Laurenz

Several days had passed since Duke Kleinert and his companions had contacted Elder Weitling and his associates.

They finally sought to contact us. In response, I sent Sebas as my representative and refused to meet them.

"Were they angry?"

"I sensed more bewilderment than anger. Naturally enough, I suppose. You sent a butler to an important reconciliation negotiation."

"The result would have been the same no matter who went. Still, what terms did they offer?"

"The arrested nobles would surrender their titles. The remaining major nobles would petition His Majesty to demote them by one rank, and the rest would pay compensation."

It was reasonable enough, I suppose.

But I wasn't asking for that.

"Reject it."

"Yes. I've already conveyed that."

I had planned to reject their initial offer all along.

Our policy is to maintain a hard line. That's why I rejected Sister-in-Law's offer, too.

"Now they'll understand that I won't be satisfied with half-measures."

"Quite so. I expect they'll include Marquis Weitling stepping down as head of the house next time."

"That's the bare minimum."

"But is that really wise? Maintaining such a hard line may provoke unexpected backlash."

I nodded at Sebas's words.

There would surely be people who resented me and refused to accept a reconciliation.

But...

"That's exactly what I want. My goal isn't reconciliation. It's to ensure that nothing like this ever happens again. If they rebel, so be it. I'll simply crush the troublemakers."

"You mean such people will only get in our way again eventually, even if they reconcile with us?"

"Exactly. A temporary reconciliation would only lead to the same thing happening again. I need to break their spirit. I won't settle for half-measures."

"Taking their lives would probably be easier."

"It would. But I won't do that. I don't want pointless bloodshed over such a senseless dispute."

Even taking a hard line was ultimately for the sake of an early reconciliation.

Once they realized that interfering with me gained them nothing, no one would try it again.

If both sides were left unsatisfied, resentment would build. If they were going to harbor resentment anyway, I wanted them to let it all explode here and now.

If I crushed them, surely there'd be no next time.

"You're wearing a rather wicked smile."

"Am I?"

"And what you're doing is wicked, too. You corner them and wait for them to lash out. If they swallow their anger, people with deep resentment will emerge. If they join Prince Erik's side, that could put us at a disadvantage."

"If they were mature enough to swallow it, this never would have happened. I don't know who will lash out, but... if their resentment toward me has reached its peak, they'll make a move eventually."

After all, I'd gone to the trouble of having two dukes come all this way.

A peaceful resolution would be best, but I couldn't imagine things ending that way.

They were people who had acted on emotion. They would act on emotion to the very end.

With that in mind, I quietly waited for the next contact.

■■■

One week later.

The day of reconciliation arrived. During that week, the nobles had presented me with all sorts of terms, seeking reconciliation.

In the end, the agreed-upon terms were these: The heads of the principal noble houses, including House Weitling, would retire; each would pay a substantial sum in compensation; and they would submit a written pledge to respect the imperial family from then on. The other nobles would pay compensation collectively. The fate of the arrested nobles would be left to the law. The civilians caught up in the affair would be pardoned, and the nobles who had used them would cover the compensation owed on their behalf.

It must have been an agonizing choice. House Weitling and several other houses would have no heir unless they adopted one from another house related by blood. Their eldest daughter, Therese, would probably never marry, while their second daughter, the commander of the Imperial Guard, was far too busy to be anything more than a figurehead even if she became head of a noble house. Even so, they had submitted these terms because they wanted reconciliation that badly.

"Well, shall we go? Hopefully, this won't become a situation that requires Fiene to act."

"That will depend on them. Do you really think that person will act?"

"Who knows? It's only a possibility, but... the worse the situation gets for them, the more likely it becomes, don't you think? That's why we're preparing a countermeasure, too."

"This has become quite a serious matter."

"The people involved are major figures. They probably don't realize it themselves, though."

As we talked, I headed toward the throne room.

Father and Franz would also attend this reconciliation.

The two dukes were mediating it. It might seem excessive, but this was currently the greatest problem in the Imperial Capital, so their attendance was natural.

Still, it could also be seen as pressure to stop the dispute from dragging on any further.

The question was whether anyone could act without being cowed by that pressure.

"This should be interesting."

