We promptly delivered our diplomatic communiqué.
"We intend to march against Demon Lord Agares, who has entrenched himself in western Frank."
"We have no desire to invade Frank — we merely ask to borrow passage. …Regent Barbatos of the Habsburg Empire."
One might call it a plea for passage under false pretenses.
Borrowing passage, they called it — but wherever armies marched in this era, the trail was left scarred with plunder and destruction. No ruler worth his salt would stand by while his own lands and subjects were trampled.
When I put it that way, Laura tilted her head.
"But my lord. Aren't there rulers like Emperor Henri of Frank?"
"Oh, well… He's the lunatic who borrowed foreign power to overthrow his own mother. He doesn't count."
Exceptions do crop up now and then.
Laura and I sat in our tent drinking tea. My stratagem had been accepted, and the Demon Lord's army had been busy preparing for war for quite some time. There was a mountain of minor but critically important tasks — such as producing stark-white uniforms to minimize the gap between human and demon soldiers.
I used my "focus on diplomacy duties" as an excuse to slack off shamelessly. While everyone else scrambled, Laura and I enjoyed leisurely tea time like this.
"As a point of reference, this is also the last opportunity for compromise. Henrietta might actually agree to simply let us pass. She doesn't necessarily have to throw in her lot with Agares and fight us."
In this scenario, some territories would suffer minor damage, but the war wouldn't escalate. Even a warlike ruler like Henrietta would have to think twice.
"The problem, however, would be the political fallout."
"Political fallout?"
"Right now the Frank Empire is essentially under Henrietta's thumb. The only reason Frank's nobles endure these atrocities without revolting is that Henrietta's military might is simply overwhelming."
Across Frank, rebellions — large and small — broke out every year. Some were instigated by nobles; others by a handful of commoners infected with republican ideals. Every single time, Henrietta butchered the insurgents without mercy.
"If Henrietta accedes to our request, the Frankish people will certainly be furious. 'You never hesitate to slaughter your own kind, but the moment demons come knocking, you simply dodge the fight? What exactly are you?' …That's the kind of fury we'd be inviting."
I sipped my tea. The warm liquid soothed my stomach. I had no idea what flavor this was supposed to be, but I appreciated the warmth. I was a man of cold cities — tea could at least be warm.
"There's a high likelihood of a full-scale rebellion breaking out. For Henrietta, that's something she can't help but find distasteful."
"My lord is truly shameless."
Laura muttered, exasperated.
"It's not a matter of the rebellion's likelihood. You would intervene and force a rebellion into existence. That would suit your tastes even better, wouldn't it?"
"Oh my, you saw through me."
I chuckled softly.
"You're right. Honestly, I'm fine with whatever Henrietta chooses. The only difference is whether it takes less time or a little more."
I wanted to crush Henrietta on this opportunity. If things were left to carry on as they were, Henrietta would seize complete control of the Frank Empire. The Kingdom of Bretagne and the Frank Empire would be unified under a single powerful monarch. A superpower emerging would do me no favors.
Laura clicked her tongue.
"What an awful personality. My lord, if you were just a little less shameless, you might actually be charming."
"Henrietta will probably choose war."
I ignored her and continued speaking. My personal creed was to let unfavorable words roll right off my ears.
"She has confidence. At the same time, it would appear to be a golden opportunity. If she defeats the Demon Lord's army, Henrietta's political standing will skyrocket in an instant."
She would go from being the foreign power that devoured Frank to the hero who defended it. With such a tantalizing prize right before her eyes, there was no way Henrietta would back down. War would happen.
"But that's precisely where the trap lies."
"Hm?"
"Take a look at this."
I pulled a document from the table. It was a copy of that diplomatic memo requesting passage. Laura swiftly read through the paper.
"This is the trap? To a young lady, this looks like a perfectly standard diplomatic document for a war of justification."
I chuckled.
"Read it a bit more carefully."
"……"
Laura read through the document once more, this time with great attention. Her brows furrowed.
