▽▽▽ Side: Seventh Prince Reinhardt Kuldia ▽▽▽
I feel ashamed.
At that time, I was powerless.
Even though I was hailed as an S-rank, I was rendered helpless and fainted.
In contrast, Toma-kun is incredible.
It’s thanks to Toma-kun that I can remain safe like this.
How can I become someone like Toma-kun?
Regardless of being a prince or the next king, I just want to stand beside Toma-kun.
“Reinhardt. Are you sulking again?”
While I was lost in thought, gazing out the window, my elder sister Anne came to visit.
“Toma-kun is so amazing, but I’m just so pathetic…”
“I’ve heard that Lord Toma endured hardships and worked hard from a young age. Besides, isn’t he an Apostle? It’s only natural that he’s exceptional compared to you. What you should do is continue aspiring to catch up to him and never neglect your efforts.”
“Anne-sama… You’re right. Toma-kun has worked hard to gain his current power! I will also work harder and harder so I won’t lose to him!”
“That’s the spirit, Reinhardt.”
Thanks to Anne-sama, I feel like my thoughts have cleared up.
I may never be able to catch up to Toma-kun, but I’ll strive to stand beside him one day!
▽▽▽ Side: King Otfried Kuldia ▽▽▽
To think the Catriais Holy Kingdom could be this foolish.
And to even attempt to abduct my son Reinhardt—unforgivable.
This time, Apostle Toma was also targeted for abduction. The Pope is quite enraged.
Moreover, the youngest daughter of the Musel Duke family and the fourth son of the Fandenberg Marquis family were killed in the Haten attack.
I can suppress the Musel Duke, but Marquis Fandenberg is loudly calling for war.
To make matters worse, Duke Bayerlein is also pressuring me to destroy the Catriais Holy Kingdom.
If I could destroy the Catriais Holy Kingdom, I would. But in war, it’s the citizens who suffer.
I cannot make the decision for war so easily.
Is there a way to punish the Catriais Holy Kingdom without resorting to war?
“Your Majesty! If we forgive the Catriais Holy Kingdom’s barbarism, our nation will be looked down upon by others! Please grant us the order to march immediately!”
In the Kingdom of Kuldia’s High Council, Marquis Fandenberg continues to roar.
This has been the pattern as of late.
“Marquis Fandenberg, I can hear you without the shouting. Could you lower your voice a bit?”
“I hear Duke Bayerlein’s grandson was also attacked. How can you remain so composed!?”
Thanks to Duke Bayerlein acting as a buffer to Marquis Fandenberg’s aggression, discussions of war have been delayed.
That man, even if he desires war internally, refrains from expressing it and aligns himself with my intent.
I am grateful, yet fearful. Who knows when Duke Bayerlein’s anger will erupt violently.
But at this rate, even without my command, Marquis Fandenberg will surely raise an army.
I must devise a means to impose sanctions on the Catriais Holy Kingdom.
This is truly a headache…
▽▽▽ Side: Catriais Faction Archbishop Goliath ▽▽▽
Oh my, it seems Vishnou-chan from Haten has failed.
I never imagined Vishnou-chan would fail.
What’s worse, it appears they’ve been captured. How pathetic.
“Vishnou, you’ve been disgracefully captured!”
Arthur hurled a goblet containing fine horse-wine at the wall. Such rare and delicious wine—what a waste.
“In the end, they’re just a demon. Relying on them was a mistake.”
That’s Macallan speaking. For someone who relied on Vishnou-chan the most, he’s quick to cast blame.
But I’m annoyed too. I thought I’d found a great toy, and now they’re useless.
“Did Vishnou-chan commit suicide, I wonder?”
I’d hoped to slowly kill them with my own hands if possible.
“I doubt someone like them would disgrace themselves by clinging to life,” Arthur retorted.
“Hmph. What can you expect from a demon? They’ve probably defected to the enemy to save their own skin.”
If Arthur is right and they’ve defected, that’s troublesome. Vishnou-chan knows all our secrets.
“We should prepare for war.”
“It’d be strange not to attack when we have the perfect excuse. I also think we should ready ourselves for battle.”
Oh my, how rare for Macallan and Arthur to agree.
But there’s still a chance Vishnou-chan hasn’t committed suicide and might be revealing information to the enemy.
“I’m against it.”
“What!?”
“If you want war, go ahead and do it without me.”
“Hah! Cowardly as ever.”
“Ignore the spineless Goliath!”
“Say whatever you like.”
Vishnou-chan is far from incompetent.
For them to be captured, the Kingdom of Kuldia must have something extraordinary.
Perhaps this so-called Apostle is real.
It wouldn’t be too late to confirm that first.
Besides, if war does break out, there’s no guarantee these two would win.
When they fail, it’ll be my chance to expand my influence. Ufufufu.
