Talks Between the Demon Lord and the Princess (2)

...So that's the Demon Lord Lukie Evargard.

Behind Sofia, Warrior Isaac Mueller and the others were trembling.

Most people in the Empire had never seen Lukie.

The only ones who had were probably those who participated in the 'Demon Beast Gargalossa Subjugation Battle.'

Most people knew only that the Demon Lord existed and the legends of the era when humans and demons had once fought.

That was why the guards seemed frightened to have the real Demon Lord standing before them.

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Demon Lord Lukie Evargard-sama."

By contrast, Princess Sofia stared straight at Lukie.

Before the Demon Lord, whose appearance was concealed by the 'Perception-Obstructing' mask and robe, she tried to kneel on the ground.

"I, Sofia Dolgaria, as an Imperial princess—"

"There is no need for such formalities. If it became known that you had knelt before the Demon Lord, your position in the Empire would suffer."

Lukie raised a hand to stop her.

"My aim is to resolve the problems in the border region. To that end, I would like these talks to be a discussion between equals."

"Is that... all right?"

"If anything, I would like to learn from you."

Lukie seemed to grin beneath the mask.

"Do not hold back. Tell me everything you wish to say. I will tell you everything I wish to say as well, Princess Sofia Dolgaria."

"Yes, Demon Lord Lukie Evargard-sama."

And so, the talks began in earnest.

"First of all, regarding the military training being conducted by the Imperial forces..."

"I apologize for that. I have ordered my subordinates to stop it."

"Oh? Your response was quick, Princess Sofia."

"I cannot permit training that inconveniences the people of the Empire."

Princess Sofia said this while looking at Lukie.

"As soon as the location for the next training session has been decided, I will send you a letter. Please come and observe it."

"Why not make it a joint training exercise?"

"That sounds good as well. I will discuss it with my subordinates."

"As for the next matter... the Demon Lord's Territory wishes to trade with the villages in the border region."

"Trade with the villages around the border has been tacitly approved by the council of high officials. The military training happened to interfere with it, but that will no longer happen. Please continue."

"What about including the 'Town of Noza' among our trading partners?"

"Please tell me why you wish to do so."

"Mining operations are progressing in the Demon Lord's Territory. We wish to use the silver obtained from them to increase the frequency of trade."

"You will need to persuade the town mayor. For that purpose, I believe you will need to offer some kind of benefit."

"That is reasonable. Heh... Princess Sofia, you seem to be quite clever."

"I am equally pleased to have the opportunity to speak with Your Majesty like this."

Sofia laughed happily along with Lukie and bowed her head slightly.

The Demon Lord, who never left the Demon Lord's Territory, and the princess, who had been unable to leave the Imperial capital.

They exchanged opinions one after another, each from their respective positions.

"...Oh."

Isaac Mueller and the guard soldiers spoke in dazed voices.

"Her Highness is openly debating the Demon Lord, Isaac-sama."

"...Y-yes. Her Highness truly seems to have awakened, like a Hero. In that case, I suppose I am the Hero's support character... not the protagonist... Hmm."

Meanwhile, on the Demon Lord's Territory side—

"I can understand why the Imperial soldiers are impressed, General Raizenga."

"Princess Sofia Dolgaria... seems to be quite an impressive person."

Chancellor Kelv-san and General Raizenga were both impressed.

I was pretty surprised too.

I was surprised by how calmly Lukie negotiated with the Imperial princess.

And by how Princess Sofia did not back down even before the Demon Lord.

Princess Sofia seemed incredibly lively as she spoke with Lukie.

That reminded me of myself when I had just arrived in the Demon Lord's Territory.

In the Empire, I had been unable to freely use my Alchemy Skill.

Only after coming to the Demon Lord's Territory and receiving work had I finally been able to make the things I wanted.

In the same way, Princess Sofia had been unable to make use of her abilities in the Imperial capital.

She must have had things she wanted to say and do concerning the administration of the Empire's territories and its relationship with the Demon Lord's Territory. But she had not possessed the power to do them.

After coming to the Demon Lord's Territory and regaining her health, she was finally able to do so.

That might be why she was enjoying these talks with Lukie.

"Benefits for the Imperial side... Hmm."

In response to Princess Sofia's question, Lukie considered it for a moment, then said,

"We can offer the 'Town of Noza' something. If the town obtains a large amount of silver from the Demon Lord's Territory, it will become prosperous. It could then use that silver to trade with other towns in the Empire."

"That should make it possible to persuade the town mayor. However, if demons and demi-humans begin coming to the town repeatedly, its people may become wary."

"Then what about building a trading post halfway between the border and the town?"

"Constructing a permanent building would be too large a project. We would also need permission from the Imperial capital."

"What about putting up a tent temporarily?"

"That should work. Please do so."

At that point, Lukie and Sofia paused their discussion.

"This is truly delightful. I never expected to be able to discuss matters like this with a member of the Imperial family."

"I feel the same way. To be honest, I am surprised that you, Demon Lord Lukie Evargard-sama, would be so easy to talk to."

"It is too early to reach that conclusion, Princess."

