As soon as I finished my story, Charlotte’s face lit up like a kid on Christmas morning.
“Boy, was it a good call asking for your advice,” she chirped. “That was simply brilliant strategy, as expected.”
She was practically vibrating with excitement, so I figured I’d better stand up first to save her from an impromptu dance party. Judging by her jittery demeanor, she was probably itching to send this straight off to Nobogorod.
“Lord Kael.”
Just as I was about to take my leave with a casual nod, the princess tacked herself onto my side like adhesive. Together we strolled for a bit, her initial hesitation quickly giving way to a follow-up question.
“Is it true?”
“True what?”
“That the masses trust big lies more than small ones.”
Ah, that. I gave a lazy shrug and quipped, “No idea.”
She blinked, looking a little lost. “Huh?”
“I have no clue. What makes you think I’d know? There’s a saying—’We may know the bottom of the deepest sea, but never the heart of a man.’ On top of that, the only person who might truly understand a man’s mind is the one sitting on the throne above us, the omniscient one.”
“Does that mean you lied to Miss Charlotte?”
I shook my head at the princess’s implication. What, am I supposed to feel guilty now? Please.
“What I’m saying is this: even if we can’t be certain of people’s hearts, we can still influence them. Isn’t that the thing about hearts? They’re hard to understand but easier to sway.”
“Hmm… come to think of it, you did seem a bit off when the Menwa tribe was mentioned in relation to the desecration of that tomb. Were you planning this strategy from then?”
“Heh. Who knows?”
Not exactly. That act was so far beyond the pale that I could barely wrap my head around it, even by our world’s standards. Disturbing a dead man’s rest? That’s enough to earn universal scorn. And it wasn’t some traitor’s grave either; it belonged to someone who had served Nobogorod. The Menwa tribe had clearly overstepped their bounds in a major way.
As for the internal situation in Nobogorod, I don’t know all the details. Still, I’m aware enough to avoid intervening recklessly and facing any potential backlash. But to let these people run rampant even further would be detrimental to the Empire in every way possible.
‘Which also means it’d be detrimental to my family.’
Of course, my loyalty to the Empire goes without saying. As a noble under the Empire, it only makes sense. Moreover, I hold my family and our lineage in high regard. If something threatens them, I won’t hesitate to stand in opposition.
The Menwa tribe and their ultra-hardliner allies operating within Nobogorod? They’re completely unnecessary. Harmful, even. They’ve got to go—for the stability of the Empire and for my family’s well-being.
Of course, I can’t take direct action myself, nor can the Empire openly get its hands dirty. The Empire has already drawn the ire of neighboring nations by heavily committing troops to the eastern front. Another direct military move might drive them to unite against us.
“Sometimes when I watch you, Kael, you seem extraordinarily peculiar.”
“Peculiar? In what way?”
“Well, it’s hard to describe. Your way of thinking is just… different, I guess. Saying you’re remarkable or brilliant doesn’t do it justice. It’s like you’re seeing the world through an entirely different lens.”
“Ho ho, is that so?”
This princess might be sharper than I realized. Still, the notion of past-life memories or reincarnation remains beyond even her wildest imaginings. Absolutely no need to feel nervous that my secret is out or anything like that.
“What happens if, after all this, Nobogorod doesn’t respond?”
“Then it simply becomes the responsibility of the imperial strategists to deliberate, doesn’t it? We wouldn’t want to undermine the peace agreement with Nobogorod simply because the ultra-hardliners are so unruly. That would destabilize the north.”
“So…war again?”
“If things go haywire, it’s highly plausible.”
If the western and southern borders hadn’t been so quiet, the Empire might have approached this situation with more composure. But they haven’t been, and my father has already expressed concerns about both fronts. If someone retired has worries to this extent, imagine the level of anxiety the current imperial strategists must be dealing with.
“But I expect Nobogorod will react the way I anticipate.”
“Why’s that?”
“Because their hearts will be inclined in that direction.”
My evasive answer left the princess gazing at me silently, which meant she was clearly expecting more elaboration.
Having this conversation while walking felt a bit too long and drawn-out. So I guided her to the garden, gesturing for her to sit, before explaining further.
“Currently, the moderates hold the reins in Nobogorod. Though this only applies to the parliament and general political landscape. If you’re asking whether the overall mood of Nobogorod tilts toward moderacy, the answer is no.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“If the moderates had that level of control, there would already be massive internal unrest whenever the Menwa tribe makes its moves. Also, the moderates’ voice would be much louder than it currently is.”
However, Nobogorod has remained relatively calm, meaning the public hasn’t fully bought into the peaceful relations with the Empire. This is why the moderates are hesitant to openly call out the hardliners—they don’t have enough leverage or support yet.
“However, that doesn’t mean the hardliners will openly welcome the situation either. A balance must be maintained; otherwise, it would devolve into all-out warfare.”
“The hardliners find the Menwa tribe burdensome too?”
“Indeed. They likely have factions within them who want to use the Menwa until they’re inconvenient, then get rid of them. Failing that, they’d at least want to weaken them.”
