Chapter 286 - First Story: Wilhelmina
In late autumn, the citizens of the Royal Capital of Sertoria were preparing for winter in a state of anticlimax regarding the war, which had effectively ended in just over three months for Sertoria.
There was a time when the men of the vigilante group were restless, with rumors that the Town Guard had marched out and the light infantry of the Central Army had been wiped out in the Western Plains, and that the enemy might even attack the Royal Capital. On the other hand, since the collection of linen for processing menstrual cycles had finished, women spent their days with unconcerned faces, sensing that the enemy attack they had been wary of was likely nothing major. As a result, in each household, a phenomenon opposite to the general image of wartime occurred: the men expressed anxiety daily while the women encouraged them.
Then, somehow, word came that they had won without the border being breached. Moreover, not only the light infantry who were supposed to have been wiped out, but even the heavy infantry and cavalry who had been preparing for an enemy attack in the Royal Capital had, at some point, been advancing from the Eastern Plains along with the Medioland army, which was supposed to have been wiped out in the north. And Margrave Mortimer, who had the authority to negotiate with other countries, offered surrender once he confirmed King Seldic's retreat, and the various nations accepted it, ending the war. As a result...
"W-Well, it's the second time, after all."
"That's right. It's the second time."
"The war with the Demon Lord's army seems to have been the fastest in history, too."
"That's right. It was."
"Even so, doesn't it seem... strange?"
"Really? I don't think it's particularly strange."
"No, the rumors say..."
"They're just rumors, right?"
"W-Well, I suppose so..."
Conversations like this were apparently exchanged all over the Royal Capital of Sertoria.
Even in the Royal Palace, only a handful of people understood the overall picture of the operation. Those gathered in the waiting room of the Audience Chamber, having removed their hats, understood everything from the initial plan to the intermediate processes and even the unexpected events.
However, since it was immediately after the end of the war and most of the Central Army was stationed in the occupied territories, Victor and Hughes, who usually showed their faces, were at the front. Harris was still at one of the prisoner-of-war camps in the Eastern Plains, and Jones was in Nakanohara.
"In the end, it's just a bit more flatland and the forest has gotten larger," the King said, and the Queen nodded.
Since it would be too empty and lonely with just the two of them, the King had suggested the Queen, who had been constantly involved during the war, continue to come, resulting in three people.
"Regarding those flatlands, since the original lords were exiled and the serfs liberated, it seems several dozen households of serfs have fled there from some villages in Margrave Mortimer's territory."
"I don't mind. Accept everyone who has already arrived. If there's no land, have them develop the wasteland in Nakanohara. The Eastern Plains are also available, so it shouldn't be a problem even if the numbers increase somewhat. Until the Mortimer side sends guards, just feign ignorance."
The King replied to Evans's words. Normally, the premise is to detain and return those who cross the border, but it's within the scope of expectation for serfs to flee in the confusion immediately following the end of a war. In the newly acquired land, new village heads are sent in and land is redistributed, but serfs can become commoners by being granted their own land from the state free of charge. If they succeed in escaping, it's a chance to be liberated from the class hierarchy.
"I'm relieved to hear you say that. Victor is sheltering those who fled to our camp in the middle of the night. Since he has hay-carrying wagons making round trips, it seems he's putting them on the empty wagons when they head toward the Eastern Plains."
"Is there enough food?"
"Yes. Fortunately, the war ended quickly, so the portion sent to Nakanohara is surplus. We can use that for the time being."
Serfs who succeed in escaping answer several questions in the Eastern Plains, and if there's no fraud, a family register is created and they are registered as citizens of the Kingdom. Of course, the obligation to pay taxes arises. Since the new territory is liberated for the serfs who originally lived there, until they are granted their own land, they will earn wages by doing civil engineering work along with their labor duties. They could also learn a trade.
"Also, how should we respond to Bishop Catherine's words that arrived from Mayor Adolf?"
