Revolutionary Period – The Saint and the Empress
When I opened my eyes, I had already been moved to Reims.
It seems that Eris treated the lacerations from the bullet and the severe burns, but because he fought to the limit of his body and magical power, he was told to recuperate for at least a few days.
The first person to come was Raphael Balian.
“It was a truly amazing battle, Marquis de Lafayette! It’s such a shame that I couldn’t be there! I had to see the faces of the enemy soldiers being hit by bullets from the artillery that came from the front! “I hope you learn how to use magic on a regular basis!”
“Is that so…”
This guy is a bit scary.
It’s not something I would say, but he seems crazy…
“Anyway, thanks to the Marquis not taking care of himself and punishing the Storm Witch, our army achieved a complete victory. So, I plan to advance to Bahua as soon as the reorganization of the troops is completed.”
Oh, so you came running as soon as I opened my eyes?
I answered with a smile.
“All right. “I will help you by appointing someone to lead the Confederate army in my stead.”
Balian smiled brightly.
“As expected, I like the fact that I can communicate quickly with the Marquis! Please take a moment to cool down and wait for the good news!”
Yes, you must be young…
Balian, who was very smiling, gestured behind him, and the adjutant who followed him placed a large basket of apples on the desk.
“Then I’ll see you again soon! Thank you haha!”
Having achieved his goal, Balian quickly disappeared.
But as soon as I did that, this person and that person kept appearing and I had to keep dealing with them.
“Marquis! You have no idea how relieved I am that the Marquis is safe! The noble sacrifice and bravery that the Marquis showed in the last battle was truly the talent of a Blue Knight-”
“Is that so? “I was also very worried about the Count.”
Damien, who was talking with spit flying out of his mouth, immediately closed his mouth when I cut him off.
“I didn’t know where I went after about halfway through the battle.”
Where do you sell drugs? I wish you wouldn’t get me involved with the damn Blue Knight in the first place.
“I’m sorry you got injured in the middle of the week.”
Damien answered awkwardly.
It looks like he’s perfectly fine, but I’m not sure if Eris treated him or not, but I highly doubt that he was excited and fell behind using a minor injury as an excuse.
“…By the way, I heard that General Balian is trying to attack Bahua, so he will go out as the commander of the southern army-” As
Damien listened to me, his eyes suddenly turned red and tears started flowing.
“Oh no, what’s happening all of a sudden?”
“I’m sorry, Marquis. “It made me think of Sir Huey, who died bravely while charging with the Marquis, and I stopped…”
Damien raised his hand and wiped his eyes with sad eyes as he said that.
Sir Huey.
It was probably the name given to the knight of Mirbo who was hit by a fireball while charging against the line infantry.
I feel like I’m being wronged, but it’s hard to tell someone who is grieving over the loss of a subordinate to go out to fight…
I sighed lightly.
“I understand. Count, please get some rest. I will leave the command of the southern army to Lord Desais.”
“Thank you for your deep consideration, Marquis! Then get some rest!”
Damien responded with joy as soon as he heard, ignoring the tears he had shed just moments ago.
This abominable human being…
Damien retreated, leaving behind a basket of grapes.
“Please forgive me for not being able to assist His Excellency the Marquis until the end.”
“No, what are you talking about? If it weren’t for Sir Gaston, we would have failed. Thank you for taking the lead in doing so. “It was an honor to fight together.”
“…I was also honored to be able to serve you.
Lan Gaston left behind a basket of oranges.
“Confederate casualties are 4,823, sir. Although the damage was not small, it was a worthwhile victory. “His Excellency the Marquis, who took the lead in defeating the Storm Witch without sparing his body, was known not only to the entire revolutionary army but also to the capital, leaving a deep impression.”
“…Yes, Lord Dejet. “Did you hear that General Balian was advancing on Bahua?”
“…Um, are you the Chief of Staff? Or are you the acting commander?”
“Acting commander.”
Louis Desget sighed lightly, but immediately saluted.
“I will follow your orders, Your Excellency the Marquis.”
“Thank you. Oh and.”
“yes?”
“Well done to the command of the Confederate army in this battle.”
“It was my role, Your Excellency the Marquis. Then please pay attention.”
Deje grinned and left the strawberry basket behind.
Besides that, it was a time when many people had visited and the sun had completely set and it was dark.
Eris, who appeared late, opened her mouth while eagerly devouring the fruit piled on the table.
