Its been a while, Karla-san. (Elise)
You too, Elise-san. (Karla)
Finishing the eting with Margrave Breithilde and his retinue, we took the aforentioned Karla-jou with us at once and returned to our field encampnt.
Being the daughter of Margrave Browig, she served as Supre Commander Representative of their feudal army.
She has to be treated politely, but as Margrave Breithildes army hasnt even a single woman with them, it was decided that we would look after her.
After exchanging courteous greetings for starters, we walked with her and two maids, she took along as caretakers.
Although Margrave Breithilde said that she was the only woman, there were at least maids to take care of her after all.
Given that both were young won just before 20 years in age, it might be that he pushed them onto as he felt like they would be troubleso to deal with.
Once we entered the tent within our field encampnt, Elise, who healed the soldiers, ca back alongside Wilma who served as her bodyguard.
And they both, being acquaintances, greeted each other.
You were working as Supre Commander Representative or such? (Elise)
Yes. Father isnt conscious anymore. It wont be strange for him to pass away any ti now either. (Karla)
Margrave Browig was after all in a condition where it wouldnt be weird for him to die any ti.
Umm That kind of information is (Wendelin)
Its aningless to hide it at this point in ti. (Karla)
Apparently she has talked about it with Margrave Breithilde as well.
She also told him about her two elder brothers staying close to the sickbed of the almost dead Margrave Browig so that neither can steal a march on the other and that she beca the Supre Commander Representative thanks to that.[Owned by Infinite Novel Translations]
However, this expedition (Wendelin)
Both my elder brothers are involved in it. (Karla)
When I was wondering whether it was just the eldest sons, Philipss, order since he is nothing more than a military man, it looks like the second son, Christoph, was participating in it as well.
Not all of the military personnel is under Philip. There are also authorities supporting Christoph among the military officials in charge like those responsible for supply.
It appears that theres an old strife for power between civil and military officials existing in the background of this quarrel between brothers.
To begin with, Christophs participation was only natural since there wont be any budget if the higher-ups in the financial affairs departnt, who support him, dont give their permission.
In other words, this tis expedition is a competition of the two? (Wendelin)
At first it was Philip-niisama acting on his own (Karla)
The whole matter began with Margrave Browig, whose health deteriorated since around a year ago, finally succumbing into a comatose state.
While having two sons, he fell into such state without deciding which of the two should beco the successor.
Philip-niisama and the retainers, who support him, are saying In the first place, its only proper for Philip-sama, who is the eldest son, to succeed the household. Theres no need for sothing like the lords testant. Christoph-niisama and the retainers, who are backing him, objected with Christoph-sama is the child of Hildegard-sama who is the legal wife. If you follow the rit of lineage, it goes without saying that Christoph-sama is the proper successor (Karla)
Currently the territory is in chaos due to the polar positions of the two and the retainers supporting them, Karla explained.
Especially after Margrave Browig fell into a comatose state the mansion turned into a stand-off so that either side wont selfishly fake a testant after his death and send a succession announcent to the kingdom.
Why didnt Margrave Browig na a successor? (Wendelin)
Its because he wasnt able to deny the possibility of a civil war in case he chose either of them. (Karla)
It was a disturbing story, but as both parties authorities are competing with each other, he expected one side to rebel if he chose the other side.
Although it will be connected to promotions if the retainers are supporting the winner, those who have supported the loser will have to face demotions and in worst case dismissal, too.
Since the future looks bleak for those like the young people as well, the discord naturally grew large.
In addition, they have been excluded from the special procurents of the recent Savage Lands developnt. (Karla)
You are complaining to about this matter as well, eh? (Wendelin)
No. I understand your reasons. (Karla)
If they consider their frequent harassnt towards Margrave Breithilde, they should know that they are in no position to complain about being excluded.
However, there were many objections from their vassals for them not apologizing at this point, too.
