Became a Medieval Fantasy Wizard-Chapter 341

TL/Editor: raei

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Ian met with the Emperor to firmly convey Maria's wishes.

Marriage to Roxlan was off the table!

"Ah... I see."

The Emperor couldn't hide his disappointment as he spoke.

"That's a good choice. Actually, I thought it was a bad idea too."

"..."

A lie that wouldn't fool a child.

The Emperor had been the very one enthusiastically recommending Maria's marriage.

This was just lip service to sound good to Ian.

"But Lord Ian."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Your choice... you understand it's a difficult path to walk, don't you?"

"Of course."

The Emperor had wanted to cut ties with Maria and end the war.

That would have been better for him in every way.

If Maria wasn't handed over to Roxlan...

The situation would become far more complicated.

"Lord Ian, you don't want to give Maria away."

The Emperor asked with a decidedly serious expression.

"But what do you think Duke Roxlan's thoughts are?"

"..."

There was no question about it.

From Duke Roxlan's perspective, Maria was an absolutely valuable card to hold.

He would want to get his hands on her by any means necessary.

"Duke Roxlan will try to take the Silverwind girl from you."

"...I've considered that."

"Consideration isn't enough. The Duke won't be particular about his methods. He'll likely consider forceful and barbaric approaches."

"..."

"And I'm sorry, but I cannot clash with Duke Roxlan."

Ian nodded.

This was something Ian could fully understand.

As Emperor of the Empire, he needed to support Duke Roxlan's actions.

If not support, then at least remain silent.

The Emperor interfering with a Duke's actions could be seen as meddling in internal affairs by other dukes.

Even though he had made a promise to Ian, he couldn't risk friction with a duke.

Therefore, protecting Maria from Duke Roxlan was—

entirely Ian's responsibility.

"That girl seems quite close to you, from what I observed."

Close?

Yes, they were certainly close.

"During our travels. I showed Maria... hope."

"Hope?"

"When I first met Maria, she was in terrible shape. She was suffering terribly, especially from being enslaved by magic."

Ian told the Emperor a brief story.

The mysterious tale told by a wizard was fascinating enough to make even the imperial Emperor's eyes widen with interest.

"...I can hardly believe it."

"Which part?"

"All of it, from beginning to end. A tale of necromancers, undead, and wizards..."

To Ian, it was just a bizarre story from his travels.

But to an ordinary person, it was an incredibly sensational tale.

The Emperor looked at Ian with fascination and said:

"I understand why Maria doesn't want to leave your side."

"She's a precious connection."

"I sincerely support you, Ian."

All the Emperor could do was block Duke Fargar's interference.

Ian needed to begin preparing to face Duke Roxlan alone.

"It's been a meaningful conversation, Your Majesty."

Ian bowed to the Emperor and left the private chamber.

***

Ian shared his thoughts with his companions.

Surprisingly, Sir Salvador showed his displeasure.

It wasn't that he didn't want to fight for Maria.

"Hmm. A struggle between the powerful. Just hearing about it exhausts me."

The honorable Sword Master had fought by the previous emperor's side in his younger days.

He must have dealt with nobles several times.

"Ian. One shouldn't get involved in power struggles."

"Did I get involved because I wanted to?"

"Just saying it out of concern. Simple concern."

What elderly concern when you're not even an old woman.

Ian almost said that, but decided against it.

Well, don't they say men produce more female hormones as they age?

Sir Salvador might already be an old lady(?) for all he knew.

"Though it's not like hunting down black wizards..."

Sir Salvador smiled wryly and said:

"Drawing one's sword for a lady is also a knightly virtue."

"Maria is still a commoner though."

"Haha! She'll become nobility once we win here, won't she!"

The term "Lady" wasn't something you could attach to just any woman.

Lady was a high-class term used specifically for noble women with titles.

This was a medieval fantasy world where rigid social hierarchy was alive and well.

How could a mere commoner be called Lady!

That's why Lady Lucy was acceptable, but Lady Kira was not.

Kira simply wasn't of high enough rank!

So when knights talked about fighting for a "Lady," it sounded incredibly romantic...

But in reality, it was essentially the same as fighting for a female ruler.

"But this matter is quite troublesome."

Sir Salvador was the first to offer his opinion.

He was a man who had witnessed both the WWE and UFC of the nobility firsthand (not that nobles were professional wrestlers).

Though conflicts might look the same on the surface, there were real conflicts and fake ones.

For example, the conflict between Duke Fargar and Duke Roxlan was clearly a real fight to anyone observing.

It was a serious situation that could end in a life-or-death struggle.

Then what about the relationship between Ian and Duke Roxlan?

In Sir Salvador's view, there was room for negotiation here.

In other words, a staged game was possible.

"Couldn't Maria simply claim her title from His Majesty the Emperor?"

Kira asked an innocent question.

Though she had dealt with nobles before, she didn't understand their ecology well.

Well... titles, how hard could they be? Couldn't you just claim them?

