I Returned As the Governor of the Country That Abandoned Me

43 – Negotiation

‘It’s just unknown faces.’

A party hall entered with the princess. Diplomats from various countries were seated in the party hall.

Except for Reinhardt, all of them are seeing their faces for the first time.

Their faces were stained with bewilderment when they saw me and Princess Elise. No matter how much she came here as a diplomat, her fundamental status is royalty. No one can get close to her without permission.

But that is because they are officials of the kingdom. Imperial bureaucrats are different. It’s because the princess herself came looking for me.

“That person is a diplomat from the Commonwealth Kingdom, Leos Kingdom…”

She walked with me and introduced people. However, it was not an introduction to all the diplomats gathered here. Only a few characters. Perhaps it is only introducing people who are helpful or likely to be useful to you.

“Flos von Impelo of Hylan. Greetings, Your Excellency the Governor-General.”

It was then that a girl came up to me and greeted her while I was walking around with her.

I accepted her greeting with a nod. Was this guy invited here too? In the meantime, it seems that he has solidified his position in the kingdom to some extent.

“Your Excellency, this is…”

“Plos von Impello. I am an official of the kingdom.”

I introduced Flos to the princess.

“Oh! I am the official of the kingdom, Flos von Impello! Meet the princess of the kingdom of Lohen!”

When I introduced her to her, Floss greeted her with a quick bow of her head.

‘That’s funny.’

I thought as I watched her flustered and greeted her princess.

Plos von Impello. From the time I met her for the first time until now, I’ve never for a moment thought that her guy’s head is bad. No, on the contrary, it feels good.

That’s why I thought. He must have recognized the princess next to me. I’m sure you noticed. The reason she dared to come to me at this timing must be to get acquainted with her princess.

“I didn’t expect to meet you in a place like this.”

“I’m sorry. I was too busy, so I couldn’t visit you as the governor general.”

“There is no need to apologize. I had no intention of calling.”

The guy who casually brings up the Governor General and mentions that he is close with me. Last time I checked the Queen’s reaction and matched the guy’s rhythm, but now I didn’t need to match this guy’s rhythm.

“… “

The guy who heard my answer made a downcast expression. It looked like a puppy looking at its owner anxiously, so I decided to throw food.

“So, why are you so busy?”

“Ah, that was because of the opening of Yohana Village!”

When I threw the food, it was really nice to see him smiling brightly and receiving and eating it. Is this why everyone raises a dog at home?

After hearing her answer, I turned her head and looked behind her.

It was at that time that a question mark was written on Ariel’s face, perhaps because she heard the word Johanna.

“Did the job go well?”

Originally, I wouldn’t have asked this far. But the sight of Ariel staring at her floss forced me to feed her some more.

“Thanks to you, Your Excellency. Many officials of the kingdom joined my opinion.”

“I have achieved the purpose of approaching me.”

At his words, I smiled and said. The reason she approached me in the first place. It was to strengthen her own political position.

Currently, the kingdom is divided into two factions. A pro-Queen faction centered around Alfred, the Prime Minister of the Interior.

Pro-Imperial faction centered on Foreign Minister Dire von Zestiny.

Aiming at reform, the pro-queen faction, which is dominated by the kingdom’s young officials, is powerless except for Alfred, the Prime Minister of the Interior.

However, the pro-Governor faction is the opposite. In this political arena, bureaucrats who have been rolling for decades are at the center, and they think maintaining their authority is more important than reforming the kingdom.

‘I don’t think this guy is.’

The reason pro-empire nobles sided with the empire is simple. In this country where the Governor-General’s influence is strong, he will take the Governor-General’s side in order to maintain his power.

The reason why the main stream of pro-queen factions are young bureaucrats is simple. In this country where the old people hold most of the power, the young people have come together to take power away from them in the name of reform.

That’s why a girl named Flos is strange. Even though she has no power, she says she will side with the Empire, and her ideas are more radical than those who talk about reform.

“I am always on your side.”

Is it because my words sounded sarcastic? Said Floss, lowering her head. If she had her tail on this girl, she would drop to the floor.

“Ah, sir. I have something to tell you…”

However, the downside was short-lived. She raised her head again and spoke to me. Looking at the surroundings, it seems that no one else should listen.

