210 - The Great Reformation
――The grand conference room of Lusworth Castle.
"Prime Minister Letour, those who were in league with the Lord of Galleria were members of your faction. You must take responsibility for this in some form, must you not?"
Surrounded by armed soldiers, the Prime Minister, Letour, inwardly wore an expression as if he had chewed on a bitter bug. On the surface, however, he maintained a vacant look.
"My, I have no recollection of such a thing. Nor do I recall giving any such orders."
Led primarily by mid- and lower-ranking officials, the soldiers had detained some of the high-ranking officials along with evidence, and were now reciting their charges.
Elsa, similarly surrounded by soldiers, sat upon the throne, watching the situation unfold in silence. Among the soldiers stood a mage in a robe... a woman holding a staff, and on the opposite side stood a woman in a similar robe holding a spear.
Judging by their aura, both were likely highly skilled.
(They've hired some reasonably capable people. I cannot move carelessly. Even so, that ungrateful brat for not helping me!)
Letour had prevented anyone from interfering in internal affairs, but that had now come back to haunt him. Elsa was not issuing any orders to spare Letour.
However――.
"But it cannot be that you, as the head of the faction, face no consequences, can it? You must voluntarily enter seclusion and remain confined to your own estate for two months."
Hearing the opposing side's demand, Letour stroked his groomed beard with his fingers. Inwardly, he could not stop laughing.
(I see, they understand that government affairs will stall without me... they used forceful means to clip my wings, but they were wise enough to realize that going any further would be impossible!)
Confident in his administrative skills, Letour was pleased by the overly lenient punishment. In that case, he decided it would be better to proactively accept the penalty.
"I agree to that. Very well. I shall voluntarily enter seclusion. However, I hope that government affairs do not stall during the two months of my absence. The lives of the people depend on our work, after all. Your Majesty the Queen, is that acceptable?"
Addressing Elsa in the conference room, Letour maintained his etiquette, yet cast a disrespectful gaze toward the Queen.
(Honestly, what a useless brat outside of the battlefield.)
Elsa closed her eyes for a moment, then slowly opened them――.
"...The Prime Minister shall be in home seclusion for two months. What of the punishment for the others?"
The mid-ranking official, the central figure, bowed deeply.
"They are those who conspired with the enemy to line their own pockets. I believe the death penalty is appropriate."
Elsa stood up.
"Then do so."
With those words, she left the conference room. The high-ranking officials and dignitaries, now surrounded by soldiers and sentenced to death, began to scream.
"N-no! It was on the Prime Minister's orders!"
"It's not just me! This one too! This one betrayed you as well!"
"Don't mess with me! Why only us... why are you all staying silent!"
The ones being dragged away by the soldiers screamed that there were others who were in league with the Lord of Galleria――.
――The Galleria Archducal Estate.
Glacia, having gathered the vassals, declared boldly.
"There are lords who betrayed the Archducal Family and conspired with Lusworth. Evidence has already been gathered, and punishments have been carried out against some high officials in Lusworth. But it cannot be that we do nothing on our end, can it? In the name of the Galleria Archducal Family, I declare a subjugation campaign!"
There were several vassals who had not participated in the meeting, and those individuals were treated as the traitors.
Normally, there were many of them, and some cursed the traitorous vassals with blank expressions. However, the vassals were...
"But to carry out punishment just because the enemy said so..."
"We only just deployed soldiers. We cannot move right now."
"Would it not be better to investigate more thoroughly first?"
They were passive. In particular, the vassals who were also conspiring were terribly panicked. Even those who had not betrayed the house recognized that subjugation would be difficult as they were not in a position to deploy troops.
At that, Glacia spoke.
"Then the Archducal Family shall move alone. If we leave traitors unchecked, Galleria will be looked down upon!"
While those around her were passive, Glacia, the greatest military force of Galleria, declared she would move. The vassals—the lords—had complaints, but because her reasoning was legitimate, they could not argue.
However, since they did not believe the Archducal Family could prepare a sufficient number of troops in the current situation, the vassals decided to follow that judgment.
No matter how strong she was, those around her judged that it would be difficult for Glacia alone to handle the aftermath of a victory and the governance of the seized territories.
They were thinking that if she failed and the time came when they could deploy troops, they would participate as reinforcements to get a share of the land or receive a reward――.
While Lusworth and Galleria were moving violently.
I was organizing documents in the village of Rolfis, which is close to both countries. Rather than documents, I was reading letters from Beim while scratching my hair.
The current problem was the request from Fidel-san.
