I lifted both hands and called his name to welcome him in. Apollo slipped through the door at a brisk pace, blinking at me—more a knowing, weary smile than surprise.
He smoothed the slight rumple from his clothes, exhaled, and came to stand before my desk.
“It’s been a while, Van-sama. And I’m glad to see everyone well. First, allow me to apologize for asking to see you without notice. I rushed over thinking it was urgent… though it seems I was worrying for nothing.”
Smiling, he bowed. Behind me, Kamshin, Till, and Arte returned the gesture. Apollo’s gaze fell to the map spread across my desk. He’d learned something about Yerinetta’s movements—no doubt. If he’d hurried here, then Yerinetta must have made an unexpected play.
A direct strike on Ceat Village would be the most immediate headache… but my gut said that wasn’t it.
“So they didn’t come by the book, huh?” I asked, keeping it vague so I wouldn’t look foolish if I guessed wrong. “Which path did Yerinetta choose?”
Apollo nodded, impressed. “As expected of you, Van-sama —you were already thinking from Yerinetta’s point of view. As it happens, Yerinetta chose to use another country.”
“…Huh?” The sound came out of me before I could stop it. I glanced down at the map; behind me, Arte and the others leaned in to look as well.
Only one nation borders both Yerinetta and Scuderia: the Shelvia Union.
“What kind of country is Shelvia?” Till asked from behind us—too casually for a merchant from the Guild’s headquarters, but Apollo only chuckled and nodded.
“Shelvia is a bit unusual. It began when two small countries merged to counter a regional threat. Because of that history, the east and west have distinct cultures. Instead of a monarchy, each side has its own representative, and they alternate governing the country.”
Till’s eyes widened as if something had just occurred to her. She winced and bowed, flustered. “Ah—my apologies. I haven’t even brought tea…”
Of all the things to worry about. I couldn’t help smiling. “Til’s tea is too good to skip. Oh—and sweets, please!”
“Yes, right away,” she said, leaving with a spring in her step.
I turned back to Apollo. “So—between Shelvia’s east and west, which side is helping Yerinetta?”
He set his jaw and lowered his voice. “The east.”
I nodded. “But Shelvia is allied with Scuderia, isn’t it?”
I knew the answer; I just wanted it on the record. Apollo didn’t blink. “Before they merged, the western state had an alliance with Scuderia—that remains in effect. Meanwhile, the east’s alliance with Yerinetta also persisted. With a full-scale war now underway, powerful nobles from both sides are glaring at each other across the aisle, so to speak.”
Behind me, Kamshin sucked in a sharp breath. Given how thoroughly Yerinetta had been outmaneuvering us in the information war, we’d suspected leaks—either among Scuderia’s nobility or via traveling merchants and adventurers. Outside meddling was always on the list.
So Apollo’s words didn’t stun me. Well… maybe a little. But not too much. Really.
I cleared my throat and studied the map. “In that case, the faction friendly to us has a weaker hand right now? Or perhaps, after seeing Yerinetta’s new weapons, they simply judged Yerinetta likelier to win. Hard to blame them for that.”
I sighed. Kamshin growled, unable to hide his anger. “Even so… abandoning one’s ally is wrong.”
He was quietly furious—utterly straight-backed about it. I gave him a wry smile and tossed the question to Arte, who’d been listening in silence. “If you were monarch of the Shelvia Union, what would you do? Assume I’m not in Scuderia at all.”
Arte flustered, then frowned cutely in thought. “W-well… if you weren’t here, Van-sama, I might side with Yerinetta if they seemed stronger. Seeing that black sphere… I’d worry Shelvia could be targeted next.”
Apology tinged her voice, but the logic was sound. Arte was quick—she looked beyond the battlefield to the neighbors’ calculus. I wasn’t sure where she’d picked up that kind of thinking, but I approved.
“Right,” I said. “When a powerful state rises nearby, you need plans to avoid invasion. If you can’t match their strength, you make them your friend. So Shelvia probably judged Yerinetta stronger—and more dangerous—than Scuderia. Normally the east and west would split and fight over whom to support, but perhaps the nobles on Scuderia’s side couldn’t openly commit.”
I set a finger on the border between Shelvia and Yerinetta. Apollo nodded, face darkening.
“Even so, some nobles should have stood with Scuderia. It’s possible someone is controlling the flow of information…”
He glanced up at me, gauging my reaction. “If that’s true, then nine times out of ten, the noble holding those strings has lands right along Shelvia’s frontier.”
He tapped a spot on the map—the western edge of Shelvia, bordering Scuderia. All of us fell silent, staring.
The door opened. Till returned, balancing a tray piled with teapot and sweets. “Fresh tea! Please, help yourselves.”
She set everything out neatly, then came to my side, followed our gazes to the map, and tilted her head. “Ah, the Marquis Feltio. Huh. Is there even anything way out on the edge there?”
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