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It’s useless. I have no clue what he’s thinking.

Both Agata and Wein had far more education and experience as statesmen than Kamil. He couldn’t hope to understand the inner workings of their minds.

There’s no point overthinking it. Just press forward!

Kamil spoke with resolve. “As I’ve said before, Ulbeth exploited Altie. Remaining in this system will do us no good!”

“That was true up until now, right? With you as their representative, I’m sure the northern city won’t suffer the same abuse.”

Wein had a point, and Kamil mentally clicked his tongue. Yes, emotional turmoil aside, he could easily lead Altie and revitalize it while remaining in the Alliance.

“Also, since you so elegantly dodged the subject earlier, what are your plans after independence? Altie depends on the rest of Ulbeth for farming, foreign diplomacy, and trade. You’d have a hard enough time scratching out a living even without the possibility of invaders. And we can’t discount the notion that the other three cities and just about everyone else nearby will be looking for their chances to strike. I find this hard to believe, but maybe…you just want to secede and couldn’t care less if you’re destroyed?”

He was right. Kamildidn’tcare. It was his greatest wish to see the Ulbeth Alliance swallowed by some foreign power after Altie withdrew.

Of course, not many knew this. Kamil needed another explanation for most of the northerners in the crowd. And that was—

“You’ve been negotiating with the Casskard Kingdom to the north, right?”

“…”

Kamil scowled as Wein hit the nail on the head.

He would sell the untethered city of Altie to Casskard to ensureits protection. Casskard would then serve as a bridgehead against the other three cities. It had been a plausible strategy…until last year anyway.

Wein pressed on.

“The West is in the midst of a major food shortage, and Casskard is no exception. It’d be one thing if they were prosperous like Facrita, but Casskard has already said that they don’t want to upset the other three cities by taking the northern one, right?”

H-how does he…?!

Wein couldn’t have known. It was impossible. Yet he spoke as if he’d seen everything himself and shone a light on the truth.

“Tsk-tsk, Kamil. You shouldn’t conceal such important details from your friends.”

This man…!

Kamil clenched his teeth and looked over at the assembled Altie people. Sure enough, worry was spreading. He couldn’t afford to lose support here.

“Spare me your reckless lies!” Kamil shouted, hoping to cut this topic short. “I agree that Altie would flourish in the Alliance if I were representative. However, we cannot simply clear away the disgrace thrust upon us! Or are you shamelessly suggesting we overlook the past and form an equal relationship?!”

By this point, Kamil’s only option was an emotional appeal. Even Wein couldn’t overturn the northern city’s dislike of the rest of Ulbeth. He would needle at those feelings to gain secession.

And yet…

“Well, I thought you might say that,” Wein replied with a light nod. “So let me offer some reparations.”

The prince of Natra presented a document.

“Wh-what’s this?”

“The answer key to the Ulbeth Alliance. I wrote it myself.”

Every representative immediately understood what he meant. Kamil’s hands shook as he received the document.

“It’ll unravel the Alliance’s tangled relationships. If you have it… Well, need I explain further?”

Kamil had watched Wein ruin Roynock and Facrita’s authority firsthand. If the prince spoke the truth, he could re-create that success.

“I’m giving this to you,” Wein said. “With it, you’ll have a huge advantage over the others. Think about it. Nothing would feel better than controlling those thorns in your side, right? However, the information is only good if the four cities stay together. If even one leaves the union, the significant shift in relationships will reduce that sheet to a worthless scrap of paper.”

“…!”

Something cold like fear gripped Kamil.

I gave the Alliance-hating north a new alternative, but Prince Wein is trying to dissuade them! Rather than forget our hatred, he wants us to stay and clear it…!

It was an unusual concept. How had Wein used the prospect of strength to captivate Altie instead of giving them the hope for escape?

Altie’s citizens were inspired. Reigning as victors in a familiar situation was more captivating than an unknown future of independence.

“…Sir Kamil, I also wish for the Alliance to continue,” Oleom stated, breaking his silence. “I agree that we were foolish. Ulbeth should have been more honest with Altie—no, with one another as a whole. The past cannot be erased, but we should take this as a lesson and move forward.”

“Keep your pretty, meaningless words…! Aren’t you worried Altie will stay only to seek revenge?!”

“Yes. I’m nervous, but overcoming those challenges will make Ulbeth even stronger.”

“It will probably sink without overcoming anything!”

“That is why we’re here. To ensure that it doesn’t.”

Both Oleom and Lejoutte remained in staunch favor of the Alliance, and the same sentiment was spreading through the audience. Kamil had to say something to stop them, but he could manage only to express frustration and resentment.

“…Why, Prince Wein? Why are you getting in my way?!”

“Because you touched my Heart,” Wein replied. “Well, that’s half the reason anyway. I also saw something pretty good.”

“What…?”

Several days earlier, Wein was bidding good-bye to the rescued Oleom and Lejoutte.

“You know, I was wondering, what will you do when everything is over?” the prince asked.

“What will we do?”

The pair of representatives tilted their heads.

“I figured you’d be mad your factions betrayed you after all that hard work.”

“Wasn’t that your fault?” Oleom pointed out.

“Well, yeah,” Wein admitted casually. “It’s not much, but I can help you escape if you want.”

Oleom and Lejoutte considered the idea for a moment before bursting into laughter.

“The thought is enough. We’ve both decided to stay in Ulbeth,” Lejoutte stated.

“Why? With your skills, you’d be fine in any other country.”

“Prince Wein, do you know about North Representative Croonand his wife? The ones who were executed twenty years ago?” asked Lejoutte. Wein nodded, and so she continued. “They hoped to change Ulbeth for the better and never tried to run despite many opportunities.”

“The Alliance is twisted; the rejection of the North Representative is the worst example of this. However, we’d never live up to the Croons’ legacy if we fled.”

“We will correct Ulbeth our way. That’s what we’ve decided after learning how they lived.”

Oleom’s and Lejoutte’s eyes sparkled with strength.

“Kamil, you abandoned the Alliance a long time ago…but it has more potential than you think,” Wein mused with a smile.

During the Signing Ceremony, the two supposedly eloped representatives returned, and new North and East Representatives were chosen. The day saw many ups and downs, but the Ulbeth Alliance was still whole at the end.