Editing Tytania:Volume 1 Chapter 3 (section)

=== III ===
The Marquis Estrade Tytania, Minister of Military Affairs of the Vardanan Empire, was the half-brother of the Landless Clanner Ajman. He was 42. He wasn’t born of a legitimate marriage, but the same could be said of Ajman, and it wasn’t his maternal lineage that prevented him from reaching the top. To put it bluntly, he was judged to lack the talents of his younger half-brother.

He wasn’t mediocre, by any means. Whether as the commander of a fleet, an ambassador in diplomatic missions, or managing administrative affairs as Minister of the Interior, he could fulfil these responsibilities to the full. Which was precisely why his disappointment was so great.

“Why was Ajman appointed as the Landless Clanner and not me? I can’t believe that my achievements are any inferior to my brother’s.”

No matter how deeply Tytanian values and loyalty to the unity of the clan had been imbued in him, Estrade couldn’t accept his circumstances. Though he was elevated from count to marquis following his half-brother’s ascension, he remained inconsolable. If anything, it felt as if his half-brother were trying to curry favour with him, and having nowhere to turn his discontent and self-derision, they turned inwards.

As the Minister of Military Affairs and a Tytanian, he couldn’t show that discontent. But the fact that it was his younger brother Ajman who was promoted spoke volumes, and the court was sensitive to negative sentiments such as jealousy and resentment. Marquis Estrade Tytania’s discontent was, so to speak, an open secret.

The idea that he could be turned into an enemy of Tytania seemed natural, but Tytania was Tytania. The unity of the clan trumped personal grievances.

Anyhow, it was nothing more than idle chatter among the nobility in a drinking party. Court nobles were always keen to have others take on the dangerous task of tying a bell around the cat’s neck. Indeed, their discussion drifted more and more from any concrete plan, and when one of them rose to leave, the gathering came to an end.

Once the congregation had dispersed, Zagden, the Minister of the Interior, who was the host of the party, ordered his servants to clean the room. He went to the restroom to splash some cold water on his face, rinse his mouth, and remove the intoxication from his system.

With an expression serious and somewhat sinister, he kept people at a distance and shut himself in his study.

In his private office deep within the Celestial City, Landless Clanner Ajman was signing several documents. Lord Gramont, the Chief Secretary of the Clanner, entered and respectfully announced a visitor. He led in the guest, who was Duke Idris, the young Tytanian.

“Your Clanner Highness, I have a report to make. According to a message from Zagden, the Minister of the Interior, a group of high-ranking officials with dissenting views gathered at his residence not long ago and blurted out a load of nonsense.”

The Clanner remained silent. Taking this as an invitation to continue, Idris carried on.

“It’s the kind of thing one can expect of small fries. The moment they hear of my absence, discontented youngsters gather and begin to plot mischief. They haven’t even suspected that it could be a trap, so whatever they try is nothing by reckless folly.”

He also reported that the Minister of Military Affairs, the Clanner’s elder brother, was mentioned during that discussion. Both the reporter and listener kept a nonchalant demeanour.

“They can’t even imagine that the host of the meeting was in league with us. For dignitaries, they are unbelievably candid.”

The scornful remark ended the report. For the first time, Ajman nodded and thanked the reporter for his efforts.

“Well done, Lord Idris. It appears that appointing you to the Royal Guard was a wise decision.”

“You honour me. By the way, what are your intentions regarding the Minister of Military Affairs?”

These words had been prompted by Idris’ youthful impetuosity. Clanner Ajman barely moved his vigorous eyebrows, letting a moment of silence precede his reply.

“Making a move against the Minister of Military Affairs will prevent us from using him as bait. Let us take a moment to enjoy the spectacle of this reckless folly, as you called it.”

“As you wish, Your Clanner Highness.”

“Lord Idris, return to Ryutehi tomorrow. Keep a close watch on the movements of the court nobles. And above all, keep feigning complacency for now, and let them grow arrogant. No need to rush things for now. Do you understand?”

“As you wish…”

Bowing respectfully, Duke Idris Tytania took his leave, leaving the Landless Clanner Ajman leaning on his desk, deep in thought. His expression was not one of delight. That ashen expression that he never showed to others vanished when Lord Gramont, his Chief Secretary, entered once more to announce that it was time to greet the residents of the “Celestial City” from his balcony. At midnight, Ajman, accompanied by Duke Jouslain Tytania climbed to the balcony on the outermost part of the Clanner’s office, greeted by the cheers of a crowd of tens of thousands.

“Hail Tytania!”

Acclamations meaning ‘Long Live Tytania’ gushed and sent ripples through the vast but enclosed space. With an air of calm and majesty, the Clanner acknowledged the cheers, but as he took a step back from the edge of the balcony, he glanced over his broad shoulder at Ducke Jouslain Tytania, who was standing behind him.

“Remember these cheers clearly, Lord Jouslain. The crowd that is shouting ‘Long Live Tytania’ may one day cry ‘Down with Tytania’ out of these very mouths. Some three hundred years ago, their ancestors were shouting ‘Long Live the Interstellar City League’, and ‘Long Live the Vardanan Empire’.”

As Clanner Ajman was talking, Jouslain cast a slightly questioning glance at him.

He couldn’t just brush aside such a remark from the Clanner. Unable to immediately grasp why the sturdy Clanner would utter words that seemed to deny his own authority, Jouslain listened carefully to him.

“Some speak lightly about Tytania ruling over the people, but that is because they do not understand how the world works. Since time immemorial, no one has ever truly ruled over the people. The people are the bedrock of a river. The rulers are the flowing water. The water flows away, but the riverbed remains. Only the surface is carried away by the water.”

