Chapter 8
The first thing I checked upon entering the main hall was the mini-map.
Basically, it shows the positions of enemies and allies, but it's also useful for inferring how others perceive me.
On the mini-map, those who consider me an ally are shown in green, those who want to kill me in red, and others in gray.
Even without direct conversation, the colors change automatically, so by comparing actual positions with the colors of the dots, I can roughly guess their attitudes towards me.
As always, the red kingdom nobles are not my concern; what's important is the imperial negotiation team standing slightly apart from them.
The negotiation team consisted of only two people, a man and a woman, shown in red and gray respectively.
The older man is wearing the ceremonial uniform of imperial generals, so his red indication suggests he's a soldier who has directly fought against me, while the woman in typical noble daughter attire is likely the diplomat.
I should give up on the man outright and focus on persuading the woman who probably has no significant grudge against me.
The category of those shown in gray is quite broad, so persuasion might be easier than expected.
If they are sent by the Empress as I anticipate, they'll likely bring me to the Empress without much issue as long as I don't show any problematic behavior.
Of course, I don't intend to appear as just an ordinary person.
I will give it my all.
I imagined on my way here.
What if I were truly a capable general who devoted all loyalty to the king, and after winning a war with blood and sweat, it was suddenly ruined by nobles who had never experienced war?
What if, after obeying because it was said to be the king's order and being locked in solitary confinement for days, I came out to find they were conducting unfavorable negotiations while selling me out?
How would I feel now?
I would be furious at the incompetent and disgusting nobles.
I would be frustrated with the king who is swayed by those nobles.
I would be saddened knowing this country won't last long.
Trying to embody all these boiling emotions, I looked at the king as someone still full of passion and lingering attachment to the country.
"...Speak."
"Your Majesty. Victory is within our grasp."
When I was being taken away, I had shown a composed appearance to Anna and the soldiers, saying I was fine.
Regardless of my personal thoughts, a commander who values peace highly tends to be favored by the Rus Kingdom soldiers, who are mostly conscripts.
Now is not the time for such a passive appearance.
After experiencing arrest and solitary confinement due to unilateral orders, and even learning that negotiations to hand me over to the empire have already been concluded, if I were to be quietly dragged away tied in ropes...
That would make me look like a mere tool, not someone worth using.
Especially by imperial standards, where ability is paramount, a passive appearance from a high-ranking commander is a significant minus.
To gain the Empress' trust, one must know when to speak up when necessary.
It's time to raise my voice to show passion befitting the role I've taken on.
"The invading enemies are starving and shivering in the cold. No supplies have successfully arrived in the past two weeks, and lacking proper winter gear, they're wrapping themselves in the cloth they brought to use as tents."
"Viktor, you are now..."
"On the other hand, although fewer in number, our kingdom's army has sufficient supplies and sky-high morale. With no reinforcements coming for them, all that's left is for them to flee and for us to pursue and annihilate them.
The empire, bordering numerous countries, has almost no spare troops, so they must be pushed back to the original border, or even further."
I fired off words incessantly, even when others tried to interject.
Right now, I need to appear as if emotions are overflowing to the top of my head, so I can't react to each interruption.
Of course, I could get angry at the noble who interrupted, but showing aggression towards allies negatively affects evaluation in any situation, so I deliberately ignored it.
"Too many young people of the kingdom have shed their blood. For their sacrifices not to be in vain, this war must end in the kingdom's victory."
I pointed at the members of the imperial negotiation team who were watching me with interest.
At least until this negotiation ends and I'm dragged to the empire, I must appear as Viktor, the loyal subject of the Rus Kingdom.
Wouldn't it be strange to treat the enemy negotiation team gently in an attempt to look good to the empire?
"They shouldn't be holding their heads high like that, but should be crawling on the ground begging for our mercy."
"General..."
"The kingdom has no need to retreat, no reason to concede. The kingdom!"
As if choked by excessive emotion, I firmly closed my mouth.
Lowering my head as if about to shed tears and wiping my eyes with my hand.
"We... we can still fight...!"
Spreading my arms as if pleading, I knelt again before the king.
Throughout all these words, I kept my gaze fixed on the king.
Of course, I know that the real power is Count Vladimir Savinkov, the king's father-in-law, and that the nobles' consensus determines policy.
I'm appealing that my loyalty ultimately lies with the king.
If the empire employs me, the subject of that loyalty will become the Empress.
"Just give me one week. If our brave soldiers strike at their loose encirclement...!"
"That's enough. The negotiations have already been concluded."
Thankfully, Count Nikolai Smilov, standing among the nobles, stepped forward at the perfect moment.
"Count Smilov. I asked for His Majesty's will."
"Haha."
Nikolai, who stepped forward now, was a very typical noble of the Rus Kingdom.
What this means is,
"There's no need for His Majesty to speak. We chose negotiation because of your incompetence."
