Half a month since the diplomatic war began.
Finally, Elisabeth made her move.
"The Saints are denouncing us?"
"Yes, Lord Dantalion. The statement was released just yesterday."
Ivar answered respectfully.
"The Great Temple of Poseidon and the Great Temple of Ares — Saints from both sides have officially denounced the Habsburg Empire. They called the Empire a whore that sold its body to the demon race, forgetting the duty of humanity."
"So she's using religion."
I was impressed.
I had wondered why the diplomat Elisabeth had sent as a proxy was so underwhelming. Elisabeth had never intended to win through diplomacy in the first place. She had pulled out an entirely new card under the name of religion and overturned the whole board.
"......"
When I came to my senses, Ivar was staring at me with a peculiar look.
"Hmm? Ah. Good work. Gathering all that intelligence in just one day — impressive. Good work, Ivar."
"That's not exactly what I... well, yes, that is part of it, but..."
I gently ran my hand through Ivar's hair. Her cheeks flushed slightly as she fidgeted. Adorable.
Wearing a fatherly smile, I grabbed Ivar's wrist and pulled her toward me. She let out a small "ah" and toppled into my arms. I held Ivar close and ran my fingers through her golden hair as though brushing it.
"M-My Lord. It's still broad daylight..."
"Everyone needs a break now and then. Is there something you're curious about?"
When I whispered into her ear, Ivar's face reddened even further. Ah, surely Laura had once been this innocent too. Could it be that Ivar, too, would become as stoic as Laura with the passage of time?
"Well... I was simply surprised that Your Lordship isn't angry compared to what I had expected... rather, you seem pleased, and I found that puzzling."
"Ah."
That was right. When Ivar brought me the news, I was actually pleased. Like a go player who feels relieved when their opponent places a stone.
"President Elizabeth wouldn't just back down like that. That's why I thought so."
"...Your Highness has always thought very highly of the Republic's President."
"She's a genius."
If history had flowed as it was meant to, she would have cemented her position as the Habsburg Empire's next Emperor by now. But the Empire had fallen, and Elizabeth had ascended to the absurd position of Republic President. Life sure is full of irony.
"..."
Ivar looked at me once more with that peculiar gaze. The emotion held in those violet eyes was... anxiety? It was a mixture of nervousness and hesitation. When I tilted my head, Ivar muttered in a voice as small as a mosquito's.
"...T-to me, Your Highness is far more impressive."
And then Ivar turned her head away, looking somewhere else entirely. She seemed so ashamed of what she had just blurted out that she looked as if she were trying to flee at full speed.
My heart thudded heavily.
Cute!
What on earth was this adorable creature? Was this a purpose-built assassination weapon that Elizabeth had secretly engineered to take down the Demon Lord? I was genuinely horrified by the terrifying destructive power of this heroine. There existed a cuteness here that was almost criminal.
'Ngh.'
I wanted to pounce on Ivar right then and there, but I held back. I had to hold back. If I kept throwing myself at her whenever I felt like it, the only ending waiting for me would be a miserable one—"I became like Laura."
When I was dating Laura, I had been far too indifferent. I hadn't considered her dreams as a young woman at all. I should have approached things in a more romantic, soft, and tender manner. But it had been sex in the morning, sex after lunch, sex before bed—nothing but sex. No wonder Laura had cursed me, saying "All men are beasts, and my lord above all is a hopelessly lewd one." There hadn't been a shred of hope or dream for her.
So this time, I gave Ivar's white forehead a gentle kiss.
"To me, too, Ivar shines the most beautifully."
"...!"
Ivar's face turned as red as a kettle set over a fire.
How cute. I want to devour him. But I have to hold back. Today, too, I shall save Ivar Lodbrok for last — just like saving the meat in your curry for the very end.
"What are the various nations' reactions?"
"They seem flustered by the sudden announcement. The delegations have no intention of moving until orders come down from their home countries. Many envoys haven't even learned that the declaration was made yet."
"We should be the ones to let them know."
For every piece of information we shared, they would owe us a favor. Building up those debts, step by step — that was the key.
"It is information unfavorable to us. Would it not be better to disclose it as late as possible?"
"Precisely because it's unfavorable, we should tell them. If we share even unfavorable information honestly, they'll trust us all the more."
It would all come out by tomorrow anyway. Better to confess boldly and build trust in the process. This was where Ivar's perspective as a merchant and mine as a politician diverged sharply.
"Well then, shall we meet with the ambassadors of the ten nations? The Saint's intervention must be an utterly unforeseen development for them too. They must be beside themselves, desperate to consult with us."
"......"
Huh. Ivar had that odd look in his eyes again. This time, I genuinely couldn't figure out why he was making that face.
I could pull up my Status Window and see his psychological state laid bare, but recently I'd been deliberately relying on it less and less. The Status Window was convenient. So convenient, in fact, that it risked making me sloppy at reading people on my own.
Unless it was truly critical, I wanted to sense the other person's intentions through my own eyes and instincts. I intended it as a way to keep my political instincts from rusting over.
Ivar let out a sigh and spoke.
"So, Senior was lying after all."
"Senior?"
A word I hadn't expected at all tumbled out of his mouth.
"I mean Senior Daisy. Normally it would be far above my station to speak ill of a superior to Your Highness, but please forgive my presumption this once. Senior made the outrageous claim that Your Highness had inserted a transparent slime into her body!"
"......"
