The Strongest Dull Prince’s Secret Battle for the Throne

Chapter 328: Charlotte

The funeral proceeded in peace.

It wasnt flashy and all the attending citizens were crying.

At night.

Because I helped them today, I was able to get a room inside the lords mansion.

Originally, I intended to talk with Marquis Zweig about the future but now my schedule is all messed up.

I intended to use Marquis Zweigs influence to persuade the Northern Nobles but now I need to persuade them one by one.

But to persuade them, I need personal connections. After all, I am currently a young leader of a mercenary corp who doesnt have any influence.

If I have to reveal my identity each time I visit one of them then it is likely that my existence will be leaked and I would be taken lightly by the nobles here.

I want to choose the right timing to reveal myself.

Every Northern Noble should be indebted to Marquis Zweig so they wouldnt refuse his request but Marquis Zweig who has enough influence to persuade them is already gone.

I wanted to use his connections to gather the nobles for a meeting but I cant use that plan anymore.

This is troubling.

What is?

When I talked to myself inside my room, I somehow got a reply.

I immediately turned to look at the balcony of my room and found Charlotte there.

Even though she looked so pale during the day, it seems she is quite energetic.

thats dangerous you know?

Its fine. I am in good shape today after all.

Said Charlotte with a light grin.

I cant believe that at all.

Its not about your health. What would happen if you fall?

Hmm..it will hurt.

If you already know that then get down.

But the wind feels so good tonight. Why dont you join me instead, Schwartz?

She said that and laughed.

She is a child with vibrant expressions.

I cant think of her as someone who just lost her grandfather at all.

I am in mourning though?

Me too. Im just in the mood to talk to someone. So, talk to me.

Haa

It seems that going somewhere else is not an option for her huh.

When I gave up and went out to the balcony, Charlotte was looking up at the sky with her legs dangling out the railings.

The starry sky is beautiful.

How did you come to be indebted to my grandfather?

he helped me when I was a child. Not only that, he was the one who showed me the path.

That sure sounds like Ojii-sama. He was a good person after all.

..its regretful that hes gone. I wish I could have come sooner.

Since he couldnt get up from his bed for some time now, you dont have to beat yourself up because of it. The doctors told me that they couldnt do anything either. He had been hard at work for a long time now too, it cant be helped.

Charlotte muttered so and sighed.

The cause of his hardship was probably the conflict between the northern nobles and the imperial family. He had been the one who maintained that dangerous balance alone for all this time. Theres no way that he can be in good health if he has to keep up with that.

can I ask you one thing?

Please. Ask me anything.

Why did you forgive the rebelled knights? Are they the only knights in your territory?

you know about the war in the North right? Because of that, security has been deteriorating around here. The knights were posted all over the territory to deal with that. Thats why I forgave them. And it was my fault too.

Yours?

To think that she would say that it was her fault.

Because I never thought she would say that, I asked her back in surprise.

Without minding my tone, Charlotte nods.

Yes. it was my fault. Even like this, I am still a super strong mage after all.

..

Ahh-, you are doubting me huh. Its true, okay.

I dont doubt that. I know that you have a great amount of magic power and I also saw the lightning strike before entering the city too.

Yes, yes. That was my magic. But Im sickIf I was in good condition, something like that would never have happened.

That is not necessarily wrong.

If she can easily use such a high-level spell then it wouldnt be difficult to control the situation.

So they were relying on Charlottes power to keep order while dispatching the knights out to maintain public security huh. Thats why shes thinking that it was her fault.

Well, I understand her.

But.

I cant say that I am impressed with a city that counts a sick person as their fighting force though.

My illness is special you see. I am in good condition most of the time. But sometimes I will suddenly have a seizure. I dont know when it will happen and sometimes I can quickly recover but there are times that it lasts for a long time too. I never thought that I would have a seizure right after I shot my magic.

Its a good thing we came.

Right. Thank you.

She is probably truly grateful.

I can feel that special feeling from her words.

The attack earlier today didnt cause any civilian casualties. There were only a few who got injured. The damage to the houses is also kept to the minimum.

Considering that bandits managed to breach the city, it was probably a miraculous result.

That must be why she is grateful to us.

However, she should not direct such gratitude toward me.

Why is it that the North turned so dangerous in the first place?

It was because Gordon set up his base here and Leo came to deal with him.

The security here is deteriorating because the two armies are glaring at each other. The military deserters and the opportunist bandits who want to rob supply convoys have become rampant.

Everything is the Imperial Familys fault.

Charlotte who surely thought so is coldly staring at the city.

..if there was damage to the city, I wonder what would happen?

Well, maybe another lord will move?

Right, Ojii-sama had a lot of connections after all..but you see, I hate the northern nobles. They had always pushed everything to Ojii-sama. Even if they start helping us now, I wouldnt be grateful toward them.

..then you must hate the Imperial Family even more right?

Yes. They might be the people I hate the most in the entire world. They used my grandfather as a scapegoat for their selfish hatred and waging war in the north. Because of that Ojii-sama was

I understand Charlottes feelings.

Those feelings should be obvious if you are related to Marquis Zweig.

The northern nobles are one thing but the Imperial Family never rewarded Marquis Zweig.

He was the only one who made an effort to suppress the conflict from happening in the north. Yet, because of the succession war, an actual war broke out right at his doorstep.

I hate the Emperor. I hate the princes and princesses. But the one I can not forgive the most is Gordon.

He is the prince that should be the closest to the north after all huh.

Thats right! Even so, Gordon never did anything for us! He only thought about how to gain the Emperors favor and when his rebellion failed, he fled to the north and brought war straight toward us! I will absolutely never forgive him! Even though Ojii-sama had always been.protecting this place.

I share your sentiment. That was the reason why I wanted to meet the Marquis. I also think that we cant leave that prince alone. I thought that I could help him.

..Ojii-sama had been moving quietly. He was writing to all the northern noble houses. It was an invitation to discuss the problem of the north.

As expected of the Marquis huh.

He didnt outright say that they should join hands with Leo.

After all, that would strike the nerves of the northern nobles.

As a result, he probably judged that he needed to guide them to arrive at the answer themselves.

What becomes of the letters now?

I kept it.

Then, will you finish his work? If you are going to do that then I am willing to cooperate with you.

It could be said that those letters are Marquis Zweigs last will.

If we have that, many of the northern nobles will move.

Not to mention that it will have a tremendous effect if his granddaughter is the one who leads the movement.

However.

Its impossible. After all, Ojii-sama didnt write the letter to the only person that only Ojii-sama can persuade.

..Duke Lowenstein huh.

Yes. if that person doesnt move then the northern nobles wont move. Since hes a stubborn person, it would be useless to try to convince him. The only one who could do that was only Ojii-sama. But he is no longer here.

Is it impossible for you?

It is because it is me that it is impossible. He is not someone that would be convinced to move by his own grandchild. Besides, I hate my grandfather on that side too.

..what?

Just now, what did Charlotte just say?

His own grandchild?

What does she mean?

Ah, I never introduced myself properly huh. My name is Charlotte von Lowenstein. My father was a son of Duke Lowenstein and my mother was the daughter of Marquis Zweig.

So in other words.

She is also Gordons cousin.