第１３７９堀：ちょっと外側から見る者 (Part1)
### Chapter 1379: One Who Watches from the Periphery
**Side: Menou**
Honestly, I find myself questioning whether my presence here is even necessary. Still, for the sake of Emerald and Sea-Cypho, I understand that coming here is a matter of course. Even if I do nothing, there is meaning in simply being seated at this table.
While the Great Overflow is an unfamiliar phenomenon in the Haiden region, I have been instructed to gather information thoroughly, as we have suffered enough at the hands of monster raids at sea. Under normal circumstances, sticking one’s neck into the petty squabbles of small nations on another continent is nothing but a recipe for trouble; one would simply wait for a victor to emerge and then offer retroactive recognition.
From the perspective of a great power, it matters little who wins or loses. Furthermore, since both sides are under our umbrella, we cannot afford to show favoritism. In short, to an outside observer, this is nothing more than a minor skirmish. While it is true that people will die and others will suffer, it remains an internal affair of those nations.
Usually, one would turn a blind eye, but this is also the perfect opportunity to demonstrate the influence of the Intercontinental Exchange Alliance. Since we, too, rely on the Alliance’s strength, we cannot simply tell them to handle it on their own. It is also a matter of saving face for Weed. Of course, I am more than willing to lend a hand wherever I can. After all, these are people from the same homeland as my previous life. Besides, I have received their luxury goods, and it would be problematic in more ways than one if Weed were to fall. That is precisely why I am here, but…
“Now, please, offer your greetings.”
“Yes.”
At the command of King Suls, the person who stepped forward was—
“A pleasure to meet you, Lady Lilishe, envoy of Litea. And to all the representatives of the Intercontinental Exchange Alliance. I am Hasnia, the Third Princess of King Suls.”
For some reason, the princess offered us a graceful bow. No, I mean, I understand the need for introductions, but—no, I don’t! The priority right now should be introducing the envoys who will drive back the idiots currently attacking Suls. This is hardly the time for a princess’s introduction.
My eyes narrowed as I began to grasp their true intentions. Incidentally, Shau-san beside me had her eyes closed, and Yuki’s wives looked slightly irritated. In other words…
“I will be accompanying you as the representative envoy to the Kingdom of Kinauf and the Kingdom of Irinau.”
I thought as much. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be greeting us here. It’s a matter of reading the room—or rather, the complete lack thereof. Even so…
“Pardon my intrusion, but is she capable of diplomacy? She appears quite young, if I may say so.”
I couldn’t help but confirm. It would be too blatant for Lady Lilishe, the envoy of Litea, to voice such a critique, and I wouldn’t want Suls to harbor distrust toward her, so I suppose I shall play the villain as a representative of an allied nation. Thanks to that, the guards and attendants surrounding the King and Queen glared at me. Well, even if she is just for show, I have to point out the risks.
“I assume this is a testament to your seriousness, but if things go poorly, it could escalate into combat. You cannot guarantee the Princess’s safety, can you?”
We might be fine, but this princess possesses no special power. She has more education than the average person, but that is all. As a noble, she is typical for her age; I see no evidence that she can handle political maneuvering, nor does she have the strength to fight in an emergency. In other words, they are asking us to bring along a liability.
That said, as I mentioned, sending a member of the royal family among the envoys serves to clearly signal to the other side that our actions are official. However, if the worst were to happen, it would be marked as a failure on our part for not protecting the princess. It is necessary to convey this. Even if the other party understands it perfectly, it must be put into words and recorded in documents—no, in this case, if the princess were to suffer even a single scratch, the reputation of the Alliance would be tarnished.
I am telling them they are taking on that much risk. As I cast a meaningful glance at King Suls with that thought in mind…
“Naturally, I am aware of that. And of the trouble it may cause the Alliance. However, if a royal does not step forward here, the Alliance will lose face. You have already prevented the Great Overflow and are handling the nations that have violated our territory. I cannot leave everything to you; at the very least, let me do this much. Should anything happen, it shall be treated as the Princess’s own negligence.”
With that, the King signaled to an attendant, who stepped before Lady Lilishe with a tray holding documents.
“Please confirm these documents, which include the terms regarding the Princess.”
“Excuse me.”
Lady Lilishe took the documents, scanned them, and passed them to us. This is usually unheard of, but in this instance, every member of the Alliance must consent. Incidentally, while immediate decisions are typically impossible, we have received permission to act on the spot given the gravity of the situation. Well, there will be a mountain of reports to write later.
Even so, the contents were within the scope of our expectations. Yuki has already discussed this at the Alliance council, so there is no issue. Hostage strategies are a common occurrence, after all.
I checked the document passed to me. It was written in complex, grandiloquent language, but the essence was as King Suls had stated: the defense of Suls until the Alliance’s investigation into the Great Overflow is complete, the response to the invading Kingdoms of Kinauf and Irinau, and finally, that no guarantee of life is sought for the Third Princess, Hasnia.
The hierarchy of the Rogali continent’s royal families is such a headache. It says "Third Princess," but that doesn't mean there are three princesses. It refers to the order of succession. One would normally think to separate princes and princesses, but on the Rogali continent, the status of women is quite high. Perhaps due to an abundance of magical power, there seems to be little difference between the genders even in specialized fields. In other words, the same applies to the throne. If one has the ability, a woman can achieve greatness.
But I digress—she is the princess with the third right of succession. In other words, a spare. King Suls has a first prince and a second princess, so there is no issue regarding the heir. Still, it feels like a high price to pay for a mere throwaway, but in this instance, the Intercontinental Exchange Alliance is the other party. It is a matter of maintaining appropriate status.
Personally, I think it’s utter nonsense, but it is common in the administration of nations. I signed the document and returned it to Lady Lilishe.
“Very well. The contract is now established.”
I returned one of the three copies of the contract to King Suls. It is only natural to have multiple copies of the same contract prepared.