Published: July 4, 2025
In the café of the Inn of Free Winds, the two were taking a break but noticed something.
"Are there quite a few visitors, don't you think?"
"Ah, do you think so too, Ryo? Those people aren't guests, right?"
From their seats, they could see the lobby of the Inn of Free Winds.
There were indeed quite a few groups visiting.
Yes, groups.
"Those people clearly seem to be from diplomatic relations, right...?"
"That's right. They must be from Prince Lyun's entourage."
"Even if they arrived early, it seems they have no time to explore the city."
"That's what being involved in politics is like, I suppose."
Ryo expressed a common person's perspective, while Abel provided a regal interpretation.
The stark difference between their viewpoints suggested that if one were to engage in national politics with a commoner's mindset, it would inevitably lead to complications.
Especially for those around them, it would cause confusion.
"I'll keep my distance from politics."
Ryo declared firmly.
"You're the first duke, so that's impossible."
Abel decisively refused to let him off the hook.
"I originally took it on thinking it was an honorary position..."
"Come to think of it, that was the case."
It seemed Abel remembered that too.
"If the world were peaceful and uneventful, that would have been possible."
"Damn the world!"
Abel blamed the world, and Ryo went along with it.
A king and a first duke turning the world into their enemy.
Would this be the prologue to their world domination...?
Dosunaji was the fifth secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Komakyuta Feudal Kingdom.
At forty-three years old, he was a rising star among his peers, a deputy minister in his early forties for the first time in a decade.
Among the enormous Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he held the tenth rank, making him a high-ranking official and undoubtedly an executive.
This time, he came to visit the Autonomous City of Kubevasa as an advisor to Foreign Minister Jodal, who was attending the conference of the Eastern Nations.
And now, he had just greeted Prince Lyun, the sixth prince, who was the head of the negotiating delegation from the superpower Darwei, along with that foreign minister.
Foreign Minister Jodal was also forty-three years old.
Born into a prestigious family connected to the feudal lord's royal family, he was someone who would eventually rise to the top of the feudal government as a chancellor or regent.
Though Dosunaji had only been working with him for about four months, he felt that Jodal was remarkably competent compared to previous foreign ministers.
No, comparing him to past foreign ministers might be too disrespectful.
Despite his distinguished lineage, Minister Jodal did not flaunt it at all.
On the contrary, he treated the foreign bureaucrats very kindly.
Originally a vice minister of foreign affairs, he rose to the ministerial position after the previous foreign minister was ousted due to bribery allegations from the neighboring Sujay Kingdom.
Even without such an incident, Jodal would have eventually risen to the position of foreign minister... it seems it just happened a few years earlier than expected.
The ministers of the Komakyuta Feudal Kingdom were generally older.
Jodal was the only minister in his forties.
There were none in their fifties.
"Prince Lyun was quite young, yet he seemed like a challenging negotiation partner."
Minister Jodal said with a wry smile.
"Yes, he is nineteen, but... this time, he is not an enemy."
Dosunaji replied.
"Indeed, this meeting is to work together. We might find a good compromise for us in the Komakyuta Feudal Kingdom."
Just then, they arrived at the lobby.
"Minister Jodal!"
Someone called out in the lobby.
"Ah, Minister Mishta."
It was Minister Mishta of the Kubevasa Autonomous Government calling out to Foreign Minister Jodal.
Next to him was what seemed to be an aide.
"I'd like to discuss the matter we talked about."
"Ah... it’s a bit difficult here."
"Yes, we've reserved a room next door, so let's go there."
Minister Mishta said this and led Minister Jodal away.