(1 week earlier in a noble mansion in Dioral Kingdom)

“You moron!”

That rebuke extinguished Harold’s excitement. Yet, at the same time, it lit a flame within his heart. It was a fire that seemed to consume all the fuel Harold had hidden within his heart his entire life.

Harold looked disdainfully at the white-haired man before him.

“I didn’t raise you up for that sort of thing! You imbecile!”

Harold sighed as his father asked him about his activity at Lugunica, the big town in the centre of Dioral Kingdom, known for as merchant and gambling place. 

"Lord Albert Hyuutia had worked hard to gain full control of this region, even repelled the Orlais invaders. Yet, what you did? Gambling with that good for nothing!"

Being barked at, Harold strove to suppress the annoyance within him, and put on a fake smile.

“No, no, Father. Don’t get so worked up. I was doing this for our house―”

“―What do you mean, ‘our house’? What you’ve done is completely absurd!”

What did he mean, absurd, Harold griped in his heart. Everyone else was a coward without the courage to make a move, so why should he not take the first step?

Was he supposed to pretend to be polite to all those incompetent cowards and remain in this pathetic place for the rest of his life?

“Father! Think a little! Although the road joining Orlais and the Dioral Kingdom is quite long, our domain lies on the middle of it! If Orlais makes war on the Kingdom, we’ll definitely be drawn into the mess. Therefore, we should forge good relations with the Orlais, shouldn’t we?”

“You, you idiot!”

His father’s face was even redder than before.

“Those bastards from the Orlais killed your brothers! And you want to work with them! Isn’t that treason against the Kingdom?!”

So what, Harold thought.

Since the Orlais was stronger and Dioral never offered any assistance every time when this bordering region was attacked, what was wrong with betraying the Kingdom? All he needed to do was pledge his fealty to the Orlais. What was wrong with the weak following the strong? Who had the right to reproach him for that?

“What on earth are you thinking?!”

Harold could not help but feel frustrated at his father’s foolishness.

The fact that he actually had to explain such self-evident things struck him as terribly stupid. Still, it had to be said.

"What about our Hyuutia family? We and other families in the region had pledged fealty to other King behind Dioral's knowledge. To make it worse, it is an unknown kingdom."

His father, Viscount Adam Hyuutia became speechless and furrowed his eyebrows. Harold's father was a grandson of former head of Hyuutia faction. In other words, Adam Hyuutia was also the cousin of the current head, Albert Hyuutia. Adam was granted a peerage rank and become head of of Hyuutia branch family, that is the tradition of higher noble families in Dioral.

"You.... King Hiro Hezri had saved our lifes. He single-handedly defeated the large Orlais invasion that we failed to defend against, when the King of Dioral left us as usual. For the first time in our history, our faction gain absolute control of this region because King Hiro purged the Seraph faction. Without Hezri Kingdom, we shall be slaves to Orlais invaders."

"Huh... But still...it is an act of treachery towards Dioral Kingdom. My friendship with a noble from Orlais is nothing compared to that."

Harold added,

"Orlais is a country with long history. Hezri Kingdom is a new country that doesn't even dare to declare it's existence to the world."

"You... "

"Our domain. It’s to protect our serfs. Orlais is overwhelmingly powerful. More so than this Hezri Kingdom and Dioral. That being the case, it would hardly be strange if they attacked the Kingdom. This is a way out for when that time comes.”

"Cheh! What do you mean, way out? What do you think the surrounding lords will think when they hear about what you’ve done?!”

“They won’t come and attack us, not in this day and age.”

Many people within the Hyuutia estates had died because of that invasion. The same applied to the surrounding estates. Therefore, they would not have the excess strength needed to attack Harold’s domain.

“Did you consider anything else?”

“Hah?” Harold replied. He had no idea what his father was getting at.

“That’s why I say your thinking is shallow. You’re acting as though your daydreams are already reality. This is―”

"Lord Adam, I think you should stop there for now,” interrupted the man who had been standing behind his father all this time.

