Revolutionary period – Raphael Balian, Nancy,
capital of Lorraine, Republic of Francia.
This building was once the residence of the Duke of Lorraine, but is now used as a temporary headquarters for the revolutionary army.
Although he was caught up in a ‘self-inflicted accident’, the Duke of Lorraine surrendered King Louis and declared surrender, officially putting all of Francia in the hands of the revolutionary government.
But we were still busy with post-war processing.
First, it was necessary to maintain security in the secured areas of Alsace and Lorraine, divide the troops to guard the border, return the remaining troops to the capital, and coordinate how the victory ceremony would be held.
“Then please do me a favor, Sir Gaston.”
“I will follow your orders, Your Excellency.”
Gaston, together with Nicolae of the Northern Army, set off ahead of us and escorted King Louis to the capital.
Some of the property that the Duke of Lorraine was planning to take overseas was distributed locally as promised, so the remainder must be delivered to the revolutionary government.
“Yes, I trust you more than anyone else, so I expect you to do well.”
Gaston bowed sternly and I turned my gaze to the side.
As always, Eris, dressed in white robes and wearing a hood, looked at me with slightly sunken purple eyes.
When asked if she could restore King Louis’ chin, Eris replied that it would be a little difficult, but that it was probably possible.
“I already told you, there is no need to regenerate your jaw.”
But would King Louis want it? I’d rather have you killed.
If you work hard to heal her, the first words King Louis will utter will probably be a curse on Eris.
In my opinion, I would rather leave Eris alone than suffer for no reason, but the revolutionary government in the capital is desperate to bring King Louis to trial and execute him.
However, if you die during the convoy, it is obvious that you will be asked what you did when there was a saint.
“Keep me alive just enough until I reach the capital. “That’s enough.”
“…I understand, Marquis.”
Eris, who answered simply, was about to leave with Gaston, then turned to me and opened her mouth.
“You don’t have to be too sorry.”
No matter how much of a piece of human trash King Louis is, he is a relative to Eris, so I secretly cared about him, but maybe that was obvious.
“…thank you. “Then I’ll see you in the capital.”
When he smiled even slightly at that consideration, Eris smiled back and turned her back.
If he escorts King Louis into the capital as a representative of the Confederate army with the saintess Eris, Gaston will also gain some recognition.
After seeing Gaston and Eris leave, I turned my attention to Deje and Damien who remained.
“Lord Dejet can consult with the northern army here and help them reorganize the troops.
Then, you will lead the troops that will return to the capital with me and attend the triumphal ceremony.”
I am considerate to this extent because Sir Desais has helped me in so many ways whenever I am away.
“Haha, that’s an honor. “Your Excellency the Marquis.”
Louis Desais also seemed to know my intention and smiled sadly, and Damien asked with a smile next to him.
“What about me, Marquis?”
I think it’s roughly expected that the smile is a bit stiff.
“The Count, you can take charge of your subordinates and the security forces and border guard forces that will remain here.”
“Yes yes? “Just me?”
“Didn’t you get a good rest, trying to get over your sorrow over losing your subordinate? Lord Desais has helped me so far, so now I have to ask the Count.”
“That can’t be possible…”
Damien was frustrated as he looked like he had lost everything in the world.
…But what do I know?
Wasn’t it nice when you could make excuses for your subordinates and take a break?
Is that why you usually do a good job sincerely?
–
A few days later.
After the meeting to discuss the designation and withdrawal process of the Northern Army and the Revolutionary Army’s remaining units, I received an invitation from Raphael Balian and headed to his office.
“welcome! “A precious person came to this shabby place, but I am sorry that it is not a proper reception room because we are renting the building.”
Balian made a joke so I laughed too.
“Anyway, we are renting the same building, so what do you think?”
“Haha, even though you are a high-ranking noble, the Marquis doesn’t care about formalities, which is nice.
“It’s still early for dinner, so I prepared it simply.”
Balian gestured, and the chef prepared sliced baked potatoes and wine.
It’s a simple snack, but for those of us who are used to field activities, this may be more convenient.
“Then let us toast to the victory of the Revolutionary Army and the Marquis de Lafayette.”
“Commemorating the victory of the revolutionary army and General Balian.”
The two glasses clinked together and made a sound, and both Balian and I took a light sip of wine.
After chatting about past battles and work, sipping wine little by little, and tasting potatoes, as time passed and a slight intoxication began to be felt, Balian opened his mouth.
