WeTried Translations

Translator: Nemui

Editor: Nemui

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◈ Friedrich's Battlefield

Chapter 159: Peace Negotiations

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Several days after the council before the queen, the Kingdom of Arelia formally requested peace negotiations, and the Kingdom of Edelstein answered that it would agree to talks.

The next day, a meeting place was prepared at the midpoint between the two armies' camps, and representatives of both countries gathered. As decided beforehand, the escorts each side led were limited to company-sized forces.

Although Friedrich was the youngest among the regimental commanders of the Kingdom of Edelstein's army, he was the successor of the hero, Count Matthias Hosenfeld, and had become a symbolic figure who brought fear to the Kingdom of Arelia's soldiers in the previous decisive battle. For those reasons, he attended the meeting as a representative of the military along with Viscount Gustav Eichberger.

Several bureaucrats were also present as representatives of the civil officials, beginning with Foreign Minister Count Alphonse Barten and an adjutant sent by Finance Minister Marquis Helmut Dahlmeier. Representatives of the lord nobles who had shown loyalty to the royal house until now also lined the negotiation seats.

At the center of the group sat Queen Claudia Edelstein. With the dignity of the victor, she looked toward the representatives of the Kingdom of Arelia.

At the center of the Arelian side was the chancellor, the king's younger brother Emmanuel Arelia. King Childebert had died in battle, and Crown Prince Samuel was a prisoner, so Emmanuel, who had become the highest-ranking person on the battlefield in their place, held full authority on the Arelian side and sat at the negotiations.

Neither monarch nor next monarch was present. The main generals of the royal army were almost all either dead or prisoners, and the military officers beside Emmanuel were second-line figures who had been moved up into their seats. As for the representatives of the lord nobles, judging from the flags raised behind them, several houses known as great noble houses of the Kingdom of Arelia were missing.

It was truly the lineup of the defeated.

Also present as representative of the Rigald Empire was Crown Prince Edwin, accompanied by several retainers beginning with Marquis Christopher Langford. In his case, reasons of curiosity and sightseeing were included in no small measure.

"Let us begin at once. We will present our demands."

After only brief greetings, the negotiations began, and Claudia was the one who cut in first. Having achieved a historic victory and holding an overwhelmingly favorable position, her voice and expression showed a strong stance.

Prompted by Claudia, Alphonse lowered his eyes to the documents in hand and read aloud the demands of the Kingdom of Edelstein.

"First, Crown Prince Samuel Arelia, whom the Kingdom of Edelstein holds as prisoner. In exchange for returning him, we demand the handover of Arnsberg fortress."

The Kingdom of Arelia's remaining strength was small and its morale had fallen, but Arnsberg fortress, where several thousand still holed up, was nevertheless a fearsome stronghold. The Kingdom of Edelstein could not recklessly attempt to retake it by force and increase losses pointlessly, but it was also difficult to accept leaving it in enemy hands.

Therefore, using Crown Prince Samuel, the most valuable spoil of war, they would retake Arnsberg fortress without bloodshed. The Kingdom of Arelia would quickly recover the crown prince who should next be placed on the throne, and the Kingdom of Edelstein could easily recover Arnsberg fortress without spending troops, war funds, or time. It was a proposal with enormous benefit for both sides.

Perhaps the Kingdom of Arelia had anticipated this demand, because neither Emmanuel nor the retainers lined up beside him showed a large reaction. Emmanuel looked frustrated, but did not forcefully object.

Even if the Kingdom of Edelstein recovered Arnsberg fortress, it lacked the national strength to launch a serious counter-invasion from there. The fact that the Kingdom of Edelstein had not demanded territorial cession this time was also proof of that. The current Edelstein royal house did not have the spare strength to expand its territory beyond the Yudit Mountains and maintain it.

Even if the Kingdom of Arelia accepted the demand, the border would simply return to its prewar state. The disadvantage to the Arelian royal house was only letting go of one asset called a fortress.

Both countries would exchange what they most wanted to recover. As a point of compromise, it was extremely reasonable.

"Next, regarding Count Patrick Villeneuve and Count Cecilia Fargiere, whom we likewise hold as prisoners. For these two, we demand a ransom of thirty million Slone per person."

At the amount Alphonse stated, a stir rose from the Kingdom of Arelia's side.

Normally, the ransom for the head of a noble house was several million Slone, or at most around ten million. Compared to that market, the ransoms for the two counts were abnormally high. It was an amount difficult for court noble houses with no territory to pay immediately. Almost certainly, the Arelian royal house would assist the count houses with the shortfall.

