Crack in Perception

After major events such as agreeing to operate a newspaper company in collaboration with Ernst, and promising to help with the research project by gaining Serty’s favor based on the formed relationship, life at the military academy flowed relatively peacefully for less than a month.

Perhaps because the agreement to assist with monster research had to be disguised as a plausible external activity for extraction, or because there had been no contact from Serty yet, I was spending the most comfortable days since coming to this world.

The bullying that had existed until just before leaving for vacation in Bern could no longer be found, and if there was any provocation to be found, it was insults based on my commoner past, but even that had clearly decreased in frequency.

“Why is such a commoner…”

“What did you just say?”

“Ah, nothing!”

Because the Labor Party members in the school, led by Berto, volunteered to form a self-defense group and surrounded me. As a bonus, cadets who were impressed by me joined the procession out of favor.

“…Thank you, senior.”

“Don’t mention it. You are an important member of our party, so I’ll guarantee your safety within this military academy, at least on my honor.”

Could there be a situation more fitting for the saying “the world has turned upside down”?

“I hope you’ll continue to carry out excellent party political activities in the future.”

Berto showed a gentle smile that didn’t match his fierce demeanor. Although I had seen it several times already, it was still an appearance I couldn’t quite get used to.

“Haha, I’ll keep that in mind.”

I looked up at him, who was about twice my height in my perception, and bowed slightly.

I was still dazed. I hadn’t expected even Berto, who had only responded stiffly, to treat me so kindly.

Even though he clearly knew I was a party member.

The impact of gracing the first page of the Empire’s newspaper’s social section was truly tremendous. The past friction with Wolf had disappeared into the distant background, and before I knew it, the title directed at me was no longer based on social status but as a proper member of the Labor Party.

This meant that the feudal-based old-fashioned conflicts that had solidified within the Astrakhan Military Academy had come to an end, and a new modern confrontational structure of friction between political factions had been born.

The speech with its deep appeal had served as a catalyst to break the implicit rule of the military academy to refrain from political expression.

-Naturally, this also acted as a starting point for drastic changes within the Empire, including Astrakhan.

Ding!

“One espresso, please.”

“Alright, just wait a moment.”

On a sunny spring weekend morning, I entered the café in a corner of the square as usual and took a seat by the window.

Not long after, the waiter brought a steaming cup of coffee and today’s early morning edition of the Imperial daily newspaper.

Isn’t it truly picturesque to awaken the mind with caffeine and read the newspaper, enjoying leisure?

This was my own method of starting the day that I had established since returning to Astrakhan.

Rustle!

I took a sip of coffee to wet my throat, then turned the newspaper pages to check the contents of the report.

“Prohibition of New Party Establishment Act passed a week after the Enabling Act, Communist Party activities completely banned, putting a perfect period to the end of the Bolsheviks.”

“Is a unified party system really alright like this?”

“‘In this difficult time, perhaps the most critical time in our history, I declare from this podium. We will reclaim our fatherland from those who have bound Bern with enormous interest and plundered our freedom and happiness!’,

Erdoff declares the revival of the Empire in the heart of Bern.”

“Ernst von Stresemann inaugurated as the new minister of the National Enlightenment Guidance Department, delivers inaugural speech pledging to become a department that protects the state and its citizens…”

As befitting a time of drastic changes, the articles decorating the newspaper were all significant.

The Labor Party whirlwind that brushed Astrakhan rode the wind to reach Bern, contributing to the overturning of all sorts of political systems.

The Labor Party, which secured an overwhelming number of seats due to the Reichstag fire incident, immediately passed the Enabling Act, also known as the Plenary Powers Act, dissolving all parties except the ruling party, thereby establishing a single party in the parliament.

To draw an analogy, it’s similar to the system of the country just above where I lived my previous life. How can it be called a republic when they pushed through the Enabling Act by vote, pointing guns and forcing it through semi-forcefully?

