Ch.263To the Edge of the Cliff (3)

[“Lily, are you really okay with this?”]

[“Yes, Father. Isn’t it difficult to hold a grand wedding in these times? So a simple one would be fine. No, please make it that way.”]

The truth is, I’m not okay with it. I wanted a magnificent wedding, one that would rival Father and Mother’s grand ceremony.

From the number of guests to the lavish decorations and the enormous hall, I wanted all of it.

But… the timing couldn’t be worse.

[“We could either postpone the wedding until the situation stabilizes, or simply ignore everything and hold a grand ceremony anyway. That’s certainly within my power.”]

[“Postponing would mean breaking our promise to the Duke, and even if we held a grand wedding despite the circumstances, many people from abroad, nobles from Caroling, and even some nobles from Lotharing wouldn’t be able to attend. No matter how grand it is, having few attendees would actually be counterproductive.”]

[“The latter might be true, but the former doesn’t matter at all. It’s not like you’re changing your mind and canceling the engagement—you’re just postponing due to poor timing. Surely Duke Akitan would understand that much?”]

[“In that case, I fear people would point fingers at you, Father, saying you can’t even keep your promises properly. Please let me proceed as scheduled.”]

[“…Very well, I understand.”]

Father has too much—an excessive amount of—compassion.

While this is certainly a good quality in a person, in Father’s position, it can cause him to lose sight of the greater good.

Isn’t it evident in his attitude, willing to break promises just for my sake?

It may sound obvious, but I truly think Father is fortunate to have met Mother. Otherwise, when it comes time to make decisions based on compassion… ugh, I feel dizzy just imagining it.

“…Well then, let’s head back now.”

“Yes, my lady.”

To think our precious wedding would be ruined because of such rioters.

If I had my way, I’d use the southern army group that Father entrusted to the Duke to summarily execute them all for disturbing society and raising private armies.

But that wouldn’t be right.

Aren’t they Father’s precious assets?

Rather than killing them, it would be better to make them work for life and pay taxes to Father.

‘…No, using them as meat shields would be even better.’

If such rioters have come all the way to Akitan, so far from Dijon, I can clearly imagine what must be happening in the Holy Empire and the states of Kisalpina, which are much closer, without needing a separate report.

If that’s the case, it would be better to throw these war-hungry rioters onto the battlefield and let them die for Father as they seem to desire.

…But why am I thinking like this?

“My lady! It’s dangerous to move so quickly when coming down from the ramparts!”

“It’s fine, it’s fine!”

I need to hurry and embrace Ethan to heal myself.

If I don’t… I feel like something dangerous might happen to me.

……….

Meanwhile, in the Holy Empire, which had all its existing agreements overturned and was suddenly attacked by Lotharing, things were… not exactly in chaos.

“Hehehe… Yes, I thought it was too quiet. This is more like Lotharing, hmm.”

“Your Majesty!!”

“Why such a fuss? I’m the one taking the loss, so why are you getting so worked up?”

As mentioned before, this is because the Emperor, the leader of the Holy Empire, has become like this.

With his emotional regulator that controls joy and sorrow broken, he always views situations optimistically and humorously, and his hatred for nobles has created a synergy that prevents him from taking any action regarding the current crisis.

“Several nobles have already been beheaded by Lotharing, we must devise a strategy!”

“Beheaded? My… that’s wonderful news, isn’t it? Hahahahaha! Good, very good. To think they would eliminate those vile, self-serving vermin for us—how truly grateful I am. Indeed, one needs the decisiveness of a bastard child!”

“…Your Majesty.”

The Holy Empire’s Emperor simply rejoices with an expression and tone as if he’s had a bad tooth pulled, admiring Claude’s bold actions.

Of course, Claude didn’t order it—it was merely the people acting on their own—but that’s not what matters now. What matters is that the Emperor believes it to be so.

“…Then what will you do now?”

“What will I do… Wouldn’t it be better to just stand by and watch? Those fellows never paid their taxes properly and only hindered us at every turn. Kehehehe… Why not just quietly enjoy watching those bastards suffer their humiliation over a drink?”

