Editing Tales of Leo Attiel:Volume2 Chapter5 (section)

===Part 1===


While Sovereign-Prince Magrid was having a hard time dealing with Dytiann, his son Leo was meeting with its two envoys under the pretence of being ‘the sovereign-prince’s representative’.

Just as Percy had identified, it was done entirely on the basis of the prince’s own judgement.

The meeting place was in a room of Bernard’s castle. Leo had told even the castle lord that he intended to “exchange greetings with the envoys,” and had certainly not informed him that they would be discussing policies as their country’s respective representatives.

Dytiann’s representatives were, of course, the same as last time: Commander Arthur Causebulk of the Sergaia Holy Rose Division, and Bishop Baal. Just as Sarah had said, Arthur was a very handsome man, and even his demeanour had a romantic appeal. Said otherwise, he did not seem like a soldier. Bishop Baal, meanwhile, was a skinny man of about forty.

Neither of them had stopped smiling since they had introduced themselves, but the nature of both those smiles were very different. Arthur’s was like a child’s: it didn’t hold a speck of malice or ill-will, and had all the warmth of one who lived in a safe and sunny spot, sheltered by adults. Baal on the other hand wore a reassuring smile that was entirely becoming of a priest, but his eyes were harsh.

When Baal’s hand had been stretched out in greeting and Leo had first met his gaze, he had felt cold, instinctive chills run across his skin. He had lowered his gaze in spite of himself, as though loosing strength.

''Oh my…'' Baal, for his part, looked at Leo as he would at an ill-mannered child.

Camus, who was sitting with the prince, cleared his throat and they cut to the main point. Camus, acting as the prince’s representative, had previously handed over a letter allowing them to set up this meeting because, as Leo started to explain, “I have things that I very much wish to speak of to you alone.”

Which meant – in short – that this was a matter which would not be revealed even to the long-time retainers. Leo additionally announced that they were prepared to receive reinforcements.

“Oh, then His Majesty the Sovereign-Prince has already made up his mind?” Arthur’s joyful behaviour made it look like he was about to clap his hands at any moment.

Upon enquiry, it appeared that Dytiann had three large air carriers at the ready. Each ship could carry three hundred soldiers, and they could send them in sequence to the temple.

“Three hundred…” Leo said in genuine admiration.

Even the largest ship in Atall could not hold more than a hundred on board. 

“Then, about these arrangements…”

Baal seemed to want to bring the discussion to a close, but Leo’s attitude towards Dytiann’s envoys now turned imploring. 

“Previously, my father Magrid also sent reinforcements in response to the temple’s plea for help, as he could not bear to watch while God’s innocent faithful were harmed. Yet within our country, there is an immoral group which opposed that decision.”

The vassal-lords.

According to Leo, “they only think short-term and are afraid of Allion,” so this time again, they were sure to pour cold water over the sovereign-prince’s decision.

“Sooner or later, we will manage to persuade the vassal-lords, but since this is now an emergency, time is precious.”
Therefore –

“When you head towards the temple, couldn’t you sail along the northern side of our territories, near to the capital, Tiwana?” Leo suggested.

Travelling in a straight line from the westernmost town in Dytiann to the temple would mean passing through the domains of the vassal-lords. This, according to Leo, would be a problem.

Baal and Arthur exchanged glances and this time, both of their expressions read: ''oh my''. And they did so much more openly than before. They had clearly decided that in this situation and with this person opposite them, there was no need to conceal their inner thoughts.
[[Image: Leo_Attiel_Den_v02_197.png|thumb]]

''So is'' that ''why they deliberately fixed a second day for a meeting?''

''For all that they’re supposed to be the ruling House, they can’t even unite their retainers, hmm.''

“Well then, we’ll do it that way,” Baal accepted Leo’s plan, a faint look of contempt on his countenance. “I am in admiration before your determination; both the sovereign-prince’s, who wishes to help the temple however he may, and your own high-minded nobility, Lord Leo. Since you in particular have also received baptism, I hope that we will hereafter maintain friendly relations.”

Baal’s attitude was nothing but solicitude. Across from him, Leo looked relieved at having his proposal be accepted so easily.

“We will provide you with soldiers to guide you during navigation. Let us together protect God’s teachings from the hands of the wicked.”

In less than an hour, the conference drew to a close.

– It was after Leo and Camus had left the room.

“Filthy.” 

Bishop Baal wiped away the smile he had worn throughout the meeting, and crossed himself with a look of deep loathing.

“A truly repulsive creature was here. Do you know it, Arthur?”

