Arc-6 Ch-28

 “Very well.”

The words of agreement come from Father’s mouth. Glancing at the clock, I am surprised to see the hour hand has gone around several times. For a mere tea-time conversation, we have consumed a terrifying amount of time. At last, the troublesome problem that had plagued us for over half a year has somehow been brought to a conclusion. Relief drains the strength from my entire body. Yet even if the reform plan is carried out, there is no guarantee of success.

After all, it is the first attempt in the entire Holfort Kingdom to create a nationally involved financial institution. Problems are piled mountain-high, and considering the difficulties that will surely arise from now on, we have merely reached the starting point. Still, it is a meaningful first step. For this moment alone, I may savor the joy.

I sip the tea poured into my cup; already cooled, the cold tea has grown more astringent and bitter.

“I understand your thinking. I must admit it is an opinion worthy of serious consideration. Causing upheaval was never my intention.”

“Father…”

“Thank you, Father.”

In contrast to Brother’s voice that carries sorrow, my own is clearly buoyant. As expected, leaving the military analysis to Leon bore fruit. Even I had not anticipated that, beyond what we discussed beforehand, he would take the former principality’s invasion into account. Treating a defeated nation as a potential military asset.

It is a strategy only someone who tasted bitter defeat against the principality army last year could devise. Leon believes himself cowardly, lacking in talent, and clumsy, but I do not think so. I find his attitude of never underestimating no opponent and continually exploring possibilities due to that very cowardice quite favorable. The parts where he is ignorant of noble society customs due to his upbringing are within the range I can cover. If he were too perfect a husband, there would be no role left for me.

He helps where my knowledge falls short, and I assist where he is lacking. After several years of married life, I have only recently come to understand that this is the ideal form of marriage for us.

“However! In exchange, I will present conditions. If you cannot agree to these, I will not hesitate to turn against the royal family and wage war.”

“…We will hear them.”

Just as I begin to feel elated, Father begins negotiations as if to throw cold water on me.

So that is how it is. The situation is still merely that civil war between the Holfort royal family and Redgrave ducal house, which would have split the country in two, has barely been averted. Rather, from the ducal faction’s perspective, their willingness to use force has been blunted. Without presenting a compromise regarding the disposition of the nobles who agreed to this plot—the direction of their emotions—the ducal faction will not back down. Most of the nobles who joined the ducal faction were those who governed their territories properly.

Two wars with the Fanoss Principality, delayed rewards, devastated lands. They were cornered by unforeseen circumstances and thus harbored rebellious intent toward the royal family that rules the country. What happens if nobles who would have fulfilled their duties had there been no war are punished?

Not only ducal faction lord nobles—royal faction court nobles and lord nobles might defect as well. And the final conclusion would be that the Holfort royal family is unfit to rule.

“First, the current Holfort royal family must be forbidden from interfering in state affairs. On top of that, recognize the new king we put forward and promptly confine the current one.”

“That is impossible, Father!”

“Then negotiations are broken.”

My words are blocked by Father’s refusal. Regarding mediation between the royal family and ducal house, Consort Mylene and Chancellor Lucas have granted us a certain degree of discretion. Yet even so, Father’s proposed conditions far exceed the range the royal family could concede to us. The extent of the royal family’s deprivation of authority and confinement that Father demands varies widely. It could mean merely barring them from policy meetings and having them rubber-stamp noble decisions, or it could mean guaranteeing only the bare minimum for survival; it is unclear. Confinement could range from light house arrest in the reflection room reserved for royalty in a detached palace to imprisonment in a lightless dungeon. In any case, it was a proposal I could never imagine Consort Mylene and Chancellor Lucas accepting.

“I will add one more condition.”

“…We will listen.”

“Your divorce.”

“Huh?”

“…Huh?”

Leon’s and my voices overlap. I do not understand Father’s proposal. No—I understand it, but my mind refuses to accept the meaning of the words. I desperately try to hide my agitation, but the trembling of my body will not stop. Why? For what reason?

Such questions well up and vanish one after another.

“First, ‘non-interference in state affairs by the current royal family.’ This applies to all royal family members at present. Not only the king but even the youngest prince and the blood relatives of the previous king. If we include those who have entered commoner status or married abroad the number is enormous, but the details can be worked out in negotiations.”

“…Wait, are you saying dismiss those holding official posts and confine even the innocent?”

