Editing Tytania:Volume 4 Chapter 5 (section)

=== IV ===
“I wish to have an audience with His Clanner Highness.”

Under Idris’ piercing gaze, the guard’s voice trembled.

“H-His Highness will see no one. I cannot allow you to pass.”

“I am Duke Idris.”

“Of course, I am aware of who you are.”

“And yet, you still refuse me entry?”

“It is not for me to decide. I merely obey His Highness’ orders.”

“A noble sentiment.”

Speaking derisively, Idris took a step forward. With a single sweep of his right arm, he knocked back the soldier who had reflexively braced himself.

From between the lines of soldiers, a man in a white coat appeared. It was an elderly doctor with grey hair. He addressed Idris with a trembling voice:

“Please, stop! You will incur the displeasure of His Clanner Highness!”

The doctor’s admonishment was coldly ignored.

“Your Clanner Highness! It is I, Idris!”

Idris’ voice contained a fierce intensity that went beyond mere dignity, causing the doctors and nurses to instinctively recoil.

“I have come because there is something I most earnestly desire your approval for. I pray that I may be granted the honour of your presence!”

“P-please stop, Your Grace.”

A middle-aged doctor, having summoned all his courage, attempted to lean towards Idris from the side. Without a moment’s delay, and without even addressing him properly, Idris’ hand flashed. A small blossom of blood bloomed in the air, and the doctor fell to the floor, clutching his face.

Without so much as a glance, Idris headed towards the door at the far end. The Clanner waited just behind that single door. At that moment, a large-bodied male nurse moved to block his path.

“Out of my way.”

With a roar of anger, Idris shoved the nurse aside. The nurse stumbled, yet he did not change his position. Behind him, the door opened, but the nurse’s body obscured the sight within. The moment the door closed, a blow from Idris’ fury struck the nurse’s cheek. A moment later, someone grasped his hand.

“Your Grace! Please be mindful of your position!”

It was Count Elman.

“If you commit any further misconduct, it will bring shame upon our name!”

Somewhat taken aback, Idris halted his movement and looked at Count Elman’s face. The middle-aged nobleman wore an expression of desperation. Idris had not thought this man possessed the courage to put himself in harm’s way.

“… Let go. I understand.”

His breathing had not yet fully subsided, and his voice was stiff, but Idris regained his composure rapidly. As Count Elman commanded with a gesture, the soldiers obeyed after a moment’s hesitation. Idris quickly straightened his dishevelled hair and collar, then spoke to the Count.

“Ask Your Clanner Highness to accept my apologies. I shall submit to whatever punishment is deemed appropriate.”

Turning his back on Count Elman, who was about to say something, Idris began to walk away, his chest held high with defiance.

If they could punish him, they should try. Though somewhat childish, a sense of natural rebellion welled up within him. If Idris were to be punished, who then would supervise Uraniborg as the Clanner’s deputy? Or would the Clanner himself crawl out from his sickbed just to watch the spectacle?

The soldiers armed with guns parted to the left and right as Idris walked. He began to descend the wide, ancient marble staircase. No one followed him. However, once he had reached the floor below,

“Lord Idris!”

A young woman’s voice halted his steps.

“Is it you again, Theodora?”

A bitter acidity rose within Idris. Though he harboured resentment and distrust towards this woman, for some reason, he found himself unable to reject her entirely. A trace of self-mockery coloured his voice.

“Have you gone to the trouble of waiting here merely to laugh at me?”

“No, I can only imagine your distress. Even if one says Tytania is invincible, such a claim rests upon having not only incomparable military strength but also exceptional leadership.”

“… What are you trying to say?”

“One has passed away, and the other has become the very enemy in question.”

“Zarlisch and Ariabert?”

Idris’ eyes grew hot with emotion.

“You failed to mention my name.”

He had spoken in a sharp, interrogating tone, but Theodora brushed it off lightly.

“I did not mention Duke Jouslain’s name either.”

“Hmph…”

“Combat command capability is a sufficient condition, but perhaps not a necessary one, is it not? Tytania is not a purely military organisation, after all. Though, if a massive alien army were to invade from the far reaches of space, there would likely be no leader more fitting than Duke Zarlisch.”

“Aliens? An enemy well-suited to him.”

Idris let out a derisive laugh, but his expression quickly tightened. He looked at Theodora with blatant distrust.

“Did you come here merely to tell such a ridiculous joke? I thought you had come to ask that you somehow rescue Radmoth, with whom you are so close.”

He glared at Theodora with layers of biting sarcasm, but all he received in return was a faint, mocking smile. Was someone as insignificant as Radmoth simply not worth her concern?

“Do please be careful, Duke Idris. It is customary for traitors to bring a small gift when surrendering to the enemy. I have come merely to offer you this piece of advice.”

“… Are you suggesting that there is someone within Uraniborg targeting me?”