“Lord Leo, right? Lord Bishop, you seem to have hated the prince since even before the meeting.”

“But of course,” Baal rose from his seat and opened a window, as though to say that he could not stand the stench Leo had left behind. “That youngster doesn’t know a single tenet of the faith and doesn’t plan on learning any from hereon either; he only converted to observe Allion’s mood. In receiving the gospel only to protect himself, he blasphemes against God.”

“It can’t have been something the prince thought of himself though. Surely his father must have forced him to it. And when you call him repulsive and a blasphemer, aren’t you being a little harsh on him?”

“You’re being very soft. Did you take a liking to the prince?”

As the bishop harrumphed, Arthur shrugged with an openhearted laugh.

“I sympathised with him. Did you see? Lord Bishop, it looked like he couldn’t even make eye contact with you throughout the entire meeting. Your face must have been terrifying.”

“Now you’ve gone and said it, Arthur,” the bishop chuckled in the depths of his throat. “Blaspheming against a bishop will earn you an eternity of roasting in the fires of hell.”

“Oh, scary. Lord Bishop, please, I beg of you, forgive me my sins.”

“Fine, kindly kneel.”

The exchange between the two of them had the air of young men joking around together. They had known each other for a long time: Baal had originally spent many years as a secretary to the previous commander of the Sergaia Holy Rose Division – in other words, to Arthur’s father – so he had known Arthur since the latter had been a child.

Their relationship between the two of them, however, did not stop there.

Even Lord Leo had sensed it.

After the meeting was over, the prince and Camus exchanged a few brief words of greeting with Bernard and his wife and child, then quickly left the castle. Leo looked pale.

“Pitiful,” glancing at him, Camus had a hard comment to offer. “If you let that frighten you, you won’t be able to act out your part. Or do you mean to say that you took Sarah’s nonsense seriously?”

“So you say, Camus, but you saw that bishop’s eyes too, didn’t you?” Leo looked like he was about to start shaking at any moment.

Sarah, who had been present at the first meeting, had previously shared her impression of the two envoys.

“I’m willing to bet that those two have a ''thing'' going on.”

“A ''thing''?”

Kuon’s expression was boyishly blank, and Sarah pretended to flick the bridge of his nose.

“It means they have a very deep relationship. Those two, when they thought that no one would notice, well, they kept exchanging these sweet glances. Just looking at them made me feel exhausted.”

“Sarah!” Her brother had to scold her about going on endlessly about ‘that’ kind of topic.

According to what they heard later, in Dytiann, there were plenty of ‘those’ kinds of stories within the upper echelons of the church. Which was why Leo had been unable to bear Bishop Baal’s gaze, which had seemed to be appraising him. While he could fight against the swords and spears of enemy soldiers, this was a type of threat he had no experience with.

– Anyway, just as Sarah had noted, the two envoys from Dytiann enjoyed their sweet exchanges as soon as it was just the two of them.

“At any rate, forget arguing with Allion or with our Dytiann, it looks like Atall’s ruling House can’t even find firm ground to tread on under its own feet. There will be plenty of opportunities to take advantage of in the future. Simply learning that is already a good result,” Baal was in a good mood, having already laughed his fill at the prince who was no longer present.

“This departure for the front is an unparalleled opportunity for you, Arthur. I can’t come with you because of my work in the diocese, but the preparations will be flawless.”

“Really, when is the good bishop going to stop treating me like a child? It’s fine. We just need our troops to set up camp within the temple, right?”

“Exactly, it’s all good as long as you can arrange for our soldiers to be permanently stationed there. Even Allion can’t have sent that many men. They’ll pull back for the time being at least once they hear that Dytiann is taking part in the battle. After that, between Allion and us, it will be a contest of manoeuvring according to political influence. I beg of you, don’t try to do anything heroic. I will definitely arrange a stage for you to stand out on, Arthur.”

“I know, Bishop. Everything is in accordance with God’s will.”

During the meeting, both Dytiann and Lord Leo had gotten their proposals accepted, so to all outward appearances, it was a success.



Leo, however, did not have the leeway to rest on his laurels and be satisfied with these results. No sooner had he returned to Guinbar Castle with Camus after the meeting than he headed back out of Savan’s territory, this time taking Kuon and Percy with him.

“He certainly is busy,” Savan said, his eyes wide with surprise.

Yet if he had heard where Leo was headed to next, he would not simply have gone wide-eyed: the shock would have drained the blood from his face and he would probably also have set off with his soldiers, to try and stop Lord Leo at all cost.