Catherine's words were to dispatch Jeanne to Northern Gram. She said to dispatch her for six months to a priest's training ground that apparently exists in Northern Gram to have her learn new magic. If things go well, her rank might increase.
"About that, if it's going to take six months, it would be better to finish the investigation of the Mountain first. Prince James said he wanted to do it twice within the year."
"Understood. Then, would it be next spring at the earliest?"
"No, before that, Crown Prince Eowyn of Northern Gram has said he wants to come to our country. The purpose is an official thank-you for Jeanne's magic... specifically, the magic water that serves as medicine for that Karmic Disease. Also, Princess Aira of Finis will be coming along with him. She will be the Queen's guest."
"Then we must call Jeanne and the others."
Seeing Evans break into a smile, the Queen put her hand to her mouth. During usual dinner parties, he quickly retreats to a separate room and sleeps on the sofa, yet when Jeanne and the others come, he stays and makes a fuss with them until he's dead drunk.
"Next is the spring Council of Lords proposed by James-sama. I think we should participate, but who will go with you? Assuming the Queen and I go, who else?"
"I want to lure Seldic out somehow. Is there no good way?"
"It's not that there isn't one, but..."
"I'm telling you now, anything related to the Ruined Town is off-limits."
The State Chancellor, having been warned, gave a slight shrug. The priests of the Ruined Town who were taken prisoner in Regnentes are officially considered to have perished as a result of engaging with the Volunteer Army. Only a very few people know the truth.
"Then, how about Harris and Jeanne? Once the investigation of the Mountain is over, Engrio is next, I hear. Shouldn't we also request cooperation from King Seldic?"
"Hmm, Harris is fine, but Jeanne is a no."
The Queen usually doesn't take off her tiara in this room. She has various discussions with the King when they talk in their private chambers, and all of those are reflected as the King's intentions. Of course, the others know this too, and when the King is having trouble making a judgment, they sometimes postpone the conclusion for a night to allow time for him to discuss it with the Queen.
"Oh? Why is that?"
"Jeanne's magic can only be used by her alone, right? I don't want to let her meet Seldic from our side yet."
"Until they say they want to meet her?"
"No, until they come to meet her."
"Oh?"
She certainly is being cherished.
The Queen chuckled.
"It is precious magic. We must protect it with the strength of the entire nation."
To the King, who spoke while clearing his throat, the Queen and the State Chancellor exchanged glances and smirked. Regardless of "protecting with the strength of the nation," who was it that had been asking her to go to various places until now?
"Well, Jeanne will be busy too, so it's not like we should move too much from our side."
"That's right. We have to have her come here occasionally too, so she needs time for that."
They'll be going to Engrio for the investigation anyway, but perhaps he's worried she'll take a liking to King Seldic.
"She needs to listen to His Majesty's stories more."
"My apologies, Your Majesty. For my lack of ability."
"What are you talking about?"
The two of them exchanged glances again at the King, who spoke with dissatisfaction.
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While the King was being smirked at by the Queen and the State Chancellor, Wilson and Servetus were facing each other in a room of a three-story stone building standing at the Royal Capital Agricultural Testing Ground.
The place provided for Servetus to spend his time as a prisoner was a building constructed since Wilson took on the dual roles of Director of the National Strategic Research Institute and Director of the Agricultural Testing Ground; it was in a corner of land where pastures and fields spread out. It was farmland that Wilson, wanting to verify the method of fertilizing soil using clover taught to him by Lyudmila and Flora, had petitioned the King for permission to use, and where he had gathered people in financial distress to begin farming. Now, he had even taken in the Revenant users who were in Nakanohara and built a temple for them.
The Revenants captured during the war did not consider it honorable to cooperate with Sertoria, and under the lead of Servetus, they lived as prisoners, confined to stone rooms. However, Servetus was given a private room and received supplies of food, drink, and books, which are normally unnecessary for a Revenant. The furnishings included not just a bed, but also a table and a single chair.
