The Gaiselle Empire, the neighboring kingdom to the east, had been a long-standing ally.
The Empire had once poured its efforts into foreign conquests, burning with the boundless ambition of continental domination.
However, roughly a hundred years ago, the prime minister at the time persuaded the Emperor of the risks inherent in trying to manage such vast territory, and the Empire shifted its diplomatic policy toward a course of cooperation.
The current Emperor was also a mild-mannered man, and the Kingdom of Aiwood should have maintained a favorable alliance with them.
"So in the end, those bastards really couldn't be trusted after all... During the recent civil war, it seems they were secretly pulling strings behind the scenes."
The eastern edge of the Kingdom of Aiwood. The border region.
In the estate of the great noble who governed the lands along the Empire's border—House Lavender, the margrave—the man declared solemnly.
Looser Lavender the Sixth. Sixty years of age.
The man seated in a chair in a room of his estate was gaunt as a withered tree, and walked with the aid of a cane.
Yet his eyes were startlingly sharp and fierce, like the edge of an unsheathed blade.
Without the slightest hint of diminishment in his fighting spirit, he dug his nails into the cane he held and gripped it tight.
"That is precisely why we said so! Who knows when an alliance might shatter! The Empire could never be trusted! And as it turns out, we were right! Our family was right!"
Looser bellowed in a rasping voice.
His tone carried a strong undercurrent of anger, but there was also a tinge of manic pleasure mixed within it.
House Lavender, the margraves, had long served as the shield guarding the eastern border.
Before the alliance with the Empire was even formed, they had crossed swords with the invading Imperial army countless times.
When a peace agreement between the two nations was finally reached, it was the Lavender margrave who had opposed it more vehemently than anyone.
Even after the wars with the Empire ceased and they became collaborators in the fight against the northern barbarians... the Lavender margrave alone continued to warn of the Empire's danger.
"Yes, that's right. That is exactly right! We were right all along! Our pleas to never trust the Empire were not wrong. It was the others who were wrong! AHAHAHAHAHA, AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
"What... shall we do? Shall we strike first... and march into the Empire ourselves?"
A young girl responded to Looser's raspy, furious voice.
"We are ready to mobilize our forces... at any time. The Lavender margrave has always... been preparing to stand against the Empire."
She was a girl with purple hair cut in a bob. Short in stature and thin-fleshed, she looked like nothing more than a child.
However, she was far from possessing any childish innocence or naivety.
The girl was expressionless, as though wearing a mask. Her well-proportioned features only served to deepen her doll-like, unfathomable aura.
Had this girl been standing in the darkness of a night road... one might have mistaken her not for a human, but for a corpse or a sinister fairy bent on leading travelers astray.
"...No. No, my granddaughter."
Looser lowered his tone slightly, speaking with a sigh.
"...The Empire is undoubtedly sympathetic to the rebel army. But... they have yet to bare their fangs. Yes, that's right. They haven't shown them yet... the cunning of it all!"
Looser struck the floor hard with his cane.
"If we send our forces now, we would become traitors... that cannot be permitted. It must not be. We of House Lavender are loyal subjects of the royal family. So long as the royal family still treats the Empire as an ally, we cannot act...!"
"............"
"My granddaughter. Lavender's...
the loser's will to carry on...
child...
you are. Urla Lavender."
"Yes... Grandfather."
At Looser's words, the girl called Urla nodded.
"I hear the royal family is gathering personnel for the development of the demon realm, the Sabnock Plains. You shall lead House Lavender's private forces and take part in the development while gathering intelligence on the movements of the central government! If possible, appeal to the other nobles about the danger of the empire, and petition His Majesty the King to launch a military campaign against the empire!"
"Yes... Grandfather, if you say so... I shall do as you wish."
At her grandfather's words, Urla gave her assent.
Like a puppet, or perhaps like a marionette moved by strings.
As though she possessed no will of her own, she accepted Looser's orders without her expression changing in the slightest.
"As soon as preparations are... complete, I will head to the central capital. While taking part in the demon realm development, I will make... preparations to fight the empire."
"Hmm... everything is done under the name of 'Looser.'"
"Under the name of 'Looser'..."
The girl repeated his words, and Looser drew the corners of his mouth upward in a satisfied smile.
———————————————————— I've posted setting material maps in my recent notes.