Editing Tytania:Volume 4 Chapter 3 (section)

=== V ===
Ariabert’s flagship, the ''Golden Sheep'', and Jouslain’s vessel, the ''Austra'', were sailing alongside each other near the very centre of the massive spindle formation. The cruising speed of the twenty thousand ships was as fast as possible for a force of such scale.

Ariabert and Jouslain had neither the need nor the obligation to wait for Idris’ forces to be fully assembled. It was a viable option to strike a decisive military blow while Idris was still unprepared to respond and the other nations stood by as mere spectators. The victorious side would leave the other nations with no choice but to accept a state of “friendly submission”, and a new order would be established in the blink of an eye.

There was another strategy: to wait and allow their forces to be reinforced over time, but such a course of action risked granting the enemy time to strengthen themselves as well. Furthermore, there was a danger that the scales of victory, which were currently balanced on a precarious equilibrium, might tip unilaterally due to some unforeseen accident; thus, a protracted war was undesirable.

Even if Idris’ forces numbered eighty thousand ships, was there anyone to command them? It could be none other than Lord Idris, or perhaps the Clanner himself. Furthermore, if it were true that the Clanner lay bedridden with illness, it would be impossible for Lord Idris to leave Uraniborg.

If that were the case, someone would be needed to act as commander in his stead, with his full confidence. Jouslain reckoned that, at this moment, Fan Hyulick was the only one capable of achieving such a feat. However, it would not be without conditions.

To what extent would Fan Hyulick truly be an ally to Idris?

The doubts harboured by Ariabert and Jouslain were, in truth, Fan Hyulick’s own doubts as well.

“I wonder if there is any actual benefit for him to siding with Idris.”

“Wasn’t he appointed commander of the Elbing Expeditionary Force by his direct command?”

Naturally, Jouslain and the others had no way of knowing of this conversation with Doctor Lee, but they found it utterly inconceivable that Idris had won the devotion of Fan Hyulick. Depending on Hyulick’s ambition and fortune, he might be able to turn against Idris.

Suddenly, an alarm rang out. The frigate leading the vanguard of the fleet had discovered a cluster of light points that did not belong to their allies. There were approximately one thousand ship silhouettes. Their relative velocity was not high. A transmission was immediately sent from the frigate.

“A message to your fleet. Declare your intentions within five minutes. Surrender? Negotiation? Neutrality? Or shall combat commence?”

In response to this stern inquiry, the reply came extremely quickly.

“If I had to name it, I’d say it’s a surrender.”

“If you had to name it?”

“Ariabert, Jouslain, I wish to side with both Dukes. I am Rear-Admiral Moss Dryden. I would be honoured if His Grace Ariabert still remembers me.”

As he heard this, Ariabert searched his memory. On two previous occasions, he had fought with Rear-Admiral Dryden under his command and had ample opportunity to recognise his considerable competence.

About fifteen minutes later, Dryden’s fleet was leading the entire armada, charging through the sea of stars. Having a defector take the vanguard of the entire army served as a tangible manifestation of their pledge that they would never betray them.

Watching this unexpected turn of events, Jouslain reflected. There was no turning back now. If they fought and lost, there was only death. Alternatively, there was the possibility of being imprisoned for life, but should such a fate befall them, Jouslain had no intention of enduring it.

Whether his opponent was Idris or Clanner Ajman, this battle—which had been unimaginable even a year ago—would demand every ounce of Jouslain’s vitality. As this feeling intensified with each passing day, Jouslain was secretly astonished. What was even more startling, however, was the emergence of an entirely new, deeply personal thought:

“What will become of Francia after I am dead?”

Jouslain believed that Francia had no obligation to follow him into death. He had already deposited enough money into her account to ensure she could live the rest of her life without hardship. All that remained was for her to decide her own path for her later years. He had believed this and thus had not thought further upon it. Yet, this newly born thought was rapidly growing.

“… No, this is no time to be thinking such things.”

As Jouslain shook his head, a bright voice rang out, announcing the arrival of a young guest. Princess Lydia’s favourite hat swayed with vigour.

Because her homeland had escaped its immediate crisis, the princess of the Kingdom of Elbing was overjoyed. She threw her arms around Ariabert and Jouslain in turn to express her gratitude, and once she had calmed down slightly, she swore upon her honour to bestow as much reward as possible upon the two of them as saviours of her nation. In truth, at that moment, while Ariabert found the sight endearing, what came to his mind was a cheap gold-plated medal, while Jouslain pictured a mountain of Elbing potatoes.

“Lord Jouslain, may I interrupt you?”

“Please, Princess. My door is always open for you.”

Jouslain offered the princess a seat on the sofa and stepped away from his desk. He deliberately ignored the sight of Francia, who had followed the princess in.

“So, how may I be of service?”

“Well, there is something that has been weighing on my mind…”

“Ah, please forgive my carelessness.”

He could not allow Princess Lydia or Francia to be taken to the battlefield. They had to be moved to somewhere safe, and the time had come to make a definitive decision.

“No, that is not it.”

“Oh, is that so?”

“It is regarding the Clanner’s true intentions. That man has finally driven the dukes into battle. It is not in the best interest of the Tytania as a whole. Why is that?”

“I… I cannot say for certain myself.”

“Even you cannot fathom it, Lord Jouslain?”

“I truly do not know.”

Answering honestly, Jouslain gazed at Princess Lydia. If he did not, his eyes would instinctively wander toward Francia.

“If even you cannot understand it after thinking so hard, Lord Jouslain, then perhaps it is the opponent who is acting strange.”

“… Strange?”

“Yes, I do think it is strange. Lord Jouslain, you are a very intelligent man, but if you rely solely on logic, you surely won’t understand.”

“Is that so? Strange?”

For some reason, Jouslain felt a sense of agitation.

Humans didn’t always think, judge, and act with pure rationality. There were countless examples of proof of the contrary. Jouslain believed he was well aware of this, even without Princess Lydia’s simple observation.

Nevertheless, he was caught completely off guard. He had been lost in thought even as Francia brought the tea, ginger ale<ref name="ftn16">“Ginger water” (生姜水) is pronounced “ginger ale”.</ref>, and chocolate cake to the table and arranged them there.

For the one who possessed the greatest and most absolute power, reigning above all others, to lose his mental equilibrium in deep quiet silence without a single person around him noticing the truth? Could this truly be possible?

It was not until nearly a minute had passed that Jouslain realised Francia had been staring intently at him as he sat lost in thought.

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