Chapter 180 Ceasefire Negotiations ③
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
During the ceasefire negotiations between the Canaria Kingdom¹ and the Coalmine Kingdom², Crown Prince Gilliam of the Coalmine Kingdom and Archbishop Trantestar of Canarias³ found themselves agonizing over the exorbitant demands presented by Queen Cecile.
If such conditions were actually ratified, the Coalmine Kingdom would be effectively doomed. Silence reigned, and the atmosphere in the conference hall grew frigid. In the midst of that stifling tension, a hand rose smoothly, drawing every eye in the room toward its owner.
”Your Majesty, might I have permission to speak noja?”
It was Lady Duke Tina Badcage⁴. Seated at the long table on the Canaria side, she held a place of prominence alongside Queen Cecile Canaria and Prime Minister Marquis Dan Samoro.
”Hmm? Was there something additional you wished to demand?”
Queen Cecile’s reply to the young lady was unexpectedly familiar. Watching this exchange, Crown Prince Gilliam found it somewhat jarring. To be sure, the two were blood relations, and though there was a slight age difference, it wouldn’t be unnatural for them to be on friendly terms.
However, following the demise of the previous King and Queen, Lady Tina’s granduncle had allegedly come close to inciting a civil war. Gilliam had assumed that the Queen—whose singular mission was to secure the throne for her younger brother—would be maintaining a strict, uncompromising stance toward the Badcage House as well…
”It is regarding the matter at hand noja. Even I am at a loss for how to properly frame it noja…” Lady Tina said.
”What’s this? You’re being quite vague. In any case, go ahead and speak,” the Queen replied.
”Yes, well, the truth is that I have been entrusted with a letter from my father, Duke Roost Badcage. Might I have your leave to read it aloud in this setting noja?”
”Ho, from Duke Roost? Very well, let us hear what he has to say.”
It was a blatant piece of theater. If such a crucial letter truly existed, there was no possibility that the Queen hadn’t been briefed on its contents beforehand. ‘So this is the real core of the matter,’ Gilliam thought, clutching his aching stomach with a weary sigh.
”‘In this season of early autumn, I trust Your Majesty finds yourself in…’”
”Enough. Skip the preamble and get straight to the point,” Cecile interrupted.
”My humble apologies noja. Then, to begin again… ‘I beseech you to look with great favor upon the strenuous efforts of our Badcage House during this recent campaign. Furthermore, if Your Majesty would be so gracious as to show consideration to those of us who safeguard the borders, I hope you might focus your efforts on the path of peace rather than being swayed by immediate greed.’”
To translate that loosely: “The war was a total nightmare for us. You know how it is, so instead of pushing for impossible demands, prioritize the ceasefire, okay?” Or perhaps one could read it as: “We’re the ones who have to do the fighting, so cut us some slack.”
In short, that was the narrative they intended to establish. Queen Cecile fixed Gilliam and the Archbishop with a piercing gaze, as if to say, “You understand where we’re going with this, don’t you?” Then she spoke.
”I see… If Duke Roost feels so strongly, then even I must reconsider the nature of my demands…”
”I am deeply grateful that you would heed my father’s presumptuous plea noja…” Tina replied.
”It’s fine, it’s fine. It is a letter written by the Duke even as he suffers from a hole in his stomach. Tell me then, Tina, how do you believe the demands should be restructured?”
At this juncture, Cecile didn’t merely stop at respecting Duke Roost’s wishes; she actively solicited Lady Tina’s opinion. By doing so, she was making a clear declaration: “I hold the Badcage House in high regard. If you sour your relationship with them in the future, you will be souring my mood as well.”
Though the display was a farce, the message was delivered with absolute clarity and left a profound impression on the representatives of the Coalmine Kingdom. This was the true requirement from the Canaria Kingdom to the Coalmine Kingdom, transcending the formal list of demands.
Given the Queen’s pointed remark about the Duke ‘suffering from a hole in his stomach,’ Gilliam’s mind immediately jumped to General Van Valedda on the Coalmine side.
In essence, she was silently communicating: “Keep your pro-war faction, including General Van, firmly under control from now on,” and “Do not harbor any lingering resentment toward the Badcage House.”
Gilliam considered it a remarkably circuitous method, but an effective one nonetheless. In fact, this unspoken demand was etched more deeply into his consciousness than the literal pain in his gut. Once he returned to his homeland, he was certain he would not be easily swayed by the warmongers.
”Then, if I may be so bold noja… The renunciation of succession rights is indeed a point we cannot concede noja. However, ‘for all eternity’ is perhaps a step too far. Therefore, I believe it would be appropriate to renounce those rights for three generations—until the grandchildren of Your Highness Crown Prince Gilliam noja.”
”I see. That would indeed suffice to ward off any potential disaster during Roland’s reign,” Cecile noted.
”As for the cessation of combat, I think it is unwise to strip the Coalmine side of their right to a defensive war, as that would only incite unnecessary anxiety noja. We should settle for a twenty-year ceasefire instead noja…”
”A pledge that neither side shall initiate hostilities… I have my concerns, but very well. Continue,” the Queen said.
”Reparations are meaningless unless the payments are actually feasible noja. Realistically, covering a portion of the war expenses should be sufficient noja… Furthermore, given the technical mastery of our own court mages, I can state with confidence that technical assistance from the Coalmine side is unnecessary noja.”
The Canaria camp played their parts to the end. While Gilliam felt a sense of frustration, he couldn’t help but admit that the terms weren’t half bad. They were at the absolute limit of what the Coalmine side could realistically accept. If one were to summarize Lady Tina’s revised proposal, it looked like this:
1. Renunciation of succession rights (Three generations)
2. Formal ceasefire agreement (Twenty years)
3. Reparations (Partial coverage of war costs)
Compared to Cecile’s initial demands, this appeared much more streamlined and manageable. Even as he recognized it as a calculated strategy—proposing impossible conditions first to make the subsequent ones seem like a compromise—Gilliam began to seriously weigh the options.
