Sister I am the Queen in This Life [Novel] Chapter 159

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Translator: Harry Potta
Chapter: 159
Chapter Title: A Mysterious Halo of Light
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“Where is Marquis Montefeltro!”

The man Leo III called upon was from a family whose son was in marriage talks with Lady Gabriele Dellatore, one of Giulia’s followers.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Though not one of Leo III’s favored confidants, the old Marquis Montefeltro, who held a seat in the Curia Regis by virtue of his rank and reputation, immediately rose and paid his respects to the king.

“Can you manage a long journey?”

Leo III asked bluntly. For Marquis Montefeltro, there was no choice but to be fine with it. Leo III’s demeanor made it clear he would not accept ‘no’ for an answer.

“It is Your Majesty’s command. How could I possibly refuse?”

Marquis Montefeltro bowed his head deeply like a loyal subject and accepted the king’s order, but the nobles present could not shake their doubts about Leo III’s choice.

‘The old Marquis Montefeltro? Not even his son?’

‘If you attach the old Marquis Montefeltro to the Margrave of Gaeta, is he an advisor? Or a master?’

In his youth, the old Marquis Montefeltro had been a master of military affairs, renowned as an expert in cavalry tactics. Moreover, his title and age were far superior to the Margrave of Gaeta’s.

“Yes, yes. You shall assist the Margrave of Gaeta and teach those wicked Gallican scoundrels who have invaded our borders a harsh lesson.”

“I will do my utmost to satisfy Your Majesty’s heart.”

Just then, a chamberlain’s announcement echoed from the entrance.

“Your Majesty! Your loyal subject, the Margrave of Gaeta, has arrived!”

Speak of the devil, right at that moment, the Margrave of Gaeta, summoned by the king, rushed into the royal audience chamber, out of breath.

“I have come as you have summoned me!”

He looked anxious, wondering what kind of tirade awaited him. *How did you manage the border that worthless scum like the Gallicans could just invade!* Even if he were to receive such an unjust reprimand, the Margrave of Gaeta was in no position to argue.

But Leo III was in a considerably good mood, thanks to Marquis Montefeltro’s meek obedience.

“Oh, yes, Count Gaeta.”

Leo III deliberately addressed him as ‘Count Gaeta’, omitting his title of ‘Margrave’. He was treating him like an ordinary court count.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“You must be returning to your domain soon?”

“That is correct, Your Majesty. I plan to depart for my lands immediately after this audience. I will give those Gallican bastards a thrashing and drive them out!”

He swung his fists in the air. The man who would likely tremble and surrender upon his return was all talk. But instead of being persuaded, Leo III narrowed his eyes and asked him.

“They say it’s the Montpellier Heavy Cavalry. Do you think you can handle them?”

The moment the Margrave of Gaeta heard the name of the Montpellier Heavy Cavalry, he thought, *‘How can I possibly win against them?’* but not wanting to show it before the king, he answered bravely.

“The soldiers of Gaeta are men whose loyalty pierces the heavens! With love for our homeland and strength of spirit, we will surely defeat them!”

Even he had enough of a conscience that the words claiming Gaeta’s soldiers were well-trained did not easily leave his lips. Besides, Leo III was a man who detested lords maintaining elite private armies. There was no need to stir up trouble.

“You don’t find it burdensome?”

Leo III asked persistently, his eyes searching.

“I… I am concerned that victory may be difficult due to my own incompetence, but I will do my best for the country! If I work hard, I can win!”

Having drawn out the words he wanted to hear—that the margrave was worried—Leo III smiled, his lips drawing a long arc.

“Instead of that, let me assign you an assistant. What do you think of Marquis Montefeltro?”

“Yes, yes?”

The Margrave of Gaeta, failing to grasp what this meant, asked back, dumbfounded. An assistant?

Leo III did not bother with further explanation and immediately called for Marquis Montefeltro.

“Marquis.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“How would you resolve this situation, with the Montpellier cavalry currently encamped beneath the walls of Gaeta?”

It was a sudden question without any prior coordination, but Marquis Montefeltro answered without faltering. He was truly a veteran of many battles.

“Your Majesty. No matter how much the Montpellier Heavy Cavalry boasts the greatest breakthrough power on the central continent, they are but 1,500 horsemen, and they have crossed the border as a knightly order alone, without infantry.”

“Meaning?”

“No cavalry in the world can capture a walled city without the support of cannons, siege engines, and infantry.”

To Leo III, this was welcome news.

“Is that so? Can I rest assured?”

“Yes, Your Highness. The worst-case scenario for us would be if the Gallicans used their cavalry as a mobile force to advance into the Etruscan heartland and ravage the country, but the enemy’s numbers are far too small for that. If the entire Montpellier Heavy Cavalry had come, it would be a different story, but if a mere 1,500 horsemen were to advance into Etruscan, they would be easily surrounded and annihilated.”

