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Elton Academy, 2nd year dormitory.
A servant visited Davian and Nueves' room with a letter in hand.
"A letter from Marquis Espin Ellaina."
Davian went to his desk, tore open the envelope bearing Espin's seal, and opened the letter.
Davian Naone, listen.
Due to the machinations of several central nobles and officials who have been infiltrated by the Empire, and various nobles who only try to curry favor with them, the current King is as good as blind and deaf.
Davian let out a hollow laugh.
To start with the machinations of the nobles and the King being blind.
It was a fiery letter, typical of Espin Ellaina.
However, the King Alonso Alkanzia I know was not such a naive person.
At least not when I was in the capital.
This is all due to the various forces surrounding the King, and Alonso Alkanzia's lack of courage, who, despite being the rightful bloodline of Alkanzia and the King of this country, is constantly afraid of having his safety threatened.
Even though it was a letter sent to Davian personally.
She casually wrote the King's name.
After that, she explained the situation of the current royal family and the capital in detail.
Espin's main point began to emerge.
Originally, I planned to end my life leisurely in this quiet port city, where pirates have almost disappeared.
I intended to wash away the blood-soaked sword and soul in this beautiful port city.
But.
I saw the heart of an eighteen-year-old boy for the kingdom, and through his gaze and concerns, I realized the kingdom's crisis.
Perhaps I had been deliberately ignoring it.
That eighteen-year-old boy made me ashamed.
And recently, the death of one of my former subordinates ignited a fire in my heart.
He is the commander of the Royal Guard.
It is natural for a Royal Guard commander to die on the battlefield.
However.
His death should never be dishonorable.
Therefore.
I will return to the capital.
I don't intend to bring the entire force.
But most of the soldiers here will probably follow me.
And I have no intention of abandoning them.
Therefore.
It is highly likely that a large-scale army will march on the capital.
"Crazy..."
Of course.
I am not plotting treason.
I will go and have a conversation.
With King Alonso Alkanzia.
With the Commander of the 1st Royal Guard.
With the central nobles.
Since this many people cannot warp, we will travel by land.
I have attached our departure and arrival schedule on the back.
The reason I sent this long letter is.
Because I want you to attend the royal audience with me.
Since you are the center of the Davian Alliance, after talking to the King with me.
Persuade and change him, then we can protect him and be with him as our King.
...Or not.
Let's judge together.
The letter ended.
A letter of tremendous content.
A terrifying letter that could determine the fate of the Alkanzia Kingdom.
Instead of sending it directly through a subordinate or with a complex cipher.
She just sent a regular letter through the warp terminal.
The only security device was a hard seal that would break with a little force.
'Espin Ellaina...'
She was a true hero, far exceeding Davian's expectations.
Once she is convinced that her thoughts are correct, she acts without hesitation.
Fortunately.
Her thoughts were not far off.
"Why are you so serious? What's the letter about, Davian?"
Nueves approached and looked at the letter.
Whoosh.
A small flame rose from Davian's hand and burned the letter completely.
"What, what? What's wrong?"
"It's nothing."
A week later.
Alkanzia Royal Palace.
The Military Administrator's office.
"It's a disaster!"
Military Administrator Dux Miles, who was looking at the piles of documents on his desk, frowned and looked up.
"What is it that makes you so agitated?"
"The Margrave... Margrave Espin Ellaina is leading her army back!"
"What does that mean... What? Say it again!"
"It's a report that Margrave Espin Ellaina is leading her entire army towards the capital city of Kanzar!"
"What, what? Is that true? Is it reliable information!"
"Yes, it's said that she's already been marching for four days!"
Military Administrator Dux Miles jumped up from his seat.
The desk shook and several documents fell to the floor, but a few documents were no longer important.
"Inform the two Administrators and convene a Supreme Council, a Supreme Council!"
"Yes!"
There are three Administrators in the Alkanzia Kingdom.
The Military Administrator, the Administrative Administrator, and the Financial Administrator.
They can be said to be the most powerful people in the royal family, excluding the King.
Of course, it cannot be compared to the power of the local ducal families, who have extraterritorial rights that even the royal family cannot easily violate.
When the kingdom was first established, there was one Chancellor under the King who was responsible for governing the kingdom.
Then, in order to disperse the power concentrated in the Chancellor, the power was divided into three, and three Administrators were appointed.
However, there was a fatal problem with this system.
If the three Administrators united and joined forces.
It became easier to manipulate the royal family than when there was a single Chancellor.
Supreme Council Chamber.
A space that even the King cannot enter without permission.
Only the three Administrators and those they have permitted to attend the meeting may enter.
The firmly closed door opens only when one of the three Administrators convenes a Supreme Council.
"Is that really true? Are you saying that Espin Ellaina is raising an army and invading here?"
"I've confirmed it repeatedly. I didn't see it myself, but it seems that she is leading all of her troops to the capital."
