Editing Tytania:Volume 2 Chapter 1 (section)

=== II ===
Duke Jouslain Tytania was the guardian of the princess of the small and remote kingdom of Elbing. Her name was Lydia, and she was 10&nbsp;years old. She was staying at Uraniborg, Tytania’s stronghold, as collateral for a debt, as well as a political hostage, but was a cheerful and carefree girl nevertheless. She could come and go freely, and often visited Jouslain’s office.

“Lord Jouslain, if you have some time, let’s play.”

While a woman inviting a man to play usually implied something romantic, since the inviting party was only 10 years old, it was a genuine and literal invitation to play. She would often tour the vast interior of Uraniborg along with Jouslain, but he was sometimes too busy to accompany her. Princess Lydia would then say:

“In that case, Lord Jouslain, may I observe you working? I promise not to disturb you, and behave properly.”

“Do as you please. Let me have a chair prepared for you.”

Thus, anyone visiting Duke Jouslain would be met with the intriguing gaze of the young girl seated in a corner of the room. There were some who would lose their composure under her gaze. Someone commented: “I felt like I was being dissected”. Princess Lydia, a princess with a mighty spirit within a small frame, seemed to be discerning those who might be useful to the kingdom of Elbing, and those who might be harmful. In any case, the task of looking after Princess Lydia fell upon Viscount Balamy, the senior ''aide-de-camp''.

For Balamy, being treated on the same level as a child like Princess Lydia was unacceptable. He was a member of the Tytania clan, and the nephew of the current Clanner, Ajman. His late father was a marquis, and he himself a viscount. Inwardly, he didn’t care about some small kingdom that couldn’t even repay it’s debt to Tytania. But according to social etiquette, he had to address Lydia as “Her Highness”, and since Jouslain himself addressed her with respect, Balamy had no choice but to follow such rules.

While “Her Highness” initially addressed Balamy as “Viscount”, she eventually came to see him as a friend and equal, calling him “Balamy” and eventually shortening it to “Bal”. Balamy was extremely dissatisfied with this, but he couldn’t object or correct her every time, and could do nothing but accept it. Whenever he was called “Bal”, he would reply “Yes princess”, and continue to attend on her.

In spite of hoping to be a schemer, Balamy may have lacked the necessary temperament to be one.

Jouslain’s attitude towards Balamy and Princess Lydia clearly demonstrated his qualities as an educator. Whenever he found outstanding qualities in someone’s individuality and talent, he treated them as extremely valuable, and wanted to nurture them.

It was a honed Tytanian tradition to seek out and generously treat talented individuals. But in Jouslain’s case, it seemed he had a strong inclination towards the individuality and talent of others rather than their ideals and policies. He went beyond practical matters such as politics, administration, military affairs, finance, and economics, to the realm of academics, and supported many scholars, writers, artists, and musicians. He established a fund and entrusted its management to experts, and a certain Mr&nbsp;Politt, a poet of the transcendentalist school who had benefited from it, once paid him a visit to express his gratitude. Jouslain did not meet with him.

''“Artists and scholars need not bow to those with power and wealth. Let them be proud of their deserved lavish treatment. For Mr&nbsp;Politt to go out of his way to express his gratitude for something like this, I guess he must be a materialist<ref name="ftn2">''The term used here (俗物) has a large meaning, as it can mean materialistic, uncultured, philistine, etc.''</ref> after all.”''

It is reported that when Mr&nbsp;Politt heard this, he blushed deeply and withdrew. The fact that Jouslain spoke in a way where he could be overheard might have been a sign of his immaturity. For one, considering his position, he didn’t want to increase the number of guests he had to receive any further.

That being said, while he treated artists with great generosity, Jouslain did not possess any particular passion or discerning eye for works of art themselves. His office and residence were adorned with works by renowned painters, sculptors, potters and furniture makers. Although the majority were gifts or offerings, their management was entrusted to one of his butlers who specialised in art and antiques, and Jouslain himself had little involvement in the process. Rather than the works themselves, it was the talent that produced these works that he favoured.

In practical terms, he used these works as gifts for dignitaries from various countries. This was why Jouslain was known as a “person who wasn’t stingy”, though that reputation was somewhat at odds with his true nature.

To Jouslain, Fan Hyulick as a rebel against the Tytania was also a great artist of his era. More precisely, he possessed the potential to become a figure worthy of being called great. Would should such a person allow himself to be killed so wantonly by Zarlisch and his mother? Jouslain wouldn’t help but lean towards the negative. That said, it was a fact that Fan Hyulick was a public enemy who had repeatedly inflicted damage on Tytania, and if left unchecked, Tytania’s prestige would be tarnished.

Jouslain was well aware of the folly of such a thing as prestige, yet at the same time he recognised the reality that it was precisely through prestige that a certain degree of order and peace was maintained. Furthermore, what made Jouslain unique was his wry realisation that it was Tytania herself who derived the greatest benefit from this reality.

