I went to Hasse and told him that I wanted to return to Maust.
Not only Hasse, but also his closest advisors were in turmoil. Even though he is a regent, a general who supports the nation wants to be away from the capital. And this at a time when the talk of conquering the West was about to get into full swing.
"My brother-in-law. Why ...... must you go to Maust at such a time ......? Is there something you''re not happy about ......?"
Hasse, too, seemed unable to hide his uneasiness. From the looks of things, I guessed that Rumi had not told Hasse anything.
I knew that Rumi loved me with all his heart.
I could have told Hasse that I was against him, or I could have told him that I was planning to return to Maust.
The fact that she did not do anything like that means that she is still my wife.
Rumi is a chaste wife, as unbecoming as she is unbecoming to a turbulent world, or as unbecoming as I am.
That is why I will do my best to make Rumi happy.
The reason is simple. My wife is pregnant. And Maust is much warmer in climate than King''s Landing with the river winds."
Hasse is naive as a king to ask for a reason himself at a time like this. He can make up any number of excuses. In the end, he can get nothing more than his own peace of mind.
"Besides, the current King''s Landing is inevitably a bit bleak in the face of the conquest of the West. If I leave my wife in such a place, my heart will not be at ease and it will not be good for mother and child. I want to take her back to Maust, where it is quiet, and watch over her by my side.
There is not the slightest hint of fiction in these words. For Rumi''s sake, I must leave King''s Landing. It would be best for Rumi if he could stay in a place where the war was not on his mind.
"Oh, I see. ....... Rumi is not a strong man. ....... I understand how your brother-in-law feels. ......
If he is worried about his own sister''s health, Hasse will not be able to force his way out.
"However, it is inconvenient that my brother-in-law is not in King''s Landing when we have to set a date for the conquest of the West. ......"
"Then, as you have said before, it would be better for His Majesty to take the lead. For the sake of a full-fledged revival of the royal family, I urge you to advance your troops.
Everyone here knows that Hasse has been asking to join the war for a long time.
Now he can no longer refuse.
"Some people suspect that I am not trustworthy because I have been on the battlefield too much, even though I am one of Your Majesty''s subjects. Since ancient times, there have been countless instances of rebellion by soldiers. ....... So, the suspicion is reasonable. Therefore, I have decided that the best way to clear my suspicions is to stay away from the battlefield."
The expressions on the faces of some of the close advisors turned pale. They were probably thinking of what they would do if Hasse blamed them for this. Apparently, they had not read that I would withdraw from the battlefield, much less blockade Maust.
"That''s ...... a generalization: ....... I don''t really believe that my brother-in-law would betray me, including myself as king. ......
"That''s no question. However, the position of regent is too powerful and may have been seen as tyrannical by others. In order to reflect on this, I have decided that it would not be a bad idea to return to Maust for a while. Fortunately, the bureaucracy is much better than it was under the previous king. The absence of a single regent will not cause any delay in government affairs.
I''ll never give up on my side. No one will say that it would be treason if I returned to Maust. The former king will not be able to stop laughing if he sends his army out of King''s Landing against me.
If that happens, the worst that can happen is that I might even join with the former king. No matter how much I dislike him, I can''t choose him to divide us before I conquer the West.
"Okay. ....... I''m more worried about Rumi''s situation than anything else. It''s not a good thing to have a sister in King''s Landing who grew up in a monastery and is no stranger to conflict. ....... Permission to return to Maust: ......"
"Ha . Thank you!"
From the looks of things, Hasse will probably send his close advisors who advised him to keep me away. My going back to Maust would be a setback for our military power. Hasse will make him take responsibility for that.
"Needless to say, if the royal family is in danger, call on me immediately. I will join you."
I smiled as I bowed my head.
Hasse, see how far you get on your own.
This battle will restore your royal dignity.
If you fail, you will lose all your dignity.
The less confidence I have in the royal family, the more my stock automatically rises. If even my closest advisors think you''re not fit to be king, then the Kingdom of Thirlwil is finished.
--Hmm. This man can do nothing, just as Ashikaga Yoshiaki could not reestablish the Shogunate. These are not peaceful times when a man who knows nothing of war can be recognized only by his traditions.
My profession predicted Hasse''s failure early on.
Well, if Hasse wins, so be it. The former royalists who will eventually have to fight will be that much weaker. It''s not only a negative for me.
In any case, there is still work to be done in Maust.
I have defeated rebels like Ailes Kartis and Brand Nahum, and I have more territory under my control. I would like to get the management of it in full swing. Also, it would be good to make friends with other lords in remote areas. Such a policy, which is difficult to implement in the capital, can be done easily from Maust.
Especially with the Count of Machar, I would like to ask him if we can renew our friendship with him.
We will increase the number of cards we can use as much as possible.
"From the land of Maust, I wish the king a successful career as a general. Blessed be the Kingdom of Thirlwil!"
I said what I didn''t think I would say, and I said it loudly.