“It’s okay, so you can tell me.”

The only people around me are Serena, Ariel, and Princess Elise. If it was a problem within Hiran, Serena and Ariel would have to know about it, and Princess Elise would not be able to do anything even if she heard about it.

“Okay. Then..”

He paused for a moment, then spoke to me.

“Your Highness the Queen, she sets out to present a petition to the Empire.”

“A petition?”

“Yes. It is part about the abolition of the chivalry system.”

Ah, it was. Abolition of the chivalry system. As the chivalry system was abolished in the country of chivalry, voices of dissatisfaction began to emerge from within Hiran.

‘Is it slowly reaching its limit?’

The queen probably knows that the current situation of the empire is not very good. That’s why she won’t sincerely send a petition to the empire.

Nevertheless, the reason why the queen came out like this is to bring me to the negotiating table.

Abolition of the knight system cannot be maintained forever. So, this is a negotiation. Regarding the abolition of the chivalry system, they asked how much they could concede to each other.

“I have to go to the palace tomorrow.”

Of course, it is impossible right now. The party to welcome the diplomats from the Commonwealth isn’t over. However, there is no way to continue wasting time. That’s why I decided to meet the queen tomorrow.

“The governor of the Kingdom of High Iran, Aran von Robertein. Greetings, Her Highness, the Queen of Hailan.”

“Welcome, Governor.”

Resilience of the Kingdom. In this place surrounded by numerous kingdom officials, only me and the queen stare at each other.

“I’ll start with the main point. The position of the Governor-General is still the abolition of chivalry.”

Since you threw a challenge at me, I will clearly convey this side’s position. She heard my position, she said.

“The position of the Hailan royal family is that the Governor General revoke the order to abolish chivalry.”

The basis of negotiations is to call for the highest amount each other can ask for as soon as it starts.

For the Governor-General, the highest amount is the maintenance of the status quo, the abolition of chivalry, and for the Hailan royal family, the highest amount is the withdrawal of the order to abolish chivalry.

From now on, it’s a tightrope walk. One side yields, the other side approaches. However, the process will never be easy.

“The governor said. That the knights of the empire would protect the kingdom. However, where are the imperial knights currently stationed in the kingdom? Only the Governor and the Commander-in-Chief, right?”

“Your Highness, it seems you don’t know much about the Ten Swords of the Empire. I am the Ten Swords of the Empire, and even if other kingdoms bring hundreds of knights, they cannot defeat me.”

And another of the basics of negotiation is bluffing. Hundreds of articles? That is a number that no country can afford.

“I wouldn’t know if it was an imperial sword, but ten swords alone are not enough.”

It was then. Alfred, who was sitting directly below the Queen, opened his mouth. Gradually, other people began to join our negotiating table.

Now, over there is Alfred. Who will come out with this?

“Your Excellency’s skills! You have already crossed the sword!!”

The foreign minister of the kingdom who confronts Alfred.

“Your Excellency, you stand at the apex of all knights!”

“… “

“… “

“Why, did I say something wrong?”

At his words, both sides were silent. If you’re going to say something like that, I’d rather not step out to help…

“Hairan is a country of chivalry. We are the descendants of our ancestors with the spirit of chivalry…”

“The current chivalry is obsolete! Now, reforming the kingdom’s knight system… “

The continuing battle of words between Quies and Flos. It’s much better than the foreign minister’s bullsh*t.

However, no progress has been made in the negotiations. Each other’s position is so stubborn that it is impossible to find a point of agreement.

How much time had passed like that? It was then that a kingdom official cautiously approached the queen.

He said something in the Queen’s ear in a small voice. Unfortunately, I never heard that voice.

The queen’s complexion turned pale after hearing all the officials said. And before long, I, too, couldn’t help but see her face pale.

“Your Excellency..!”

Serena, who opened the door to the inner castle and confirmed me, hurriedly ran to me.

“What is it? Without even saying hello to His Highness.”

I looked at her queen and bruised Serena, but the queen didn’t care about this, it seemed that she was troubled by something.

“..Tell me.”

The Queen doesn’t seem to be in the mood to accept her greetings, I told Serena. Serena came close to me, and cautiously put her in my ear and opened her mouth.

“His Highness, the Crown Prince, says it will be difficult to get over tonight.”