Chapter 348

C348. Vote (3)

“Duchess Altia, we will arrive at Marquis Palatio’s house shortly.”

“I understand.”

Upon hearing her secretary’s notice, Duchess Altia turned her gaze outside the carriage.

The panorama of the marquis’s residence came into her view.

Compared to years ago, when she visited briefly for business matters, the development now was incomparable. Unable to help herself, Altia let out an exclamation.

Even so, the thought arose in her heart: “It is natural.”

Who was Marquis Palatio?

The leader of Kalpa, the largest faction in Asteria.

Furthermore, the number of nicknames and rumors he possessed were so impressive that they made the title of leader of Kalpa feel small. His feats were also countless.

Achievements impossible for a simple human being to reach.

And he possessed dozens of those feats?

Then, that his territory was splendid was the bare minimum to expect.

From that point of view, the marquis’s territory even seemed to reflect Palatio‘s own modesty.

Because even if his domain were grand enough to provoke admiration in everyone, it would still be insufficient in the face of the marquis’s prowess.

With a slightly excited expression, Altia sighed.

For approximately the next three weeks,

she would live incredibly busy days.

It was due to the reason why she had come to Marquis Palatio‘s house this time.

The vote to choose the marquis’s partner. She would participate as one of the candidates.

“It will be a very hard battle, but I must do my best.”

Passing the marquis’s castle gate and observing the interior of the territory, Altia made a small promise to herself.

She had already gathered information on the way.

Starting with who had presented themselves as candidates, and what kind of relationship they had with the marquis.

Naturally, it was not an easy battle.

As a duchess of Asteria and known as the right hand of Kalpa, Altia had enough social status not to look lesser before anyone.

But the same could be said of the other candidates.

Of course, some did not yield much information even when investigating them, but that was no reason to lower her guard.

Because if they were linked to Marquis Palatio…

…they couldn’t be “ordinary” people in a good sense.

Even so…

Paradoxically, it was not an unfavorable fight.

In the end, the decisive factor was the voting.

In simple terms:

Winning votes from the territory’s inhabitants would be the factor that decided the victory, and in that, the personal relationship between the candidates and the marquis would not influence it.

That is to say, even though Altia didn’t have as deep a connection with the marquis as others, she could start on equal footing.

Moreover, Altia had confidence.

She had led the largest faction of Asteria, Kalpa, until then. Although it was true that this was easier thanks to the backing of Marquis Palatio‘s own prestige…

The point was that she had administered Kalpa without issues until converting it into the largest faction.

In other words, she was used to this type of battle.

That is why…

“Have you finished with all the preparations I asked for?”

“Yes, everything is ready.”

Confidence was drawn on Altia‘s face.

While mentally listing the tasks she had to fulfill during her stay at the marquis’s house, she reaffirmed her determination.

And so.

Until that very night, her confidence did not waver.

Yes… at least until before the next day arrived.

“…Then, can you explain to me what that is?”

Altia looked at the people entering endlessly through the residence’s north gate. Everyone was wearing pure white sacred robes, entering with reverence.

“They say it is a caravan of pilgrims coming from Rosario. A-apparently, since the marquis built a new church here—”

“I already know.”

Altia replied in a daze. It wasn’t that she was unaware of the situation.

She had already finished the preliminary investigation, so she knew the pilgrims would come with the excuse of the church.

…Even so, she couldn’t help but be surprised.

Because just the number of pilgrims at a glance—

“…How many do you think there are?”

“If things go well, they could exceed a thousand without difficulty.”

“Does that make any sense?”

It couldn’t be that a simple establishment of a church justified such a massive arrival.

Altia‘s head began to hurt.

Even if they easily exceeded a thousand.

Even if they all participated in the voting.

Remembering the total number of inhabitants of the territory…

…it was not an overwhelming force.

But if Cardinal Yutia Bloodia decided to actively involve these pilgrims in the contest…

Things could become very complicated.

No, not “complicated.” It would be an overwhelmingly disadvantaged fight.

A monumental conflict awaited Altia.

Although she massaged her forehead and sighed, her spirit did not break. Despite the disadvantage.

In fact, in a certain way, it could be an opportunity.

In a competition where there is only one winner…

If someone too close to victory emerges…

The other candidates will start to unite to bring her down.

That is why Altia destroyed the plan she had initially prepared and created a new one.

And the next day…

“…What is that?”

“It seems they are fighters.”

“…I know, I don’t know how they arrived so fast, but what I want to know is… did the Golden Lightning Guild have so many members?”

Altia saw another human tide.

Just like the pilgrims from the previous day.

