Editing Tytania:Volume 1 Chapter 5 (section)

=== II ===
With innumerable venomous stingers in his gaze, Balamy was looking at Jouslain. Jouslain was his cousin. To be more accurate, they were tied through a far more complicated family bond, but within the Tytania clan, those of the same generation were referred to as cousins. The Four Dukes were a good example of this.

“Should I address you as Your Grace the Duke or as Lord Vice-Admiral?”

“What about you, Milord Viscount? Or if you prefer, Sir Commodore?”

“Could you please refrain from addressing me in that manner?”

“Well then, simply address me as Lord Jouslain. Let us cease using formal titles to address each other. Aren’t we after all descendants of the same founder?”

Jouslain smiled, and as he bowed, Balamy inwardly clicked his tongue in annoyance. He found that this “cousin” of his, who was nine years his elder, was oddly difficult to deal with. His father had warned him in advance, although there was no need for it, for Balamy was already quite wary of Jouslain. Rather, for Balamy, the only member of the Tytania clan that he felt he should be wary of besides Clanner Ajman was Duke Jouslain.

The rest of the Four Dukes, namely Ariabert, Zarlisch, and Idris, weren’t even on his radar. He might be overestimating himself, but he had the brightly shining ambition of an eighteen-year-old.

“Zarlisch is strong. He might as well be called Tytania’s guardian deity. It would be no exaggeration to say he is the reincarnation of our founder, His Highness Neville.”

“But Lord Zarlisch always wages war and causes destruction. From what I understand, Lord Jouslain, you are the one responsible for properly handling the aftermath. In some sense, isn’t Lord Zarlisch but a curtain-raiser act for you?”

“Being praised is nice, but it ultimately comes down to personal preference.”

Jouslain subtly dampened Balamy’s incitement. Balami was left speechless, and right as he was about to get angry at himself for being speechless, Jouslain casually asked another question:

“By the way, Lord Balamy, which one would you prefer to be?”

“Err, which one?”

“If you had to choose between being a ruthless general like Zarlisch or someone like me who handles the aftermath, which one would you prefer?”

This time, Jouslain was being mischievous. To him, asking this question to Balamy was mere child’s play, a way of mocking Balamy’s humility.

But Balamy didn’t seem to think of it as a game. Suspecting some political meaning behind the question, he tried to divert any suspicion by keeping a straight face and took a fraction of a second to decide what to answer while gauging the other side’s intentions, only to answer something like “Either is fine”. He was really annoyed at the fact that he found himself at a loss as to what to respond.

After dismissing Balamy, Jouslain shrugged and called for his lady-in-waiting:

“Francia.”

“Yes, Lord Jouslain.”

“It appears that many overestimate me. Enemies and allies alike.”

Francia couldn’t understand the meaning behind Jouslain’s wry smile. But she liked it whenever Jouslain made that kind of expression where light and shadow subtly wavered. Feeling a faint sense of happiness, Francia made preparations to brew coffee for the man.

The military standard of Tytania featured a golden border, the right half red, the left half black, with the Cosmic Tree radiating in the centre. It also happened to be the family crest of the Tytania clan. The clan that ruled the universe. It was a testament in the human realm to the haughty presence of the clan that was both the most revered and respected, as well as feared and hated.

Before this military standard displayed on the wall, Viscount Balamy Tytania was standing, his arms folded. In that corner of the flagship, military personnel came and went behind him. Both officers and soldiers were casting curious glances at Balamy, but none dared to talk to him. Balamy had no acquaintances on board, but it was common knowledge that he was a high-ranking Tytanian noble, and the sharp features of the handsome youth made people hesitant to approach him.

Balamy didn’t view the conspiracy as an end in itself. It was but a simple means to an end, namely, to seize the highest authority in Tytania.

That being said, it would be impossible to reach that objective without resorting to intrigue. Only once Clanner Ajman is killed and the Four Dukes, Jouslain included, are vanquished, will it be time for Balamy’s father, Marquis Estrade, to make his move. If the process up to that point were accompanied by destruction and bloodshed, it would weaken Tytania as a whole and cause much mirth among their external enemies.

Moreover, Balamy wasn’t so conceited as to believe that he could easily secure victory in a decisive battle when facing enemies such as the brave<ref>Another of these terms used to describe commanders is being used: ''yuushou'' (勇将, literally “brave general”). The term describes commanders that are brave and skilled in combat. It is here contrasted with Zarlisch’s “overpowering general”.</ref> Ariabert or the ruthless Zarlisch. Not only were their tactical abilities formidable, but their military strength was immense, so it was unlikely that they could be trivially defeated.

“But wait, not even Ariabert Tytania is unbeatable. Was there not someone who defeated him at the Battle of Cerberus? What was that person’s name?…”

Reaching into his memories with an imaginary hand, Balamy finally pulled out the name Fan Hyulick. What kind of man was he? Remaining as immobile as a statue, Balamy kept his gaze fixed upon the proud military standard while his mind was looking far beyond the boundaries of space and time.

Could Balamy use Fan Hyulick as a pawn in his schemes?

In reality, Balamy had not yet even secured hegemony within Tytania. So his generosity could only remain abstract. But if he could win over a man like Fan Hyulick and use him for his military expertise, he would not stop at any expense of riches or honours. Let’s offer him a position of commandment over the entire Tytanian fleet. Would he then gladly join Balamy’s service?

As he was thinking this over, Balamy suddenly cast a scornful smile at himself. He wasn’t in any position to mock the foolish Vardanan courtiers. Seeking to seize all of Tytania by relying on other people’s talents and abilities – was that not the height of dependency? It was only with his own intelligence and talent that he, Balamy Tytania, could achieve his ambition of supremacy. How could he rely on some drifter like Fan Hyulick?

Lifting proudly his head, Balamy turned his back on Tytania’s banner. Jouslain watched that scene as it unfolded on his monitor screen.

More than the court nobles of Vardana, maybe the most dangerous instigator of Marquis Estrade Tytania was his sharp-witted son. Thought Jouslain. Was his thirst for domination over the cosmos fuelled by the scent of Tytania’s blood? Jouslain silently watched the figure of this new ambitious man stepping on the scene.