House of the Wolves

"In the comfort of our lives, sheltered from the savagery of nature and our very own man-made horrors, we often forget that despite the great things we've done to eliminate threats to our lives and well-beings, the worst danger to ourselves are literally ourselves."

- Jean Pierre Lumiere, Francois philosopher

An excerpt from his book "Inward Dangers"

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

Ever since the return of their new ruling lord, things has changed immensely for the people under the Bougainvillea lordship.

"Morning, sir!"

"Morning too... You're getting inside the workshop, go wear your helmets and gloves already."

"A-Ah, yes!"

If back then, they desperately clung to cattle ranching and growing crops to make a living despite their land's unfavorable soil conditions, ever since the discovery of an enormous magisteel and mana quartz reserve in the territories, they have since switched to mining, ore refining and fabrication in factories and workshops.

Normally, all of these developments would require enormous investments in both capital and manpower, but with the help of a new group of people that joined the service of House Bougainvillea, they managed to set things up in under a year.

Now, every family has enough income to afford more than adequate and tasty food, a decent shelter to call home and children are no longer forced to work and can attend the primary schools that was opened by madame Selena Bougainvillea.

"Hm? Who are those guys over there?"

"What? Ah! Those are folks from House Dahlia. With their uniforms... likely members of the young master's Wizard corps. Maybe they're here to order new guns or replacement parts for their equipment."

"That so? Man, those newcomers sure brought all of these thingamajigs with them, huh? If not for them, it would take several generations before we can even decently turn the magisteel ores into proper final products."

"Not just that, they fought with both master Joshua and young master Jonathan out there in Silesia. I heard almost everyone that was sent with the viscount was killed in battle, but they brought tens of enemies down with them to death... They're one scary folks, I say."

"No doubt about that..."

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

In the Bougainvillea manor, Joshua was enjoying his morning tea in his office when the door opened to reveal his mother carrying a letter with a sour-look on her face. Seeing this, Joshua immediately knew that something has gone awry, enough for the usually calm and collected woman to have such an expression.

"I sense... a grievance?"

"Haah... more like an annoying someone. Come look at this and you'll know why."

Joshua took the letter from his mother's hand and after skimming through it, had the nearly same look of discomfort on his face.

"They've got to be losing their minds or deliberately biting his baits... no one in their right mind would ever be this laughably petty."

"And yet, here we are... that definitely means they're taking his words seriously." Selena groaned while massaging her forehead that began to ache in exasperation.

"Right, that means we're back in their sights. Way to go, brother... you almost got roped into an assassination spree after you annoyed them and now, you're poking them even harder than before."

While the two of them are groaning and massaging their heads, trying to avoid stressing their selves any further, the assistant head maid of the mansion entered the room to retrieve the tea set and watched as both Joshua and Selena sighed deeply.

"Is... something wrong, masters?"

"No, no. Nothing much, Spica-san... just the usual thing that Jonathan brings back here whenever we let him off the leash. This time, he's managed to annoy them enough to send him to a place outside of the mainland." Joshua replied and let Spica read the letter from the Imperial senate, detailing something that used to be an offer that is now turned into an order for Jonathan to head to the Marl Kah republic to act as its temporary ambassador while a new one is yet to be assigned.

"Hrm... this does seem fishy. Baron Jonathan hasn't graduated from the academy yet where he'll receive lessons about diplomacy, so he shouldn't even be on the list of prospective representatives of the empire to one of its constituent states, a very peaceful one at that."

"Exactly. Which means that this is all for the sake of sending someone they find troublesome away from anywhere he can gain any more prestige. With Jonathan being a victor in the Five Week war and the Silesia Skirmish, he should be on his way to receiving a promotion, but with the internal politics of the Imperial army and the feudal nobility, people in power will always stifle any competition."

