Editing Tytania:Volume 2 Chapter 8 (section)

=== IV ===
On the 5<sup>th</sup> of November, Corvin, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Bargash Government, visited Uraniborg accompanied by Count Elman Tytania. He was a middle-aged man who appeared utterly unremarkable; he seemed to have been struck by terror from the moment he arrived at Uraniborg, and could not conceal his pallid face and trembling hands. In a pitiful display, he took out a handkerchief to wipe away the cold sweat, only to drop it; as he bent down to pick it up, he lost his balance and fell to the floor.

Tytania’s junior and mid-ranking military officers and staff could not help but chuckle. Initially, when Ajman had pointedly refused to grant him an audience, he had rushed about Uraniborg in a state of panic and confusion, pleading for assistance from numerous influential figures, only to then come down with a fever and be confined to his quarters. Even when he finally managed to meet the Clanner, he could scarcely speak, merely bowing his head and stammering incoherently.

“How dare they send such a good-for-nothing. It would seem the Bargash government has no genuine intention of seeking peace.”

It was hardly surprising that Idris curled his lips in derision, but Jouslain’s mind was preoccupied with Count Elman, who had accompanied Corvin.

“That count is quite a shrewd character.”

It was said that Count Elman would henceforth act as a mediator in diplomatic negotiations between Tytania and the anti-Tytania armed factions. While there was certainly a need for someone to fulfil such a role, the manner in which the Count had secured the position by offering his services directly to the Clanner struck him as somewhat calculating.

Jouslain did not believe that the Minister of Foreign Affairs Corvin was the feeble and incompetent figure he appeared to be. The representative of the Bargash government appeared to be a truly feeble and insignificant figure. But might that timid, pitiful display simply be an act? If that was indeed the case, was the Bargash government such a collection of dullards that a man of such incompetence could occupy the key post of Minister of Foreign Affairs? Upon reflecting on this, Jouslain could not help but reach a single conclusion:

Bargash was desperately resorting to tactics to buy time. This was only natural, for it is only through peace that Bargash could continue to prosper and develop as the capital of the frontier star sector. Even if it were to plunge into all-out war with Tytania, Bargash would have little chance of victory. Even if it were to avoid war, it would take time to establish a diplomatic policy and devise various strategies. For the time being, might Corvin not have volunteered to play the role of a figurehead, merely for show, in order to prevent Tytania from opting for a swift campaign?

Meanwhile, on Tytania’s side, a large fleet was always on combat alert, ready to open hostilities the moment the Clanner issued his orders. Legally, however, Emperor Harsha&nbsp;VI would have to declare war through the Minister of Military Affairs. Without the Emperor’s declaration of war, any military operations by Tytania would be regarded as private warfare waged by a private army, making it impossible to mobilise the Vardana Empire’s military or logistical support organisations. Of course, there was no precedent in history for the Vardana Imperial Household to have refused a request from the Tytanian Clanner’s Court to issue a declaration of war. At the very least, there has never been a single instance where such a refusal has been made public.

The declaration of war was not written by the Emperor himself. It was drafted by the Chief Court Clerk, reviewed by the Chief Imperial Secretary, and signed by the Emperor. As both the Chief Court Clerk and the Chief Imperial Secretary were individuals thoroughly under the influence of the Tytania clan, there was no possibility of any problems arising.

Although Harsha&nbsp;VI found the presence of Tytanian loyalists within the court intolerable, his late father remained unperturbed. His father’s view was that, since he had absolutely no intention of coming into conflict with Tytania, he did not mind in the slightest having members of the Tytania faction on either side of him so long as they fulfil their duties as courtiers.

As with other matters, Harsha&nbsp;VI was unable to follow his father’s policy on this issue. Every time Tytania demanded a declaration of war, his pride as Emperor was wounded, and deep down he could not help but wish for Tytania’s defeat. It may seem underhand, but for a man as powerless as he was, it was the only means of taking revenge on the tyranny of the powerful ministers. Consequently, Ariabert’s defeat at the Battle of Cerberus and Zarlisch’s untimely death on this occasion gave him a deep, bitter joy.

Harsha&nbsp;VI both detested and feared Duke Idris, who had become Minister of Military Affairs. These two emotions each possessed a dual structure, with those directed at Tytania as a whole and those directed at Idris personally inextricably intertwined.

The former Minister of Military Affairs, Marquis Estrade Tytania, was, even as a member of the Tytania clan, mindful of the courtesies to be observed and the formalities to be followed, and never subjected Harsha&nbsp;VI to any more psychological pressure than was necessary. Idris, however, was a harsh, rude and merciless young man. Every time he came face to face with him, Harsha&nbsp;VI felt as though his nervous system was being rubbed with sandpaper. Had this been someone like Ariabert, Harsha&nbsp;VI would have rejoiced in his defeat without being driven by a personal desire for revenge.

However, a different perspective was also possible.

Harsha&nbsp;VI was devising a strategy to overthrow the Tytania clan in his mind. He would topple the arrogant and tyrannical Tytania clan and reclaim the power that had been unjustly taken from him. The military might, wealth, organisation and diplomatic influence that the Tytania clan had accumulated would all return to the hands of the Vardana Imperial House. He, Harsha&nbsp;VI, would leave an immortal name in history as the illustrious ruler who revived the Vardana Empire, and Vardana would continue to flourish for all eternity.

