“…Who expressed a desire to attend?”
“Not long ago, a demon named Charlotte arrived from Nobogorod. She’s the only daughter of Kalande Estania, the chairperson of the Demon Council. Your Grace.”
At this announcement, the Duke of the Bertier Empire let out a sigh of “Hmph.”
First of all, it amazed him that someone had noticed even a small party like this. Second, he was curious as to why a demon would want to come here. Most importantly, he worried whether his son—the guest of honor—would feel uncomfortable.
Nobogorod. That was the kingdom where Kael first met the demons during his early military days. There might not have been enormous battles like in the east or south, but the air between them had always been charged with tension. A demon attending a party hosted by an imperial duke? It certainly seemed odd.
Not to mention, the eyes of the world were already fixed on Kael. As a father, the Duke couldn’t help but worry that this visit might obstruct his son’s path. He briefly considered rejecting the invitation, but someone stepped in to stop him.
“Let her come.”
“Lady?”
None other than the Duke’s wife—Reena Seharad Klauwitz—spoke up.
“They say she’s quite a capable individual. She’s already built an extensive network across the empire.”
“Which only makes it more of a problem, doesn’t it?”
“She appears to be clever enough. I doubt she’d fail to anticipate our reaction. Yet, despite that, she still desires to attend this party. Doesn’t that suggest—”
“…There’s a reason she wants to come. Exactly.”
Indeed, as the daughter of the Demon Council’s Chairperson, Charlotte was bound to be well-informed about everything important—including the fact that she had chosen to become the first exchange student to stay in the empire.
Still, the Duke hesitated. It was then that his wife added wisely:
“If it really bothers you, ask Kael. He would surely have an answer.”
“…Perhaps you’re right, my lady. Let’s proceed as you suggest.”
Upon further thought, Charlotte’s attendance likely wouldn’t cause any major issues. Even if there were strange glances, the empire and Nobogorod were allies now. Besides, it wasn’t the first time Charlotte had interacted with people in the empire. Stories about her meetings with foreign ministry figures were already circulating widely.
The Duke and his wife informed their son of the news. His reply came back shortly—simply: “Tell her to come.”
His parents exchanged glances, both silently acknowledging that their elder son probably had another strategy up his sleeve.
“Why, oh why is she coming here?” Kael himself, meanwhile, was rubbing his forehead, recalling their first meeting.
—
Charlotte Estania is coming. Here. To my party.
And she didn’t just request an invitation—she specifically asked to come.
At first, Kael wanted to tell her no.
“But times aren’t exactly relaxed these days.”
The eastern kingdoms—thanks in no small part to Lord Lunen’s intervention—had secured an impeccable excuse to seek support. Once the empire remained silent, allowing their situation to deteriorate further, those kingdoms were bound to grovel for aid. Burkhai, in particular, risked becoming a pawn of Porland’s aggression. Imagine the humiliation they’d endure: thinking themselves powerful, only to face overwhelming superiority that leaves them powerless to retaliate.
The solution? Sharing the same backing. Gaining favor and proving oneself better than the competition. Kael understood this dynamic all too well, as he had long maneuvered under similar shadows.
The empire was now poised for action, ready to maintain silence or assist when necessary. The Crown Princess would likely soon head east to sway public opinion and consolidate Burkhai’s dependence.
But what about the northern front—Nobogorod?
Unlike the eastern kingdoms, Nobogorod hadn’t suffered catastrophic losses. While the moderates controlled the government, hardliners still retained significant influence. Worse, the demon race’s military remained formidable, always ready to disrupt the balance.
“The one saving grace is that the troublesome Menwa clan has recently fallen apart.”
It wasn’t just falling—they were obliterated. Apparently, messing with a demon king was not a wise move…even if the king hadn’t actually done anything provocative.
This development brought a mix of relief and unease. The Menwa clan, though troublemakers, had been a useful card to play. Now that they were gone, others wondered if they’d be next.
Kael wanted no part in such turmoil. The instability was unsettling enough without adding further chaos. And speaking of chaos…
“Dedolant…”
The third prince, rallying the pride of the Deo people, swiftly overtook the military and core government of Artria and even absorbed half of Dugal’s territory. He then brazenly formed an alliance with Benito, directly challenging the empire’s next moves.
Though currently maintaining a low profile, Kael knew this was nothing but a ruse—to bide their time, remove pretexts, and prepare for stormy events.
“They’ll try to stabilize the west while simultaneously sowing confusion in the empire. They’ve taken every measure possible.”
Direct confrontation would be suicidal. Thus, Dedolant had three options:
First, inciting debate within the empire and stalling for time. Their current stance of submission fit into this strategy, keeping the empire’s leadership temporarily divided.
Second, shaking things up in the south. This was why they allied with Benito to block imperial advances. However, Benito wasn’t strong enough to pose a significant threat, so their efforts were likely limited to influencing neighboring kingdoms.
Finally, the north. Convincing Nobogorod would be the most valuable play.
While the eastern kingdoms had all but crumbled, and the southern kingdoms were coerced into paying tribute to the church, Nobogorod remained an intact power. They weren’t devastated like the east or weak like the south. Their strength was renowned, even within the empire—which wasn’t an accident, given the creation of the empire’s second legion to handle the northern front.
If Dedolant could sway Nobogorod, the outcome could be disastrous.
“Which brings us back to Charlotte, who now wishes to attend my party. And she personally requested it.”
Sure, it could be mere curiosity about him. But if she were that naive, she wouldn’t have made it this far alone in the empire.
She had something on her mind. Something she wanted.
And all would become clear during the party.
—
The gathering itself wasn’t particularly grand. Officially, the war with Benito hadn’t ended, so the celebration remained modest, with only select guests attending.
“Long time no see, Lord Kael.”
“It’s been a while, Lady Charlotte.”
Charlotte Estania, daughter of the Demon Council’s chairperson, and Nobogorod’s first imperial exchange student, formally greeted him.
“First of all, allow me to congratulate you. Your exploits in the southern front have been even more spectacular than those in the east—or so I’ve heard.”
“Hahaha, I’ve been hearing it so much now that saying ‘it’s no big deal’ feels awkward.”
“Of course not! Your strategies were nothing short of extraordinary. Even I, having gone through them thoroughly, couldn’t help but feel chills down my spine.”
Another one starts. Ugh! That gaze, that anticipation—it’s just like a princess’s!
Their admiration was flattering, but this kind of attention was suffocating him!
“No, this isn’t right. To be honest, your accomplishments were astonishing. Watching your strategies unfold gave me goosebumps and made the back of my neck tingle.”
“Hahaha….”
“Always maintaining the upper hand, forcing your opponents into disadvantageous positions—that’s a gift from the heavens. Easy to say, but hard to execute!”
What is this? He thought she had arrived with important matters to discuss, but now he wondered if she was genuinely here just as a fan.
Did she really ask his dad to invite her just because she wanted to see him?
No. This couldn’t be all there was. Her interest in him was real, but it wasn’t the whole story. This was just the beginning. There was more to come.
“May I inquire further about the flow of the battles? I’d love to hear your explanations directly, Lord Kael!”
“…”
Would she? Seriously? Was that the real purpose of her visit?
“Excuse me, Lord Kael… What about the maneuvers of Legion 13’s cavalry?”
“What were your thoughts if Benito’s main force ignored your trap?”
“Was there anything that specifically influenced your decisions at the time?”
Stay sharp. She’s politically brilliant. The only daughter of the Demon Council Chairperson. Nothing about her is ordinary. She might suddenly launch into something deeper.
And finally…
“Lord Kael…”
And there it was.
“What do you think about Dedolant?”