Three generations meant that the next time someone could feasibly claim succession would be in the era of his great-grandchildren. By then, the bloodline would be diluted, and the legitimacy of the claim would likely have evaporated. Conversely, if a marriage alliance could be secured in his children’s or grandchildren’s time, there might still be a path for his descendants. He couldn’t say for certain what the relationship between their nations would be by then…
In twenty years, he himself would be in his forties. Would his grandfather, General Van—the one who had pushed for war—even be alive? It would likely be his own final opportunity, facing off against Roland, the King’s younger brother, who would be in the prime of his life. Setting aside whether he would ever actually make that choice, twenty years provided more than enough time for both sides to prepare.
The reparations amount had decreased, but he had to concede it was still a bitter pill to swallow. After all, they had gained absolutely nothing from this conflict. If he were to push for further negotiations, would it be on this point? No, but…
”Mmm. If Tina feels so strongly, then perhaps she is right… Marquis Samoro, what is your take on this?”
”Let’s see… There is little profit in it for us, but it seems like a reasonable point of compromise,” the Marquis replied.
”Is that so… Very well. If my loyal retainers are in agreement, then I shall move forward with this proposal.”
Finally, Cecile performed a careful check with her Prime Minister, Marquis Dan Samoro. ‘I see, so this was the grand strategy the Marquis designed…’ Gilliam thought, settling on a misunderstanding. He believed it was a tactic perfectly suited to the cunning old man who had served as the architect of Queen Cecile’s ascension.
Yet even that mistaken conclusion was a piece of the board Cecile had prepared. The one who had actually refined this strategy was not Marquis Samoro, but Queen Cecile herself. She sought to secure four specific advantages through these negotiations:
1. The formal ceasefire and the actualization of her core demands.
2. To manufacture a false perception regarding her relationship with Archbishop Trantestar.
3. To elevate the social and political standing of the Badcage House.
4. To foster the realization that while Cecile is troublesome, Marquis Samoro is even more so.
The first goal was on the verge of being achieved. At this stage, she didn’t mind if the specific terms were slightly diminished. So long as the peace held until Roland’s coronation, that would be enough.
The second could also be considered a success. Gilliam would never forget the experience of sharing a sense of shared indignation against Cecile’s demands alongside the Archbishop. In truth, the Archbishop was thick-skinned; he wouldn’t be genuinely moved to anger by something so trivial. One only needed to ensure he received his material due.
The third was a reward for the Badcage House and the magic tool shop ‘Harvest’⁵. Cecile calculated that this, in conjunction with the second point, would solidify domestic stability after the war.
Lastly, the fourth was preparation for the next generation. Following this incident, Coalmine—and the neighboring nations—would undoubtedly think: ‘We need these two troublesome old guards to retire so that King-Brother Roland can take the throne.’ Or perhaps: ‘While those two wield power and Roland remains under their protection, we should avoid any unnecessary provocations.’
Cecile’s desires ultimately converged on that singular point: rebuilding the Canaria Kingdom, which had teetered on the brink after her parents’ death, and entrusting its future to her brother Roland and his descendants.
Watching Gilliam massage the furrow in his brow, Cecile felt as if half of the weight on her shoulders had finally been lifted. The fraught relationship with the Coalmine Kingdom, which had plagued her since her coronation, was finally reaching a resolution.
All that remained was to guide Roland along the path she had painstakingly cleared. She hadn’t been able to give him much attention lately because her hands were so full; perhaps she could oversee his studies for a while. And yes, it was nearly time to begin searching for a suitable bride…
It was at that moment, just as her expression shifted from that of a Queen back to that of an older sister and her sharp eyes softened, that someone spoke.
Beside the brooding Gilliam, a figure who hadn’t opened their mouth until now whispered a single thought.
”Ah… By any chance, do you intend to seek trade with our country through the mediation of the Badcage House…?”
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Summary:
Queen Cecile forces the Coalmine Kingdom into a corner with extreme demands, only to have Tina Badcage ‘intervene’ with a more moderate proposal. This staged farce successfully lowers Coalmine’s guard while securing long-term peace for her brother Roland’s future reign. Crown Prince Gilliam accepts the revised terms, unknowingly falling into Cecile’s psychological trap. As the meeting concludes, an unexpected voice suggests a trade agreement through the Badcage family.
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Character Insight:
Cecile demonstrates a ‘wolf in sheep’s clothing’ approach to diplomacy. By playing the role of the unreasonable tyrant, she allows her subordinates to appear as the voices of reason, making the final (yet still favorable to her) terms seem like a relief to her enemies. Her inner monologue reveals that every move is motivated by sisterly love for Roland, highlighting a contrast between her cold political exterior and her familial devotion.
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Behind the Scene:
This chapter highlights the ‘Door-in-the-face’ technique, a psychological tactic where a large request is made knowing it will be refused, followed by a smaller, more ‘reasonable’ request that the target is then more likely to accept.
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T/L:
Notes:
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Roost – Duke of Badcage and father of Tina Badcage. He has long silver hair mixed with some white, a cool-headed expression, and red eyes. Despite a relatively slender build, he possesses a strong fighting spirit.
• Van Valedda – The General and Marquis overseeing the operation. He is the father of the current Queen and grandfather to the First Prince. He has black hair mixed with white, a neatly trimmed beard, and carries an air of calm dignity. He is elderly and suffers from old wounds in his knees.
• 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.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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