Even so, the Kingdom of Edelstein side calculated that Prince Emmanuel would have no choice but to accept this demand.

The Arelian royal army had never been rich in talented generals to begin with. Now that old general Marquis Robert Montesque, who had been most trusted by the royal house, was dead, they could not fail to recover Count Fargiere, a powerful wise general despite her defeat. In addition, in order to maintain and rebuild the Armor of the King, the Royal Guard, Count Villeneuve, who knew its unit operation thoroughly, was indispensable.

Furthermore, if they abandoned these two closest military retainers, the Arelian royal house would also lose the trust and loyalty of its other retainers. In a situation where even maintaining authority was hopelessly difficult, the Arelian royal house could not possibly choose to immediately invite further crisis.

As expected, Emmanuel only showed resignation on his face and did not argue.

After that, Alphonse continued explaining the ransom amounts for the remaining nobles, the Arelian royal army and noble domain armies, and the conscripts.

Those connected to court noble houses and royal army soldiers were priced high. Those connected to lord noble houses and noble domain soldiers were priced low. Among conscripts, people of the royal domain were priced high. People of noble domains were priced low. These were the demands of the Kingdom of Edelstein.

By treating the Arelian royal house this way, they could further impress upon the enemy lord nobles the weakening of the Arelian royal house. In addition, they could create cracks in the relationship between court nobles, who were direct retainers of the Arelian royal house, and lord nobles. For the current Arelian royal house, discord among nobles would surely become a matter of concern, whatever form it took.

"Next, regarding reparations. Through your country's repeated invasions, the Kingdom of Edelstein has suffered great damage. As compensation, we demand six billion Slone. Payment will be made over three years, in Slone gold coins, gold, and silver. If your country wishes to pay with other goods, you must request this beforehand, and we will accept only if we approve. In addition, we demand payment of one hundred million Slone to the Rigald Empire as compensation for repeated provocations and insults. This will be paid in a lump sum in gold or silver."

While the Kingdom of Arelia side stirred again, Alphonse spoke calmly to the end, as expected of a skilled diplomat.

Emmanuel and the others' agitation was understandable.

The Edelstein royal house's total income, including taxes and revenue from iron mines and the like, was roughly three billion Slone per year. That became the national budget used for military affairs, diplomacy, internal administration, public works, royal household operations, and more.

The Arelian royal house's income was presumed to be appropriately greater than the Edelstein royal house's, and it surely had wealth accumulated in the kingdom's center through previous invasions. Even so, it was not hard to imagine that reparations of six billion Slone would be a tremendous burden. All the more so for the current Arelian royal house, whose authority had been greatly cut down and which would face severe hardship from now on.

"Th-that is..."

"Too high? Do you think the damage our country suffered for the ambition of the late King Childebert Arelia is not remotely worth that amount? I believe there is no doubt that my royal house, the nobles of my country, and my subjects had many precious assets and irreplaceable lives taken from them. What do you think?"

Claudia answered Emmanuel, who had opened his mouth as if despite himself. Her tone was calm, but it seemed more than enough to pressure the Kingdom of Arelia side, and Emmanuel faltered.

"Very well. It would trouble us if we cornered your house too much and it collapsed before paying reparations. How about one billion Slone per year over five years?"

Even as victor, winning too much was not good. If the opponent was cornered too far, that could return as a disadvantage. By showing compromise in the demands and demonstrating magnanimity, tension with the other side would be eased, and that concession would, in the end, ensure that the demands were carried out.

That was why the amount was reduced by one billion Slone and time was granted. After some thought, Emmanuel nodded at Claudia's concession.

Confirming that, Claudia turned her gaze toward Alphonse. Alphonse nodded and presented the conditions of the Kingdom of Edelstein again.

"Next, regarding the ceasefire. We demand that a ceasefire agreement be concluded until your country completes payment of reparations. During the ceasefire, the center of the Beiral Plains and Northern Plains will be a buffer zone, and the armies of both countries will be prohibited from entering without the other country's consent. As for the Elzass Corridor, the current situation in which both countries place watch units at both ends will be maintained. In addition, during the ceasefire, the Kingdom of Arelia must swear not to build any structures in the western Northern Plains."

At that explanation, Emmanuel and the military officers of the Kingdom of Arelia changed color.

"If only our country cannot build structures, then your country will..."

"You want us to impose limits on ourselves as well? Why should our country, the victor, do that?"

Again, Claudia quietly pressured Emmanuel and the others.

If the Kingdom of Edelstein built a permanent defensive base in the eastern Northern Plains, it would be an extremely large change to the status quo.