“I possess no specific information to provide. I was merely reflecting upon historical precedents as a general rule. I would be honoured if you viewed this as a token of my sincerity toward Your Grace.”

As the beautiful woman bowed and turned to depart, Idris spat out,

“Damn vixen!”

It was a common insult, yet one that carried the weight of 6,000&nbsp;years of history.

Furthermore, the fact that he kicked the nearby ottoman chair was the result of an anger directed more towards himself than towards Theodora. He wanted to remove her so he would no longer have to expend mental energy on her dangerous words and actions. A pity to do without her beauty, but there were plenty of others to take her place. Yet, while standing before the narrow precipice of decision, he found himself unable to take that final, decisive step, because she refused to let him grasp any clue as to how deeply she was embedded with Clanner Ajman or the extent of the influence she wielded.

Lost in thought, Idris continued along the gallery<ref name="ftn30">“Corridor” (回廊) is pronounced “gallery”.</ref> towards his own office. Since those without the Tytania name were forbidden from walking, it was the perfect space for one to wander while contemplating.

What if he pursued a plan to drive a wedge between Ariabert and Jouslain? Idris had long since considered such schemes. He had no need for anyone else to offer him such patronising opinions at this late stage. However, a year ago, when Zarlisch had still been in good health, he had not given the idea much serious thought. But now, their alliance seemed more resilient than steel, and severing it appeared to be a task of utmost difficulty.

If he were to attempt to divide them, to which one should he throw his bait? With the fires of war pressing in upon Uraniborg, Ariabert far surpassed Jouslain in terms of combat command and the capacity to lead troops. Synthesising various pieces of information, it seemed that Jouslain was trailing half a step behind Ariabert.

How would Jouslain act once he had Uraniborg in his grasp? Once the difficult military campaign ended, Ariabert would presumably no longer be of any use to him. The notion that Jouslain was waiting for that very moment was entirely convincing to Idris. Nevertheless, he could not shake the impression that something was amiss. How would the Clanner interpret the relationship between the two men…?

''“Could it be…”''

Idris froze at his own thought. Could it be that Clanner Ajman was orchestrating this conflict and driving Idris into a corner, all in order to install Ariabert and Jouslain as the next generation of Clanners?

If that were indeed the case, the reason he remained confined to his hospital room at this late stage, refusing to even grant Idris an audience or issue any instructions, became clear. It provided an explanation for the current situation.

Idris began to lean towards that thought, but he hesitated. While it certainly provided an explanation for the current situation, it raised another question. If they intended to remove Idris from the succession race, they could simply do so openly. Why did they not?

The moment he entered the office, Idris felt overwhelmed by confusion, and though he sat down to steady himself, he was simultaneously gripped by an even more extreme suspicion.

Had the Clanner already ceased to exist in this world? Was someone concealing that fact?

“Water!”

Idris bellowed to no one in particular, sending the surrounding figures scurrying about in a panic, until he was presented with a glass of sparkling mineral water. He glared at the bubbles rising through the ice, then seized the glass and drained it in a single gulp. When he tossed the glass into the air, someone caught it with desperate haste.

Yet, this suspicion would have brought about the same result as just a moment ago. Did the Clanner truly have a reason to go to such lengths and engineer a situation to corner Idris?

“Lord Idris is hereby stripped of all of his titles, authority, inherited assets, and he shall be exiled from Uraniborg.”

All it took was making such an announcement. While it would be an intolerable ordeal for Idris himself, for the whole of Tytania, it would surely result in far less damage.

Idris had suffered a crushing defeat in the Hashtbal System. Although he had not directly commanded the battle, his proxy, Fan Hyulick, had fled in the wake of the loss. There was more than enough reason for Idris to be disgraced and exiled. Yet, the Clanner responded only with silence, leaving Idris unable to even find a way to take responsibility for his own actions. As one of the last four dukes remaining, he had lost a peer among his advisers.

That was fine by him. Idris exhaled a distorted breath through twisted lips. If the Clanner were already no more, and since Ariabert and Jouslain bore the name of traitors, it stood to reason that Idris would naturally become the master of Uraniborg. His lifelong ambition would be realised.

He simply had not expected it to be fulfilled in such a manner and so half-heartedly.

However, the problem was not power but authority. One could call it prestige or perhaps popularity. The behaviour he had displayed moments ago in the Clanner’s sickroom had undoubtedly caused a great deal of discomfort and anxiety among the witnesses. They would have seen him as a man unable to control his own emotions.

Idris believed it was only natural to erupt, yet his position was such that he was not even permitted to act naturally in the presence of others.

“What a disgrace… I have made a complete spectacle of myself.”

Regret was useless. To dispel this distrust, he had to defeat Ariabert and Jouslain. Merely imagining the triumphant faces of those two sent a searing heat coursing through his veins.

He would never allow them to claim glory.