Editing Tytania:Volume 5 Chapter 1 (section)

=== III ===
''“Return Zelpha. Without a scratch.”''

In Idris’ tone was laced with a venomous threat, and Jouslain sensed a shred of genuine feeling. His affection for his youngest brother did not seem to be a lie.

“Idris, I must ask you one thing…”

''“I don’t recall giving you permission to address me with such familiarity. What is it?”''

“Are you conducting this communication with the Clanner’s permission?”

Idris’ handsome lips pressed together, then opened again, releasing a voice on the verge of trembling:

''“None of your business.”''

“So, you do not have permission.”

''“Quiet! At this stage, is there any need to consider the Clanner’s intentions? You need only negotiate with me. If you aren’t afraid of the Clanner, that is.”''

After a brief pause, Idris glared at Jouslain once more, but Jouslain replied with composure:

“Indeed, there is no use worrying about the Clanner’s intentions at this point. Even if I were to surrender, there would be no forgiveness. I have already passed the point of no return<ref name="ftn2">“Point of no return” (帰還限界点) is pronounced “point of no return”.</ref>. If that is how you wish to proceed, then so be it.”

Idris spoke of nothing but the glory and authority of the Tytania. Jouslain found this tiresome. Yet, perhaps it was Jouslain who had been the one lacking in foresight.

That their very existence today was due to the power and wealth of the Tytania. Had they not been born and raised within the Tytania, they would have never been granted the opportunity to display such talent at such a young age. Was it not Idris, rather than Jouslain, who held these facts in such clear recognition? Perhaps it was precisely because he was aware of the terror of loss that he had clung so fervently to the name of the Tytania, brandishing it as a weapon.



… After severing the communication with Jouslain, Idris threw his legs out across the desk in the combat command room and interlaced his fingers over his tucked abdomen. He had wanted to see just how shaken Jouslain would be by Ariabert’s untimely death, but he was instead struck with horror upon learning that the captured assassin was Zelpha. Was it not Jouslain who truly held a trump card? In his state of agitation, Idris had failed to say even a tenth of what he truly wished to say to Jouslain.

“Your Grace, Baron Radmoth has returned.”

Upon receiving the report, Idris was reminded of something he had no desire to recall. Besides Zelpha, Idris had another brother. Quite naturally, a shadow of loathing and fury darkened his brow. During the ensuing seconds of silence, Idris barely managed to suppress a passion that bordered on murderous intent.

“Your Grace, how would you like to proceed?”

The attendant asked, appearing somewhat obtuse.

“Don’t say it.”

“… Pardon?”

“Don’t utter his name! It defiles my ears.”

“Y-Yes, sir…”

Though the attendant was terrified, he could not bring himself to flee the spot, remaining there as motionless as a poorly crafted statue.

As if in inverse proportion, Idris regained his composure. He had long understood that a ruler had to be, in a sense, an actor. It was simply that he often forgot. It was due to his youth and the intense stress he endured.

With an immense effort, he steadied his tone.

“Baron Radmoth Tytania failed to fulfil his assigned mission. It is a disgrace as one who bears the name Tytania and enjoys the privileges of the nobility. While the official penalty shall be determined in the presence of His Clanner Highness, I hereby order him to remain under house arrest for the time being. All outings and leisure activities are prohibited. Communicate this to the individual in question, and let the responsible officers carry out this order immediately.”

“Understood.”

Both the speaker and the recipient felt, for the moment, a sense of relief. Idris had managed to avoid losing his dignity, and his subordinate had obtained a justifiable reason for his actions. Radmoth’s resentment would likely be directed towards his elder brother.

Once the subordinate had departed, Idris lowered his legs, rested both elbows on the desk, interlaced his fingers, and pressed his forehead against them. While his young body did not yet require much rest, his overworked brain continued to crave glucose. Idris craved something sweet, much like a child. Changing his posture, he scanned his surroundings and summoned an NCO standing in a corner of the room, ordering him to bring some hot chocolate. As the officer hurried away after receiving the solemn command, Idris pressed his forehead against his hands once more and sank into deep thought.

Ariabert’s untimely death should have been a cause for joy for Idris. He had, for the time being, managed to postpone a one-sided defeat. However, his mood could, at best, be described as an “unexpected victory by default”, and he was in no way capable of feeling triumphant. He had never imagined that the Clanner would assassinate Ariabert, nor could he have ever conceived that his youngest brother, Zelpha, would be used as a mere tool for such an end. He would have sooner died than admit it but the sweat trickling down his cheeks was composed mostly of terror.

