Chapter 17: Civil War Era - The Blue Knight (1)
"Memores sumus vestri me-"
A clear, melodious song was echoing throughout the usually silent Lafayette Duke's residence.
"Ostende mihi faciem sol luceat-"
Eris, seemingly in high spirits, was singing an incomprehensible song with her eyes closed, and Jessie was combing her pure white hair, humming along to the unintelligible tune.
Having grown accustomed to handling my own matters while rolling through battlefields, I preferred not having a servant's help. I often ventured outside on my own.
That's why Jessie, though officially my personal servant, hardly had any work to do. But after bringing Eris along, I assigned Jessie to assist her, and they seemed to have quickly become friends.
I chuckled and turned my head to look at Christine, who had left the room before me and was waiting.
"Ah, sorry about that."
"It's okay. She's bright and lively; quite interesting."
"Yes?"
I walked down the Duke's corridor with Christine.
As our rhythmic footsteps were the only sound echoing through the hall, Christine spoke up again.
"So, is that girl the one you mentioned, the Young Duke?"
"Yes, Countess."
The girl, huh. Eris is indeed just 16.
Yet, Christine and I, though only 19 ourselves, often forget our youth. I have memories from before my regression, and Christine's distinctive aura makes it easy to forget she's still a teenager.
I recalled the scene of Eris, brimming with friendliness as she introduced herself, and Christine, somewhat awkwardly, receiving her.
The contrast was striking: Christine always dressed in black, with her black hair and eyes, and Eris, with everything but her eyes, radiantly white.
"She definitely has a captivating charm. I hope she's worth the risk you took in bringing her here."
"Hmm..."
Feeling awkward, I didn't respond, and Christine quickened her pace.
As we entered the drawing room, Christine gestured to a maid who was following her.
"Lina."
"Yes, Miss."
The maid handed Christine a scroll she was carrying, then quickly left, closing the door. Christine turned to me with a stern look.
"I thought you were going to send someone to bring her. I was shocked to hear that you went to the south during the outbreak. Do you know how worried I was?"
"I'm sorry, Christine."
"If you consider me a partner, I wish you'd take more care of yourself, Pierre. I've invested quite a bit in you, and it would be very troublesome if something happened to you."
"I'll be careful. But you're also one to talk, Christine. You knew about the assassination attempts and still ventured into enemy territory."
Despite Christine's displeased gaze, I added with a smile,
"It was a necessary task, and I only took Gaston with me, which actually made it relatively safer from the plague. It wasn't just reckless risk-taking. Didn't I tell you? I keep my promises."
Saying this, I extended my hand to Christine, who was standing at the door, looking at me blankly. She stared at me for a moment before placing her hand in mine, letting out a hollow laugh.
"If you say so."
I escorted her to a chair, heated water, and made coffee, jokingly adding,
"Aren't devils supposed to live off their cunning words?"
"A devil bringing back a saint."
Christine finally let out a light laugh, watching me work. When I handed her the coffee, she unrolled the scroll she had received from the maid and handed it to me.
"This is the inventory of the goods you brought back, and the military report you requested."
I took the scroll from Christine and read through it. As expected, the Aquitaine Trade Association had managed to procure almost all of the requested items.
And about the military...
I had invested my private funds, which I earned from selling raw materials to the Abyss Corporation and making a profit from market differences, with Christine. A part of this was used to order the formation of a military force.
"Hmm, about a thousand men?"
"Yes. We might expand it if the budget allows, but that's difficult for now. The Aquitaine family isn't a military one, after all."
"It doesn't matter. Handling firearms is more of a specialty for city factions than knightly ones. Please continue with the progress."
"I'm happy to, as long as I receive proper compensation, anytime."
In the Lafayette Ducal Territory, where the Duke had already conscripted many soldiers, it would be a concern to raise such a force without worrying about the income.
However, in Aquitaine, which did not participate in the civil war and where commerce was well developed, it was much easier to gather manpower, as long as there was money.
Most importantly, the military force trained under Christine's supervision was essentially a standing army employed by Pierre de Lafayette personally.
The force, although small, was not known as part of Lafayette's military strength and was independent of the Duke's influence. This was a very important asset for me at the moment.
As I reviewed the documents, Christine savored her coffee and then spoke,
"I've been working on the connections you requested with the city's powers, but the response hasn't been great."
"I see. No need to rush. For now, just planting a not-so-bad impression would be a success."
Christine shrugged her shoulders and added,
"Ah, there's a renowned liberal writer among the influential figures in the capital who showed interest. His name is Nicolas Briso. He's also active as a lawyer. Do you know of him?"
I slightly furrowed my brow in thought and finally recalled his name.
"I think I know who you're talking about."
He must have been a key figure among the moderates of the revolutionary forces.
"And that's good to hear. If possible, it would be great to establish a connection with him."
"Understood, Pierre. If you say so, he must be a person of value."
