TSMMT Ch 138

Absolute Support

The food supplies stored away during winter needed to be sufficient to sustain the kingdom until the barley harvest. Given Lodbrog's barren environment, agriculture had never properly flourished, resulting in a chronic shortage of stored grain for years.

Compared to Panborough, the harvested yields were severely deficient. Even now, several nobles subsisted on rye black bread rather than white bread. Merely a few years prior, people starved to death around this season. Only after Guiscard's ascension had starvation been staved off.

Regardless, the winter reserves and the harvested rye had vanished due to the rat infestation. Worse still, the barley fields—nearing harvest—had been decimated by mysterious swarms of insects. The nation faced a dire food crisis.

Even the grain stores of several nobles had been thoroughly plundered, guaranteeing widespread famine. Though some reserves remained for now, the outcome once those were depleted was glaringly obvious.

Even if the nobles opened their granaries, feeding every territory subject was impossible. A month was the absolute maximum, under the assumption of minimal rationing.

This was a national disaster requiring a leader with absolute authority. Someone like Guiscard.

Yet the Queen claimed she would handle it. A Queen in name only who had never even participated in state affairs. She clearly failed to grasp the severity of the situation.

[D. Islag] "Surely Your Majesty doesn't believe simply planting other crops will suffice?"

He curled the corners of his lips.

Observing his blatant contempt, Dianna spoke calmly.

[Dianna] "Even if we planted crops now, the harvest would be two months away. Do you believe I am ignorant of that? You seem to have forgotten, but I, too, was once a noble possessing vast lands."

She pointed out the fact coldly. Having been looked down upon as a noble from a conquered nation, she had once accepted such treatment as natural, letting their ridicule slide past.

But not anymore.

She stood here of her own free will, stepping forward to assume responsibility. Having chosen this path, she had no intention of accepting their attacks submissively.

Such was the weight of a path chosen by one's own volition. She had acquired a quiet dignity that had eluded her when forced into the role of Queen by others.

She knew why these men questioned Guiscard's condition: they coveted his seat. With the King severely incapacitated, someone had to assume the regency. Once a regent took power, they would fill the court with their own factions, ensuring Guiscard's death.

These men were a pack of wolves seeking to exploit the crisis and claim Guiscard's throne. She couldn't afford to show a single opening.

[D. Islag] "Then what does Your Majesty intend to do?"

[Dianna] "I shall request aid from Panborough."

As expected.

Several nobles exchanged glances. Ultimately, their only recourse was to bring food from the Panborough populace.

However, stored grain was finite; no matter how abundant, it couldn't feed both Panborough and Lodbrog. In the end, Panborough's people would be stripped of their food by their conquerors in Lodbrog. An act of outright exploitation.

Dianna possessed no magical alternative, and this decision aligned with what most nobles considered a rational conclusion. Some even thought it advantageous for her, a Panborough native, to step forward and secure the grain amicably.

[D. Levian] "So you intend to raid your motherland's granaries?"

He spoke mockingly. He suffered the least damage from this crisis, possessing lands acquired through his contributions in the Panborough war.

Dianna offered a brilliant smile.

[Dianna] "No. The Kingdom of Lodbrog will purchase food from the Kingdom of Panborough. That will buy us time until the next harvest."

[D. Levian] "What ridiculous nonsense!"

The nobles wore incredulous expressions.

Purchase grain?

Purchasing had its limits. Just as they wondered what scheme she was concocting, she spoke with a calm smile.

[Dianna] "I shall receive aid from the Pope of the Holy See."

The nobles concluded that the Queen had lost her mind.

Serving Kronosotia, the God of Time, the Holy See exerted immense influence over neighboring nations, functioning as a spiritual anchor.

They mediated escalating conflicts, allied with various kingdoms to defeat evil monsters from scripture, and poured out crops from blessed sanctuaries to relieve starving believers during times of crisis.

Panborough was among the neighboring nations worshipping the same deity. However, Lodbrog was entirely different.

[Noble] "W-What absurd nonsense is this?!"

[Noble] "Preposterous!"