Therefore, in order to reduce their unhappiness, Philip and the retainers from the military side supporting him carried out the troop dispatch and the rear disturbance in the Knight Bauister territory. This is the real situation of this tis battle.[Visit the original translator at infinitenoveltranslations]
Distracting from the internal ss with an external war, huh? So, which side is the lead? (Wendelin)
Pretty much its Philip-niisama. His support from the military authorities is deep. (Karla)
Speaking of the feudal army, which consists of people with distinguished military service, supporting Philip, the war should give them an advantage in the succession dispute, that hasnt been decided with the family head in a coma, while suppressing the eastern nobles by stealing concessions, even if its only few, from the southern nobles.
Karla, who has looked after the unconscious Margrave Browig in his sickbed, apparently has heard about such plans from Philip.
So, did the second son, Christoph, take an opposing stance to the troop dispatch? (Wendelin)
On the surface yes, but I cant say that its necessarily like that. (Karla)
Christoph, who has a strong backing from the retainers responsible for dostic affairs, has officially adopted a stance of being against the war this ti as there are no benefits from it.
However, as its necessary to grant budget for sending out the feudal army, one cant say that he is 100% against it either since they had been dispatched without a problem.
That ans, no matter the result it will beco his achievent? (Wendelin)
Probably (Karla)
Since the supply has been carried out properly, he will say My achievent of logistical support is large if they win the war and criticize Thats why I opposed it if they lose.
Hes a type often found among the detestable appointed nobles of the capital.
In order to be safe no matter on which side the coin drops, he will make insurances both ways.
By the way, you are talking about it quite frankly, Karla-dono. (Wendelin)
Do you believe that I chose to serve as Supre Commander Representative? (Karla)
Just until one year ago she lived in the capital together with her mother while receiving only a small allowance from Margrave Browig because he was afraid of his legal wife if she entered the territory.
With her mother being an on-site wife for the ti when Margrave Browig visited the capital and since her family was a poor appointed Knight household, its a fact that her grandfather and those around him sold her mother off for money.
Even so, once they beca free-loaders as they couldnt go to the territory of Margrave Browig, they were treated as obvious nuisances by her grandfather and uncles.
Since she would only experience bad things if she stayed in that house, she frequented the church every day since her childhood and received education and teaching in archery there. Apparently she hunted in the capitals outskirts in the remaining ti.
Nevertheless, I was suddenly summoned around one year ago. (Karla)
It was because Margrave Browigs health deteriorated and now that he entered his sickbed, he just accumulated stress due to the legal wife being noisy about nominating her darling second son, born by her, as successor quickly. Even her married elder sisters began to calculate how large the profit will beco if they stick to either side and the crucial two successors didnt leave the sickbed in reverse.
It was for the sake of the opponent not selfishly and impertinently starting the procedures to beco the successor if the other party is away at the ti of Margrave Browigs death.(T/N: The author has repeated this sentence in different variations like 10 tis in the last 2 chapters, I will abbreviate it from now on to: They were watching each other.)
Margrave Browig, who saw that situation, was likely disappointed in his family for not worrying about his own physical condition in the least.
He called his beloved daughter, Karla, thinking that he sheltered her by having her live in the capital.
His heart grew weak when he fell ill. (Ina)
That might be so (Karla)
Maybe its like Ina thinks, but Karla entered the Margraviate Browig territory, unable to decline since it was an order of the Margrave who is an important noble, and looked after him at his side.
I was showered with sarcasm each ti my two married elder sister-in-law-samas and my step-mother-sama, who is the legal wife, ca. (Karla)
Even though the one who called her was Margrave Browig, there were apparently many situations where she was verbally abused in a hysteric manner being called a female vulture scrounging the decaying flesh who ca after he got close to death.
That was terrible.
I doesnt particularly matter to though. (Karla)
Judging from the story so far, Karla is likely a woman with a very strong feeling of independence.
She shouldnt lose to such won if you consider her skill in archery and such, thus she simply ignored the hateful words of the legal wife and her elder step-sisters.
How strong-willed
Thats because I had barely the status of a noble until just a year ago. (Karla)
Even though she was neglected until then, Margrave Browig, whose heart beca weak with the sickness, called Karla with the selfish delusion of At the last mont I will reconcile with my daughter who was born by my lover in the capital before my death.
