Chapter 80

Armistice Agreement
The war between the Kingdom of Titania and the Kingdoms of Ismari and Harmetz had reached a stalemate due to the difference in national strength and the exploits of the Hero Party.

Titania also could not afford to relax its defenses against the Holy Nation of Northstan to the north and the Empire of Westania to the west, whose invasions could come at any time, and thus was unable to deliver a decisive blow to Ismari and Harmetz...

For Ismari and Harmetz as well, the prolonged conflict continued to drain their war funds.

Although they had captured three Titanian territories, every encounter with the Hero Party resulted in devastating losses, preventing them from breaking through Fortress Leiner Barak, the largest fortress in the east.

As both armies continued their standoff, an airship descended from the sky onto the plain before Fortress Leiner Barak.
Yes, one of only two airships in the world… a flying ship owned by the Yotsuba General Trading Company. In other words, it was likely an envoy from the Yotsuba General Trading Company.
A man and a woman descended from the airship. The man was a middle-aged gentleman dressed as a butler.
The woman was a beautiful lady in a dress that clearly signified high status.

The two walked gracefully across the battlefield and arrived at the center where the opposing armies faced one another.
The man was Dante, vice-general director of the Yotsuba General Trading Company, head butler of the South Margrave Household, and also a captain of Shiranui.
Standing in the middle of the battlefield, Dante swiftly opened a parasol and set up a table and chairs.
Then he pulled out one of the chairs, and the woman sat down.

Alice von South…the current Margravine and Julius's birth mother. Ordinarily, she handled domestic administration in the South Territory while also serving as the head of one of the Yotsuba General Trading Company's departments.
Smiling with a youthful appearance that made her look like a young girl, she remained as beautiful as ever.
And this time, she had come as the representative of the South Territory to negotiate a ceasefire between the two sides.

An elegant and refined atmosphere, as though someone were about to enjoy afternoon tea, appeared right in the middle of an active battlefield.
One after another, maid units descended from the airship. Several maids approached both the Titanian side and the Ismari-Harmetz alliance and escorted their national representatives over...

Margravine Alice seated the representatives of each nation at the same table.
The representatives glared at one another across it...

“Everyone, I managed to get some wonderful tea leaves~ Please enjoy them before they cool~ Ufufu~”

Speaking in her leisurely, completely out-of-place manner, she tilted her teacup. Though irritated, those present took a sip of the tea she had served… the sheer deliciousness of it caused them to freeze.

“How is it~? Does it suit your tastes~? These tea leaves were made by my children, you know~ Ahh~ it's delicious~”

The representatives gradually seemed to feel their worn and weary hearts being soothed by the tea's flavor. However...

“Now then, all of you should end this war immediately. If you do so now, I shall act as witness in my capacity as Margravine South. That would surely be the happier outcome for all of you.”

With that, she produced several sheets of paper and handed them to Dante, who distributed them to each representative.

“Please have a look.”

After saying that, Alice took another sip from her teacup. The moment they read the papers...

“Th-that's impossible!”

“No way...”

“We must hurry...”

Their reactions differed, but it was obvious that something completely unexpected had occurred.
There was no way to verify the information immediately, but it had come from Alice, Margravine South.
That alone was enough.

“Now then, please give me your answer. I believe this is the proper point for all of you to withdraw.”

Everyone looked at one another and nodded...

“We understand. We request that you oversee the proceedings.”

The representatives of the other nations nodded as well, and the ceasefire negotiations began.
Even here, discussions proceeded smoothly without any major disputes.
Alice had already determined the compromises each nation could accept and had drawn clear boundaries before making her proposal.

Though she projected a relaxed atmosphere, she was a gifted administrator who had overseen the South Territory's internal affairs for many years. Even Julius's father could not stand against her. She was the Empress of the South Territory.

The terms ultimately became as follows:
The area within fifty kilometers of Fortress Leiner Barak would remain under the Kingdom of Titania.
The remaining three territories captured by Ismari and Harmetz would be divided between the two nations. And a ceasefire period of ten years would be established.

The Kingdoms of Ismari and Harmetz hurried back to their homelands to prepare for an even greater threat.
The Holy Nation of Northstan to the north...

The Kingdom of Titania would lose territory, but it would gain precious time.
Meanwhile, Ismari and Harmetz immediately began withdrawing...

No one had expected the Holy Nation of Northstan and the Empire of Westania to bypass Titania entirely.
The Holy Nation of Northstan turned its attention toward Ismari and Harmetz...
The Empire of Westania turned toward the Great Nation of Derobi...

Each sought to expand its own influence by taking advantage of the continent's turmoil.
Though it lost territory, the Kingdom of Titania gained a brief respite.
With the eastern threat gone, it was finally able to focus its strength on its remaining defenses.

And as part of brokering this ceasefire agreement for Titania, approval had been obtained to invite Titania's leading figures, including the Hero Party, to Julius's wedding.

“Everyone, Little Julius has invited you to his wedding. Of course, attendance is not mandatory, but... if you'd like to come, please board the airship. We will gladly escort you to the new capital, Solaris.”

Julius's wedding was announced with the casualness of someone inviting friends out for a meal.
Everyone present… every member of the Hero Party… felt their hearts skip a beat. So the time had finally come... they thought.