"Which I'm pretty sure he's aware..." Joshua sighed, confirming his mother's words and the underlying meaning of the order addressed to Jonathan. "In any case, this is all up to him. The republic of Marl Kah is a peaceful nation and its old ruling family who are now also the current ruling ones are bound to take care of him... Hm? Something bothering you, mother?"

"Well... when you said that it's a peaceful nation, I am trying to be optimistic but there's simply too many caveats to that which makes me uncomfortable."

"And by that, you mean?"

"With Marl Kah's transition from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional one, the power and influence of the royal family has weakened considerably to the point that I don't believe they're capable of protecting Jonathan if someone deliberately tries to harm him. Even His late Majesty told us in his last letter that he "barely managed to save his son from the hands of the revolutionaries". Which makes me question if they're sidelining Jonathan or he's sending him to a trap."

"Hmm... I see. I guess it's good if he knows about that too somehow. In any case, this should be sent to him already. Spica-san, have someone bring this to Jonathan as soon as possible."

"As you order, master."

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

"Attack! Now!"

"GRAAAH!!!"

At the forest near the eastern border of the former Lavento territories, Jonathan rode his motorbike between the trees, with a group of 5 direwolves following him from behind.

"We're nearly outside of the forest! As soon as the canopy ends, split up and corner it!"

"Awargh!"

In front of them was a gigantic beast the size of a heavy-duty train engine. Covered with black fur, a tail with bony protrusions the size of a human forearm and a head that sports a pair of horns the size of an entire adult man's average height, any person with passing knowledge of the local ecology would recognize it as a Buff Bison, a mid-class monster known as a pest in farming lands.

"Now then... time to stop you in your tracks."

After they reached the end of the forest canopy and entered the open plains, Jonathan swerved his handlebars sideward while using both the front and rear brakes to stop. After this, he drew out his rifle and began to charge it with magic power.

*Pyuiiii—! BYAK!!!*

"Hyuu—!!! GYUUUUU!!!"

His shot struck the beast on its hind, making it trip while running and allowing the direwolves still pursuing it to catch up and begin biting it where it would be paralyzed but not die of blood loss or shock... after all, that is exactly what they were ordered by their leader.

After biting the Buff Bison on its nape, lumbar area and back, the direwolves gave way as Jonathan walked past them and looked down on the paralyzed and bleeding beast that is heaving its last breaths.

"Don't worry. Your death won't be in vain. We'll use every part of you for our sustenance, of that, I can assure you." Jonathan mumbled to the dying beast as he placed a dagger on its head and after supplying it with magic, plunged it straight into its brain, instantly killing it. "...Big guy, go get the cart and harness. You three will pull this back to the village."

"GA-OU!"

During the short 2 week autumn vacation when students from the Imperial Academy can return to their homelands to participate in the yearly harvest, Jonathan came home for just that, as well as to consolidate the new territories that now belong to their viscounty.

It has been 3 months since the end of the Silesia skirmish and 8 months since the end of the Five Week war. With the return of Marquis Elmor Taiga, the previously unstable state of East Serafina has returned to relative peace after he disseminated the leaderless territories to the highest-ranking noble family of the territory or called in a relative of the late ruling lords.

While his return helped to douse the embers of that conflict, it would be a lie to state that there are no remaining coals to reignite that smoldering fire. Jonathan may have forced the old Demesne association to admit defeat to him after he struck down its most powerful members, but once the conflict was over, so was the fear that they felt against him.

"Greetings, Baron Fenris Bougainvillea."

"Greetings as well, mademoiselle Lavento. I didn't know that you're here in Aven for the harvest."

"My, dear sir. Whether we're feudal lords or fiefs acting under your House's rule, Aven is our land and its populace are our people. We'll always be here for the harvest."

At the entrance to the village of Aven, Jonathan was greeted by a young woman just a few years over his age who is carrying a parasol and showed off her noble upbringing through a curtsy.

