Episode 112: The Man Who Dreams of Hegemony

The battle to conquer Pastrier Fortress City. This conflict came to an end with the complete surrender of the defending forces.

Ultimately, all gates—east, west, south, and north—were flung open, allowing the allied forces of the Eastern Army and Garfilia’s troops to march triumphantly into the city.

Garfilia, the supreme commander, entered the castle himself to display the dignity of a victor.

Garfilia Borbon de Serodonia.

A man in his mid-thirties, in the prime of life. Broad-shouldered, with sharp eyes reminiscent of a fierce bull.

His golden hair, grown to his shoulders and tied back, exuded the regal air of a royal military leader.

At his side, one of his aides whispered softly.

“…Your Highness, I have a report.”

“What is it?”

“A body believed to be Prince Volfirio has been found.”

“Ho ho!”

Garfilia’s eyes flickered with a mix of surprise and delight.

“According to the soldiers’ accounts… Prince Volfirio was executed by Count Kreving, disguised as a common soldier.”

“…Is it truly Volfirio?”

“Yes, Your Highness. There is little doubt.”

“I see. Haha… Muahaha!”

A satisfied smile curled at the corners of his lips.

To Garfilia, Volfirio had always been a troublesome presence.

As a member of the royal family, he could not be executed, and even in confinement, he retained the title of ‘Second Prince.’

That meant—there was always the possibility that someone might rally to elevate him to the throne.

Of course, the likelihood of a confined second prince seizing the throne was slim.

But the power struggles within the royal court were far too complex to dismiss such a scenario outright.

Above all, Volfirio’s ambition was far greater than most.

If left alive, there was every chance he might one day bare his fangs.

(I’d been looking for a chance to deal with Volfirio somehow… but to think Count Kreving would take care of it for me!)

Just when he’d been pondering how to handle the matter, this unexpected good news had arrived.

“Summon Count Kreving. I have matters to discuss.”

 

◇

 

Inside the castle of Pastrier Fortress City, in the lord’s chambers.

Until just a few hours ago, this room had belonged to Volfirio, but now his elder brother, Garfilia, reigned supreme.

Garfilia sat leisurely in the opulent chair at the center of the room, awaiting his visitor.

“Pardon my intrusion.”

The one who appeared was a silver-haired young man, Siegfried. His demeanor was refined and graceful.

“Ah, you’ve arrived, Count Kreving!”

Garfilia greeted him warmly.

Siegfried placed a hand over his chest and offered a courteous bow.

“Congratulations on this splendid victory, Your Highness Garfilia.”

“Indeed. It was a complete triumph. And… for me, it yielded the greatest possible outcome.”

Garfilia fixed Siegfried with a meaningful gaze.

The greatest outcome—he was subtly referring to Volfirio’s death.

With a satisfied smile, Garfilia continued, as if pulling on the threads of memory.

“Still, when I first met you… I was quite taken aback.”

 

◇

 

Five days earlier.

Garfilia had been leading an army of thirty thousand toward Pastrier Fortress City.

A request for reinforcements from Volfirio had reached him as well.

Garfilia had mobilized immediately—but his goal was not to rescue his younger brother.

His plan was to swoop in after Volfirio’s defeat, crushing the enemy in a grand display.

With such ambitions in his heart, he had pressed his army forward.

That evening, as the army halted for the night and prepared to make camp—

One of his aides hurriedly approached Garfilia.

“Your Highness Garfilia, Viscount Torres and Baron Escalpa request an audience.”

“Torres…? Escalpa?”

He vaguely recalled such nobles, but they were not familiar to him.

“Yes. They are commanders who served under Prince Volfirio in the Western Legion.”

“Ho ho…!”

A spark of interest glinted in Garfilia’s eyes.

“They managed to escape when the Western Legion was annihilated and have made their way here. They say they have something to report to Your Highness.”

“Very well… I’ll see them.”

Soon after, two men appeared—a gaunt man and one wearing glasses. They must be Viscount Torres and Baron Escalpa.

Beside them stood a silver-haired youth clad in a jet-black coat.

At first, Garfilia assumed he was their attendant, but his overwhelming presence suggested he was the true leader.

The three stepped forward and respectfully knelt before Garfilia.

Then—the silver-haired youth spoke quietly.

“It is an honor to meet you. I am Siegfried von Kreving, a count of the Kirchhen Kingdom.”

“The Kirchhen Kingdom!?”

Garfilia’s aides and guards stirred with agitation.

“Why is a noble from the Kirchhen Kingdom here!?”

“Is he an enemy!?”

The startled guards leveled their spears at Siegfried.

“Hold!”

Garfilia’s sharp command halted their movements.

“…Let’s hear what this man has to say first.”

“I am grateful for your magnanimous judgment.”

Siegfried bowed gracefully, a faint smile on his lips.

“I feared my name alone would not grant me an audience, so I borrowed the names of Viscount Torres and Baron Escalpa. I beg your pardon.”

Indeed… Torres and Escalpa were merely brought along to secure this meeting with Garfilia.

Incidentally, they were the two nobles who, alongside Pebrio, had been captured but refused to sign the oath of servitude.

“So, what brings you here, Count of the Kirchhen Kingdom?”

Garfilia posed the question.

“Surely you haven’t come to surrender yourself as a prisoner?”

“Perish the thought. I’ve come to offer Your Highness Garfilia some valuable information—”

And so, he began to speak. He revealed the full extent of the illicit trade conducted by Volfirio and Bertram.

He also outlined a joint strategy they should execute moving forward.

◇

“I had my suspicions that Volfirio was involved in illicit trade.”

The scene returned to the castle in Pastrier Fortress City.

Facing Siegfried, Garfilia continued.

“But I could never secure definitive proof. Even if we apprehended low-level black-market dealers, Volfirio would simply cut them off. However—your cooperation changed everything.”

Siegfried had offered this: ‘The Kirchhen Kingdom will fully cooperate to uncover the full scope of the illicit trade.’

With both kingdoms working together, they could expose the entire network of the illicit trade.

After capturing Volfirio, they could ensure he faced justice for his crimes.

That was why Garfilia had taken action.

(Though, now that Volfirio is dead, that’s no longer necessary.)

With a wry smile in his heart, Garfilia spoke.

“At any rate—I owe you a great deal. You have my thanks.”

“Your words honor me more than I deserve. However… if this can serve as a foundation for peaceful relations between Kirchhen and Serodonia, that alone would be enough for me.”

“Hah… a man without greed. But as a representative of Serodonia, I wish to extend to you the courtesy you deserve.”

Pausing for a moment, Garfilia continued.

“Count Kreving. I invite you to the royal capital of Serodonia, San Serodia… and to the heart of our kingdom, the royal palace.”

Garfilia Borbon de Serodonia—a man driven by ambition to etch his name into history.

With Volfirio gone, the throne was within his grasp. And now… his sights were set beyond.

(I will—one day—become the hegemon who rules all the eastern nations. The Kirchhen Kingdom… will be swallowed by my Serodonia.)

Inviting Siegfried to the capital was a step toward that goal.

“It is an honor beyond my station, Your Highness. For the sake of bridging our two nations, I will gladly accept.”

Siegfried offered a gentle smile.

The true nature of that smile, however, remained a mystery.