第１３８１堀：あの王女について (Part2)
"It isn't certain, but that is likely the case. That princess will likely stand as the ambassador for the Intercontinental Exchange Alliance. Sending an heir prince or a princess already betrothed elsewhere wouldn't carry much weight, after all."
"So, it was also a gesture of intent, signaling that we’ll be seeing more of each other from here on out."
"Considering that, it’s bound to stir up a bit of sympathy. And when you think about the follow-up negotiations, it’s not a bad strategy. Above all, we intentionally sent a delegation comprised solely of women this time. It would have been difficult to send men into the mix without causing a stir. That was your aim, wasn't it?"
"Naturally. Though, it also helps that we’re short on male representatives."
It’s true; the group is remarkably composed entirely of women. But considering that having men present would necessitate separate quarters and other logistical headaches, I agree that keeping it to women was the right call.
"I understand Princess Hasnia is sociable, but how does she fare on the diplomatic front?"
"Well... I’ve only spoken with her briefly, so it’s hard to say for sure, but I don’t get the impression that she’s exceptionally gifted at this stage."
"Indeed. For now, her priority seems to be building rapport with us; it’s too early to tell if she possesses any true talent for political maneuvering."
"I share that assessment. What was the take from Yuki’s wives, as well as Menou and Shou?"
"The wives feel the same. Menou and Shou suspect that her current persona is her genuine self. They figure that if she’s forced to swallow terms that are significantly disadvantageous, she’d be naive enough to protest them openly."
I see. So, they’re looking to leverage the alliance treaty, then? But still, since we’re talking about "significantly disadvantageous" terms, how exactly do they intend to handle that?
"They’ll likely send her off for some schooling, I imagine. If she’s to be treated as an ambassador, that’s the natural progression of things."
"That makes sense. But what is Litea’s stance on all this?"
"The core of the issue lies in the fact that they weren't officially part of the alliance, so they seem to be in favor of joining. That said, there’s some debate over whether it’s appropriate for a princess to suddenly arrive in Weed. After all, we’re currently only accepting those vetted by the major powers."
"Hmm. But given the recent trouble, wouldn't it be easier to manage things if Princess Hasnia were stationed here in Weed?"
"That’s true, but it’s not our place to be the first to insist on it."
"I suppose that would be seen as slighting Litea. So, we wait to hear their answer first, then?"
Right, we have to consider Litea’s face as well. Besides, if Weed were to simply accept Hasnia’s presence, it would only encourage more people to try and bypass the proper channels to negotiate directly with Yuki or Seraria. Ultimately, even if we do accept Hasnia of Suurus, we have to follow the established protocol.
"You and Yuki have your hands full, don't you?"
"Kaya and the others were trying to pull something similar, weren't they? Attempting to dismantle the existing nations and all."
"That feels like a lifetime ago."
If they had actually succeeded, I think it would have only plunged the world into chaos. Well, Hifie was pulling the strings behind the scenes, so as for the governance... who knows?
"The future of Princess Hasnia and Suurus depends on their next moves, but what about the two nations that launched the invasion? What’s the status of the alliance meeting regarding them?"
Ah, Dia’s question reminded me. I’d almost forgotten because we’ve been operating almost entirely within our own inner circle, but this entire operation is the collective will of the Intercontinental Exchange Alliance. Now that it’s all but confirmed those two nations acted with such tyranny, the alliance must be deliberating on how to respond...
"It depends on their next move. We’ve received the demands from the Suurus side, and we’re currently deciding how to address them. Of course, if they resort to combat, we’ll respond in kind. The consensus is that we’ll crush them under the banner of a just cause. After all, the anti-Weed faction is effectively the anti-alliance faction."
It feels like a bit of a stretch, but I suppose that’s the pretext we’re working with.
"Regardless, we’ll arrive at the eastern town by tomorrow. For today, enjoy yourselves, and give it your all tomorrow."
"We will. I intend to enjoy this to the fullest."
"Understood."
"And you lot, don't push yourselves too hard."
With that, we concluded our shop talk and returned to our meal. Oh, and I mustn't forget to hit the hot springs. For now, I’ve judged the princess of Suurus to be a harmless ambassadorial candidate.