READ NOVEL ONLINE Chapter 72
Chapter 72: The Most Fearsome King’s Doubt
“Phew…”
After concluding his meeting with Lord Giorg, King Jilvol returned to his office and plopped down into his chair.
“Your Majesty, you must be exhausted,” said Elvis, his secretary, offering words of comfort.
“Ah, even though I didn’t swing a sword, I feel utterly drained,” Jilvol replied.
“If I may say so, the negotiations with Ambassador Zafing were quite perilous. Even I, who was merely standing by, felt the strain.”
“We managed to reclaim up to four points.”
“Impressive, Your Majesty. It’s terrifying to think what might have happened if Lord Hector and Lord Yuan hadn’t defeated the Flastarl Military.”
Elvis shivered as he spoke. Indeed, had the Flastarl Military won, who knows what conditions Galvate might have imposed.
“Ah, as expected of my father and Yuan. Not only was victory difficult, but they managed to crush the enemy immediately after the war began.”
“Your Majesty’s move also played a significant role.”
“My move pales in comparison to the achievements of my father and Yuan.”
Jilvol smiled wryly. His words weren’t modest; they came from the heart. Risking one’s life on the front lines requires immense resolve. Compared to that, his own move was hardly worth boasting about.
“Your Majesty, may I ask something?”
“What is it?”
“How did Giorg-Zafing manage to make Demitul write such a letter?”
Jilvol chuckled wryly before responding.
“Demitul didn’t write it.”
“Huh?”
“Do you remember the conversation with Giorg-Zafing? He mentioned editing the letters to Lukult and Sosua, didn’t he?”
“Ah, yes. But that doesn’t answer the question.”
“Giorg-Zafing’s goal was to obtain Demitul’s letter. More precisely, he wanted to get his hands on the handwriting.”
“Handwriting…? You don’t mean…? He forged Demitul’s letter!?”
Elvis arrived at the shocking conclusion.
“Exactly. Whether Giorg himself or one of his subordinates forged it… I can’t say. But the letter presented there was definitely a forgery by Giorg-Zafing.”
“But to present a forged document at such an official meeting…”
Elvis’s voice was filled with astonishment. Presenting a forgery at an official meeting requires nerves of steel.
“It’s my fault. He saw my mistake and took the opportunity to present the forged document.”
“Your Majesty’s mistake?”
“Yes, I admitted to sending Demitul, didn’t I?”
“Ah!!”
“Given that Azein’s existence is suppressed, playing dumb would have been pointless. But he used that to shift the blame onto Zabeiru if Demitul’s letter became an issue.”
Elvis gulped at Jilvol’s wry explanation.
“Then perhaps… expelling Demitul from the meeting was…”
“That man’s setup, no doubt. He used a plea for Demitul’s life as bait to get him to write the letter, then brought him here to eliminate the evidence. And I fell right into it, expelling Demitul.”
“Indeed, Demitul kept shouting, ‘I didn’t write it!'”
“Looking back, it was rash. As they say, hindsight is 20/20.”
Jilvol spoke self-deprecatingly, but Elvis didn’t see it that way. Giorg presented the forged document after Demitul was expelled. Predicting that would have been impossible.
“Then… why didn’t Your Majesty sign a non-aggression pact with Galvate?”
“Ah, with a man like Giorg-Zafing around, a non-aggression pact wouldn’t contribute to security. If anything, it could become a shackle.”
“Indeed… Giorg-Zafing is terrifying. The audacity to present a forged document at such a diplomatic meeting… If we had signed a non-aggression pact, who knows when he might act… It’s hardly reassuring.”
“Exactly. He’s not an evil man, but he’s certainly ruthless. With such a man in their ranks, it’s best to avoid any pacts that could lead to complacency.”
“I see… I finally understand. Such exchanges between Your Majesty and Zafing… I thought I had grasped the situation earlier, but it seems I only saw the surface.”
“We’ll likely face him again in the future. He’s a troublesome opponent.”
(Hmm? This is unusual… His Majesty seems unusually cheerful.)
Jilvol’s tone carried a hint of amusement, which oddly pleased Elvis.
“But… Giorg-Zafing didn’t object when I declared I wouldn’t sign the non-aggression pact. Why is that?”
Jilvol pondered aloud.
“Huh? Your Majesty doesn’t understand?”
Elvis asked with a slightly exasperated expression. Jilvol frowned in response.
“Do you understand?”
“Of course.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Shall I explain?”
For a moment, Jilvol looked as if he wanted the answer, but then he shook his head.
“No, I’ll think about it a bit more.”
Jilvol fell into thought again. Watching him, Elvis stifled a laugh and bowed.
(Just as Your Majesty fears Giorg-Zafing, perhaps the feeling is mutual. Your Majesty’s worthy rival… Giorg-Zafing.)
Leaving the brooding Jilvol in the office, Elvis decided to prepare some tea.
(It’s good for Your Majesty to have some time to ponder outside of official duties.)
Jilvol, deep in thought, seemed oddly cheerful, and Elvis was convinced his reasoning was correct.
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