Colbert bit his lips.
(Is that why he’s so confident! Out of the Three Dukes only the celebrated General Georg Carmine raised his flags in revolt, but that is obviously a good chance for the Principality. Honestly, there’s no saying whether a good chance like this will come around again in the future. Even the Prince is no longer young. He likely did not want to pass a chance to stand and lead in front of an army. However … that way of thinking is too naïve!)
“Please listen, Your Highness! If we invade Elfrieden we will be censured by the other countries! We have signed the [Declaration of Humanity’s Coalition against Demonkind]!”
“…… the [Humanity Declaration], is it?”
This is the first time until now that Gaius showed a faltering expression.
The [Declaration of Humanity’s Coalition against Demonkind] is the name of the declaration and international treaty made by the largest and militarily most powerful state on the continent, the Gran Chaos Empire, at the brink of the Demon King army invasion, to cease all wars between humans and cooperate to stop the Demon King army invasion. The essentials of the [Declaration of Humanity’s Coalition against Demonkind] can be summarized into the following three points:
First, to allow no change in borders due to wars or military operations between humans.
Second, to respect the rights to equality and self-determination of all peoples within every nation.
Third, for countries far from the Demon King Territory to support the bulwarks that are the countries near the Territory.
The second one is a bit hard to understand, but it is there in order to provide shelter for the peoples that are not the country’s majority. It was included due to the fear that because border changes aren’t allowed, then the countries might disenfranchise these peoples and deprive them of their property. It was not explicitly stipulated in writing, but in case a country were to violate any of these three points, the leader, the Empire, will intervene militarily. In short, this [Humanity Declaration] is a security treaty where, in exchange for disallowing aggression toward foreign countries, one’s country’s safety would be guaranteed by the Empire.
“By invading Elfrieden we would be inviting military intervention from the Empire! I beg of you Your Highness, please re-think this!”
“Ugh…”
“Sir Colbert, you need not be concerned about that”
The one who stepped up and said so was the Crown Prince Julius Amidonia.
A wicked smile was plastered on his handsome face that one may call a bishonen.
“The reason being, Elfrieden is not signatory to the [Humanity Declaration]”
“That is just sophistry, Crown Prince! We’re attacking a non-signatory country while we can’t even protect ourselves without the [Humanity Declaration]. That would stain the face of the Empire as the leader!”
“But diplomacy is all about the treaties exchanged. This all happened because of Elfrieden’s obstinacy to resist the Empire’s sublime intent to cooperate against Demonkind. We have made no mistake”
“But”
“Enough!”