“Cannons and the manufacture of gunpowder? You are simply trying to rob us!”

Count Levian exclaimed in a furious voice.

Gunpowder had recently begun to be secretly imported to the Central Continent from the alchemists of the Moor Empire. It was an asymmetric power. Firearms using gunpowder were crucial for stabilization, and while no nation or mercenary group had yet successfully incorporated personal firearms into combat, cannons as siege weapons were occasionally being successfully utilized.

And the Kingdom of Gallico was receiving the highest praise for doing this best.

“So, you intend to offer the position of spouse to the Etruscan Kingdom’s first in line to the throne, not to Grand Duchess Suzanne but to the daughter of a mere duke?”

This time, Count Marquez did not back down.

“I acknowledge that the Kingdom of Gallico has developed remarkably over the past 20 years, but it is not an empire!”

Having pushed his opponent to this point, Count Marquez changed his attitude and began to gently placate Count Levian.

“Twenty years ago, when Queen Marguerite came to us, we received the region of Gaeta as a dowry and in return sent 20,000 ducats as a bridal gift, and rented 80,000 ducats as collateral. Didn’t this bring about the prosperity of the Kingdom of Gallico today? We can draw a good conclusion by inheriting the good ‘cooperation’ precedent of our predecessors.”

“Good ‘cooperation’ precedent, ha!”

Count Levian snorted.

“If the Kingdom of Gallico had not been powerless at the time, they would never have exchanged the Gaeta region and 100,000 ducats, even in death! To exchange territory and cash, and at such a low price! Is this a reasonable amount?”

As an Etruscan with a developed financial sense, he could never agree with the standpoint of the Gallico bumpkin, who thought land was more sacred than money.

“Would the Brian Dynasty be maintaining the throne now without those 100,000 ducats? Isn’t it true that the Kingdom of Gallico ended the civil war and maintained the dynasty with the timely provision of that money! The Gaeta region we received as a dowry and returned as a bridal gift was not simply cash, but the ‘lifeline of the Brian Dynasty.’ If you really think so, Count Levian, you seem to have no sense of the importance of ‘timing’!”

Both sides’ claims were tense. Unless they declared a breakdown and went home, both sides had to compromise somewhere. Count Levian offered a compromise.

“If you insist that it’s insufficient with Duchess Lariessa instead of Grand Duchess Suzanne, we suggest that Duchess Lariessa personally visit the Kingdom of Etruscan.”

This was an extremely rare case in diplomatic conventions.

Those who possessed the right to the throne rarely left their own kingdom’s borders due to threats to their person, and the royals who entered into political marriages chose their spouses based on a single portrait and public reputation.

This was an exception, whether the prospective spouse was the king of Gallico or the prince of Etruscan.

“Meet in person and see for yourself what Duchess Lariessa is really like. She is not the person you think she is.”

Count Marquez wondered, is the Kingdom of Gallico really confident in their card, Duchess Lariessa? And also suspected, isn’t it because she has no claim to the throne that they’re willing to send her out so freely?

Sensing this, Count Levian hurriedly presented a supplementary measure.

“Problems with the status of the Duchess can be healed by promoting her status. And that’s the right thing to do. His Majesty Philip IV is considering adopting Duchess Lariessa as his own daughter before sending her to Etruscan. This is the kind of adoption that also grants a royal succession right equal to that of his own children.”

When you’re refused, you have to go all the way. Count Marquez made the most obvious rebuttal.

“Then Duchess Lariessa will become a fifth cousin to Prince Alfonso! It violates the Holy See’s prohibition on incest.”

“It’s not real incest. This can be resolved with an ‘exception ordinance’ from His Holiness Pope Ludovico.”

The density of the negotiations was still intense and the atmosphere on both sides was rough. Count Marquez reached for his water and gulped it down. A lot of time had passed, and it was already late afternoon, no, early evening was approaching.

“Of course, it’s a matter I can’t decide on my line. Since all the talks that were supposed to come out today have come out, let’s report to the upper line and discuss again.”

“I agree. I understand that the next meeting will be held as per the previously set schedule.”

The representatives of the two countries, oily and sweaty, wiped their jaws with wet towels handed over by the attendants, and each left the command post. It was time to listen to the intentions of the real decision makers.

“Ah, this is not good? The sun is setting faster than I thought.”

Cesare and Ariadne were looking for a way to return, with Ariadne eventually riding the horse and Cesare leading it on foot.