Chapter 32: Revolution Era - A Life's Bargain
Southwest of the capital Lumière, Orléans.
After the royal army's devastating defeat in the battles surrounding the capital Lumière, the king fled the perilous Orléans, located just below the capital, to seek refuge in the territory of Duke Lorraine.
Soon after, an overwhelming force of 15,000 revolutionaries enveloped the lands of Orléans, laying siege to the fortress where Duke Orléans himself was holding on.
Amidst this, their commander-in-chief, Raphael Ballian, was tearing his hair out in frustration, exclaiming, "Ah, damn it! This is driving me insane!"
His chief of staff, Alexandre Werther, glanced sideways at the frenzied Ballian and let out a deep sigh.
"Are they expecting us to supply ourselves locally? Are they basically encouraging us to plunder in the name of the revolutionary army?"
Ballian repeated his statement, prompting another deep sigh from Werther.
"It seems we're running out of funds. The capital boasts about operating twice the troops of the royal era at half the cost, claiming our clean republic is superior to the corrupt kingdom."
"Damn it all! Of course military expenses would decrease without supplies! And those officers sent by the so-called revolutionary government, what good are they? They can't handle the troops! We carefully divide the limited supplies we have, and still, they run out in half the expected time!"
"Well, they claim to have selected those officers based on merit and dedication to the revolution, regardless of their background..."
Hearing this, Ballian chewed on his thumbnail in frustration.
"Damn it. The Germanian Empire and the Northern Union Kingdom are probably discussing how many troops to send to aid the king. We can't afford a quick resolution, and this mess is happening. At this rate, we're all screwed. Totally screwed!"
-Thud!
"Haha..."
As Ballian and Werther shared their grim conversation, one side of the fortress wall, unable to withstand the continuous cannon fire, finally began to crumble with a thunderous crash.
As the dust and debris settled, a clear gap in the fortress wall became the entry point for the revolutionaries, who began to squeeze through it.
"Ah, yes! No way we're dying today! Hahaha! Attack!"
Ballian brought his telescope to his eye, observing the revolutionaries advancing through the breach in the wall -
"Oh, no."
He witnessed a scene of slaughter, as the gap was plugged by knights cutting down the soldiers who entered.
In the previous battle, they had easily won by surrounding the knights before they could charge, using ambush mountain troops and pursuit cavalry. They prevented close combat and engaged in gunfire from all sides.
The knights of Duke Lorraine, already inferior among the kingdom's knights and encumbered by heavy, useless armor against guns, were easy prey.
But that was only because they were caught off guard by an unfamiliar tactic. In a narrow gap like this, knights, shielded by magic and slaughtering soldiers, were nearly invincible to regular troops.
"Order a full assault from all regiments! Tell them to use ladders, ropes, anything to climb the walls! The knights will have to block that passage, and they're short on troops-"
However, before Ballian could finish, trumpet sounds from the assaulting regiment echoed, and the soldiers started to retreat.
"Damn it!"
Ballian threw his telescope to the ground in frustration and hurriedly mounted his horse, rushing towards the retreating regiment.
Werther sighed deeply and followed him.
"Who's in command of this regiment?"
"Me, me, sir, General."
"Are you mad? After all that effort to make a gap, you retreat instead of pressing the attack?"
"But, the soldiers, they were so horrifically slaughtered by those monsters-"
Ballian, at a loss for words in front of the babbling commander, was overcome with disbelief.
After a brief silence, Ballian asked with a sense of defeat, "What did you do before coming here?"
"I, I was a painter in the capital."
Ballian and Werther exchanged looks and let out hollow laughs.
They never anticipated such a stark difference when the revolution government filled the vacancies left by Jerome Morel and Nicolas Nera, who were sent to check Duke Lorraine and the king.
A moment later, Ballian, grinding his teeth, said, "Listen, Chief of Staff. Tell those high-ups in the revolutionary government right away. I don't need these 'capable and revolution-zealous' officers they've sent. Get me some officers I can actually use, anything will do!"
"Alright, General," Werther sighed, turning his horse and riding off.
Ballian murmured softly, "Maybe I need more power after all."
***
We arrived in Poitiers a day earlier than the agreed date, unpacked, and waited for Nicolas Briso, the leader of the moderate faction of the revolutionary government.
However, on the appointed day, we were met not by Nicolas Briso, but by a messenger who came to apologize and inform us that the meeting would unavoidably be delayed by two days.
We understood the importance of this matter, as did they.