“Of course. The previous king’s younger brother will step down as chancellor. Prince Julius will be physically restrained in a prison from which escape is difficult and all external contact forbidden. As for Consort, after a formal divorce, I would have her return to the Lepart United Kingdom. Naturally, the alliance with the United Kingdom will continue.”

If we follow Father’s conditions, the Holfort royal family would have their lives guaranteed but lose nearly all rights as royalty. Not even royal faction nobles would accept it. Especially with Prince Jake—who, due to his succession rank being higher after the broken engagement between prince Julius and me, loudly proclaims “I am the next king”—and the princes born to the side consorts would strongly object. No matter how we struggle, conflict between royal and ducal factions would still erupt.

“…You do not seem to have the slightest intention of compromise. After banishing the royal family, who exactly do you plan to place on the throne?”

“There are plenty to choose from. The current king has secretly fathered a mountain of illegitimate children with lower nobles and commoner women.”

“Tch.”

I had forgotten. The current King Roland is infamous throughout the kingdom for his womanizing. It has merely not come to light because Consort Mylene turns a blind eye; rumors say the number of his bastards is more than ten. If that is true, there must be several sons among them. Remove the royal family members who currently hold succession rights and install a bastard convenient for the ducal faction as king. A new king without backing would become nothing more than a puppet of the nobles. Far more convenient than choosing any of the second prince or lower who have their maternal families as supporters.

“Are you sane, placing someone of unknown origin on the throne?”

“Perfectly sane. His Majesty and Prince Julius will personally vouch for their identities.”

“His Majesty and His Highness?”

“That foolish king is a hero only in libido. My men have already confirmed a considerable number of hidden children. Recently he even ordered His Highness to help them escape.”

“Why would he do such a thing?”

“He noticed my covert maneuvers and was trying to send the Consort and princess back to the United Kingdom while giving money to his mistresses and bastards to flee. Though entrusting unfamiliar clandestine work to his son shows what a bungler he is. Because he has always left governance to others, he has no idea how to use talent.”

I desperately suppressed the urge to click my tongue. It must be the matter of the royal seal that Prince Julius mentioned during the audience with Lady Mylene. I had heard that King Roland entrusted various secret maneuvers to His Highness beyond simply helping Lady Mylene and Princess Erika escape. I felt sorrow for His Highness’s fall, once the legitimate heir, now forced to arrange escapes and child support for his father’s mistresses and bastards.

“His Highness’s domain is combat, not politics or espionage. As Lord Bartfort said, he excels precisely in frontal assault. He has no talent for sneaky logistical work.”

“…Probably.”

“Moreover, the number of mistresses and bastards is enormous. Even trying to spirit them away secretly requires arranging airships, living expenses, and child support; movement is inevitable somewhere. All we had to do was keep watching His Highness.”

“I am impressed by your insight.”

“There is nothing praiseworthy. It was merely that man’s nepotism and incompetence that tripped him up.”

It was obvious whom Father meant by “that man.” He grimaced and cursed foully, as if declaring there was no longer any need for consideration. That was how much pent-up resentment he had harbored toward His Majesty over the years; if the king appeared here now, Father might strangle him.

“We will choose the most harmless and ambition-free boy among the king’s illegitimate sons and install him as the new king. With that father the expectations are low, but it cannot be helped. The new king will remain in the inner palace and devote himself solely to producing heirs. If raised properly from childhood, even the seed of a foolish king can yield some hope.”

“Do you truly believe the royal family and the nobles will accept that?”

“Let me ask in reverse, Angie. Is the loyalty of the royal faction directed toward the individual Roland Rapha Holfort? Or toward the Holfort royal house?”

“…”

I was struck where it hurt and could find no reply. That was the fundamental reason Father harbored rebellious intent toward the royal family and sought the throne.

“Roland Rapha Holfort is decisively lacking in the qualities of a king.”

That was a fact nearly everyone who knew His Majesty’s character believed with certainty. Too disrespectful to voice openly, yet unavoidable for anyone involved in this country’s politics. No matter how renowned a prodigy Lady Mylene was said to be, it was abnormal for a teenage girl to handle state affairs. Only if the king suffered from grave illness or injury that prevented governance, or in emergencies like coups or wars. In any case, it was a situation impossible in a country where a healthy king reigned in peacetime. Yet such a situation had continued for over twenty years since His Majesty’s ascension. When the impossible becomes normal, people eventually forget what is right. Not all blame lies with His Majesty, but tracing the cause inevitably leads back to him.

