Episode 255 Epilogue (3)
After the war with the Abyss Corporation ended, a military government was established in the Abyss Islands, and Eris and I visited all the member countries of the Allied Powers at least once.
Iberica Brotherhood Germania Empire Krafte Kingdom Eastern Empire Magic Kingdom and Northern United Kingdom.
Both I and Eris’s reputation had already spread throughout the Central Continent, and we were said to be the main players in the victory of the crusade against the demons, so we were welcomed wherever we went.
It was a bit funny that the Germanian Empire and the Eastern Empire, which were obviously still suffering from the aftereffects of the last war, held a grand victory ceremony and then went out of their way to welcome us in a competitive manner.
In any case, after the war with the Abyss Corporation, it was not that difficult to strengthen friendship between the alliance member countries and establish an economic cooperation system.
Each person shares the business shares in the Abyss system, and Franzia is the one that manages it most directly.
Christine’s Aquitaine upper class was able to compensate for the enormous expenses it had to endure during the war by exerting considerable influence on business in the Abyss Islands of Francia and joint trade between the Allies.
By being tolerant of the surviving demons and accepting them, we were able to use them as labor under military surveillance, and they were a great help in the analysis of Abyss Corporation technology in the Mage Tower, which also played a part in producing results faster than expected.
Since it was a union between Central Continent countries that had once been at war with each other, there were concerns that conflict would recur as soon as common understanding disappeared, but it seemed unlikely that would happen, at least for the time being.
In this way, the Central Continent was celebrating the Holy War with victory and was entering an era of détente.
Just as Eris wanted.
* * *
Lumière, the capital of Francia.
National Assembly.
Externally, the countries that fought against the Abyss Corporation were enjoying peace and prosperity by sharing the benefits gained from the Abyss Islands… But
after the war and the immediate national crisis disappeared, inside Franzia, it was rather chaotic in the atmosphere before the storm. I was losing.
“The Revolutionary Party will submit the Equal Election Act this session. “This bill must be passed to repay the dedication shown by the people during the war.”
All Francian adults must have equal voting rights, regardless of wealth. The aspirations of Maximilien Isidore at the beginning of the revolution have not yet been realized.
Maurice Talleyrand, leader of the Revolutionary Party, seemed determined to achieve it this time, but the response was not very favorable.
“joy. Let’s make the village idiots and the qualified people who have served Francia for a long time cast the same vote? “That’s nonsense.”
The Central Party, a group of military and conservative figures centered on nobles, expressed its opposition in a cover-up, as always.
“Damn it, how long are you going to hold on to that damn sense of privilege? “We have been emphasizing equality since the beginning of the revolution, but 10 years after the revolution, we are still unable to let go of the outdated thinking of the past.”
After the Revolutionary Franconian Republic became the Revolutionary Frangian Kingdom, one more vote was held to elect members of the National Assembly.
At the time of the election, the Central Party was in a very favorable situation as they were in the midst of a series of wars and were preparing for a holy war against the Abyss Corporation.
The influence of the Holy Maiden Eris, whom the Central Party I belonged to and I, who naturally swept the battlefield and became the hero of Frangia, was dominant, and the Central Party, which was once the weakest party among the three parties, grew to the point where it became the first party.
When we were in danger during the war against the Abyss Corporation, it was not for nothing that the National Assembly sent reinforcements, even vacating the mainland.
This was partly due to the decision of Maurice Talleyrand and Nicolas Brissot, but the anxiety of the Revolutionary Party and the Liberal Party about the expedition, which was centered on the nobility and the military, also played a role.
Still, in times of war, it was important to unify national opinion and carry out the war, and the National Assembly had a positive effect, such as sending additional troops, so it was not considered a big problem.
However, with the war with Abyss Corporation over, the bloated Central Party virtually put the brakes on all attempts at reform by the National Assembly, and most of Franzia’s reforms either stopped or were limited to maintaining the status quo.
In the end, the most radical reformist revolutionary party expressed pessimism that the revolution was deteriorated after joining hands with the aristocracy.
“We had to complete the revolution once and for all….”
“Hum, huh, huh. ” “Be careful what you say, Senator.”
