Three days after the briefing to the great families and nobles was over, representatives of the autonomous and allied cities were gathered in the palace.
　All they were told was, ''I have an important announcement to make.

　The project of 'founding' was by no means a top-secret one, but it was not an openly promoted project, and it should not have been known to the city-state, which was inward-looking and had no intelligence organization in the first place.

　Perhaps that's why many of them have anxious expressions on their faces.
　It's only natural.

　If I tell them that I'm going to change their treatment of autonomous and allied cities, they can't go against me.
　Rezad, Gehenna, and Nemeth, the reigning regional power in southern Cilicia, are already under Rosais' umbrella.
　As long as there is no foreign country to rely on, it's obvious that they will be put down even if they start a rebellion.

　However, I have no intention of changing the treatment of the autonomous and allied cities.

　We need them to cooperate with our country.

　"Representatives of the city-states, you have come together. "Representatives of the city-states, you have come together well, and at this time I have a declaration to make to you.

　For a moment, I tensed up.
　I smile as best I can. For some reason, the faces of the delegates twitch. It's a shame.

　'King Rosais' country has decided to change its name to the Kingdom of Romalia. I am the first king. With that, there will be a relocation of the capital and major changes in the country's social system but our alliance with you will remain the same.

　The representatives make a beatific face.
　........I'm sure they would sit up if they heard that the great families had become nobles and a republican organization called the Senate had been created.

　''However, it's true that the country is changing. I'm thinking of renewing our alliances.''

　I had the diplomats distribute the contract.
　The text is essentially the same.

　The only thing that's changed is...

　That's the point at which they changed it from 'Alliance with King Alms' to 'Alliance with King Romalia'.

　The reason why I used 'King Almus' up until now is so that when the country was founded and changed, I wouldn't have them quibble with 'King Romalia is not King Rosais, so I'll break the alliance'.
　In addition to that, I also wanted to increase my authority as a king.

　The reason for changing the name to "King Romalia" this time is because when I died and Marcus (the second king) took over, he said, "King Armes is dead. I don't have an alliance with King Marx. I'm going to break it!" to keep him from saying, "I don't have an alliance with King Marcus.

　Treaties and laws, if expressed even slightly differently, are completely different in content.
　It's really troublesome.

　Nevertheless, it was a safe bet.

　'Your Majesty, isn't this agreement the property of the Autonomous City?　I thought our country was an allied city...

　One of the delegates voiced a question.
　Following that, several delegates voiced the same question.

　'The soldiers of your city did a great deal of good in the last battle. It's payback. However, if you prefer to remain an allied city, then I don't mind being treated as an allied city.''
　No, no, sir.

　The faces of the representatives of the cities that had been upgraded shone.
　At the same time, the representatives of the cities that remained unchanged in the alliance city treatment stared at them with jealous eyes.

　''I don't believe that with a single mistake, even the children of that city will bear the guilt. They should be given an equal chance of redemption. ...Of course, keep in mind that if the relationship can be improved, it can be downgraded. I don't intend for all cities to become autonomous cities. In many cases, it will be a 'replacement'.

　Now cities will do everything in their power to improve and maintain the treatment of their own cities.
　Then they will compete with other cities and hate the cities that have been replaced or treated better than they were.

　'Divide and rule'.

　Well, the Cilician colonies don't get along with each other to begin with.
　They are small nations that have been engaged in repeated skirmishes with each other.

　At least they won't be able to work together against us.

　As for the vassalage, residents of allied and autonomous cities will be given vassalage if they wish. The residents of allied and self-governing cities will be granted vassalage if they wish to do so, and they will be allowed to double their citizenship rights with the citizenship of the city to which they originally belonged. They may pay taxes to whichever city they wish. If the tax is governed by either of them, they shall be deemed to have fulfilled their obligations.

　I'm going to ask the delegates for their faces.
　No one is particularly pleased.

　.........well, just because I got my vassalage doesn't mean that my rights will change much.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find a lot of people who are very enthusiastic about it.

　However, there must be someone who wants vassalage to some extent.
　If they have the will, they are welcome to join us.

　Also, I had to say one last thing.

　It's no secret that our cities and your cities have different military systems. Of course, it is not impossible to fight with a different system, but the chain of command will be more complicated. If possible, I'd like to see them switch to a military system and armament similar to that of Japan. That's just what we want. We don't want to force you to do anything, you have your own traditions.

　It's only because it's not compulsory, and I won't pay for it.
　It's not compulsory. Twice because it's important.

　Well, it's not compulsory, but I'd be happy to change it, and it would make a good impression.
　Relatively speaking, cities that didn't change it will look bad but I'm not going to force you to change it.

　It's a voluntary decision, and it's up to you to decide.

　....
　.........

　And, well, in essence, "If you don't want to be treated differently, change it. I'm not paying you, though! That's what I mean.　
　That's all I have to say.

　Now it's time to deal with our allies.





　Muzio, it's been a while.
　Yeah, we haven't seen you since the last war. ...So what's going on today?

