The Shadowed Legacy of the Soulless Messenger [EN]: Chapter 455

As Azadin’s army surged through the Chitai grasslands with unstoppable force, establishing their camp before the trading city of Kaspa, a diplomatic envoy from Chitai arrived.

‘We bear a letter from His Majesty Sebalhan, the rightful ruler of the Chitai throne and guardian of the Northwest Sea route,’ the envoy announced.

‘Hmm. When they initiated the invasion, they didn’t even bother with a declaration of war, let alone a diplomatic envoy. Now that they face a counterattack, they send an envoy in haste. How utterly absurd,’ Niselda remarked, scrutinizing the Chitai diplomatic party for any hidden Northern Aragasa agents.

After her inspection, she permitted them entry into Azadin’s war tent. While strict adherence to etiquette could have been enforced, Azadin and his officers preferred to avoid excessive formalities.

‘They’ve brought a letter?’ Azadin inquired.

‘Yes, Your Majesty,’ Niselda confirmed.

‘Sir Jibeck,’ Azadin called out.

Jibeck, the Inquisitor and commander of the Guardian Holy Knights, the protectors of the king’s banner on the battlefield, stepped forward to receive the letter and presented it to Azadin. Despite their aversion to formalities, it was deemed inappropriate for Azadin, the monarch, to directly accept the letter from the envoy, given Chitai’s initial rudeness.

Azadin broke the seal and unfolded the letter. Its contents read:

‘Blizzards and famines ravage the four seas, causing immense suffering to all. Yet, your valor shakes the world. Would it not be wise to recognize your limits and withdraw your soldiers to prepare for the harsh winter? As a father to my people, my heart aches deeply at their suffering.’

‘Can you believe this ridiculous individual?’ Azadin chuckled, utterly dumbfounded by Sebalhan’s letter.

They initiated the invasion, massacred civilians, and plundered, yet now that they are experiencing the consequences, they suddenly feel remorse? Moreover, he dares to call himself the father of the people?

‘So, what are the terms of negotiation? Surely, you don’t expect us to retreat simply because you ask? If you are truly the father of all people and your heart aches at their suffering, why did it not ache at the cries of the innocent farmers slaughtered by the Chitai army?’ Azadin scoffed. The envoy, flustered, replied,

‘Of course, that is not all. We have prepared Princess Sevrine, the seventh daughter of His Majesty, along with 20 of her attendants, and 100 gold coins as a dowry.’

One hundred gold coins was indeed a substantial sum for a royal dowry, at least before the Pimbulbert [a reference to a previous event or character that established a new standard of wealth].

‘I came here seeking retribution for those who invaded our land and massacred our people, not to engage in some frivolous political marriage. The notion that you can resolve the issues of the army and the people with a mere political marriage demonstrates the royal family’s continued arrogance. I must admit, I am beginning to be disappointed in this Sebalhan character. Surely, that is not the only card you have brought?’ Azadin glared at the envoy.

Typically, envoys are equipped with various negotiation measures beyond the initial letter, especially when dealing with an enemy at their city walls, as Azadin was. However, this envoy stated,

‘T, that is all.’

‘Did Sebalhan truly attempt to negotiate with just this? He cannot be that foolish.’

‘Could they be attempting to buy time?’

‘With a letter like this, how could they possibly buy time? Ah, could it be that they perceive us in such a way?’ Azadin suddenly suspected that they might view him as a much more insignificant figure than he had imagined.

His current legal wife, Midiam Etar, was from the same messenger clan as him. In other words, he had not established any ties with the existing royal families.

If they considered Azadin a mere member of a messenger clan, Sebalhan must have believed that by offering a political marriage with his own bloodline, a true royal, Azadin would come running, barefoot and grateful for the glorious approval of such a union.

‘Ha. My, my. The unwavering self-assurance of the Yaegas New Royal Family is truly astounding. I suppose they believe they are truly exceptional because their rule has continued without any major issues for the past 400 years?’ Azadin was disgusted by the deep-seated pride of the Yaegas New Royal Family.

In truth, Azadin did not hold a negative view of Chitai. Sebalhan was by no means a fool. Otherwise, he would not have been able to seize power so swiftly and securely after the previous king’s death.

However, even Sebalhan, considered a talented individual within the Yaegas clan, was still a member of the Yaegas clan.

How distorted would the perception of someone who had grown up believing they were of divine lineage and the rightful successor to the divine throne be, and how disconnected would they be from the common people?

‘What should we do? Should we kill the envoy or shave his beard to insult him?’ Niselda asked, her tone serious.

Azadin shook his head. ‘No, there’s no point in taking it out on the envoy. We should return the favor to the king himself.’ Azadin gestured to the envoy.

********

The Chitai court was in disarray.

The three kingdoms of Asander, Karasar, and Tarasar were actively preparing to attack Azadin’s kingdom, but they had yet to achieve any significant progress. Even the movement and reorganization of troops proved to be a challenge.

This was a difficult task even for a single country, as a large army had to be deployed far away. However, with three countries involved, each was wary of the others, and nothing was proceeding smoothly.

Meanwhile, Azadin’s attack had to be managed solely by Chitai.

The grasslands were ideal for light cavalry operations, but from the trading city of Kaspa, where Azadin was now stationed, there was a series of fortified cities with high walls.

