Episode 198 Shadow Peace – Yesterday and Today.
Under the gloomy sky, the girl in white walked helplessly.
No, it was more correct to say that they were dragged away.
Her ankles hurt as if they were going to break as she walked shakily in heavy shackles, but the soldiers who held her arms firmly did not pay attention to her situation.
“Kill the dirty witch!”
“Death to blue blood!”
Sharp criticism from those who filled the square.
Eyes full of hostility and a face of disgust.
It was then that Eris realized for the first time that people’s malice itself could pierce the skin sharper than any blade.
-Our beloved daughter, the reason we can live so comfortably in the palace is because of the people. So you should know how to thank them.
I was taught by my mother.
Even though my mother died, I still tried to protect her.
“Esiliste Liliane de Frangias. She hid her identity as the third princess of the corrupt and corrupt royal family of Francia and pretended to be a saint, instigating royalist factions behind her back and carrying out a counter-revolutionary plot-”
That was never the case.
Although it is true that she hid her identity as a princess, she has never met people who are royalists.
In the first place, she cannot understand what the counter-revolutionary conspiracy they are talking about is.
“Ha, a saint? “You look like a vicious witch!”
“You fooled us all with your smile on the subject of damned royalty!
Criticism comes out of the mouths of those who arbitrarily called her a saint and begged for her to be saved.
Like she did things she never did, things she never even imagined.
I didn’t resent them.
It’s just sad that their attitude has changed.
Her mother, who warmly and kindly loved and taught her at the palace.
-It would have been better if I hadn’t caught your father’s attention. … If it weren’t for you, would I still be the flower of society?
I remember saying that with a tired and sick face after leaving the palace and living a life of poverty as a fugitive.
Sad, sad.
Even when Eris was given the last opportunity to plead her case, she did not say anything and just shed tears.
He was dragged under all kinds of criticism and brought to the guillotine.
Eris looked down at the instrument that would bring her death with blurry eyes.
Her violet eyes, which had been exposed to sunlight for a long time, had already lost half their luster and only showed a rough outline of their shape.
Nevertheless, the smell of blood seemed to penetrate into her soul, as if it could not be erased no matter how much she washed and washed.
Only after the dull, cold feel of the wood touched her neck did Eris think blankly, without any sense of reality.
I feel resentful.
I tried so hard to think that I didn’t feel resentful, but it seemed like only a black and soggy feeling was rising.
People are resentful.
I resent her for blaming people.
If I had known it would end like this, it would have been better.
Was it necessary to follow in the footsteps of the Holy Church and be praised as a saint, thereby being noble and hypocritical?
If that were the case, wouldn’t it have ended like this, even though I was tired and tired of wearing stuffy, ill-fitting clothes?
But my mother didn’t want to be with those people who assured her that she would be in hell.
If I had known that being careful and worrying about the fact that I was a princess would lead to me being accused of being a witch, I would have tried to live as I wanted.
…freely.
Travel to the places you want to go, sing and dance, treat the sick when you see them, and instead of hiding, just do as you please.
If she really worked hard to save people and struggled with all her might to the point where she wouldn’t be ashamed to be called a saint, she would die.
If so, at least.
When you die and meet God, you could confidently say that you did your best and ask your mother for mercy if you had a conscience.
“Kill! Kill it! “Kill it!”
“Death to the witch!”
“Long live the revolution!”
Eris felt fortunate that her eyes had already lost half their light and she could not properly recognize the people who were shouting at her to kill her.
I don’t want to hold a grudge.
Because I feel resentful.
If you can see those people’s faces clearly.
I’m definitely cursing them.
You will regret it.
Eris slowly closed her eyes.
And I had a hallucination.
A human army fighting against demons.
In front of them, they saw a saint with golden eyes and blonde hair leading the people.
Could this be the saint who protected Francia from the threat of Pandemonium 400 years ago?
Eris was so dumbfounded that she laughed.
A vague memory of a book my mother read to me when I was very, very young.
This is the story of a saint who saved the country and is still respected and loved by people.
Now why at this moment?
The moment she was praised as a saint by people, did she feel burdened, but did she long for that without even realizing it?
When I slowly opened my eyes, the hallucination disappeared.
Just the shouts of those clamoring to kill her.
…Only raindrops could be seen shining down on her from the sky.
It must have been sunlight burning her delicate skin and eyes, but she didn’t feel any stinging or heat.
For some reason, it felt like the light was touching me in a sad way.
Eris first originated as a saint.
When I think back, I received an undeserved gift.
I feel resentful that my mother was taken away like that.
Because she was afraid that her identity as a princess would be discovered.
I haven’t been able to try any of them to my fullest.
Because I am a bad daughter and a bad child. So that’s why you were punished, right?
But what did you want?
Was it what you wanted, this bloody city with so many people dying?
I don’t want to believe that.
I still blame you, but I still can’t understand you.
At least, if this isn’t what you wanted.
If I really am a saint, if the power you gave me has any meaning.
Even if it’s not me.
I ask you to lend your strength to those who are trying to change this ending.
The moment I finished praying.
Eris felt all the divine power remaining in her body draining away in an instant.
I feel like it gave her the answer.
Amid the eerie sound of metal blades falling and the cries of the crowd cheering enthusiastically, Eris smiled and accepted the end of her life.
* * *
“….”
25-year-old Eris slowly opened her eyes.
Then he raised his trembling hand and touched her neck.
The cold and eerie feel of the frame.
There is no bloody smell that would stain even the soul.
What she was wearing wasn’t rags that couldn’t even properly cover her body, but a white robe with a monotonous design that was comfortable for her to move around in.
And the red belt symbolizing the king that he reluctantly gave to the Count of Anjou, who begged him to wear at least this.
