Chapter 4 (1/2)

Last Edit: 17 July 16.

The cheering of citizens who regarded the Empire as a friendly neighbour invigorated the allied troops. They demolished the『rebel army』with great vigour and pushed on towards the capital in one fell swoop.

「Though the n.o.bles in the centre reformed the defence line multiple times, the soldiers of the n.o.bles army who are shouldering this defence line are conscripted commoners. Naturally there is no morale. On the contrary, there are soldiers who publicly seem to want to ally with the allied army. ——Well I’d like to say you reap what you sow but we won’t do such dishonourable thing.」

Mirella sneered in self-derision yet only her eyes shook in sorrow.

「The defence line is riddled with flaws, and as I thought, it can’t stop the allied army.」

As collusion and betrayals appeared one after another, the result was the defence line being repeatedly breached. Before long, the supporting n.o.bles would begin s.h.i.+fting towards the capital for the sake of protecting their own necks. In a situation where allies could not be trusted, it became difficult to fight systematically, let alone maintaining the defence line.

As the core of the Emperor’s army, the imperial guards fortified the defence in the capital, probably to hold out until reinforcement from frontier n.o.bles came. Holding onto such fleeting expectations, the remaining forces faced the supporting n.o.bles in the capital.

But their real misfortune began from there.

「–In the morning about six months ago, while the supporting n.o.bles were in the midst of gathering war potential for the capital’s absolute line of defence, the reigning Emperor pa.s.sed away abruptly.」

Be it suicide, a.s.sa.s.sination or a natural death, the cause had yet to be determined.

At the time when the allied army had already surrounded the capital, there wasn’t a method to know the situation inside accurately.

「But to be troubled here, even the allied army felt the same.」

In any way, their arbitrarily just cause for invasion had vanished.

Although the allied army wanted some privileges from the Empire for defeating the evil dictator, it lost its great cause for forcibly invading the Empire since he died. Raising a mobilization of military force without a great cause, they will be viewed as 『evil』 by their own people this time. Within each nation’s government, when its internal opposition parties caught news of the Emperor’s death, they noticed it was a scheme to drag down their political power.

Whatever the cost was, a victory was essential to persuade their people.

The allied army bearing the intents of their nations’ governments continued encircling the capital under the pretext of improving the deteriorated public order caused by the confusion of the Emperor’s death. This carried on for about a month.

In that one month, the allied army dispatched troops to governments of their homeland, and though the ceasefire pact should have been concluded with the frontier n.o.bles they invited, several new problems would arise.

Even if the frontier n.o.bles were satisfied with payments of certain percentage of reparations promised beforehand, the various nations’ governments weren’t granted the economical privileges they requested.

With their promises being different, the nations pressed the frontier n.o.bles to hand over the now deceased Emperor’s body to the allied army. Any less and they have no obligation to fulfil their promise; it was something they firmly refused to back down from. If the n.o.bles were unable to secure the body, they would similarly lose their just cause. Letting the country and its people be ruined any further, such a thing can never be allowed.

But the body of the Emperor had already been buried by the supporting n.o.bles.

The emperor’s mausoleum was deeply underneath the capital, and with the exception of the royal family and some of the ceremonial staff, entry was denied.

「In short, the capital was invaded to seize the reigning Emperor’s body, and it is necessary to divulge the mausoleum with military might.」

However, if the frontier n.o.bles invaded the capital, their troops may get caught in the allied army’s a.s.sault. The n.o.bles insinuated that many times whereas in reality, their troops were gathering around the capital in succession, and before one knew, their numbers surpa.s.sed that of the allied army.

Harming their own Emperor was tantamount to treachery, and they borrowed other countries’ strength to prevent that, but there was no reason to allow other countries’ troops to remain on their beloved country’s land any longer. For the n.o.bles, the allied army was a hindrance.

「Withdraw immediately since your business has finished」such a frontier n.o.bles army, and「obtained nothing but a small reparations, hence losing the people’s support just by spending redundant military costs」 such composition from opposition of each nation’s government were newly born. The circ.u.mstances further increased the extent of turmoil.