That's how Lucy of Talian inherited her barony!

"That's impossible."

Sir Salvador cut in sharply.

Kira immediately looked dejected.

Ian gently patted Kira's back.

"The Countess of Talian was clearly the rightful heir in everyone's eyes. It was a succession any noble would recognize."

"What about Maria?"

"Her background isn't clear. The only evidence is a signet ring. She might be acknowledged as Silverwind blood, but she can't gain anything beyond that."

In short, she had legitimacy but no power.

That's why Duke Fargar had put forward an impostor as justification for war.

Let's say Maria went to the Emperor and said, "Please make me a countess!"

Unless the Emperor was taken with Maria's beauty(...), he had absolutely no reason to make her a countess.

"But Duke Roxlan has to acknowledge Maria anyway, right?"

Kira frowned as she spoke.

"To stop Duke Fargar, he needs to recognize Maria as the real Silverwind. Then shouldn't succession of the title be possible?"

Sir Salvador chuckled and replied:

"He would acknowledge her, yes."

"Then..."

"There are many ways to deny her the title. Later, he could force her into marriage and absorb the line, or simply kill her secretly."

"..."

Kira looked at Maria with slight alarm.

Maria just sat quietly with an indifferent expression.

"Even the Emperor can't do much about what happens at the southern edge of the empire."

Sir Salvador then turned to Ian.

"Ian wants to prevent that."

"That's right."

It wasn't for nothing that the Emperor had mentioned a "difficult path."

Certainly, if Maria stepped forward, imperial normalization would happen faster. The less chaos, the better for Ian.

But Maria ending up with Duke Roxlan? Failure.

Hiding Maria completely? War breaks out - failure.

Ian losing to Duke Roxlan? Failure.

Maria being killed by assassins sent by Duke Fargar? Failure.

The Emperor had no intention of trying to meet all these crazy conditions.

That's why he wanted to sell off Maria from the beginning.

"Ian. Do you have a plan in mind?"

"I'm considering options."

"Then let me offer some advice."

A knight is a real-world problem solver.

Whether through negotiation. Or by cutting the opponent in half.

Resolving problems by any means necessary is the knight's way.

"When you meet Duke Roxlan, give up completely on the territory issue."

"You're saying we should abandon the land?"

Sir Salvador's advice was straightforward.

In essence, it was the "give what needs to be given" strategy.

"What Duke Roxlan wants is land, not some mere name."

"That's true."

The name of the land could be Silverwind or Two Hill Village or anything else.

For nobles, what mattered was who collected the taxes.

If Maria gave up all territorial claims, Duke Roxlan would have no reason to get his hands on her.

What good would it do to take just the packaging when the tin can was empty?

"But I don't think he'll easily believe us."

Sir Salvador shrugged in agreement.

It was a fair point.

Even if she gave up the land now, if she changed her story later, Duke Roxlan would want to tear her mouth apart.

Why would the Duke let Maria go on faith alone?

"Well. We need to bring in a trustworthy witness."

"A trustworthy person?"

"Someone reliable who has no interest in the land?"

Ian first thought of Heaven's Faith priests.

If a priest vouched for the promise, perhaps Duke Roxlan would believe it.

That's when it happened.

"Ian. I think you should be the witness yourself."

"...?"

Belenka, who had been listening attentively, offered her opinion.

Ian asked in confusion:

"Am I someone with no land greed who's trustworthy?"

"Aren't you?"

"The first part might be true, but not the second. Why would the Duke trust me?"

Then Belenka dropped a suggestion.

It was half-insane, half-genius.

"Why not introduce yourself as Maria's fiancé?"

"???"

"If it's her husband's word, he'll trust it enough."

Sir Salvador was flabbergasted, but also largely agreed.

"That could work... certainly if Ian were her fiancé, it would be believable."

"Wait, why?"

"First, you're already the Countess of Talian's fiancé, right? The north and south are far apart. Since you already have territory, he'll be less suspicious than if you had nothing at all."

"What kind of..."

"Plus, you already have two fiancées. He'd believe that Maria is your third fiancée. You'd just look like an ordinary womanizer."

"..."

Is it fine for me to become a womanizer, Sir???

Ian was dumbfounded, but what annoyed him was that the argument was somewhat persuasive...

It was certainly true.

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If Ian said, "I'm going to marry Maria, so I'll take her and you can have the land~," that would have its own kind of credibility.

Ian, who already had two wives, would appear to others as someone with a hobby(?) of collecting wives.

But that was just theory.

Actually going through with it seemed like pure madness.

Isn't there a saying that [If you act crazy, you're actually crazy]!

"Wait, Kira is right here listening. Isn't this going too far?"

Ian pulled Kira closer as he spoke.

Kira had been anxious about Lucy, and now bringing up even a fake engagement seemed a bit-!

But Kira responded impassively:

"I don't mind?"

"...?"

"You're trying to help Maria, right? I'm fine with it."

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