"Strip the authority of the merchant houses supporting the Prime Minister in Lusworth? And give me authority one level higher than the complex merchant houses in Galleria? That bastard... he's demanding a price for his support just when the timing is right. He didn't say a word about this before..."
Inside the rebuilt house, I downed the tea served to me by Valkyrie Unit One in one gulp.
It was cold and delicious, but as expected, it was somehow different from the tea served by Novem or Monica.
"Thanks."
When I thanked her, Unit One bowed and poured a refill into the cup. With a pen in my mouth, as I worried about how to handle this problem, the Fourth Head gave me advice.
'Lyell, the opponent—Fidel-kun—doesn't think everything will be granted. He'll be satisfied if Lyell handles some of it. By the way, if you handle this, the dissatisfaction of the local merchants will be directed toward Lyell.'
Have me handle it, and let the dissatisfaction be aimed at me. Or rather, let that dissatisfaction be aimed at Glacia-san or Elsa-san.
For Glacia-san, that might actually be better. However, I wanted to handle things skillfully regarding Elsa-san.
"I need to let the people around Glacia-san harbor a certain amount of dissatisfaction, and also set the stage to bring Reold-kun to the Archducal throne soon... Now, what to do about Elsa-san."
In this case, because the Prime Minister's popularity is high in Lusworth, a clumsy response would immediately lead to dissatisfaction. After all, while the Prime Minister is hated in the provinces, in the capital, he is still highly regarded—people think his actions were for the sake of the country even if he was punished, or that he was forced to clean up after fools of the same faction.
(He focused on the center, so he was undoubtedly a wonderful Prime Minister for the people living near the capital. This man is truly troublesome.)
However, ignoring Fidel-san would also be a pain. Support was necessary, and I had to consider receiving support from other merchant houses in Beim as well.
Seeing me agonize, the Fourth Head looked amused.
'It's good to worry a lot. Also, let's use correct information as the standard. Try to eliminate even a bit of your own hopes or predictions and think based on certain information.'
"...I'll bring the Prime Minister down as he is soon. If the merchant houses that supported him have someone else to support next... no, I'll have the Beim merchants provide support from now on."
I thought about various things and weighed the merits and demerits.
As I was pondering, Monica, who was connected to me via the same line, processed the information gathered by the mass-produced Valkyries and informed me.
However, this exchange using the line... it subtly drains my magical power. There is the distance, but above all, a considerable amount of information is being exchanged through me.
I wish they'd give me a break, but since it was necessary, I decided to endure it.
The information sent from Monica informed me that Galleria had entered a state of war with some of its lords.
In terms of scale, it seemed to be a battle of several hundred people. In Galleria, the Archducal Family holds the most power. Therefore, in such a situation, victory was easily grasped.
"...As long as there's a justification, the surroundings stay silent."
Since there was the fact that they betrayed, the surroundings likely didn't complain about the Archducal Family's response, or couldn't complain strongly.
I decided to dispatch Valkyries immediately to gather information on the new territories. However, in cases like this, it would be faster if I entered the area myself.
"Once I finish here, I'll head to Galleria... no, I should return to Beim and report to Eva... no, I also need detailed meetings in Lusworth..."
I slumped over my desk.
I felt as if the Fourth Head was watching this situation from within the Orb with a smile.
Beim.
Waiting for the Vera Trace to arrive at the port, I gave some pocket money to Eva and Mei and told them to enjoy themselves freely in Beim for a while.
Since Eva has work in Beim, I told her to have some fun while she's at it.
The reason I came to Beim on Mei's back was to curry favor with my greatest supporter, Fidel-san—no, the Tres family.
That said, the purpose this time was Vera.
When the large vessel arrived at the port, a gangplank was attached, and sailors began descending to start their work.
Then, one of the sailors seemed to notice me.
"Isn't that Master Lyell!"
I gave a light wave of my right hand in greeting, and the sailor called out to Vera in a loud voice. Then, Vera, who poked her head out from the deck, seemed to notice me.
"What is... oh, Lyell!"
As Vera hurriedly descended from the ship, I welcomed her.
"Long time no see. I couldn't see you last time, so I came to visit."
At that, Vera said bashfully.
"Didn't you say you were busy in Galleria and Lusworth? Well, I'm happy, but..."
"I thought we could have a meal together. You know, if I don't do something once in a while, I feel restless... well, how should I put it, please let me treat you to a meal!"
Vera was a bit exasperated by my request, but she smiled and nodded.
Since I hated the situation where I was just having her pay, I decided to treat her with the money I had earned this time.
"You don't have to be so considerate. Well, I suppose I'll let you treat me this time."