“Wow, you are rich in fruit. How much does it cost to buy it with money? bout. Ah, these strawberries…mm~ delicious.”
“…Can you at least swallow what’s in your mouth and tell me?”
“Ugh, the Marquis is a bit rude to me for taking some fruit that I can’t even eat when I’m so tired and hungry from treating the injured until now-” “
Okay, okay. “Eat whatever you want.”
Eris covered her mouth with her hand, smiled mischievously, and began to concentrate on eating fruit again.
As I was doing this, I could clearly see that Eris’ eyes were as dark as a sick person’s, so I didn’t bother her any further.
Our battle was over, but Eris continued to work until she looked like that.
Since I was given so many gifts, I think it must have been the same for Eris, but given my personality, I would have just given it away rather than eating it alone while treating the wounded.
After a while, only the sound of fruit being eaten was heard, Eris opened her mouth.
“Wow, be happy. Actually, I really like fruits, but it’s been a while since I’ve eaten them to my heart’s content. Oh. The Marquis should thank me. “The person who got shot was tied up so roughly and the burns were so severe that at first I thought it was someone else and not the Marquis?”
“Yes…”
I am aware that I was reckless.
The witch also jumped in, thinking that her magic power was almost depleted, but perhaps she had recovered some magic power from the collapsed Great Magic spell.
If it weren’t for the brooch Christine gave him as a gift, he could have burned to death.
“Thank you, Eris. If it weren’t for you, we would have failed. …and the one that healed me. “Honestly, if she was a mess from burns, I wouldn’t have had the honor of seeing Christine.”
Eris remained silent for a moment and then opened her mouth.
“…I feel very complicated.”
Eris’ voice had calmed down to the point where it was difficult to think of the unreasonably lively way she had been acting just a moment ago.
“I was very happy to win the battle and think I had done it, but even in that battle, thousands of people were killed or injured. Of those, there weren’t many that I could save. I was so happy when that happened…”
“Stop it.”
When I clapped my hands, Eris turned her gaze to me.
“If we had given up fighting, we would have had to give in to them, and if you hadn’t been so active, more people would have died. “It’s one thing to feel responsible, but it’s another thing to feel guilty about things you can’t help.”
Eris smiled faintly.
“The Marquis is clear about that distinction. Is it because he is a driver? But uhm.
“When I think that one day I will become like the Marquis, I get scared.”
“You don’t have to be like me. I don’t think you can be like me. But still, I trust you more now than you did when I first met you.”
“…is it so?”
“Yes, princess. Through this battle, you will not only have saved many lives, but you will also have gained tremendous support. It will be of great help when the moment comes for you to ascend to the throne.
“It may still be painful, but it’s okay to cherish your current feelings and concerns.”
I looked straight into Eris’ transparent purple eyes and spoke as reassuringly as possible.
“Because it is the growing pains that a young saint who saw the world with only pure good will is experiencing as she grows into a princess that people can trust and follow. “I believe that you, who have gone through all that and grown up, will have enough for me and my people to trust and follow.”
After a moment of silence, Eris smiled and asked.
“Have I kept my oath?”
“okay. “Nothing better.”
“Were the people of Francia that I asked you to protect worth protecting, Marquis?”
I remembered the battlefield filled with that fiery heat.
In the battlefield that I incited and even used Eris to protect Christine and my people.
Even when they were on the verge of destruction, they charged forward, shouting for victory, even when they were exhausted, like no one else would do.
“…Yes, definitely.”
Eris smiled brightly and dazzlingly, looking more relieved than ever.
–
Germanian Empire Imperial Palace.
Kaiserin Cecilia was busy processing the documents piled up in her office.
Not only the work of an empress, but also the work that an emperor should normally do.
Nevertheless, Cecilia loved the emperor.
Her pathetic and foolish, yet unhappy and pitiful husband.
If the Kaiser had not been so evil that he even turned away the imperial vassals who had been loyal to the imperial family for a long time, no matter how hard Cecilia tried, she would have been nothing more than an empress sold from a foreign country.
As she was busy processing her documents, there was a knock on the door.
“The Minister of Military Affairs has arrived, Kaiserin.”
“Come on in.”
The door to the office opened and the Minister of Military Affairs with a stiff face came in and bowed in greeting.
“Meet Kaiserin, Mother of the Empire.”
Cecilia put down the document she was working on, stood up, and lifted up the battle report that was lying on one side of her desk.