“I wondered what would happen if foreign powers intervened, but the war ended easier than I thought.”
Was it easy?
When I heard Balian’s words, I thought of those who died while charging under my orders.
The heat that was boiling on the battlefield where I risked my life, and the despair that was shared by everyone as I made great sacrifices and cleared the path to the Storm Witch.
Well, it’s more than I thought.
That could be true if we only look at the losses and duration of the war, not the process.
“…okay. But it won’t end like this.”
Although the Storm Witch was lost, it did not cause much damage to the Germanian Empire’s ability to wage war.
The Storm Witch is, after all, an individual deviant.
It was a great force, and it is true that the great magic gave us an unimaginable shock, but as a result, the losses suffered by the Germanian Empire in this war were about 10,000 people.
Although it is inevitable that the damage to one’s prestige will be suffered by blood that is too precious to be lost in another country’s war, it is probably at a level that can be laughed at in terms of the power that an empire can mobilize in a war.
Paradoxically, the empire’s quick withdrawal meant that the empire did not put much effort into this war.
Balian smiled with satisfaction.
“As expected, Marquis, you think so too?”
“If the national power is intact but you have lost face, it is the mentality of so-called monarchs to consider war to make up for it. “As long as there is a justification, they will attack again at any time.”
And the reason for this is the Empress herself, who is loved by the people of the empire. They always come.
“Haha war is a game of kings.”
Balian said and took another sip of wine, then twirled the glass in his hand and asked.
“Do you remember the conversation I had with you before the Marquis went up to the capital?”
The wine in my mouth felt bitter.
Did you say that my loyalty and dedication are too valuable to offer to the republic?
There is no compensation worthy of the dedication and sacrifice of me and my people.
-Did the cause that the Marquis pursued with the republican government really achieve something?
-The results are clear. From General Balian’s perspective, it may seem insufficient, but it is well worth it.
When I remembered the question and answer I had exchanged with Balian, I naturally frowned.
At that time, I was convincing myself that way rather than really believing it.
What I encountered in the capital, which I returned to, was Christine who was on the verge of death.
“It’s a bit embarrassing to tell you now that we’re all so busy waging war, but I felt sorry for what the Marquis went through in the capital.”
Before Balian parted ways with me, he said he sincerely hoped my work would bear fruit.
“…Is that so.”
When I answered simply and put down the empty wine glass, Balian picked up the wine bottle and filled the glass.
“As you know, Marquis, Franzia must quickly stabilize the country before the Empire threatens us again.”
“I agree. “We must make good use of the time of peace we have been given.”
Even if we don’t do that, Christine will be working hard to strengthen our forces in the capital, and once I get to the capital, I will have to focus on political activities and training the military in earnest.
Until now, we knew what would happen, so we had to prepare for it, but the revolution was successful and the skirmish with foreign powers ended.
From now on, I have to create situations with my people.
Balian smiled and asked.
“So, Marquis, do you have any intention of changing this country?”
“Change this country?”
It has an overly comprehensive meaning.
As I narrowed my eyes, Balian twirled his wine glass and opened his mouth.
“The old system collapsed and the so-called National Assembly came into power, but not everything was as good as expected.”
I didn’t answer and just drank the wine.
Yes, I chose the Republic as the lesser evil to replace the worst.
Even though there was no choice from the beginning, the republic did not seem ideal either before or after the return.
“Liberty Equality Fraternity. “These are very beautiful words, but I doubt whether those values are words that fit the reality of the National Assembly.”
“It seems like a very seditious statement for a general who commands half of the revolutionary army to make.”
Balian asked with a grin.
“Isn’t the Marquis thinking the same thing?”
I took another sip of wine and laughed at Balian’s words.
“Well, at least we achieved freedom from the old regime.”
Balian asked again with a smiling face.
“Haha, you are right. So what do you think about equality? “I have always been curious about the opinion of the Marquis, a great general and knight.”
“…I do not believe that stronger humans are superior. No matter how hard they try, they cannot deal with the nation on their own. Much more is needed to form a nation and for humans to continue their lives.”
Right now, Christine is weaker than a single soldier in terms of force, but does she have less influence on the people and this country than I do?
Among commoners, there are many people who are more knowledgeable about the law than me, and professional engineers create new things based on knowledge that I cannot even understand.
Balian grinned.
“The Marquis is certainly so flexible that it is hard to believe he is a nobleman. However, what do you think of the claim that those in rural areas who have not even learned to write properly or have accumulated any significant knowledge should have an equal vote?”