He was the butler, who was from different Hyuutia branch family who had attended his father all this time. Harold disliked that man, who was the type that never let anyone see his feelings. He was one of the people Harold intended to chase out after he had solidified his position as the family heir.

His father worked to get his breathing under control once he heard the butler’s words. The red in his face receded, leaving a pale, anemic face.

“…Haaah. Hah. Harold. I have a question for you. Are you not afraid of making enemies of the surrounding nobles?”

“They’re nothing to be scared of, am I right?”

His father rounded his shoulders in disappointment. That response sparked frustration and unease within Harold.

Had he missed out something? Still, he could not think of what that might be.

Adam Hyuutia looked at Harold sharply and elucidated,

"Many young men died in recent years following Orlais invasion. This will lead to all sorts of problems within the next few years. Therefore, the surrounding nobles will need to work closely together in a cooperative relationship. This domain will produce food, that domain will weave clothing. Nobody’s estate is large enough to be self-sufficient, nor do we have much money left over. Under these circumstances, who will help a family that actively courts the Orlais’s favour?”

Cold sweat broke out on Harold’s back. His father had a point.

“You know that too, right? Our demesne does not produce anything the others do not ― we have no unique exports. Therefore, they will have no problem with kicking us out of their co-operative.”

Harold racked his brains. He believed he had a good head on his shoulders. He should be able to refute any number of his stupid father’s assertions.

That’s why we have to rely on the Orlais, Father.”

His father bade him to continue.

“Once we build ties with the Orlais, we’ll just have them support us.”

“…Then let me ask you something. If you were someone from the Orlais ― no, if you were the noble of a certain country, and a village from a country that you were at war with asked you for food, would you give it to them?”

“Of course. If it was me, I would definitely do so.”

“―Why is that?”

“Isn’t that obvious? By doing so, I’ll show everyone that I’m a merciful ruler.”

“…Apart from that?”

“…Nothing else.”

Two older men' jaws dropped as they heard that answer. Harold thought they were impressed by his wisdom.

Adam sighed and reattempted to rectify his  son's ignorance,

"Is that so… so that’s what you were thinking. Well, if it were me as an Orlais noble, I would surely send aid as well, in order to create a casus belli to invade the other country. After that, I would declare war on the Kingdom, under the pretext of liberating that village which the Kingdom was oppressing.”

“Impossible. It’s fanciful thinking. Besides, that sort of cause won’t work at all.”

“Really now, and why do you think it’s impossible?”

“Let’s back up a bit here. Let’s assume it’s really as you say, father. Isn’t that more of a reason to deepen our relationship with the Orlais?”

“You―”

His father was at a loss for words.

"You simpleton... Anyway, we need to meet Lord Albert Hyuutia to apologize and gain consultation on this matter..by today."

With that done with, just as Harold was beginning to feel at ease, the butler interrupted again from behind.

“―There is one more problem. The matter young master mentioned at the beginning has not yet been resolved. He had incurred gambling debt and the Orlais family will attack Hyuutia land if we fail to repay the debt within this week… What shall we do about that?”

“That’s right, Harold! What were you thinking?"

"Come in, father. It was a betting duel. The victory or loss could go either way."

The butler interfered again, but in fierce voice,

"Young master, you even offered Lady Myla Hyuutia to your gambling opponent. They demand her besides the money."

His father didn't say anything than looked furiously at the nonchalant young man. 

"Come on, I even negotiated to pay four times the money as long they don't claim Myla."

"Harold. Lady Myla is a main concubine of King Hiro. In other words, she is something like our Queen."

Adam posed a question,

"Could it be you were manipulated by Orlais from beginning. That guy befriended you for this?"

That words pierced deeply into Harold's heart. It made sense considering how the prodigal son from a big Orlais noble family suspiciously approached him but Harold was in denial mode. Admitting that was the same as admitting he was a simpleton who didn't deserve to be a heir.