Chapter 22 A Kingdom One Month After the Summoning
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Your Highness Viorga. Have you had a chance to look over the report?”
I shifted my gaze toward the man who had called my name. He was Gaitzio, the Prime Minister. Since Father’s health failed, he and I had been steering the ship of this kingdom together.
Gaitzio rubbed his repulsively protruding stomach and beamed at me. It was distasteful, I admit, but I had to tolerate it. I knew his self-indulgence was the result of stress.
”Yes, I have. Mond led his First Knight Order, reinforced by the Heroes, and successfully recaptured the Northern Fortress that the Empire had taken. It seems the Heroes played a considerable part in the action.” Hero Summoning had been thirty days ago. Now, our kingdom was swept up in celebration of a major victory over the Empire.
The fact that we had recovered territory and repelled the Empire would certainly be reported to the surrounding nations with astonishment. Naturally, this would raise our prestige. Furthermore, there would surely be movements to investigate the Heroes, the masterminds of this victory. Once their power was understood, other nations would undoubtedly attempt to contact me.
”Well, well… what an achievement, Your Highness. I never thought we would truly manage to take back the fortress from the Empire…” Gaitzio marveled, shaking his head in disbelief.
”Oh? You never believed we would?” I asked, a sly smile touching my lips.
”Not at all. It’s just that it’s been barely a month since the summoning, and only Mond’s First Knight Order was mobilized for the campaign. The Empire must be shocked, wondering if the Emmeld Kingdom was always this powerful.”
Ordinarily, we would have needed to deploy several Knight Orders. But it was only the elite unit—the First Knight Order—which was predominantly staffed by high-ranking nobles and sorcery practitioners. Mond would surely gain even more influence from this. The presence of the Heroes was the key factor, without a doubt. Without them, the First Knight Order alone could never have won. I heard the Empire was quite negligent, thinking they were only fighting a single Knight Order.
”The report indicates the Holy Sword Hero, in particular, performed exceptionally well. It seems he didn’t hesitate to cut down wave after wave of enemy soldiers. There are some reports that the other Heroes were somewhat timid, however. Did you… do something, Your Highness?” Gaitzio inquired, his voice dropping slightly.
”Hmph… Who knows? I’m sure he simply wielded his strength to destroy evil for the sake of our kingdom.” I confirmed, but not really. I had provided the Holy Sword Hero, Muro, with several women. During their relations, I had a special incense burned in the room.
That incense was like a powerful alcohol. It swept away distracting thoughts, lowered his capacity for rational thought, and intensified the physical pleasure of the act. It was the sort of thing some nobles used for mere amusement. However, it could also be used to facilitate hypnosis. We had exposed Muro to this incense day after day, and used the women to repeatedly implant the suggestion that ‘the Empire is a nation ruled by an evil race.’
It wasn’t a drug, so the effect was only fifty-fifty, but it seems Muro turned out to be quite simple-minded—no, very naive and compliant. I’m certain the Imperial Army soldiers on the battlefield appeared to him as nothing less than a legion of pure evil Demon Lords.
(~Speaking of simple-minded… all of the Heroes are that way, aren’t they.) At their age, they should normally be much more cautious. But Muro and the others don’t question anything we tell them. They still believe the Servitude Mark is a Hero’s Crest. At this rate, they probably won’t even notice that there’s no way for them to return home, nor that the ‘beast’ summoned with them is already dead.
Still, I haven’t done anything yet to the other three Heroes aside from Muro. Their state of mind might have changed through this war. For now, I want to manage the Heroes’ deployment quietly… it’s bothersome, but I must take further steps.
”Gaitzio. Have preparations made to reward the Holy Sword Hero.”
”You mean the bestowment of a noble title, as you mentioned previously?”
”Yes. And… I will appoint him as the feudal lord of the recaptured territory.”
”………! Your Highness Viorga… that is…!” Gaitzio could not hide his shock at this news. Well, it was certainly expected. That territory originally belonged to one of the kingdom’s great nobles, Egrest. Naturally, the land should have returned to him.
”I don’t believe this will bring about a good outcome, and I don’t believe the Hero is fit for the duties of a lord.”
”You are correct. So, we shall appoint one of Mond’s relatives as his deputy. The Heroes are intended to remain in the Royal Capital when they are not fighting.”
”A nominal lord, then. This also rewards Mond. But won’t this incur the resentment of Egrest…?” the Prime Minister asked, his face lined with concern.
It most certainly would. However, Egrest no longer held the power he once did. And what I truly could not forgive was his support for my younger sister. He needed to be taught that he had bowed to the wrong side. Furthermore, this clear-cut snub would serve as a warning to other nobles. There are always a certain number of provincial nobles who, despite knowing nothing of the Central Court, always feel the need to offer their opinions.
”Should Egrest raise an objection, it would be nothing more than a little bird chirping. And besides, managing such resentment is *your* job, isn’t it?” I reminded him, my voice crisp.
”Hah… Understood, Your Highness. I shall obey.”
”And after the series of victory ceremonies are complete, I will send Liliarette to the Great Republic.”