“That is the claim of the Revolutionary Party. Indeed, that would be impossible.”
Even if such authority is given, will those who do not know what it is be able to properly exercise their rights and participate in politics? They are probably just objects of propaganda that can be easily exploited.
In fact, those who argued that way initially said that Christine could not be given the right to vote. Just because she is a woman.
Aren’t they just insisting on rights for those who will enthusiastically support them while refusing to allow equality to those who lack neither ability nor influence?
Balian smiled happily at my answer, but I gave him a conflicting answer.
“But I don’t think the very principle of equality is wrong just because they aren’t ready right now.”
In the end, the reason they remain at that level is because they were not given proper opportunities or the necessary education.
Even though he was a commoner, Gaston was able to seize opportunities with his natural talent, so wasn’t he better than most nobles?
Isn’t this the corrupt logic of the old system, not giving you a chance from the beginning and ultimately claiming that you are inferior because we have superior power?
“I think that a general who was a former mercenary leader and ended up commanding half of the revolutionary army is proof of why equality is necessary. “It would have been impossible under the kingdom’s old system.”
Although humans cannot be completely equal, if we give them at least a little equal opportunity, many people who have not seen the light of day will be able to prove their worth.
Balian shrugged his shoulders.
“I won’t be able to defeat the Marquis with words like this. What is philanthropy? “It’s probably not worth discussing.”
This time, I smiled bitterly and did not retort.
Balian poured wine into his empty glass again, swirled the glass around, and then opened his mouth.
“I believe the Marquis knows, but…”
When I gave him a puzzled look, Balian smiled heartily and opened his mouth.
“What the Marquis is talking about is ultimately the values of the Republic and the French people. “Not the National Assembly.”
“……”
Liberty Equality Fraternity. These are ideal values if they could be realized.
The people of Francia showed their strength.
They directly started a revolution, overthrew the old system, and fought without sparing their lives to protect their homeland.
There are people who believed in me and sacrificed themselves to the revolutionary army by compromising with the revolutionary government that was trying to persecute them.
But what about the National Assembly?
After the expectations they had for themselves were betrayed, it was I who demanded that they prove that the values they had put forward were not hypocrisy.
“The republic has just been born. “War is coming, and we need to reorganize and reform the country within the short time given, but is that possible with the current National Assembly, where the presidents of each party are busy keeping each other in check?”
“…I am also a member of the Central Party and a member of the National Assembly. “It won’t be easy, but we have to try.”
“Well, there is an easier way, but should we do that?”
I put down my wine glass after hearing Balian’s words.
Balian just looks at me.
At this point, the problem is that you can’t understand. So, let’s get rid of the National Assembly?
“You are the one they prepared and sponsored. … Keep me in check.”
Balian raised both hands.
“Oh, I think the most important part of a person is ability. And in my opinion, I am much more attracted to the Marquis than to the National Assembly, which has no regard for the national situation and is mired in complacency and idealism.”
“…What is your purpose?”
“I appreciate the potential of this republic. You have seen our heavy cavalry fight and win against the knights of the Empire. Soldiers who fight without fear of death, shouting “Long Live the Republic.”
Balian seemed to recall the sight of a battlefield, then looked at me and opened his mouth.
“In that foreign country, while those in power oppressed commoners’ use of magic to protect their vested interests, the Marquis taught magic to heavy cavalry. “During the civil war, we achieved that much by just doing it urgently, so what if we did that to all our soldiers?”
“Even so, I was planning to revamp the military education curriculum when I returned to the capital, but…”
I was already feeling it even as I said it.
What Balian wants is not simply that level.
“Yes, that’s right. If we only overcome political inefficiencies and move quickly, the strongest army that will shake the continent, raising the banner of revolution, not fearing death, and even wielding magic power, will be born. “It is an army that can be called the Grand Army.”
A smile spreads across Balian’s lips.
“Then we will not only be able to defend against the invasion of the Germanian Empire, but we will be able to advance to the continent and destroy them and become a true empire. “Not an empire in name only, which only cares about what those electors think, but an absolute loser of a continent like an ancient empire.”
Balian said, extending his hand to me.
“Unlike those who are wasting the treasure in their hands without even knowing what potential they are wasting, it is possible if the Marquis and I are together. Marquis Lafayette, why don’t you join me and write the greatest myth in history? ?”
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