An enormous sum of funds and materials were necessary to mobilize the military for foreign campaign. This cannot be carried out readily regardless of how large the country is. Although each nations’ government tried to contribute to the war expenditure for bond issuance, their homelands’ economics were already overshadowed by cost of the ongoing invasion operations they started, hence it was impossible to consent to a small sum of reparations.

In the end, the condition stating for the balance of minimum income and expenditure from the alliance was refused by the Empire, hence they did not retreat.

On the other hand, the frontier Origin n.o.bles army which continued to standoff the allied army had several problems internally.

「I see, everywhere is full of problems.」

Without hesitating to expose her own shame, Mirella continued saying such words.

However, before she could open her mouth, the door was knocked several times.

Though Mirella cowered as if cold water was poured onto her, she panicky smooth over her expression when she felt Lectival’s gaze and gave the permission to enter towards the door.

「–Hime-sama, I brought you tea.」

The one entering the room through the door was the maid from before.

On the push cart was an insulated bottle and tea pot filled with hot water and confectionery of tea-cake. They were then presented before the pair.

「Th, thank you…But…」

「If something is important during emergency, is it fine not to talk to the master too? Besides, he is still recuperating. It is too unreasonable.」

Pointing that out to the maid, she looked back to Lectival who had a startled expression.

Looking closely, his complexion had turn paler compared to before.

「My apologies. I seem to have rushed.」

「Iyaa, nothing…」

Don’t worry about it, though Lectival was about to continue, looking her way, her eyes had an air of admonishment, hence his words was cut off.

「Let’s take a short break.」

The room’s atmosphere slightly relaxed from Mirella’s words.

◊◊◊

That moment of rest became an unforgettable memory for Lectival and Mirella.

Lectival did not view Mirella as a daughter of a n.o.ble but rather as a woman, while Mirella felt Lectival was a man who should have possesses some sort of power.

For the both of them to start mutually recognizing each other as an individual, it was a huge turning point for them.

◊◊◊

(TN: Repeated from part of chapter 3)

「This may not seem like it but I have some confidence in this tea. 」

Saying so, 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 Mirella’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 Mirella’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 Mirella’s lovely figure.

「What is the matter? –Ah! 」

When Mirella 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.」

Be it Lectival calling out to her cheerfully or complimenting the tea being delicious after drinking it, Mirella did not raise her face. However, only her ears were dyed red, what kind of expression was she concealing was up to Lectival’s guess.

Until not long ago, the room was shrouded in an awfully serious atmosphere, yet the interior was too quiet now.

However no matter how Mirella tried to hide, he noticed the multiple wounds on her hands, causing his smile to fade away from his expression.

「–Those wounds, how did you get them?」

He asked a question to hide his uneasiness, whereupon Mirella gave a troubled smile after seeing her own hand.

「I am fine, my tribe has high recovery strength. 」

Obviously that was not the answer Lectival wanted.

And the expression of Mirella who was on the verge of tears was something which he never wishes to see.

Without a clear reason, it was unpleasant watching such a face.

「Although you have a high recovery strength, can such small wounds not be healed?」

「You are really mean.」

However the present him had no words to make Mirella smile.

He did not know any clever speech or gestures.

Therefore he tried to provoke her at most. Though it could be understood that such tricks were too inept immediately if you thought a little, the pair could not sense that at that point of time.

「It has nothing to do with you.」

「Well…」

With eyes overflowing with the strongest intent unlike before, Lectival stared into Mirella’s golden eyes.

Mirella received such gaze for a moment, but unable to bear it before long, she averted her eyes.

「–You truly are a mean person.」

「It’s my loss, since showing such a face means to say ‘be quiet’.」

To be silenced from that extent, Lectival had yet to become an adult. Nor did he want to become such an adult either.

「Your especially pretty face is ruined.」

「You should choose a better place for flattery. In a place without any ambiance, I can only be embarra.s.sed.」

Though Mirella said so, her face was blus.h.i.+ng, seemingly extremely embarra.s.sed.

Towards Lectival who said such words calmly, her sense of shame was stirring up increasingly.

