Chapter 26: Revolution Era - Game Changer
After defeating King Louis' army,
I convened a meeting with Lafayette's vassals, the Count of Anjou's forces, and Count Lionel to distribute the spoils of war and then decided to retreat to our respective territories.
While the battle continued in the south and central regions, there was no consultation with the Duke of Lorraine, who had never fought with the eastern army.
Two months had passed since I returned to my domain.
***
Sitting in my office, I was preoccupied with handling the affairs of my territory and the various documents that had come in.
The revolution that started in the capital, Lumière, seemed to be spreading like wildfire.
Because the numerous oppressions and exploitations continued over a long period of time, the commoners and the Third Estate were now full of motivation.
They just didn't have the courage to stand up because of the overwhelming power of the old regime, and when they saw that most of the knights were depleted in the civil war and the revolution was successful in the capital, there was no reason for them to hesitate anymore.
The fact that the King, even after his ascension, did not end the civil war and was selling his people to demons for victory was a stronger justification than anything else.
With so much news coming from the capital, it was hard to make an objective judgment in the duchy located in the south.
According to some reports, massacres involving thousands, even tens of thousands, were happening in the North, with the heads of the slain nobles decorating the city.
Some rumors claimed that the revolutionaries were extremely just, only friends of the people of Francia, and that the bloodbaths were fabrications by the King and the nobles.
I slowly closed my eyes, recalling the courtroom and guillotine where I had stood.
At least it was true that a significant number of nobles were being killed in the capital and other cities where the revolution was spreading.
As I shook my head to clear these thoughts and focused on my work, there was a knock on the door.
"It's Dumont, your grace the Duke."
"Come in, Baron."
Baron Robert de Dumont, whose protruding belly still showed no signs of receding, stepped inside and, after paying his respects, began to speak.
"Duke Lorraine has arrived, Your Grace."
"Ah, he's finally here."
Since I returned to my domain with the other lords, without consulting Duke Lorraine, he had sent messengers to me several times over the past two months.
Initially, he invited me to his territory for a consultation. When I refused, he sent envoys to propose a meeting.
After several rejections, it seemed the heavy-bottomed gentleman ran out of patience and notified me of his intent to visit in person.
"Will you meet with him, Your Grace?"
Every time the baron called me 'Your Grace' with a face full of pride, rather than just casually, I couldn't help but smirk.
I remember, even before my regression when I became a duke, he never behaved like this.
Feeling rather childish for taking delight in Baron Dumont's age-inappropriate behavior, I stood up.
"Well, since someone of such importance has graced our humble abode, it's only polite to at least greet him."
***
"Oh, I finally get to see that elusive face."
Duke Lorraine made no effort to hide his displeasure.
"Welcome to the Duchy of Lafayette, Duke Lorraine."
I mused internally. Did the high and mighty Duke, who used to look down on a duchy established by a mere knight, find it beneath him to come here in person?
Duke Lorraine looked at me with evident distaste for a moment, but soon let out a small sigh and spoke with a feigned generosity.
"I am sorry about the death of the former Duke. Hmm, apart from that, congratulations on becoming the Duke of Lafayette. As a Duke of this venerable kingdom, I hope you continue to serve loyally and act befitting your title."
The irony of his words, considering he played a significant part in the former Duke's demise. He speaks as if he were my king.
"I believe the former Duke would have been pleased to know that you have finally come to express your condolences, Duke Lorraine. Now, since a person of your stature has taken the trouble to visit, there must be a matter of great importance."
Duke Lorraine slightly furrowed his brow at my words but spoke with more politeness than expected.
"As you know, the peasants' rebellion that started in the capital has rapidly spread to the entire North. The territories of the lords who fell in battle have already been overrun by the rebellion."
His words were accurate.
The Duchy of Brittany, which had suffered greatly at my hands, was one of the first to fall to the revolutionaries amidst administrative chaos, and practically the entire region from the capital Lumière to the northwest was now under the control of the revolutionaries.
"King Louis has failed to enter the capital and is currently in the territory of the Duke of Orléans. The loss of troops is significant, and as it stands, the Duke of Orléans' territory is the only stronghold left for the King."
Duke Lorraine, stroking his bearded chin, continued.
"So, Duke. If we, who have relatively preserved our strength, rally the other lords and fight, we can secure a decisive victory."
"Well, I wonder. Right now, the citizens of Francia are causing disturbances all over the kingdom, including in your own territory, Duke. Even if we manage to capture the King, would that really be meaningful in the current situation?"
"The rebels must be completely eradicated. The King may have suffered a major defeat at your hands and lacks forces, but if we unite, we can certainly sweep them away."
Rebels. Yes, that's the extent of Duke Lorraine's perception of reality.
