Editing Tytania:Volume 4 Chapter 6 (section)

=== I ===
For Viscount Balamy Tytania, time passed against his will. He was not treated as an equal to the two giants, Ariabert and Jouslain, nor was he entrusted with even a fraction of the fleet’s command and operations. Furthermore, following the news that Princess Lydia had gained great popularity by visiting the wounded and sick, whispers of him being “useless” seemed to echo from within his own body to the depths of his ears.

“If you were to observe Lord Ariabert’s use of troops from beside him, you would surely gain much.”

Jouslain had said this to him before the commencement of battle, and he had intended to thoroughly observe and analyse Ariabert’s deployment of forces at a later date. However, merely moving in and out of the bridge whilst attending to Princess Lydia made it difficult for him to grasp the true essence of such military manoeuvres.

“I can accept why he acted as he did in the past, but I cannot predict what he will do next.”

It was a conclusion that reached its natural end. Ariabert’s use of troops was consistent with the principles of warfare; therefore, the ultimate solution lay in mastering those very principles.

As things stood, even if they were to come to blows, they would never be able to defeat Ariabert. However, that rogue known as Fan Hyulick had twice forced Ariabert to taste bitter defeat. He should be vulnerable to unorthodox and cunning stratagems.

However, a cunning stratagem was not something that can be logically deduced. As the ancient saying goes, “A great army requires no stratagems.” When Tytania went into battle, they assembled vast forces, ensured complete supplies, gathered and analysed extensive intelligence, and struck precisely at the enemy’s weaknesses. That was Tytania’s way of war. They had never a drama-like commander who could “annihilate a superior force with a small one by using a clever trick.”

“Bal!”

Someone called out to him. Or rather, he only noticed after it called him several times. The voice belonged, of course, to Princess Lydia.

“Ah, Princess, please forgive me.”

Balamy bowed in a panic. Princess Lydia did not appear angry, but she looked up at his face from below with an expression of curiosity.

“Were you lost in thought?”

“Not particularly… I was just daydreaming for a moment.”

“If that’s the case, it’s fine, but you appeared a little tired. Are you alright?”

It was certainly true that the tension in his mind and body had not subsided over the last few days, but it was beneath his dignity to be pitied by a child. No matter how keen Princess Lydia’s eyes might be.

“Do not worry. It is you who must be tired, Princess.”

“I am staying quiet so as not to disturb the soldiers. I am not tired.”

“I see.”

With an uninspired reply, Balamy gazed out through the viewing port. Every single one of the countless glittering points of light in the space surrounding Uraniborg was military in nature; not a single civilian vessel was there.

The prohibition of arrivals and departures at the Uraniborg spaceport exerted some influence on the logistics and travel of human society. Although the central functions governing the entire system were lost, the outlying branches continued to operate autonomously. Trade between small, frontier planets proceeded almost without interruption, and there was no disruption to the daily lives of the people.

If anything, it was the economically significant planets, such as Ementhal and Kafir, that gave a sense of being in a state of war. Within these vital hubs of logistics and travel, Tytania’s financial, commercial, and economic development activities were naturally flourishing, and it stood to reason that the impact of Uraniborg’s influence was greater there as well.

The various planets were in an uproar, assessing the impact and revising their policies regarding how long the armed conflict within Tytania might persist. However, as the allied forces of Ariabert and Jouslain drew perilously close to Uraniborg with almost no damage sustained, the possibility of an unexpected, short-term decisive battle increased, leaving them breathless and questioning themselves.

''“… What exactly is Tytania to us?”''

Even if it was only one in every hundred people, hundreds of millions began to vaguely contemplate this very thought.

By the time they were born, Tytania already existed and dominated the universe. They grew up eating flakes produced by companies under the Tytania umbrella, attended schools established through Tytania’s donations, travelled to other planets on spacecraft belonging to Tytania, worked for Tytania-affiliated corporations to earn their wages, and eventually passed away in hospitals bearing the name of Tytania.

Question marks began to appear regarding its permanence, and people started to wonder what Tytania truly was. It was an incredibly subtle shift in the political climate. Yet, at times, such shifts act as the catalyst for historical upheaval. That very example lay before their eyes.

“By the way, Bal.”

“Yes, Princess.”

“When you are tired, sweets are more effective for the body than alcohol.”

Balamy gave Princess Lydia a formal, solemn bow.

“I shall accompany you. Let us head to the officers’ lounge.”

“Yes. I wonder what we’ll be having today.”

“If I recall correctly, they were supposed to serve raspberry tarts today…”

For the time being, the future of the universe was a matter for after tea.



The private quarters of Duke Ariabert Tytania were located immediately to the left of the Captain’s cabin.

The ''Austra'' possessed two rooms more luxurious than the captain’s cabin. The one to the right was the commander-in-chief’s office, which Jouslain was currently using, The one to the left was a VIP suite, which had been prepared as Ariabert’s quarters. In times of crisis, the ''Austra'' held the potential to become the flagship of the entire Tytania military.

“Do you have any instructions, Your Grace?”

At the sound of the young woman’s voice, Ariabert gave a short, wry smile from within his bed.

“Listening to your manner of speech, Edna, I feel as though I am sleeping next to a career soldier.”

“I… am a career soldier.”

“I have a memory of us exchanging this very same conversation about five years ago.”

Though the universe existed in eternal night, humanity created day and night within structures through the control of lighting. Outside the viewing port, the view was a black canvas upon which countless grains of silver sand had been scattered.

“What would we do if the forces of Uraniborg were to suddenly set out from the harbour right now?”

“There is no need for concern. We would launch a counterattack immediately. Your Grace Ariabert’s teachings have reached even the lowest-ranking soldiers.”

“That is because the field and junior officers have been performing so well.”

It had been a long time since Edna Fredericks had shared a bed with him. He had anticipated being politely refused, with the impending final battle being used as an excuse, but that did not happen. Faced with the unprecedented experience of attacking ‘Uraniborg’, spending the night alone was hard. Jouslain’s night, no doubt, would be spent with Francia.

“Edna.”

“Yes?”

“I have wanted to ask you this for some time… what are your thoughts on Lord Jouslain?”

“Lord Jouslain…?”

Edna chose her words with great care.

“My impression is that Lord Jouslain does not truly love Tytania.”

Ariabert silently adjusted the position of his pillow. Because the lights were dimmed, they could not see the fine details of each other’s expressions. He pulled Edna closer to him once more before asking.

“What is your evidence for that?”

“No evidence to speak of.”

“Without evidence, it is not criticism. It is merely slander.”

“I believe so too. That is why I have not spoken of it until now.”

“Did I ask for something unnecessary?”

“If my words were to create a rift between the two of you, I should, of course, be punished, and I would accept that gladly. However, though it may seem contradictory, I feel there is no room to doubt Lord Jouslain’s trust in Your Grace.”

In the dim light, Ariabert brushed back his light-coloured hair.

“There is no contradiction. After all, Tytania and I are not one and the same. Look at Idris. He loves Tytania, yet he hates Jouslain and me.”

“That much is obvious.”

Ariabert deliberately ignored Edna’s tone, which suggested that her meaning was somewhat different.

“Well, let us leave it at that. We have managed to find ourselves alone, and yet our conversation lacks all sentiment.”

As Ariabert waved a hand through the air, the sensor detected the movement, and the faint light of distant stars began to filter into the room.