Deep within the royal palace, in the office of First Prince Regnard Valsein, a list of nobles supporting Alecia was spread across the desk.
It was more than a mere roster of names. Locations of domains, troop strengths, primary revenue streams, the ages of heirs, and even outstanding debts—nearly every scrap of intel that could be gathered was compiled there.
Regnard selected the sheet for House Razgrim and slid it to the edge of the desk.
"We needn't bother with this house for the time being."
One of the messengers looked up.
"Are you going to leave Vain Razgrim be? He is quite deeply involved with the Second Princess..."
"I'm not ignoring him. It's simply that, for the moment, there's no need to engage."
Regnard leaned back in his chair, his gaze lingering on the paper at the desk's edge.
Vain was ignorant of the etiquette of the royal capital and the aliases whispered in the shadows. During the incident with Serena the other day, he hadn't even recognized the name Shadow-Stitcher.
However, Regnard was not so foolish as to dismiss the man as incompetent based on that alone.
After his father's death, Vain had inherited his earldom at a young age and successfully purged his corrupt vassals. In short order, he had revitalized a domain that had been on the verge of stagnation, and he was even making full use of personnel with complicated pasts.
Wealth, contracts, and the management of people...
In those three fields, Vain was clearly the more seasoned of the two.
"If we meddle in his domain, we risk taking a wound ourselves. He's wary of me now. Even if I were to send a double agent, they wouldn't find it easy to get close to him."
"Then, how shall we proceed?"
"Let’s whittle away at Alecia’s circle instead."
Regnard’s finger slowly traced the list of the Princess faction.
Not everyone supporting Alecia had gathered out of pure loyalty.
Some believed the sister was more likely to triumph than the brother. Others were embroiled in land disputes with the First Prince faction. Some simply thought that by currying favor now, they could secure a comfortable position under the next ruler.
Different motivations required different methods of subversion.
"For the houses moved by money, use money. However, simply stacking gold coins isn't enough. If they're struggling with debt, speak to their lenders. If they're facing a domain dispute, promise them a favorable arbitration. Don't just look for what a house desires; find out what they are most afraid to lose."
"And for those who still refuse to move, Your Highness?"
"Use what they want to keep hidden. The crimes of an heir, illegal taxation, family members residing in the royal capital... Every noble house has something they don't want the world to know."
As the messengers bowed in silence, Regnard selected three houses from the roster and transcribed one of them onto a separate sheet of paper.
"However, you mustn't rely on threats alone. If you take away their escape route, those you've cornered will only band together. You must always convey that by coming to our side, their house and family will be protected."
"Understood."
"As for this one, you don't need to touch it yet."
The name written on the paper Regnard had set aside was House Dalgren.
It was the family that had supported Alecia steadfastly since she first joined the succession struggle. They commanded both troops and land, and their influence over other houses was significant.
"The longer a house has been a pillar of support, the greater the pain when they finally collapse. We'll use them later."
The messengers bowed deeply once more and left the room to carry out their orders.
After the door clicked shut, Regnard looked back down at the remaining roster.
There was no need to strike at Vain directly.
No matter how skilled he was at rebuilding a domain, if the people around Alecia vanished, there would be no stage left for him to wield that power.
"Now then... I wonder how long Alecia can endure?"
His calm voice was the only sound left in the quiet room.
◇
When the first letter arrived, Alecia’s expression remained impassive.
The sender was House Oldis. The letter stated that they would be ceasing their promised support and intended to distance themselves from the succession struggle.
Count Oldis had never been a long-time loyalist. He was a man who had only aligned himself with Alecia because he was in a border dispute with a house from the First Prince faction.
"Send word that I have received his message... However, tell him I wish to hear the details of his circumstances, so I will be sending a messenger of my own."
The chamberlain looked up, surprised.
"Will there be no reprimand, Your Highness?"
"If I brand them traitors without hearing their reasons, even those still loyal to me will grow fearful. Did he leave to protect his house? Was he offered a better deal? Or has he truly lost faith in me? I can't decide on a course of action until I know for certain."