In the era of the ancient unified state, the Kingdom of Lutetia, there had been one noble domain spanning east and west across the Northern Plains. After the Kingdom of Lutetia collapsed, in the age of upheaval, the noble house that had ruled this area was destroyed. Its lands were divided in two with the Northern Plains as an ambiguous boundary, becoming the territory of the Kingdom of Edelstein and the Kingdom of Loire respectively. Several cities and villages on the plains perished in the fierce wars.

Since then, this land had been treated as a buffer zone when relations between the two countries were peaceful, and as disputed territory when relations worsened. Even so, the main battlefield had always been the Beiral Plains. Because both countries had limited national strength and did not want to pointlessly expand the battlefield, the Northern Plains remained a place of skirmishes as an unspoken understanding.

In the little under two hundred years before the Kingdom of Loire fell, tensions had intensified several times to the point that one side built stubborn field positions or wooden forts, but none could be maintained for long before being destroyed by the other.

If only the Kingdom of Edelstein gained a permanent fortress in such Northern Plains, it would gain an extremely large advantage in border defense. As usual, it did not have the spare national strength for invasion, but in terms of defense, it could create a perfect posture centered on a strong defensive and supply base.

It could prepare for war even faster than before, and if the Kingdom of Arelia showed suspicious movements, it could move into offensive defense at that point. When the Beiral Plains were attacked, it would also be possible to quickly carry out diversionary operations and prevent the enemy from concentrating forces. Its options in how to fight would greatly expand.

"...No, we have no objection."

Regret seeped into Emmanuel's answering voice.

Because the reparations payment period had extended to five years, and the ceasefire period had extended accordingly, the Kingdom of Edelstein had gained more time as well. It could not only work on postwar reconstruction, rearmament, and allowing its people to rest, but also spend more time carefully building the fortress.

The concession regarding reparations was a planned harmony. On the surface, it showed mercy to the Kingdom of Arelia, but in reality, it had already included the plan to concede this far and gain the fortress construction period. Claudia suspected Emmanuel had realized that as well, but she said nothing more.

Then Alphonse returned to the role of explanation.

"Finally, during the ceasefire period, we demand that Princess Maria Arelia of the Arelian royal house study in Sankt Waltrude. The Edelstein royal house guarantees that it will receive Princess Maria as an honored guest and treat her equally to its own family. Crown Prince Samuel's return will be carried out in exchange for the return of Arnsberg fortress and Princess Maria's entry into our country, and that will be regarded as the formal beginning of the ceasefire."

Though the wording was decorated as study abroad, it meant that the princess, Crown Prince Samuel's younger sister, would be handed over as a hostage.

The Kingdom of Edelstein side also intended to make further effective use of the hand of Crown Prince Samuel's person by using him to ensure they received the decisive hostage of a princess.

Emmanuel spoke quietly with a civil official beside him. Perhaps their discussion was quickly settled, because he turned back toward Claudia. Again, he showed no objection.

Looking at the history of the continent, it was not unusual for the defeated to offer a family member as hostage. As royalty and collateral for enormous reparations, the princess would not be treated roughly and would be handled with care. Emotional discomfort could not be helped, but comfort in daily life would be guaranteed. The Arelian chancellor was not someone who would fail to understand that.

"Those are the peace conditions from the Kingdom of Edelstein."

"If you have any requests from your side, say them. We will consider them as much as possible."

Alphonse finished explaining, and Claudia added that.

In response, no one from the Kingdom of Arelia spoke. The direct retainers lined up there remained silent while watching Emmanuel, and the lord nobles, having nothing to pay aside from the ransoms for their relatives, did not deliberately stir the bush.

Emmanuel too remained silent for a while, probably rapidly running thoughts through his mind, but he also did not speak to the end.

For Claudia, it was as expected. She had presented harsh demands for the Kingdom of Arelia, but only within a reasonable range. She had not made absurd demands. From the other side's perspective, they would fear poorly resisting, angering Claudia, and causing the demands to become harsher.

By moderating her demands this way and forcing Emmanuel to accept them without room to resist, she could also make everyone present feel that the Arelian royal house had submitted to the Edelstein royal house. That too was one of Claudia's aims.

"...It seems there are no requests. Then let us settle the details."

Seeing Emmanuel finally sigh as if giving up, Claudia spoke. Drawing up the details of the peace terms into articles and writing the pledge would be the work of the bureaucrats of both royal houses.

As a result, the meeting for peace negotiations became a place where the Kingdom of Arelia unilaterally accepted the demands of the Kingdom of Edelstein.

With its head, the monarch, cut off, and its heart, the heir, held in another's grasp, there was no way for the Arelian royal house to resist.

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