Episode 96. War to Defend the Revolution –
The revolutionary army led by Pierre de Lafayette gave up and retreated from Metz, the Moselle Plain, and Alsace, and eventually gave up and retreated to Nancy, the center of Lorraine.
Anxiety was in the air at the National Assembly, which was urgently held in the capital, Lumiere.
“Is it okay to give up all of eastern Lorraine and Alsace already?”
“Didn’t you hear that the plan was to draw them inside Franzia from the beginning? “I guess they didn’t order the residents to evacuate for no reason.”
Pro-Lafayette Fine Center Party lawmaker responded, but the mood did not calm down easily.
“I’ve never heard of someone retreating twice before even a month has passed since the start of the first battle.”
“It’s an operational retreat. An operational retreat. There is a military fortress in Verdun, so it won’t fall that easily-” “
But if Verdun is breached, Reims will be next and Lumiere right after that. “We have already been pushed this far, but is it true that the war is progressing as the Marquis de Lafayette intended?”
“Hmph, then if the members who are currently expressing their dissatisfaction go out and fight, will they be able to do better than the Marquis?”
In the end, the Central Party president, Count Anjou, who had remained silent with a disapproving look on his face, revealed his displeasure.
“No, that’s not true, but the Marquis de Lafayette may not be the only answer.”
“Who else but the Marquis de Lafayette? Are you talking about the person you brought in and launched a coup? “Oh, I guess I can’t bring him back because he’s dead.”
“Why can’t you say that!”
“Now, calm down for a moment.”
Eventually, as the atmosphere became more intense, Maurice Talleyrand, president of the Revolutionary Party, who had been appreciating the conference room with a relaxed expression until then, opened his mouth.
“The retreat from the first battle was to some extent planned, but it is true that the progress was too fast. On behalf of the Revolutionary Party, there is one thing I would like to ask. “Can the Marquis de Lafayette respond against them?”
Count Anjou, who received Talleyrand’s gaze, glanced away.
Christine, who naturally received the attention of Talleyrand and the Count of Anjou, put down her waving fan on the table and opened her mouth.
“It is still within expectations. The Marquis de Lafayette retreated safely, suffering less than half of the damage from the Archduke’s army, which was twice as large. If we buy just a little more time, reinforcements will arrive and we will have the capacity to deploy new troops.”
Talleyrand nodded slightly.
“Okay, then the Revolutionary Party will continue to delegate full authority to the Marquis de Lafayette and will spare no effort in providing all possible cooperation.”
“…Same goes for the Liberal Party. In the end, there is no one who can best lead the revolutionary army in such an unfavorable situation other than the Marquis de Lafayette.”
Even the Liberal Party leader Nicola Brissot agreed to it, and even the dissatisfied lawmakers agreed and moved on.
However, after the meeting ended, Christine had to deal with the Count of Anjou, who looked very concerned.
“Count of Aquitaine. Is this really okay? They suffered little damage, but they just gave up a city the size of Nancy. In fact, they suffered greater damage, but they hid it…”
“We are definitely in the same boat, Count Anjou. “Do you think that the Marquis de Lafayette and I are deceiving not only the National Assembly but also the governor with false reports?”
“Of course not. It’s just that I’m worried. Because the Marquis de Lafayette has never been pushed back so unilaterally…”
“Because the opponent is that strong and our soldiers are small. … Still, as I said, there will be no more pointless retreat. “Don’t worry too much.”
“That’s right. I understand. “I will cooperate if you need anything, so please let me know at any time.”
“Thank you for your consideration, Count.”
Christine lifted the hem of her dress, bowed gracefully, and then left the parliament.
After leaving the stuffy place, Christine let out a light sigh. It is true that he was not deceived by false reports.
The real reason they had to retreat was because Queen Esiliste’s health was deteriorating due to overexertion, but hiding that wasn’t a lie.
It was an inevitable measure to avoid unrest among the military and domestically, but Christine was feeling very tired as she had to rush to reduce the political burden on Pierre.
Christine quickly escaped from the building, got into the waiting carriage, and faced her maid, Lina.
“Reena. “I have to use the ones planted in the Germanian Empire this time.”
“yes? “This may be presumptuous, but can I say something?”
“Speak.”
“Wouldn’t it be difficult to conceal something since they have just settled in? These people were planted with great difficulty, but to simply use them as consumables….”
“It’s a waste. However, if you plant it to be used when you need it, but you don’t use it because you think it’s a waste, it’s a shame.”
“Yes.”
Lina answered like that and handed out the document to Christine.
“These are the things that need to be considered as a top priority, but these are a lower priority.”
“Ok, thanks.”
“Thank you for trusting and entrusting me to me.”
Christine smiled slightly at Lina, took the document, and began to read it.
Christine had watched Lina, the new maid she had hired when she succeeded to the throne, for long enough and decided that she could trust her.
Since Christine is the type that requires very little hands-on work, we tried entrusting the information management task to a maid who had little to do, and she worked quite enthusiastically, so she ended up entrusting it to us properly.
Christine glanced at the proud face of Lina, who was embarrassed because she had little work to do, and felt quite satisfied, but at the same time, she was deeply bitter.
It makes her happy when the maid she has been with for a long time is happy, but it does not change the fact that it is essentially one of the paddles she handles.
It’s just a hand that’s a little more reliable and will be used more seriously.
Although it was planted in the Germania Empire and a difficult contact route was prepared, it is not much different from the cards that will be used up to help Pierre now.
…Like the girl who assassinated Marlowe, whom no one else would remember except her, and then jumped out of the window.
Christine sighed inwardly and looked at the documents. When she arrived at her destination, the Military Academy, she got off the carriage and headed to the principal’s office.
“Welcome, Your Excellency, Count of Aquitaine.”