"What do you mean?"

"I am the king of the demons. Perhaps I am only trying to make you let your guard down by acting this way."

"I do not believe that. I can tell by looking at the person beside Your Majesty."

Sofia said this, then looked toward me.

"That person has earned the trust of the Demon Lord's Territory and is attending these talks with us. I cannot believe that a Demon Lord who has someone like him as a subordinate is a bad person."

"Indeed. He was also the one who connected us with you."

"I am grateful to you for guiding me here."

"There are many people in the Demon Lord's Territory who feel the same way. I would like to introduce you to them."

Lukie looked toward me as well.

No, I had only provided some items.

It was Soleil and the other Pixies who had brought Sofia and me together.

"Finally, regarding the investigation of the demon beasts in the border region. The Demon Lord's Territory would like to conduct it jointly with your soldiers."

"That will not be a problem. We can exchange letters later and decide on a schedule."

"We cannot afford to have something like the 'Demon Beast Gargalossa' appear again."

"We will cooperate for the sake of the people's peace..."

Princess Sofia said this, then let out a long sigh.

"Your Highness, are you feeling all right?"

"...I am fine."

Sofia shook her head in response to Warrior Isaac's question.

It had been three days since Princess Sofia used the 'Footbath.'

The effects would probably wear off soon.

It would be good if she could continue using it... but security around the 'Town of Noza' had become stricter as well.

The Pixies had been unable to contact Princess Sofia, too.

"I have been given the opportunity to speak with the people of the Demon Lord's Territory like this. How could I complain about being tired?"

"Are you interested in demons and demi-humans, Princess?"

"Yes, Demon Lord-sama."

In response to Lukie's question, Sofia smiled gently and answered.

"Since I was a child, I have read the legends of the Heroes. Because of that... I have spent a long time thinking about how I would resolve a conflict with the Demon Lord if I were in that position, and what I would say."

"I see."

"I consider it an honor to have met Your Majesty and Thor Kanan-sama on this day."

Princess Sofia looked toward me.

"Because Thor Kanan-sama, an Imperial citizen, is here at my side as someone who understands the people of the Demon Lord's Territory, I was able to find the courage to speak with you. I respect him... and I am grateful to him."

"Thor works for me as my direct subordinate."

There was a brief pause before Lukie replied.

"As someone who knows both the Empire and the Demon Lord's Territory, he also advises me."

"I see."

"But enough about Thor. More importantly, regarding the matters decided during these talks..."

"Yes. As an Imperial princess, I will see to it that they are carried out while I remain in the 'Town of Noza.'"

Princess Sofia lifted the hem of her skirt and bowed.

Then she looked at the armored warrior beside her and said,

"He is also one of the people who supports my position. Is that not right, Isaac Mueller?"

"Y-Your Highness?"

"If these talks succeed and the 'Town of Noza' becomes prosperous, that will be his achievement. I was able to meet Your Majesty because he understood my intentions, gathered the soldiers, and accompanied me. Please remember my subordinate's name: Isaac Mueller."

"...I'm at a loss."

The man called Isaac Mueller struck his helmet, looking troubled.

Then he let out a long sigh and said,

"I am Isaac Mueller, and I support Princess Sofia Dolgaria. I serve as the unit commander. I may send letters in Her Highness's place from time to time. I look forward to working with you, people of the Demon Lord's Territory."

He directed this toward Kelv-san and General Raizenga rather than Lukie.

In response, Kelv-san and General Raizenga returned his greeting.

Isaac Mueller did not greet Demon Lord Lukie.

He probably did that because the guards and the soldiers in the rear were watching.

Only Princess Sofia had exchanged words with the Demon Lord, and he wanted to make it appear that he had merely accompanied her as a guard.

...He was quite skilled at protecting his own interests.

"I have one proposal for everyone in the Demon Lord's Territory."

Princess Sofia spoke unexpectedly.

"I intend to carry out the decisions made here today under my own responsibility. However, I do not know how the Imperial high officials will react. Depending on the circumstances, they may summon me back to the Imperial capital."

"Indeed. That is certainly possible."

"In addition, my term in the 'Town of Noza' is three years. I cannot guarantee what will happen after that. Therefore—"

After saying this, Princess Sofia took a deep breath and said,

"I wish to become engaged to Thor Kanan-sama so that I can remain in the 'Town of Noza.'"

──She looked straight at me and declared that──wait, what?

Silence fell over the meeting place.

Lukie, Kelv-san, and General Raizenga did not move an inch.

Isaac Mueller and the others were staring with their mouths hanging open.

So this was a decision Princess Sofia had made on her own?

"As for the reason... surely someone as familiar with the Empire's circumstances as Thor Kanan-sama can understand it?"

"I can guess... but—"

"Please."

"If Princess Sofia were engaged to me, who am currently in the Demon Lord's Territory, the Imperial high officials would find it more difficult to move Her Highness away from the 'Town of Noza.' If they separated two people engaged with the Demon Lord's permission, they would incur the Demon Lord's wrath. And if we had children, the matter would become even more complicated."