“I can state with certainty: even among the royal faction, extremely few nobles side with that man personally. The faction is barely held together because Lady Consort and the Chancellor exist. Rather, many in the royal faction think things would be easier without him. If I present a better puppet, they will gladly look the other way while I shove that man into a prison.”

“That may be so.”

“In exchange for selecting a new king from ignorant bastards, I will guarantee no deprivation of titles or confiscation of property for the royal faction.”

“The price is executing judgment on their lord. To outsiders it will look like they sold their lord to save their own skins.”

“Serving one’s lord faithfully is also a path. Such nobles are valuable; I will arrange so their families are unharmed. Now, let me ask, Angie. If I show this much leniency to the royal faction nobles, do you think they will continue following the current royal family?”

I was completely outmaneuvered. As expected of Father; his cunning in politics is still far beyond my reach. For bureaucrats who simply carry out their duties diligently, as long as the king is neither a tyrant nor dictator issuing unreasonable personnel changes or oppressive policies, it hardly matters who sits on the throne. The princes vying for the next king and their backers inwardly wished for the abdication of the politically indifferent King Roland. As the name implies, the royal faction is loyal to the Holfort royal house, but loyalty to King Roland himself is practically nonexistent. The temple will watch the conflict between royal house and ducal house silently and, whichever wins, fawn with suitable excuses while choosing profit. The commoners who form the majority of the kingdom are more enthusiastic about the Saintess than the king. Even if most of the Holfort royal house were replaced, there would be no significant problem; that was the fatal part.

“Is your hatred for the royal family that deep?”

The words that left my mouth carried a sharpness like reproach. I too harbor anger and contempt toward the Holfort royal family. Yet the long conflict with the Fanoss Principality has finally ended, and the country has at last gained the chance to move forward. There should be any number of ways to correct governance without forcing conflict. Anger welled up toward Father for deliberately trying to split the kingdom in two.

“My hatred passed that stage long ago. They are a cancerous growth eating away at the country; unless excised quickly, their only role is to rot everything around them and destroy all.”

Father’s voice was heavy and stagnant, like sludge leaking from a box that had sealed away every negative emotion. For how many years had Father served while harboring indignation toward the royal family?

Probably since far before I was born. It was not something a girl barely over twenty could easily fathom.

“Indeed, the previous king was no wise or famous ruler. Yet he possessed the spirit to try changing the current state where arrogant nobles corrupt politics to the point of obstructing governance and impose misrule. The problem was that both his younger brother and his son were the sort who tried to flee from royal duties.”

“Are you saying those two caused today’s situation?”

“Circumstances change moment by moment. I am not so narrow-minded as to claim the king can make no mistakes. Even a king is human; he will err and sometimes choose the wrong path. The problem is that they piled up far too many faithless acts. I can no longer trust them.”

The released anger gradually turned to resignation. Father too must have once held loyalty and ideals toward the royal family. Yet there is no emptier act than serving another without reward. It is easier to never believe in the first place than to keep expecting and being betrayed. I myself repeatedly admonished Prince Julius when we were engaged, but he never listened, and eventually my affection ran dry. Looking back, I still writhe in embarrassment remembering how completely self-destructive I was when I challenged Olivia to a duel.

“Lucas should have met the nobles’ expectations and taken the throne. Yet he yielded to his nephew Roland and chose retirement. If he had vanished completely I could have accepted it, but he indulges in the hobby of academy headmaster. While still connected to Lady Consort and continuing to give advice. Everything is half-hearted; does he intend to play spectator while we struggle, treating it as entertainment?”

“He was supposed to be devoting himself to nurturing the next generation for the country’s future. Discovering Olivia’s talent is undeniably a great achievement.”

“Do not think one achievement offsets ten failures. Even that could have been done while compromising with the temple and supporting the current king.”

“You are harsh.”

“He should have kicked his unmotivated nephew’s backside together with Lady Consort. Even if Roland cursed ‘then you do it,’ he could have ignored it. If he hated being forced onto the throne and fled, yet still took the chancellor post, he should have remained at court as overseer from the beginning; who knows how much he could have contributed to the kingdom.”

The previous king’s younger brother is not evil; the lack of malice makes it worse. He simply expected too much from others, viewed situations optimistically, and left things be, causing the confusion. If he had continued assisting the king as the highest-ranking court noble duke, Lady Mylene’s burden as a bride from the Lepart United Kingdom would have been lighter.

“Prince Julius is also a problem. If he were merely a fool, stripping succession rights would settle it. But that man is undeniably a hero. There is nothing more terrifying than a fool with power who does not think of consequences.”