"I don't see it. This is a complete surrender. Don't you realize that I'm hopeless when it comes to schemes, My Lord?"
"Look at the sender listed at the bottom. It says 'Barbatos, Regent of Habsburg.'"
All the diplomatic correspondence had been sent under Barbatos's name. Barbatos was known as the most powerful Demon Lord in the Human Realm. There was no one more fitting to represent the will of the Demon Lord's army.
"Henrietta will think the Demon Lord's army is making a request and she's refusing it. But that's not the case. In truth, she's merely refusing a request made by the Regent of the Habsburg Empire."
"…! It provides the puppet Emperor with a pretext to enter the war!"
I nodded.
This was prejudice at work. They'd never imagine that the Demon Lord's army would march under a human Supreme Commander. When Henrietta refused Barbatos's proposal, she'd naturally assume she was simply rejecting the Demon Lord's words.
"The moment Henrietta rejects this diplomatic offer, we have Rudolf issue a public statement. 'Frank has rejected humanity's proposal to subjugate the Demon Lord. Why does humanity seek to protect the Demon Lord…'"
This was the first round. A deception to launch a surprise attack on the opponent.
"'We deeply regret Frank's attitude. The Demon Lord must be subjugated regardless. Whether Frank permits it or not, I, Rudolf von Habsburg, will personally lead an army for the sake of humanity. Do you understand, Laura?"
"No."
Laura shook her head. A sigh escaped her. Why was it that Laura, for all her brilliance, became a complete child when it came to this kind of scheming? People were truly fascinating.
"He's leaving no room for negotiation. Henrietta's side will certainly be thrown into a panic and send an envoy. 'We didn't know this was the Habsburg Emperor's intention — we can allow passage for an army composed of humans…' They'll try to buy time however they can."
I had no intention of playing along with such tricks.
Henrietta had been done a disservice, but she had made a mistake all the same. We couldn't afford to give her any room to smooth things over. We had to press forward relentlessly. Whatever the envoy said on their end, we'd just roar back: 'So does that mean you will or will not join us in subjugating Agares!'
I smiled.
"And from here on, it's a campaign of incitement. Once we push ahead aggressively, Henrietta will respond in kind."
The second round begins.
"Fine. Bring it on. After all, you're nothing but a puppet of the Demon Lord's army. The cause you claim is all lies." "I expected as much. It's going to be a mud-slinging contest."
In moments like this, the louder side wins.
It's true Henrietta turned a blind eye to Agares's asylum, and it's true Rudolf is nothing more than an agent of the Demon Lord's forces. Which side is more at fault? The one that shouts louder and more convincingly always prevails.
When both sides have wrongs and justifications, the truth stops mattering. It comes down solely to who can incite the people more effectively.
And this happened to be my specialty.
I spoke while sipping my tea.
"The moment Henrietta counterattacks, we'll have the Batavia Republic issue a statement declaring their cooperation with us."
"..."
"On the surface, our stated cause will be the subjugation of the Demon Lord."
Bretagne upholds the divine right of kings. Batavia, meanwhile, is the leading republic. The two nations clashed in the last Frank civil war and are undisputedly hostile states.
Henrietta must feel blindsided.
She thought she was dealing with the Demon Lord's army, but suddenly Emperor Rudolf declares a personal campaign, and the Batavia Republic joins the fray. The entire nature of the war takes an unexpected turn.
"However, isn't the Batavia Republic alone insufficient?"
"I'll also incite the recently independent Free Cities."
I replied immediately.
"They won't contribute much militarily, but if the cities issue declarations of support one after another, it will have a significant political ripple effect."
"I see. The Free Cities..."
Laura nodded several times, her expression deep in thought.
Henrietta will undoubtedly cry foul—deception, trickery. She'll scramble to sway the Free Cities away. What she has no idea about is that the Liberation Alliance led by Paimon stands firmly behind them.
With this, we have claimed the position of 'the loudest voice' in the propaganda war.
"Father. I have returned from my errand."
