I Am Being Mistaken for a Genius Strategist - Chapter 12

When I was a child, I remember loving banquets, no matter their occasion.  

They were dazzling, lively, and above all, everyone who attended donned a smile.  

But then, after suddenly recalling memories of my past life when a book struck my forehead and coming to understand the ways of the world at an age perhaps deemed too young, I realized banqueting was far more than a merry gathering for food and drink.  

It was a arena of subtle reconnaissance, a game of determining: ally or foe, predator or prey.  

A place where words, sharper than blades, danced in fleeting moments—perhaps more ferocious than any skrimish.  

One had to discern whether the smiles adorning each face were genuine or veiled with deceit.  

For this reason, even the slightest misstep at a banquet was never to be tolerated.  

This is why many nobles only attended gatherings hosted by those with whom they shared “friendly” relations.  

‘And yet here I am, moving in the exact opposite direction of such a sensible approach.’  

One cannot simply judge a banquet by its host.  

It is equally important to know who else will be present.  

For an encounter with someone one would rather avoid could make the entire affair unpleasant.  

– By that logic, this particular banquet is one I should have declined.  

“I still feel uneasy about His Highness, the First Prince attending this event.”  

“It’ll be fine. Surely, the prince wouldn’t cause a scene at the banquet of a neutral noble.”  

The prince was coming. The First Prince. The very pillar of the pro-peace faction, whom I’d met not long ago!  

Even though we had parted on amicable terms, his close aide had suffered a blow at my hands.  

In truth, it was a situation where both of us found the other deeply uncomfortable.  

“Sire, if the banquet starts turning awry…”  

“Then I’ll excuse myself to the balcony, claiming I need fresh air to clear my head.”  

“Rather than calling it an escape, perhaps we could term it a strategic retreat.”  

“Fine, Alexei. But honestly, there’s no need to worry so much.”  

Surely, the prince wouldn’t be reckless enough to bring that noble along again.  

This banquet was being held at the estate of Marquis Robgon, a member of the neutral faction.  

Causing a disturbance here would clearly tarnish the reputation of the pro-peace faction.  

“It’s clear you don’t truly understand how exhausting banquets can be, my lord.”  

“I’ve attended plenty of banquets before, haven’t I?”  

“Yes, but all of them were hosted by pro-war nobles or military circles, weren’t they?”  

“Oh, come on, Alexei. Stop worrying so much.”  

Let me say it again: this is a gathering of neutral nobles.  

Even for the First Prince, any misstep here would come with significant political consequences.  

Reassuring Alexei, I confidently stepped into the banquet hall.  

And not long after, I began to suspect that Alexei might be clairvoyant.  

‘…Damn it. What in the world is this scene?’  

The sight before me made me seriously consider turning around and heading back the way I came.  

“Isabel. What on earth are you doing here?”  

“Why? Am I not supposed to be here? That doesn’t seem right.”  

“I wasn’t event aware you’d be attending until I was already on my way. This feels like sheer stubbornness on your part.”  

“Mm, nope. That’s not it.”  

To my left stood the First Prince. To my right, the Second Princess.  

Direct heirs of the imperial family, representing the pro-peace and pro-war factions respectively.  

Neither of them were the kind of people who would typically attend a neutral noble’s banquet.  

At least I had known the prince would be present, so the shock was somewhat lessened.  

But never in my wildest dreams did I expect the princess to appear. I had heard no word of it.  

What was going on? Did she decide to attend at the last minute?  

“Welcome, Sir Kael.”  

“My Lord, Marquis Robgon.”  

First things first, I decided to greet the host of the evening properly.  

“I’ve heard the news. They say you contributed significantly to the army’s victory with your brilliant strategy.”  

“So it seems.”  

“You are a remarkable young man. I’m sure the Count of Bertie must be immensely proud.”  

I had no particular connection to Marquis Robgon, nor could I say I knew him well.  

But given his high-ranking title, it wouldn’t hurt to at least establish some acquaintance.  

Thus, I engaged in light conversation with him for a short while.  

“Ah, Sir Kael.”  

“Sir Kael!”  

The prince and princess, who had been bickering earlier, both brightened upon seeing me and began approaching.  

The princess even half-ran in her haste to reach me first.  

‘Stay back! If you’re going to come over, do it one at a time! Both of you approaching me like this feels way too much!’  

Unaware of my inner turmoil, the imperial siblings quickly closed the distance.  

Desperately, I shot Marquis Robgon a pleading look, silently begging him to save me.  

Surely, being caught between two leviathans would leave my delicate shrimp-like self crushed.  

“Sir Kael.”  

And once again, I was forced to confront the harshness of political life.  

“I must greet the other guests as well. Let us speak again later.”  

“…my Lord? My Lord?!”  

The Marquis, seemingly unwilling to deal with both siblings at once, promptly made his escape.  

I had been abandoned. By the host himself. Can he even do that?!  

“Sir Kael.”  

The prince, having successfully distanced himself from his sister, addressed me.  

“Your Highness, the First Prince.”  

“I see you were also invited by the Marquis. What a pleasant coincidence to meet here.”  

“…Indeed, it seems so.”  

We both knew it wasn’t a coincidence. Even Alexei knew it wasn’t a coincidence.  

But knowing and openly admitting it were entirely different matters.  

Understanding this, I played along with the prince’s words.  

“Since fate has brought us together again, why don’t we have a little chat—”  

“Hold on!”  

