After the Teuton Kingdom, it was the Kalmar Union's turn.
The Kalmar Union was situated at the northernmost point of the continent. Thus its epithet: the Lion of the North. A nation of warriors who stared down the brutal cold and winter and roared back at them.
In the past, they had sailed longships like Vikings, pillaging every corner of the continent. Time passed, and now those fearsome warriors had succeeded in wrapping their martial prowess in a more civilized veneer. Where swords had once reigned, commerce and trade had taken their place.
Warriors and merchants at the same time. The Kalmar people wore two faces that coexisted in a strange union. Well, whether by sword or by trade, it all amounted to the same thing—plunder. That was nothing strange.
The ambassador of the Kalmar Union spoke.
"Court Count. The Republic offered us a reduction in tariffs."
It seemed the Republic had already cast out its bait and departed.
"A reduction in tariffs, you say…"
"It is quite a generous offer. I am relaying this to you, Court Count, as a return for the friendship you have shown us thus far."
And, of course, to goad us into presenting an even better offer. Bold and blunt—very much the Kalmar Union's style.
I toyed with a brandy-filled glass in one hand.
"From what you're saying, it sounds like Kalmar already has a fairly concrete proposal in mind."
"Yes. All we desire is a plentiful market."
The ambassador took a sip of his drink.
"The tariffs the Republic proposed are attractive. However, the Republic is not such a large market. The Habsburg Empire is a far more desirable market for us… provided certain conditions are met."
Those conditions, naturally, referred to tariff reductions.
Among the nations renowned as merchants on the continent—the Kalmar Union, the Batavia Republic, and the Kingdom of Sardinia—the fiercest competition raged among them, and Kalmar intended to seize the definitive lead by securing tariff concessions.
"Those conditions would also, naturally, include a guarantee that Batavia and Sardinia receive no such tariff benefits."
"You are quick on the uptake, as always, Court Count.
"Hmm."
I smiled.
"It's not too bad."
"Not too bad...? Forgive me, but I don't understand what you mean."
The Kalmar ambassador narrowed his brow. Perhaps he thought my remark was far too vague.
"I mean that as a negotiating proposal, it's decent enough. But I wouldn't call it the best course of action."
"I... confess I cannot read the Court Count's intentions."
"Ambassador, I believe that despite the short time we've known each other, we've built a friendship. I'd like to speak on the strength of that. This proposal needlessly creates enemies."
The ambassador's expression was unmistakably uncomfortable. A foreign politician he barely knew had just pointed out, 'Your country's proposal isn't exactly elegant.' That had to sting.
Just wait a moment. You'll come around soon enough.
"Your country's proposal is transparently calculated. It publicly designates Sardinia and Batavia as rival nations. In exchange for gaining our Empire as a partner, you would provoke two other states. The cost-benefit simply doesn't add up."
"Are you suggesting that our Empire is somehow lacking as a partner for your nation?"
The ambassador pressed, his voice tinged with anger. I shook my head with a smile.
"Not at all. As I said, the problem is how brazenly obvious the scheming is. Yes — in terms of political strategy, one could say it lacks elegance."
"..."
"If this proposal were to go through, Sardinia and Batavia would not sit idle. They would launch a rather aggressive campaign against your country's merchants. In all likelihood, a trade war would erupt. That's not a desirable outcome for your side either, is it?"
The ambassador drained his cup and set it down on the table with a thud.
"Our warriors never shy away from confrontation! Be it a duel or a trade war. We fear not the milksops of Batavia nor the husks of Sardinia, not if tens of thousands come charging at us."
Confidence is a fine thing. But confidence must be rooted in reason.
The moment irrational, emotional boasting is allowed to shape national policy — the moment it is officially sanctioned — a nation degenerates into a failed collective in the blink of an eye. Because when policy fails, rather than rationally diagnosing the cause of that failure, they insist on interpreting it emotionally.
Why did we lose to a rival nation? Because our warriors lacked courage. Because our loyalty to the nation was insufficient. Or perhaps the other side was a hopelessly despicable breed……
This solves nothing. It just keeps emphasizing irrelevant things like courage and loyalty. Emotions should be employed tactically only when rallying the populace — when it comes to policy, officials must maintain a thoroughly rational demeanor.
"Ambassador. If we can win without shedding a single drop of blood, wouldn't that be the ideal outcome?"
"I had no idea the Court Count was a strategist. Do you happen to have some ingenious solution?"
I offered a gentle smile.
"I've heard the greatest nuisance on the open seas is Monsters."
"Hm? Well, yes, there is certainly no shortage of that problem……"
The ambassador answered evasively.
The deep waters teemed with all manner of Monsters. They posed a grave danger to merchants. But with the Demon Lord sitting right in front of him, it would be rather difficult to blurt out, "Yes, when we're sailing the seas for trade, those Monsters are exactly the kind of nuisance we'd most love to eliminate."
"As you are well aware, we have the ability to control Monsters to a suitable degree. Indeed…… surely, it would be possible to selectively attack — or rather, selectively avoid — the merchant vessels of a specific nation."
"……!"
The ambassador froze mid-gesture.
A brief silence descended. It was as though the weight of that silence had crushed him, and the ambassador finally found his voice.