“Well, I won’t deny he is an idiot. Thanks to that idiocy I was able to marry Angie, so I am grateful. And since he helped with the sky pirates, I can’t really hate him.”

“That may be so for you. To me he is a political ignoramus who, swayed by a momentary infatuation, treated my beloved daughter callously and then ordered the engagement broken. That he did not become king and there was no need to marry my daughter off is nothing short of a godsend, not only for the ducal house but for the entire kingdom.”

“You are merciless.”

“Though I have only just revised my opinion that marrying her into the Bartfort family was a misjudgment.”

“…”

“A fool with superhuman strength is unpredictable in what he might do. Considering the danger, I would prefer to take his life, so understand that mere confinement is leniency.”

Leon pursed his lips in clear displeasure. Back when the engagement was broken, both His Highness and I were young and shallow in thought. There were surely more peaceful solutions, yet we gave up searching for them and acted on momentary passion, causing damage in many directions; that is an undeniable fact. From the perspective of those harmed, no matter how much the other party repents, suspicion lingers; rather, the more military achievements they rack up, the more threatening they appear; it cannot be helped. I myself can only think I do not want to be bound by past grudges because I am now married to Leon and living surrounded by our children.

“Lastly, Roland. I despise that man from the bottom of my heart. I would rather soothe a crying baby for several nights than listen to his words. No matter how many good deeds he piles up now, I have no intention of valuing them.”

“That is a bit too much personal resentment.”

“Those who could not become queen like you, or Lord Bartfort from the frontier, may not know, but since the founding of the nation the royal house has continued to be wary of feudal nobles. When the grand ducal house declared independence and named itself a principality, that wariness reached its peak. The establishment of the royal academy and the matriarchal policies were all measures taken to ensure the survival of the royal house.”

“I have heard as much from Lady Consort and the Chancellor.”

“Then we can skip the explanation. All so that many nobles would be crushed in the end for the sake of preserving the bloodline of that foolish king. On one side a king who cares for neither country, government, nor wife, and the corrupt nobles who follow him; on the other, nobles who govern properly yet are discarded because they are inconvenient to the royal house. Which is truly unnecessary to the country?”

“So you say everyone in His Majesty’s line except one will be punished.”

“If all they do is stamp resolutions, even a child can do it. It would cause less damage than vain fools fighting over the throne and throwing the country into chaos.”

“Wait a minute. You said His Majesty has a huge number of bastards, right? What happens to them?”

“It would not be unusual for a regular civilian airship bound for the frontier to be attacked by sky pirates and both cargo and passengers go missing.”

The Redgrave house has enough power to secretly dispose of the king’s many mistresses and illegitimate children. That is probably why His Majesty tried to secretly spirit them away, but the result is as we see. Brother covers his mouth, holding back the urge to vomit. Leon frowns openly, showing clear discomfort. Nobles cannot survive on pretty ideals alone. History books record countless cases of completely exterminating political enemies regardless of age or sex. He wants to deny King Roland to that extent. Healing this hatred would likely require as many years as have already been accumulated. Father will carry his resentment toward the royal family until the moment he dies. At that fact, pity outweighed fear.

“I understand. If Your Excellency is that resolved, I have no intention of stopping you. Do with His Majesty as you please; boil him or burn him.”

“We should not be the ones to say it, but what exactly is your loyalty to the royal family or the ducal house?”

“I judge based on personal impression and debts of gratitude, not family. I hate the royal family that keeps pushing nothing but trouble onto me, and no matter how beautiful she is, I have no desire to get close to the black-hearted queen. On the other hand, I want to get along with my wife’s family, so if they are about to cross a dangerous bridge I intend to stop them.”

“I see. A free way of living unbound by ties. Only those with corresponding power are permitted that as nobles. You are quite the confident one.”

“Unfortunately, I have never once thought I was superior. I am just a little more cunning than most and a little lucky. I struggled desperately to survive and somehow ended up here; even I do not sure how.”

“In the past hundred years, no upstart noble has risen higher than you. Have some confidence.”

“Thank you. Now, continuing from earlier…”

Leon and Brother continue a somewhat amicable conversation. No, they are just unconsciously avoiding the anger radiating from Father. Leon glares straight back at the visibly displeased Father without the slightest intimidation.

“Why do Angie and I have to divorce?”

“The purpose of a political marriage is obvious. I do not think you are dull enough to not understand that.”