When I entered the throne room, Duke Kleinert, who had brokered the reconciliation, and Jürgen were already there.

On the right side as viewed from the entrance were Elder Weitling and the other White Gull Alliance representatives. Nearby stood a handsome young man with honey-colored hair: Marquis Laurenz von Weitling.

He was staring intently at me as I entered.

The other nobles were watching me as well. Their eyes were filled with hostility.

I had certainly made myself unpopular.

Thinking that, I headed to the left side as viewed from the entrance.

Utz, who had arrived first, was arranging the proceedings. Once I took my place, he leaned in from behind and quietly ran through the procedure with me.

"The two dukes will conduct the proceedings. The document before them contains the terms most recently agreed upon, and the reconciliation will be concluded when Your Highness and Marquis Weitling, as their representative, sign it."

"I see. I hope this ends quickly."

As I said that, I looked at Elder Weitling across from me with an openly displeased expression.

When our eyes met, Elder Weitling quietly bowed his head.

"It's been a long time, Elder Weitling."

"It has indeed, Prince Arnold."

"You retired, yet here you are working hard. Are you holding up? You must have been terribly busy."

"This is nothing to worry about. Thank you for your concern."

Despite my imperious manner, Elder Weitling answered politely.

He was deferential. That was only natural in the throne room, when dealing with a member of the imperial family. Apparently, however, the young nobles did not appreciate his attitude.

Their glares at me grew sharper. Pretending not to notice, I continued.

"I see. Then keep up that effort and make sure you properly educate the next head of the house. You can't keep coming out here every time a problem arises in House Weitling."

"Your Highness... This is all due to my own failings. Please forgive me."

"I will, provided you faithfully abide by the terms you've presented."

"Of course."

That brought our conversation to an end.

The glares only grew harsher, but Father and Franz soon arrived, leaving me no time to worry about them.

Everyone present dropped to their knees and bowed to Father.

"Everyone, thank you for gathering. I am pleased this meeting has been arranged. And Duke Kleinert, Duke Rheinfeld, I have caused you trouble. My apologies."

"Not at all, Your Majesty."

"We merely did what was expected of us as your subjects."

The two men answered while kneeling.

Satisfied with their replies, Father settled deeply onto the throne and declared:

"I leave this matter in your hands. See it through properly."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"As you command."

With permission granted, Duke Kleinert and Jürgen rose to their feet.

We rose with them and turned to face the other side.

After that, Jürgen took on the role of moderator, explaining what had happened, confirming the terms of reconciliation, and moving the proceedings along.

Everything proceeded quite normally. Nothing seemed particularly strange, and there was no sign they were about to do anything.

Perhaps it was because Father was present, or perhaps because they couldn't afford to damage the two dukes' standing.

In the end, things proceeded without a hitch all the way to the final signing.

"Prince Arnold, Marquis Weitling, please come over here."

Saying that, Duke Kleinert called Laurenz and me over to the table where the document had been prepared.

We stepped forward at the same time.

Laurenz was a tall, handsome man. He had the sort of air that would draw women to him without his doing anything, and he looked every inch the aristocratic young lord.

His actions, however, were anything but aristocratic. Emotion had driven this man mad.

Jealousy must have been at the root of it. The jealousy he had barely managed to suppress when Leo was the object of it had exploded when directed at me.

And a man's jealousy is ugly—and deep, dark, and twisted.

He must have been incapable of making a sound decision. Laurenz glared down at me as though I were his parents' mortal enemy, then slowly removed one of his gloves in front of me.

He then threw it at me.

Well, well.

As everyone present stood stunned and speechless, Laurenz declared:

"Prince Arnold. I... Laurenz von Weitling challenge you to a duel. You are cruel and insolent. I do not recognize you as a member of the imperial family worthy of respect. Please pick up the glove and accept my challenge. I stake everything in this affair on it—duel me!"

It was surely the most foolish and courageous act in House Weitling's history.

He had thrown down his glove before a prince in the presence of the Emperor and wrecked reconciliation negotiations mediated by two dukes.

That alone showed he was extraordinary in his own way.

But this was beyond anything I'd imagined.

A duel, now of all times?

This was going to be a real headache.

Thinking that, I began by straightening my unkempt hair.

Well, time to put on an act.