Leo III’s expression grew brighter and brighter. The old Marquis Montefeltro continued.

“They have undoubtedly sent their knights as a show of force. They will certainly have demands. I believe negotiations are possible.”

*Yes, this is what I like. I am a wise monarch who places talented people in the right positions.*

His mood thoroughly lifted, Leo III turned to the Margrave of Gaeta with a broad smile.

“Did you hear that, Count Gaeta? Return to your domain at once with Marquis Montefeltro. Listen to his advice carefully and drive those impudent Gallican scoundrels out of my borders as soon as possible. Do you understand?”

Blindsided, the Margrave of Gaeta could only stare blankly up at Leo III.

And so, through Ariadne’s cleverness, the Margrave of Gaeta’s hands were tied.

***

Having been dismissed from Leo III’s presence, the members of the Curia Regis walked down the corridor, conversing in low tones. Among them, Count Marquez called out to the old Marquis Montefeltro in a small voice.

“My Lord Marquis!”

“What is it, Anselmo?”

The old Marquis Montefeltro, who had known Count Marquez since he was a boy as their domains in the central region bordered each other, smiled faintly and called him by his first name.

“You were hasty today!”

“What do you mean?”

“You shouldn’t have mentioned the strategic position of the Montpellier knights so quickly!”

The old Marquis Montefeltro smiled serenely.

“Are you worried that His Majesty the King might get the wrong idea?”

“Of course!”

Count Marquez caught his breath and continued.

“You gave the impression today that you were conducting military analysis on your own, without the king’s command!”

He spoke emphatically in a low voice, careful not to be overheard.

“If I didn't care for you, my lord Marquis, I wouldn't offer such advice! You must look after yourself!”

“…My dear Anselmo.”

The old Marquis Montefeltro’s smile vanished as he looked at Count Marquez.

“An enemy has invaded our borders. Analyzing their military strength is the natural duty of a soldier. His Majesty the King will not see it in a bad light.”

“My Lord Marquis!”

The reality was different from the ideal. Unwilling to say, *‘Don’t you know Leo III?’* in front of everyone, Count Marquez looked up at the old Marquis Montefeltro with a troubled expression.

“And he shouldn’t see it in a bad light. If my duty is to be of service to the nation, then it is His Majesty’s duty not to harbor baseless suspicions against one who fulfills his duty.”

Having uttered such earth-shattering words so casually, the old Marquis Montefeltro quickened his pace, leaving the horrified Count Marquez behind.

***

At the same time, in the de Mare Grand Duchy, Ariadne was assessing the amount of grain in the house and the empty space in the storerooms when she saw something glitter and rubbed her eyes.

A fantastical halo of light, like a dragonfly’s wing, was hovering in the air, very small.

‘I’m indoors.’

Standing in the dim storeroom, she blinked again, then asked Sancha, who was standing beside her.

“Sancha, do you not see that?”

Sancha looked toward the halo of light where Ariadne’s finger was pointing. But her gaze didn’t stop at any specific point; it continued straight on toward the edge of the storeroom.

“…I don’t see anything, my lady.”

But the halo of light danced, spinning in the air.

‘Could it be… is this…?’

As if to confirm Ariadne’s thoughts, the halo shimmered once more, then settled on the tip of her right hand. It was the exact opposite of her left hand, which held a reddish energy.

‘The Golden Rule!’

***

Not all members of the Etruscan Kingdom’s ruling class were incompetent.

As soon as Marquis Montefeltro—who had set out with about thirty knights from the San Carlo Royal Guard provided by the king and fifty of his own house knights—and the Margrave of Gaeta—who, despite being the master, was now in a position akin to serving a superior—arrived in the Gaeta domain, they—mostly Marquis Montefeltro, with the Margrave of Gaeta merely signing off—sent a letter of protest to the Montpellier Heavy Cavalry.

- We condemn the shameless invasion of the Gallican army, which has crossed the border of the Kingdom of Etruscan, a long-standing ally, without a declaration of war!

Instead of scaling the walls, the commander of the Gallican heavy cavalry sent a reply to the letter of protest.

- We have come as envoys to lodge a protest, not with the intent to attack. Therefore, a border violation has not occurred.

- On the contrary, it is the Kingdom of Gallico that should be angered! The great Kingdom of Gallico condemns the death of the princess it raised so dearly and sent to a foreign land with a sorrowful heart. We take this situation, in which our princess was sacrificed due to the lack of internal control within the Etruscan royal family, very seriously.

- It was the Kingdom of Etruscan that first broke the bonds of friendship by failing to protect the Queen’s well-being for the sake of a mere harlot!

The old Marquis Montefeltro scoffed as he read the letter.

“To think 1,500 cavalrymen are merely ‘envoys’! Not even the emperor of the ancient Ratan Empire, were he to come back to life, could afford such an extravagance.”

He was jeering at the Kingdom of Gallico’s flimsy excuse.

