The World I Reincarnated Into Was Lenient About Concubines - Chapter 81

Allen (The Family Workhorse) Realizes a Three-Move Checkmate.

The news of the fall of the Claria Principality was brought by a carrier pigeon.

Afterward, information poured in in dribs and drabs via carrier pigeons and land routes. The palace and the city streets were in an uproar, but there was nothing anyone could do, and time simply passed.

Among the reports, it was revealed that the military forces led by the Kanona Principality had launched a sudden night attack.

The migrant workers staying in the Claria Principality were rounded up in the plaza and ordered to march through the city holding weapons. Of course, this was just a dummy force, but for the defenseless Claria Principality, it must have been a terrifying threat. Meanwhile, the actual army landed by ship, quickly seizing the palace and the estates of several high-ranking nobles. The operation succeeded with surprising ease.

"So, we still don't know how many soldiers infiltrated the palace?"

"We don't. All we know is that Chloe—from our country's viscount family—guided them. It appears Chloe has openly declared herself as the legal wife of the King of Kanona."

I was reporting the situation to my mother. Seated beside her were the other wives permitted to attend, my younger brother Cedric, Lina, and at the end of the table, Neon. Standing by the side of the room were Rakche and Luida.

Mother’s face was pale with grief. In this state of emergency, of all times, Father had traveled to the Kanona Principality—the perpetrator of this invasion—and had not yet returned.

"What has become of the royal family... and your Princess Fiore?"

"It seems the main royals were taken to the Kanona Principality by ship. However, reports indicate that Princess Fiore was not among them."

"Oh, how terrible..."

Mother cradled her head and lamented. She was undoubtedly imagining the worst, just as I was.

"Allen, as a fellow woman, I have a request. If—just if—Princess Fiore has lost her purity, I still wish to welcome her into this household."

"Of course, Mother. My feelings for Fiore haven't changed."

"Thank you, Allen... Usually, I get a headache thinking about how soft you are on women, but in times like this, your kindness is deeply reassuring."

Mother, did you really need to add that last part?

"Is there any news regarding the Master's whereabouts?" asked one of the wives.

"No, none so far. I’ve been ordered to head to the palace shortly as Father's proxy, so I will report back as soon as I learn anything."

"Please do, Allen. And... what of Rakche and Luida?"

Mother cast her eyes toward Rakche and Luida, who were sitting quietly in the corner of the room. Both maintained incredibly calm expressions.

"Please, just save their lives... If necessary, you may use as much of our family fortune as you need. I beg of you, use your strength to protect those two..."

"Of course, Mother. I'll make sure Rakche and Luida remain unharmed."

It was already public knowledge that men from the Kamsha tribe—the tribe those two belong to—formed the core strength of the invading army. Interrogators from the palace were expected to arrive shortly. To get ahead of the situation, Mother and Aries had brought the two over from the new estate to place them under soft house arrest, preventing them from being forcefully dragged away by royal guards. Since they belong to a minority group residing in our territory, this is ultimately a responsibility that falls on our entire Earldom.

"Rakche  Luida, I am incredibly sorry. I believe in your innocence, but this is the only way we can protect you right now."

"Thank you for your consideration. However, we are prepared for the worst. If this situation ever threatens the survival of your house, please do not hesitate to cut us loose."

Rakche spoke with a dignified expression, which immediately triggered a response from Beatrice, the fifth wife.

"Don't say such things, even as a joke, Rakche! Aren't we family? That will absolutely never happen, right, Young Master?"

"Beatrice is right, Rakche. It'll be a bit restrictive for a while, but please bear with it."

I glanced over at my younger brother, Cedric. Honest to a fault but lacking in initiative, Cedric remained silent. His eyes had been glued to Luida the entire time. I knew he was worried about the woman he loved, but his inability to put his feelings into actual words or actions was his biggest flaw.

"Master, please do not worry about us. We will be fine," Luida said reassuringly.

For these two, who were raised as the daughters of the Kamsha tribe's chief, the survival of their tribe is paramount. Aside from protecting them, I would also need to figure out a way to assist their father, the chieftain, and the rest of the tribe.

Between confirming Fiore's safety, acting as my father's proxy at court, and securing the safety of Rakche, Luida, and the entire Kamsha tribe, I had enough on my plate to make my stomach turn. I was only a university student before my reincarnation, so I never experienced being a corporate wage slave—but this workload makes me feel like a literal workhorse.

After reassuring Mother and instructing Rakche and Luida on how to behave, I arrived at the palace as my father's proxy. Even in a crisis like this, there were barely any guards on duty. Well, it is a world without military forces, so I suppose it can't be helped, I thought as I walked inside completely unchecked.