Poitiers, the chosen meeting place, supported the revolutionary government and was favorable to the Aquitaine guilds, making it an ideal location for the talks.
Yet, being a city that supports the revolution, we couldn't consider ourselves entirely safe. And they break the appointment like this?
We could proceed with the tasks Christine planned to do in the North while we waited, but it was far from pleasant.
***
In a dark room, the only light faintly enters through a closed window in the corner.
Lost in thought, I asked, "What do you think, Christine?"
"Well, it's really hard to make a hasty judgment at this stage," she replied, finishing her thought and then pausing, seemingly deep in contemplation.
"After all, their behavior up till now seemed quite desperate, despite now seeming to snub us."
The moderate faction of the revolutionary government is significantly weaker than the radicals.
The revolution itself was sparked by the desire to punish the king and nobles who betrayed the people to demons, so their current situation is understandable.
The moderates, shocked by the unexpected violence of the revolution, are desperate for any chance to exert their influence.
"I agree. If we can make this work, it would greatly strengthen their influence."
For the revolutionary government, currently only controlling the northwest of Francia and facing the king and foreign armies, involving us, who control the south, would almost double their influence.
Moreover, Aquitaine wields significant financial power in Francia, and my fame as Lafayette, due to my exploits in the final battles of the civil war, also adds considerable weight.
"Perhaps there's a critical situation in the revolutionary government that prevents the moderate leader from leaving, something really important."
Could it be a declaration of war from the Germanian Empire?
Lost in these thoughts, I glanced at Louis, who stood beside us with a slightly nervous expression.
A young boy in a servant's outfit, blond hair with blue eyes.
Despite being ten years younger than us, he doesn't really look like Christine's sibling. Maybe they both heavily inherited their mother's features.
Upon our eyes meeting, Louis slightly flinched and bowed his head.
The last time I met this boy, my knights were executing his mother and her close associates according to Christine's judgment. It's no wonder he felt uneasy.
Instead of exacerbating the boy's anxiety, I turned my gaze to Christine.
She, usually dressed in an elegant black dress, was now wearing a simpler outfit, more typical of a wealthy merchant, with only her face veiled.
I too had swapped my usual attire for something a hired guard might wear.
We were in a rented house in a village on the outskirts of Poitiers, and I acted as Christine's escort and Louis as her servant.
We were here to take action against the radicals that Christine was talking about.
Soon, there was a knock at the door.
"Miss, your guest has arrived."
"Let them in."
A moment later, with another knock, the door opened and a plain-looking commoner woman entered.
Barely of age, even younger than Christine or myself, the woman looked nervously around the dim room.
Christine, sitting with her legs crossed, slowly began to speak, with me and Louis standing behind her.
"Ellen Darby?"
Her tone and demeanor were slightly different from usual, a sign of her familiarity with such situations.
"Yes, that's me... Lady."
Christine seemed to deliberately pause before continuing.
"I heard you hold a grudge against Jean Malraux."
At that name, the ordinary-looking Ellen's face hardened.
"As you know, Lady, my parents worked in the mansion of a noble in the capital and were killed by those calling themselves revolutionaries."
Christine remained silent.
However, anger and hatred naturally rose on Ellen's face, and her words poured out rapidly.
"Jean Malraux, that man led the charge, inciting people. Despite my parents' pleas that they were only working for the nobles to feed their family, he mocked them as henchmen of the noble and mercilessly killed them all."
After a brief silence, Ellen added, "Countless innocents were slaughtered by his instigation, and yet this man lives in comfort and receives praise as a warm and generous figure to the common people."
Christine listened to Ellen's words without any change in expression.
She simply let Ellen express her hatred and longing, quietly listening to her story.
A somewhat calmer Ellen asked a question, "You're the one who has been supporting my family's living expenses, aren't you, Lady?"
"Yes, and I'm also the one who will give you the chance to avenge them."
Christine's veiled face and demeanor made her appear as a more mature lady.
After a pause, Christine spoke, "I'll be upfront with you. I'll help you seek your revenge and take care of your family afterward. But even if you succeed, you won't survive... Are you still willing to do it?"
Ellen swallowed hard.
"What happens if I refuse?"
"Your family will lose the financial support, and that's all. But if you agree, I'll give them enough money to live comfortably for five years as an advance. I'll also arrange a place for them to live outside the capital, Lumière. If you succeed, I'll send five times that amount to your family."
Ellen, appearing conflicted and sweating, asked defiantly.
"What if I take the advance and run away with my family?"
Christine smiled serenely.
