Editing Tytania:Volume 4 Chapter 6 (section)

=== II ===
Duke Idris Tytania had endured a restless, unpleasant night and awoke to an unpleasant morning, with a heavy feeling at the back of his head. Although it was an artificial day and night, the rhythms of human life were still influenced by the rotation of their ancient home planet.

Peering into the mirror of the luxurious bathroom, he noticed that his eyes were bloodshot, so he summoned a lady-in-waiting to administer eye drops. The lady-in-waiting’s hesitant attitude was equally unpleasant, and he dismissed her before entering the morning room<ref name="ftn31">“Morning room” (朝食室) is pronounced “morning room”.</ref>. Even after taking his seat at the table, he realised that his stomach felt heavy in addition to the dull ache at the back of his head, and he rose from his seat after drinking only two cups of coffee. He knew he could not approach the strategy meeting without first breaking this chain of discomfort.

The unilateral armed invasion of the Kingdom of Elbing, Princess Lydia’s homeland. Had it faltered to the left, it would have served as a violent warning not only to the Ariabert-Jouslain alliance but also to any factions seeking to side with them. Had it faltered to the right, it would have drawn out the Ariabert-Jouslain alliance entrenched in Bargash and dragged the conflict into a war of attrition, so he could then engage them in a decisive battle with forces twice their size.

No matter which way things went, it was supposed to favour Idris. In fact, it had gone well, up until that point.

However, the reaction from the Ariabert-Jouslain alliance was far too swift. The strategy that he himself had set in motion backfired in an instant. The Fan Hyulick faction, which he had intended to overwork and then discard, immediately revealed their true nature as brigands and vanished into some nebula in deep space, leaving Idris unable to even issue orders for their pursuit.

Despite there being plenty of capable commanders available, the loss of Ariabert and Zarlisch had exposed his forces as nothing more than a group waiting for instructions from above.

“Fine. If that is how it is, then I shall deploy all forty thousand vessels.”

Idris made his decision.

On second thought, there was no other choice. Even if he dispatched five thousand or ten thousand ships in succession, they would merely be defeated one by one before Ariabert’s twenty thousand. Furthermore, if the spaceport were damaged, the vessels in reserve would be trapped within the port, unable to depart, rendering them utterly useless.

Having made this resolution, Idris attended the war council, but of the twenty-four seats, neither Zarlisch fierce like a mighty tiger, nor Ariabert swift as a silver wolf, were present. There sat only a pack of grey hounds, staring downcastly at the floor. Rather than a gathering of commanders, they appeared to be nothing more than bureaucrats belonging to the military division of the vast Tytania organisation.

“Use one or two military satellites to attack and distract the enemy. In the meantime, launch all vessels from every spaceport at once. Do not give Ariabert or Jouslain a moment to react.”

There was no rebuttal to the peremptory command. However, the lacklustre faces seemed to read “easier said than done”, which only served to heighten Idris’ growing frustration.

“Then, begin immediately.”

“Your Grace?”

“What is it?”

“Who will be in command of the entire fleet?”

Idris tried to recall the name of the speaker, but he could not. The man was an older general, though Idris could at least vaguely remember his face.

“Besides me, is there someone volunteering for the position?”

He infused his voice with as much cold confidence as he could muster. The elderly general bowed in a gesture of deference.

“Heaven forbid. It was precisely because I wished to hear those very words that I had the presumption to ask.”

“Hmph.”

“In that regard, there is one thing I wish to ask. Where will Your Ducal Grace take supreme command?”

“Where…?”

As Idris furrowed his brow, another officer spoke up, as if summoning his courage:

“Should Your Grace depart from Uraniborg to command the fleet, the battleship ''Black Prince''<ref name="ftn32">“Black Prince” (黒太子) is pronounced “Black Prince”.</ref> has already been prepared to serve as your flagship. How would you wish to proceed?”