The princess, who had crept up beside him, suddenly grabbed the prince’s hand.  

“I’d like to hear this ‘chat’ as well.”  

“Why must you interfere, Bel? This is a conversation between Sir Kael and myself—”  

“Because I don’t trust you not to insult Sir Kael again.”  

“That wasn’t my fault—it was—”  

“If you wanted to complain, perhaps you should have managed your people better at your last banquet?”  

“…”  

Wow. To think she could cut off the First Prince so cleanly.  

This wasn’t just because she was a princess—only siblings could get away with such brazenness.  

I’d heard they were only a year apart in age… Honestly, it’s a miracle they didn’t fight more often.  

“Fine.”  

In the end, it was the prince who backed down, likely because he had no ground to stand on.  

“But on one condition: don’t interrupt my conversation with Sir Kael.”  

“Unless you say something ridiculous, I suppose I can agree to that.”  

“Let’s wait until the conversation ends before you comment. This is the only compromise I can offer.”  

‘Honestly, Your Highness, the Princess, I think he’s already compromising quite a lot.’

—

The princess eventually gave her approval, seemingly aware that pushing further would be unreasonable.  

And so, the three of us followed the Marquis’s guidance to one of the mansion’s reception rooms.  

‘…This feels a bit strange.’  

Walking behind the prince and princess gave the impression of some grand conspiracy at work.  

It was as though we were plotting to overthrow the current heir to the throne, with me playing the role of the cunning young tactician aiding their schemes.  

“Please, have a seat.”  

The prince gestured for me to take a seat but did not immediately sit himself.  

Instead, I pulled out the chair next to mine and offered it to the princess.  

She looked momentarily surprised before smiling and thanking me.  

This wasn’t about chivalry or “ladies first.” It was a small, deliberate gesture.  

A subtle sign that I still harbored discomfort toward the pro-peace faction due to a certain incident.  

And that I was willing to show favor toward the pro-war faction, represented by the princess.  

“…Ahem.”  

The prince coughed lightly, clearly catching on to my intentions.  

He must have realized that any misstep here could sour our already precarious relationship.  

“First, before we get to the main point, I wish to apologize for what happened last time.”  

“An apology? Such a thing is unnecessary, Your Highness.”  

“No, it is as Isabel said. I failed to properly manage my subordinates, and for that, I must take responsibility.”  

He was the First Prince of the Empire, and I was merely the son of a count loyal to that Empire.  

Given the disparity in our statuses, there was no need for him to apologize, yet he did so anyway.  

This left me slightly uneasy. What could he be preparing to say with such a prelude?  

“Sir Kael.”  

The prince’s tone shifted. It was clear he was now getting to the heart of the matter.  

“You are aware of the current state of the Empire’s political factions, are you not?”  

“Of course, Your Highness.”  

Just as Norvogrod had its moderates and hardliners, the Empire’s political landscape was divided into three major factions.  

The pro-war faction, which advocated for the Empire to wield its unparalleled military might.  

The pro-peace faction, which sought alternative methods to avoid the devastation of war.  

And the neutral faction, which balanced the two, ensuring no single ideology tipped the scales.  

The princess beside me was aligned with the pro-war faction, as was my family by association.  

The master of this estate, Marquis Robgon, belonged to the neutral faction.  

And the prince seated across from me, now making his intentions clear, was the face of the pro-peace faction.  

“I will be direct. Sir Kael, join me in my cause.”  

“Hey!”  

The princess’s outburst startled me, and I turned to look at her.  

Sibling or not, he was still the First Prince, and she was the Second Princess.  

As a subject of the imperial family, I shouldn’t be witnessing such a display of discord.  

“Oh, don’t misunderstand. I’m not asking you to support me in some bid for the throne.”  

Yet despite her reaction, the prince continued speaking as though nothing had happened.  

Honestly, these siblings were remarkable in their own way.  

“I love my elder sister deeply. She will undoubtedly be an extraordinary ruler.”  

“Then why ask me to join your cause, Your Highness?”  

“How long do you believe it is possible to dominate the continent with bl00d and steel alone?”  

The princess was about to protest again, but the prince pressed on.  

“Don’t misunderstand me. I am not opposing the military, nor do I deny its necessity. On the contrary, I am deeply grateful to the army. I assure you, if anyone—ally or not—were to insult the imperial forces, I would not hesitate to cut ties with them.”  

Listening to him, one might think he belonged to the pro-war faction.  

The princess seemed to think so as well, muttering under her breath with a frown.  

“We merely seek a better future for the Empire. It cannot remain the center of the continent through force alone forever.”  

“The Empire has grown and thrived through its military strength until now, Your Highness.”  

“Yes, exactly. Which is why it is time to pursue another path.”  

The prince’s words continued.  

The Empire had spilled bl00d on every front—its own and that of its adversaries.  

As a result, even minor conflicts created an atmosphere of frigid hostility.  

Whenever tensions arose with one nation, neighboring states would unite against the Empire.  

“In such situations, the Empire has always responded with the intent to fight them all. But Sir Kael, through diplomacy—by dividing them through careful negotiation and pressure—we could remove some, perhaps even half, from the equation. They would turn their attention to weaker targets instead of us.”  

“…”  

“If managed skillfully, the dynamic would shift from one of major powers against minor states to one of a great power, smaller nations, and neutral bystanders.”