Chapter 129: Prime Minister Richelieu Speaks in a Low Voice

"Excuse me."

Entering Prime Minister Richelieu’s room always makes me nervous.

"Lord Robby, I know it’s busy, but I’m sorry. I don’t have much time, so I rushed to bring you here. Please sit there. Shall we talk?"

The moment I sat down, Prime Minister Richelieu started talking.

"I don’t have much time, so let me get to the point. I’ve heard you already understood about the Kingdom of Mainz, so I’ll report to His Majesty right away. It seems they’ve already decided the maids who will accompany you. Regarding the guards, I’ll look into it, but it may not meet your expectations. Please forgive me if that happens."

"That’s fine. I don’t mind."

"Thank you for saying that."

Why is Prime Minister Richelieu suddenly so deferential? Do his aides think something’s wrong? Or is he showing gratitude because I accepted the difficult mission of going to the Kingdom of Mainz?

"Then I’ll immediately inform His Majesty that Prince Robin is going to the Kingdom of Mainz. You’ll depart after we receive their acceptance. It seems they’ve already decided the maids who will accompany you. Regarding the guards, I’ll look into it, but it may not meet your expectations. Please forgive me if that happens."

"That’s fine. I don’t mind."

"Thank you for saying that."

Why is Prime Minister Richelieu suddenly so deferential? Do his aides think something’s wrong? Or is he showing gratitude because I accepted the difficult mission of going to the Kingdom of Mainz?

"Then I’ll immediately inform His Majesty that Prince Robin is going to the Kingdom of Mainz. You’ll depart after we receive their acceptance."

"How many days will it take?"

"Sending a fast horse to the royal capital of the Kingdom of Mainz would take about ten days. It will take a few more days for His Majesty’s approval, and another ten days for the letter of authorization. So probably around thirty days. The Kingdom of Mainz will send us their letter of acceptance, and then Prince Robin will receive the ambassadorial appointment from His Majesty. Once you receive it, you’ll depart. Please make sure all your affairs are settled during this time. I look forward to your cooperation."

Prime Minister Richelieu looked at me as if glaring. It felt like he was saying, "Don’t change your mind until then."

My heart was in turmoil. What exactly is going on?

"Also, the history and magic classes that were suspended have been resumed. I think science won’t be useful going forward, so we’ll stop teaching it. As for swordsmanship, you won’t go to Browning’s place. You’ll be trained by the First Knight Captain, Lord Baer. Don’t worry. As for the language of the Kingdom of Mainz..."

Before Prime Minister Richelieu could ramble on, I cut him off.

"No, the language of the Kingdom of Mainz is something Lady Catherine Gilmore will teach me, so it’s fine."

"Gilmore? Ah, the wife of Viscount Gilmore. Then that should be all right. I’m sorry, but we’re short on people here, so I’m afraid this will cause you trouble."

I was surprised by how deferential he was and said,

"Um, Prime Minister Richelieu, is something wrong? You don’t have to speak to me so politely."

Prime Minister Richelieu seemed startled, let out a long sigh, stayed silent for a while, then ordered his aides to keep quiet. After that he said,

"Lord Robin, this conversation is confidential. Please keep it in your heart. Actually, our country maintains friendly relations with the Kingdom of Mainz to counter the pressure from the Holy Roman Empire, as you know."

"Yes."

"However, there is a faction that is trying to establish friendly relations with the Holy Roman Empire."

"The Holy Roman Empire? Is that what our country is doing?"

Even someone like me who only recently transferred here has heard how strongly the Holy Roman Empire is pressing, and how this country might be swallowed up.

"They say that if we become intimate with the Holy Roman Empire and sign a treaty, we won’t have to fear the current threat anymore. The premise of that treaty is to send one of the royal family as a hostage to the Holy Roman Empire."

"Is it me?"

"That’s the most likely possibility."

I thought, both the Kingdom of Mainz and the Holy Roman Empire are unknown countries to me and I don’t have any affinity for either, so I’d probably be treated the same either way. But everyone around me seems to be from the Kingdom of Mainz faction, so they’re probably just being harsh about the Holy Roman Empire faction. If the Holy Roman Empire faction exists, they’re probably just staying quiet for now.

"Is establishing friendly relations with the Holy Roman Empire a problem?"

I thought they’d deny it, but I asked anyway. Sure enough, Prime Minister Richelieu raised one eyebrow.

"Is it all right? That country has been following an expansionist policy for a long time, swallowing and absorbing neighboring countries to the east, west, south, and north. Our country is of a different race, with different religion and language. Even if we sign a treaty with such a country, we’ll immediately become a vassal state."

He was so angry he looked like he was foaming at the mouth. I thought becoming a vassal state would be the same for the Kingdom of Mainz, but since that country shares more commonalities with this country than the Holy Roman Empire does, they’ll probably push for that side.

"That’s why I wanted Prince Robin to become ambassador to the Kingdom of Mainz as soon as possible."

Prime Minister Richelieu said,

"Then is there someone else among the princes who would be sent to the Holy Roman Empire?"

I asked deliberately.

"No, I don’t think anyone would accept it. So we’ll probably have to send a princess. However, I think if we do that, the Holy Roman Empire will see through us. So I think it’s best to continue as we have been."

Prime Minister Richelieu declared it, but is that really okay? Well, I have no alternative. In either case, I already understood that I was probably going to be swallowed up by one country or the other.𝑓𝑟ℯℴ𝓂