Chapter 179 Ceasefire Negotiations ②
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
The ceasefire negotiations between the Canaria Kingdom¹ and the Coalmine Kingdom² continued. Both parties reconfirmed their initial assertions, the sequence of events leading to the war, and the underlying causes, yet a mutual consensus remained elusive.
The Canaria Kingdom sought to safeguard its throne at all costs, whereas the Coalmine Kingdom demanded unrestricted commerce. Neither monarch was personally at fault; rather, it was an inevitable clash of viewpoints, a collision of interests forged by a confluence of geographic factors and pure coincidence.
Cecile Canaria, the Queen of the Canaria Kingdom, cast a brief glance toward her Prime Minister, Marquis Dan Samoro, who sat beside her, before looking past him to Lady Tina Badcage.
The two subordinates nodded in response to their sovereign’s gaze. Thus far, there appeared to be no issues with their formal claims. Although it followed their predetermined strategy, their stance was remarkably aggressive, and they had to exercise caution not to overplay their hand. Cecile had entrusted that specific tactical judgment to the two of them.
That was well and good, but… Cecile returned the nod and refocused her attention forward. Seated across from her were the Crown Prince and Princess of the Coalmine Kingdom. Crown Prince Gilliam and Crown Princess Ierse.
Much like the Canaria delegation, the royal couple communicated through silent glances. As Gilliam’s brow creased with worry, Ierse looked up at him with shimmering eyes, offering a double fist-pump as if to say, “You can do it, darling!” Her support worked; Gilliam’s features softened, and he gazed back at her with tender affection.
”……”
Observing this, Cecile’s expression grew increasingly severe. They had been carrying on like this since the very beginning. Whenever Cecile spoke, Ierse would watch her with a flustered, anxious face; whenever Gilliam spoke, she would gaze at him in a dither. To be perfectly honest, Cecile found the display distracting and irritating.
Whispers of the Crown Prince couple’s intense devotion had reached Cecile’s ears long ago. There had once been talk of a marriage alliance between Gilliam and Cecile, but ever since he had wed the princess of the Silvaol Kingdom³ several years prior, he was rumored to be utterly infatuated—besotted and doting on her to an obsessive degree.
That, in itself, was fine. For Cecile, who had forsaken marriage to ensure no complications plagued her younger brother’s eventual succession, it was for the best that Gilliam had settled with a suitable woman. In fact, during the early days of her reign, she had been thoroughly repulsed by the relentless barrage of love letters he had sent her.
Meeting him face-to-face today was comfortable precisely because those past sentiments were absent; one could even say it was a relief to see him settled. And yet…
””……♡””
”……”
The Crown Prince and Princess continued their silent, starry-eyed exchange while Cecile glared at them. She couldn’t suppress the thought, ‘This absolute bastard.’ She was starting to wonder if this was some elaborate form of psychological warfare designed to grate on her nerves.
Ierse was high-spirited, her expressions shifting like a kaleidoscope. She was the total antithesis of Cecile—who looked as though she could strike down a few weak-willed men with a single icy stare—and that contrast also rubbed the Queen the wrong way.
’No, if it were the me from before I took the throne—the one whose only redeeming quality was being cute—I wouldn’t have lost to her. No, no, what am I doing? Why am I feeling competitive toward the wife of a man who used to pester me? How utterly idiotic…’ Cecile sighed and shook her head to clear her thoughts.
”Ahem! For the time being, it seems we have successfully stated our claims without any major omissions, have we not? ” the mediator asked.
Whether or not he had sensed the burgeoning hostility, Archbishop Trantestar interjected. In response, both delegations offered terse affirmations.
”It appears we cannot find common ground regarding the justification for the war, and neither side is willing to budge. But well, that does not mean these negotiations are a failure. Trading blame is a fruitless endeavor; from here on, let us focus on constructive dialogue to resolve our mutual problems, shall we? ” the Archbishop proposed.
It was a uncharacteristically sound and productive suggestion from him. Even the Archbishop seemed to understand that this was not the time for his usual playfulness or hidden agendas. Both sides nodded in agreement.
”Then, to begin, let us hear the requirements from the Canaria Kingdom’s side. Regardless of the underlying reasons, the Coalmine Kingdom initiated this war and now wishes to conclude it for their own convenience. The Church maintains that the Canaria Kingdom holds the right to dictate terms. Is that acceptable, Crown Prince Gilliam Your Highness? ” the Archbishop asked.
”Very well,” Gilliam replied, “However, I ask that our motivations not be disregarded entirely. We do not harbor a hatred for peace, nor do we crave disorder. We were simply compelled to resort to the measures of war out of necessity, acting in the interest of the security and prosperity of mankind within the territories of Coalmine.”