The environment was becoming increasingly difficult for the Chitai army’s light cavalry to operate in.

‘King Azadin’s reply has arrived!’ the clerics announced, bringing the message.

‘Yes. Hmm, what does it say?’ Sebalhan secretly hoped that Azadin would reject his proposal.

He had proposed a political marriage with the princess due to the enemy’s invasion, which had drawn criticism from the rigid church clerics and other royals.

‘How could you offer the blood of the Yaegas New Royal Family to a lowly blasphemer?’ they had argued. In essence, they believed that offering the princess as a political marriage partner was excessive.

The nomadic people of the grasslands were dying at the hands of Azadin’s army, but the settled people of northern Chitai were indifferent to the nomads’ deaths. Their pride and faith were more important. They were not in a hurry because the threat had not yet reached their own doorstep.

However, the cleric’s expression was peculiar.

‘I, I am hesitant to speak the words,’ he stammered.

‘What?’ Sebalhan knew from the cleric’s reaction that Azadin had rejected his proposal and made a deeply insulting remark. The cleric’s fear of conveying such blasphemous words was telling.

‘Do not worry. The insult is not from you, but from that soulless blasphemer, is it not? I need to know the truth,’ Sebalhan reassured him.

Even after Sebalhan’s reassurance, the cleric still hesitated.

‘Ah, I have to coax him three more times. No, damn it. Even though I am the king, this kind of formality is truly…’ Only after Sebalhan had urged him three times, promising that he would never harm the cleric, was he able to receive Azadin’s reply.

Azadin’s reply was as follows:

‘I thank Your Excellency Sebalhan for your generous marriage proposal, but I have plans for my family, and I am not in a position to take on more concubines. Unlike me, I know that Your Excellency Sebalhan has a very broad mind when it comes to taking concubines. Therefore, if you wish to marry, I would like to send one of the children I have raised well, but I would be grateful if you would take her as one of Your Excellency Sebalhan’s concubines.’

‘What an arrogant bastard,’ Sebalhan muttered, clicking his tongue. Azadin had rejected his political marriage proposal and instead proposed a political marriage from his side. A lowly being should be grateful for the chance to marry into the royal family, yet he was making a counter-proposal.

‘Am I, the Yaegas New King, supposed to listen to you when I tell you to marry?!’ Sebalhan exclaimed.

‘Y, yes, of course,’ the cleric agreed.

However, Sebalhan was not a fool. He was angry, but when he considered the reason for his anger, he realized why Azadin was angry.

‘That’s it! How could I not see it? This man is angry. He dares to be angry because I told him to have a political marriage!? What a ridiculous individual! He doesn’t know his place, does he?’

Azadin considered himself a king, but they had unilaterally proposed a political marriage, looking down on him and assuming he would accept it as a favorable deal.

Then….

‘Who is the political marriage partner that he proposed? I don’t believe that man has a daughter.’

‘That is….’

‘What is it?’

‘It’s a goat. A plump one.’

Sebalhan was momentarily taken aback.

‘A goat? Oh, you mean the kind that nomads give as a dowry? No, this man is giving a goat as a dowry for the king’s marriage….’

‘…….’

‘No, wait a minute? Are you saying he’s sending a goat as a bride?’

‘P, please kill me,’ the cleric prostrated himself unnecessarily.

‘Ha. Hahahaha,’ Sebalhan was speechless with disbelief. He was angry, but even more bewildered.

‘This man is truly crossing the line? Well, I did make a mistake at first. It was wrong of me to try to settle things with a political marriage, but still, it was a mistake that could have happened. But….’

Giving Sebalhan a goat and telling him to take it as a concubine was an excessive insult. It also signified that he would no longer discuss state affairs with Sebalhan.

‘This man sees me as a complete fool and is trying to get rid of me entirely. This is a significant problem.’

Azadin, upon seeing Sebalhan’s political marriage proposal, had concluded that Sebalhan was a complete fool he could not negotiate with, and by insulting him, he was attempting to end all communication. This was a severe blow to Sebalhan’s pride.

‘How rude!’

‘As expected of a soulless blasphemer! How could he do such a blasphemous thing….’

‘We must tear him apart and kill him immediately!’ The Chitai ministers were agitated and excited. Sebalhan looked at them and asked,

‘He is advancing with unstoppable momentum, and you claim you have the ability to tear him apart and kill him? I would appreciate the opportunity to witness that skill.’

‘Huh?’

‘Stop talking nonsense. Come up with a solution. Instead of merely pretending to be angry and riding the wave because that man is arrogant and insulting me, try to come up with a meaningful proposal!’

‘But it’s alright. His winning streak is over now!’

‘Of course! That heretical rebel’s winning streak was due to his acquisition of the Guardian Holy Knights, the Celestial Fire….’

‘But now they have to engage in siege warfare. As they have been advancing with unstoppable momentum, they are primarily cavalry and lack siege weapons!’

‘From now on, the enemies will be stuck at our walls. We simply need to defend them with our walls and await reinforcements from the Northern Empire.’

‘Also, we can reorganize the nomadic units….’

But then, a follow-up messenger arrived.

‘B, big trouble! Kaspa! Kaspa has fallen!’

‘……?’

The Chitai officials were all speechless.