As I slowly blinked, my purple eyes, which had not been exposed to sunlight, illuminated the room clearly.
The throne room of the King of Francia.
The place where she sits is the throne.
Slowly, a sense of reality returned.
Not the witch Esiliste Liliane de Frangias, who was executed yesterday.
Today, the living Queen of Francia, Esiliste Liliane of Frangias, is here.
Eris finally let out her held breath.
After letting out a rough breath.
“Your Majesty the Queen. “It was eaten by His Excellency the Marquis Pierre de Lafayette.”
Eris answered with a smile that seemed to burst out of her heart.
“Come on in.”
* * *
“…Are you okay, Her Majesty?”
“yes? What? “I’m completely fine?”
Eris’s condition is strange.
That’s also very strange.
His face is pale and he smells slightly of sweat. No matter how you look at him, he looks like someone who had a nightmare.
Eris herself is smiling brightly, probably in a good mood.
…what on earth?
“…. no. If it’s okay with you…”
“Marquis.”
“yes?”
Eris is smiling so brightly that it’s so strange.
“Hmm, Your Majesty. Your smiling face looks like a country child, not some kind of queen. “I need to get some body pain…”
When I cautioned her, Eris burst out laughing.
Oh really, what is it?
Let me know too.
Whether I did that or not, Eris laughed to the point of shedding tears and then opened her mouth again.
“Ahaha, I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”
No, what did this saintly woman eat wrong?
Eris wiped away the tears from her eyes with her hand, then slowly tilted her head and asked.
“Then, shall we hear what other concerns you have today?”
“…I think I know how Her Majesty treats me.”
Eris smiled and answered.
“Good luck with your self-employment, former sponsor.”
“Haha…”
I laughed out loud, but opened my mouth when Eris lost her playful tone and turned serious.
“You know that the Abyss Corporation and the Eastern Empire are preparing for war.”
“Ah yes. Of course I know. It’s an ally of Franzia, right? However, I heard that they asked for anchorage rights rather than sending ground troops. The National Assembly must have been in an uproar. Of course it would be the opposite.”
I chuckled.
Eris is definitely somewhat blind and acts as if she lives in another world, but her judgment skills are above the basics.
A lord like this is worth serving.
“yes. However, the Count of Aquitaine and I decided that it was necessary for Francia to take part in this war.”
“Hmm…”
Only then did the smile completely disappear from Eris’ face.
After a moment of silence, Eris cautiously opened her mouth.
“Why?”
“I believe you have read the Count of Aquitaine’s report.”
“Yes, of course. “The only thing I do while sitting here is wait for approval for relief work and sign off on documents, right?”
Eris’s subtly dissatisfied attitude almost made me laugh, so I cleared my throat and continued.
“It has been only a few months since the Abyss Corporation underwent an internal reorganization on a scale that could be called a great purge. “In cases like that, it’s usually normal to take a break to reorganize, but they’re trying to start a war right away.”
“Um…”
“Count of Aquitaine-”
“You can call me neatly in front of me.”
“…Christine judged that they were driven by their impatience to quickly bring the Eastern Empire to its knees. “They are trying to end the war before the Central Continent recovers from the aftereffects of the Franzian Revolutionary War.”
Eris seemed to think deeply and then opened her mouth.
“That makes sense. Actually, there is no one smarter than Christine. At least not for me.”
“And then there’s the drone issue. “If the Abyss Corporation continues to use drone technology after Iberica, the collapse of the Eastern Empire could easily lead to the creation of an army of drones large enough to destroy the entire central continent.”
Eris was lost in thought with a serious face.
…Now is the difficult time.
“I know very well that Franzia has not yet recovered from the aftereffects of the last war, Your Majesty. “Rather than going to war right now, Christine and I are trying to make some preparations in advance so that we can properly carry out the war when the Eastern Empire desperately asks for salvation.”
Eris raises her eyes and looks at me quietly.
“Of course, it is not Franzia alone. “The Iberian Brotherhood will be willing to join us, and Christine, together with Governor Talleyrand, will prepare to attract most of the countries of the central continent.”
Hmm, our queen is not this quiet person, so why is there no reaction?
I added, feeling a little embarrassed.
“The National Assembly, the Eastern Empire is on fire, so you can appease it by offering various conditions, but public opinion will be the problem. And that’s where Her Majesty’s help is needed. “There is no one who receives more absolute support from the entire nation than Her Majesty the Queen.”
Eris remained silent for a while and then asked a question.
“You said demons intervened in the unfolding process of the revolution, right?”
“Yes, that’s true, but…”
“You also said that you intentionally tried to make the revolution more radical.”
“…Yes, Your Majesty.”
Eris looked up at me with her transparent purple eyes, as if I could see inside, and then smiled and called to me.
“Marquis.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“We’re better, right?”
…?
What are you talking about?
Are you talking about before the revolution or after the revolution?
I answered after thinking about it for a while.
“…I think at least we all worked together to make it a little better. “It’s embarrassing to say this from the standpoint of wanting to start another war, but I’m asking because I think it’s better than if we didn’t start this.”
I was anxiously thinking about what I could do to persuade him well, but Eris answered calmly.
“Okay, I’ll help you.”
…It’s nice to be able to help, but is it this easy?
As I looked at Eris in confusion, she smiled softly and asked another question.
“Marquis, are you happy?”
…I thought I understood Eris in some way, but today I can’t figure it out.
But still…
“There are still a lot of problems, but still.”
Before returning.
I died on the same date as today.
Christine, Gaston, and Eris, who would have already died before me, are with me.
Besides that, now that I am with countless people….
“I feel happy.”
After hearing my answer, Eris smiled the brightest since we first met.
Eris spoke while I was a little shocked and dazed.
“me too.”