“Your Majesty… please issue proper orders. If we offer no resistance, Lotharing’s forces will continue to encroach upon and devour our border regions.”

“Don’t you believe the bastard’s letter?”

Lorenzo, the Empire’s chancellor, tilts his head at the Emperor’s question.

What nonsense is this?

Am I supposed to believe that?

With such a large-scale invasion, how could the bastard king—no, the bastard emperor—truly have done nothing?

“Your Majesty, how could we possibly take the word of an enemy monarch at face value?”

“What if you don’t believe it? Are you going to raise an army and block Lotharing’s forces?”

“Lotharing’s actions violate the peace treaty, so shouldn’t we negotiate for them to quickly gather their troops and withdraw?”

“Hehehe… I believe that was written in the bastard’s letter, wasn’t it? That he would subdue the rioters and withdraw?”

“That is…!”

When war suddenly broke out due to the militia—or rather, the rioters—Claude sent letters to neighboring countries explaining that this was not his intention and that he wished to resolve the conflict quickly.

However, no monarch except the Holy Empire’s Emperor believed it.

After all, who would trust the words of someone who had committed numerous atrocities, arbitrarily broken treaties, and treated noble lives as equal to commoners?

“Y-Your Majesty!! Duke Lorel has sworn allegiance to Lotharing!!”

“That’s not all! Several vassals bordering Lotharing have abandoned their status as princes of the Holy Empire and sworn allegiance to Claude of Lotharing! If we don’t prevent further defections, the Empire will face terrible times!”

The Emperor’s optimistic assumptions are instantly shattered.

Contrary to Claude’s claim that he would subdue the rioters and withdraw, a series of major incidents have occurred where vassals are switching their allegiance.

“Is that so? Hehehe… Well, that’s unfortunate. But it’s fine.”

“…Pardon? What do you mean it’s fine?”

“I never expected anything anyway. When you don’t expect anything, you don’t feel disappointed even when betrayed! Hahahaha! That’s the secret to peace of mind I’ve learned throughout my life!”

The servants and officials are left speechless at the Emperor’s laughter-filled voice.

They can only think about escaping this place as soon as possible and finding new employment.

“…Your Majesty, it’s not too late. Please grant me full authority.”

Only Lorenzo, who received abundant grace from the previous emperor, is the exception.

Lorenzo, who is intelligent and has sacrificed himself for the greater good, believes he is responsible for the deterioration of the once-brilliant Emperor, and is now trying his best to untangle the knotted mess.

“Full authority? You’re asking for full authority?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. You can continue to enjoy yourself as you wish.”

“Well… I suppose it’s fine if it’s you. But do you really need to do this? Those people aren’t worth helping or saving—why not just come here and drink with me?”

“Drinking… I’ll do that after everything is finished. I can’t refuse your offer of wine.”

“Kuk kuk, that’s right. That’s how it should be. I permit it, so now you may handle things as you see fit.”

Lorenzo makes a request to the Emperor that could be considered not just disrespectful but treasonous, yet the Emperor, far from being displeased, laughs and willingly hands over his authority.

There’s nothing to lose at this point, but above all, Lorenzo has been a capable and loyal chancellor of the Empire since the previous emperor’s reign.

The Emperor may have trouble distinguishing between joy and sorrow and has turned away from reality, but he still retains the ability to distinguish between loyal subjects and treacherous ministers, so he readily agrees with Lorenzo’s opinion.

“…Thank you, Your Majesty. I pray you will return to your former self.”

Lorenzo, who assisted the Emperor during the previous emperor’s time and led the Empire’s reforms, now steps forward once again to preserve an empire on the verge of collapse, having lost all the fruits of those reforms.

Although Lorenzo feels an immense sense of loss for everything he had built, he forces his body and mind to move, reminding himself that if he loses his drive and gives up due to that loss, the only path left for the Holy Empire would truly be destruction.