Christine nodded in agreement.
We all savored our coffee for a while before I broke the silence.
"How is your brother doing?"
"...Um..."
Christine paused mid-sip and gave an awkward smile.
"...He's been quiet as a dead rat."
After a long silence, she continued,
"I'm not one to talk, am I? Parading around with a child who could pose the greatest threat to me."
Her voice carried a bitter emotion as she spoke.
I couldn't be certain, but I suspected her retainers were advising her to eliminate Louis or at least exile him or send him to a monastery.
Serving Christine as the head of Aquitaine, they must have often masqueraded their self-serving counsel as loyalty.
Instead of adding to that chorus, I chose to say something else.
"Well, my retainers advised against my journey to the south, but I returned unscathed. Sure, there might be dangers, but if we shy away from a potential threat too easily, we might regret it for a lifetime."
Christine looked at me silently for a moment, then spoke,
"The so-called loyalists defending my decision argue that I have a plan. They say that Louis, who has lost his support base, can't do anything, and if necessary, he could be used to weed out internal dissenters."
Rather than expecting a response from me, Christine calmly started to unburden her thoughts, which had been building up inside. Her voice began to quiver slightly towards the end.
"But I just... I gave that child the opportunity I had hoped for. I didn't want to threaten him with a sword, like those who tried to kill me, acting out of fear even though he had no such intentions."
These words, seemingly only meant for me, her equal and partner, not just a subordinate, seemed to come from deep within her.
"Just to comfort myself, to tell myself that I am different from them. If, just if, Louis harbors any ill will, then it would be justifiable for me to act against him...
Because it would be the right thing to do."
After revealing her thoughts, Christine spoke with a bittersweet sense of relief.
"Ha. I'm quite selfish, aren't I? ...Are you disappointed?"
With a self-deprecating smile, her deep black eyes, wavering yet faintly hopeful, looked straight at me. I couldn't help but smile gently.
"I think it's good."
Hearing my answer, Christine blinked in surprise.
"What?"
"It's human of you, and I like that."
"How so?"
"Christine, you might not realize it yourself, but you never actually said you'd kill him, did you? While saying that, you also clearly have a desire to protect and properly raise your young brother who lost his parents."
Christine's face showed that she was taken aback.
Pleased with her reaction, I naturally smiled and continued.
"The excuse of acting for the family's sake sounds plausible, but no one can compensate for the wounds you receive from it. So, I think it's better for you to be yourself. You're doing well as it is, and most importantly, I trust you because of your kindness, even though you pretend otherwise. I am in a position where I have to rely on you for a while."
After saying this and taking a sip of my coffee, I looked over to find Christine silent for a long time. When I turned my gaze to her, I saw her face slightly flushed as she looked at me before she finally spoke.
"...I see. The Duke will be returning soon, so you should be more concerned about yourself than me. I should get going now."
"Yes. As I said, I trust you. Please continue to take care of things, Christine."
As Christine rose from her seat, I also stood up and offered my hand for a handshake.
"With the investment I've received, it would be shameful to not uphold my credit, especially in the trading circles. You can trust me."
Christine responded by accepting my handshake and, turning to leave, she added in a soft voice,
"...Because I trust you too, Pierre."
***
After losing the heir to the throne they supported, the lords of the First Prince's faction retreated from the northern front. When the Second Prince entered the capital Lumière and declared his ascension, becoming King Louis, the civil war was far from over.
The remnants of the First Prince's faction, represented by Duke Lorraine, entered peace negotiations with the Second Prince's faction. These negotiations were the last chance to halt the civil war before the revolution broke out.
However, the gap between the victorious, burning with a desire to recoup losses and gain profits, and the defeated, unable to accept their downfall due to the plague, remained unbridged.
The stagnant negotiations ultimately led to disaster, and King Louis declared the remnants of the First Prince's faction as traitors and proclaimed their subjugation.
A few days after Christine and the Aquitaine merchants left.
The army of the Lafayette Ducal Territory, having withdrawn from the northern front, marched in an orderly procession into Toulouse.
To an onlooker, these thousands of soldiers appeared impressive, but to me, they seemed rather pitiful after fighting for so long and shedding much blood.
They lost their lord to the plague in a vain attempt and were now in denial, refusing to accept defeat, claiming they had not lost the war and could still fight.
At the forefront of this army, denying their defeat, was the symbolic figure of the Blue Knight, clad in his dark blue armor.
I, along with my vassals, came out to the front of the Ducal residence and knelt down in respect.
"Pierre de Lafayette, son of Lafayette, greets the great 'Blue Knight', His Excellency Duke Hubert de Lafayette."
The Duke dismounted his horse and lifted the visor of his helmet.
The bearded face of the Duke, expressionless, slowly scanned me and my vassals who had knelt in respect, then faintly smiled at me.
"Good, you have done well. I had my concerns, but you performed the duties of a lord's regent more competently than I expected."
