Julia was surprised that Tess had actually brought the letter directly to the naval office so quickly.
Tess slammed the letter onto her desk and questioned her directly: “Julia, what on earth are you up to? Are you really going to war with the Kingdom?”
Julia suppressed her annoyance as much as possible, keeping her tone steady.
“Tess. Don’t you know? The Kingdom’s army has already set up camp at the foot of Kufstein Fortress. Serfs and porters are transporting cannons, ammunition, and other logistical supplies from all over the Kingdom to their main camp bit by bit.”
“At the same time, they are demanding local lords provide grain on-site. We can no longer sit idly by.”
Tess didn’t seem to be listening to what Julia was saying and continued her questioning: “Can’t the Grand Duchy of Tyro and your Karl Mercenary Group fight anymore?”
“The giant cannons and mortars of Kufstein Fortress are almost invincible against the Kingdom’s upward-firing artillery, aren’t they?”
Julia continued to explain patiently: “That is true. But the Republic’s dignity cannot allow the Kingdom to trample over it. They have food embargoes and are making military threats. If we cower behind the Grand Duchy of Tyro, wouldn’t that be a sign of weakness? Our Republic has always championed the weak against the strong.”
Tess let out a snicker.
“Then you should take the initiative to help the Duchy against the stationed steppe cavalry, shouldn’t you?”
Julia answered immediately, “That won’t work. They’re too strong.”
A strange silence immediately filled the office.
Julia mulled it over for a while, her mouth opening several times as if to speak, only to close it again.
Tess was the first to speak instead: “Julia. I know the Republic has no other choice, but I want to know where the basis for your request for Elven help comes from. Her Majesty made a similar promise, but it was limited to signing a ‘Military Mutual Assistance Agreement’ at an appropriate time in the future, not now.”
Julia replied immediately; she had memorized it all through several days of wargaming with Emilia Sforza.
“First, based on the ‘River Navigation Convention’ signed with the coastal countries after the Kingdom of Elves was defeated and sought peace more than 2,200 years ago, all countries have the right to complete freedom of navigation within the Great River. Even when sailing along the coast of the Kingdom of Elves, it is legal as long as the requirements for the right of innocent passage—continuous and rapid transit—are followed.”
“The Republic joined this treaty later and signed supplementary agreements with various countries, including the Kingdom of Elves.”
“Furthermore, according to the ‘Hobrick-Elindria Treaty of Commerce and Friendship’ reached after the passing of this year’s budget proposal, the Republic enjoys the right to berth and resupply along the coast of the Kingdom of Elves, provided that berthing fees and material payments are made at market prices.”
“The Kingdom of Elves has a reasonable obligation to protect the Republic’s ships, including the prohibition of disclosing the purpose and destination of the Republic’s vessels.”
“Finally, regarding the issue of the Elves sending troops to respond, the Republic has sent a letter and received the consent of your mother—Her Excellency the Regent.”
Tess never expected that her mother would agree to this request behind her and Liv’s backs.
‘On what basis?’
‘Why is Mother overstepping her bounds?’
‘Where does that leave Liv?’
‘Liv is the current Queen. Can a decision of this importance be made on her behalf simply by discussing it with the Council of Elders???’
If it were the Tess who had just arrived here, she would have wanted her mother to make all the decisions for Liv.
As long as Liv was safe and well-behaved and happy every day, that would be enough.
It would be best if she knew nothing and asked about nothing.
But things were different now.
Liv was painstakingly fulfilling her duties as Queen to the Elves.
She was really trying her best.
Tess barely managed to stabilize her emotions and asked in a low voice: “What does this mean, Julia? Have you forgotten Liv’s identity?”
Julia shook her head.
She had never forgotten who Liv was.
But…
“Tess, do you think it is appropriate to let Liv know about this, or even to have her make the decision to agree or refuse?”
“What do you think she would think or say after finding out? No matter what she thought or said, could you accept the consequences of it all?”
“If she collapses because she feels she has fallen into injustice, would you be sad? If she puts on a mature front and agrees to this plan, would you be sad?”
“To put it bluntly, this expeditionary force of 1,000 is going to massacre the Kingdom’s nomadic people. The more killed, the better!”
Tess caught a loophole in the logic: “Then what if she firmly opposes it?”
“Then it would be your and your father’s turn to be sad, wouldn’t it?”
Julia didn’t speak, but her lonely expression betrayed everything.
Yes, if Liv firmly opposed it and then distanced herself, it would probably be her turn to be sad.
“So, Tess? Can you provide a solution? Or do you represent your mother and support the Kingdom’s threat to Kufstein Fortress?”
Tess’s fists thudded loudly against the table as she leaned down to stare intently at the seated Julia.
After watching for a long time and finding that Julia did not show any sign of weakness, she stood up straight again and spoke softly, as if exhausted.
“What are you blindly guessing? My mother has already agreed to send an army to respond to you. I only ask for one thing. Of course, you must be thinking the same thing. That is, don’t let Liv know. This includes your father, the Governor, and the Council of Ten—no one is to reveal a single word to Liv.”
“Regarding this matter, I represent Liv with full authority to make decisions. It would be best if you and the other high-ranking officials of the Republic trust me. If not, I will have my mother issue a power of attorney for me to handle this matter with full authority.”
Julia’s voice softened a lot:
“No problem. I trust you. We just need to keep it from Liv.”
“Oh, by the way, the Elven merchant ship is docked at Kioran Port today. It is estimated to arrive in Landingst in 2 days. You can let Liv go observe it.”
“The Governor agreed to the model of the Republic issuing bonds to the Elves to offset the difference between the market price and the selling price.”
“This matter is thanks to Liv’s efforts. Take her there to have some fun.”
“Oh, and her friend Elena can go as well.”
Tess chuckled.
“You seem to care a lot about Elena. What, are you jealous?”
Julia retorted, though her expression softened: “Heh. I wonder who was so jealous that they put a bracelet on Liv’s wrist that can confirm her location?”
“Liv suggested to me that we could move closer to Antonroni and his followers through personal friendship. I didn’t think it was important before. But since the last incident where the mob stormed the consulate, I’ve found that they aren’t people to be avoided. On the contrary, they are very much worth befriending.”
“Elena has already been transferred to a position as a director in the First Division of the Civil Affairs Bureau. That was Liv’s old position. If we train her well, she will gradually take control of the Civil Affairs Bureau. In this way, through food distribution, the civilian guilds in the city that are worth winning over can also be used by us. This is a good thing.”
“And I did not tell my father about these things, just as Liv requested.”
After saying this, Julia’s expression was complex, as if she remembered the question Emilia had once asked her.
‘Could it be that the Marino Governor’s Mansion, which my father painstakingly built, is truly so fragile?’