From her point of view, it was likely a feeling that she wanted to finish it quickly, receive so reward and return to the capital.
However, it didnt go that conveniently, did it? (Luise)
No, it didnt. (Karla)
Just as Luise feared, Karla ended up getting dragged into the inheritance dispute of the Margrave Browig household.
The two elder brothers were kind to their far younger sister from a different mother, but that kindness was out of self-interest.
I guess they told them If you support in becoming the next Margrave Browig, Karla will marry your son or such.
Either of her elder brother should have tried to gather support by saying such stuff to several influential retainers.
Certainly, it wasnt such an unusual story either.
If Karla-san beca their wife, it would promise the rise of their households under the next feudal lord. Everyone probably participated in the succession struggle frantically. (Elise)
The rest is likely as Elise has said.[Owned by Infinite Novel Translations, support the translator]
However, with the crucial Margrave Browig himself not being dead yet, both successors lacked the deciding factor for their victory.
Accordingly the top-brass of the feudal army, who made use of Karla as bait, made Philips idea of a troop dispatch reality.
Philip-niisama planned the troop dispatch with the top brass of the feudal army, but he didnt place himself as head of the army. (Karla)
They were watching each other.
When it was necessary to have soone from the household as Supre Commander, I was there by chance. Thats how it went. (Karla)
From Karlas point of view there were likely parts where she thought that it sohow didnt matter either way since it couldnt be helped if she was inaugurated as re figurehead of the feudal army or if she looked after her father on his sickbed.
Even when she was questioned by Margrave Breithilde and , she honestly answered everything.
You had no motivation, huh? (Wendelin)
Before that, my niisamas are irresponsible. (Karla)
Even though it would have been fine if they at least stood at the head of the army themselves, they forced that upon a young girl at the tender age of 16 because of the danger to be outwitted by their rival.
No matter how much Im a decorative Supre Commander, thats wrong, right?Karla apparently thought.
They entrusted it to you irresponsibly and the result is a tragedy
Even our side had casualties though it was very few. The casualties of Margrave Browigs side has risen to close to 100 people.
Additionally, close to 10.000 people beca prisoners. Margrave Breithilde was at his wits end by just taking care of them.
If one considers the effort of managing them, one cant say anything but The one in charge, co out imdiately!
Since they have done sothing very absurd by violating the customs
Calling in even the reinforcents stationed in the rear, they planned a surprise attack while using real weapons.
As for Margrave Breithilde, since it switched over to a real war, he had additional feudal armies heading over here and the our military forces were increasing every day as it was necessary to manage the large number of prisoners.
Moreover, since it beca a real war, its wrong to not aim for a complete victory as noble.
Accordingly, the majority of the military forces, which increased up to a total of 25.000, have entered the eastern domain and established a field encampnt.
It was a reuse of stuff used by Browigs army. In addition military officials were dispatched to cities, villages and territories of several nobles in the vicinity to declare the occupation of those areas.
However given that it will be troubleso if we really occupy them by dispatching military forces, it will only be the military officials who have been entrusted with the governing as people in charge on-site.
We decided to occupy since the situation is as it is, but its possible that we will be criticized by the kingdoms governnt if we cause trouble for the residents by going there with the army.
Thats because there was the possibility that violence and assaults would be committed to the residents in retaliation because of the military forces having suffered losses.
If those injured parties appealed to the Browig household and the kingdom, it would be wrong for the kingdoms governnt, which basically doesnt approve of dostic wars, if they didnt accuse Margrave Breithilde of having erred.
As there are such circumstances, Margrave Breithilde controlled his military forces while consulting with the cabinet ministers through the magic hand-held communication device.
Work related to the usual governing of the territory, work related to reclamation and the work related to occupying territory with the feudal army. Earl Bauister, isnt there so spell to create a doppelganger of or such? (Breithilde)
When Margrave Breithilde ca to ask that seriously while having shadows below his eyes, I didnt know what would be a good answer.[Owned by Infinite Novel Translations]
Earl Bauister, please lend Thomas-san and his unit to . (Breithilde)
They will apparently tag along to the cities and noble territories, which were declared as occupied, as assistants of the military officials.
