Ch.136Chapter 136. Balance Broken (3)

* * *

On the way back to the royal palace, Karelia turned her head to look at Vanessa.

“Vanessa.”

“Yes, my lord.”

“Don’t you think you’ve watched over things enough by now?”

Vanessa gave no answer, merely bowing her head.

“Complaints about your policies are rising everywhere. I too think your hardline approach might be a bit excessive. Many are voicing their opposition. Perhaps it’s time for you to reconsider your approach.”

“My lord. Do you remember General Sadd?”

“…!”

Sadd Astron.

A general who had greatly contributed when Karelia’s army was still a wandering band of nomads.

The last she’d heard, he was now working as the leader of a mercenary group, not affiliated with any nation.

“He was a man with capabilities surpassing any general in our army. He was a man who willingly sacrificed one eye to be your shield. No one can deny his significant contribution to the conquest of Madlan Castle. But what did you do to that man, my lord?”

“…I told him we could no longer be together. Because he plundered the territory’s people.”

After that incident, thousands of soldiers followed Sadd and left the country.

“If he hadn’t plundered then, we would have likely been defeated due to lack of military provisions, and Madlan Castle wouldn’t have been ours. Perhaps this nation itself wouldn’t even exist. It was an unavoidable choice.”

“But if we wage war by taking away the assets of innocent territory people, how are we any different from Serpina’s army?”

“At that time, they weren’t our territory people. They were paying taxes to an enemy country and producing food for enemy soldiers.”

“Regardless of which country they belong to, territory people are still territory people. Just a few decades ago, everyone was part of the same country. Even if they are an enemy country’s territory people, how can we take them lightly?”

“That’s exactly it, my lord.”

Vanessa spoke with a somewhat stronger tone, as if pleading.

“The fact that you consider such things is your weakness, my lord.”

“What…?”

“My lord. These are chaotic times. You cannot think that benevolence and virtue alone will allow you to grasp the world. Of course, I, Vanessa, also greatly sympathize with your intentions. I won’t deny that many have gathered here, drawn by your cause. However, while that might be enough to establish a country, it’s not enough to bring down Serpina.”

Overwhelming military power, excellent decisiveness, and the undeniable sole legitimacy of the former empire.

Unless there was something clearly superior to overcome her, Vanessa judged it nearly impossible to defeat her and become the unifying monarch of this continent.

“Our army’s soldiers have not experienced war for a long time. Even compared to other southern countries that have experienced some unrest, we have enjoyed a relatively peaceful period for a long time. Peace, paradoxically, tends to gradually corrupt the army and its soldiers. In such a situation, if we don’t establish strict discipline, there’s a high possibility that we won’t be able to achieve even southern unification, let alone face Serpina’s army.”

“But… isn’t guilt by association too harsh? And that military faction standard… shouldn’t we overlook minor mistakes?”

“Even when small mistakes accumulate into major ones, and when major mistakes occur, the situation becomes irreversible?”

“!!!”

Vanessa bowed her head again and spoke.

“Let me be frank, my lord. Before I took military authority, our country’s military discipline was in an extremely lax state. Does it make sense for a soldier to use trivial personal circumstances as an excuse to skip training led by a general with everyone’s participation? That soldier said so. That even you, Lord Karelia, value each of our soldiers, so why was the strategist doing this?”

“…”

“This is not a normal army. Or rather, it might not matter in peaceful times, but it’s absolutely not the image we should show right now. A country and its army must have a clear hierarchy. Without it, they cannot function properly.”

Karelia couldn’t bring herself to deny Vanessa’s words.

“To establish peace on the continent, to prevent it from falling into the hands of the tyrant Serpina, we must build an army and a country that wins. There might be bloodshed along the way. But don’t you think that when you become the unifying monarch and can realize your vision, that will be the day true peace comes to everyone?”

“…”

“My lord. The blood needed in that process, I will bear it. When the moment comes to roll in the dirty mud, I will gladly do so. Even if others call me an impudent woman trying to act like a ruler, I will gladly accept that infamy. I earnestly ask you to understand my heart.”

“Vanessa…”

Karelia met Vanessa’s eyes.

And she couldn’t bring herself to say anything.

After all, she knew well how much Vanessa had done for her.

After some silence passed.

Vanessa deeply bowed her waist and said.

“Please forgive my rudeness, my lord.”