But this was not the only letter sent by the Kingdom of Gallico. A separate, simpler missive arrived, proposing a secret meeting between the person in charge from the Kingdom of Etruscan and the envoy dispatched by the Kingdom of Gallico, with mutual safety guaranteed.

Marquis Montefeltro was chosen as the representative. The Margrave of Gaeta, who feared being dragged out and beheaded by the Gallicans in violation of an agreement, was, for the first time since this affair began, grateful for the fact that this unwelcome marquis had gotten involved.

The very next day, the old marquis, accompanied only by his house guard and the king’s royal guard, met with the Gallican envoy in a tent pitched in a field.

And the content of that meeting was exactly as Marquis Montefeltro had predicted before his departure.

Marquis Montefeltro wrote a report to be sent to Leo III.

「To His Majesty Leo III, the blazing sun of the Kingdom of Etruscan.」

Compared to the flowery opening, the content was concise.

- The Kingdom of Gallico has presented its terms.

- Their claims are as follows: ‘The royal marriage has been disgracefully broken. If the Kingdom of Etruscan wishes to maintain its past goodwill and friendly relations with the Kingdom of Gallico, a new royal marriage must be established.’

- In the past, the Kingdom of Gallico, in its faith in the Kingdom of Etruscan, had Princess Lariesa visit the distant country. However, due to the lack of security in the Kingdom of Etruscan, the royal marriage between Princess Lariesa and Prince Alfonso failed to materialize and was called off.

- This is a grave discourtesy that has dealt a fatal blow to the princess’s reputation. The Kingdom of Gallico expects the Kingdom of Etruscan to take responsibility for the death of Marguerite de Brienne and the sacrifice of Lariesa de Valois, and to send Prince Alfonso to Montpellier to seriously engage in finalizing the betrothal.

At the end, Marquis Montefeltro added what the Gallican envoy had quietly hinted at.

「Your Most Respected Majesty. The Gallican envoy, on the condition that it not be known externally, conveyed his country’s position to me. ‘A royal marriage can be broken if the conditions do not align, and just because negotiations have begun does not guarantee they will be successful. We hope you do not feel overly burdened.’

However, given Montpellier’s current position, a sincere effort from the Etruscan Kingdom is needed to quell the sentiments of the common people over the tragic death of Queen Marguerite, a princess beloved in the Kingdom of Gallico, and the discontent of the faction of Grand Duke Eudes de Valois, Princess Lariesa’s father. Palais de Montpellier believes that Prince Alfonso’s visit to the Gallican royal court would be proof of that effort.

Furthermore, the envoy made one more proposal. If His Highness Prince Alfonso graciously visits Montpellier and the royal marriage is established, Palais de Montpellier is willing to provide the formula for gunpowder as proof of the enhanced friendship between our two nations, regardless of the detailed terms of the negotiation.

The Montpellier side has stated they will wait until a reply from Your Majesty arrives.

However, if I may be permitted to add one more word, the harvest season is approaching. It is my belief that we must drive the Gallican army from the plains of Gaeta before then to ensure this year’s harvest proceeds smoothly.

I await Your Majesty’s instructions here on site.」

Upon receiving Marquis Montefeltro’s letter, Leo III’s eyes widened as if they would pop out, fixed on one corner of the parchment.

‘The formula for gunpowder!’

With this…! With a central army armed with cannons, he wouldn’t need to coax and placate the Margrave of Gaeta; he could just send the central army to any disputed territory!

The Margrave of Gaeta was a weak-willed and timid man who could be easily pushed around. His obedience made him easy for Leo III to manipulate. But not all feudal lords were like that.

The old Margrave Pisano, whose domain bordered Gaeta and who was currently bedridden, was a stubborn old man. To borrow his troops, Leo III had to pay an objectively fair price. In Leo III’s eyes, this was the utterly insolent defiance of a subject.

House Marquez, too, had a domain and a private army passed down from their ancestors, even though he had dragged them to the capital to serve as court counts to keep them from their lands. He didn’t know when they might bare their fangs.

House Montefeltro, though they had obediently departed for Gaeta on Leo III’s command, were far too upright and their refusal to reduce their private army was deeply suspicious. And the list of potential traitors was endless: House Dellatore, who acted so relaxed before the king, backed by their large northern domain; House Attendolo, who strutted around as a military family, and so on.

“Guards, bring me Alfonso!”

“Yes, yes, Your Majesty!”

A chamberlain, who had been watching the king’s mood, darted out like the wind. Leo III could see nothing else at that moment.

“His Highness, Prince Alfonso, arrives!”

The chamberlain soon brought Prince Alfonso, who had been downstairs overseeing matters related to Queen Marguerite’s funeral. The prince had been summoned without hearing any of the details.

“I greet the sun of San Car…”

Cutting off Prince Alfonso as he was bowing, Leo III pulled his son upright.

“Alfonso. I need you to go to the Kingdom of Gallico.”