Amidst those vivid visions, Idris had been assigned the role of a pliable pawn. Idris was the youngest of the four dukes; he harboured an unusually strong competitive spirit towards the other three, and his ambition for the title of Clanner was both intense and clear. Perhaps that very trait would make him easier to control. That, at least, was Harsha&nbsp;VI’s assessment.

As for the other three dukes, Zarlisch was intimidating and made one shrink back merely by looking at him, while Jouslain gave off a strangely unfathomable aura that aroused suspicion. Ariabert behaved as a mild-mannered man of common sense and, at first glance, seemed easy to deal with; yet, at the core of his being, there was a quality that kept conspiracies and political manoeuvres at bay, making him a formidable opponent.

Idris was eleven years younger than Harsha&nbsp;VI, a fact that further aroused the Emperor’s antipathy. This stemmed from the humiliation of having absolute power over life and death held in the hands of a greenhorn like Idris. And so, before long, Harsha&nbsp;VI came to devise the following plot:

“What if I were to tell Ajman that Idris has his sights set on the title of Clanner? Surely Ajman would think that this is consistent with Idris’ character? If Idris were to be purged by Ajman, that would be a great step towards my goal…”

Harsha&nbsp;VI continued to ponder this with a dark fervour. He even went so far as to imagine the very scene of the plot succeeding, with Idris, who continued to protest his innocence, being bound and led away to the place of execution, and Harsha&nbsp;VI was almost entranced by that thought. However, for the time being, this “conspiracy” could exist only within the mind of the ill-fated emperor. He lacked the concrete means to bring it to fruition; and above all, Harsha&nbsp;VI had no subordinates worthy of his trust.

Meanwhile, Clanner Ajman had a fairly accurate insight into Harsha&nbsp;VI’s innermost thoughts.

“He cannot help but harbour such thoughts. Whatever the nature of his conspiracy, it will remain nothing more than a delusion until it is put into practice. If we were to take issue with every single one, we would likely have to depose and reinstate a new Emperor every month.”

In this instance, the Clanner’s tolerance stemmed from his contempt for Harsha&nbsp;VI. Ajman knew full well that, no matter how audacious the conspiracy he might devise, Harsha&nbsp;VI possessed neither the power nor the subordinates to carry it out. In that case, he might as well let the Emperor roam freely in his inner space<ref name="ftn18">“Inner space” (内宇宙 ) is pronounced “inner space”.</ref> as he pleased. Whether he chose to burn or hack to pieces the entire population of Tytania within his own delusions was none of Ajman’s concern.

The dead are gone and will never return. Such nonsense as reincarnation<ref name="ftn19">“Reincarnation” (輪廻転生) is pronounced “reincarnation”.</ref> should be left to religious figures and religious entrepreneurs. What Tytania had to do was to exploit Zarlisch’s death to the fullest extent possible at the political and diplomatic levels. This was something recognised not only by Clanner Ajman, but also the three surviving dukes.

“If you have time to weep, think instead.”

These were the words with which Neville, the founder of Tytania, chastised when he lost his youngest son at a young age. Neither Clanner Ajman nor the other three dukes shed a tear over Zarlisch’s death. Idris regarded the other three dukes as nothing more than potential rivals, while neither Ariabert nor Jouslain harboured any particular animosity towards Zarlisch, but they did not consider him a close friend with whom they shared a bond. The manner of his death, too, was, if anything, of the sort that dampened their spirits. At the very least, within the five families of Tytania, there was no custom of feigning grief that did not genuinely exist.

Zarlisch’s funeral was to be held with great pomp, involving the entire organisation of Tytania. The ceremony would serve as an eloquent proclamation of Tytania’s intentions to the entire universe. That Bargash was to be regarded as a public enemy and vanquished. Meanwhile, would the government of Bargash send a delegation to pay its respects? And if so, what rank of official would they dispatch?

As this was the death of the head of the household and the heir apparent was absent, Clanner Ajman himself was to act as chief mourner, while the diplomatic protocol department of the Clanner’s Court was to handle the practical arrangements for the funeral. A flurry of activity filled Uraniborg, amidst which Bargash’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Corvin, was rushing about.

By this stage, it was clear that Corvin was an investigator masquerading as a diplomatic envoy, but Corvin Ajman had turned a blind eye to his presence. Rather than fearing a single investigator, he had chosen to demonstrate Tytania’s true strength to him. However, he summoned Corvin and handed him a formal proclamation of wartime embargo.

A wartime embargo was a legal measure prohibiting military personnel and high-ranking government officials from enemy nations from boarding ships of neutral nations. In this instance, should a military officer from Bargash attempt to board a neutral vessel to join his own country’s forces, Tytania would have the right to sink that neutral vessel. In such cases, legal action could be taken against anyone seeking to cooperate with the Bargash military, even if they were not officially part of the Bargash armed forces.

While it is, in practice, impossible to monitor every hostile actor, this serves to publicly signal Tytania’s stance. From Ajman’s perspective, it was intended as a precursor to a declaration of war, and Corvin understood this. His complexion changed so drastically that one might have thought he was about to faint; yet, managing to steady himself, he staggered away from the Clanner’s presence.

It was on the 10<sup>th</sup> of November that Duke Ariabert Tytania’s operational plan for the war against Bargash was finalised. This was the day before the magnificent funeral of Duke Zarlisch. The following day, six thousand vessels of all sizes, fully armed, gathered in the airspace surrounding Uraniborg to hold an aerial procession in mourning for the deceased, striking fear into the hearts of the Bargash people across the vast expanse of space.

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