“I am saying I cannot accept it.”

Suddenly, something wrapped around my waist and pulled me close. It took me a moment to realize it was Leon’s arm. I was about to scold him, but his expression was unusually stern. In the end, I said nothing and let Leon hold me. I wish he would refrain from such behavior in front of Father and Brother, but it does not feel bad.

“Your marriage to Angie is a political marriage. It exists because it benefits both houses.”

“So you are saying you have no more use for me.”

“I admit you far surpass other upstart nobles and the younger generation, though you cannot match those five. However, if you will not use that power for the Redgrave house, there is no meaning in giving Angie to you in marriage.”

“If you think I betrayed you, say so plainly.”

“To think you would side with the foolish king and the vixen. Were you tempted by title or territory?”

“Even if you are my father, that is going too far. This is merely the result of a junior’s feeble attempt to somehow improve the current situation.”

“Be silent, Angie. Do not oppose Father.”

“Lord Bartfort, I acknowledge your insight is quite interesting. With that in mind, I ask: lend your hand in crushing the Holfort royal family.”

“…I refuse. If you wish to sink into a quagmire, be my guest.”

“Then the Redgrave house will take Angie back. No objections will be tolerated.”

The prickling sensation I felt during the kidnapping returns, coming from right beside me, almost painful. Leon and Father continue glaring, neither yielding an inch. Father certainly recognizes Leon’s ability. Yet that ability is not being used for the Redgrave house; worse, Leon recommended reconciliation with the Holfort royal family. The more highly he regarded Leon, the deeper the resulting hatred must be.

“Not only Angie. The twins already born and any future children Angie bears will be raised by the Redgrave house.”

“Are you intending to take them hostage?”

“It is not intention; they are hostages. If you dislike that, lend me your strength.”

“I have no intention of sticking my neck into the conflict between the royal and ducal houses.”

“Then quietly watch our fight from the frontier. To ensure you do not side with the enemy, I will keep your wife and children as insurance.”

“…You overrate me. I do not have that much power.”

“You may lack the talent to govern a nation. However, there may be those who find meaning in your blood.”

“What do you mean?”

As expected, Father had noticed, as the Chancellor said, that Leon’s ancestor is the blood of Leah Bartfort. With that knowledge, he had married me to him in an attempt to incorporate Bartfalt blood into the Redgrave house. Leon is an excellent man, but if asked whether he is fit to be king, I can confidently say no. A ruler needs to be educated from childhood. No matter how one struggles, it is impossible to mold Leon into someone suitable for the throne. However, our child, or grandchild, would be a different story. I felt chills at Father’s obsession with obtaining Leon’s and Olivia’s blood to overthrow the royal house.

“They are my dear grandchildren. I promise no harm will not come to them. In fact, the environment would be far better than the frontier. It is not a bad deal for you either.”

“I refuse. Lionel and Ariel will be raised by us. The child to be born will be the same. Please do not interfere even it's your daughter’s marriage.”

“If you want a legitimate son, take a second wife. As an viscount, many ladies would be eager to marry you.”

“I don’t want to. I have no intention of marrying any woman other than Angie.”

“Are you seriously planning to oppose the Redgrave ducal house?”

“I will quarrel with the Redgrave house if that is what it takes to keep Angie.”

“Fool. To think you lack even that much discernment.”

Just hearing Leon’s words made my body grow hot. Are you an idiot? Do you understand what you are saying? Even as I thought that, my body trembled with joy. Honestly, what an impossible husband.

“If it’s not allowed, I’ll take her by force.”

Leon took something from the inner pocket of his formal wear and pressed the button-like part hard.

"Guys, let's get to work."

┳⁠━━━━⁠━⁠⁠━⁠━⁠━━━⁠┳

Authors Note

┻━⁠━━━━⁠━━⁠━━━⁠┻

The Bartfort couple is on the brink of divorce.

So they will fight back with all their might. Some lines are quoted from the original light novel volume 10. Vince seems to want justification to defeat Roland and is after the Bartfort blood for that. Rather than nation-building, the weight is on the royal family’s treason. 

Next chapter: battle begins.

The waiting original cast finally gets their turn.

Addendum: At the requester’s request, illustrations by Ryuugu-sama, Murasaki On-sama, and Kanata-sama. Thank you very much.

Ryuugu-sama: Pixiv (R-18)  

Murasaki On-sama: Pixiv (R-18)  

Kanata-sama: Pixiv

I would be encouraged by your opinions and impressions.