"Right... We're still like this, I'm reminded. In any case, I'm here to report that the Buff Bisons nearby are dead and the townsfolk can get three to enjoy in the feast. I'll be taking the remaining two for my troubles."

"Two? My, my. Don't humble yourself for our sakes, sire. I believe the people of Aven would be content with getting even just one—"

"I'm not humbling myself for you, I'm taking enough food for these three who helped out in the hunt." just as Jonathan said that, three direwolves appeared from inside the dense forest, rolling behind them is a cart carrying the dead bisons.

"T-Those are—!"

"As a member of House Bougainvillea, it's my responsibility to ensure that everyone gets to do their part in how the territory runs properly. These monsters ate a part of your fields and because of that, they owe you for it and you should be the ones to make it count. Take these beasts and divide them equally to every house and family, that is what's right."

"U-Understood, sire."

Hearing her reply, Jonathan turned his motorbike around and wore his helmet to leave. However, the young woman asked his something that caught his attention.

"Will you ask our men to arm themselves and join your army soon?"

Jonathan was slightly surprised with the question but it wasn't something that caught him out of nowhere with no answers to give.

"No... This is a time for peace, I have no reason to break it."

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

At Stella, Jonathan came by for dinner where he dined in the new manor built for House Dahlia's leader Spica, and her lone Knight Gunther. With Spica currently working in the Bougainvillea manor, Gunther acted as the town's mayor and the host for their master.

"...I gotta say, your chef is incredible for being able to soften the bison meat and also remove the gamy taste. I didn't expect it to be made this good when we arrived here jsut this afternoon."

"Hehe! I'll send your regards to the chef, my lord. I believe he'd have a wide smile after hearing it."

With the meal over and the two now partaking in some light drinking to kill time, Gunther remembered the letter addressed to his master that was sent from the manor.

"I just remembered now my lord, Madame Selena and Lord Joshua sent this over earlier from the manor. Spica-sama's messenger said that while it's not urgent, you should read it as soon as possible."

"Well then. Let me see it."

Jonathan opened the letter, noticing that the wax seal was already loose, he knew that it was already opened and read, and he understood why they deemed it not urgent but should be read as soon as he's available.

"...I see... that explains things."

"May I ask what it is, my lord?"

"It's the senators. They're ordering me to head to Marl Kah to take on the ambassador's role while they're still mulling about who to send."

"Ah! The offer they gave your back then, huh... Wait, order?"

"Right. It seems like my refusal back then and my continued declining for their later offers finally forced them to break off the mask of pretentiousness and admit that they really want to send me there."

Hearing all of that made Gunther think if they're about to head out on another adventure again, but Jonathan's next action surprised him and answered his question.

"My answer is still "hell no", and they can do nothing about it... Hey, throw this into the stove's fire, please."

"Yes, my lord."

After handing over the letter to a nearby maid, Jonathan took a last sip from his wineglass, astounding Gunther who can barely believe what he just saw and heard from his master.

"M-My lord, are you sure about this? While we're protected by the Feudal Magna Carta, it is still a fact that the Imperial Senate can sanction us for insubordination and purposely avoiding subpoenas. If they want, they can even—"

"You're scaring yourself over nothing, Gunther. You seem to forget that even if they're insisting to involve me in this matter, I shouldn't even be included in it in the first place." Jonathan faced him and reminded him of some truths. "After all, I am still in first year in the Academy and it's only in the third year when I can receive lessons on diplomacy and statesmanship. As it is now, I have neither the know-how or accolades for me to be forced into that position."

Jonathan then added his strongest reason for not obeying those orders.

"There's also the fact that of all the five members of the Ostadonian alliance, Marl Kah is probably the most stable and prosperous nation. I believe they want to force me into serving as the ambassador to Marl Kah given our family's close relationship with the Salonga royal family... which leads me to believe that this isn't just about sending me out there where I can have no room to gain prestige, I'm also being sent there to subtly threaten the royal family to not step out of line while Tenka is trying to get its balance back from the previous war."

