Chapter 19: Civil War Era - The Harbinger of War
The Duke, ultimately, decided to follow my advice, and once again issued a gag order in his name regarding the existence of Eris.
Before the Duke's control over his domain, more immediate than the law, was his impatient and hot-tempered sword.
Only the Duke's key vassals and a handful of servants knew about Eris' existence, and everyone was aware that those who disregarded the Duke's gag order would not be spared.
With this, rumors about Eris might circulate to some extent, but spreading beyond mere whispers would be difficult.
Right after the meeting ended and the Duke left without a word, the scene of the vassals eagerly trying to make an impression on me was quite a sight.
Having repelled Mirbo, assisted Christine in securing Aquitaine, and used Abyss Corporation to amass funds, everything I had built was finally bearing fruit.
Now, everyone realized that the Duke could no longer wield the family power as he used to.
Seeing Baron Dumont weeping profusely, clinging to the belief that he could die without regrets, was both amusing and satisfying.
Those who had long served the Count of Toulouse were not without complaints against the autocratic Duke. It was just that, with me failing to fulfill my role, they had no choice but to endure.
Even the servants passing through the mansion were now exceedingly polite, a tangible sign of the changing times.
And then, as I reached the front of my room.
A girl in pure white was leaning against the wall, playing with her feet. She grinned and waved her hand at me.
***
In the Drawing Room where Eris took us,
"How do you like it?"
Sitting in the chair, I felt so comfortable I didn't know what to say, until a voice near my ear prompted an involuntary response.
"It's really nice."
A ticklish laugh echoed in my ears, making me feel a bit embarrassed, but that sensation was quickly buried under skillful hands and the warm feeling spreading through my body.
"This isn't something I do for just anyone. Even Uncle Frank gets this treatment only rarely, you know?"
"This is indeed an extravagant luxury."
To think, a princess herself performing a massage infused with divine power. The stress and fatigue accumulated from pondering how to wrest control from the Duke melted away in an instant.
"...My mother used to love it too."
"Ah."
Eris's Mother...
The concubine favored by the former king. After Sir Beaumont or Frank helped Eris escape, her whereabouts remained unknown, but now Eris was wandering with Sir Beaumont...
But Eris, as if nothing had happened, playfully tapped my shoulder and cheerfully opened her mouth
"My goodness, look at these knots. You're worse than Uncle Frank. How can someone so young be this stressed?"
"No, you're hardly the one I should be discussing this with."
A 16-year-old kid talking like this?
Naturally, Eris ignored me and continued chattering merrily.
"Anyway, thank you. To be honest, I had my doubts, but you really saved me."
"Didn't I tell you? I keep my promises."
I seem to be saying that a lot these days...
"But, for someone under a gag order, you seem to be cooped up in your room a lot, aren't you?"
"With the gag order in place, there are still quite a few in the Duke's estate who know my identity. It's tiresome having to deal with people panicking and fawning over me whenever I wander around."
"Don't worry about that. King Louis has declared a campaign and is assembling the army. We'll be departing soon, and this place will quiet down. Then you can proceed with the relief and charity work as you wished. I’ll ensure the promised financial support."
"Not in the name of Lafayette, but in the name of the Count of Toulouse?"
"I like how quick you are, Princess."
Before my return, while fiercely battling King Louis' faction, a series of events erupted in the capital, Lumière, and the revolutionaries rose up by winter.
So, my plan is to focus on fending off King Louis' offensive with the remnants of the First Prince's faction, while allowing Eris to win over the people's hearts in the meantime.
The situation isn't bad. Unlike before my return, the domain is in good shape, and the Duke, competent despite his character flaws, is alive, which will be a great help in resisting King Louis' offensive.
If we can deal a significant blow to King Louis and his forces, it might even be possible to expect an earlier uprising from the revolutionaries.
"By the way, Eris. Can I ask you something?"
"Hm? Yes. What is it all of a sudden?"
"How far does your power go? Like, how many people can you strengthen or heal at the same time?"
"...Well, usually enhancing or healing around 20-30 people is quite taxing."
"I see."
That's impressive in itself. Typically, those self-proclaimed priests who strut around can barely heal 2-3 people a day without gasping for breath, so she certainly qualifies to be called a saint.