A single defection wasn't unheard of.
As the ceremony to determine the succession drew near, there were always houses that tried to pivot toward the winning side. Alecia had expected as much.
However, a second letter arrived before noon.
This time, it was a notification that they were withdrawing financial assistance. It claimed that the harvest in their domain had failed, leaving them with no funds to send to the royal capital.
A third letter arrived in the evening. It stated that the sender wished to recall the troops intended for the ceremony to defend their own domain.
The wording and the excuses differed.
And yet, the timing was unnaturally synchronized.
"...My brother has begun to move in earnest."
Even saying it aloud changed nothing; she had no evidence.
There were no records of the First Prince’s messengers visiting, nor any trace of gold changing hands. Accusing her brother now would only look like the desperate flailing of a woman who had lost her allies.
What she knew and what she could prove were two very different things.
That night, Marquis Dalgren, a long-time supporter of Alecia, visited the royal palace.
Though he was over fifty, his posture was straight, and his quiet gait carried the weight of a man who had commanded soldiers for decades.
"Your Highness... I have heard that several houses have withdrawn their support, so I have come."
"...You're well-informed."
"News of this nature spreads quickly in the royal capital. However, you need not worry. Our support remains steadfast."
His words were firm and without hesitation.
"No matter which way the tides of fortune may turn, my house will stand by Your Highness until the very end."
Alecia finally allowed herself a small sigh of relief.
House Dalgren possessed both troops and funds, and their influence over smaller neighboring houses was considerable. As long as this house remained, the Princess faction's dissolution would not be a foregone conclusion.
"Thank you... Starting tomorrow, I intend to visit the houses that left personally. A letter alone cannot reveal the true heart of the matter."
"If Your Highness speaks to them in person, some may yet reconsider. If there is anything I can do, you need only ask."
The Marquis bowed deeply, reaffirmed his commitment, and left the room.
Staring at the closed door, Alecia thought of Vain.
Her brother had not moved against Vain directly this time.
After his attempt to shake Vain during their last meeting failed—and after his entire philosophy on leadership was rejected head-on—he had likely chosen to avoid the areas where Vain was strong and focus on stripping away Alecia's support instead.
The fact that her brother was being so cautious confirmed that Alecia’s high opinion of Vain was not misplaced.
Vain wasn't a man who could do everything. He was ignorant of the capital's inner workings and there was much he didn't know. Yet, he never hid his shortcomings; once he realized something was necessary, he would accept it. He was far more trustworthy than those who clung to their pride even after being proven wrong.
"...I wonder what you would say if you were here."
He might grumble about her increasing his workload. Previously, he likely would have told her to simply cut ties with the houses that had left.
But the Vain of today, she felt, would tell her to investigate the cause before casting them aside.
At that thought, her lips softened into an unconscious smile.
Over the next few days, a fourth and fifth letter were placed on her desk.
Neither explicitly stated they were cutting ties entirely; instead, they claimed they wished to remain neutral until the ceremony concluded. However, at this critical stage, withdrawing to neutrality was functionally no different from defection.
Furthermore, the sender of the fifth letter commanded more troops and had a louder voice than any of the houses that had left so far.
"Request a meeting with them. Tell them I will come to them personally."
The chamberlain gripped the letter, looking pained.
"We have already received word from them, Your Highness... They say they wish to refrain from all visitors for the time being."
"Regardless. If they won't open the door, I'll wait until they do. If I give up because of a mere letter, I'll be doing exactly what my brother wants."
Alecia stood and looked down at the five letters on her desk.
The allies she had counted on until yesterday were vanishing one by one. It wasn't a fatal blow yet, but when accounting for funds, troops, and political influence, the balance that had once been equal was clearly beginning to tilt.
—Eight days remain until the ceremony...
She didn't intend to lose just yet. Alecia took the list of the departed houses in hand and ordered her staff to prepare for her departure from the palace. She would win them back with her own words.