The republic had all but collapsed, and Erdoff had essentially declared dictatorship.

Each and every one of these would make the few remaining Communist Party followers and those who resent the Labor Party in the military academy foam at the mouth.

I closed my eyes for a moment to savor the flavor of the coffee, which tasted sweet despite not adding any sugar cubes.

Is this what it feels like to taste good news in a foreign land? Seeing the political situation flowing exactly as expected, from beginning to end, the corners of my mouth holding the coffee twitched.

Dictatorship?

Political violence?

While some might perceive it as unfair violence that disregards democracy, frankly, it was none of my business.

Having already boarded the ship with Erdoff as captain, I was merely watching the tragedy unfolding below deck while munching on meat.

There might be criticism that staying silent because one isn’t directly involved will lead to paying the price someday, but if you consider it, I was one of the parties who had pushed the current political victims, including the Communist Party, into the abyss.

Preaching such maxims that apply to bystanders was nothing more than the empty curse of losers.

“Hmm, hmm─.”

Rather, I was just happy with the parade of good news.

Like this article.

Flutter!

Brushing back my hair, which had grown long enough to sit on my shoulders, I turned my gaze to the article at the bottom of the last page of the newspaper.

There was a photo of Ernst, sporting a dashing mustache, shaking hands with Erdoff and looking straight ahead.

“Ha.”

A minister, huh?

It was a move beyond expectations.

After agreeing to collaborate with me, Ernst had diligently operated the newspaper company.

Starting as a simple daily paper dealing with gossip, he grew the company based on the influence and connections gained from merging with the Labor Party as the Conservative Party leader, and eventually grew into a proper propaganda media.

Soon, Ernst’s newspaper management skills caught Erdoff’s attention, and finally, his abilities were recognized, and he was appointed as the vanguard of propaganda and agitation.

Although not entirely, he succeeded in acquiring part of Paulo’s authority as the control over media, broadcasting, and artistic activities of the Public Enlightenment Propaganda State Department, which Paulo supervises, was transferred to the newly established department where Ernst serves as minister.

Imperial Year 133.

At this time when Paulo’s power is uniquely not so strong!

Thud─

I folded the newspaper, put it down on the desk, and shook my head. Even I thought that knowing the future was an unfairly advantageous privilege.

“If you operate it like this, it should work.”

“…Yena, when I look at the documents you bring every time we meet, I sometimes doubt if you’re even human.”

“Haha, I’ll take that as a compliment.”

By informing him about propaganda methods that Paulo would develop later, such as using radio and theater, new propaganda methods that would appear in the near future, to help with newspaper management, this result came about.

It was a position that Ernst could never have obtained with his existing abilities alone. For Paulo, it was a situation where, metaphorically speaking, his authority was usurped by his future self.

Since the ultimate goal of acquiring the newspaper company was to form a situation like the current one, in a way, it was a success in just over a month.

I plan to continue giving Ernst hints about the direction of media operation, and as that man will likely take it well, it was enough to predict a more optimistic outlook than the original history if things continue to flow like this.

If there was one flaw, it was that we needed more talent skilled in practical affairs, but it wasn’t particularly urgent, so it didn’t matter much.

“Is it good that it’s good?”

I stared at the empty teacup with only sticky brown stains left, then placed an appropriate fee on the table and came out to the square.

And hoping that such happy days would continue,

“Yena──!”

I greeted Erika, who came running with her arms wide open from the entrance of the square, signaling the real start of the weekend.

---

“Mmm…”

When the sun spread across the entire bed at noon,

“Hmm…”

A child’s groan filled the dormitory room.

“Ugh, ugh!”

Lina leaned her back against the wall adjoining the bed, hugging her attachment object, a giant rabbit, and swallowed her throbbing headache with a sigh.

‘Yena Freud…’

The girl who had committed acts that overturned all her reputation and returned in glory, Lina hugged the doll even tighter as she chewed over the image of Yena walking in majestically through the school gate with gifts on the day of her return.