Wilson had brought a bottle of high-quality red wine from the continent, which Servetus liked, and two cups.
"It has been a long time. Your Eminence."
"Had you not perished?"
Upon leaving the Ruined Town, Wilson had activated a scroll of [Purification] toward a lump of earth and left his black robes and shoes there with the soil. Rarely, there were those for whom continuing to be a Revenant became painful, and they chose to perish of their own accord. Regarding such matters, a report was simply filed and no particular investigation was pursued. For the Revenant priests, who were forbidden from making any vocal expressions of emotion other than anger—especially laughter—even expressions of sorrow were silent. Everyone left it untouched, thinking that they might one day choose the same path.
"I slipped away by pretending to have perished of my own accord."
They were originally members of the same council. However, Servetus was the chairman, addressed as Your Eminence, while Wilson was an ordinary member. Wilson had believed in his own talent and fled the Ruined Town.
"So you were in Sertoria."
"Various things happened. This country is an interesting one."
Wilson explained the circumstances of how he came to serve Henry and Eleanor. Servetus listened with interest. He even let out a laugh at the part where Wilson was desperately building a fort without knowing that the Demon Lord had been resurrected.
"Your Eminence, you have become able to laugh as well."
"Umu. Having lost this war so miserably and being a prisoner like this, I no longer care about the precepts."
"As I thought, it was Your Eminence who formulated the strategy."
"Which means you were the one who crushed it all."
"Indeed. Several unexpected things occurred, but they all turned out in our favor."
The unexpected events Wilson referred to were: first, the alliance with Finis; second, the alliance with Northern Gram; third, the alliance with Medioland; fourth, the miraculous victory in Regnentes with almost no casualties; and fifth, the political change in Primordia. Jeanne was involved in three of those. As for the remaining two, although Wilson was involved, the Ruined Town's side of the scheme had effectively collapsed. Wilson did not go into detail, merely conveying the results calmly. Hearing this, Servetus spat out that there was no way they could have won. One or two might be one thing, but for three unexpected events to turn out favorably was beyond expectation, and for all five to do so was unthinkable as anything other than a miracle. Priests who do not wear black robes would surely all say it was the protection of the Goddess.
"My apologies. They say the disciple surpasses the master."
"What are you saying? Even when we were in the Ruined Town, you were superior in military affairs. In the first place, this time I fought according to the strategy you formulated during our frequent debates about what should be done if one were to unify the island."
"I thought that might be the case. Therefore, by attacking the rear of Your Eminence's right-hand turn, I was able to win."
"I should have left the nobles in eastern Engrio intact."
"I bypassed them. If Margrave Mortimer's territory had been a little narrower, that might have been difficult."
He had heard from Henry that the Medioland army, which had broken the alliance, and the armies of the two northern nations were keeping the eastern nobles in check. He was saying he had simply bypassed them. Normally, even if the Medioland army hadn't been wiped out, invading Engrio by breaking through the hilly area west of the Mountain, let alone sending reinforcements to Sertoria, should have been unthinkable. It wasn't just advance preparation. He had responded flexibly to the situation and, using the resulting diplomacy, had effectively erased the army group itself from the eyes of scouts.
"You rascal," Servetus laughed, and Wilson laughed while giving a slight bow.
Once again, they poured wine for a toast and clinked cups.
"It is from the continent, from the region Your Eminence prefers."
He took a sip, rolled it over his tongue, and swallowed.
"Delicious. My thanks. Drinking good wine makes me feel alive again."
"Your Eminence, you have always liked red wine."
"As for white, when I was alive, I was forced to drink the not-so-delicious local produce of this island far too much. Thanks to that, I came to hate it."
As he took his time to savor and finish the first cup, Wilson poured a second.
"So, seeing as you, who had been hiding your form until now, have gone out of your way to appear, have you come to persuade me?"
He drank about half of the second cup and placed it on the floor.
"Now, I wonder. Henry-sama, whom I serve, did not say anything of the sort."
"Then what have you come for?"