“No. Rudeness? How could there be such a thing between you and me?”

“…It’s quite amusing to say this while asking for forgiveness, but if you had cut off my head for being rude, I might have been able to depart to the afterlife with some peace of mind.”

“You make quite bold jokes.”

Seeing Karelia smile after saying that, Vanessa reaffirmed her commitment.

That she would do whatever it takes to raise her as the sun in this sky.

* * *

“Thank you so much earlier, Lady Luna. You saved me.”

“No, I think someone would have done it even if it wasn’t me.”

“That’s not true! Really… if it wasn’t for you, Lady Luna, who would have dared to think of defying Lady Vanessa?”

After the regular meeting.

At Cecile’s request to spend time together after a long while, Luna was currently visiting her house.

Though it was just light conversation over tea—

For both Cecile and Luna, this time felt quite special.

After all, when Luna had just joined Karelia’s army, Cecile had helped her adapt the most.

Since then, she had always wanted to repay that kindness, so this somewhat lightened the burden in her heart.

“By the way… the girl next to you…?”

Cecile asked, looking at Violet who was standing quietly next to Luna.

“She’s a child I’m looking after as a guardian.”

“Hello.”

Cecile replied with a kind smile.

“You’ve received patronage from someone with much to teach. I hope you make good use of this fortune that has rolled your way.”

“Thank you. I won’t forget what you said today.”

After giving a light word of encouragement, Cecile glanced subtly at Luna.

Luna, noticing the nuance with which she was being looked at, smiled at Violet and asked.

“Violet. I’m sorry, but could you leave us for a moment?”

Violet was the most perceptive of the three children under her care.

Quickly reading the subtle atmosphere flowing in the room, she bowed with an elegant gesture.

“Yes. Take your time talking.”

With Violet leaving the room.

“She’s a very dignified friend. The strength in her eyes suggests she’s someone who will achieve something.”

“Thank you. From my position, I just hope she stays healthy, regardless of whether she achieves anything…”

And.

Cecile slowly brought up the real topic she wanted to discuss.

“What do you think, Lady Luna?”

“…”

What she thought about clearly referred to what had just happened.

No, beyond that—it would be fair to say she was talking about Vanessa’s “reign of terror.”

After hesitating on how to answer, she first tested the waters.

“How’s the atmosphere in the capital city?”

“The public sentiment is becoming hostile. Not just the territory people conscripted as soldiers, but even among the military commanders… voices saying they can’t understand the strategist’s decisions are growing louder.”

“I see…”

Luna stared blankly at the quiet teacup.

“On the surface, it might seem like we’re creating a strong army with clearly established discipline, but—”

After saying that, Cecile tapped Luna’s teacup with her finger.

With that, the quiet world inside the teacup that had been holding its breath began to shake.

“I can’t shake the feeling that if there’s even a tiny trigger… discontent will explode.”

“…Has no one spoken separately to our lord about this?”

“Why wouldn’t they? I myself have pleaded several times. Including me, General Mirion and General Gid have also brought it up.”

Mirion and Gid were veteran generals in Karelia’s army, second to none.

They could be aptly described as founding contributors and loyal subjects.

“They understand the strategist’s intentions, but say it’s too extreme. If we continue like this, internal problems will arise, and far from being a strong army, we risk becoming a disorganized rabble. They ask if we can really govern territory people through fear.”

“And our lord…?”

“…Sigh.”

Cecile let out a deep sigh.

As someone who felt strong pride in being part of Karelia’s army, her eyes trembled slightly, showing genuine concern.

“It’s similar to what you heard earlier. …She delegated military authority. It seems she’s decided to trust her for now, but…”

“But is our lord just watching this reign of terror with both eyes open? The lord I know would never be like this—”

Cecile nodded slowly with her eyes closed at Luna’s words.

“Yes. I think so too. However… our lord must be feeling a kind of debt.”

“A debt, you say?”

“Vanessa has been like our lord’s shadow. A ruler in chaotic times cannot always just recite good ideals. While holding ideals in their heart, they must also have the ability to act, make decisions, and be prepared to get blood on their hands.”

And.

The one who willingly gets blood on her hands—

No, the one who has thoroughly dipped her hands in a pool of blood is none other than the national strategist, Vanessa Trinity, she said.

After saying that, Cecile let out a bitter smile.