However, even in such a situation, the assassination attempt on Christine and Raphael Balian’s counter-revolution show how devastating the results of radical and radical actions were.
Therefore, even the most radical revolutionary party cannot even consider the extreme option of reform through force.
Above all, as the head of the military, I was exerting a very dominant influence both through personal force and through my popularity with the Franzian people.
From the revolutionary party’s point of view, the partner on which they could place their hopes was the Liberal Party…
“No matter what, we must keep the banner of revolution that we raised….”
“Hmm, it is still too early. “Does it make sense that rural idiots who know nothing can exercise the same rights as citizens who faithfully pay large amounts of taxes in Lumiere?”
“Wasn’t it the Grande École course that was introduced for that purpose? This is compulsory education that was introduced by suppressing opposition from farmers at best. “The first graduates who have completed their studies have just begun to enter society. Can there be progress in this country if the freedom and equality they have learned so far are only a facade?”
“But that doesn’t mean they have been proven to have the same intelligence as the city’s citizens. Who would work hard and pay high taxes if equal rights were enjoyed by foolish people who are easily incited without even understanding what rights they have? “In the end, it is the taxes of the rich that drive Franzia.”
In fact, the Liberal Party also has the rich and middle class as its core supporters, so opinions are divided and lukewarm.
After the war, the atmosphere in the National Assembly usually went like this.
In order to resolve the chaos during the unstable revolutionary period, the three parties keep each other in check and lead the political situation. It may sound good, but in the end, it is no different from a country with three heads.
If Eris had not been a focal point in this country, which is led by three different party presidents, there would probably have been even more chaos than there is now.
Thinking about it like that made me feel a little bored, so I lightly relaxed my shoulders and made eye contact with Talleyrand.
He gave me a rather earnest look.
It’s not common for someone with such a high opinion to do something like this.
Still, I’m asking for help because the Central Party is somewhat friendly toward them, but…
I shook my head lightly.
Anyway, with universal suffrage, I’ve gone beyond the point where I can help.
Right now, the central party’s focal point is the old aristocracy, including myself, and the military, which has sacrificed blood for the country, is its core support base.
Who can understand that those who shed so much blood, or Christine and her subordinates who supported the war effort itself, should enjoy the same rights as those who have just been able to receive a proper education?
…It may be necessary someday, but I am skeptical that such radical reform is necessary now.
I definitely get the feeling that conflict is building up as the war ends and the National Assembly becomes disorganized, but for me, I feel that this is better than before.
If we were to compare the revolution, where the bloody smell of the guillotine would never go away, and the present, where things are slowly changing through dialogue, there is no need to say which is better.
After such a lackluster discussion.
“…213 votes in favor, 254 votes against, 33 abstentions. “The universal suffrage law was rejected.”
As expected, the Revolutionary Party members and some Liberal Party members could not hide their disappointment at the result, which did not exceed expectations.
This situation will probably remain the same unless there is a clear change in the next election soon.
“Then, Her Majesty the Queen will propose the next agenda item.”
Everyone’s attention was immediately focused on Eris as she slowly walked in.
In fact, Eris was at the center of the storm surrounding Francia’s internal political situation after the war ended.
because.
This is because eight years have come to an end since Eris ascended to the throne as queen.
Not only the election for members of the National Assembly, but also the election for the king is just around the corner.
Of course, if we were to vote here on whether to re-confirm Eris as the king, it would probably be passed easily with the approval of the entire nation.
In fact, many people think that way.
From the beginning, the Empress of the Germania Empire and the Queen of the Northern United Kingdom declared that they were giving up their right to succession, so the only person who could run was Eris, and there would be no one who could shout out that Eris was not qualified to be king.
But on the other hand.
The Revolutionary Party and the Liberal Party are concerned that no matter how great the Queen is, if Eris’s royal authority is absolutely reaffirmed in the National Assembly, which has already tilted towards the Center Party, this may lead to the end of the revolution.
I don’t know…
Christine told me that Eris had several contacts with Nicolas Brissot, who retired as president of the Liberal Party, but I wonder what the Queen, who is more reformist than the National Assembly, is thinking.
As if I was not the only one who thought this, many people, including the Central Party President Count Anjou, were looking at Eris with extremely anxious faces.