Daisy, you cunning little—
"Moreover, she claimed that the slime's nerves were connected to the masturbatory device my dear sister uses. In other words, she slanders me with the outrageous accusation that Your Highness intended to make my sister engage in quasi-incestuous relations."
"……Truly, that is a most preposterous slander."
"Indeed it is. What pervert in this world would pursue such a thing? It must be the delusion born from my senior's depraved mind."
Ivar snorted with derision.
"Your Highness. I have long wished to ask. Why did you take a human like her in as an adopted daughter? She is innately crude and perverted."
"……Because Daisy lost her village in a fire, and I felt sorry for her. It was a moment of carelessness."
For the record, I was the one who personally burned that village.
"Your Highness, you have a tendency to be rather soft towards my senior. Just because she is your adopted daughter, you cannot tolerate her impudent personality forever. While she is still young, you should be educating her properly, starting with the correct concepts of propriety."
"That is sound counsel. Sex education is important."
I was the one who forced that particular education on her.
My conscience was stabbing me fiercely…
I was always moved by Ivar's virginal purity, but right now, her radiance was too dazzling; I could not even bear to open my eyes.
"So, Ivar. Go outside and call Daisy in for a moment. We shall proceed with her education immediately."
"Your command will be obeyed."
"Ah, and would you be able to go in my stead to visit the envoys? Since you are known as my maid, you are sufficiently qualified to act as a messenger."
Ivar assented and left the room.
That day, Daisy's pained moans echoed ceaselessly from my room.
The situation had worsened.
The next day, the Saint of Hestia also issued a statement. They clearly defined the Habsburg Empire as a pawn of the Demon Lord, and fiercely criticized how dancing to the Empire's tune was tantamount to handing the continent over to the demon race.
The saints who had now joined the statements numbered three: the Saints of Poseidon, Ares, and Hestia.
Poseidon is the state religion of the Kingdom of Sardinia, and Ares is the state religion of Polithunia. Hestia is the state religion of the Kingdom of Moscow.
The Kingdom of Sardinia and the Kingdom of Polithunia had supported Elizabeth from the start. In other words, with Moscow's Hestia newly joining their ranks, Elizabeth had gained one more ally.
And so the score was 4:3.
I let out a bitter smile.
"So I'm waging a diplomatic war while Elizabeth is waging a religious one."
Not a single blade was exchanged, yet no battlefield could be more brutal.
The continent had a fairly clear separation between church and state, but the Saints were icons of the people. When a Saint took the lead in condemning something, the common folk raised their voices in kind. Devout officials would jump on board as well. In an instant, it would snowball into tremendous political influence.
Faced with this crisis, the place I went to visit was a bit of an unexpected choice.
"Are you saying you wish to meet with our kingdom's Saint?"
"That's correct."
The ambassador of the Kingdom of Bretagne.
Of all the nations involved in this diplomatic showdown, this was the envoy I expected to have the least interest. Queen Henrietta personally wanted to side with the Republic, but with the fate of her nation at stake, she had no choice but to support us. She was probably secretly delighted that the Saints had risen up.
"That is not a matter I can decide. I will relay your request to Her Majesty."
"This is a matter of great urgency. Please, do hurry."
The ambassador looked doubtful but still connected me to the Queen.
I stepped into a private room and used Bretagne's Magic Crystal Orb. A hazy curtain of light unfurled and projected an image of Henrietta. She had apparently been buried in work — mountains of documents were stacked on her desk like a small hill.
I smiled.
"How have you been, Your Majesty?"
"Every day, I spend cursing your name."
Henrietta twisted the corner of her lips. Strangely enough, there were dark circles piled beneath her eyes.
"Oh my. You seem tired."
"Some Demon Lord sowing division across my beloved kingdom, that's why. The nobles can't go a single day without causing trouble. Thanks to him, I've been having a *wonderful* time."
"Now that's a downright blasphemous thing to say."
I laughed.
Queen Henrietta shifted her posture toward me and crossed her legs. This was the first time I'd seen Henrietta in civilian clothes rather than a military uniform. She wore a violet dress that emphasized clean lines and comfort over splendor — it gave off a refreshing, effortless vibe. It suited her beautifully.
"So you've been elevated to Court Count, I hear. Congratulations. Though I wonder if it even means anything to you."
"Thank you. I have Your Majesty to thank for all of it."
"...It doesn't sound like flattery at all, which somehow makes me even angrier. I sincerely pray that you fall into hell."
The promotion to Court Count was thanks to having defeated Henrietta. She'd caught the hidden meaning behind my words and said as much. I laughed again. What a delightfully entertaining Queen.
"So what is it you want. Don't tell me you threatened my ambassador just to come here and tease me personally."
"The Consul of the Habsburg Empire is mobilizing the Saints."
My expression turned grave.
"If it were a struggle of politics against politics, I would accept it gladly. But when religion is involved, there is simply nothing to be done. Unfortunately, my ties to the clergy are rather thin."
"Priest Jean Volé, you do not shy away from making an earth-shattering statement."
Henrietta sneered.
"And?"
"I would like to request an audience with Your Majesty's Saint, Longwy."
Saint Jacqueline Longwy.
A Saint of the Goddess Athena and the guardian of Bretagne. During the last war, she remained in Parisiorum to the very end, resisting until she was captured by our forces, and was returned to Bretagne in exchange for the armistice agreement.
Henrietta furrowed her brows.
"……What are you scheming, Dantalion?"
"Do not worry. I merely wish to extend a small courtesy."
I smiled warmly.