After negotiating with De Leclerc, I and the central army immediately returned to the capital, Rahator.
Since we had stabilized the front lines, there was no reason to stay and strip the local commander of their authority.
“Your Excellency, you must be exhausted. Perhaps you could rest for at least one night….”
“There’s no time for that. Now is not the moment to be lying around.”
I immediately granted one-week vacations on the spot to the soldiers and officers who had been fighting for a long time.
This was both to help them recover their condition and as a form of reward for their hard work.
It was also a gesture to let them fully enjoy the fruits of their victory.
During this time, I headed to the office with only my closest confidants, to one of the few places in the capital with perfect security.
Click of the door.
“It’s been a while, everyone. Have you all been well?”
“Welcome, Your Excellency! We sincerely congratulate you on your victory. It was an unprecedented triumph even across the last ten years!!”
“Thanks to you stabilizing two front lines, public sentiment has greatly calmed down! Our influence in parliament has also increased!!”
As soon as I opened the door, a small crowd welcomed me.
Two cardinals, one young lady, one older brother. Four officers and various bourgeois and nobles from our faction – around a dozen people in total.
These were my key confidants and core talents within our sphere of influence.
I had sent a messenger ahead on the way, so they were waiting at the right moment.
“We’ve prepared a modest reception to welcome you, if that would be acceptable–“
“I appreciate the sentiment, but I must decline. There are far more important matters to discuss right now.”
I hated roundabout talk, so I leaned back on the sofa and got straight to the point.
“I heard shocking news from the western front. The enemy commander said that our royal family was actually the cause of this war.”
“….What?”
“Surely, this is just another common bluffing or deception?”
“The circumstances align too precisely for that.”
I revealed everything I had heard from De Leclerc. Everything I could remember, as detailed and comprehensive as possible.
From the previous relationship between the two countries’ royal families to the rumors spread within the empire, and all circumstantial evidence.
The audience, initially puzzled, gradually grew suspicious, and soon changed to serious doubt and contempt.
“If this is true… did the crazy king actually cover up his child’s misdeeds with the people’s lives and money?”
“And without even a hint of reflection about responsibility, desperately concealing all the circumstances?”
“Is this even possible?! Though, considering the royal family’s past behavior, it’s not entirely unbelievable….”
Some condemned, some speculated.
Some lost their last remnant of loyalty to the remaining monarch, while others still denied it as an absurd claim.
The office had somehow transformed into a debate hall, discussing without regard to me.
In the midst of the heated atmosphere, my brother, who had been standing quietly, cautiously spoke up.
“Well, something seems to be clicking into place.”
“Director Royten?”
“Vice-chairman, sir. As I’m assigned to the finance department, I’ve experienced something from the beginning of my public service career.”
Speaking formally to me in an official setting, my brother – now in the highest administrative position among civil servants – still maintained his cautious demeanor.
Was it because of the presence of major political figures?
He hesitated slightly, then carefully spoke:
“About half a year before the war broke out, when I was still a clerk. I was diligently preparing documents for a wedding budget because the crown prince had reached marriageable age.”
“I remember the crown prince’s wedding was two years after that?”
“Yes. During document preparation, it was suddenly canceled. I was in the process of sourcing purchase locations for flower arrangements, dresses, and decorative fabrics when I suddenly received instructions to stop everything and switch to a wartime system.”
This was definitely strange.
Traditionally, marriage of direct royal family members is the royal family’s highest priority.
Unless a national-level catastrophe like a volcanic eruption or massive earthquake occurred, such a cancellation would be unprecedented.
Even if war broke out, they would likely reduce the budget, not completely cancel it – especially if the marriage partner still existed.
“This was a large-scale project involving the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Everyone was quite disappointed when it was suddenly canceled.”
“If the Foreign Affairs Ministry was involved, it means it was definitely a national marriage, regardless of who the partner was.”
“Ordinarily, the entire Foreign Affairs Department wouldn’t be mobilized. At most, one or two subordinate departments would cooperate. This would require at least the noble bloodline of a famous major power….”
“Come to think of it, I also heard a suspicious story from an acquaintance in the Royal Knights.”
This time, General Elan speaks up – my subordinate who previously served in the 19th Division.
