Day 103 of the Otherworld Summoning [Those in Motion] Part 2:

'What should I do...'

The Earl of Bergston, who had extended the deadline for a reply until tomorrow, was holed up in his own office and just kept asking himself the question.



That is what is regrettable.
If the Earl of Bergston had remained on the sidelines, it honestly didn't matter who won.
But I'm not going to be able to get any more than that.
You can either continue to join the aristocrats or join the knights.
If he returns to the sidelines now, he will be targeted by both the aristocrats and the knights.
And another problem is that the person who brought this story is a princess.
Count Bergston has enough knowledge of the power structure of the royal court.
It's impossible for a nobleman without such knowledge to hold a fiefdom.
That's why the current knightly faction is the princess's supporters, but the real power is held by General Hodrum, the Earl fully understands.

If that's the case then this time the recruiting is not for the knightly faction but for the princess.

Depending on how the princess decides, after the battle with the aristocrats, a new battle of the princess faction versus the knight faction may begin.
It is natural to hesitate, being recruited from an even smaller faction within the inferior force.

''If you're going to be a part of this, you'll be prepared to throw everything down...''

You'll have to be prepared to throw away the family name of the Earl of Bergston, the wealth you've accumulated over the years, and even the fiefdom you've ruled in your own right.

The question is whether His Highness will be able to win...

The whole question comes down to that.
Can you join the royalists and win or not?
The Earl of Bergston was by no means less loyal to the royal family, but he didn't have the loyalty to throw his own house and family to the ground.
That's why he had been inwardly contemptuous when Mertina had come to recruit him a month ago, and the noble faction that came afterwards.

''At that point, there was nowhere for the princess faction to win.......''

Mertina's method of recruiting was simple.
She simply appealed to the legitimacy of Princess Lupis and her loyalty to the royal family.
Of course, those are important things, but they couldn't be the element that moved the hearts of the onlookers.
Why?
If you are a person who values loyalty to the royal family and the legitimacy of the princess, you can't be a bystander.
You should have pledged your loyalty to the princess before Mertina recruited you.
I'm not sure how much of a difference it would make, but I'm not sure how much of a difference it would make.
Joining the princess is fine.
But moving an army costs money for arms and sustenance.
And if your soldiers do well, you have to offer them a reward.
Never "Good work! It's not just a single word.
That's what Mertina doesn't understand.
It's just a matter of appealing to her loyalty to the princess like a broken recorder.
It's not a good idea to be able to persuade any nobleman with this.
That's why the Earl of Bergston gave up on the princess.
This is even the case with Mertina, who is said to be his close aide.
You can't help but judge that there are no people beside the princess.
And when the aristocrats invited her to join their ranks, it is only natural that she was happy to do so.
Everyone takes advantage of a win-win situation.
Every man has a chance to win the game, especially if he is presented with the visible benefit of additional power and territory.
But at this point, the Count was in great distress.
Because of the emissary of the princess's party, Mikoshiba Ryoma, who arrived today.

"I don't know who that is, but I can cut it. It's too much.

Ryoma Mikoshiba.
A sharp man who suddenly appeared in the Princess Faction, which was thought to be devoid of wise men.
We only met him once during the day, but it's safe to say that that man's ability to judge the situation is reliable.
He's also good-natured, and should be able to show great strength in diplomacy.
If that's the case, the future of the princess faction could change as well.
The aristocrats are sure to offer similar rewards to other onlookers to enlist their help.
But after hearing that man's story, I don't think there are any fools who still believe in the aristocrats.
If that's the case, there's a great possibility that they'll be largely taken in by the princess faction.
Likewise, it would not be impossible to get those from the knight faction who are dissatisfied with General Hodram to switch to the princess faction.
Yes, with that man's power, it might even be possible for the princess to have real power.
That's why the Count is troubled.

''Ah ... what do I do ...''

knock-knock

'Sir? Dinner is now ready. Your guests are already waiting for you in the dining room.

It was the voice of the mansion's maid that brought the undecided Earl Bergston back to his senses.
If you look at the window, the outside is completely covered in darkness.
The meeting with Ryoma and the others should have ended around 1pm, so Count Bergston had been worrying in his office for five to six hours.

''Ah ... ah ... I'm coming.''

With that much to say to the maid, the Earl of Bergston lightly dressed himself and headed for the dining room.


You? Are you worried about me?

The Countess of Bergston came into the room, worried about her husband, who was locked up in his office again after dinner.

'What is it with you I'm not doing anything. 'What's the matter? At this time of night?

The Count said this to hide his fatigue and sat the lady down on the sofa.

'You were acting strangely at dinner... what is your concern?

The whole roasted bird served for dinner was the Bergston family cook's specialty, but the Earl rarely touched it.
He wasn't in the mood to enjoy his meal very much.

'No ... it's nothing. Nothing for you to worry about, my dear.

'No! No, that's not possible. They've been together for 20 years... how could they not notice that something is wrong with you?