“What do you think, Minister of Military Affairs?”
The Minister of Military Affairs hesitated, unable to say anything, and then apologized.
“I’m sorry, Kaiserin.”
Cecilia had to fight the urge to throw the battle report in the Minister of Military Affairs’ face.
You shouldn’t do that.
Ever since she was sold to the enemy country, she has erased everything about being Princess Cecilia of Francia.
The customs she learned, the dreams she had, and even her personality.
In the place where everything had been vacated, the empire squeezed in everything that the Germanic people wanted for an ideal empress.
Kaiserin Cecilia is an empress who is benevolent and wise, and is loved by the empire, which is more Germanic than the Germans.
There is no room for personal anger in her perfect life.
Even those who praised the ideal Kaiserin Cecilia knew that if she showed even the slightest flaw, they would bring up her origins.
Cecilia’s clenched hands were shaking, but the tone that finally came out of her mouth was extremely calm.
“Archduke Leopold is a hero and pride of the empire. No longer will his reputation be tarnished by the foolish King of Francia and the passive Kingdom of the Northern United Kingdom. “What do you think about the withdrawal of the imperial army?”
“…Kaiserin’s words are correct.”
Cecilia nodded slightly.
“In that case, I understand that the Minister of Military Affairs has agreed, and I will meet you at the Cabinet meeting.”
“I will do so. Glory to the father and mother of the Empire.”
The Minister of Military Affairs left and Cecilia flopped down on the chair in the office again.
In fact, I wanted to scream in anger.
She even sent the Royal Guard Mage Corps, which she had ambitiously fostered by spending money on the imperial family’s budget.
I never imagined that we would be defeated like this and that the leader would even be killed in action.
The battle report clearly states how unusual and cruel the battle was.
Even though she had no professional military knowledge, she could tell that this was not because Archduke Leopold was incompetent.
Balian, a young genius who emerged as a rare tactician by crushing King Louis’ army and toying with the armies of three countries that were twice as large as if they were children.
The Marquis de Lafayette, the son of the Blue Knight, who overthrew the pride of the empire, Archduke Leopold, and led the revolutionary army to break through and crush everything, ultimately killing the wise man.
In addition, there is even a Saint of Francia who was directly recognized by the Holy Church.
They all emerged in the same generation from the outmoded feudal state of knights.
Even with the other two, the empire did not take the saint seriously.
When the Holy Church recognized an unknown girl who was traveling around southern Francia treating plagues as a saint out of the blue, one could only imagine that her patron, the Marquis de Lafayette, must have bribed her quite a lot.
However, starting from the last battle, the Saint of Francia became a presence that no one could ignore.
It was even said in the empire secretly that God was taking care of Franzia.
Cecilia just laughed at the absurd situation.
The story of the saint who saved Francia, which was on the verge of destruction by the devil hundreds of years ago, is very famous.
Now, the entire Frangia is enthusiastic about the fact that another saint has appeared and is saving the country in a crisis that has struck Frangia again.
They say that three heroes who appeared in a time of crisis are protecting Franzia, and that this is proof that God cares for Franzia.
Frangiara is looked after by God.
What did that handsome god do for her when she was sold to an enemy country?
The only thing that saved her from a distant country where she had no one to rely on was herself.
Not like God.
Cecilia gritted her teeth.
This time they won.
The unprecedented defeat was painful, but King Louis, who was terrified upon seeing the Marquis de Lafayette’s breakthrough, retreated, talking nonsense about the second coming of the Blue Knight and all that, giving the empire a justification to withdraw.
If they withdraw, King Louis’ destruction is certain.
So, while her foolish brother is destroyed, she must console and appease the princes who were surprised to see Francia’s power.
To convince them and start the real war to get her rightful rights back.
Cecilia smiled coldly as she looked at the text ‘Saint Eris’ written in the battle report.
You are a saint, a saint. Just because you were born, you received the love and blessings of many people and are still being praised.
If there truly is a person called God, if he has even the slightest bit of fairness.
To me, who was abandoned and sold to an enemy country, and only after abandoning everything, I managed to achieve my current position.
Shouldn’t I at least be given the right to repay those who took and sold everything I had?
Author’s note
Thank you for supporting Selme and Sanon (2nd episode) and Noodle & Monkey!
Kaiserin Cecilia’s motif is closer to Madame Pompadour + Catherine II than to Maria Theresa.
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