Editing Tytania:Volume 4 Chapter 2 (section)

=== III ===
Some called it “The Longest Week<ref name="ftn9">“Longest week” (もっとも長い一週間) is pronounced “longest week”.</ref>”, while others referred to it as “The Shortest Seven Days”. The days and nights passed, as if each individual were struggling in vain within a flow of time different from all others.

Planet Bargash was gripped by a strange sort of vitality. Although it sat under the occupation of the Tytania forces, which possessed over twenty thousand vessels, the two Tytania nobles who were meant to hold the highest authority were, officially, individuals without rank or office. The Bargash military was also clearly present, yet they showed no signs of defiance against the Tytania forces. While the government remained diplomatically silent, it continued to carry out the minutiae of domestic routine. As for the citizens, they were utterly excited. Unable to focus on their work, they allowed rumours to blossom into full bloom. Tytania did not commit the folly of over-regulating speech.

“Rumours is what is driving the situation.”

It was said that a high-ranking officer of the Blaze Flag Army had made that ironic observation, though it was not certain.

“Soon, a great fleet of fifty thousand ships will descend upon Bargash from Uraniborg.”

“No, it will be one hundred thousand.”

“I reckon it will be one hundred and fifty thousand ships.”

The numbers were being bid up, much like an auction. If the attacking force had been merely twenty or thirty thousand, it would have been a discouraging prospect.

Of course, there were those who were gripped by terror, imagining a day when an unprecedented, massive army would launch an indiscriminate assault. Those people were the rational ones; the more resourceful among them had already devised plans to flee to other planets or to digitise and move their entire fortunes abroad. Yet, such digitised assets would merely be swallowed by the Tytania financial network, and as no place of absolute safety could be found, it could be said that many people, driven by a sort of desperation, had sought refuge in drink, romance, and gossip. After all, the “enemy” was so gargantuan that it was difficult to truly grasp the reality of it.

“But if Tytania were to disappear, I wonder what would become of us.”

Whether they were nobles or commoners, wealthy or poor, not a single living soul had ever experienced a “universe without the rule of Tytania.” An unknown era might be arriving, and regarding that possibility, it was impossible to suppress a sense of profound unease.

“Better the devil you know than the god you don’t.”

It was exactly as the proverb went.

As for Ariabert and Jouslain, who were considered the rulers of Bargash, it could be said that people were bewildered as to how to respond to them. They could not judge whether they were allies, enemies, or merely troublesome guests bringing the enemy along with them.

Ariabert and Jouslain brushed off the declaration issued by Idris with chilling indifference.

“There is no need to go through the trouble of providing a negative response.”

Seeing Ariabert nod, Jouslain gave the order to his subordinates:

“Ignore them.”

And so, as a day passed and then a second, no response came from Bargash. For Idris, the situation was becoming increasingly unpleasant with every passing moment.

Since Jouslain and Ariabert were in agreement, it was futile for Balamy to raise any objection. While he had never imagined they would succumb to Idris’ threats and surrender unconditionally, Balamy could not discern how they intended to handle the matter.

“Total silence, huh?…”

Upon reflection, there was no obligation to respond, whether Idris chose to provoke or threaten. Ignoring or disregarding him was the best way to wound Idris’ pride, and it served as a psychological tactic as well. However, the deadline set by Idris was drawing closer, silent and inexorable.

On the second day, Balamy tried questioning Jouslain.

“Will you not meet with Princess Lydia?”

“… I will not.”

“And why is that?”

“I have no face to show her.”

Having said only that, Jouslain returned his gaze to the three-dimensional star chart he had been studying and sank into a state of deep contemplation. Balamy exited the room in silence.

Internally, Balamy was incensed. He was unsure how things were being handled at Uraniborg, but Jouslain was supposed to be Princess Lydia’s protector. Furthermore, the Kingdom of Elbing itself was Jouslain’s responsibility. Or rather, it had been his responsibility until his position was stripped away. While ignoring Idris’ threats was one thing, if the result was leaving the Kingdom of Elbing in ruins, what kind of impact would that have on future political and military strategies? Balamy desperately wanted to know the thoughts of both dukes, particularly Jouslain’s, but it did not seem as though they would tell him.

Balamy searched for Princess Lydia. He soon spotted her sitting in her favourite window seat within her favourite observation room. She sat perfectly still, wearing her other favourite small, feathered hat.

As he prepared to call out to her, Princess Lydia spoke first, her back still turned to him:

“Is that you, Bal?”