She was envious.

Shamefully, jealousy welled up.

Because of her newfound fame?

Because she met the Prime Minister whom even I haven’t seen?

‘No.’

Whatever fame she gained, this wasn’t in the realm of envy. She thought Yena was a child worthy of respect.

Confidence. She envied the righteousness of taking steps towards her own goals without caring about the instructors’ eyes, even as a cadet.

January. About 90 days had passed since entering the Astrakhan Military Academy in that season when the last snow piles gifted by winter melted and seeped into the ground.

During that seemingly eternal period, Yena had to spend a lonely school life isolated alone due to being a non-noble.

Except for a few, including Erika, no one helped her, and no one tried to solve her difficulties.

But look at the present.

She proved her competence on her own and gained recognition from the strict Instructor Gartel, proudly joined the Astrakhan’s most authoritative Magic Tactics Planning Department, and within it, she demonstrated her excellence to many members, including Officer Derian.

Not stopping there, she caught the perpetrator of the Reichstag fire incident and received a medal, and topped it off by displaying excellent verbal delivery skills through her speech.

Instead of following in the footsteps left by others, she’s creating her own footprints alone, seeking a new exit in a snow-covered mountain where blizzards rage.

‘But… what about me?’

Thud─

Lina put down the doll on her left side and curled up, hugging her knees. Seeing herself in contrast to Yena was utterly miserable.

At the beginning of the semester, she needlessly suspected Yena, and now she was caught up with Wolf, who had been sentenced to prison and taken to a camp.

It was the same even after he left.

Always conscious of others’ gazes due to an obsession bordering on compulsion with her father’s order to revive the family, she unnecessarily clung to honor and spent her days frustrated if she didn’t get perfect scores.

‘What was it all for?’

Lina held out her palm and scanned it with both eyes. The empty sight showing only palm lines reminded her of her own listlessness, having never zealously strived to achieve anything and thus gaining no lessons.

“…What’s so great about the imperial family.”

Although she knew it deep inside but couldn’t bring herself to say it, she muttered the sentence she had forbidden until now, feeling her insides grow hot for the first time.

What’s so great about reviving the family.

What’s so great about those who abandoned me.

Should I just be a puppet, moving as they wish and living my life the way they want, while they protect themselves in the Kingdom of Holland?

‘Bullshit!’

There is no imperial family.

Only the remnants of the deposed remain.

Father was no longer the gentle emperor I knew. He was just an old man with lingering attachments, unable to forget his glorious heyday even in his current state of being driven out under public criticism and insisting unreasonably.

It was foolish to live in compliance with actions that don’t fit the times, trying to restore imperial power even though a new era has come with the Labor Party.

Now that Wolf, who was the only one constraining me, has disappeared, there’s no need to follow orders anymore.

I’ll gladly accept even if I’m excommunicated. No, rather, I would welcome it. Because it’s an opportunity to throw off the annoying stigma of being a princess.

At the moment when questions became doubts, and doubts became certainty, Lina finally cast off the mission of being a princess that she had long maintained.

“Princess, breakfast is ready.”

“Helena.”

“Yes, Princess.”

“Please don’t call me Princess anymore.”

“…Pardon?”

Swish!

Lina got out of bed, opened the curtains, and declared in a dignified tone while looking out at the scenery outside the window.

“Just call me Lina. You know that I’m no longer royalty or a princess, just an ordinary cadet candidate, right Helena?”

Helena was about to retort, “That’s absurd. You will always be my princess,” but she soon gave up and lowered her posture.

“…I will follow your orders.”

“Thank you.”

It was the first time since childhood that a bright, childlike smile harmonized between the deeply set dimples under the slightly silver-tinged hair and luminous golden eyes.

“I should write a letter to Father.”

Lina placed both hands firmly on her chest, which somehow felt wide open, and immediately picked up a fountain pen and a sheet of paper, sitting at the desk.