"He asked if I knew Your Eminence, so I told him I had studied under you. Then he told me to go and be a conversation partner for you. In this country, even if it is a request from royalty, if you clearly refuse, they do not force you."
"Hmm," Servetus tilted his head.
What are power and status for? On the continent, the idea that a king's authority is granted by God is beginning to arise. Even for the royalty of this island, they would normally not hesitate to punish those who do not comply with their wishes.
"However, I was not told not to learn, nor was I told not to steal."
Wilson finished his second cup with a smirk.
"I see. I understand now. You've come to discuss doctrine and the state of the world with me?"
"I look forward to it. Though I am an unworthy disciple, I have come once again to receive your teachings. I am, after all, the Director of the Sertoria National Strategic Research Institute."
He bowed respectfully.
"You rascal!"
Seeing Wilson take out another bottle of wine after raising his head, he burst out laughing.
Servetus, drinking wine in high spirits, asked Wilson, "What is your desire?"
"Not the country, not the King, not Henry or Eleanor whom you serve, nor even the citizens of this country. Your own desire."
"I thought you already knew, but if you ask, I shall tell you. It is the abolition of the class system on this island and governance by the people."
Wilson said this without losing his smile.
"And the role of the King in that country?"
"One who bears the responsibility of uniting the people and making decisions."
"And what of your master, Henry, regarding that?"
"Of course, he knows. Eleanor-sama, the King and Queen, and even the State Chancellor."
"What did they say?"
"They all asked, 'Are you talking about our country?'"
At Wilson's laughing reply, Servetus was half-dumbfounded.
"Then why do you not seize this island through the path of hegemony... Truly, you are obsessed with a small land."
"I am dissatisfied with that as well, but if the people do not desire war, then the one who unites them cannot very well wage war. Even if they are allies, both Medioland and Regnentes still maintain the class system."
"You cannot afford to make the entire island your enemy, then? In that case, do you not still need a King of a great nation who holds hegemony?"
"That is the dilemma."
"Are you a fool?" he spat out, but his eyes were laughing.
"Both Your Eminence and I are no longer human. Since we have time, there is no need to rush, is there? My master Henry also said that he will eventually change his mind, and that is when we should restore the core of the doctrine."
"A patient story, indeed. All those who are living will die."
At Servetus's words, Wilson showed a suggestive smile.
"What is it? Is there something?"
"No, there is one thing I would like to ask. I want to introduce a young person who wishes to learn Your Eminence's ideals. I would like her to listen to our exchange. She is not a fully grown tall tree, but a young sprout to be watered."
"While saying that, is she not already around here somewhere?"
"Actually, I suggested she do so, but she insisted that such an attitude would be disrespectful and is waiting in a separate room."
"Hmm. It seems she has better manners than you."
Saying "My apologies," he briefly left the room and brought back a woman.
"I am Wilhelmina, in service to the former Queen Eleanor of Sertoria. It is an honor to meet you."
She knelt on her right knee toward the prisoner and gave a knight's salute.
"What's this? Are you not the female soldier who gave me wine when I was captured?"
"You remembered. I was very disrespectful the other day, not even introducing myself."
"Are you an agent of Eleanor's?"
"I'd like to say so, but I don't have enough wisdom to serve as Eleanor-sama's proxy, so I volunteered to try and do something about that. Fortunately, I was able to obtain Eleanor-sama's permission. If I can gain even a little wisdom by listening to your talk with Wilson-dono, I might eventually be able to become an agent."
Servetus looked at Wilson while tilting his head.
Could there really be someone who speaks so bluntly?
"Your Eminence might know Beatrix. She is a companion of hers from the same orphanage, a talented woman born on the continent. Her future goal is to become the State Chancellor."
A drifter from the continent and an orphanage graduate, aiming to be the State Chancellor while serving royalty...
In other countries, a lifetime knighthood would be the best one could hope for.
"You may come with Wilson until you grow tired of it," he said, letting out a half-sigh.