She was deeply concerned about her husband's welfare.
In common parlance, it was a political marriage, but she was deeply devoted to her husband, who was turning forty-three this year, and he was also deeply in love with her.

'Is this because of our guest who came here today?

The Earl, who had been uneventful until this morning, had suddenly locked himself up in his office after lunch.
It was natural to think that they were the cause of the problem.
Seeing the count's face, the lady cut him off.

Are you......related to the royal court?

Even the wives of aristocrats are not immune to the power struggles among the nobility.
In a sense, women are more sensitive to such things than their male comrades.
In fact, it's a matter of life and death for the kingdom.

The Count's attitude convinced the lady.

You are a husband and wife, aren't you?

Hearing her words, the Count blurted out his heart.
He wanted someone to hear what was on his mind.
That's how much he had been thinking about it.

''I don't know much about politics but if you are willing to help His Highness in this time of crisis, I'm sure that you will not be mistreated in the event of a victory.

When she heard what was on the Count's mind, she said hesitantly and clearly: "I know that.

'I know that,' she said hesitantly, 'but that is not the point. ─ I know that, but that is not the point. If I were to help her, the question is whether Her Highness would be able to win!

I don't need to be told that by the Lady.
The lesser princesses won't even have the resources to be on the lesser side.
So if we win, she'll be valuable to us.
But only if he wins.

Why don't you... let the princess win?

The Count froze at her husband's words.

You are a very talented man. Since your marriage, I have never doubted your talent and I believe that you are the man who will carry the kingdom of Roselia. And that is why I do not want to see you lost! If you were me 12 years ago, you would never have hesitated in a situation like this! That's right. If you were once...

Once ... I ...

The Earl of Bergston's former confident self comes to mind.
Twelve years ago, the Earl of Bergston, then in his early thirties, was one of the most powerful men in the country.
The Count's confidence had been shattered when his wife's father, the Marquis Ernesto, the vizier of the Roserian kingdom and the Count's backer, had lost his political battle with Duke Gerhard.
The Marquis Ernesto confiscated the estate and severed the family name.
Most of the family members were exiled from the kingdom at that time.
The only remaining members of the Marquess Ernesto's bloodline in the kingdom are the Countess of Bergston and her sister, who married into another family.
As a result, the Earl of Bergston was played out of central politics.
His talent or lack of it was not the issue.
He had married the daughter of a former political rival, and for that reason alone the Count of Bergston was stared down by Duke Gerhardt.
For the next twelve years, the Count was only desperate to defend his estate.
He belonged to the sidelines to wait for the storm to pass discreetly.
Defensively, it slowly and surely rusted the Earl of Bergston's fangs dully.


'I wouldn't have bothered once...?'

I wouldn't have been troubled.
Because I had absolute confidence in my own abilities.

(Twelve years ago, what would I have done if I were in this position now? Would they have waited for Mertina to recruit? No no! I would have taken the lead in joining the princess's faction myself, and we would have helped His Highness. Don't you know if his highness can win? Nonsense! (If you don't understand, why don't you let me help you win?

The words of a Mrs. Claus dropped the rust from the heart of a man who for twelve years had thought only of protection.
The ambition and confidence of his youthful mind returns.

He said, "There are only two things in life for the princess: glory and nothing. Of course you will share in this fate do you not mind?

"No matter. I will follow you, even if it means disappearing with the dew on the decapitation table!

The Earl of Bergston's mind is made up when he hears of her decision.
And once the decision is made, the Earl does not hesitate.
It was not a matter of judging whether he would win or lose, but of deciding that he would make the princess king by his own strength.

''I will go to Hernan at once. Help me prepare for my outing.

'Now?'

Her husband looked dubious.
It was already past 8pm.
It was too late to go out.

'Yes, you're right. I've asked Mikoshiba-dono to postpone his answer until tomorrow. But it would be trivial to simply offer our assistance tomorrow, wouldn't it?

Count Hernan Zeref.
He is one of the bystander nobles who border the Countess of Bergston.
And he is also the one who took the sister of the Countess of Bergston to wife.
Naturally, like Count Bergston, he is stared at by Lord Gerhardt.

(When I turned from the aristocracy to the princesses, only Mikoshiba-dono gets credit for my turning to the princesses......but if I bring Hernan to the princesses, that's my achievement. (Besides, Elnan is my brother-in-law the only person I trust.

Determined to join the princess faction, Earl Bergston's brain has regained its old sharpness.
I'm sure you'll be pleased to know that I'm not the only one who has turned to the princesses.
No one would ever appreciate the Earl of Bergston who turned.
But what if you take the other nobles along with you when you turn yourself over?
That would be a credit to the Earl of Bergston.
So the Earl could not fail to secure his position in the princess faction after he was turned.

''You will keep Mikoshiba-dono as long as you can tomorrow. ''Good! Don't ever let me leave until I get back!

Yes, ma'am. Yes, have a safe trip.

She gazed happily at her husband, who had regained his old radiance, and then bowed deeply.