"What's going on all of a sudden? What on earth is the reason?"
"I was relieved when she decided to go to the border herself, even though she had such great skills in her youth. In the end, she's trying to stab us in the back..."
"Military Administrator, what do you think? If a war breaks out with Marquis Espin, how much damage do you think our royal palace will suffer?"
"It's not that we can't stop it, but it's difficult to predict the damage. It will be a war at the level of a country against a country."
"Then Marquis Espin knows very well that she can't win. What on earth is the reason for doing this?"
"As of now, there's no way to know. I've sent someone, so I'll have an answer soon."
"Surely she's not really trying to wage war with the royal family... Have you reported to the King?"
"I'm telling the two Administrators first."
Administrative Administrator Publique Solus rested his chin on his hand for a moment and fell into thought.
Publique Solus.
The Administrative Administrator of the Alkanzia Kingdom.
The most powerful person among the three Administrators.
The Military Administrator and the Financial Administrator virtually follow Publique Solus.
"For now, keep it quiet. It's not like she can lead an army from that far away and get here in a day or two."
"Yes, Administrator."
That night.
Not far from the royal palace, the largest and most splendid mansion.
The residence of Administrative Administrator Publique Solus.
The deepest and most secret place in the mansion.
Only two servants can enter this place to clean and bring food.
No one else, not even family, can access this space.
Publique opened a darker-colored wooden box placed on a dark-colored desk.
"This is Publique."
After a while.
A sinister voice flowed from beyond the wooden box.
It was unclear whether it was his original voice, or whether the magical tool that transmitted the voice was distorting it.
-What is it?
"Margrave Espin Ellaina has emptied the Portus city border."
-We already know that.
What the Administrative Administrator of the Alkanzia Kingdom only learned today.
The other party already knows.
"Do you also know where she is headed?"
-That's Publique's job to tell us.
An impudent tone.
No matter how much the other party is a figure from the great Marino Empire.
Administrative Administrator Publique Solus is the most powerful man in the Alkanzia Kingdom.
Of course, except for the puppet king.
Publique Solus' brow furrowed involuntarily.
From some point on, he started speaking in a commanding tone.
Now he is completely talking down to him.
"She's heading for the capital."
-Is it a rebellion?
"That's not yet known."
-.......
A moment of silence followed.
-Provoke Marquis Espin Ellaina as much as possible.
"What? If I do that, a real war will break out in the capital."
-That's not bad either.
"Are you saying to start a war in the kingdom's capital?"
-Don't forget our promise, Publique Solus. Alkanzia will become a vassal state of our Marino Empire, and you will become the new king of Alkanzia. This is an opportunity to shorten that time even further.
Even though it was his own space where no one was present.
Publique unknowingly rolled his eyes around to see if anyone was there.
"But..."
-Aren't you dissatisfied with the current Alkanzia Kingdom? A king who only worries about his own safety. Nobles who only try to fatten their own bellies. People who have a hard time making a living even if there is a slight famine. Weren't those the problems of Alkanzia that you said yourself?
"Why are you suddenly bringing that up?"
-I'm saying that whichever side wins, the situation will only become more advantageous for us. I'm also saying that the time to fix your Alkanzia is getting closer.
Rumors spread quickly.
A few days later.
Elton Academy Student Restaurant.
"Davian! Did you hear the news?"
"What news?"
"Marquis Espin is attacking the royal palace!"
Riber was startled and covered Bellum's mouth, who was next to him.
"Hey! Watch your mouth."
Realizing that his voice was too loud, Bellum nodded quickly.
Riber, who took his hand off Bellum's mouth, whispered.
"And we don't know yet. It could just be a conversation, not a war."
"I heard she left with most of the army that was in Portus City?"
"Maybe she's just trying to settle down in the capital. What do you think? Davian."
Davian, who received Riber's question, shrugged.
They were close friends and colleagues who shared most of their secrets.
But he couldn't tell them everything in Espin's letter, that she was going to the royal palace to test the King.
Bellum changed the subject.
"Ah, I don't know. Surely a real war won't break out? Like Dubberly said, there must be another reason. It's not like anything will change if we worry about that, and isn't that not our problem right now? What's the final exam practical assessment for the 4 Elements specialization?"
Carin answered Bellum's question.
"Don't even mention it. Submitting a report on how to mix two magics to increase their power is the substitute for the final practical assessment."
Carin, who didn't talk to anyone in particular when she first came to the academy.
Now she is quite close to Davian and his group.
But she still doesn't talk to any other friends.
"What? You don't have to take a separate practical?"
"Yeah."
"Lucky you! A report substitute."
"If you write this report wrong, you'll be on the expulsion list right away?"
"Ah..."
July.
The first semester final exam season is approaching.
The first formal evaluation after becoming a 2nd year.
Since there are no midterms from the 2nd year, the burden on the students taking the finals has increased.
If you slip up here, you may be named as a candidate for expulsion.
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