Contrary to what I remembered, his words of praise almost made me raise my eyebrows in surprise.
It made sense, after all.
I had defeated the younger son of the Mirbo Count's family, elevating the prestige of Lafayette, and had also managed to fulfill the Duke's demanding military requirements in time.
To the Duke, I had now become someone who elevated the prestige of Lafayette, aiding his pride and reputation.
He gave Baron Dumont, who had been assisting me alone all this time, only a fleeting glance, and the fact that he praised me in front of the vassals was quite intentional.
A smirk that seemed almost natural played at the corners of my mouth, but I quickly replaced it with a genuine smile and nodded to him.
"It's an honor, Your Excellency. Please, go ahead."
"Very well."
After nodding to me, the Duke entered the mansion, his gaze lingering on someone in the back of the group...
Eris, clad in a robe and wearing a veil.
I felt a tingling sensation all over, but the Duke, after a brief glance at her, moved inside as if nothing was amiss.
I exhaled softly and followed him.
But.
As the soldiers and lower-ranking servants of the Ducal household were dismissed and the group entered, the Duke suddenly halted just as the mansion's doors closed.
"Your Excellency?"
Without a word, the Duke turned and strode purposefully towards where Eris stood.
"Who are you to wear a veil in my presence?"
Before Eris could open her mouth, I stepped between her and the Duke.
"She's an artist I'm sponsoring, Your Excellency. Born with a sensitivity to sunlight, I allowed her to wear the veil. My apologies for not informing you earlier."
"So, she can remove it now?"
"Yes, I apologize for the disrespect, Duke. I am Eris, invited by the Young Duke to stay at the mansion."
As soon as the Duke spoke, Eris removed her veil and showed respect to the Duke.
Her flowing silver hair, red eyes, and her pale face.
The Duke scrutinized Eris as if appraising her appearance, then turned to me with a curious smile.
"Hmm, not bad. She's young but shows promise. A man should appreciate beauty, after all."
With that, the Duke, standing close to Eris, shifted his gaze towards Frank.
After a moment of examining Frank, the Duke turned his back again.
I felt sorry for Eris, but this misunderstanding was not entirely unfavorable at the moment.
I mouthed an apology to Eris and prepared to follow the Duke.
However, the Duke had already turned his gaze back in our direction.
This time, his attention was not on Eris, but on Frank.
"Who are you?"
"I am merely a humble man, honored to meet the great 'Blue Knight,' His Excellency Hubert de Lafayette. My name is Frank. I am Eris's guardian, invited by the Young Duke to stay at the mansion."
The Duke gestured towards Eris with his chin.
"Your daughter?"
"No, Your Excellency. She's the child of a benefactor whom I am protecting."
"I see. Protecting, you say."
What's going on? Why is the Duke showing interest in Frank?
While I was engulfed in confusion, the Duke drew his sword.
As everyone froze in alarm, the Duke addressed Frank.
"Draw your sword."
"Your Excellency?"
The Duke did not repeat himself. Slowly, yet decisively, he raised his sword and brought it down towards Frank.
With astonishing speed, Frank drew his sword and parried the blow, but the clashing steel's cry echoed loudly through the first-floor hall.
This madman was actually trying to kill him!
"Uncle Frank!"
Amidst Eris's shock,
The Duke, his arm trembling yet still firmly holding his position, looked down at Frank who had successfully blocked the attack, then burst out laughing, sheathing his sword.
"Haha, hahaha! Hahahaha!"
Amidst the shock and confusion, the Duke, alone in his inexplicable laughter, twisted the corners of his mouth into a smile.
"It has been a while, Sir Frederic de Beaumont. To think that a royal guard, who once protected the late King's favorite concubine, would refer to himself as a mere nobody – isn't that an excessive display of humility?"
Frank, or rather Sir Frederic de Beaumont, widened his eyes in surprise, while the Duke continued, seemingly pleased.
"You might not remember me, Sir. But I had the opportunity to witness your valor when I was just a regular knight... Truly beautiful swordsmanship. Your face has changed so much that I wasn't sure, but indeed, the sword cannot lie."
In the ensuing silence, the Duke turned his head towards me.
"Pierre, there were times I thought you beyond redemption, but this proves me wrong. To think you had picked up such a gem while I was away."
Could it be-
"A royal guard who renounced his title to serve the late King faithfully, escaping from the palace with the beloved concubine and her daughter just before the civil war. If he is the guardian of this young girl, then..."
The Duke, having finished speaking, knelt in front of Eris, took her hand, and gently kissed the back of it.
In the Duke's eyes, as he lifted his head, swirled an indescribable emotion – intense and fervent.
Before the pale-faced Eris could respond to his intense gaze, the Duke, with a twisted smile, continued.
"The missing Essiliste Lillian de Francia... Are you not Her Highness, the Third Princess?"
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