But even so, it's not like Eris alone can turn the tide of war to the level of a strategic trump card.
"Don't get me wrong. As I promised, I have no intention of taking you to the front lines. The Duke's vassals know your identity, and unless they're insane, they won't make such a demand. I just wanted to know the extent of your abilities in advance."
"You don't need to beat around the bush, I understand."
Eris said that and pressed down hard on my shoulder.
"Ouch!"
Was that intentional?
"So, are you curious about more aspects of my abilities?"
"Hmm, that whip you used before. It seemed like you enhanced it with your powers. Is it possible to pre-empower weapons regularly?"
"If it's just a few, I guess I could. But if you're asking me to enhance weapons for an army using my power, I'd rather not."
"I'm not asking for that much. I just wanted to ask for a favor for one thing I'll be using. For a sponsor who's gone to great lengths to protect you, could you lend a bit of your power, Princess?"
Eris stopped massaging and fell silent. Even without seeing her face, I could tell from her flat tone that she wasn't pleased.
"I think that's a bit underhanded of you to say."
"I'm pretty straightforward, aren't I?"
"Ha, fine. Since there's not much else to do before the army deploys, consider it a repayment of a debt."
"Thanks, then."
"Then?"
"What do you want, Princess? You're not just giving me massages out of boredom, are you? What is it you're hoping to— Ow!"
This princess just hit me on the back of my head with a harp!
Damn, that hurts!
"What, what was that for?"
Confused and feeling wronged by the unexpected hit, I turned to Eris, who looked even more aggrieved than me and pushed me away.
"Get out!"
"What? What's the problem all of a sudden?"
As I was pushed away, bewildered, Eris's maid Jessie, who had been quietly observing us, spoke up.
"The Young Duke did something wrong."
...Now I'm not sure whether to be happy that she's finally treating me more casually or to be angry.
***
The Capital of the Kingdom of Francia, Lumière.
After a long civil war lasting over four years, King Louis, having finally seized the throne, frowned upon the squabbling nobles and clerics before him.
"Your Majesty, the great king. Throughout the lengthy civil war, the church could not collect the rightful tithes as per God's will. Now that you have ascended the throne, prove your faithfulness to God and illuminate the path ahead for the kingdom."
"Is this the time for such matters? The civil war is far from over! We can hardly gather enough war taxes, and you want to fatten the church's coffers?"
"Oh, how the devil has blinded the Count, obscuring his faith. What could be more important than proving our blessed knightly kingdom still rests in God's embrace?"
"This is the problem with clerics! The commoners are now clamoring for their right to speak. We've donated so much to the church, and if you want more offerings, you should at least silence those lower ones!"
"Your Majesty! In my domain, the church has—"
"Your Majesty! Now more than ever, we need to show our piety—"
"Silence!"
The nobles and clerics, who had been only voicing their own demands, finally fell quiet when King Louis, unable to bear it any longer, struck the floor with his scepter.
"Chancellor, is the discontent among the commoners really that severe?"
"Regrettably, it is, Your Majesty. The frequency of peasant uprisings and riots is increasing, and they are demanding the convening of the Estates-General, citing centuries-old traditions."
King Louis frowned at the report from the Chancellor, Duke of Orléans.
"Then, how is the mobilization of troops to suppress these rebels progressing?"
"Regrettably, we can only muster up to about 10,000 troops at best at this time..."
"Why so few!"
"My apologies, Your Majesty."
The king's rage grew at the news of a shrunken military force, even less than when they were in the midst of civil war, but anger alone could not conjure up the funds that had run dry.
Above all, unlike when the defeat of the prince they support means the downfall of the family, when victory in the civil war has already become a foregone conclusion, the nobles do not want to take unreasonable measures by taking on more debt.
While they all desired to annihilate the remnants of the First Prince's faction and seize their lands and wealth, they preferred someone else to make the first costly move.
Finally, King Louis, boiling with rage, looked at these pitiful figures merely nodding their heads, and opened his mouth as if spitting out his words.
"Convene the Estates-General."
"But, Your Majesty..."
The Estates-General.
An assembly that brings together representatives from the three estates: the First Estate of the clergy, the Second Estate of the nobility, and the Third Estate of the commoners.