「Could you please show me your hands just a little?」

「Eh? But…」

Lectival forcibly pulled Mirella’s hands towards himself while she was hesitating. Such a thing would not have happened had Mirella resist seriously, but with a surprised face, she was not able to oppose the young man who had grasped her hands. Until now, there had not been anyone who treated her this way.

Everyone treated her like a princess, even her army’s superiors and instructors just barely adopted an appropriate att.i.tude, perhaps she was known as the ‘daughter of white dragon duke’ except during work and business. It might be a first, for the man in front to not change his att.i.tude.

「Regarding your skin being white, does this part becomes rough easily?」

Saying so, Lectival wrapped both his hands around Mirella’s.

His body warmth was gradually being pa.s.sed to Mirella.

「–Uu」

That was very embarra.s.sing. If she were to concentrate on the transferring of body temperature, it was as if she was feeling the harmony between intimate couple.

Her entire hands were wrapped in kindness, and the places which felt rough pains were caressed in gentleness. This should not be a healing magic but a simple loving caress, yet the wounds on Mirella’s porcelain-white hands were cured in succession.

It was a miraculous spectacle. To cure wounds inflicted by magic is it not a miracle bestowed by G.o.d?

「I may get angry from hearing those words you know?」

Lectival did not know the reason behind the phenomenon which he caused.

He only knew it was not a miracle.

「I think it is unnecessary to feel the pain of the people whom you want to protect.」

Mirella’s shoulders shook greatly. To obtain forgiveness from feeling pain was her own shallowness, and to be seen through by the man whom she met for the first time caused a shock. It made her body react and her heart sway.

「But unless I understand their pain…」

「It is a pseudo experience, though it is another thing if the sensation is shared. And even if that was not the case, in a true sense, is it not possible to not understand the pain they felt? 」

「Jya, am I unable to understand their suffering for a long time?」

It was a mistake to ask him.

But there were no other alternatives besides listening. It was to that extent that her heart wanted an answer.

「Is it so important for you to understand their suffering?」

Mirella could not comprehend Lectival’s words.

How can someone be a states-person if he cannot understand the citizens’ anguish and joy?

「Is it not obvious? If not…if that could not be done, then they will not recognize us as rulers. 」

「Is that really the case?」

The expression of the inquiring Lectival was calm, exactly opposite that of Mirella’s. The answer within him did not waver from Mirella’s words.

「If you can understand the people’s suffering, what will become of them?」

「–…」

That was a point which she was not able to deny.

Can their wish be known even if she understood their pain? However, even if she understood, how she goes about fulfilling their wishes is yet another question.

「You are mistaken about your methods and purposes which you may regret later. What you ought to do is not feel the false sense of people’s suffering, but rather to consider ideal ways to remove their suffering.」

「But, that being the case, what people want is…」

「As for what they want, I think listening to their voices is the only choice. Letting your imagination run wild, injuring yourself, saying you are trying to understand at your own convenience, you are only just mistaking your methods and purposes.」

For Lectival, the reality of this world from Mirella’s talk was nothing more than other people’s affairs after all. If she were to hear those words, she may fly into a rage. For a person oblivious to reality, his knowledge is limited to what he knew by asking.

However his reality was the slender white hands placed within his hands where pitiful scars and her expressed grief were carved onto them.

He reflected on the thought of doing something about reality, thus arriving upon this solution.

「To begin with, you should put yourself back into perfect condition. If you were to collapse, you would not be able to save people who have chances of being rescued.」

「Are you comforting me? 」

「Not in the least, I am not that good of a person to comfort you to that extent.」

Lectival gently released Mirella’s hands which did not have a single scar remaining.

「You are not mistaken. Was there not something you acquired from injuring yourself? Afterwards, you just have to use it well.」

「And if I am not able to use it well?」

It was a poor question of stubbornness.

Despite that, Lectival did not break his smile.

「What you acquired from suffering setbacks can furthermore be used well. No matter how many times you fail or give up, as long as you do not resign yourself, opportunities will appear. As of now, you are still living; you can walk and talk, and just like that, smile gently.」

「–?」

Mirella touched her face reflexively.

