Log Horizon - Shiroe's sister

Chapter 51

"Conversation~"

Thinking thoughts

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Duke Corwen, the grandfather of Raynesia, was waiting at the rest area in front of the Round Table Council's zone. The old duke was accompanied by a single knight as he bowed to greet Michitaka silently. The long meeting must be tiring on his body, but he showed no signs of fatigue, which earned Michitaka's respect.

The elderly Duke simply said: "Is it convenient?"

Michitaka realized what he meant and led the way.

He invited the Duke to a small meeting room, this was where the Round Table Council... Crusty, Shiroe, and Michitaka held their usual meetings. Small was only relative to the size of the whole palace, 2 such rooms would be big enough to be Michitaka's home back in Japan.

Michitaka ushered him to a seat and took out tea from his Bag of Holding to serve. The old Duke looked surprised, but someone like the Duke definitely knew about Bags of Holding, so Michitaka didn't understand his amazement and decided to ignore it for now.

"Sorry to disturb you at such a late hour."

"Please, don't mind me. If we don't clean up this mess of a meeting, we won't be able to sleep well."

"Hahaha, indeed."

The elder nobleman stroked his grand beard and laughed without reservation.

"The Corwen family must not fall because of the reckless actions of my granddaughter."

He was in a very delicate position right now.

Duke Sergead was the chairman of the 'League of Freedom Towns Eastal' and commanded great influence. But right now, this influence was becoming a negative burden.

"As you have judged, it is possible that the girl's actions fractured the relationships between the league members."

His words hinted at the doubts the other nobles had of clan Corwen. Maihama was a strong city under Sergead's governance, if he pulled in a few other counties and allied with Akiba, their power would be strong enough to subjugate the rest of the 'League of Freedom Towns Eastal'.

Raynesia did not harbour such grand ambitions. The Round Table Council including Michitaka also thought all the events leading to their present situation happened at the spur of the moment, and there were no hidden meanings behind them.

But in that kind of situation, the most important thing was how others interpreted it.

Even if there were no hidden motives now, it might be significant in the future.

Even this conversation might be interpreted as some sort of conspiracy...

"Speaking of possibilities, Maihama might lean towards allying with the new rising force of Akiba?" Michitaka asked directly, he was not good with testing the waters or scheming.

"That might work too, ermmm... What do you think Michitaka-dono?"

Michitaka resented being addressed as lord during the meeting, so the Duke made a good impression on him by addressing him as "-dono". Michitaka had no grudge against the word lord itself, but this elderly man was wary about using terms that might anger Michitaka, which made him want to continue negotiations.

But I am not as talented as Shiroe...

Michitaka moved his thick neck to tilt his head.

There was the gentle sound of door knocks.

After Michitaka gave permission to enter, Henrietta entered pushing a cart of snacks. The envoy reinforcement requested by Shiroe included chefs, and they had been preparing all sorts of dishes to complement all the meetings and parties in the Round Table Council zone of the palace (they had been working as if they are hired under a black company).