“As you know, Your Excellency, apart from the royal guard we defeated, there’s a separate knight unit responsible for escorting key figures.”
“I’ve met them a few times. But never had much deep involvement.”
This is a fantasy world where magic exists. The upper limit of individual power is much higher than on Earth.
While they can’t necessarily hurl meteors or uproot mountain ranges, individuals can launch fireballs with the power of grenades.
As a result, wizards were popular as bodyguards.
The Royal Knights were a dedicated escort unit composed of wizards who had also trained in swordsmanship and knight skills.
Individually, they were probably the kingdom’s strongest fighters. Though as a collective, we achieved a decisive victory.
“I met a drinking buddy who works there, and he mentioned there’s an unspoken taboo within the unit.”
“Taboo?”
“Yes. Apparently, under no circumstances should junior members ask senior members about events between 11-10 years ago. Despite how much they love boasting about past heroic tales, they absolutely never mention anything from that period.”
“What happened to those who carelessly asked?”
“I’m not sure. But several members have disappeared without a word…. I don’t imagine it was handled well.”
“Hmm.”
Things were getting increasingly suspicious.
Individually, these incidents might seem trivial, but as these suspiciously coincidental stories accumulated, the oddity was becoming sky-piercingly obvious.
At this point, even if it wasn’t a broken imperial engagement, something serious must have happened during that period – something likely involving the royal family’s dark secrets.
“Could it be that what that de Leclerc said is actually true–“
“We cannot conclude definitively yet. This is still just a hypothesis for now.”
He stopped the young lady from rashly drawing conclusions and pointed to Major Kys, who had recently been promoted to deputy director of intelligence.
“Kys, you’ll be in charge of the investigation. I’ll support you with personnel, funds, and administrative power. Investigate the truth by any means necessary.”
“Understood. What is the deadline?”
“As soon as possible. And Lady Arschach, please submit the ceasefire negotiation delegation proposal to the parliament tomorrow. I’ll need to visit the Empire myself.”
I believed I could obtain more detailed information by going to the Empire.
Since it would be difficult to believe information from just one side, I intended to gather as much information as possible from the perspectives of both countries.
“What?! Isn’t that dangerous?”
“It’s fine. I can’t afford to miss the cause of this damn war just because of concern for my life.”
My life? Of course it’s precious. But to understand why we had to fight, I’m willing to take any risk.
At least I need to tell my subordinates who died in the snow why they died.
To find the reason why those who should have been tilling fields and weaving cloth ended up as corpses riddled with bullets.
“Today’s meeting ends here. I’ll see you again at parliament tomorrow.”
And the next day.
“The Empire is begging for a ceasefire? Do we even need to accept?”
“It’s been 10 years! 10 years of non-stop fighting. Isn’t it time we took a break?”
“If we continue like this, the kingdom will go bankrupt. We need time to reorganize while resting!!”
As always, parliament erupted like a WWE match.
Our faction trying to pass the proposal, and nobles fighting desperately to block it.
A debate over justification and legitimacy.
No matter how many voting rights they have, they need plausible arguments to justify and promote their actions.
Despite the clear difference in power, a fierce verbal battle ensued.
“No peace with those bastards! No ceasefire until we kill them all!”
“How can you even consider compromising with the kingdom’s enemies?!”
“Stop opposing just for the sake of opposition and provide a proper counterargument! What you’re saying is basically just ‘I don’t like it’!”
“Our national strength has reached its limit. Do you think insisting will change anything? You need to face reality!”
Unlike usual, the debate’s statements tended to appeal more to emotion than reason.
Instead of presenting rational reasoning or evidence, they were stubbornly pushing their point.
It wasn’t simply political opposition – they seemed genuinely desperate to block the proposal.
But lacking logical arguments, they were just being obstinate.
‘How strange. I’ve never seen these guys so desperate before.’
The nobles must have been burdened by massive war expenditures. Yet their reaction suggests something more…hmmm.
“Silence! We will now proceed to vote!”
Eventually, the vote – conducted without narrowing the opinion gap – was naturally won by our faction.
The dispatch of a negotiation delegation to discuss the ceasefire with the Empire was approved.
And this was: A signal of impending upheaval in the kingdom’s long-standing system.