“Hmm…”
The princess paused for thought, then eventually nodded.
“Now I see why the masses would trust bigger lies.”
“Why’s that?”
“Small lies tend to fade out after spreading a bit. However, big lies have powerful stakeholders attached who benefit. They embellish these lies, growing them even larger. Soon enough, the bigger lies take on the guise of truth.”
Finally, she hit the nail on the head. I responded with a small smile in agreement. It’s not about truth versus falsehood. It’s all about capturing interest and gaining momentum. With enough firepower behind it, truth becomes falsehood, and falsehood becomes truth in no time.
“For the Empire’s sake, you really are a person capable of producing such schemes.”
“Ho ho ho. Disappointed in my lack of righteousness?”
I’d wondered if she’d bring that up. Calling it advice or strategy is just sugar-coating—a ruthless smear campaign is what it really is. And if she showed any signs of dismay, I’d accept it completely.
“No.”
Instead, she shook her head and even smiled warmly.
“Actually, I admire it. You’re really doing your best for the Empire. That much was clear.”
Naturally. Unless I’m a hero or a knight in shining armor, I’m just another noble of the Empire. My job is simply to think, speak, and act for the Empire’s benefit. If the process seems underhanded from another country’s perspective, so be it. Taking everyone’s feelings into account isn’t feasible in this chaotic world.
A few days later, Charlotte’s face beamed with a sense of relief.
*
– Proud kin! We will never become lackeys to the Empire!
Only a short while ago, many nodding heads would have greeted such a proclamation. After all, the Menwa tribe served as one crucial faction within Nobogorod’s military. People disliked bowing to the Empire’s will as much as the Menwa did. That common ground led to many demonic races aligning with their cause.
It wasn’t about mere anti-Empire resentment. The Menwa used these stances to constantly rile up pride among the demon races to keep themselves at the forefront. They knew a mild facade wouldn’t get them the attention they craved. It was also their way of maintaining influence within the military.
That’s why they meddled with the grave of a past figure classified as part of the moderate faction. Some may call them extreme, but it sure got their name out there. Through this, disenchanted demon races would likely throw their support behind the Menwa more fervently. With the political scene already leaning toward moderates, the Menwa had to retain public backing.
“Menwa tribe now has their sights on the tomb of King Sassen!”
Until, that is, a completely unbelievable rumor spread out of the blue.
Initially, it seemed laughable. Ridiculous, too outlandish for anyone to take seriously. Why would the Menwa tribe tamper with King Sassen’s tomb? He was one of the greatest figures in demon history, after all. The very hero who unified various tribes with raw strength!
Any demon knows better than to consider such an act. It’s as absurd as children disrespecting their own parents. An unshakable truth.
The Menwa tribe assumed the other demon races would view it the same way—so obvious that the rumor wouldn’t stick.
“Menwa tribe is going to dig up the king’s tomb!”
“Nowadays they visit the king’s resting place frequently! What does this mean?!”
Something felt off. Things were spiraling out of control.
Tomb disturbance? Even if they were extreme, surely they wouldn’t do something like that. Visiting the king’s resting place? Never!
Only now realizing the severity of the situation, the Menwa tribe scrambled to put out the fire before it spread. Use common sense. Which demon would dare to mess with the king’s tomb? It’s common knowledge, even an immutable law of nature that the sky is up and the ground is down! How could anyone even think of something so scandalous?
Though many heads nodded at the explanation, some remained doubtful, and even more were riled up further by the scandal.
“They’ve already disturbed one grave. The next is surely easier!”
“What monsters! Have they come for the king next?”
“Of course not! How could they think of such a thing and tarnish the king’s image! This must be their grudge against the intimacy shown between the king and the Empire.”
Stimulating rumors boil the public’s bl**d, and as they boil, the rumors transform into something more extreme. That excitement, in turn, feeds the cycle until the rumors mutate into outright fact. At this point, it no longer mattered whether the Menwa tribe respected the king. All that mattered was the singular fact that they had a history of disturbing tombs.
This was when the moderates decided to fan the flames even further.
– We can understand disliking the Empire and opposing cooperation with them.
– However, as demons, as members of Nobogorod, tampering with the king is unacceptable.
A compelling argument to make it seem as if the Menwa tribe truly schemed this. Naturally, the Menwa tribe panicked, but there was little mercy for those who disrespected sacred figures. Supporters of the hardliners immediately turned on them, questioning whether they themselves were in cahoots with the Menwa tribe.
Was there anyone among the hardliners who could genuinely say, “The Menwa tribe is innocent”? Even those who were friendly with the Empire weren’t necessarily called cowards. But harming the king? No one could defend such an act. Not as mere traitors, but as something far worse.
Ultimately, it was the other hardliners who first advocated for punishing the Menwa tribe. After all, they had been an increasing bother for everyone. A group causing headaches that wouldn’t go away—they were bound to vanish sooner or later.
When disaster struck, the rest didn’t hesitate for long before deciding to cut their losses.
What starts as a tiny spark can quickly turn into a roaring inferno.
—
And there it was—justice swiftly served.
