Episode 78: Townsperson A Watches the Negotiations in the Royal Capital (Part 1)

"Your Majesty, I have come before you as requested."

"Lord Ramslett, it is good of you to come."

The Duke offered his formal greeting, and the King replied with a characteristically arrogant air.

"Regarding my daughter, I thank you for your efforts in the search."

"Think nothing of it. It is unacceptable for a noble's daughter to be kidnapped within our Royal Capital. I currently have my men searching for her whereabouts with all our might."

"I am most grateful for your kindness."

Unacceptable, my ass. Your own son was the one who pulled the strings.

I was currently observing the meeting between the Duke and the King while hidden by my Stealth skill, but the stress from their very first exchange was already off the charts. I felt a sudden, violent urge to punch the King’s shameless face, but I forced myself to endure it.

Incidentally, even though neither of them meant a word they were saying, they both wore pleasant smiles as they tested each other's defenses. The Duke might have the physique of a gorilla, but his tactical maneuvering was that of a cunning old fox.

"Now then, Your Majesty. Regarding Allen, an adventurer of House Ramslett—as his guardian, he has turned to my house requesting that I negotiate an appropriate reward on his behalf."

"Hmm? What are you talking about? He is an adventurer under the protection of the Royal Family, dispatched by my own decree. I am certain no such person exists under your house."

No way. I’d heard he might try this, but is he really going through with it? Has he gone senile at his age?

Surely he realized that his logic didn’t hold up, no matter how much he tried to twist it.

"...But Your Majesty was the one who agreed to place him under the protection of House Ramslett, was he not? The documents confirming that still exist."

"Hmm? What are you talking about? Are you suggesting that I have broken my word?"

"Oh my, Your Majesty. With all due respect, he is the same man who served as my daughter Anastasia’s proxy during that duel disturbance. Surely you aren't suggesting you’ve forgotten him?"

"A duel? Now, let me see... what was that about? I recall some trivial spat between children, but nothing more."

A trivial spat, huh? You’re really going to go with that?

"Is that so? Then let us proceed to the matter of the reward."

Neither of them so much as twitched an eyebrow during the exchange, maintaining their smiles while their eyes remained cold and calculating. It seemed even the King wasn’t foolish enough to lose his temper immediately when facing the Duke.

"First, the adventurer Allen of House Ramslett was the primary contributor to the annihilation of the enemy army in the Bulzeni Region. He accounted for fifty percent of all military achievements and accomplished numerous other great feats. To reward these services, I request that he be granted the rank of Count."

The moment the Duke stated his demand directly, a stir ran through the audience chamber.

Admittedly, claiming I was responsible for fifty percent of the total war effort was a bit of a stretch, but there was no doubt that if I hadn't bombarded and overrun the enemy, the Centlaren Kingdom would have lost Bruseni entirely.

"W-What are you saying? Has Lord Ramslett gone mad? Such a reward is impossible! To suddenly elevate a mere commoner adventurer to the rank of Count! At most, the rank of Knight is appropriate."

It’s a basic negotiation tactic: hit the opponent with an outrageous demand to shake them, then look for a middle ground. I’m sure the onlookers took it that way as well.

However, this time, the Duke had no intention of backing down.

To clarify, the ranks of nobility in this country are, in descending order: Duke, Marquis, Count, Viscount, and Baron. Among these, the title of Duke is reserved solely for branch families of the Royal Family, so no matter what I do, I can't reach that rank.

A Count, however, owns a reasonably large amount of land and possesses significant political power, often acting as a patron for lower-ranking nobles known as vassals.

On the other hand, the rank of Knight is a non-hereditary title for a single generation. They’re essentially "quasi-nobles" who aren't granted territory; in some cases, the title can even be bought with gold. For the Royal Family, handing out Knight titles costs them absolutely nothing.

As a side note, the title of Margrave—common in the German-influenced settings of my previous life—doesn't exist here. The Great Ducal Houses essentially fulfill that role.

"No, no. Considering his performance, I believe this level of reward is perfectly妥当 appropriate. After all, we are talking about Bruseni. It was no ordinary feat. Given the possibility of a re-invasion by the Empire, I actually think the price is a bit of a bargain."

The Duke continued the negotiation with a smile, but a deep crease had formed between the King's eyebrows. The King was clearly trying to maintain his composure, but his fury was palpable.

What the Duke was implicitly demanding was this:

Appoint Allen, the man most responsible for the victory, as the Count of the recaptured Bulzeni Region. And since Allen is under the protection of House Ramslett, he will naturally become our vassal—so recognize that authority as well.

Naturally, the Royal Family desperately wanted the fertile Bulzeni Region for themselves. The last thing they wanted was for that land to fall under the influence of House Ramslett, who was already a massive thorn in their side.

Realistically, however, since another Imperial invasion was expected, placing me there as a defensive bulwark wasn't a bad move for the country’s safety.

But upon hearing that demand, the King did exactly what the Duke had predicted in our prior meetings: he flew into a rage and raised his voice.