A gigantic torrent of combatants entering without stopping.

“……I don’t—”

Even her secretary didn’t know what to say.

Altia sighed deeply, trying to stabilize herself.

Still… I can still handle this, she thought.

And the next day.

“Elves?”

“…Yes, they are elves.”

“Are you telling me that… all those… are elves?”

“That’s right. They are elves.”

And the day after that.

“And now, what is—?”

“According to urgent information, they are the forces of the King of the Hundred Ghosts, one of the four great powers.”

“……There are… many.”

“Yes… too many.”

She observed the central plaza with a blank gaze.

In the heart of Marquis Palatio‘s territory, where the immense statue stood…

The pilgrims, the fighters, and the forces of the King of the Hundred Ghosts…

They all looked at each other in an intense silent confrontation.

“……I want to go home.”

Seeing with her own eyes how the marquis’s residence turned into a supernatural hell in a matter of days, Altia murmured without realizing it.

…It was the voice of someone finally defeated.

“Your Highness, we will arrive soon.”

“…I see.”

Tolenis, the First Prince of Caliban, remembered the order of his father, King Palmarian IV.

“Go to Divine Land and find out Marquis Palatio‘s intention.”

His father had looked unusually serious.

Tolenis frowned upon seeing Divine Land in the distance.

Externally, Divine Land did not look strange. It only looked like a military camp of absurd proportions.

But that was only on the outside.

Thinking about it a little, it wasn’t hard to notice something strange.

Even having established a territory there, did they keep it solely as a “camp”?

Tolenis did not take long to deduce what that meant.

And he was not the only one to reach that conclusion. When he got off the carriage, he could see those who had arrived before.

Everyone was observing Divine Land with tense faces. Tolenis memorized each one:

“Astalon sent the First Prince of Colony… Laksas sent the princess… and Asteria… the king’s butler.”

In the case of Asteria, considering that Siyan‘s heir was not present, it was understandable to send a representative of that level.

“Welcome. He awaits you.”

A knight appeared among them, causing the representatives of each kingdom to harden their faces.

The knight bowed his head with courtesy. But he did not show the reverence he should offer without exception to all the kings of the United Allied Kingdom.

The princes, though displeased, followed the knight. And so, Tolenis began to feel the gazes of the soldiers and knights. The same with the other kings.

Their expressions darkened even more upon easily understanding the emotion in those gazes. No, it was impossible not to feel it.

Until a moment ago, those soldiers were training. But now, everyone had stopped and was staring fixedly. Even the knights supervising them.

…As if inspecting an enemy.

Faced with those unpleasant gazes, the guests reached a conclusion:

Perhaps… they were already in enemy territory.

Under that weight, they advanced until arriving in front of the camp’s largest tent.

“He awaits you.”

Following the knight’s indication, they entered cautiously.

And there…

“I see that everyone is here.”

They could see Marquis Palatio.

With his characteristic impassive face, he greeted the princes and princesses.

Alon, seated in the reception room, observed them.

They looked at him with evident tension.

“…The atmosphere is not good.”

He whispered internally, letting out a slight sigh.

The truth is, he didn’t understand why the kings had accepted his invitation.

But since they were there…

It would be ridiculous to ask directly “why did you come?”

“Ahem—”

Alon decided to say something important first.

“First of all, I will tell you this: I do not intend to invade or declare war on any other kingdom. I would like you to keep this in mind.”

It might seem sudden…

But it was necessary.

He had to calm the atmosphere by clarifying that he would not do what they feared most.

And indeed, the tension decreased slightly.

Although rather than reassured, they looked at him with uncertainty.

“Hmm… Should I make a joke now?”

Alon thought.

Since he had no intention of starting any war, he felt he had to ensure this meeting ended on good terms.

Just then…

“May I ask a question?”

“Go ahead.”

Good timing: it was Tolenis.

“As I understand, you have received a territory. May I ask why you manage it in this way?”

“That is…”

Alon hesitated a little, but decided to answer honestly.

In a way, it was a weakness of Divine Land.

But if he showed it, perhaps he would gain their trust.

That is why—

“It is because of an economic problem. At first, I planned to start small, but as I progressed, certain unforeseen incidents occurred and the number of people increased too much. It has really been a nuisance.”

“I see—”

“Yes, that’s right.”

He answered as sincerely as possible, and looked at them.

“I am managing it without receiving external support.”

With his impassive face, he even let out a slight chuckle.

But…

Alon‘s effort to soften the atmosphere by revealing his weakness proved useless.

The reception room became even gloomier than before.

Noticing it, Alon stopped laughing discreetly.

…And thus began a heavy silence.