However, having witnessed the success of the uprising in the capital, and considering the ongoing rebellion, they are not simply a group that can be swept away.
If we were to suppress them by force, it would probably require decimating a significant portion of Francia's population. Does Duke Lorraine realize that?
I shrugged my shoulders nonchalantly.
"Lafayette bore the brunt of the battle in the southern and central fronts in the last battle.
You may not be aware, Duke, as you did not fight as fiercely, but our troop losses are severe. If we leave our territories now to join the fight, we risk destabilizing even the lands that remain intact."
"...As far as I know, the southern regions aren't greatly affected by the rebellion, right?"
Ah, indeed.
Thanks to my best efforts to prevent war taxes and plundering, the morale in the duchy is fairly stable.
Moreover, while I led the troops in battle, Eris, as the representative of the Ducal House of Lafayette, traveled through the villages of our territory, offering charity and aiding those suffering from the civil war and the plague.
I have my own personal assets, but the income gained from defeating King Louis, along with the spoils of war distributed by Christine after handling the remnants of the defeated southern army, provides ample funds for soothing the public's unrest.
Thanks to this, the Duchy of Lafayette remains relatively calm compared to the widespread fervor of the revolution in the North.
Relatively, it's more effective to stimulate trade and industry than to exploit the lands, given our high reliance on commerce. This approach is shared by Christine and Aquitaine, who are in agreement with me.
It's a bit of fortunate timing, but just before the revolution, Eris had been caring for the people, and the Count of Anjou, who has been relatively cooperative, is also not in a bad situation.
"Look here, Duke. I'm aware that the neutral yet participating houses of Aquitaine and Anjou are your people. If the relatively stable southern houses wish to take a stand, they certainly can."
"You seem to be misunderstanding something. Just because that's the case, it doesn't mean they are my vassals, does it?"
While it's true I helped Christine rise to the rank of Countess, she has more than repaid that debt.
Christine actively supports me, but that's because I've continuously acted in ways that benefit both her and Aquitaine as well as me.
If I were to treat her like a vassal, despite her being an independent lord, the vassals of Aquitaine would certainly not stand idly by.
The significant reinforcements sent by the Count of Anjou in the last battle were in fact a repayment for Eris curing his sick son and winning over the people's hearts.
However, Duke Lorraine seemed to think otherwise, stiffening his expression and then nonchalantly resting his foot on the living room table.
...This bastard?
"Listen, Duke. Let's talk comfortably, just comfortably. Speak frankly."
After saying this, Duke Lorraine paused for a moment before continuing.
"If we handle the Duke of Orléans and push back the rebels, we can puppeteer King Louis and control this kingdom as we please."
Ah, this is quite a novel idea.
Since the King's support base has completely crumbled, why not eliminate all his remaining confidants, toss the royal authority into the gutter, and become the real power?
"You might be the de facto leader of the southern forces, but you lack influence in the central political arena. What you're missing is the leadership to guide the other high nobles. Leave that to me. I'll make you the second most powerful person in this kingdom."
I couldn't help but chuckle at him.
"With all due respect, Duke. Isn't it because you lack the capability to capture the King alone and the power to suppress the rebellion that has spread across the North, that you've come here, extending your hand?"
The Duke's face instantly flushed red with anger.
"How dare a mere whelp, cloaked only in the glory of the Blue Knight, insult me!"
"It seems fair to disregard someone who's only been playing at war while we've been shedding blood on the battlefield."
"You, you... On what grounds do you speak to me, Duke Lorraine, with such audacity! If you keep this up, I might just join hands with the King!"
I suppressed a burst of laughter and replied nonchalantly.
"That's a joke, isn't it, Duke? Weren't you the close ally of the Crown Prince? The King would never accept you. After all, we're in the same boat, and you've disappointed the other lords in the last battle. From now on, it would be appreciated if you recognize that Lafayette is not a subordinate but an equal ally."
"You bastard, you'll regret this!"
Duke Lorraine stormed out of the living room, seething with indignation.
After a moment, Baron Dumont, who had been eavesdropping from the next room, entered with a worried look.
"Your Grace, are you alright? If Duke Lorraine really joins hands with the King..."
I'm not worried at all.
"No problem at all, Baron. There's no need to hide what happened today. In fact, it might be better if he leaves our alliance."
Given his insufferable arrogance, he cannot bear the humiliation of a knight-born family like mine disregarding him to this extent. He will likely lash out at the King.
If he reaches out to the King? The King will probably grab that opportunity.
Indeed, before my regression, the King, desperate after several clashes and the rise of the revolutionaries, reached out to us.
I deliberately provoked Duke Lorraine not just to break the alliance simply, but to make this more apparent.
Both sides, whether ours or Duke Lorraine's, likely have spies, so the spread of our discord will reduce suspicions.