“Yes, Princess.”

“Do not come any closer.”

Balamy could not hide his astonishment. Usually, it was Princess Lydia who would cling to him, to the point of exasperation.

“I am making an unpleasant face right now, and I do not want you to see it, Bal.”

So that was the reason?

“I believe that Lord Jouslain and Lord Ariabert will surely save my country. But even though I believe this, a part of my heart thinks it is impossible. That must be why I am making such an unpleasant face.”

“How do you imagine they might save it?”

“I do not know. I am still only a child.”

Though she was but a child, her voice carried a profound gravity.

“I want to become an adult quickly. If I did, I would be able to do something for myself. As I am now, I can only watch.”

Balamy managed to respond:

“That is true. You can watch. Make you not let a single thing escape your sight.”

Balamy thought to himself for a moment. Perhaps it wasn’t that Jouslain and Ariabert had chosen the Kingdom of Elbing, but rather that they had chosen Princess Lydia over the Kingdom of Elbing? If that were the case, it was heartless, yet only natural, for they had chosen that which held the greater value…

Having thought this, Balamy found himself wondering why he had even thought such a thing.

Beyond the transparent wall, countless constellations glittered. Before them, a young girl stood with her back turned. Gazing upon both while bathed in the pale light, Balamy stood frozen in a somewhat indecisive position. He could not decide whether it would be better to leave the place in silence or not.

A streak of meteoric light flowed across one corner of the transparent wall, from the upper right to the lower left. Several cheers erupted within the interior of the observation dome. The people behind those voices were blameless, yet to Balamy, it felt somewhat shameful.

A cold-blooded ambitious man who justified his ends by any means necessary. That was the kind of person Balamy had desired to be, and during his late father’s lifetime, and when purging the high officials of the Vardana Empire, he had demonstrated behaviour close to that. However, what was the case now? He found himself shamelessly subservient to Ariabert and Jouslain, his attention captured by the lamentations of a girl no more than ten years of age.

Balamy was not so foolish as to deny that this was reality, yet facing the unpleasantness of it was still difficult.

At last, Balamy spoke:

“Princess, what if you were to ask Dukes Jouslain and Ariabert to save the Kingdom of Elbing?”

“I cannot ask them.”

The reply came instantly.

“I know how many impossible requests I have already made them accept. Do you truly think that on top of all that I could ask them to save the Kingdom of Elbing?”

She must have thought on it deeply, even with a child’s heart. Her words were clear, but her voice trembled, and in the end, it seemed as though tears began to well up. Balamy stood frozen, flustered and tormented by regret. It was a young, soft female voice that saved him:

“Lord Balamy, I shall attend to the Princess…”

“Lady Francia.”

He had not realised when she had arrived, but that did not matter. Never before had Balamy held Jouslain’s lover in such high regard. Upon spotting Francia, Princess Lydia rushed towards her, embracing her like a younger sister would.

With a bow, Balamy departed from the scene.

Even amidst such circumstances, information was flying wildly across the cosmos, a mixture of truth and falsehood. As Ariabert and Jouslain failed to issue any official response even after several days, an irritated Idris made the following announcement, intending it as a second strike:

“The commander is Rear-Admiral Fan Hyulick.”

When that was announced, Ariabert and Jouslain exchanged glances and gave a bitter smile as if in agreement. So, that was his move? To conquer a mere place like the Kingdom of Elbing, neither elites nor a massive army were required. They had assumed the selection of the commander would be made haphazardly, but upon reflection, it was exactly the kind of thing Idris would do.

“One point for Idris,” commented Ariabert. “Even if the Kingdom of Elbing is destroyed, he avoids staining his own hands. Conversely, Fan Hyulick’s reputation will plummet. The anti-Tytania forces, who had been elevating him as a hero, will surely be disappointed.”

“And at the same time, one point against Idris,” replied Jouslain. “Even if he was chosen as commander, Fan Hyulick will likely lack enthusiasm for operational duties. Furthermore, it is unthinkable that the Tytania troops would willingly follow an outsider, Fan Hyulick of all people.”

“A net-zero then?”

“Well…”

Idris’ gain was political, while his loss was military. Had Idris prioritised political manoeuvring, deciding to turn a blind eye to the military disadvantage?

On the surface, Idris’ intention could be settled with a single word: “cowardly”. But was that all there was to it? In the first place, just how seriously did Idris intend to force the unconditional surrender of Ariabert and Jouslain?