"Try it, if you think you can."
Ellen bowed her head, trembling slightly. But when she looked up, her eyes burned with tension and a desire for revenge.
"I'll do it, Lady. But I have one request."
"What is it?"
"If I'm going to die anyway, I'd like to know the name of my benefactor. I swear I'll never divulge it."
Christine twisted her lips into a smile.
"Ellen Darby, you overestimate your resolve. Have you trained to withstand torture? Human will is weaker than you think. Are you sure you won't resent your younger siblings the moment you die? If that's your level of readiness, it's better for you to quit now. I have plenty of other pieces to use besides you."
A flash of defiance crossed Ellen's eyes, but it quickly faded.
"...I'm sorry, Lady. Forget I asked."
Christine continued as if nothing had happened.
"Soon, I'll send someone to take you back to the capital. After delivering your advance, I'll introduce you as an employee at a club Jean Malraux frequently visits. Work there quietly for at least a month. When the time comes, I'll send you what you need."
"...Understood, Lady."
After Ellen left and her footsteps faded, Louis exhaled the breath he had been holding.
"...Sister, you are a scary person."
Christine smiled at Louis.
"Am I?"
"...You give her hope with the advance payment, making it impossible for her to refuse. And even if she succeeds, there's no need to pay more."
"Why do you think so, Louis?"
"...Because there's no need to pay the family of a dead woman..."
Louis replied hesitantly, but Christine shook her head.
"However, my subordinates will remember this act, and think of my treatment before carrying out their orders. And that woman is just one among many pieces. Can you guarantee that those in similar situations don't know each other? If I don't honor a deal that costs lives for mere money, I reduce my own pieces."
"...I apologize, Sister. I was shortsighted."
Louis looked visibly exhausted from the short exchange, and Christine called a subordinate to send him back to their quarters first.
Alone with me, Christine began to speak.
"We'll have to keep moving to avoid attention, but I've prepared five people like her. The method is poisoning, using products from Abyss Corporation. Jean Malraux was the instigator behind the looting of the Abyss Corporation branch in Brittany, and I've made sure our contact routes are as confusing as possible, so it's unlikely we'll be suspected."
Christine looked at me for a moment and then let out a bitter laugh.
"Not very chivalrous, is it? ...You might be disappointed in me."
She seemed a bit weary as she spoke.
But her actions, as I see them, differ slightly from those of a typical knight or noble.
Though she spoke of the credit and utility of her subordinates, in reality, she didn't exploit the people who became her pawns, instead offering them a choice while concealing the truth.
Still, she probably wouldn't want me to comfort her with such words.
"I've already told you. I trust you, so if you think it's necessary, do it. I won't go back on my word."
Hearing my response, Christine smiled faintly and spoke up.
"Jean Malraux, one of the most aristocracy-hostile and vengeful members of the radicals, can be dealt with this way, but Maximilian Zidor is a different case. There's no easy way in with him. Known as 'The Incorruptible,' he's seen as somewhat extreme but fair, at least for now."
Maximilian Zidor.
Before my regression, I just considered him another radical who had fooled everyone, the very person who had me executed.
However, according to Christine's research, if Benoit Revere is on the more moderate end and Jean Malraux is the most aggressive among the radicals, then Zidor positions himself as a mediator in between.
Even with the information gleaned from Harphas and Christine's investigations, he seems to have no apparent weaknesses.
He's likely to be our toughest opponent within the revolutionary government.
"...It can't be helped. Even if he's not taken down, the radicals won't just disappear. So, our best hope is to strengthen the moderates as much as possible to at least make dialogue feasible."
***
The next day.
We finally had the opportunity to meet with the leader of the moderate faction of the revolutionary government, Nicolas Briso.
"It's a pleasure to meet the head of the republic, Mr. Briso."
"The honor is mine to meet in this forum of dialogue, Duke Lafayette."
Briso's expression wasn't particularly bright, which struck me as odd, but regardless, he greeted me and then naturally exchanged pleasantries with Christine.
However, in the next moment, I understood why Briso's expression was so grave.
My gaze fixed on a man among the revolution government's entourage, dressed like an attendant.
Under normal circumstances, I wouldn't have recognized his face at this point.
But...
-I, Prosecutor Maximilian Le Zidor, request the death sentence for the defendant, Duke Pierre de Lafayette.
How could I forget that face?
-Duke, that's why you nobles are called the blue-bloods.
Maximilian Zidor, the leader of the radicals, was disguised as one of the revolution government's attendants, present at our meeting place.
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