Unlike Lafayette, who has become a sworn enemy, Duke Lorraine's actions in the last battle were limited to a mock war, so there will be relatively less hatred towards him.
In a situation where the royal forces are lost and the capital has fallen, Duke Lorraine, having preserved his forces intact in the last battle, will appear attractive to the King, who already detests me. After our falling out, Duke Lorraine's outreach to the King would seem quite appealing.
Even if the King and Duke Lorraine join forces, I'm not worried about them attacking Lafayette. They have more pressing concerns like reclaiming the northern territories and the capital from the revolutionaries.
By cutting off Duke Lorraine and pushing him towards the King, causing them to clash with the revolutionaries who have taken over the North, we can position ourselves as a separate force, somewhat distanced from the old regime.
"Let the abandoned ones join hands and fight the revolutionaries. They will buy us precious time."
Managing public sentiment and image is important, but what's more crucial is solidifying and securing our sphere of influence.
The revolutionaries at present are likely acting so recklessly and chaotically that even they might not fully understand what they are doing – an unstructured, disorganized group.
Once they reach a point of establishing a rudimentary form of government and start understanding the situation, we must maintain enough strength to ensure that the revolutionaries don't hastily consider us as adversaries.
"Heh. Duke Lorraine has been a powerful lord and our ally for a long time. To think of abandoning him now... I find it difficult to follow your reasoning, Your Grace."
I responded with a wry smile to Baron Dumont's words.
"From now on, we must decisively choose who to stand with and who to let go."
If we haphazardly try to pull in this faction and that, we risk falling together. It's just the nature of these times.
***
Back in my office, I glanced through the window at a dim corner untouched by sunlight.
There, on a sofa, Eris sat slightly reclined, playing the harp with a languid expression.
After watching Eris for a while, she stopped playing and turned to me with a question.
"Do you need something?"
"Isn’t it usually the person who enters the Duke's office to play the harp who has a purpose?"
"What's new about that? You told me to be comfortable around the mansion, didn't you? I'm just doing as I please. It's not bothering you, is it?"
Arguing that playing the harp in the office isn't a disturbance might seem absurd, but truthfully, her words are correct.
Strangely, listening to her play lessens my fatigue and improves my focus. Perhaps it’s due to the divine power she possesses.
I chuckled.
Come to think of it, when I returned to the duchy with the corpse of the Blue Knight, Eris wordlessly entered my office and played the harp for me.
- I'm fine, Eris. Honestly, if I had a choice, I might have considered leaving the Duke to his fate.
- You two had a bad relationship?
- It was more serious than the usual noble family father-son strife. I suppose he didn't leave a very good impression on you either, did he?
- Yes, honestly, he was exactly the type of person I dislike.
- Right, so it’s okay. I'm truly not affected.
- But you don’t seem very happy about it.
Eris managed to silence me with those words.
Despite becoming a duke after the Blue Knight's death, I felt no joy.
Was it because he led countless lives to their deaths and yet met his end without any regrets? Or was it because he died accomplishing legendary feats, leaving no chance for me to show him how much I had grown?
Either way, her music provided me with considerable comfort that day.
Seeing that I didn't say much, she naturally resumed playing.
Her considerable skill, combined with her unique aura, made the music flow with a power that resonated deeply, soothing the listener.
Not just that day or today, but often, when she is not engaged in her charity work, she plays her music whenever she feels like it, irrespective of place or audience.
A truly free spirit, one might say.
I listened to her music quietly and then chuckled.
"Feeling good today?"
"Yes, I was in the good mood. Your office seemed inviting today."
"I thought you were avoiding me, Eris."
"Me? Avoiding you?"
Her violet eyes conveyed genuine bewilderment, making me feel almost foolish.
“...You looked really disgusted when talking about the idea that if you marry me, Lafayette will become the family that produced a king, right?”
"Ahaha, that was just because I disliked the idea of being 'married off'! It's a bit timid to take that so personally!"
My face flushed at her teasing, and I touched my forehead with my hand. Eris began to tease me even more.
"Could it be, Duke? Are you hurt because you have feelings for me~?"
"Hardly, I have no interest in children."
"...Even for a princess, that's rather rude."
"You were the one who asked to be treated casually."
Eris pouted, and I naturally let out a laugh seeing her expression.
I wondered if the lightheartedness in this grim situation was due to her power or just her inherently free-spirited nature.
After a brief pause, I cleared my throat and spoke.
"Her Highness Essiliste Lillian de Francia, Princess."
Hearing this, Eris looked up at me with her unique, translucent violet eyes, paused for a moment, and then responded.
"Speak, Pierre de Lafayette, Duke."
"If the time comes when you must ascend the throne for the sake of this country, would you do so?"
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