"So your presence there spells a warning for them?"

"Correct. It's similar to how someone who wants to intimidate you would mention your family, and some details they're not supposed to know, in passing during a conversation. My presence there means that they can force a nobody like me to follow them, and if they want, they can force Marl Kah to dance according to their tune as well."

Once all of this became clear to him, Gunther realized just how much crookedness exists in the great game of politics that they are all in. Being able to recognize all of this when he can barely do it, Gunther gained another degree of respect for their master.

"Still, we can't just ignore them can we, master? What do you plan to do about that?"

"Already did. What do you think I was doing in Paddleton yesterday? If my prediction is correct, my letter should already be at the table of King Fernando Salonga III by now."

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

At the resplendent city of Lakan, the capital of the Monarchical Republic of Marl Kah often nicknamed as the "Fourize of the east" ("Fourize" being the luxurious capital of present-day Francois) due to its Yropan architecture and fashion that it acquired from over 600 years of Cattleyan colonization, stands the royal palace of Casa Estanza where the royal family lives and exercises their power.

With it being the evening time already, much of the palace was closed down and the only lights and noises present in the otherwise large and packed seat of government was the residential level where a man straddling the line between middle and elderly age is calling out a name.

"Ignacio... Ignacio! Where are you, son?"

"I-I am here, father. I was about to head to my room. Do you need something?" his calls was answered by a young male teenager who is wearing his cotton sleepwear and is drying his hair with a bath towel.

"Ah, pardon me then for this. I forgot where I put my glasses and I remembered receiving this letter earlier that they said is urgent. Can you read it for me?"

"Of course... Oh! It's from the Bougainvilleas of Serafina, and it's from the new Baron too." While Ignacio is opening the letter, he mentioned that it came from their close family friend which caught his father's attention. Once the envelope was open, he began to read its short yet informative content.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

"To Your Majesty, Fernando Salonga III.

Forgive me for breaking protocol and writing straight to your office, but I bring dire news from the feudal domains that might be of great interest to be in your knowledge. For the past 3 months, some members of the Imperial Senate, bar the goodly senators Rejas and Pascual, has offered me to become a temporary ambassador to your nation until they find a suitable replacement for the dismissed former ambassador. While I believe you understand well enough why I have declined to participate in this act of disloyalty and unwarranted accusation, I believe their patience towards my refusal is reaching an endpoint and I will soon be forced to take it under the thinly-veiled guise of "insubordination". Which is why I request that you address this quickly and spare both our sides from this ridiculousness.

With all regards, Baron Jonathan Hakuryuu Fenris Bougainvillea.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

"I see... the young man is being punished for gathering enough prestige for a promotion so quickly from the time that he ascended to become his own nobleman... and the same goes for us too whose nation has weathered the troubles and returned to relative stability."

The king mumbled, clutching the letter that he can barely see but can fully understand while he's sitting on the couch of his bedroom. Across him, his wife and the queen of Marl Kah is already on the bed and is putting away her Lunarian prayer book that she just finished using.

"They have always been like that, them folks from Tenka. Stickler to their honor code yet having little to none when they get close to any crisis or hardship. Anyway, stop lounging on the couch and get in here already, it's cold without you beside me."

"Alright... Oof, it's getting harder and harder to get in and out of this bed since I got my first gray hairs..."

"Geez, stop saying that. You're still too young to sound like Father Ferdy, dear."

"Come on, I won't go as far as take after him in that way, you know?"

As they cuddled together in their bed, the old couple talked about the warning that they received from Jonathan and what it meant for this country that they just managed to rein control over after its brief yet destructive anarchical status.

"The Tenka folk and the other alliance members are poised to focus their undermining efforts towards us. I told you already, dear... You should've lied and told them that there are still elements of Atlanterran influence after we took over."