Given that they are n from the east to begin with, there are many among them who know this area well. There were also the circumstances that a lot of work would be generated for the military officials who were scheduled to be placed there afterwards.
Since all of them ended up as your groups prisoners, Earl Bauister, it seems they are short of hands to govern the areas. (Breithilde)
It was an unexpected by-product.
With us capturing the family heads and their retainers in the previous conflict concerning the concession disputes, people to govern the areas are now missing.
Since alls fine in a state of occupation, they will be send to help with the governing work as its a military administration. (Breithilde)
I just thought of it now, but we are also keeping the soldiers in custody, right? Is that alright? (Wendelin)
If one looks at the Bauister household, one will understand that there are many ordinary farrs serving as soldiers in the feudal armies.
Having already finished the harvest, they have now entered a period of ti where farrs can take a bit leisure, but even so the absence of the main provider of a family is a big deal. If the war continued into spring just like that, it would have caused an insufficiency of manpower for the farm work.
The territories of the nobles, who participated in this tis dispute for the eastern camp, were in danger of their ruling systems breaking down.
It cant be helped (Wendelin)
I have decided to send them all back to their territories.
The family heads, the retainers, the soldiers and the seized arms, goods and money.
All of it belonged to Katharina and , including the ransom, but after they accepted the calculated standard price of Viscount Knappstein, we ca to an agreent with them.
Also, we gave them the conditions to return the taken concessions and the splitting ratio of the territories to the pre-war state and to pay an compensation to the noble households who were their opponents in the dispute.[Owned by Infinite Novel Translations]
We have entrusted calculation of that to Viscount Knappstein as well since our ti is too valuable by now.
Because he is the type of noble who is a diligent bureaucrat, we had him calculate the sum of the reconciliation money using the vast amount of precedents in the past as standard.
How about these conditions? (Knappstein)
I have no particular objections. (Breithilde)
neither. (Wendelin)
With , Margrave Breithilde and Viscount Knappstein being present, we carried out the negotiations after inviting the nobles, whose retainers and soldier had been turned into prisoners, and the nobles, who had beco prisoners themselves, both parties didnt have any objections.
The nobles of the Browig side were disappointed of their patron for not showing up in this crisis at all. Even the nobles of Margrave Breithilde might have ended up destroying themselves with things like asures for refugees and such, if the war continued like that and the ruling systems of the neighbouring territories collapsed.
Judging that they dont have the leeway to negotiate in a stingy manner regarding the reconciliation money, they accepted the compromise settlent from our side.
Because of that, wed like to ask for a splitting of the ransom and reconciliation money, but
The nobles of Browigs side, who accepted the reconciliation, have pleaded with tear-stained faces for being allowed to pay the ransom and reconciliation in instalnts.
Well, I guess thats only natural.
They arent able to pay it all in one batch to begin with. Even if its split up, they will lead lives of being deeply in debt for several decades.
Moreover, they havent received any kind of follow-up by the essential Margrave Browig at such ti. Having said that, if the negotiations get complicated and they remain as prisoners as is, problems will start to appear in the ruling systems of their territories.
If they consider the circumstances from now on, it cant be helped for them to beco teary-eyed.
As there was a possibility that it would turn out like this, we dispatched skilful soldiers.
Its because we had this.
The nobles of Browigs camp show parchnts with a written contract, which were sent from their territories, to the astonished Margrave Breithilde.
On that parchnt was written that they will be compensated by the Browig household in the unlikely event when they incurred damage in this dispute.
Is this legally valid? (Wendelin)
It is. (Breithilde)
Margrave Breithilde affird its validity.
Its not the handwriting of Margrave Browig, but it has the signatures of the eldest son, Philip-dono, that of Christoph-dono and several of the chief retainers have entered their nas as well. At tis when the family head cant sign himself due to sickness, such joint signatures beco valid. (Breithilde)
Such docunt will beco invalid if the family head hasnt signed it although he is able to do so, but if the family head has a condition which makes him unable to sign it, a joint signature becos effective.