A silence fell, and the young Tytanian could eventually no longer bear its weight.

“Why are you telling me this, Your Clanner Highness?”

The Clanner appeared to be curling his lips. It was difficult to tell whether he was smiling or expressing disappointment at Jouslain’s question.

“Do you think this is unlike me, Lord Jouslain?”

“No, it is just that as ignorant as I am, I cannot fathom why you would say such things to me. If Your Highness would enlighten me as to your intentions, I would be most grateful.”

A few moments of silence passed before the Clanner spoke again.

“Ariabert, Zarlisch, and Idris are all capable and know no fear. And this is exactly their problem.”

The expression on the Clanner’s face as he watched Jouslain was a complex puzzle of self-derision and scorn, bitter realisation, and penetrating insight. Jouslain opened his mouth to speak but restrained himself and gathered all his senses to not miss a single word the Clanner might utter.

“Ever since the days of the second Clanner, His Clanner Highness Nuri, every Clanner of Tytania has been a coward, Lord Jouslain. While they were defeating mighty ennemies and trampling on the weak, they were trembling inside. They knew that the day would come when they too would fall. Which is why they sought to postpone that day, even for just a bit. This struggle is the history of Tytania. Her true nature.”

Jouslain held his breath and swallowed hard. The question he had long harboured had been answered with a considerable frankness.

The Clanner continued. He explained that the struggles of the successive Clanners had driven them to seek out enemies they could see and become obsessed with defeating them.

“To tell the truth, I had thought that this man, this Fan Hyulick, might be of use to us. But it appears he isn’t the kind of person who would easily let himself be used as our tool.”

What tool? Jouslain realised that it meant serving as the central figure of the anti-Tytanian united forces. Had this not been their standard tactic ever since the Second Clanner, Nuri?

“This is what is called ‘catching the whole herd in a single throw’” is what Nuri was said to have remarked after the success of his great purge. It was thought to be a statement of triumph. But could the truth be that he was trying to convince himself, in the face of his own fear, that no enemy had escaped his grasp?

“During my reign I must annihilate Tytania’s enemies. And I shall pass Tytania over to the next Clanner. And along with Tytania, I shall hand over her new enemies as well.”

Beneath the balcony, the crowd continued to cheer, and Ajman responded in kind.

“A Clanner must be a coward. This is precisely what will ultimately ensure the transmission of Tytania’s blood and authority. The other three lack this quality. Do you understand, Lord Jouslain?”

Under the Clanner’s gaze, Jouslain deeply bowed. His gesture suggested that he understood the meaning of the Clanner’s words, but at the same time, he couldn’t suppress a sense of revulsion. Could it be that the source of Tytania’s power was the fear of decline?

Clanner Ajman changed the subject and started to talk about the brothers Zarlisch and Arses. The topic had arisen from the latest developments regarding Fan Hyulick, who was currently being pursued by Arses.

“Arses covets his elder brother’s position. This is a certainty. It isn’t the work of his Tytanian blood but a natural occurrence in this world.”

Though he didn’t necessarily agree, Jouslain didn’t contradict the Clanner. He remembered how, as a boy, he had felt lonely without any brothers of his own. Driven by a sudden impulse, he asked:

“Will you not warn Zarlisch, Your Clanner Highness?”

The question drew a slight chuckle from the Clanner.

“If someone like Arses manages to usurp the duchy, then Zarlisch only amounted to that much. Thinking he could inherit Tytania’s legitimate heirship would be nothing more than a drunkard’s dream.”

The Tytania clan stood on its own two feet in the depths of the universe. Within the clan, every individual must likewise stand their own two feet. That was the ring of fierce flames that controlled Tytania. Should one fall, all would be consumed by fire.

“Lord Jouslain, if I were in your position, I would secretly incite Arses to overthrow Zarlisch. I would like you to answer honestly if you would do so.”

“I would do no such thing.”

“Hum…”

Ajman was asking “why not?” with his eyes. With a slight hesitation, Jouslain felt compelled to answer. Choosing his words carefully, he explained to the Clanner.

If he were to incite Arces against Zarlisch and then accuse Arses of the crime of overthrowing Zarlisch and purge him, Jouslain’s position would appear secure by eliminating both Zarlisch and Arses. But in reality, it wouldn’t be the case. Ariabert and Idris would still be alive and would feel uneasy at the fate of Zarlisch and his brother. Even if they were unable to have conclusive proof that Jouslain was behind the plot, they would be suspicious and strike first before Jouslain could strike them. As a result, Tytania would be split in two camps and plunge into civil war, leading to mutual destruction. Even if it wasn’t the conclusion, the victor’s strength would be severely weakened, and the anti-Tytanian factions would reap the benefits. While he didn’t deny the efficiency of this machination, bringing down a household in this manner would come back to strike him like a boomerang of destruction. Therefore, he wouldn’t resort to such a means.

That was Jouslain’s explanation.

“… Hail Tytania! Tytania, may you live eternally!”

Hearing the cheer, Ajman shook his hand in the air with an expression of annoyance and fixed his gaze straight at Jouslain. The intensity of that stare was enough to overwhelm the young Tytanian.

After a few moments during which the air seemed to liquefy, Ajman’s mouth turned into a distinct smile. But it was a smile of frozen soil, as he made no sound and his gaze didn’t soften the slightest. Jouslain remained rooted on the spot as he endured the shudder that was running through his entire body.