"A lie that they can easily verify to be false and use against our return to power. Can't you remember what father told us when we almost lost it all back then?" Fernando replied, addressing his wife's concern.

"..."A lie can be a resilient shield, just as it can be a sharp sword." was it? And because of it, because he chose to lie that everything will be alright when he knew that the public is beginning to see the monarchy as useless, he became powerless in the revolution and we had to live in exile..."

"...Until they realized that the "freedom" and "rights" that they were promised in the "new and better Marl Kah" is nothing but a sack of lies and sh*t... and with another lie, we came back and was handed back a portion of our authority."

As the two reminisced about the events from the past 10 years, they realized that they are once again in the crossroads of fate. Jonathan's warning, the shady moves of the imperial senators from the other alliance members, and the simmering turmoil between them in the royal government and the elected parliament of Marl Kah is beginning to form a new set of challenges that they have to navigate through.

"Say Liway, are you willing to follow me through all of this again?" the king, lovingly addressing his wife through her nickname, asked her if she'll help him through all those dangers.

"What kind of question is that? Of course I'd do it. I'm not your wife for nothing, you know? I promised to be beside you, through whatever life may bring for us."

"Thank you, darling... That means a lot to me."

As he began to doze off, the king thought of the future ahead for both him and his nation. With the warning they received, he knew already of the danger but he knew that it wouldn't be easy to address it as things stand right now.

Tenka and the other powerful nations within Ostadonia will see his nation's stability as a threat and would undermine them in order to stifle competition and public dissent within their own nations. There is no way that he can avoid it nor have his nation come out unscathed in all of this.

But that doesn't mean that he is willing to give up... as the king of his nation, that is one thing that he can never afford to do. This nation and its inhabitants may have once forsaken them, but no matter what happens, even if he personally sees it as unfair, he cannot afford to do the same to them.

Such is the weight of the crown and scepter... and being what his country is meant to be represented as.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

Six days after Jonathan received the letter that orders him to report back to the capital and heed the duty of being a temporary ambassador, a carriage carrying the insignia of the Ostadonian Imperial Senate arrived in the regional capital of Marin.

On it is the new Imperial Magistrate of East Serafina, a replacement for the arrested and executed previous magistrate... and as if trying to immediately assert his authority, his first meeting with Marquis Elmor Taiga was one of unwavering and unfounded pride.

"...And as such, I believe it would only be obvious for me to have direct authority to reward obedient and responsible lords, and sanction those who are lacking in both loyalty and contributions to the empire."

"An authority that is only given to regional lords and not magistrates, if I may remind you."

"Oho? Says who?" the magistrate snidely asked with a smug smile on her lips.

"Says the Feudal Magna Carta, magistrate. With your rank and presence here, I would've expected you to know it already."

The Marquis' quick and sharp retort made the magistrate's face to twitch in annoyance for a moment. With her eyes that has a layer of eyeliner and cheeks disproportionately covered with a radiant blush-on, her sudden change of expression was easily apparent.

"A-As you may already know, I was sent here to replace the fool Lao Dai who abused his power and sided with corrupt nobles before they were defeated and he was arrested. The senate assigned me here with the expectation that something like this wouldn't happen again, and given that the war between the factions here has caused a collapse of the corrupt old order and the fragmentation of numerous alliances and friendships, I believe it is only proper that I be given the oversight of the feudal lords to ensure the fulfillment of the senate's aims."

"And I can assure you that none of it will happen again even if I decline your request. As things stand, the region is relatively peaceful and while I cannot deny that bruised egos and unsettled grudges still stand between the losers of the war and House Bougainvillea, it is not something that requires a circumnavigation of the law to resolve." the Marquis spoke, showing both resilience and wisdom which made the new magistrate all the more annoyed.

"With all due respect, Marquis Taiga. I believe I am not wrong with saying that your family and House Bougainvillea share a close relationship and it is more than likely that this would cause problems when your integrity when making decisions come into question."