Taking the lead from the Archbishop, Gilliam delivered his prepared remarks. “The security and prosperity of mankind” was a cornerstone of the supreme mandate upheld by the Church of Demon-Subjugation⁴.
To suppress the ‘demons’ throughout the lands and allow human civilization to flourish. It was essentially a form of diplomatic lip service—a justification meant to signal that the Coalmine Kingdom aligned with the Church’s ideals and supported its mission.
Naturally, in this day and age, no one took such platitudes at face value, but it was a universally shared value that made it difficult for anyone to argue against in a public setting. As such, the phrase served as a standard boilerplate intended to diffuse the tension and create a superficial sense of unity.
As the scribes recorded Gilliam’s statement, Trantestar gave a magnanimous nod. Ordinarily, Queen Cecile would be expected to respond with similar diplomacy, but…
”Then, I shall present our demands. First, our non-negotiable condition: the Coalmine Royal House must permanently and irrevocably renounce all claims to the throne of the Canaria Kingdom. This shall hold for all eternity, regardless of any future mingling of our bloodlines. Furthermore, for the next twenty—no, thirty years—the Coalmine Kingdom must renounce all acts of combat. Finally, reparations. All expenses incurred by this mobilization and all damages sustained within the Canaria Kingdom must be reimbursed in full—multiplied by two—to be paid back over the aforementioned thirty-year period. Oh, and as a gesture of good faith, I will consider the matter settled if you provide the technical specifications for the new magic-guided weapons utilized in this conflict,” Cecile declared.
……!!!
Cecile’s counter was even more aggressive than her initial opening gambit. It was a list of voracious demands that utterly trampled the dignity of Gilliam and Trantestar, who had just moments ago agreed to ‘try and get along.’
The representatives from Coalmine and the Church were left speechless, but the scribes worked feverishly to record the conditions she had listed with such cold efficiency. Those who reviewed the transcripts later would surely detect Cecile’s underlying fury—even if that perception was itself a calculated part of her strategy.
”W-Wait a moment! No matter how you look at it, those terms are beyond exorbitant! Do you mean to suggest you want to restart the war? ” Gilliam asked, his voice laced with panic.
The stomach pain that had been momentarily soothed by his wife’s presence returned with a vengeance, gnawing at his gut. Truly, it was a Gilliam-specific torment.
This was no mere joke. If she genuinely intended to pursue a total war, neither he nor his wife would leave the heart of enemy territory in one piece. Cold sweat began to trickle down Gilliam’s spine.
Why weren’t Marquis Samoro and Lady Tina attempting to restrain their Queen? Do they truly believe these demands could ever be met…? He mentally reviewed the conditions. When summarized, Cecile’s demands were as follows:
1. Permanent renunciation of succession rights.
2. Renunciation of a-l-l combat actions for thirty years.
3. Reparations totaling double the sustained damages.
4. Provision of military technology.
The first item, the renunciation of succession rights, wasn’t actually that painful to lose. Unlike a decade ago when Cecile’s position was fragile, she had since consolidated her power into a formidable regime, making any claim from Coalmine unrealistic.
There was only a remote possibility if the heir apparent, Prince Roland, proved unable to produce an heir, but even then, Cecile would likely exert herself despite her age, or the kingdom would simply adopt from within. With protectors like Cecile and Roland in place, claiming the throne from across the border was virtually impossible.
However, the clause regarding ‘all eternity’ even with ‘mingling blood’ would certainly leave a bitter legacy for the future. He couldn’t simply accept it without weighing the potential for unforeseen consequences.
Next, the renunciation of ‘all’ combat actions was a condition they could never accept. By specifically emphasizing ‘all,’ she was clearly aiming to strip them of the right to fight even in a defensive capacity. And for thirty years, no less.
It seemed like nothing more than a ploy to provide Roland with a helpless target, much like a predator teaching its young how to hunt. Gilliam was at a loss as to why she would propose something so extreme.
As for the third item regarding reparations, while some payment was expected, double the total domestic damage was an astronomical figure. It would likely dwarf the national budget many times over.
If Kento had been present, he might have used the GDP and budgets from his original world to estimate that she was essentially demanding five to ten times the Coalmine Kingdom’s entire national budget.
Finally, the fourth item—the transfer of technology—was another absolute deal-breaker. The new ‘Matomeru-kun⁵‘ magic-guided weapon, developed by the Head Court Mage Kushe, was the primary reason they had held the advantage in this war.
