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”First of all, ...... thank you all for coming despite the fact that I have summoned you all in such an unprecedented way.

The Marquis of Edfelt...... Marks began by addressing the round table.

In the event that you're not sure what to do, you can always ask for help.

It is usually convened in the name of the king.

However, when there is no king for some reason, there is a provision that allows a council of lords to be convened with the joint names of one-third of the lords.

However, this council of lords is the most unusual of all.

In the first place, this is not the royal capital where the Council of Lords is supposed to be held, but a room in the castle of the Marquis of Edfelt in Teirakainen.

Moreover, the only people present were Marks and a scribe who wrote down the participants' statements. Lined up on the round table where Marks calls out to the participants is a parchment with a magic circle written on it.

This is a remote communication technique used in communication stations.

The parchment is wrapped with mithril silver wire, which is supplied by the earth's veins to compensate for the enormous consumption of magic as the distance increases.

Most of the lords were reluctant to leave their castles.

Most of the lords did not want to leave their castles, nor did they want to be conspicuous in one place.

In any case, when they were in transit or at a gathering of lords, it would be a good hunting ground for the Rose of Hell.

So Marks came up with the idea of a ”meeting without a gathering” using remote communication technology. It is a technique that is sometimes used in Noa Curio, and when I heard about it, I thought, ”Noa Curio people do strange things,” but ...... it seemed to me to be the only absolutely strange move in this situation.

In the event that you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

We will start with a summary of the preliminary discussions at .......

”One moment, Marquis Edfelt.

To save time, Marks had interviewed the lords beforehand in writing and by voice transmission about the main topics of discussion.

As he was about to read out the summary, the Marquis of Arawen interrupted him.

”Marquis of Arawen. As I said earlier, time is limited. Please refrain from erratic speech. ......

”Marquis Edfelt. I'm sure you're aware of that.

In light of the current situation, it is reasonable to consider it. But sir!

Why don't you give any thought to the other options?　It's as if the choice is between coming under the protection of Noa Curio and rebuilding the nation on our own!　That's no way to lead!

There's more to it than that.

Count Vinter raised his voice further in agreement.

I'm not sure what your intentions are. Would you care to explain your intentions?

”It's an individualized ...... for your convenience.

It's a matter of national policy!　I would have given my opinion all day and all night, if that is what you wanted!

Count Vinter's voice rang out in a gong.

Count Vinter's gong sounded, and was followed by a chain of accusations.

'Isn't this story too one-sided?

”Should we have gone to such lengths to force a meeting of the Lords in the first place?

The Noa Curio army is holed up in the east, but will they protect us in the west?

”Silence!

Marks stifled his tongue and slammed his fist down on the round table.

The conference of lords was convened by the lords of the former Hilbert faction, with Marks at the center.

In addition, Marks conducted the ”hearing of opinions” to a degree that could be described as conclusive.

The anti-coup faction, and especially the lords close to the Federation, were blatantly left out. Their distrust had reached its peak from the start.

Time is precious, if you don't mind!

I want you to listen to what I have to say first. After that, we'll have time for you to speak.

Marks then read from the document in his hand.

First and foremost, we need to deal with the ”Rose Princess of Hell”. After the royal capital, three of the lords have already been attacked and killed in the capital. It was obvious that the domestic forces alone would not be able to counter this, and if it was only a countermeasure against the ”Rose Princess of Hell”, there were few who would oppose obtaining the cooperation of the Noah Curio army that had already entered the country.

The next important thing was to rebuild the government. Marks was soliciting opinions on this as well.

Not only had Hilbert been killed (although his death was not confirmed, it was assumed that he was already dead under the circumstances), but many courtiers and officials had been murdered in the fall of the capital. There was no banner, and there was no one to maintain the administrative structure.

The opinions expressed by the princes show that they were at a loss as to what to do.

Some of them have even suggested that we shift to an elective monarchy where the king of the day is chosen by the lords, or that we become a part of the Noah's Curio Kingdom and the Gilesh Hathar Federation and ask for their protection.

However, there are very few people who are willing to go that far. Most of them seemed to want to continue with the existing form of the nation. After all, ......

We need a king.

Marks said decisively.

We are trapped to the point where we can no longer manage on our own.

We're trapped to the point where we can no longer manage on our own, but we can't ask for help from other nations when each of the lords is saying something different. I'm not sure I'd call myself a representative, but I think we need to appoint a king.

”......, but who?

Marks chuckled at the question.

No one wants to be king at a time like this. It would be like running headlong into a massive avalanche.

But that doesn't matter to King Marks.