Editing Tytania:Volume 4 Chapter 2 (section)

=== IV ===
Some days later, Ariabert took an action that won the favour of the citizens of Bargash. As he was leaving the hotel that served as his headquarters, he encountered a beautiful young woman with whom he was already acquainted.

“Edna.”

“Captain Edna Fredericks, reporting for duty, Your Ducal Grace Ariabert Tytania.”

Her expression and her voice remained entirely unchanged. Ariabert made a face that fell just short of a wry smile.

“I still haven’t figured out what kind of attitude or conversation is appropriate in situations like this.”

“Some people never know until the day they die.”

“I certainly hope I don’t end up like that… May I speak with you for a moment?”

Edna seemed to hesitate. Ariabert sensed it by the slight pause that preceded her reply.

“… Please do.”

“I am glad you are not turning me down.”

“However, my break time is not very long…”

“I understand. Let us find somewhere to sit.”

The two of them made their way to a nearby open-air café. They ordered black coffee and a ''café au lait''.

“Are the preparations for departure complete?”

“At the very least, my ship can depart within the hour. However, the ''Austra'' arrived here strictly as His Grace Jouslain’s flagship. In what capacity will the next departure take place?”

The man thought to himself that this was not a conversation between a man and a woman.

“There are no changes… No, actually there is one. The flagship shall be the ''Golden Sheep''. The ''Austra'' will serve as Jouslain’s vessel.”

Their order was brought to the table. The young waitress’ hands trembled slightly. She likely recognised Ariabert’s face.

“Your duty is to protect Lord Jouslain. That is all.”

After handing the bill and a tip to the waitress with a magnanimous air, Ariabert’s tone grew more forceful.

“The future of Tytania exists only because he is here. Therefore, as a precaution, he and I shall travel on separate ships.”

He picked up his coffee cup and elegantly took a sip.

“Planetarica beans? They are passable. Now then, becoming Tytania’s Clanner was synonymous with establishing a unified rule over the universe… until now.”

“Will it be different from now on?”

“It seems Lord Jouslain believes it will be. That Tytania is sufficient as one of the powerful forces that will form human society in space.”

Ariabert gazed intently at Edna.

“What do you think, Edna?”

“… I am a soldier. Political judgements exceed my authority and station.”

“I am well aware of your ascetic loyalty to the uniform. Although, by the laws of Uraniborg, I am no longer your superior…”

After giving a slight shake of his head, Ariabert picked up his cup once more.

“Thank you for joining me. Perhaps you will meet me next time when I am in civilian clothes.”

“… If time permits.”

“I hope it will be for as long as possible.”

For a mere moment, Edna’s lips seemed to part in a faint smile. After she saluted and departed, Ariabert sat before his coffee for a while.

“The one controlling the situation is none of the three dukes, but Clanner Ajman. Just whose side is he on, anyway? And when exactly does he intend to appear before the public?”

He could hear the voices of the guests at the surrounding tables. That was exactly right, Ariabert murmured to himself. As long as the Clanner remained well, that was certainly true. However, at a time when it appeared that Tytania had undergone a Great Schism, he wondered what significance there was in his deliberate decision to remain out of the public eye.

“Hey, look, this is…”

A panicked voice rose, and the area around the table fell silent. It seemed a group of footmen had spotted Ariabert in his plain clothes. Ariabert turned his gaze towards them and gave a slight raise of his coffee cup.

The Tytania nobles, who lived amongst the clouds, were met with a mixture of bewilderment and admiration at his casual gesture. A middle-aged man, who had raised his own cup towards him, shouted almost half-heartedly, his face flushed with excitement.

“Please, you must win, Your Grace!”



Idris was once again overcome by a sense of unease. It had gone well enough to use the Kingdom of Elbing as bait and drive Ariabert and Jouslain into a corner, but once the waves of temporary victory and satisfaction had receded, doubt had crept in.

“Was that truly the right move? Have I overlooked something critical?”

He slumped back in his chair, legs stretched out across the desk, lost in thought.