"...What?"
Unlike Vladimir, who is chasing me out for some reason despite knowing everything, he genuinely believes the kingdom is in a disadvantageous situation.
He probably won't choose his words carefully, nor does he have the intelligence to do so.
Nikolai walked up to me with confident steps and looked down at me.
"A commoner like you might not know, but the imperial army's total forces are said to reach hundreds of thousands."
His lecturing tone and habitual class discrimination.
He's an appropriate figure to become a sacrificial lamb for my show of anger.
"The soldiers participating in that loose encirclement you mentioned number 40,000, while we can only muster about 30,000 even if we gather all our forces."
Although every word reveals that he sees war as merely a battle of numbers, instead of refuting, I clenched my fists and trembled.
As if I could reach out at any moment but was somehow holding back.
"Moreover, do you know how much money war costs? Food and supplies are flowing out constantly, you..."
As the finishing touch, Nikolai reached out his right index finger to tap my head.
Given this perfect pretext, there was no reason not to move.
-Smack!
"Ugh!"
"...I understand well now."
Rising to my feet, I grabbed and twisted the hand he had extended towards me.
"Argh!"
"So it was people like you who blinded His Majesty. That's why."
As I bent his wrist just short of breaking it, I noticed the precious metal rings adorning every finger.
Ruby, sapphire, emerald...
Seeing the colorful, sparkling jewels, something came to mind, and I immediately put it into action.
"You make excuses about money and supplies, but..."
I pulled off a few rings and threw him aside.
"Your hands are full of greed. Surely you know that one of these jewels could buy hundreds, thousands of arrows."
Raising my hand to show people the rings glittering in the light of the chandelier, I scanned the direction where the kingdom's nobles were gathered with my eyes.
It was quite a sight to see them all flinching and covering the accessories on their hands or necks.
"I won't take your life in front of His Majesty, but... ha."
"Y-you dare to... Ack!"
I threw the rings back at Nikolai's face as he was still gesticulating at me, seemingly still having some energy left.
He hurriedly picked up the fallen rings, quickly got to his feet, and fled into the crowd of nobles.
Judging by the atmosphere, this seemed sufficient to establish my presence, so I knelt again before the king.
"Your Majesty!"
"Ah! Yes."
"The captain of the Royal Guard said that the reason for my... arrest was to send me as a prisoner to the empire. Is this true?"
Although I already knew and could anticipate the answer, I deliberately asked the king.
I intentionally made my voice tremble slightly and strained my eyes to redden my eyelids.
"...That is correct."
"The empire's condition was said to be a one-year cease in the war while maintaining occupied territories. Is, is this also true?"
"Yes."
I gradually raised my voice as if overcome with emotion.
The king answered without hesitation to these questions, as if he had thought about how to answer them in advance, though he gripped the armrests of the throne tightly.
"...Your Majesty."
Now it's the final stage.
Having shown a demeanor full of loyalty until now, I need to show a gap that the imperial side can exploit.
If I'm judged to be an unyielding person to the very end, they might not even attempt to employ me.
"Is everything truly Your Majesty's will? Sending me to the empire for a one-year ceasefire?"
"..."
I recited the last question that would determine everything.
To elicit an answer that could shake even the loyalty of the century's most loyal subject.
"Y-yes, it is."
The king, blinking his eyes nervously, answered exactly as I had thought.
"...Ah."
I let out the prepared sigh.
Now it can't be denied.
The king of the kingdom has confirmed with his own mouth that he has sold out his own subordinate.
A lord selling out his subordinate first is taken seriously, both in the past and present.
Once is difficult, but twice becomes easy, so a leader who abandons their subordinate completely loses the trust of their subordinates.
Moreover, if that subordinate is blameless?
The leader's ability itself inevitably comes under suspicion.
On the other hand, the betrayed subordinate essentially gains absolution.
Even if they change lords, or even if they point a sword at their original lord for revenge.
While some might say directly stabbing is too much, everyone understands the desire for revenge itself.
This is also the situation I've been hoping for.
I've mentioned several times that we're in an advantageous position, and I haven't committed any separate wrongdoing.
I'm just being forcibly handed over to the empire by the nobles and the king who is moved by those nobles.
Moreover, it's not just being sent to a neighboring country, but to the enemy country we were exchanging swords with until recently.
The intention to have me killed is more blatant than the famous empty lunchbox.
It's fortunate that it's me, but if it were a truly loyal general, what emotions would they feel?
Betrayal?
Frustration?
Resentment?
"..."
Sometimes, there are moments when silence speaks louder than words.
Without saying anything, I just dropped my head.
Looking at the mini-map, I could see that the gray dot had turned to a shining green.
As I stayed still, releasing the strength from my body as if dumbfounded, the Royal Guard members who had been watching cautiously approached and tied me up.