The face of this middle-aged officer was familiar, yet he could not recall the man’s name. Idris was forced to realise that it was himself, more than any of the other commanders, who had left the actual combat entirely to Ariabert and Zarlisch. He had operated under the belief that the priority was to secure control over the heart of Tytania’s power and that he could learn later on, as needed, the names and faces of the combat specialists. Now, that knowledge was precisely what he required, yet to ask for their names at this critical moment would only invite the distrust of the entire assembly. He had truly become a victim of his own making.

Standing upon the heights of the reviewing stand, Duke Idris Tytania eventually watched as the lines of the great army’s fleet departed one after another.

He never allowed his true feelings to be seen by others. With his chest held high in an air of arrogance, he performed the Tytania-style salute, pressing his right fist into the hollow of his left shoulder as he gazed out over the endless river of metal—the battleships, cruisers, destroyers, and gunboats that seemed to stretch on forever. The storm swirling within him never manifested externally. To the soldiers looking up from the observation ports and saluting his heroic figure, he even offered a nod of encouragement.

“I had hoped for the day when I would stand here alone. But I never imagined it would come to this.”

Only the Clanner was permitted to stand in this place alone. It was not something allowed for any other. Even Idris himself, along with Ariabert, Jouslain, and even the late Zarlisch, had only been permitted to stand one step behind the Clanner. Even so, such a position was regarded as a supreme honour, envied by all.

Idris fulfilled his duties as Acting Clanner to perfection. For two long hours, he stood upon the reviewing stand like a statue, without the slightest tremor.

What of those watching him depart? The Tytania soldiers gathered before the screens and viewing windows were certainly impressed by the sight of Idris. They spoke amongst themselves, their voices thick with excitement.

“Seeing him like that, he truly is a distinguished figure.”

“It isn’t just Duke Idris. All the Four Dukes… And above all, His Clanner Highness too…”

“Come to think of it, His Clanner Highness…”

“Watch your tongue! Don’t say things you shouldn’t!”

As an NCO bellowed, a veteran soldier snapped back, breaking the momentary silence.

“We don’t even know if he’ll make it back alive. Surely you can overlook a word or two!?”

Such prickly exchanges amongst the soldiers were something no one could have imagined just a year ago. As they watched the flagships of Ariabert and Zarlisch on their monitors, whether out of excitement or tension, there was no room for even a single thought of defeat to take root in their minds, provided they maintained moderation and order.

There was no way to know the exact words of every soldier, but Idris himself felt the fraying of their morale most acutely.

“You looked truly magnificent. The soldiers revered you as the god Mars<ref name="ftn33">“God of war” (軍神) pronounced “Mars”.</ref>.”

As he descended from the reviewing stand, a beautiful yet ethereal voice greeted Idris. Without even needing to check, he knew the owner of that voice was Countess Theodora Tytania.

“What’s with that appearance of yours?”

Idris felt a pang of bitterness. Theodora’s clothing was not some misplaced nightdress. Rather, it was far too appropriate for the setting. It was the military uniform worn by high-ranking Tytania officers at the rank of captain.

“But you aren’t planning on joining the ''sortie'' yourself, are you?”

“After I depart, who will guarantee that you won’t seize Uraniborg from the inside?”

The momentary silence was filled with a soundless thunder, but it was broken by a bright, laughing voice.

“Oh, how ridiculous. How can a man destined to become Clanner of Tytania fear a mere woman?”

“Who said anything about fear? I was merely being sarcastic. More importantly, that uniform—where and how did you get it?”

“No need for concern. I obtained it quite legally.”

“Of course you did. Fine, whatever, but I won’t permit you to follow me. You are not allowed in the combat command room. Go over there and hold your fashion show by yourself.”

As Idris walked away, leaving Theodora behind, he found himself filled with a strange sense of bewilderment. Why did he not simply eliminate this woman, who was so dangerous and so utterly untrustworthy?

Watching the fleet depart in continuous succession from Uraniborg, Jouslain spoke to Ariabert:

“It seems Idris is not leaving Uraniborg.”

“That guy’s quite the slow mover.”

“He’s afraid.”

“Afraid of battle? At this late stage…?”

“No. Afraid of betrayal.”

The two dukes looked at one another.