Around this time, on a local scale, the subordinate organisations of Tytania continued their daily activities without interruption. On Planet A, a water supply system for arid regions was under construction, and the export of wheat and milk had commenced from Planet B to Planet C. On Planet D, negotiations were ongoing to extend the instalment payments for a 10-billion dakar loan from Tytania from twenty-five to forty instalments. All of these were minor matters that did not require the sanction of Uraniborg.

The people within the lower structures of Tytania were shocked by the death of Duke Ariabert and mourned him. Had it been death in battle, it might have been one thing, but assassination! Though they did not speak of it carelessly, the scales of their favour were beginning to tilt away from Uraniborg. It was only human nature, after all, that if one must be ruled by Tytania, one would prefer to be ruled by someone more just.

Though they remained cautious, they shared sighs among trusted colleagues and family members. What, after all, would become of Tytania?

Mediating conflicts between small nations. Checking the pressure exerted by great powers upon the small. Protecting the interests of the small to build up debts and favours. The influence of Tytania was the vast accumulation of such deeds.

If Tytania were to collapse, the group of small nations would lose the party to whom they could appeal for help. The shield behind which they could hide would vanish. The very axis of order would disappear. It was an unknown terror.



For the members of the anti-Tytania faction, Ariabert’s untimely death was a profound shock.

“I wonder if things will become easier for us. Even so, I wonder who will be left in the end.”

Miranda cast her gaze towards Doctor Lee. The Doctor perfectly controlled his facial muscles, maintaining an expression that prevented anyone from reading his thoughts. They were actually aboard the interstellar transport vessel ''Honest Old Man Junior'', which was, in truth, a pirate business ship. For a brief period, due to the miscalculations, misunderstandings, and misjudgments of those involved, they had sought refuge at Uraniborg, but that arrangement had not lasted. It was a delicate matter which party bore more responsibility, but the ''Honest Old Man Junior'' had slipped from the grasp of Tytania and was racing through the cosmic labyrinth. Or rather, it was merely wandering.

“There are still hundreds of others who carry the Tytania name.”

“Are there no ambitious souls among them who plot to seize the main house?”

“I heard no mention of any outstanding individuals. After all, the Four Dukes only became heads of their houses because they were exceptional, did they not? If there had been anyone more capable, they would have become the duke instead.”

No one could dispute Miranda’s view. The scent of cheap coffee filled the small dining room. The Salbestan coffee served at Uraniborg was far too high-quality to suit the palates of pirates. The inexpensive variety from Bertine was more than sufficient. The impoverished, who lived in defiance of authority, firmly believed that coffee was something meant to be gulped down.

“I never imagined things would turn out like this.”

Miranda shook her head. She wondered how many dozens of times she had done exactly that.

The leadership of Tytania was young. Even Clanner Ajman was only forty-one, and the four dukes were all in their twenties. Most people believed that stability would continue, despite any minor turbulence, until a generational shift occurred.

''“The Universe exists along with Tytania.”''

Yet, in just a single year, such radical changes had taken place. Half of the Four Dukes, the highest-ranking officials, had joined the ranks of the dead, and Uraniborg, which could be called the capital of the entire universe, had come under military attack. Just before the moment it was on the verge of falling, a spectacle occurring once in two centuries—the people’s imagination was tested once again.

“How did things end up like this?”

“That much is obvious, Mahdi. It’s because Hyulick won the Battle of Cerberus.”

“Hey, wait a minute, this is my fault!?”

“Exactly as Miranda says,” stated Doctor Lee with a tone of voice that might have been described as incurable. “That battle, an unforeseen defeat for Tytania, awakened a sleeping monster.”

“A monster?”

“It’s a metaphor, Hyulick.”

“I can grasp that much. I won’t ask what kind of monster it is, since you clearly won’t tell me, but if that’s the case, then Duke Ariabert, who was defeated back then, must also bear some responsibility.”

As Hyulick glared around at his companions, they each nodded with their own distinct expressions.

“Duke Ariabert, eh? Even for Tytania, it was a loss of a truly great man.”

“Wait a minute, Miranda! What is the reason for that disparity in evaluation compared to me!?”

“In my opinion, the difference in virtue,” replied maliciously Mahdi on her behalf.