Was she smiling? Supposing she was, then what kind of expression was it?

Was it the same expression during the time of peace or was it a smile that she, as a respectful young lady, wore for business?

Without changing her question, she asked Lectival again.

「–What kind of face am I making now?」

Lectival answered with a nod after showing a manner of slight consideration.

「One that suits you, a lovely smiling face.」

Mirella, with her palm on her cheeks, felt her temperature and was convinced her face was dyed bright red.

◊◊◊

Establis.h.i.+ng an emotional bond, the distance between the two shortened.

With her heart lightened up a little, Mirella began relating the situation of the country to Lectival.

The alliance army was surrounding the capital and the Origin n.o.bles army of the frontier was confronting the alliance army, while the supporting n.o.bles' army of the present Emperor was secluding themselves within the capital.

Disruption of the supply line; the capital which was held hostage; and the difference in overwhelming war potential. Time elapsed continually while the three way battle stagnated due to various conditions to avoid fighting.

And before one realized, five months had pa.s.sed by.

The allied army’s solders rampaging as their supply route was cut, with the citizens within the vicinity suffering the brunt of damage.

The battle of the capital turned into a critical situation.

◊◊◊

「But really…this is a problem of our Empire after all. However the place you are at now is within the Empire, surely you can’t pa.s.s off as being unrelated.」

「–」

Lectival remained silent with regards to Mirella’s words.

Honestly, it exceeded his imagination that contrary to her heart shrieking, she suppressed it to talk about the subject. In the extent where there was severe difficulty to accept reality, one would think whether it was a bad dream.

The world which he was born into, iyaa, within his memories, at the very least his surroundings of before was peaceful.

Though it was a world where people killed one another, hoodlums violating girls and children oppressing their parents, nevertheless it must have been peaceful since numerous people failed to notice that they were in the midst of peace.

But it was different here.

There were people frightened by the ongoing war in a place not far away from this room. And in his present surrounding, there might not be many humans who thought they were at peace.

In the emptiness to the extent of sorrowful, the hazy sense of reality of his blood welled up simultaneously1.

However, this world was undeserved to be thought of as sorrowful.

Sou, this wasn’t about his body not falling into a distant world. As of now, that was the situation of the world he was in.

「–As I thought, this world is none of your concern?」

「–!」

To these words, he looked into her golden eyes.

Seemingly testing him, scorning him, and for some reason asking him. He felt as if his heart was being taken hold of by the seeming sad narrowed golden eyes.

Various emotions swam back and forth in his eyes, by no means was it the unexplainable answer that she seek from him.

「It isn’t about being unrelated…but…」

He was at a loss for words.

He was fearful of how he should reply.

He felt that there will be no turning back after he replied.

The mouth which spoke so well until now had dulled after coming to face with reality.

「Ee, oh well. You are too ignorant to not know anything. I am the same as you but I know this country more than you.」

Mirella withdrew her body and captured the outside view of the window with her eyes. Her world<reality> was over there.

Perhaps in her eyes, a world which Lectival cannot see was spread out before her.

「I…」

He was accustomed to getting rebuke for being ignorant.

Even in the beginning of work, he was looked upon with eyes that seemed to say ‘you are a hopeless person as expected.’

But human as a living thing do not remain ignorant forever.

In a good or bad sense.

Living things living in ignorance and even feeling fear. That is humans.

Fear in learning the truth and accepting it.

But there was also a similar fear, living without knowing the truth.

No matter which fear is received, whether he refuse it — his primitive nature was distinguished accordingly.

His true nature — was as expected.

「Then… will it be fine for you to teach me the world you know of?」

He dreaded being knowledgeable, only living idly.

Driven to a corner by that fear, his instinct shouted for him to absorb everything he needed to know.

What he wanted to do, even without looking at his sorrowful-like eyes, a roar raised somewhere within him.

「Why? And what do you wish to know? 」

She noticed his then weak presence had grown profoundly and emphasized, and erasing all her expression, she stared into his silver eyes.

It was likely her intention to ascertain his temperament with those words.

He might have noticed her expectations. Then again, he might not have noticed either.

