Otaku Translation: The Amber Sword V3C90

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Chapter 90: The Gathering Storm Part 4

"He’s extending an olive branch." Macaro answered succinctly.

"Interesting," Baeli, the Violet Earl, chuckled. The young man’s actions were bold but calculated—a delicate balancing act executed with precision. Sending this letter at such a pivotal moment struck him as nothing short of brilliant.

This was no coincidence.

Baeli glanced at Macaro, certain the old fox had reached the same conclusion. But what did the young man truly want?

If he sought tangible support, a mere letter—hardly even a pledge of loyalty—would be laughably naive. Whoever penned this missive was no fool.

Yet if all he desired was a promise from the royalists and Princess Grifine’s faction, how did he plan to address the practical crises that would inevitably follow? Empty words wouldn’t hold back armies.

The Violet Earl found himself deeply intrigued. The young man’s gambit was akin to walking a tightrope—dangerous yet thrilling. What fascinated him most, however, was that for the first time in ages, he couldn’t predict the outcome of an event.

Fascinating.

"It’s merely an attempt to have us shield him from the storm," Liwutz frowned. "But there’s no such thing as a free favor, Your Highness. If we side with him, we’ll incur the wrath of Earl Jandel."

Princess Grifine furrowed her brow. The name Earl Jandel wasn’t synonymous with a reliable ally—it was more like a dagger hanging behind her back. Yet the old man hadn’t yet declared his allegiance. As her mentor pointed out, pushing him into the Crown Prince’s camp would be unwise.

"Hmph, that sly old fox," the half-elven princess muttered, rubbing her temples in frustration.

"I imagine the young man is well aware of that," Macaro interjected after a moment’s thought. "He understands the weight of our relationship with Earl Jandel compared to his own."

"Lord Macaro, are you suggesting—" Grifine paused, her silver eyes gleaming as she glanced at the letter on her desk.

"If that’s the case, why send this letter at all?" Macaro countered with a wry smile. "Surely not to mock our intelligence."

This quip elicited a faint grin from the Violet Earl. Even Grifine’s expression softened slightly.

Only Liwutz let out a soft snort.

"Precisely," Earl Baeli agreed with Macaro. "Seeking shelter has two meanings. I believe this young man is offering goodwill—not allegiance. He knows his place."

"Then what does he want?" Liwutz raised an eyebrow, perplexed. Though Eruin’s chief court mage, his lifelong focus on arcane mastery left him less attuned to the intricacies of noble politics.

"What does he want? He’s made it abundantly clear," the Violet Earl replied with a faint smile.

Though not adept at reading people, Liwutz was far from unintelligent. A single nudge brought clarity: "You mean he wants us to acknowledge his claims?"

He frowned. While he harbored no fondness for the young man, granting goodwill at such a low cost seemed a prudent investment.

Liwutz understood his role—he served Eruin’s court and the half-elven princess before anything else. Personal preferences must yield to collective interests.

"No need for acknowledgment; tacit acceptance will suffice," Macaro stated, seeing through Brandon’s intentions more clearly than anyone else. "His goal is clear—to target Earl Jandel without drawing universal enmity."

"But his actions already challenge every noble principle," Liwutz protested. "No one has dared seize a legitimate noble’s territory before. Setting such a precedent—"

"He hasn’t seized anything," Earl Baeli interrupted, amused.

Macaro studied him curiously, wondering why the usually impartial Violet Earl favored the young man. Still, he elaborated: "It depends on interpretation. Perception matters. Sometimes a thinly veiled excuse differs greatly from outright hostility. Speaking of which, Your Highness, have you reviewed the magic stone recording the battle?"

"I have," Grifine nodded. "Madara’s forces are indeed present—and in significant numbers." The half-elf sighed softly. "I don’t wish to delve into Earl Jandel’s dealings with Madara, but—"

Her unfinished sentence carried unmistakable disapproval.

"Thorough preparation," Earl Baeli remarked, referring to Brandon. He found himself increasingly admiring the young man.

"So let’s examine what benefits we stand to gain," Macaro’s tone grew serious. "We can’t afford to abandon Earl Jandel, and the young man knows this. But something surprises me."