　I came to the Kingdom of Alva, the land of King Equus, with a few of my vassals and guards.
　Of course, this was not a sightseeing trip.
　This is a diplomatic mission.

　I've decided to change the name of our country from King Lossius' country to the Kingdom of Romalia. Of course, I'm still the king. And I'm here to tell you that.
　Romalia? ...from the forest. Why do you want to name the country........centralized?

　I nodded quietly.
　'The change of country name signifies that King Rosyth's country is now completely mine, as well as the final stage of centralisation.

　'So?'　What else could it be?
　There's this thing called the Commonwealth of Romerys. I've come to ask you to join me.

　What I want to achieve is the unification of the Adelian peninsula.
　In other words, I want to create a nation of one political power.

　But to achieve this, I would need to destroy Belvedere, Evil and Alva.

　But this is a difficult task.
　Because Belvedere and Evil are two very old and venerable kingdoms.

　It would be very unworldly to destroy the Seven Kingdoms that drove out the cavalry-nomadic tribes that ruled the peninsula, as well as the country of King Rosais.
　That's why the two countries have been allowed to survive for now.

　As for the Alva Kingdom, it goes without saying.
　We have fought together as allies of our country since the days of King Equus' country.

　Destroying it is not righteous, and we will not be able to secure our precious cavalry.
　It's outrageous.

　Nevertheless, we cannot leave it as is.

　This is where the idea of a Romalian federation comes in.
　In short, with the Romalia Kingdom at its center, it would take in the neighboring countries as its vassal state.
　The ultimate goal is the German Empire, but it will not be achieved immediately.

　Initially, I would like to aim for a form similar to that of Japan during the formation of the feudal system.

　The only thing I can think of is how much of a right my Alva Kingdom has in that Romalian Federation.　What does it benefit our country to have our country become a vassal of yours?

　Muzio will shoot straight through me with his piercing gaze.
　I am the king of a nation of many people.

　I know that this is not something that can be easily accepted.

　I'm not going to be able to get in touch with you. "The Kingdom of Alva will continue to be ruled by you as it always has been, with no interference in its internal affairs. Your place is in diplomacy. In other words, from now on, the Kingdom of Alva can only form alliances with countries that are not our own. And if we are involved in a war, the Kingdom of Alva will be involved in the war as well.

　So what's in our country's interest in admitting that?

　"I promise to eliminate all tariffs, build new roads, and support agriculture. And I assure you that the throne of the Kingdom of Alva shall be passed down to your relatives the House of Sulpicios for all time to come.

　The Kingdom of Alva created by Muzio has never been stable.
　The clans and powerful lords are still very strong, and Muzio's power cannot be said to be widespread.

　Nomadic states tend to be decentralized.

　And then there is the existence of tribal councils.
　This tribal assembly is where the king is selected.

　It is implicitly understood that the person appointed by the previous king, or his son, would be selected as the king, but.....
　Usurpation happens.
　Even the Sulpicios of Mzio usurped the throne from another family that was originally a member of the House of Sulpicios.

　That should be the biggest concern for Muzio.
　So that title will be mine, and the Kingdom of Romalia will ensure it.

　"...weak.

　Muzio crossed his arms and snorted with difficulty.

　'Then what do I have to promise you?'

　I can't take too many excessive demands.
　But unification is also non-negotiable.

　At worst, we'll have to threaten them with force.

　'Huh you don't understand. It's easy for me to say it. What I want to see is an act of good faith. Give me your daughter.

　.........
　It's....

　Not for you, your son, right?
　'Of course. If me and your daughter got married, it would cause a family riot.

　Well, then, I'm relieved.
　From Fiona's point of view, Muzio is an old man.

　'Alright. I promise to marry Princess Fiona of Romalia to Prince Ezio of Alva.
　'Yeah I'll agree to those terms. Let the Kingdom of Alva join the Commonwealth of Romalia.

　Well, the problems of the Kingdom of Alvar are over for now.
　Now it's time for Belvedere and Evil.




　The first thing I did was send a letter to King Belvedere and King Evil.
　Since we've been on friendly terms with the Kingdom of Alva for a long time, I went to them myself.

　Belvedere and Evil are lowly countries for our country.
　When you become a regional power, you have a certain amount of respectability.

　If both countries were to join the Federation, then the kings of both countries would be sent to our country.

　Probably, King Belvedere's country will come on board soon.
　The king of that country must now be trepidatious about when our country will destroy him.

　Since the siege, that country has been carved out of its territory by us and has fallen to a small country that only controls its capital and surrounding lands.
　And its king is a petty person by nature.

　Joining the Federation would mean defending our country.
　From King Belvedere's point of view, it would be a godsend.

　The problem is King Evil's country.
　King Evil's country is still very powerful, partly because of its early surrender to our country.

　Recently, they have been building friendly relations, but their history does not show that they were always on good terms with each other.

　However, there is a high possibility that King Evil's country would have been destroyed by King Zoldiers if it were not for our support.
　Even now, King Zoldias' country is still alive thanks to the pressure our country is putting on it.

　It's up to us to negotiate.