Interlude 3: The Smiling Heir to the Minister of War
Despite her disappointment, the noble lady felt a sense of joy and gratitude knowing that the First Prince had considered her feelings. As the daughter of a grand duke, there had been few who truly understood or cared for her emotions—her parents, the grand duke and grand duchess, her elder brother who was the heir, her loyal attendant, the First Prince, and...
The third son of a knightly family in the frontier.
The fact that those individuals had shown concern for the noble lady’s feelings even before acknowledging her status as a grand ducal lady became something she etched into her heart as a joyful memory. Suddenly, a single thought surfaced in the noble lady’s mind.
"Your Highness, I have a request."
"What is it?"
"I wish for her domain to be assigned to the northern frontier."
"Ah... That place... where that knightly family resides? The land there is harsh—infertile and with poor yields. It’s surrounded by baronial, vicontiel, and even comital estates, isn’t it? ...Oh, they were the off-shoots of the Minister of State Affairs. They are in that location, and the lady at the heart of the recent test was from that region too. Hmm. I’ll consult the Prime Minister and the Minister of War. I can’t guarantee it, but I’ll propose it as a plan.”
"Your words fill me with gratitude. It will be a challenging place, no doubt, but she has the ability. She will strive to bring peace to that land as its steward. ...I will make sure to tell her myself."
"Out of duty to the kingdom, as a high countess... I wonder if she will accept it."
"We must first gain the understanding of those around us. If that proves impossible, I do have other ideas, Your Highness."
"A fierce side of the noble lady, I see. Very well, I understand. The destruction of a high comital house possessing skilled retainers would directly impact the stability of the kingdom. I will handle this matter with care.”
"I am deeply grateful."
The two who were expected as the light of the future by the people and the nobles who could "see" their potential. The plan for the noble lady's personal request, namely the change of territory, was decided here.
The First Prince did not intend for this plan to be exclusive to the matter of the high comital family. He aimed to apply it broadly to regions where territorial value could eventually be equalized.
With the Prime Minister and the Minister of War supporting the plan, it would result in ripple effects that would redefine the roles of lower- and mid-ranking nobles. It was also the moment when the national unity system envisioned by the Prime Minister was solidified even further. It stemmed from the noble lady’s personal request. However, the First Prince turned it from a private request into a public matter.
The way of these two exceptional individuals would be compiled and recorded in the national archives as an example of what the kingdom’s light of the future truly meant.
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A gentle breeze blew in through the slightly open window, making the thin curtain flutter as it swept across the castle courtyard. Already seated at her desk by the window, the noble lady awaited the arrival of the individual she had summoned.
"The high countess has arrived."
The chamberlain announced this with a formal tone. The doors opened, and the high countess entered the room. The lady, who also served as the noble lady's shadow, had changed her attire and now wore an outfit befitting her own station. She entered the room quietly, stopping twenty paces before the desk, and offered the noble lady a lady’s curtsy, one that could be described as elegant.
The noble lady spoke as the high countess entered the room. Her voice, tinged with sadness yet firm with resolve, filled the room. The decisions had already been made, and there was no turning back.
The die had been cast. Whether it would turn out bad or good... no one could know.. All they could do now was pray. The noble lady’s voice carried notes of pity and sorrow as she began to speak.
"Raise your head. You may speak freely. As of today, you are relieved of your duties as my attendant. You are also released from your position as a senior lady-in-waiting. It has been decided that you shall be granted the rank of high countess. You’ve received the official notice, I presume?”
"Yes."
"The territory you will be assigned is far poorer than the lands you held until now. Even maintaining your private army will be difficult."
"Yes."
"This outcome pains me deeply. The individuals who orchestrated this... rest assured, the First Prince—soon to be Crown Prince—will deal with them harshly. Take that as a small consolation. In truth, I regret letting you go. I consider it a national misfortune. However, we must uphold the noble standards, or the kingdom will collapse. We’ve already seen the signs. The Second Prince’s grave misconduct arose from the decay of noble standards and heart. It is imperative to correct this. Such is the way of nobility... so rarely does it go as one wishes.”
"It is an honor too great... My Lady."
"This will be the end of the formalities. I have a mission to entrust to you. Do you understand?"
"Anything you command, Your Highness."
"...It is still too soon for such a title. However, I shall command you with the dignity of that title in mind. The land you will govern lies at the northernmost edge of this kingdom. It is a place fraught with hardships. But within that territory lies the region overseen by a knightly family—the one associated with that soldier. ...It seems, according to the Minister of War's heir, that the man is making some sort of move. Observe him carefully. Look carefully, listen closely, and verify it with your own eyes. See if, just as on that day, at that time, he still holds in his heart the same loyalty to His Majesty the King, as the kingdom’s bulwark. Determine... if he is worthy of being a force for the next king."
"I humbly accept this mission. Your Highness, I cannot express enough gratitude for the favor you have shown me over these many years. My heart longed to remain at your side in service, but it is the fate of one born into a noble house. Still, my heart remains yours, as it always has. Carrying out your command is as good as serving you directly. I shall fulfill your wish. I will uncover where that man's heart truly lies."
"I trust you."
The noble lady’s personal request was accepted by the high countess. As the woman departed, the noble lady could only hope for happiness to follow her. Rising slowly from her chair, she returned to the window. A gentle breeze flowed in through the slightly open panes. carrying with it the floral scent from the castle gardens, mixed faintly with a sour, decaying smell.
Even within the splendor of the royal palace, there were places where unseen rot festered, spreading its stench.
No matter how noble a person might be, if they resided in a grim, oppressive environment... their virtue could falter. Examples of such cases were not difficult to find. The noble lady herself had witnessed many such individuals. Her concerns were not hers alone.
"One hopes the man's low rank will not dim his lofty character," the First Prince had once remarked.
Sharing her apprehension with her future husband, she found solace in knowing they both saw the same risks. All they could do now was pray he would not succumb. She recalled the moment when the First Prince had voiced his concerns, and she, in turn, had expressed her own fears.
"That man? He will be fine, I am sure. He has never cared for rank or status," someone once said.
That voice belonged to someone who had risen to take on the military aspect for these two. The man had laughed then, only to grow solemn as he continued his words. The noble lady and the First Prince had both listened intently, captivated by the rare seriousness in the Minister of War’s heir.
She remembered how his overwhelming faith in the man had rendered them momentarily "speechless." She, too, had glimpsed pieces of the knightly family's third son—his deeds, his nature, and his spirit. But she had not expected the Minister of War’s heir to hold such unwavering trust in him.
Looking out at the garden from the window, the noble lady turned over the man's words in her mind.
"That man is a stalwart soul, a bearer of a brave heart that will not easily break. I do not know what shaped him into what he is today... but at the core of his being certainly lies a deep and abiding love. He loves his family, his people, his homeland—and this kingdom. He cherishes them with a fierce and tender devotion, and as long as his strength and wisdom hold, he will protect them with all his might. That is the kind of man I know him to be. Whether or not anyone acknowledges his worth, it will matter little to him."
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