All eyes turned to him, awaiting the cunning fox’s next words.

"He seems to grasp the nature of our ties with Earl Jandel. By positioning himself as a pawn, he’s forcing Jandel’s hand."

"A pawn?" Liwutz blinked, confused.

"Brilliant," Earl Baeli’s eyes lit up, realizing something even he had missed. "This move pressures Earl Jandel beautifully."

"Yes," Macaro nodded, though his expression betrayed unease. How had Brandon deduced their internal views on surrounding factions? His foresight into Eruin’s broader dynamics demanded caution. "By courting our favor, he ensures Earl Jandel won’t remain ignorant. Secrets don’t last among nobles—"

"So," he continued, "how do you think the old fox will react? If he aligns with Duke Anlek now, what position will he find himself in?"

"Caught between two fronts."

The Violet Earl listened intently, then regarded the aging yet still formidable former leader of the royalists with newfound respect. Only someone like Macaro could analyze the situation so astutely. Experience truly sharpened insight.

"But what does he gain by doing this?" Grifine mused aloud, nodding in agreement. "Volunteering as our pawn risks abandonment once Earl Jandel leans our way. Surely he understands that."

Liwutz hesitated. Considering Macaro’s analysis, the young man didn’t seem quite so detestable. Still, the elder mage ventured cautiously: "Perhaps he harbors goodwill toward us. Maybe he genuinely seeks our protection. After all, only we can legitimize his actions—"

Earl Baeli glanced at the scholar, thinking academics often lacked the cunning for politics. He interjected: "What this young man seeks is simple: balance. He’s choosing sides, convinced Jandel won’t join ours—"

"A true gambler," came a voice from the doorway. A knight opened the door, admitting a noble clad in marten fur.

Macaro recognized the face immediately—Orville. Once a sharp young man within the royalist faction, the years had tempered his impulsiveness, leaving behind a steadier, sharper presence.

Orville acknowledged Macaro with a glance, then bowed slightly to the princess. "Your Highness," he greeted, turning to Macaro: "Lord Macaro."

Though Orville’s standing within the royalists now surpassed Macaro’s, his humility pleased the former leader.

Macaro inclined his head, smiling: "Lord Orville."

"No need for formalities," the Wolf Knight straightened. "Let’s continue the discussion. Lord Macaro and Lord Baeli’s insights are sound, but regarding the young man’s motives, I have something to add—"

The room fell silent.

All eyes turned to the unexpected guest, especially Princess Grifine. Among those present, only she knew how intimately the Wolf Knight understood the young man named Brandon.

Orville surveyed the group, his lips curving into a faint smile: "Some lack the value to become pawns—they’re mediocrities. Others become unwitting pawns—they’re fools."

"But someone who willingly becomes our pawn, like this young man, is a player."

"A player?"

"Yes. Even controlling a single piece qualifies one as such. In this game, he stands on equal footing with us." Orville paused. "He’s a pawn, but aren’t we too? We simply possess more resources."

Silence reigned.

"So, Lord Orville, you’re saying he intends to join this game," Grifine murmured, incredulous. She drew a breath. "Isn’t this tantamount to stealing thunder? How infuriatingly audacious."

"Indeed," the Wolf Knight shook his head, exchanging a glance of resignation with the sly fox Macaro. "Regrettably, accepting his proposal remains our best option—it benefits us most."

"Clever devil," Liwutz muttered, rubbing his temples. He suddenly felt out of his depth.

"What should we do?" the elder mage asked wearily.

"Muddy the waters—that’s all," the Wolf Knight concluded decisively. "As for the rest—"

He smiled faintly: "Let the young man perform."

Perform?

Everyone was stunned—even Aiko, who believed in Brandon most fervently, couldn’t suppress his concern. On one side stood a young man with nothing to his name; on the other, the cunning and powerful Earl Jandel.

Though Brandon enjoyed the Silver Elves’ backing, they’d made clear their non-interference in Eruin’s internal affairs.

So where did his confidence stem from?

Amidst the group, only Princess Grifine seemed lost in thought, her gaze resting on another report lying on the table. It bore a single, stark sentence:

Tonygel, Sir Minty suffers a crushing defeat.

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