"It's just a matter of picking a few representatives and going through the motions of listening to them.
We're about to go and suppress the traitors, so buying some time won't hurt."
It sounded good, but in reality, it was nothing more than a ceremonial gesture, meaningless unless the king chose to listen.
Moreover, even if the Third Estate's representatives spoke for the commoners, their few votes were ineffective against the entrenched power of the clergy and nobility.
"As you command, Your Majesty."
King Louis half-listened to the response, idly stirring the air with his scepter, issuing a dismissal.
Seated on the throne of the glorious and honorable knightly kingdom, splendid and majestic, was a small and lonely human being.
The contrast only made King Louis appear more pathetic.
He had amassed countless debts during the long civil war, believing everything would be fine once he ascended the throne.
He thought the heavens had favored him when his brother, who had nothing better than being the firstborn, died as if struck by divine retribution. But upon his ascension, he found little had changed.
Those arrogant traitors who had supported his brother, instead of being grateful for sparing their lives, refused to surrender, insisting on preserving their titles and wealth.
Even the lowliest, who had been somewhat quiet when the throne was vacant, became noisier once there was someone to listen to their voices.
Wiping out those damned traitors and ripping open their bellies seemed like a solution, but the king and nobles, already crushed under a mountain of debt and nearing death, lacked the funds for a large-scale troop mobilization.
Then, a black bird flew in through the window.
At first glance, its dark feathers might make one mistake it for a crow, but a closer look revealed it to be a pigeon, commonly used as a carrier bird.
King Louis twitched his eyebrows but didn't stop the bird as it flew to his feet.
The ominous black pigeon opened its beak and began to speak in a bizarrely twisted human voice.
"Harphas of 'Pride' under Abyss Corporation greets His Majesty, the great King of the Kingdom of Francia, once again."
"Begone, demon. I'm not in the mood to listen to your company's cunning words."
The pigeon cooed in response, a sound so warped and resonating that it almost seemed to mockingly chuckle.
Just as King Louis' patience was about to snap, the pigeon, its eyes glowing a bloody red, began speaking again in that eerie tone.
"As a member of Abyss Corporation, devoted to efficiency and innovation, I find it somewhat difficult to comprehend Your Majesty's intentions. We can provide the military funds and weapons that Your Majesty and the Francia nobles desire most. And we can do so in a revolutionary way, exchanging them for what you already possess."
King Louis furrowed his brow but refrained from issuing another dismissal.
Right after winning the civil war and becoming king, Louis had covertly banned the sale of citizens.
He had tacitly encouraged it when any means were necessary to win the war, but as king, he worried about the aftermath.
"Oh, Your Majesty. Wasn't honesty also a knight's virtue? Be frank.
What good are these 'inferior' beings, if not to express grievances overstepping their bounds? Will the kingdom falter if the surplus of humans diminishes slightly? No, it will not."
"You... "
King Louis showed his displeasure, but the ominous black pigeon paid no heed and continued.
"If you dismiss our offer now, how many more years will you struggle with financial constraints, prolonging this civil war? How much more of your subjects' blood will be shed during this time?
If they are destined to be lost anyway, wouldn't it be better for them to be of some use to you, their ruler, even if only slightly?
After all, even if you lose some citizens now, you'll gain all the traitors' citizens as your own once you win. It's a clear cost-benefit situation, yet your hesitation is truly regrettable."
Indeed, compared to the clergy, who only demand donations under the guise of divine will, these cursed demons at least offer some sort of benefit.
As King Louis finally seemed to ponder the matter, Harphas flew closer to drive the point home.
"All Your Majesty needs to do is lift the ban on the 'sale of citizens.' After all, it's the nobles who will be doing the selling, so there's no need for Your Majesty to dirty your hands.
Imagine, by selling citizens who are currently of no help, you instantly gain money and weapons. Isn't that astonishing? Abyss Corporation has its own desires as well, so consider this a special chance! If you accept our terms now, we'll provide additional support at a special price."
"A desire, you say?"
As King Louis showed interest, the black pigeon let out a sound that was somewhere between a coo and a mocking laugh.
As King Louis' expression turned to one of displeasure, the harbinger of war spoke again.
"Please ensure the firm suppression of the House of Lafayette, especially the Young Duke of Lafayette."
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