The fundamental difference between Kronosotia's faith and the Kingdom of Lodbrog lay in their perception of dragons. The Kingdom of Lodbrog was established after the Founding King, Arunkel, slew a dragon. Yet according to the Holy See's doctrine, dragons were divine messengers.

A nation founded upon the slaughter of a divine messenger—the two entities were fundamentally incompatible. Consequently, when Lodbrog grew civilized through exchange with Panborough and established its kingdom, the Holy See's allied nations refused diplomatic ties with Lodbrog, delaying its development.

Naturally, following the conquest of Panborough, the Holy See harbored deep hostility toward Lodbrog.

Would such a Holy See assist the Kingdom of Lodbrog? Absolutely not. The Holy See was a nation built by religious devotees. They would never assist a nation that directly denied their reason for existence. The Queen was uttering pure absurdity.

[D. Eirick] "What meaningless talk are you spouting?! Those people won't even spare a glance at Lodbrog's populace. Even offering immense tribute barely warrants their attention!"

Duke Eirick, who had been quietly observing the situation, spoke up.

As Dianna recalled, his ducal house had suffered the heaviest damage.

[Dianna] "Strictly speaking, I was not born in Lodbrog."

[D. Eirick] "..."

Her words silenced the room. The nobles seemed to recall anew that Dianna was native to Panborough. Having excluded her as a foreigner whenever convenient, their current astonishment felt almost laughable.

[Dianna] "His Holiness the Pope will certainly grant me an audience."

[D. Levian] "What in the..."

[Dianna] "Naturally. Because I am the Queen of the Lodbrog Kingdom."

She curled the corners of her lips.

[Dianna] "I shall go personally."

---

Following the council's conclusion, the nobles shook their heads in disbelief, unsure of how far they could trust Dianna Brienne.

[Noble] "Preposterous. The Holy See, of all places..."

[Noble] "The Queen has lost her mind."

They spoke callously of the Queen in the hallway. How could anyone procure grain directly from such a place?

Duke Levian's eyes glinted with ambition. Though he were gauging one another, now was the ideal moment to usurp Guiscard's throne. He had already perceived that Guiscard intended to suppress and discard him. All because of that single woman.

If someone proposed establishing a regency at the Round Table Council, no one could refuse.

[D. Levian] "What if we establish a regency now?"

At his covert suggestion, several nobles gasped softly.

[D. Levian] "Why not make our move while the Queen departs for the Holy See?"

Ultimately, the Queen would leave the capital. After all, she was merely a powerless foreign queen. Eliminating her on her return journey would be simple.

Despicable intent bled through his hushed tone. Just then, Duke Kragel spoke up.

[D. Kragel] "To openly utter treason in the hallway, what filthy noise. Must I wash my ears?"

[D. Levian] "Duke Kragel! Treason?! How dare you! This is entirely for the sake of the kingdom..."

[D. Kragel] "For the realm? You intend to sit in the regent's chair yourself."

Duke Kragel stated bluntly. Observing the exchange, Duke Eirick added his voice.

[D. Eirick] "You may have remaining grain to spare, but my domain is currently suffering unbearable agony."

Even Duke Eirick, a duke who had been hostile toward Guiscard, grimaced.

Duke Levian looked toward Duke Islag, expecting his agreement, yet Islag remained silent, lost in his own thoughts. The other nobles harbored varying intentions as well. While some placed faith in the Queen, many remained doubtful.

Duke Levian released a sigh. If he rallied these men to shape public opinion…

Just as he scrutinized several individuals…

Gasping cries echoed down the corridor. Duke Levian looked forward with a startled expression. Standing in the hallway were fully armed knights, holding drawn swords on both sides of the corridor, staring down the passing nobles.

The knights said nothing. They stood motionless like suits of armor, yet their gazes pierced through the nobles like sharp blades. The wolves that devour the moon. Should anyone display suspicious movements, they would tear them apart like ferocious beasts.

They stood in the corridor for a single reason: The protection of the King, absolute support for the Queen, and a silent warning.

Duke Levian retracted his neck like a turtle.

Surely they didn't hear what I said?

Observing his nervous reaction, Duke Kragel scoffed.

Fearing their treasonous thoughts might be discovered, the nobles lowered their heads and hastily navigated between the terrifyingly armed knights.

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