”Oh…” Gaitzio registered the gravity of the decision.
The Great Republic was an extremely savage nation with a short history and no royal governance. The sole reason such a country had risen to Great Power status in such a short time was its immense financial strength. Our kingdom could not afford to ignore their wealth. They even helped finance this recent war. Many of the kingdom’s nobles were indebted to their merchants. Thinking of our future relationship, I decided to sell off my sister, the Third Princess Liliarette. That high, noble blood seems to be extremely attractive to the merchants and parliament members of that nation. A person who has gained wealth next wants to acquire an easy trophy: a noble bloodline.
And to think, they lent us war funds after just a hint of a deal… The Great Republic likely feared that if our kingdom lost the war, they would suddenly find themselves bordering the Empire. They must have wanted to maintain a buffer state, even if they had to provide the money for it.
”I imagine Her Highness Cleonora would be quite angry that we are breaking our promise to her…” Gaitzio mused.
”Is she not already dead? I placed a spy among those we banished, didn’t I? What was the report from that grass¹?” I asked, using the code name for the informant.
When we exiled Cleonora to the Demon Forest, we embedded a secret agent among her retainers. The arrangement was that we would be immediately notified if Cleonora ever emerged from the forest.
”He reported that she entered the depths of the Demon Forest over a month ago. She must have been trying to find a route to the Republic,” the Prime Minister explained.
”How foolish. She wouldn’t have been able to do anything, even if she had reached the Republic. …So?” I pressed for the conclusion.
”Yes. It appears she has not returned yet.”
”………” I mused quietly. Cleonora had the excellent Magic Power befitting a member of the royal family, and she carried a treasured sword. She likely thought that she might be able to find a path through the forest alone. Since she hadn’t returned for over a month, I could safely assume she was dead.
”In that case, there is no problem. In fact, why did you even bring up her name, knowing that information?” I demanded, my patience thinning.
”Hah. I couldn’t be certain she was deceased, Your Highness,” he replied with an apologetic tone.
Was he being serious? Gaitzio was well-connected and reasonably competent as a Prime Minister, but sometimes it was impossible to tell if he was making a joke.
”Very well. Just ensure that the arrangements are made in this direction.”
”Understood. I shall follow your commands, Your Highness.”
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Summary:
This political chapter reveals Acting Princess Viorga’s ruthless, cold-blooded strategy to consolidate power one month after the Hero Summoning success. She details how she successfully mind-controlled the Holy Sword Hero, Muro, using special incense to turn him into a relentless killer for her war against the Empire. The victory allows her to manipulate the aristocracy, rewarding allies like Commander Mond while punishing the rival noble Egrest. Furthermore, she confirms the plan to sacrifice her sister, Princess Liliarette, to the wealthy Great Republic for financial stability. Finally, Viorga and Prime Minister Gaitzio conclude that their spy’s report indicates the exiled Princess Cleonora is almost certainly dead in the Demon Forest, which Viorga views with contemptuous satisfaction. The stage is set for Viorga’s undisputed reign.
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Character Insight:
Viorga is a masterful manipulator who views people—including her own sisters and the summoned Heroes—as chess pieces. Her internal thoughts highlight her disdain for the Heroes’ naivety and her exiled sister’s ‘foolishness,’ underscoring her complete lack of empathy and singular focus on political advantage. Gaitzio, while competent, exists mainly to facilitate Viorga’s increasingly extreme demands.
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Behind the Scene:
The political subplot progresses significantly: the Servitude Mark is confirmed to be a lie, the Heroes are being actively manipulated, and Viorga has begun purging aristocratic rivals. This sets up Viorga as the primary antagonist to both the Heroes (if they ever realize the truth) and Cleonora, who is unknowingly alive and starting her own journey in a separate realm. The ‘grass’ mentioned is a spy, a common term in fantasy/period settings.
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T/L:
¹ Grass (草): This is an old Japanese term for a secret agent or spy, suggesting someone hidden and reporting information covertly from the field. It’s a classic trope in historical and fantasy settings. ↩
Notes:
• Viorga – The First Princess of the Emmeld Kingdom. She is a beautiful, young woman with long golden hair and sharp blue eyes, always dressed in an elaborate crimson and gold royal gown. She is utterly ruthless, viewing all people—including the summoned Heroes and her own family—as disposable assets in her political games. Looks like Aileen Lauren from certain series.
• Gaitzio – The Prime Minister who runs the country alongside Viorga. He is aware of the political complexity of Viorga’s schemes. Despite his genuine concerns about the aristocracy’s reaction (specifically Egrest’s), he remains Viorga’s trusted—if slightly surprised—advisor. Obese, always rubbing it, and smiling broadly.
• Mond – The grizzled, mature Commander of the First Knight Order. He has a thick, streaked beard and a powerful, armored build. He is utterly loyal to the Emmeld royal family, specifically the Princess Viorga, and handles the practical military matters of the court. Looks like Doranbolt from certain series.
• Cleonora – The second princess. Have a yellow blonde hair. Usually styled as hairbun.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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