"C-Court Count. What exactly are you suggesting?"
"The Empire earnestly desires to open full-scale exchange with the nations of the world. To demonstrate that intention, we wish to bring under control certain Monsters that have been running roughshod across the seas as lawless predators. Of course, controlling all Monsters from the outset would be difficult."
I slowly poured brandy into the ambassador's empty glass.
"The Empire's plan is this: we will sell markers that the Monsters can easily recognize. Perhaps something like a fragrance applied to the hull that only Monsters can detect. Well, there are many possible methods."
"……"
"As a pilot for this policy, we are thinking of selling these markers to one specific nation first."
The ambassador raised his glass and drained it in a single gulp. He could not conceal the flush of excitement on his face.
"So, you mean to say... you will grant our merchant ships, those registered with our League, priority in using these markers?"
"That is correct. However, your phrasing is not quite right. The Empire is not 'granting a favor.' It is simply that your nation is willingly participating in a perilous experiment of the Empire."
I smiled faintly.
"Ambassador, let us assume this experiment succeeds. The continent is home to countless free cities. They generally rely on commerce and maritime trade as their primary industries. What do you think will happen if these cities realize that 'joining the Kalmar League means no fear of being ambounced during voyages'?"
"...!"
The ambassador's mouth fell open for an instant, as if struck by a great shock.
Precisely.
This goes beyond merely protecting the merchant ships of the Kalmar League. It provides a powerful incentive for the free cities to choose Kalmar as their primary partner, instead of Batavia or Sardinia. Kalmar would gain a singular advantage in the trade market that no other nation possesses.
"Neither Batavia nor Sardinia can officially condemn your nation. Your nation is merely going along with the Empire's experimental policy. They will have nothing to do but watch your success with envy."
The ambassador swallowed hard.
"What is the... price of these markers?"
"The more expensive, the better. This is for your sake, Ambassador."
The furrows between the ambassador's brows deepened once more.
"...I apologize, but I do not understand. Why would a higher price be better for us?"
"At a low price, there would be suspicion that a secret pact exists between the Empire and your nation. On the other hand, if the price is somewhat outrageously high, such an evaluation will follow: Kalmar invested a fortune in unproven markers on blind faith. They took a risk..."
Kalmar is taking a risk by venturing into this unknown. It becomes even harder for Sardinia and Batavia to criticize Kalmar.
There is no official condemnation, no dispute. Only profit is reaped.
Kalmar has no need to fight; it only needs to claim victory.
"Ambassador, no matter how high the price, it is extremely cheap compared to obtaining the free cities for nothing. Furthermore, your nation could even resell the markers you purchased from us. At a very appropriate price, of course."
"You... you even allow us to resell them?"
The ambassador finally lost his composure. His expression and voice grew visibly heated.
"Even if it's not officially permitted, there are countless things in this world that are unofficially tolerated."
"T-this is not a matter I have the authority to decide. I will report to my homeland immediately."
"Of course. But don't take too much time, Ambassador."
I spoke in a leisurely tone.
"We could present the exact same proposal to Batavia or Sardinia."
That was the killing blow.
The Kalmar Confederation sent their reply the very next morning.
In exchange for the exclusive right to acquire the marked items, the Confederation pledged its full support to the Habsburg Empire. From now on, Kalmar would be granted exclusive purchasing rights for a period of eleven years.
Thus, by selling exorbitantly priced goods, I secured yet another supporter. When Ivar heard the inner details of this negotiation, he marveled at it.
"Truly magnificent. We're not even buying their goods — we're merely selling to them at prices favorable to us, and yet they're the ones begging. I had no idea Your Highness possessed such commercial acumen as well."
"I had a good teacher."
A certain pink-haired Succubus, for instance.
We quietly clinked our glasses together in a toast.
——Score: 4 to 2.
The Teuton Kingdom and the Kalmar Confederation now supported the Empire.
Though the specific terms had not been disclosed, the mere declaration of support shifted the atmosphere. In less than half a month, the Empire had devoured two nations whole. To anyone watching, it was an extraordinary display of diplomatic prowess.
The envoys of the Ten Kingdoms were simultaneously stunned and bewildered.
— What kind of incredible terms could the Empire have possibly offered to secure support this quickly?
They began to wonder what proposals the Empire would bring to the table next.
The result was that the diplomatic battle, which had already been progressing unfavorably for the Republic, descended into utter absurdity. The envoys simultaneously suspended all of the backroom negotiations they had been conducting with the Republic. They declared that no negotiations with the Republic could take place until the Empire presented its own proposal.
In response, the Republican envoys scrambled to meet with diplomats from other nations, offering every imaginable concession, but the others remained steadfastly immovable. The nations known for their commerce, in particular, kept their ears pricked up for any sign of the Empire's next move.
"We will conclude terms more favorable than Kalmar's!"
"Something that will let us decisively crush Anatolia…"
"We have to wring a worthwhile offer out of the Empire somehow."
A diplomatic firestorm blazed through the winter, entirely out of season.
The one who had fanned the flames of this bloodless war was none other than the Empire's Court Count (Hofgraf), Dantalion. As the diplomatic struggle intensified, people gradually bestowed yet another title upon this "Demon Lord."
The Winter King (Rex Hyemis), Dantalion.