"That is correct. As expected of you, Thor Kanan-sama."

Of course I could.

Chancellor Kelv-san had just thought of something similar and arranged for Mabel and me to become engaged.

Kelv-san had used my engagement as a reason to keep the Empire from taking me back.

If the Empire forcibly separated us after we became engaged with the Demon Lord's permission, it would incur the Demon Lord's wrath. That would, in turn, make the Demon Lord's Territory an enemy of the Empire. The Empire would want to avoid that risk.

Princess Sofia was proposing the opposite arrangement.

By becoming engaged to me with the Demon Lord's permission, she intended to tie herself to the border region.

But—

"That is out of the question. Thor already has a fiancée."

Demon Lord Lukie spoke up.

"I cannot separate him from his fiancée for the sake of political strategy! That is not how things are done in the Demon Lord's Territory!"

"I have no intention of separating him from his fiancée."

"What?"

"It would actually be better if Thor Kanan-sama also had a fiancée in the Demon Lord's Territory. That would give him a reason not to leave the Demon Lord's Territory."

"I see. If Thor does not leave the Demon Lord's Territory, then the princess who becomes his fiancée cannot leave either. That would give her a reason to remain in the 'Town of Noza'... is that what you mean?"

"We could even make it a fait accompli. If we did, the council of high officials in the Imperial capital might give up on summoning me back."

Princess Sofia's cheeks colored slightly as she gave Lukie a gentle smile.

"Of course, please make the woman in the Demon Lord's Territory your principal wife. I am content to be a secondary wife."

"You are an Imperial princess, are you not? Are you truly all right with that?"

"I do not possess the right of succession to the Imperial throne."

I knew that.

I had lived in the Empire too, so I knew how nobles and members of the Imperial family with frail bodies were treated.

If nothing changed, Princess Sofia would probably—

"I will eventually be summoned back to the Imperial capital and married off to someone in another country."

Princess Sofia looked around at Lukie, me, and Kelv-san and the others before saying,

"But since I was born a princess, I want to use this life for the sake of the people before me. For the people of the Demon Lord's Territory who are holding these talks, and for the people of the border region."

"Please wait, Your Highness! Engaged to someone from the Demon Lord's Territory?!"

Warrior Isaac Mueller suddenly shouted.

His large body began to tremble, and his armor clattered.

"If you do something so reckless... you will never be able to return to the Imperial capital! You may even have your name erased from the Imperial family register!"

"I am prepared for that."

"Are you willing to never see your sister again?!"

"I said that I am prepared for it, Isaac Mueller."

Princess Sofia declared this firmly.

"I will explain my thoughts to Riana in a letter. I will tell her that this is the answer given by a 'good-for-nothing' princess. With my own life, I want to show my sister that a princess exists to protect the people, and that she must be willing to sacrifice herself for peace..."

"Her Highness is exhausted!"

Isaac, her guard, shouted.

"These talks are over! Please regard Her Highness's final proposal as the delirious ramblings of someone exhausted!"

"Please wait."

I spoke up.

Perhaps I should not have interfered.

But I had a bad feeling about ending the talks here.

I felt as though I might never see Princess Sofia again.

Besides, there was something I had to do for Princess Sofia before we parted.

"Your Majesty, could you give me some time to speak with Princess Sofia?"

"...Thor."

"Princess Sofia has said that she wants me to be her fiancé. I want to confirm her true intentions. Besides, if Her Highness is tired, I think it would be best for her to rest for a while in a tent."

"...So that's what you meant."

Lukie nodded.

Lukie must have understood what I was trying to say.

She immediately looked toward Chancellor Kelv-san and nodded.

"I have a suggestion for the escort. I believe Thor Kanan-sama and Princess Sofia should speak here."

Kelv-san said this.

"Both Princess Sofia, who wishes to become engaged, and Thor Kanan-sama, who has heard her proposal, will be left with regrets if they part here. If the escort objects, that is all the more reason to let them finish their discussion here."

"...Hmm."

Warrior Isaac stopped in his tracks.

After confirming that Princess Sofia had nodded, he said,

"Then what do you suggest we do?"

"We will prepare a tent here. Thor Kanan-sama and Princess Sofia can enter it, while the guards from the Demon Lord's Territory and the Empire remain stationed around it. That way, we should be able to respond immediately if anything happens."

"...That may be true, but—"

"I believe this would also show respect for Princess Sofia's feelings."

With that, Chancellor Kelv-san finished explaining.

As expected of Chancellor Kelv-san. He had skillfully brought the discussion together.

The Imperial side probably wanted to end the matter here.

But if guards were stationed around them, I thought it would become difficult for them to refuse.

"Very well. However, only for thirty minutes. Will that be acceptable, Your Highness?"

After a while, Warrior Isaac said this reluctantly.

Princess Sofia nodded.

Of course, I had no objection either.

In any case, I wanted to speak with Princess Sofia alone at least once.

I was confused too, since the subject of an engagement had come up so suddenly.

I thought an engagement to the princess would be good for the Demon Lord's Territory, but... somehow, I could not settle down.

We needed to talk this through properly.