“It’s been a while, Baron Charon.”
“Haha, do you feel empty without me?”
Christine laughed and asked a playful question from a former loyalist she hadn’t seen in a long time.
“Do you think your life is better now that you’re free from the boss who treated you like you?”
“Hmm, hmm, hmm, how did you know that…”
Baron Charon had originally been assisting Christine in the work Lina was currently doing, but now he was the principal of the military academy established as part of the Grande École course.
He risked his life to protect her from an assassination attempt by radicals, and this position was accepted by Pierre as a reward in his own way for his dedication and loyalty.
“Now, it’s about the item you requested.”
“Oh thank you.”
Baron Charon took the document Christine gave him and read it with a thoughtful expression.
In fact, the Aquitaine Merchant Marine, which is almost exclusively in charge of military material transactions, also deals with military supplies and materials for military educational institutions, which is why Christine, who does not have any military position, naturally travels to and from military facilities.
“Oh, most of them will be picked up soon. “It may be new, but you are the Count.”
“Now there’s nothing more to give even if you flatter me.”
“Hahaha, that’s just my true intention. “Oh, I think you should take a look at this.”
Baron Charon took out a document and handed it to Christine.
“This?”
“This is a profile of an officer candidate.”
Christine quickly scanned the documents and came to a simple conclusion.
“Your test scores and mock performance are very good. “I will make a great officer.”
Christine’s impression was exactly that.
I didn’t know why I was showing this to her in the first place, so I asked with my gaze, and Baron Charon cleared his throat and said,
“Keuhum khum. “Your Excellency the Count, please take a look at the candidate’s name.”
name?
Christine turned her attention back to the name she had passed by without even thinking about it.
“Jill Darby.”
…Dabi?
Christine rolled the familiar phrase around her mouth a few times and then narrowed her eyes.
“Are you Ellen Darby’s family?”
“Yes, Your Excellency the Count. “It was a familiar name, so I checked it just in case, and it was Dabi.”
At a time when the Republic still regarded Pierre and Christine’s alliance of southern nobles as an enemy force.
In order for them to join the republic, there was a need to eliminate in advance Jean Malraux, who was openly trying to prevent it and boasted that he would not hesitate to carry out white terror if necessary.
At that time, Christine secured several people who had been harmed during the revolution and held grudges against the radicals, and used them as losses.
Ellen Darby, who succeeded in killing Jean Malraux herself, jumped from the window and was not interrogated, so her young family lived quietly.
Christine has kept her promise to Ellen and has been supporting them with enough money to live comfortably, but she had no idea that the child who grew up like that would become an officer candidate.
“It feels a little unfamiliar.”
Baron Charon scratched his head and cautiously opened his mouth.
“That’s the problem. “Your Excellency the Count.”
“What’s the problem?”
Baron Charon smiled bitterly.
“Jill Darby is a woman.”
“….”
Christine narrowed her eyes.
No matter how brilliant she was, she couldn’t even remember the family list of the person she had written down years ago, but Baron Charon explained it to her.
“My real name is Giselle Darby, Ellen Darby’s younger sister. “It looks like the name was just a pseudonym.”
“…Hide your gender and go to a military academy?”
“That’s right. According to the principles, they should be expelled from school, but…”
Baron Charon said and looked at Christine’s attention.
Normally, they would have kicked him out the moment they found out, but after all, he is a child from a family that Christine directly sponsors.
If she hadn’t been that kind of child in the first place, Baron Caron wouldn’t have known that officer candidate Jill Darby was Giselle Darby.
Christine looked at the profile again.
Although his athletic ability is slightly below average, he performs extremely well in mock games and exams.
I don’t know why I enlisted in the military, but I do know that it was a result of hard work.
“…There doesn’t seem to be any problem with your ability as an officer candidate.”
“It is as you said, Your Excellency the Count. Rather, it is a waste of ability. However, female officers themselves are not allowed. “If I’m discovered too late, I’ll lose my reputation as a principal…”
Christine sighed lightly.
Ellen Darby.
When a girl who harbored anger and hatred towards Jean Malraux asked to know the name of her benefactor, Christine responded that Ellen should not overestimate her own will.
Ellen Darby was not special to Christine.
It was just one of several cards that Christine had prepared to kill Jean Malraux, and one of them that she was lucky enough to succeed in.
An insignificant life that died without even knowing Christine’s name, let alone her face.
However, even though she knew she was going to die, the girl ended up dealing with Malo and threw herself out the window on the spot out of fear of harm to her family.
Although he told Ellen Darby that she overestimated her will, it may have been Christine who underestimated it.
Christine promised Ellen Darby, who would give up her life for her younger siblings, to take care of them.
If you didn’t know, you might have thought that you kept your promise by simply paying enough money, but you couldn’t say that you took care of your hard work while allowing it to be denied.
Christine said after thinking about it.
“…don’t reveal it for now and just leave it as is.”
“yes? “If you do that…”
Christine said, slightly tilting her head.
“All we have to do is allow female officers.”
“Would that be easy?”
A woman who is not even given the right to vote becomes an officer?
Baron Charon had natural doubts, but instead of answering, Christine just smiled.
“Hey, I made a mistake. His Excellency the Marquis de Lafayette is the Commander-in-Chief, so if His Excellency the Count of Aquitaine wants to do it, it will be possible. I also thought that he was a bit of a waste of talent…” “
I hope he is a talent worth this effort. “Then I’ll leave.”
“ancient! Please take a look, Your Excellency the Count! We will work hard to raise you so that you will not be disappointed.”
Christine turned her back on Baron Charon, walked a little, and muttered softly.
“…Will this be enough to replace the name?”
“yes?”
“…no.”
Christine responded with a bitter smile and left the military academy.
