Chapter 3 (1/2)
Last Edit: 17 July 16.
He did not think of hating the sky.
Regardless of the town being dead quiet or people raising voices of anguish, the sky remains unchanging.
「Ora!! Walk quickly! 」
Looking down on the road below, mercenaries were leading children with ropes tied around their necks for a walk. There were rumours of slaves being moved on board s.h.i.+ps, slipping through the eyes of the navy at the port. Apparently it was true.
Among this country’s people, races which were unrecognized by other countries were not few. Once they were taken out of the country, it would be difficult to rescue them.
The number of s.h.i.+ps heading out towards open sea which was next to the capital was by no means small. There were too few navy wars.h.i.+ps to control all these s.h.i.+ps, and their movement were restricted by the army headquarter which was giving out such orders in succession.
They could be ignored on the pretext that the army’s authority belonged only to the Emperor, though originally in the case where things were in perfect operation, information which ought to be pa.s.sed down should not have been isolated.
「Do you want to be beaten to death like your brother and sister!?」
「Hii」
That was precisely why such violence could be gotten away with.
However, a spy of Duke Lindovorum slipped into the capital, and as always recorded any misfortunes which he saw befalling onto the people of the capital, before sending it to his master.
He was at the rooftop, a blind spot of the mercenaries; however without the presence of the army or the palace guards, there was no means of rescuing those children.
If he were to act, his existence would be known to the mercenaries. In that case, he might impede the mission of the spies who were similarly hiding within each organisation of the capital, thereby making it impossible to fulfil their original mission.
The capital’s information was the lifeline for those outside.
He had to take appropriate action at the appropriate time, and by no means was he putting on air about his own existence.
「–Please forgive me」
Muttering words to no one, they disappeared without reaching anyone’s ears.
◊◊◊
Vilia changed into civilian clothes and headed out towards the city.
She lightly descended from the a.s.sistant seat of the magic transportation vehicle which exited from the castle, bowing to the butler serving as the driver.
「Well then, we shall proceed」
「Un, do be careful」
Towards the butler whose red hair was mixed with white ones, Vilia saw him off with a smile.
For the princess’s errand, she hitched a ride on the a.s.sistant side, yet the appearance of her looking out of the window in dissatisfaction make her seemed like a sulking child.
That behaviour gave off a sense of nostalgia, with her att.i.tude resembling a child being sent out on an errand for the first time. Failing to notice this, Vilia began walking with her ponytail waving like a tail.
「Such a mystery huh」
Towards Vilia’s retreating figure disappearing into the midst of the street, the butler soliloquized.
While steering the magical vehicle from the public parking s.p.a.ce to a familiar shop, he was reminded about the figure of the young man who was picked up by the princess. Since the young man’s arrival, the castle had become slightly livelier.
Out of consideration for Meriela, the white imperial residence continued to be wrapped up in a mourning-like silence. Be it stewards, butlers or maids, they merely pa.s.sed their days peacefully.
But that was broken apart by just a single young man.
Besides working, Meriela visited the young man and her downcast face would slightly look up from the exchange of words.
Despite Vilia floating an expression of displeasure, she had performed most of the tasks of looking after the young man accurately on Meriela’s order. The scene of her preparing baked sweets while spilling out complaints in the maid resting area was also seen by him.
「If this development becomes any bigger…」
She understood that such a thing was impossible. However, she could not help wis.h.i.+ng so.
Just because she did not know his face, she was not that cold-hearted to not feel anything from hearing about an outsider’s misfortune. Nor was she that heartless to not wish of wanting to change when she understood why someone was crying¹.
For those who do not know–flames of purpose dwelt in the people’s minds when founding the former country.
If you save someone, that someone might in turn save a person important to you.
Even if your hand can not reach, someone else hand might be able to.
「–When my work is finished, should I pay a small visit?」
At the end of today’s schedule, he would be at his favourite pub.
Regardless of retired or active, soldiers frequently gathered at the shop which was opened by his former superior after retiring from military. If it was that place, it was possible to get some information.
「Even if you cover your ears, you can never fool the voice inside you」
Such words were coming out from the instructors’ mouths in the midst of that painful marching drills. (TN: Vilia’s memory)
And by facing away from her true feelings, she had betrayed herself.
「Doesn’t seem like anything change…」
Nevertheless, there was no regret for not doing anything.
◊◊◊
Entering the branch office of the government, there were people here and there.
They probably visited the branch office for various important matters, though in general, their expressions were dark.
The clerk stationed at the reception stood up upon noticing Vilia’s figure.
「May I know your business here?」
Though the clerk barely floated a smile, the place’s atmosphere did not soften.
While feeling sympathetic, on Meriela’s request, Vilia handed an application doc.u.ment for validating a person’s ident.i.ty to the clerk.
