Winter finally arrived in the Kingdom of Ramslett. Had we stayed at the academy, this would have been around the time of our graduation.
For now, Ramslett was the picture of peace, but major shifts were occurring in Centlaren. The Est Empire had begun its westward push, marching toward the Royal Capital of Luluden exactly as it had in the game. Much like the source material, the towns along the way were reportedly overrun in the blink of an eye. Unlike the game, however, Luluden hadn't fallen yet—it was holding out.
Reports suggested the capital’s soldiers had turned into "death troops," putting up a frantic, suicidal resistance. They were apparently dying with cries of "Long live the Saint!" on their lips. My fears had been realized.
As expected, the men were being captivated one by one. We had already pulled back all our male spies who might have come into contact with that woman. Things weren't exactly going smoothly for everyone, though. While captivation could be used as a foothold to ensnare families and lovers, it also bred resentment in others.
Currently, the Royal Capital was in the grip of what looked like a burgeoning cult centered on Amy as the Saint of Benevolence. It had started with the Crown Prince and the inner palace before spreading to the nobility and the military. Now, it was slowly trickling down to the commoners.
Interestingly, the Church refused to recognize Amy as a Saint. They were demanding proof, apparently. I couldn't wrap my head around why they hadn't just checked her status—that would have settled things instantly. Based on the way Amy had spoken back then, she seemed convinced she’d received the Divine Protection of the Saint of Benevolence, just like the heroine of the game. I wasn't sure if she was too dense to notice the discrepancy or if she knew the truth and was simply burying it.
Either way, the girl was insane. There was no telling how many lives she would ruin if left to her own devices. In the worst-case scenario, I might even have to get Ana officially recognized as the Ice Saint. Of course, that would mean dealing with the Church wanting her under their "protection." A Saint is a powerful symbol of authority, and getting the Church involved would undoubtedly make things messy.
That was why I wanted to dispose of Amy quickly, but life is rarely that simple. It was frustrating. Given Ramslett’s current national strength, we couldn't afford a direct confrontation with the Est Empire. I could win a local skirmish by bombing them, sure, but we were desperately short on manpower—soldiers and bureaucrats alike—needed to sustain a war. Dragging the country into a conflict now would just exhaust the populace for no real gain.
On the flip side, if we let the Empire topple Centlaren, we’d end up sharing a border with them, which presented its own set of problems. Helping one side in a fight between an enemy and a potential rival is usually a poor move.
So, what was the plan? Simple: the "enemy of my enemy is my friend" theory. If we couldn't move ourselves, we just needed to find someone whose immediate interests aligned with ours.
That was how I found myself in Kielburg, the largest city in northern Centlaren, having arrived via the Vytol Custom. This region was the stronghold of the Second Prince Faction, governed by Duke Schlestein. The prince himself was supposedly in residence. My goal was to strike a deal with them to eliminate the Crown Prince and Amy.
I slipped into the city using Concealment without a hitch, gathered some local gossip, and then infiltrated the Ducal Mansion.
"Is it him...?"
A young boy who looked quite similar to the Crown Prince was walking through the mansion alongside a stout, elderly man. That was likely the Second Prince, Ludwig, and Duke Schlestein. If I recalled correctly, the Second Prince was three years younger than the Crown Prince, making him thirteen or fourteen now. I moved closer to eavesdrop.
"Lord Gregor, I believe we must strike down that venomous woman immediately and stop my brother! He’s been driven mad! I don't think Lord Oscar’s account was a lie at all!"
Gregor was the Duke’s given name. His full name was Gregor Julius von Schlestien, if I remembered right.
"Your Highness, I understand your sentiment," the Duke replied. "However, it is best to let them clash for now. Besides, I find Lord Oscar’s story a touch hyperbolic. While that woman may have the power to cloud men's minds, it is just as likely that Oscar is only now realizing the weight of his actions and is seeking to evade responsibility."
So that’s where Oscar ended up. I’d lost track of him after sending him back to Centlaren.
"But Lord Gregor, if Luluden falls to them—"
"Then we shall let the self-proclaimed Saint of Benevolence and her zealots handle it. Besides, if Luluden falls, Ramslett will be forced to act. They’ll eventually deploy that [Hero] of theirs. We can simply reclaim the city after they’ve done the heavy lifting."
"But Luluden would be decimated! The commoners are the ones who will suffer! Is it not the duty of royalty to fight for their people?!"
The Second Prince was getting heated. It was actually quite surprising. How did he turn out so upright with a fool for a father and an idiot for a brother? Maybe he used them as a "what-not-to-do" guide.
"Your Highness, please, calm yourself. Your sentiment is noble, but you lack a Divine Protection. You do not possess the combat prowess of your brother or the [Hero]. Even if you took the field, you would hardly change the tide of battle."
I see. I’d never heard anything about his gift, but it wasn't a secret—he just didn't have one. That explained why the Crown Prince, who held the protection of the [Hero], had been so favored.
The Second Prince, clearly unconvinced, continued to snap at the Duke. "Ngh... But! However! Think of how many lives will be lost!"
"Your Highness, the masses are merely numbers. Individual fates are irrelevant. A man in your position cannot afford to break his heart over every commoner, or the business of statecraft would cease. As I have told you many times, as long as the whole functions, that is enough."
"But..."
"If you give alms to one person in need, you must do so for all. That is an impossibility. You must become a king who rules for the collective, not the individual. Do you understand?"
"I know. I know, but..."
I understood his point, but he was pivoting the argument. Sacrificing your own people to crush a political rival is a far cry from the principle of not showing favoritism. Still, the prince’s inability to counter that suggested he was still green.
"Your Highness, your compassion is a credit to your character. But for now, you must endure."
"I... I understand..." the prince muttered, looking utterly defeated.
Perhaps if he were the one running this country, we could come to an arrangement. As for Duke Schlestein, he seemed like the type I could strike a deal with if I played my cards right.
Well, time to decide on my next move.