episode_0307

“His Imperial Majesty wants to create a justification for absolution by inviting the Orleans family as honored guests to the coronation and granting them official positions and duties.”

In a matter of days, Vivian had secured complete control of Helios’ imperial palace.

After taking top-priority security measures, she proceeded with the official imperial coronation.

Although she was already in control of all institutions, making it something that could be postponed, she wanted to use the event to provide safeguards for Eugene Schneider’s side.

‘Hmm… I guess I can’t avoid it at this point?’

It should be quite welcome news, but Eugene Schneider has something to resolve beforehand.

“Yes, I must tell them, my comrades. I must give the mercenary band comrades a choice as well.”

He had been too busy establishing a base in the past few days.

Thus, Eugene and Jeanne hadn’t found the right timing to reveal to the Red Fox Mercenary group that they were members of the Orleans family.

It seems they need to use this coronation situation to resolve that ambiguous matter.

Jeanne nodded slowly, agreeing with Eugene Schneider’s opinion.

“Because the situation could change later, and we could face disadvantages simply for being associated with us, who bear the stigma of a family of traitors.”

Currently, the strong will of the new Emperor Vivian is being enforced.

However, politics and political strife are inherently fluid.

Jeanne doesn’t want her precious mercenary comrades to be caught up in that vortex of political strife.

“O-Orleans family’s young ladies????????”

Thus, Jeanne gathered all the Red Fox Mercenary comrades and came out.

Marie, who was listening to Jeanne’s words with bright eyes in the front, was shocked to the point of being startled.

“Yes, Marie. That’s why Sister Charlotte and Marianne were able to join us. Sister Charlotte is the eldest daughter of the Orleans family, and Marianne is the Grand Duchess.”

Jeanne nodded slowly to the shocked Marie, explaining in more detail.

“When I asked Sophia and Advisor Ivan, just in case, they said it wasn’t true? They said I was mistaken??”

Marie looked around, searching for Sophia and Ivan.

Charlotte and Marianne, whose names were too famous even if she didn’t know their faces,

So, just in case, Marie asked Sophia and Ivan separately if Charlotte and Marianne, who had joined their camp, were the Charlotte and Marianne she knew.

She thought those two would know,

But Sophia and Ivan’s answer was no.

“The captain asked for our understanding in advance, so we couldn’t answer, Marie. Please understand.”

“Ugh, unbelievable!”

Then, Ivan, the advisor of the Red Fox Mercenary group, apologized to Marie with a sorry expression.

Jeanne was also most concerned about Ivan and Sophia.

They were likely to recognize Charlotte and Marianne’s identities.

So, she told them in advance and asked for their cooperation.

“Is the reason you’re making this public, even arranging a gathering like this, perhaps because Grand Duke Antoine has started a rebellion, Captain?”

Ivan, after soothing Marie, asked Jeanne a question.

When he heard that Jeanne and Eugene were members of the Orleans family, he was naturally surprised as well.

But what did it matter? Regardless of their status, Jeanne and Eugene were such good people that he wanted to be with them.

So, Ivan and Sophia cooperated and kept the secret even after coming to Bahad.

In the midst of this, Jeanne took the initiative to come out publicly,

In Ivan’s opinion, it seemed to be because of Antoine, who had become a rebel force.

“Yes, Advisor Ivan. The new Emperor is said to have a special connection with us and is giving us leniency, but I didn’t think we could rely on that and tie you all down.”

Jeanne nodded slowly, sending a message of affirmation.

“What are you talking about, Captain? Tie us down!”

Marie, who had been stunned by the betrayal she felt from Ivan and Sophia’s silence, widened her eyes again upon hearing Jeanne’s words.

“Literally, the Orleans family has become a family of traitors, Marie. As time passes, my situation will also become known to people. I think we need to take action before that happens. Marie, you know how sensitive this world is to labels.”

Jeanne looked at Marie and explained the background of her decision.

Jeanne had been managing her expression to some extent during the coming-out process, but now she couldn’t quite hide her feelings.

Watching Marie’s reaction, she realized she was really talking about parting ways.

“T-That’s…! Even so, that’s too harsh…! We were just settling down and working hard with you and the Assault Captain at the center…!”

Sob… Sob… Sob…

At that moment, tears welled up in Marie’s big eyes.

Jeanne’s expression conveyed that her words were real.

For Marie, who grew up with Thomas in the slums, the Red Fox Mercenary group was a dream.

And Jeanne was the one who made it possible for her to dream.

Also, Eugene was gradually making that dream a reality.

Such an irreplaceable bond was about to end so abruptly.

‘I too… I was able to work hard with a sense of purpose and responsibility thanks to you, Marie…’

Jeanne was silent for a moment, looking at the tearful Marie.

She wanted to answer. To tell her how precious the Red Fox Mercenary comrades were to her.

But she couldn’t bring herself to say those words to Marie.

Because that would only make it harder for Marie.

“That’s right! This isn’t right! Give us a chance too!”