The root of Idris’ psychological instability was, quite simply, his lack of absolute confidence in facing both Ariabert and Jouslain at once. While a one-on-one duel was one thing, a two-on-one fight made a complete victory uncertain. It was precisely because Idris was well aware of this that he required the powerful support of Clanner Ajman. Yet, the Clanner remained confined to his hospital room, playing the part of a sphinx<ref name="ftn10">“Silent colossus” (無言の巨像) pronounced “sphinx”.</ref>. Even when Idris pressed the attending physician and the nurses, they merely replied, “By order of His Clanner Highness, we cannot disclose anything,” leaving him with no further recourse. In this one respect, Idris shared the same doubt as his two adversaries.

“Lord Idris, you truly are soft-hearted.”

A woman’s voice spoke suddenly.

“Watch your words, Theodora. I am in no mood for such levity right now.”

However, Idris did not reprimand Countess Theodora Tytania for entering the room without permission. She had only just been released from house arrest a few days prior.

“Well, nevermind, but what exactly do you mean by soft-hearted?”

“You are simply letting slip through your fingers a precious opportunity to eliminate a source of anxiety. It is true that I lost my way with my words. And for that, I offer my deepest apologies. However, I must say that your approach, Lord Idris, is far too soft.”

The heel of Idris’ boot struck the desk. Theodora continued, appearing outwardly composed:

“When those wandering pirates who call themselves the Blaze Flag Army first arrived at Uraniborg, you received them with great courtesy, did you not?”

“Are you suggesting that instead of summoning the Blaze Flag Army, I should have simply slaughtered them?”

In truth, Idris had also considered that very point. To him, the Blaze Flag Army was nothing more than a group of criminals whom he could never truly trust, either in spirit or in mind. However, he had welcomed them after calculating that they possessed certain utility.

“How shortsighted. Doing so might allow you to avoid trouble in the future, perhaps. But if you invite them as guests in name only, only to cause them harm, it will bring disgrace upon the honour of Tytania. If you are unable to grasp even something of that magnitude, then you ought to renounce the honourable name of Tytania.”

Theodora remained perfectly composed.

“It appears that Duchess Theresa does not seem to understand that. Would you say the same to her?”

Regarding Duchess Theresa—that is, the mother of the late Zarlisch and his brother—interfering without the Clanner’s permission was frowned upon, and because of that, Idris became even more displeased, and it provoked unexpected suspicions.

“Theodora.”

“What is it?”

“Was it not you who incited that foolish mother of Zarlisch?”

He did not possess absolute certainty about it. Consequently, Idris’ choice of words was subtle; he did not say, “It must be you,” nor did he say, “It is you,” but rather phrased it as a confirmation rather than an accusation. Theodora noticed this before Idris himself did.

She laughed without making a sound.

“My, how outrageous! Are you suggesting that I was the one who instigated such a foolish act?”

“Hmph. It is exactly the sort of thing you would do.”

Duchess Theresa Tytania had lost her eldest son, Zarlisch, and her second son, Arses, at the hands of the Blaze Flag Army. Therefore, Idris had believed it was only natural that she would seek vengeance for her sons, but…

“I should not have restrained the Duchess back then.”

“Are you suggesting it would have been better to let her kill Fan Hyulick and his group?”

“Yes. Had that happened, Lord Idris, you could have eliminated a public enemy of Tytania without ever staining your own hands. Am I wrong?”

“And then Duchess Theresa would have achieved the glorious feat of avenging her foolish sons.”

“And she would have passed away in satisfaction, I presume.”

“……!”

“The vengeance against Fan Hyulick remains a purely personal matter for Lord Zarlisch’s family. As you stated yourself a moment ago, Lord Idris, if guests were to be murdered, it would bring shame upon the prestige of Tytania. The Duchess would have to bear the responsibility for such an outcome.”

“You mean, kill her?”

“Requesting that she take her own life with dignity. To serve as the true proof of her blue blood<ref name="ftn11">“Noble blood” (高貴な血) is pronounced “blue blood”.</ref>. Surely, the Duchess would not stoop to such unsightly behaviour.”

“I should hope so.”

Responding with a voice laced with sarcasm, Idris gestured for Theodora to leave the room.