With this it will officially confirm that Margrave Browig is in a state that makes him unable to even place his signature on docunts.
Once the Margrave Browig household formally admits the illness of their family head, this docunt will beco valid.[Owned by Infinite Novel Translations]
Otherwise the nobles of Browigs side probably wouldnt have sent soldiers and gone as far as breaking the customs.
I have a feeling sothing like that at this point in ti is
Um, may I say one thing?
The anxiety of the nobles of Browigs camp, who were present at the negotiation, is their financial affairs falling into a critical state due to the repaynt of their debts, even if those are split up.
According to the contract it seems that the Browig household will shoulder those, but with the current state of affairs the fulfilnt of that will be difficult.
They are appealing their wish for us to wait a bit with the paynt.
They are saying that they want it to be split it in 200 yearly instalnts? (Wendelin)
No, master. Since their losses will be compensated by the Margrave Browig household according to the contract (Klaus)
Klaus whispers quietly with a small voice in my ear.
In short, they apparently want to request us and Margrave Breithilde to subrogate the ransom and reconciliation money and demand it from the Browig households side.
Such a selfish suggestion Although (Wendelin)
The difficulty for the vassal to refuse their patrons request is obvious if I look at my ho in my childhood.
If an enormous sum of reconciliation money cos into existence after we conclude the arbitration between us and the Browig household later after this, the Browig household, whose financial affairs would have deteriorated, will give priority to repaying their own debts and might not be able to compensate the other nobles for their losses.
Even Margrave Breithilde wont likely accept it. Such suggestion. (Wendelin)
It was natural to take it in consideration if its his own vassal, but they are the vassals of the Browig household.
As theres also the possibility that we wont be able to collect the debt from the Browig household in the worst case, he absolutely wont do sothing like shouldering their debts.
In other words they are saying that they will change their patron. (Klaus)
I cant say thats absolutely impossible, but (Wendelin)
It doesnt happen that often, but this ti the situation is as it is. (Klaus)
There is occasionally a change of patrons due to things like affinity between the family heads. Patron substitution of nobles at the border due to their involvents in conflicts like this ti can be explained with precedents in the past.[Owned by Infinite Novel Translations]
The nobles, who were until now under the influence of the Margrave Browig household, which controls the east, or who were its vassals, will enter under the influence of the southern Margrave Breithilde household and beco its vassals.
Arent they completely disagreeing over things like mining rights and the usage of woods with their neighbours? (Wendelin)
Even between fellow southern nobles those are causes for bad blood and if those things change hands, they will also carry out one-on-one battles. (Klaus)
The worsening of the disputes at the border is also because the bosses of each side are different.
Although they wont borrow the authority of the tiger(T/N: the Margraves in this case), both sides will take a stubborn attitude by all ans.
At the ti when fellow nobles of the sa patron quarrel with each other they will apparently hold back accordingly.
Their fortune is declining due to the reconciliation money and ransom after an utter defeat and in the end they had an occupation forced on them due to stubbornly violating the customs. Next Browigs main army was defeated as well. And if I have to say any more, then theres also the fact that the Browig household hasnt even sent a ssenger in this situation. They were abandoned without having anyone to deserving to rely on. (Klaus)
Additionally, wont they be able to participate in the developnt rights if they change their loyalty to the south? (Wendelin)
Theres that, too. (Klaus)
They want to escape from paying the debts by passing them to Margrave Breithilde and including their rights to claim the losses in the disputes from the Browig household.
Since theres also the possibility that we wont be able to collect them according to the details of the arbitration, its a request thats only beneficial for the other party while being totally disadvantageous for us, but if you turn it around, its like them telling that they will voluntarily declare their joining the southern area in a state similar to being indebted to us.
Will the southern domain grow? (Wendelin)
Around 40 households, which were under the control of the Margrave Browig household until now, will change their affiliation to the Margrave Breithilde household.
As patron there isnt much gain as its difficult to look after them as visible from this tis concession disputes, but his evaluation in society will rise drastically.