「I would like to submit these doc.u.ments」
The clerk retrieved the doc.u.ments from the envelope, and upon recognizing them belonging to the acting feudal lord Meriela, put them back into the envelope once again. If the surrounding people noticed Vilia’s connection to the Duke, it might cause unnecessary disturbance.
There were people who visited this place to ascertain the conditions of their relatives in the capital. In reality, the possibility of acquiring information according to one’s wish is low, but there were few people who would give up.
「Will it be alright for the results to be delivered?」
Considering it was a request from the acting feudal lord, the doc.u.ments would naturally be processed with priority. It might not even take one hour of waiting time.
「Ie, I will wait」
「Understood, please wait at the seat there」
At the far back place pointed out by the clerk was a reception area. With part.i.tions obstructing views from the surrounding, it became impossible to tell who is there.
「I am in your care」
Giving a bow, Vilia sat at the designated seat. In the corner of the s.p.a.cious reception compartment, she opened a telegram placed on top of the desk.
「As I thought, admission to the capital is still restricted」
The white dragon palace differed from the other Dukes’ castles in a sense where it did not function as a government, hence the opportunity for Vilia to view government bulletin was few. However she understood from the contents that nothing had improved.
The function of the government itself was running. Entrusted with administrative authority from the Emperor and because under the pretext of acting as regent, the ministries of domestic affairs, foreign affairs and military did not lose their functions.
The bureaucrats complied with the former proclaimed Emperor’s orders, and refused the directives of the supporting n.o.bles, citing 「we have not received the imperial decree for suspension」
However, it was undeniable that the capital’s functions were under considerable limitations. Several functions had been transferred to neighbouring cities. At the very least, the use of trials to administer justice could no longer be performed in the capital.
If not, the supporting n.o.bles could distort the law to injure people.
The antagonism between the bureaucrats and supporting n.o.bles should still be unfolding within the capital even now.
It was because of this confrontation that the worst case scenario was avoided.
「No matter what the field marshal, regent for the army’s authority who had lost his foundations (根拠), and the armed forces staff headquarter said, the unit at the scene would not move. With the administration of justice forbidding any impartial judicial activity, its use was limited in the capital. Though legislation came up with proposals, without the presence of His Majesty who possessed the authority, it was a hopeless situation²」
Seeing how well the situation was progressing within the country, Vilia wanted to burst into laughter.
She could not help but sympathized with the supporting n.o.bles who seized the capital city which had inevitably become a caged castle. They underestimated this country too much.
From a certain viewpoint, the emperor seemed to hold absolute authority, though in the definition of the Empire’s laws, that was not the case.
Because of the first article of Empire’s basic law, it became that way.
『Everything in the Empire belongs to the Emperor』
In a country, its ruler is not the Emperor. Only when an Emperor is there, does a country exists³.
Therefore, even if the supporting n.o.bles tried to hold onto the country, it was nothing more than an empty husk. It held no significance and only maintained the status quo. The ability to receive orders cannot be invoked without the Emperor.
「Still, for how long can you endure?」
Though people might believe that the capital could be recovered, an『Emperor』 was still necessary.
A capital is no more than a city; the Emperor is the country itself.
If that is not the case, nothing can be done. Contrary, the situation can be changed immediately if that is true.
For that reason, Meriela began to move.
Vilia trusted Meriela.
「If that man becomes the Emperor, a <white>, Hime-sama can be saved」
◊◊◊
「This may not seem like it but I have some confidence in this tea」
While saying that, she brewed red tea with practiced movement. Pouring boiling water and tea leaves into the warm pot, the splendid hue of the tea could be seen in just a short time.
(She is skilful.)
Because she was a n.o.ble’s daughter, Letival thought with certainty that she would let a maid brewed the tea; hence he could only admire Meriela’s magnificent skill.
「Douzo」
「Itadakimasu」
Lectival accepted the porcelain cup together with the saucer, but he suddenly noticed from the tea’s surface that it was about to spill over. Thus he searched for the cause by looking at Meriela’s hands, and his attention was caught by the ink (インク) sticking onto them.
Her hands were covered with small wounds. The wounds and her nails which were permeated in ink contrasted excessively with Meriela’s lovely figure.
「What is the matter? –Ah! 」
When Meriela felt Lectival looking towards her hands, she remembered her dirtied hands which were permeated by ink, and hurriedly push the tea onto Lectival.
「I, I am sorry」
Seemingly ashamed, she concealed her flushed face behind her hands and murmured「I am truly sorry. Such things do not happen all the time…」 The permeated ink would not come off by simply was.h.i.+ng, hence she should not feel liable, but she continued keeping her face down.
「Ano, I am not particularly bothered by it」