A bureaucrat spotted me, panicked, and ran off. Moments later, Duke Raymond—the King's younger brother—came out to greet me personally.

"Ah, Allen. I must apologize to Earl Hugo, and to you, for what has happened."

"No, my father was only doing his job... Have you received any new updates?"

"Yes, about that. Let's speak in my office."

Once inside, the heavyweights of my father's political faction flooded into the room. Duke Raymond and Marquis Lyndon—the elderly Director of the Protocol Bureau—sat at the head of the table while I took a seat at the far end. Even in a crisis, these guys still gather by faction. How carefree.

"First, give us the report on the damage in the Claria Principality."

"Yes, Your Grace. According to our diplomats on the ground, there are currently zero casualties, and the capital remains peaceful. There is no mass exodus of citizens fleeing the country," the advisor reported.

Duke Raymond looked dumbfounded. "No casualties? No looting either?"

"None. The day after the raid, the royal family and nobles related to them were shipped off to the Kanona Principality, so their current status is unknown. Afterward, the remaining nobles and foreign diplomats were gathered at the palace. It was announced that Claria would be absorbed into the Kanona Principality and that the capital would be relocated there. They promised not to harm the nobility, and since there were indeed zero deaths, no one resisted."

"...So, overnight, the Claria Principality ceased to exist and was entirely taken over by Kanona?"

"Yes. The citizens were told they could carry on with their daily lives as normal, and the local nobles have relayed the same message to their respective territories. Consequently, there is no major civil unrest."

Murmurs rippled through the office. I was stunned too—not just by the sheer elegance of a bloodless takeover, but by how fragile a nation with centuries of history could be. Or perhaps it was the opposite? Is a country's system so resilient that it functions perfectly fine even when the head is swapped? I recall hearing that ancient China was somewhat similar.

Duke Raymond gestured for me to speak.

"Pardon my personal inquiry, but I heard Princess Fiore was not sent to the Kanona Principality. Is that true?"

The reporting advisor smiled, adjusting his glasses. "My apologies, Allen... rather, as the Earl's proxy, I should have addressed that first. Princess Fiore's safety has been confirmed. In fact, we have reports that a carriage carrying her has already departed toward the Novardard Empire."

The room erupted into even louder chatter. I felt a wave of relief, though I was also puzzled. Why would Kanona let Princess Fiore go? Was it a gesture to show they had no intention of further aggression?

"To confirm: the soldiers who invaded Claria are still stationed in the capital, correct?"

"Yes. According to shared diplomatic intelligence, they formed their army by rounding up hunters and tribesmen—such as the Kamsha tribe from our own country—who were working abroad as laborers, persuading them to fight."

The moment the Kamsha tribe was mentioned, every pair of eyes in the room locked onto me. Yeah, I figured. Our bad.

But this is incredibly bad news. Even if our country wanted to prepare for an invasion, the best weapon we could probably fashion on short notice is a kitchen knife tied to a stick. We have absolutely no military training, tactical knowledge, or organization. The only useful assets would be archers, but Kanona has likely already recruited every capable bowman. To make matters worse, Kanona had been hoarding iron under the guise of shipbuilding, leaving us with virtually no resources.

It’s basically a three-move checkmate. With every move, a country falls, but since we have zero military power, we can only pass our turn. What a bizarre game. Duke Raymond seemed to realize this as well, holding his head in his hands.

"For now, we have no choice but to initiate diplomatic contact with Kanona..."

"Indeed. The second prince, who was previously missing, has declared himself the King of Kanona. Furthermore, it has been officially announced that Chloe, the daughter of our Viscount Olie, is his queen."

"None of this makes any sense... What is Viscount Olie doing?"

"Interrogators report that he was completely blindsided. He claims his daughter insisted on traveling to Kanona and subsequently went out of contact, but he kept it quiet to save face. He is currently under house arrest at his estate."

"Well, his blunder is their gain... though we hardly have the luxury to keep score of such things." Duke Raymond sighed, looking in my direction.

Marquis Lyndon, the Protocol Bureau chief, had been staring at me with an expression that screamed he wanted to say something. Please don't. Whenever you open your mouth, it only brings me trouble.

"For now, we will gather the nobles currently in the palace, compile this report, and present it to His Majesty. Allen, I will propose that you be sent to retrieve Princess Fiore. We must use the merit of bringing her back to clear any suspicion surrounding your family regarding the Kamsha tribe as quickly as possible."

"Understood. I place myself in your hands."

And so, I was ordered to journey back to the territory of the Claria Principality once again.

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