Its not an era where you can gain new territory in wars, but since there are more than 40 households who changed their affiliation by themselves, this will result in the Margrave Breithildes households evaluation to grow and this will also connect to benefits if you look at the long term.
This is why the evaluation of a mafia boss goes up by increasing their henchn. If the fortune becos large, they will reach the point of being able to earn money with gangster business thods*. (Wendelin)(T/N: shinogi or , includes jobs in the entertainnt industry and harbour business at the front and gambling, prostitution, bouncing, drugs etc. in the back)
The example is extre, but well, nobles and the mafia arent that different in regards to their contents. (Klaus)(T/N: Busted, he is a reincarnator after all!)
Klaus adds his words without rebuking or particularly changing his expression due to my remark.
Since its just a private conversation to the bitter end, he doesnt seem to mind.
The Margrave Breithilde household will be marked by the royal family. (Wendelin)
The current Margrave Breithilde-sama is sensitive to such looks from the central governnt. He will probably at least consult with them beforehand. (Klaus)
Since he possesses a magic hand-held communication device, it will probably be taken care of after consulting with the cabinet ministers of the central governnt, Klaus predicted.
Once so ti passes, the Earl Bauister household will hold more than or comparative authority to the Margrave Breithilde household. Once this happens, it will naturally turn into both sides restraining each other. (Klaus)
Its very likely that this cos true once so ti passes as the family heads will be different at ti, too.
Thats why I accepted my legal wife from the Hohenheim household, which works in an important office of the church in the capital. Maybe that trend will continue even after the next generation.
If it naturally reaches the point of both parties matching as restraint for each other, the danger will decrease from the point of view of the royal family.
Being a noble, thats really troubleso. (Wendelin)
It cant be helped since its sothing like an occupational trait. (Klaus)
It was troubleso to consider such future matters, but we released all of the people, who beca prisoners, except those of the Browig household after various happenings like this.
We returned everything like arms, money and goods we seized at the sa ti, however its not like they were given for free.
Since Viscount Knappstein had assessed all of its monetary worth, everything beca their debts for forms sake.
However, all of those claims will just be carried out by Margrave Breithilde and on basis of the aforentioned contract.[Owned by Infinite Novel Translations]
Wont we have to confiscate it by marching up to the mansion of the Browig household in the worst case? (Wendelin)
Two hundred years after the ceasefire with the Holy Empire Urquhart its the first ti for a conflict between fellow nobles of the sa country to have gone this far. Margrave Breithilde seems to be troubled by this unprecedented part, too.
Managing close to 10.000 prisoners, holding the eastern part of the Eschago Grasslands, the field encampnt of the Browig main army and the food storage facilities in the rear and sending occupation declarations to the cities and villages around this area, we are waiting for the resumption of the arbitration, even if its only one day earlier.
Isnt that too excessive?
The royal palace is baffled as well. Although they understood that Margrave Browig is seriously ill, theres also the problem of which of his sons will participate in the negotiations.
Also, if only one side signs the arbitration draft, the other side will call it invalid. That will happen since a legal next family head hasnt been officially decided yet.
If they dont decide on the next Margrave Browig first, there wont be any aning in starting an arbitration.
What are those two sons doing? (Wendelin)
Its also possible that the night attack was arbitrarily decided by the one in charge on-site. They might be panicking after having heard the reports. (Klaus)
It was also possible that both of them are quarrelling whose at fault at the bedside of the currently comatose Margrave Browig.
If they are really doing that, I wonder if its only who will consider it as problematic for either of them to beco the successor?
The troubleso aspect of this problem is that the Margrave Browig household cant be crushed. (Klaus)
Even if they are demoted in rank, it will beco a question what to do with the remains then.
They have reigned for more than 1.000 years in the east. If the Margrave Browig household, which is a large noble household, vanishes, the ruling system of the east will beco unstable.
I dont believe that the forr retainers and inhabitants will obey that easily even if a new noble manages to set in.
If sothing like a rebellion is unskilfully triggered, that alone will cause burdens to the economy and public order of the south and the centre.
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