It was the lifeline of the Coalmine Kingdom, their most prized military asset which they intended to refine further. It was a secret of the highest order. Handing it over to an enemy nation was unthinkable.
Even as he glared at Cecile and sent pleading looks to Marquis Samoro and Lady Tina for some form of mediation, Gilliam remained convinced that these terms were fundamentally unacceptable. It was one thing to start a negotiation with high demands, but this was beyond the pale.
”Good heavens, Queen Your Majesty, this is surely a joke. As the Church has volunteered to mediate, we are obligated to see these negotiations reach a successful conclusion. I must ask you to withdraw those demands,” Archbishop Trantestar stated.
He spoke with a firm, decisive tone that was rare for him. Gilliam didn’t know the man well enough to realize how unusual this was, but he found the support heartening nonetheless. However, Cecile remained unyielding.
”I am not joking. We have no desire to see the war continue, but these demands must be met. They may seem harsh in the context of this single conflict, but they are a small price to pay compared to the harassment I have endured since the day of my coronation.”
Her piercing eyes left no room for doubt; she was being entirely serious. Realizing that she was being completely irrational, the Archbishop let out a frustrated sigh while Gilliam’s stomach throbbed. Just as the lower-ranking officials were beginning to look like they might burst into tears, a savior finally appeared.
”Your Majesty, may I be permitted to speak noja?”
—
Summary:
Queen Cecile and Crown Prince Gilliam convene for ceasefire talks, but personal history and Gilliam’s public displays of affection with his wife Ierse severely irritate the Queen. Cecile counters the Coalmine delegation’s call for peace with a list of astronomical and impossible demands, including total military disarmament and massive reparations. The negotiations reach a deadlock, with mediators and officials left in shock by Cecile’s hardline stance.
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Character Insight:
Cecile’s aggressive negotiation tactics are a complex mix of geopolitical strategy and deep-seated personal resentment. By demanding terms that are effectively impossible to meet, she is likely establishing a high starting point or intentionally destabilizing Gilliam, whose physical anxiety—manifesting as chronic stomach pain—makes him vulnerable to her psychological pressure. Her irritation at the royal couple’s ‘lovey-dovey’ behavior hints at the personal cost she paid for her throne.
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Behind the Scene:
The internal monologue referencing ‘Kento’s calculations’ acknowledges the protagonist’s modern Japanese background, using it to quantify the sheer absurdity of Cecile’s financial demands against a medieval-style economy.
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T/L:
Notes:
• Tina Badcage – Silver-haired, red-eyed woman with a very formal, old-fashioned way of speaking, often ending sentences with ‘no ja’. She is the only daughter of the Duke Badcage, tasked with guarding the North for the Canaria Royal Family. She is described as a beauty. Her inexperience suggests a slender build, and her dress is likely formal and aristocratic, though not explicitly stated.
• Cecile – A high-ranking, powerful woman in the capital who possesses the authority to regulate business and commerce, particularly concerning moral or public order issues. She is currently investigating Kento’s shop, ‘Harvest.’ Have long golden hair, elegant, and wearing expensive white dress with gold accesories.
• Samoro – A middle-aged Marquis and Prime Minister with a lot of white hair, a magnificent mustache, and luxurious attire. He is a key figure in the court who has supported the Queen since her enthronement.
• Gilliam – The Crown Prince of the Coalmine Kingdom. He is described as simple and naive, often overwhelmed by his lively wife’s energy. He is stressed by the ongoing war.
• Ierse – The Crown Princess and wife of Gilliam, originally from a foreign land. She is described as lively and healthy with a unique charm. She wants to cheer up her husband.
• Trantestar – The middle-aged man Archbishop of Canarias and the initiator of the current trial. He is an alleged ally of Kento but remains suspiciously neutral.
• Roland – he younger brother of Queen Cecile and the heir apparent to the Canaria throne. Clean, golden-blonde hair, same color as the Queen, innocent, beautiful face that could be mistaken for a girl but dressed in a boy’s formal wear.
• Kento – The owner of the magic tool shop ‘Harvest,’ which discretely sells adult goods. He’s a former overworked, ordinary salaryman from modern Japan who was suddenly transported (isekai’d) to this fantasy world. He has dark hair and an unremarkable appearance, typically wearing a plain, slightly suspicious-looking shop owner’s clothes looks like Kazuma Satou from certain series. He has a minimal amount of magic power, enough to craft his specialty items.
• Kushe – The Chief Mage of the Coalmine Kingdom. She has dark green hair grown out haphazardly and wears a mage robe loosely over her shoulders. She has a blunt, informal, and somewhat insensitive personality, focused on her ‘thinking experiments.’
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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