However, he had only one answer.

「The search for the guideposts in my path of life. The keys to the future that I desire and the door which you seek for a tomorrow. 」

Thus he let out a sigh and continued.

Instinct.

Willpower.

「Everything, for the sake of living as myself in this world.」

◊◊◊

At this point of time, Lectival took a step forward.

And he was taught by the maid, Vilia, every day.

History, law, religion and general knowledge.

Oblivious that the country was named

Vilia was aware that her mistress, Meriela, held deep interest towards Lectival. She even felt jealous.

Though she doubted that the vow 「to protect Meriela」 which she had imposed on herself was breached, she followed around with her mind.

Yet while concealing that, she attended to Lectival.

She failed to realize, that the negative interest due to jealousy and desire to monopolize, would cause people to change.

◊◊◊

Lectival as a young man was constantly shrouded with an air of pessimism.

If the words from a soldier to a major general in the white dragon lords’ army working for the castle’s defence command centre were to be trusted, it might have become「the air of someone who had a near-death experience, moreover at a close proximity2」.

Vilia was appointed as the person in charge of providing a.s.sistance and her figure could be seen throughout the day. During the time she was not teaching him various things as a teacher, she evaluated his displayed expression as 「as if he is an old person who understand death.」

In that calmness, without a single attachment to the world, living because he was alive. His appearance was similar to that of her grandfather, who had pa.s.sed away many years before, during his twilight year.

Succeeded by a married couple worthy to protect the house, having adorable grandchildren, even at the moment of facing death, her grandfather had an envious-like peaceful smile.

Seeing that young man showing an expression like her grandfather’s, she held indescribable fear and repugnance.

「Hime-sama」

She called out so to her mistress who was walking down the corridor and her face which spun around had an extremely pleasant complexion.

Although just a week ago her face was pale like a ghost, her present complexion was different compared to before the start of the meaningless dispute. Everyone in the castle recognized this as the achievement of the youth.

Although Vilia had ill feelings regarding him, she acknowledged his merit.

「Ah, Vilia」

But if there was to be a problem,

「How’s he doing?」

「…」

It was as if her mistress these days could see nothing else but the young man opposite her.

「–His appet.i.te has returned considerably. The doctor said it might be fine for him to eat the same food as us」

「Sou, I’m relieved. Father shall be returning soon, so until then, I’ll leave him in your care」

「–Yes」

With her mistress heading towards her own room as it is, Vilia saw off her retreating figure.

It would be a lie to say there wasn’t any dissatisfaction towards her mistress.

However she hesitated to reveal it and naturally directed her dissatisfaction elsewhere.

「I wonder if you can handle studying the empire’s law today?」

Her words faded along the uninhabited corridor without being heard by anyone.

She headed towards the castle’s doc.u.ment warehouse.

Once there, she borrowed several bulky law books and returned to the young man.

「—Eh, is this everything?」

「Yes, it is Hime-sama’s idea. I’ll have you remember all of the major parts.」

Presented with the large law book of the empire, Lectival’s face cramped up, and confirmed many times over if it was a mistake.

Even so the maid standing before him appeared solemn, hence crus.h.i.+ng his reverie, and furthermore, she added on several doc.u.ments.

「To live in this country, you ought to know the fundamental laws」

「Even though you are extremely right…」

His arm shook weakly due to the heavy weight.

If it was an ordinary person, he could memorize the laws little by little on top of living his everyday life, but he had to memorize all at once.

「As for later, I’ll have you remember the imperial household law as supplement」

「– It’s a lie right?」

「A maid doesn’t lie」

「I earnestly wished you would say that」

Feeling the imminent threat approaching, Lectival relaxed his exhausted body.

「Then let us begin」

「Yes…」

Lectival held a pen with his right hand and a note book with his left.

How much more of this ill hara.s.sment could he resist, though all these acts seemed to be due to that n.o.ble’s daughter’s kindness?

If that’s the case, resisting would contradict his conscience. The only way was to endure silently.

「Then, from the impression of each trivial law」

「Yes, if you would…」

Weeping in his heart, he faced the white note book.

◊◊◊