While talking with the blushing Vera, I decided to wait until her work had settled down. When Vera returned inside the ship to get her luggage, a voice spoke from within the Orb.
It was the Fourth Head. Lately, the Fourth Head had been speaking to me especially often.
'Lyell, treating her once doesn't change the fact that you're a leech.'
(...I-I know.)
――Inside the Orb, the successive heads of the family were watching the scene of Lyell and Vera having an awkward meal together.
Mireia watched the two eating at a relatively high-end restaurant.
'How should I put it, despite having so many women attending him, he's so innocent, or rather, pathetic... it's interesting to watch.'
Lyell himself had perfect manners even when eating at such a high-end restaurant. However, while talking with Vera, he was somehow awkward.
He was making the other person feel considerate.
The Third Head watched Lyell's state with a smile.
'Once you get used to it, there's a different kind of interest, I suppose. Well, Lyell himself didn't think much about harems and such. Unlike the all-affirming Novem-chan, I imagine there are various things he has to think about.'
Mireia murmured Novem's name.
'Novem-chan, huh... Well, that girl affirms Lyell for better or worse. Even after seeing him in such a pathetic state, I wonder how she didn't abandon him. As expected of the Foxuz family bloodline.'
The Walt family had been cared for by the Foxuz family across generations of heads and kin. Having spent enough years that they didn't find it strange, the people present here had thought of it as just the way things were in the past.
The Fifth Head watched Lyell, who was bewildered by Vera suddenly turning red in the face.
'This guy is scary because he occasionally hits on them naturally. Usually he's useless, but he absolutely doesn't miss in these important moments... is he actually aiming for it?'
Watching Vera turn red at Lyell's words, the Seventh Head laughed.
'I'd like to see him take down the two great Valkyries—no, the two witches—at this rate.'
Amidst this, only the Fourth Head looked at Lyell with a bittersweet or lonely expression. He watched the image projected on the ceiling of the Orb.
'...In truth, Lyell's happiness would be to go somewhere far away with Novem-chan. To a place where Celes cannot reach, and spend their days leisurely. But Lyell chose the path of fighting Celes.'
Mireia turned her gaze toward the Fourth Head, then shifted her gaze to the Fifth Head and stared. The Fifth Head averted his eyes from Mireia.
Mireia let out a sigh.
'Honestly, why are you so stubborn... Fourth Head, no, Grandfather.'
'What is it?'
Adjusting the position of his glasses with his fingertips, the Fourth Head sat in a chair with his legs crossed and placed his folded hands on his lap. He smiled while looking at Mireia.
'I am Lyell's guide. While I hope the successive heads fulfill their roles, I believe that current Lyell needs wisdom more than the Fourth Head's skills.'
Hearing that, the Fourth Head laughed. Not in mockery, nor because it was funny, but simply a smile.
'You say such heartwarming things. My knowledge is needed more than my skills... Indeed, that must be the case. Skills are just tools if you push them to the limit. Our role is to guide him to use them well. But hearing that we ourselves are more valuable makes me happy.'
While saying he was happy, the Fourth Head looked a bit lonely.
'But you know, Lyell will eventually need to stand on his own. That is the path Lyell chose, and in the future, we will be nothing but a hindrance. It would be easy to instill my ways in Lyell as it is, but if I continue that, I will crush the way that is uniquely Lyell. There is no need to choose my way at the cost of crushing new possibilities.'
The Third Head spoke without turning his gaze toward the Fourth Head. His eyes were on the outside scenery projected on the Orb's ceiling.
'...Normally, I should be the one to disappear first. It's painful that my skills are too excellent.'
Whether it was a joke or serious was not the issue itself.
The Fourth Head gave a wry smile and spoke to his father, the Third Head.
'Third Head, no... Father, you seem like you'd handle any situation well, so I can entrust Lyell to you with peace of mind. I respect your skill in navigating the world so well from a delicate position, as well as your vicious skills.'
The Third Head muttered.
'It doesn't sound like you respect me. But it is about time.'
The Seventh Head remained silent, listening to the conversation between father and son.
The Fifth Head, perhaps unable to withstand the atmosphere, spoke.
'“Raiel-san” should be coming out soon. Will you do it after that timing?'
The Fourth Head burst into laughter upon hearing that.
'Yes, it's truly a shame. I want to watch Lyell and Raiel-san for a little longer... but before that, I'll inherit the skills and disappear. That's it. I didn't think I'd feel this lonely at first. To think I would come to expect this much from that unreliable Lyell.'
The Fourth Head smiled as he watched Lyell, projected on the ceiling, flustered while eating with Vera――.