Just then, Daisy entered the tent. Dressed in her maid's uniform, Daisy was cradling a long box in her arms. I rose to my feet, my face brightening.
"It's finally here. Laura, this is a gift for you."
"A gift?"
"I've been meaning to give it to you for some time, but it only just became ready. Here. Please, open it."
Laura furrowed her brow and approached Daisy.
"My lord. Please tell me it's not another piece of indecent clothing with the crotch area cut out."
"Oh my. Have I ever deceived you? I swear on my conscience that it is absolutely nothing of the sort."
"There are few things in this world less trustworthy than your lord's conscience, I'd say."
Laura accepted the wooden box with a look of skepticism. She set it on the ground and opened it. Inside was a staff with a long, thick piece of cloth rolled tightly around it. Laura lifted the object and unfurled it.
"This is...?"
Laura's green eyes widened.
It was a flag. A flag bearing the image of a blue hydrangea.
"Laura. This is your flag."
It was the banner symbolizing the House of Farnese.
"In this expeditionary force, the overall command will be held by Emperor Rudolf. Who do you think will serve as deputy commander?"
"Well, it would be either Commander General Barbatos or Commander General Marbas."
"No."
I smiled warmly.
"Laura is set to serve as Vice Commander."
"The girl is... Vice Commander?"
"Did I not say? This time, we're not moving as the Crescent Alliance Army — we're moving as Emperor Rudolf's army. If a Demon Lord serves as Vice Commander, people will question whether this is truly humanity's army. Having you, a human, in that role benefits us in many ways."
Laura stared blankly at the banner.
"Of course, even so, people will be suspicious. They'll say she's nothing more than a figurehead Vice Commander put up as a front. A young woman with no skills and no accomplishments. The Bretagne forces will certainly look down on you."
I stroked the hair on Laura's forehead.
"That underestimation is precisely what I'm aiming for. Commander General Rudolf is already a dead man walking. The real Commander General will be you."
The soft texture of golden hair pressed against my palm.
"Laura. This is everything I can prepare for you. Diplomatic warfare, propaganda warfare — I can handle all of it myself. But in the end, when it comes to the final stage — war itself — I desperately need your strength."
"The Legion Commanders would never follow a girl's orders."
"Barbatos won't have any complaints, I assure you."
I gave a small smile.
"Paimon also witnessed your talent during the last fortress siege. Both of them are pragmatists. They're not so foolish or stubborn that they'd refuse your command simply because you're human. And I'll personally convince Marbas."
"..."
A thin trail of tears ran down Laura's cheek.
"I'm... I'm nothing but a cast-off concubine from my family. I have no right to bear a banner anywhere..."
"Then I will grant you that right."
I gently wiped Laura's tears away with my finger.
My little soldier.
My precious first lover.
For a girl who had been treated as a nonexistent child by her family and ultimately sold off as a sex slave, that family had been an object of both love and hatred. But now, you represented that very family. It was both revenge against the family that had ignored her and, at the same time, the greatest possible achievement.
You had more than enough standing to hold your head high.
"The Farnese family is already gone. Laura, now you are Farnese itself. Show the continent. Show them what kind of person they threw away. This is your revenge against the humans who discarded you."
"……."
In that moment, a sound effect rang out beside her ear.
<Laura de Farnese's Affinity increases by 1!>
<Laura de Farnese's Affinity has reached 100!>
<Undying, Devoted Love! The other party now regards you as their one and only lover. Thanks to this extraordinary love, a new title has been granted to the other party.>
Could it be that the Affinity lock had been released? The Affinity that had been stuck at exactly 99 had finally filled to 100. It was a milestone — the first time she had been fully maxed out — but that didn't really matter. My gaze was fixed on Laura's face.
Laura wiped her tears with the back of her hand. But the tears kept flowing. No matter how many times she wiped them away, they wouldn't stop, so she gave up and simply clutched the flag tightly to her chest, looking up at me.
"……Yes. My lord."
Laura smiled through a face covered in tears.
Without question, it was the most beautiful smile I had ever seen.