At that moment, Peter, the medic, stood up abruptly and spoke up with a flushed face.

“Hasn’t the Captain always told us that communication is important? Even if there’s a clear chain of command in combat situations, when discussing important matters of the mercenary group, she’s always given us a chance to choose! Then I think it should be the same this time!”

Peter spoke out more earnestly than ever before.

Peter, who was a knight but was kicked out of his previous mercenary group because he was afraid of killing people,

The Red Fox Mercenary group was the place that gave him the opportunity to show his skills as a medic.

“That’s right! I agree with Medic Peter!”

“Yes, Captain! Please give us all a chance to choose!”

“Please give us a chance, Captain! It doesn’t make sense for the Red Fox Mercenary group to disband like this!”

Murmur! Murmur! Murmur! Murmur!

As Peter started, the majority of the general mercenary members also stood up and agreed with him.

Most of the general members of the Red Fox Mercenary group were people who had lost their hometowns and were roaming the mercenary market.

For them, the Red Fox Mercenary group was now their hometown and home.

“I also implore you, Captain. I know well what you’re worried about. But as a comrade who has gone through the battlefield together, I don’t want to just avoid it. Please allow us to decide the future of the Red Fox Mercenary group.”

As the atmosphere inside the Bahad Red Fox Mercenary Group’s temporary headquarters grew heated, Advisor Ivan gathered that heat and made an official proposal to Captain Jeanne.

“Now! Brothers! This Ivan, a member of the Red Fox Mercenary group, will ask you! Do you absolutely trust Captain Jeanne d’Arc de Selle Orleans and Assault Captain Eugene de Selle Orleans, and will you continue to be members of the Red Fox Mercenary group forever?”

Ivan looked at all the Red Fox Mercenary members behind him and began to ask in a loud voice.

“Of course, Advisor Ivan! I am Jeanne’s Red Fox Mercenary member in life, and I am Jeanne’s Red Fox Mercenary member in death!!”

“We will be together! The Captain Jeanne we follow is not the noble young lady Jeanne, but the reliable and responsible Captain Jeanne!”

“Absolute agreement! We will unconditionally be together! Captain Jeanne, please continue to take care of us!!”

Then, about 40 or so Red Fox Mercenary members expressed their opinions actively without exception. They declared that they would cling to the bond with Jeanne and Eugene, as if they could never let it go, with eyes burning fiercely.

“Ah…!”

Jeanne was flustered by those appearances.

Was the fence called the Red Fox Mercenary group, which she had protected and cultivated, so solid and strong?

She really felt it with her skin, no, with her soul.

“Then, let’s all raise our hands and cheer and shout! We are the Red Fox Mercenary group! We protect the Red Fox Mercenary group!”

—Swoosh!!

After confirming the will of his comrades, Ivan raised his right hand to perform a gesture to drive the point home.

“We are the Red Fox Mercenary group!!!” “We protect the Red Fox Mercenary group!!” “Captain, we will protect you!!”

Wow! Wow! Wow! Wow!

Then, cheers erupted inside the headquarters as if they had won a great battle.

It was a clear victory.

Because they protected the Red Fox Mercenary group with their own hands.

The members pledged unwavering loyalty and trust to Eugene and Jeanne.

“T-Thank you, everyone… Thank you…”

Jeanne, the captain of the Red Fox Mercenary group, became slightly teary-eyed.

It was a place she had prepared and called them to for parting, but rather, she experienced a unity that even death could not break, and Jeanne’s heart felt a heat beyond emotion and filled with emotion.

“Our Jeanne has created a really wonderful mercenary group. It’s really amazing.”

Touch…!

Eugene put his hand on Jeanne’s shoulder and praised her.

Eugene had been watching from the side how anxious and concerned Jeanne had been while preparing for this gathering.

That was because Jeanne’s love for the Red Fox Mercenary group and her comrades was deep.

Eugene Schneider felt sorry that there was nothing he could do for her, but that wasn’t the case.

There was no need to do anything. Jeanne had been walking the right path, so the corresponding result was already destined.

“Then, I think I should stay. Jeanne is someone who absolutely must attend the coronation.”

After the Red Fox Mercenary group matter was resolved, an Orleans family meeting was held.

It was a meeting about participating in the coronation.

Vivian sincerely wanted Jeanne to participate, so Charlotte said that she would remain in Bahad.

“You’re putting a big burden on our eldest daughter…”

“No, Mother. Going to the coronation is an even bigger burden. I’m too worried…”

“Don’t worry, Charlotte. Everything will work out.”

Pat… Pat… Pat…

The loving Grand Duchess Marianne was worried about her daughter being left alone, so she hugged her.

But rather, it was her sensible eldest daughter who was worried about the family members who were leaving,

Marianne patted her daughter’s back, reassuring her.

‘Hmm… I hope nothing really happens?’

Eugene Schneider, who was watching the scene, felt a sense of déjà vu for some reason.