While Eris was going up to the podium, I took the paper handed to me by the attendant.
Is this data for the agenda proposed by Eris?
As I read it, wondering where and what kind of bomb it was, I froze.
“It’s a good day, members of the National Assembly. Greetings from Esiliste Liliane de Francia, Queen of the Frangias.”
Eris also greeted in a calm tone, but the reaction of the National Assembly was not calm.
“What on earth is this, Your Majesty?”
“This is a plan to reform the political system of the Revolutionary Francia Kingdom, or rather, to transform it into a Francia Republic.”
“Ugh…!”
“Oh my gosh, Count Anjou!”
While the Count of Anjou was holding me by the back, I was looking at the documents Eris had passed around without being able to hide my bewildered expression.
It was intended to revamp the situation in which the National Assembly, represented by the three party presidents, votes to elect the king, and both enacts and executes laws.
The vote to elect the king will remain the same as the vote to elect the head of state, but the term of office will be reduced to four years and changed from the rightful heir to the throne to allow anyone who has received recommendations from at least 10 members of the National Assembly to become a candidate.
In addition, the legislative authority will be left to the National Assembly, but a new executive branch will be formed under a new head of state, and all law enforcement powers previously held by the National Assembly will be handed over to the judiciary, which will make decisions according to the law, thereby enforcing separation of powers.
…I was wondering why I was meeting Nicola Brissot, a retired politician, and I was asking for advice from the former lawyer.
“Isn’t this no different from abolishing the monarchy?”
Eris smiled brightly and responded to the Central Party member’s words, which almost caused an earthquake.
“you’re right. But wasn’t it a post-revolutionary republic from the beginning? “The expedient method of an elected monarchy was simply an incongruous temporary measure to avoid war.”
It wasn’t just the Central Party that was embarrassed.
“Your Majesty the Queen. “If the reorganization is carried out according to the agenda you have just posted, the power of the king… no, the power of the head of state will be strengthened and he will virtually run the country, and the power of the National Assembly will be greatly reduced.”
When President Talleyrand spoke with a slightly trembling voice, Eris nodded and answered.
“that’s right. But most countries do that. The king and the administrative officials who follow him. Since the executive branch itself disappeared during the revolution, we also have a National Assembly, but this is not very efficient. In fact, the policies implemented by the National Assembly in the early stages of the revolution often failed.”
As Eris said, the National Assembly has been involved in both legislation and law enforcement.
If you ask whether the three-headed Congress, which is difficult to legislate, is good at enforcing the law, the truth is that it is not doing well.
The policies of the revolutionary government, which were high above the ideal, were unable to even resolve the food crisis due to a lack of practical expertise or manpower, and while pushing ahead with policies that did not fit local circumstances, they only created all kinds of confusion, such as almost leading to a rebellion in the West.
There have been more than one or two instances where Christine and I have had to busily lobby to somehow resolve a situation.
“But in the end, isn’t he just a king in name and making him a king again? “This is a return to the kingdom!”
But of course, this is actually an overthrow of the revolution. And that too by the Queen, who is most loved by the people and whom members of the National Assembly can never stop.
“I am offended, but Your Majesty the Queen. In fact, this appears to be nothing more than an intention to return to Her Majesty’s country based on the support of the people.”
In the eyes of the members of the National Assembly who said that, there was even a hint of betrayal towards the Queen, whom they believed to be serving the people more than anyone else.
To be honest, I also had a very strange feeling about Eris making this decision.
It is true that after the war ended and the common enemy disappeared, the National Assembly was equally divided among the three heads, none of whom received the majority, and in that state, the National Assembly was responsible for both legislation and execution, so Franzia became completely disorganized.
Although a clear central point was needed, Eris, who could actually serve as a central point, had only vague authority due to the checks of the National Assembly, which feared the overthrow of the revolution.
Even so, Eris seemed completely far from greedy for power, but she came with this reform plan?
However, the queen who set off such a large bomb while keeping it a secret even from me was beyond our imagination.
“I am embarrassed to say this, but members of the National Assembly.”
Even though she is now quite old, Eris still smiles, showing the playfulness of her girlhood.
“I’m not going to run.”
