I have united this province as well by eliminating the rest of the resistance in Shahrah.


    The most meritorious man of the war was Soltis Nistonia, who conducted maritime operations. I gave him a territory that spanned two adjacent counties and several enclaves.


    I returned to Maust and reported to Crown Prince Hasse that I had conquered the province of Shara.


    All that stands between us and the capital are the provinces of Meruya and Jounan. Meruya is dominated by the Meruya family and Jonan is dominated by the Santhira family and other powerful lords. Still, they are not much of an enemy of ours.


    Surrounding the capital are four prefectures (east, west, south, north, and west), and together with the capital, it is one of the most densely populated areas in the kingdom.


    However, no single power controls the entire prefecture, and in most cases, the vassals who are closely related to the royal family are given a small portion of the territory and rule it separately.


    In the old days, the chief vassals were not given so many lands because there was no assumption that the great lords would start a large-scale rebellion. A rebellion of a great lord could be defeated by other great lords and the king''s direct troops.


    However, when the local lords stopped listening to the king and the generals of the direct rule showed a tendency to be independent, the military power of the royal family was reduced to almost zero.


    In other words, the royal family is dependent on some powerful lords to keep up appearances.


    "Gotcha!　It''s only a matter of time before we enter the royal capital!"


    The unification of Shahrah Province has brought us much closer to the royal capital.


    "We are now urging the lords of Seongnam Province to join our side. If we can increase our allies, we will be able to enter the capital in a single breath.


    The capital is militarily difficult to defend. It used to be like a fortified city, but as the population grew, people began to live outside of it, and some of the fortifications have been destroyed.


    In the past, the way of several kings was to defend the city outside the citadel, and if they could not defend it, they would flee to the countryside as soon as possible.


    If they tried to fight a full-scale war in the castle, the capital would be destroyed. No one living in King''s Landing would recognize a man who made such a decision as a king.


    "It is as if we have already won. Will not my cousin Pahus give up his throne? We should not let our subjects lose their lives in vain."


    You already feel like a king. But perhaps there is nothing wrong with being king.


    For now, the king still intends to hold off our troops at all costs.


    "Hmph, wayward bastard. ......"


    "But that is only the king''s intention."


    I put some letters before the king.


    "Slowly more and more people are trying to come down on our side. The more of them there are, the more the king will give up and flee to distant lords.


    "Mm!　Good, good."


    "By all means, let''s accelerate this trend by offering them rewards and reliefs so that they will turn to us. Meanwhile, I will also ask the king to abdicate his throne.


    "Yes, yes!"


    You''re in a really good mood. I guess it''s a good thing that becoming king is becoming a reality.


    But if it''s a reward, I must give it to you first.


    I would be very grateful.


    You are the only lord who controls this many provinces outside the frontier. You should be called a marquis, not a count.


    Indeed, becoming a marquis may be an effective way to intimidate opponents.


    I understand. I respectfully accept your offer.


    And I hear congratulations are in order again. I hear your wife is pregnant. That''s good news.


    Fleur told me the other day that she is pregnant.


    I hope she grows up as well as her brother and sister.


    "Now, let''s play with the royal family''s traditional housewares. The wood is so finely crafted that the vegetables and dishes look like miniature versions of the real thing.


    I''ll take that as well, thank you very much.


    I have changed my name from Count Fordneria to Marquis Fordneria. I hear that people call me the "Marquis of the Water Castle" because I live in a castle surrounded by water.


    There are a few more things I need to do.


    When I went out to the backyard of the castle at night, more than a dozen wolves gathered there.


    They are not pets. More of a brood, really.


    Buglers. As I used them more and more, their numbers gradually increased. Now they have left Fanneria and are under my direct control.


    Find out if the small and medium-sized lords of the province of Shahra are willing to submit to me.


    One of the wolves, a particularly furry one, came forward.


    "Good. You can talk."


    The wolf then transformed into a beastman.


    She is still a young female war wolf. Her hair is cropped just above her shoulders, as if it were in the way.


    "What is it, mistletoe?"


    I don''t know his real name either.


    "May I take care of those who are clearly unnecessary?"


    "But no more than two. No, it''s safer to let the pus out first. ....... Do as you please."


    "Gyoi."


    Mistletoe said shortly.


    "Perhaps the people of Shahra do not yet understand their position. If an army from Meruya arrives, they will probably try to follow it.


    "Yes. We want to calm them down before they enter the capital. Is there anyone who is good enough to rule?


    "If you are talking about the front line in that province, then I would suggest that you should be the man to do it, Mr. Sivik."


    "Okay, I''ll think about it."


    I guess it''s better for him to be in a place where he doesn''t know when the war is going to break out. He''s not wrong, and no one will be jealous of Sivik.


    Mistletoe turned back into a wolf and scattered to the lands.


    The Crown Prince would like to go to the capital immediately, but a rebellion on the way back to Maust would be a bad thing.


    After that I made Sivik a viscount with five counties in the province of Shahra.