"Hm? Are you telling me that I am susceptible to having biases because of my personal relationships, magistrate?"

"Oho! I spoke no such thing, Marquis. I'm afraid it's only you who has such worries... or perhaps, these things has already been apparent to you before, yes?" she smugly asked, knowing that the marquis cannot convincingly answer without admitting such a thing.

Suddenly, the office's door opened, followed by the head butler of the mansion who came to the side of his master, whispering a news that was addressed to the marquis.

"...Is this true?"

"Yes, my lord. We've confirmed this with the viscount and he stated this to be true."

"I see... Prepare the airship and assemble the diplomatic team. If I give the word later, have the maids prepare the best guest rooms and have the chefs cook their best dishes. Go now!"

"Understood!"

With his master's orders, the butler briskly left the room, leaving marquis Taiga and the magistrate. After he left, the magistrate's face contorted into an annoyed state as she began to spout expletives beneath her breath.

"What a bunch of tactless, hapless primates... Marquis, you should teach your men to— Wait! Where are you going?!" she shouted after seeing the Marquis wear his coat and hat from a nearby rack.

"I'm afraid we have to cut our conversation short, magistrate Shimoda. Someone came by unannounced and I have to face them with all haste."

"And who could presently be in Serafina who is more important that I?!"

Elmor's reply brought both shame and shock to her after realizing who it pertains to.

"His Majesty, Fernando Miranda Fuentes Alonzo Salonga III of Marl Kah is here."

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

Earlier that day, the entirety of the Bougainvillea manor was in a scramble to set things up for a sudden visitor who only sent word of their arrival few hours before he is bound to arrive.

Maids were holding dusters, cleaning rags and brooms to eliminate both cobwebs and every speck of dust in every surface.

Men helped bring out furniture outside so its undersides and backs can be cleaned as well.

Cooks had to bring out the metal stoveholders only used for banquets and cook using firewood in order to have food enough in both quantity and quality that cannot be cooked in the kitchen inside.

With their speed and ability to use ice magic formulas, Wizards were tasked to transport seafood from House Robinson's seaside village and meat from House Elliot's hunting towns back to the manor where it was quickly dressed and prepared to be cooked.

Before midday when lunchtime is usually held, the sound of airship engines echoed from afar and with the confirmation of a familiar voice, Spica reported to her masters that their guests has arrived just in time for every preparation to be be finished.

"Ailee and Costa, lead the Baron to his room and help him change into his formal attire." Martha spoke after seeing the glint of Jonathan's flight equipment, directing a pair of the manor's servants to help him after he arrives.

""U-Understood, ma'am!""

Jonathan landed a few meters away from the crowd, taking care not to land on the carpet laid for their guest. After powering down his flight equipment, he was aided by a pair of Wizards in removing it and took it away as he walked towards Martha.

"What color?"

"Dark blue. Ironed and adorned according to your instructions."

"Excellent. Thanks for that, Martha. I'll be here as soon as possible."

After Jonathan entered the mansion together with his two attendants, Martha's satisfied smile didn't go unnoticed by Selena who whispered a tease to her, something that she felt embarrassed for.

"Someone's happy to be appreciated..."

"Madame! Please..."

"Kukuku... Alright, alright. I'll stop."

Shortly after, the sound of horse hooves and the rhythmic turning of wooden wheels resounded as a carriage went past the estate's gates and a few moments later, stopped in front of the pathway leading to the foyer.

"My, my... you didn't have to go to these lengths, Madame Selena."

"Please, Your Majesty. I cannot dishonor you and my House's reputation by doing that."

As he stepped out of his carriage, everyone among the commoner servants knelt on their knees, while the noble servants gave a low bow. As for Selena, Joshua, Syrene and Jonathan who just returned from changing his attire, they gave a bow before raising their heads after their guest spoke.

"Well then, I guess we have a lot to talk about, dear friends."