to fuck the other person... no.”
I thought I\'d make something clear before revealing that.
“Pena, what do you want to do?”
“huh?”
“Your opinion is not very mixed with the way the current Emperor of the Empire thinks. Right?”
“It is true that I do not like it.
But still, I am the imperial family.
If it\'s for the sake of the empire... even if I don\'t like it, can\'t I help it?”
There is a bit of self-deprecation mixed in Pena\'s way of saying that.
“Is your older brother full of thoughts of abandoning you?”
“That’s a little… I don’t like it. Can\'t you help it?”
From what I\'ve heard, it seems that the royal family over there is quite a troublemaker.
“It\'s for the sake of the empire... Then it would be better to cooperate with me\'?”
“what do you mean?”
“If you let the empire go hand in hand with the Holy Kingdom, it means that the empire will just be used and destroyed.”
Why did I deliberately prepare for war?
It was because he found one after another signs that he did not like in the movements of the Holy Kingdom.
One of them was the intention to use the empire as a shield.
“I hate to say this, but your brother... the current emperor is so stupid. It\'s just that Seongguk doesn\'t properly understand that they would do anything for the secret wish written on their temple. He wouldn\'t be someone to hold hands with before his pride.”
Pena grabbed the hem of her dress as if she wanted to argue, but... she couldn\'t bear to speak.
I have no choice but to admit it myself.
Even if he is not aware of it, he has no choice but to understand the ideals pointed out directly to his face.
“What do you mean by holding hands and playing together?
Do you know that we can easily win? I can assure you that if we start a second war, the empire will be completely destroyed then.”
We are not so generous enough to see it twice.
“Even Seongguk wouldn’t know that. No, that saintess would surely understand.”
“You mean to say you were thinking of abandoning the Empire from the start?”
“Let it be.”
I\'m guessing that after moderately putting the two countries in a fight again, they might be aiming for that gap.
If you think it won\'t work after looking at the liver, it would be a perfect position to take your hands off it.
To that end, the Seongguk deliberately establishes a deep relationship with the Empire and provides support.
And he will use the empress of the empire to continue to encourage it in moderation.
Because the Empire has not recognized the Kingdom of Ernesia ever since.
It is clear that he will be a perfect opponent
to moderately fan it out. Could that really be a reason for a war? Is that okay?”
“...It\'s embarrassing to say that to me.”
Well, just saying this won\'t make a decision.
“Pena. Princess Anifena. As the royal family of Ernesia Kingdom, I formally propose to you.”
I held out my hand without giving her a chance to think deeply.
“I will make sure that the empire is not swayed by the pretext of starting a war on its own.
So please cooperate.”
“Is that why you called me here in the first place?”
“That’s how it is. Why are you offended?”
“no. Rather, I was a little convinced that there was a proper purpose. But why do you want that from me? You can just do it.”
“Because...
you should be able to reveal why you are trying to attract Pena.
“. It\'s because Pena\'s spiritism can be the only means to wipe out the existence of a saint, excluding the current war.”
“If it\'s a saint, is that saint Nelvania? Are you serious?!”
You\'ve probably heard the name Pena too.
“You don’t want to be taken advantage of, do you? And you don\'t have that kind of brotherly loyalty with the current emperor, do you? Besides, aren’t you even more reluctant to involve your country in a quality war?”
I deliberately kept pouring out my words, as if not to give Pena time to think.
“Aren’t you tired of being swayed around and hiding like this?”
“Cooperate with me. Then I\'ll prove that your spiritism isn\'t wrong. And I\'ll give the guys who cornered you a proper blow. And I will help you find your honor as a member of the royal family.”
Obviously, there is no way that he himself is not dissatisfied with the current treatment.
I don\'t know what Pena is thinking.
It\'s just that all kinds of emotions are colliding inside her now.
It\'s clear that you\'re still thinking about something.
Even though the person himself understands it, it is also the human heart to not be able to accept everything so meekly.
So I just held out my hand and waited for a while.
Just need to push it a little bit.
“I will prove that your talent in spiritism is by no means ugly.”
Apparently, her lips trembled slightly at that moment.
“....okay.”
Pena seemed to have made up her mind and took my outstretched hand.
“Okay, Pena. I will vouch for it.”
Now, I must have the face of a child who is making up a mischievous prank.
“It will be none other than you who will give the famous saintess all kinds of disgrace and put her down within a few years. And your talents will be recognized. I promise you this.”
And I work with her to drive out future annoyances.
War is also in mind, but if possible, end it before that.
that\'s my plan
And this will undoubtedly benefit both of us.