1
<11>
Jepeto skillfully concealed his emotions while standing there.
For someone so young to hide his feelings so well, he had a promising future, but for now, he would serve as my pawn.
I nodded as if recalling something forgotten and said, "That's right. Isn’t Delmoi’s estate larger than that of Pargos? I heard that at the founding of the kingdom, Delmoi’s influence outstripped other ducal families."
"Yes, correct, Your Majesty."
"Delmoi started to be conscious of Pargos after Mesus invaded ten years ago, right?"
I subtly brought up a sore point of Delmoi’s history.
The four ducal families, practically autonomous due to their role in guarding the kingdom's four borders, prided themselves on their military strength.
When the Jade Kingdom fell and the Kingdom of Mesus was founded, they invaded the southern border guarded by Delmoi.
