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I was sitting in my office, quietly listening to Rasie complain.

“If you were going to Klauchen, I wish you’d taken me with you.”
“It’d be dangerous to take you along.”

She doesn’t seem to realize it herself, but she’s a wanted criminal.
Rasie’s illusions are powerful, but if they’re exposed as illusions, it’s all over. She’ll do just fine for a quick getaway, but a long journey with her would be too risky.

I explained this to her, but Rasie couldn’t seem to give up and kept talking about memories of her hometown.

“That may be true, but… Ah, it was Lord Bercken who wrote my letter of recommendation for the Magic Academy.”

Governor Bercken recognized Rasie’s talent as a mage and had apparently handled the admission procedures for her to the Magic Academy in the religious city of Ioro Lange.
It seems Rasie was a top student back home with a promising future.

Just as I was listening to her gripes, Parker barged into my office.

“Hey, Rasie, your duties as a confidant to Her Majesty Gomoviroa are waiting. I’m going to take a break here while I switch shifts with you.”

My master is a shy loner who gets lonely easily, so she feels more at ease when her apprentice is by his side.
And so, these two—who don’t hold any official positions—end up serving as conversation partners for Her Majesty the Demon Lord simply by virtue of being her aides.

I brusquely shoo Parker away over the mountain of paperwork.

“Why are you coming here to take a break, too? You’re getting in the way of my work.”

Parker shrugs his shoulders exaggeratedly and makes a gesture as if sighing.

“Isn’t it only human that one wants to empty their head and relieve their fatigue?”
“You’re not even human, you don’t get fatigue, and besides, your skull is probably hollow anyway.”

At that moment, Parker looked up, a delighted expression on his face.

“You’re absolutely right!”

Ugh, annoying.

Back in Klauchen, that terrifying princess must be plotting something right about now. She’ll likely make her move as soon as spring arrives, but she might strike before then.
We need to maintain vigilance over the four cities near the northern border and prepare for a long-term war.
We also need to keep an eye on the movements of Rolmund and the Senate.
There was a mountain of work to be done.

I had hoped that Princess Eleora would at least stay quiet until spring, but her actions were faster than I had anticipated.

“The mining city of Klauchen, the mountain city of Drawright, the fortress city of Schwelm, the agricultural city of Arjög, and the agricultural city of Bachen. These five cities have declared their withdrawal from the Northern Alliance.”

The initial report from Aylia made it clear to me that things had begun to move.

However, the details differed slightly from what I had anticipated.

“These five cities are being defended by an armed group calling itself the ‘Miraldia Liberation Army.’ The Liberation Army’s backer is none other than Princess Eleora.”
“Not the Rolmund Army?”

At that, Aylia’s face took on a look of confusion.

“Yes. They’re maintaining the pretense that it’s an armed uprising by the people of Miraldia, with Rolmund providing support.”

It seems Princess Eleora intends to invade Miraldia using a rather shady strategy.
According to reports brought back by pilgrims of the Sonnenlicht Church, the Rolmund Army’s stated objective is ostensibly the “protection of the Miraldian people.”

*“The people of Miraldia were originally subjects of Rolmund. As their homeland, the Holy Rolmund Empire, guided by the spirit of justice and mercy, regards the people of Miraldia as its own citizens and will protect them. Eleora Kastoniev Oligania Rolmund, Ranked Sixth Outer Princess of the Holy Rolmund Empire, declares that she will overthrow the corrupt Senate and bring order and prosperity to Miraldia.”*

The proclamation from Princess Eleora, as jotted down by a literate pilgrim, was roughly as such.
It’s incredibly suspicious, and I think it’s absolutely brilliant.
That impression of trying to manipulate the masses for her own convenience is so obvious—I don’t dislike it.

The problem is that this is actually a pretty effective strategy.
Aylia sighs.

“The citizens of Bachen, Schwelm, and Arjög harbor strong resentment toward both the Senate and the Demon Lord’s Army. If a powerful leader appears there, and the governors follow her as well, there’s no way anyone would object.”
“She looks like she’d be a scary opponent to go against, that princess.”

At that, Aylia peered at my face with interest.

“Was she a dignified person?”
“I explained this before. She was the kind of woman who, if you showed even the slightest weakness, you wouldn’t know what she might do. But as a leader, she might be reliable.”

She has an air about her that suggests she’ll push through bold, decisive reforms.
Aylia gave a wry smile.

“It seems you’re quite preoccupied with her, Sir Veit.”
“She’s a tough opponent.”

I’d rather avoid our military clashing, but she’s not someone I’d particularly want to face in a diplomatic showdown either.

Aylia seems concerned as well; she looks a bit downcast.

“Perhaps I should be a little tougher myself…”
“You’re tough enough as it is.”

I’ve always thought that while Aylia is gentle in manner, she might be the strongest in the Southern Federation when it comes to decisiveness. After all, she was the first governor to withdraw from the Miraldia Alliance.

“I’m truly glad you’re on our side, Lady Aylia the Demon Ambassador.”
“Fufu, I’m flattered.”

Aylia smiled brightly and placed the documents she had brought with her on my desk.

“Well then, as the formidable Demon Ambassador, I’ll be of some service to you.”
“What do you plan to do?”

She then pointed to the documents with a gentle smile.

“Let’s stop the flow of food from Lüenheit to the Northern Alliance. I’ve already consulted with the Merchants’ Guild. I intend to propose this at the next council meeting.”
“Wait a minute.”

Of course, doing something like that would cause hardship for the people of the North, but it would also cause trouble for the people of the South who are engaged in trade and food production.

But Aylia remained unflappable.

“We need to stockpile food in preparation for war, so we’ll purchase it using funds from the Southern Federation. We can’t have too much grain or dried goods.”
“You’re right—food reserves are essential.”

Fresh produce spoils quickly, so trade typically involves items that can be stored long-term, such as grains, dried goods, and salted foods.
Such items are, of course, well-suited for wartime stockpiles. With the threat of war looming, there’s no need to sell them to the enemy.

I stare at the map.
Since the North has no coastline, it’s not as easy to achieve food self-sufficiency as it is in the South. That’s why they’re developing cities to serve as hubs for food production.
Bachen, Arjög , and Vilheim; these are the Northern Alliance’s three major agricultural cities.
With two of these now on the side of Rolmund, the Northern Alliance must rely solely on Vilheim for its food supply.
Eventually, a gradual food shortage will set in, and the governor of Vilheim, struggling with public discontent, will likely come into conflict with the Senate.

However, this approach will also cause hardship for ordinary citizens in the north who have nothing to do with the Senate.
That’s why I was hesitating a bit, but Aylia didn’t hesitate at all. I can only say she’s truly remarkable.
Aylia added,

“Of course, we won’t let the people of the north starve to death. Let’s settle this before that happens.”

I think her charm lies not only in her decisiveness but also in this kind of compassion.

I looked at Aylia once more.

“You really are a formidable woman, Lady Aylia.”
“Thank you, Sir Veit.”

She smiled, looking even happier than before.