''“Peace, order and stability are not the ends of power, but its means.”''

This is how Jouslain once characterised the reality of “''Pax Tytania''”. That said, he didn’t believe this to be an entirely accurate assessment. He was merely shedding light from a different angle on Tytania’s own assertion that “peace exists only because of Tytania”.

On the 15<sup>th</sup> of August, Tytania’s Supreme Council convened at Uraniborg. Those in attendance were Clanner Ajman and the Four Dukes. Jouslain took his seat beside Ariabert.

Ariabert was generally regarded as the leading figure amongst the Four Dukes of Tytania and did not possess a mind as richly nuanced as Jouslain’s. Of course, Ariabert was by no means incompetent nor of limited intellect, and few in the universe could handle matters with his composure, whether as the commander of a great army or as an administrator of an organisation.

While he may lack a certain degree of originality, once he acknowledged another’s idea, he could flexibly accept it and adapt it in the best possible way. At the very least, he has never failed twice in a row, and he has proven to possess the calibre to make amends for his failures and grow as a result.

''“Zarlisch would not have handled it this fashion. Compared to Ariabert’s talents, Zarlisch is merely a ruthless general.”''

This was Jouslain’s assessment, although in Zarlisch’s case, even when considered as a mere brave general, he was still far from ordinary. Had Zarlisch been supported by a staff officer with outstanding strategic thinking, he might literally have conquered the entire universe through sheer force of ability and even established a unified dynasty. But Zarlisch’s likes and dislikes towards others were all too evident: he favoured simple, unassuming soldiers and detested those who possessed a more nuanced way of thinking without necessarily being schemers.

Consequently, Zarlisch’s ranks consisted solely of brave commanders and soldiers who, in a sense, were miniature versions of himself. This tendency to gather only a single type of person might be acceptable for a military commander, but it was unsuitable for Tytania’s supreme commander.

As for Jouslain himself, he was probably even less suited to the role of Tytania’s supreme commander than Zarlisch. Not because of a lack of talent or ability, but because of his temperament.

He saw too much, even things he needed not to see. Since it was an impossible for a human to perceive the entirety of all things, this meant that there were things he ought to see that he was failing to see. This was how Jouslain interpreted it. And that very tendency to engage in such thinking was likely to render him unfit to be the Tytania’s supreme commander.

Had he been incompetent in practical affairs, Jouslain could surely have stepped back from the mainstream of Tytania and taken up the role of a critic. However, Jouslain possessed extraordinary ability as a politician. Having been involved in the governance of more than ten nations, he had reformed administration and public finances, placed the right people in the right positions, and either appeased or neutralised opposition forces, thereby increasing and stabilising Tytania’s alliance network. In particular, his skill in intervening in countries in a state of civil strife to restore order and establish new systems was considered unrivalled.

Jouslain did not regard his own talents as particularly remarkable, nor did he place a great importance on the existence of Tytania itself. He recognised that they were merely passing through history, and that eternal glory was impossible.

''“It is like a dinosaur. So mighty it cannot escape extinction,”'' he thought as he gazed into the distance, anticipating the day when that realisation would come to pass.

It was likely the ambitious mid-level executives who regarded Tytania as an absolute authority. To them, Tytania was not merely an organisation or a group, but a community bound by a shared destiny. Of course, Tytania was not a single entity, but rather a collective term encompassing the Landless Clanner’s domain, the retinues of the various dukes, the corporations and organisations they owned, and their private military forces. As personnel were exchanged between these entities, it was not uncommon for an unknown young man, once he sets foot on the ladder of advancement, to become a key figure at the level of a stellar system state by middle age.

Those who prided themselves on their talent, those harbouring ambitions of advancement, and those who wished to make their mark on the world, would all flock to gather under the Tytanian coat of arms. The abundance and quality of talent maintained there far surpassed that of groups of nations possessing only nominal sovereignty. This wealth of human resources was also one of the pillars underpinning Tytania’s might.

Tytania cherished talent and ambition. Provided they did not undermine her rule. Although a clear boundary existed, for the vast majority of people it lied beyond the horizon. At least in relative terms, Tytania was generous and remained a destination that held a certain allure for the talented.

Of course, there were differing views. Ultimately, Jouslain could not help but feel that it was merely a gathering of people who were simply seeking the shelter of a great tree. He was not generally regarded as a particularly difficult person, but he simply could not bring himself to feel any favour towards the sort of people who fawned over those in power. Given that was himself close to the pinnacle of power, this sentiment was clearly a contradiction in terms and at odds with the “virtue” of tolerance expected of those in authority.

For the time being, Jouslain had not yet been driven by the need to desperately reconcile that contradiction. He did not yet know what stance he would adopt should he ever be faced with such a necessity.

“Lord Jouslain , someone as overly fastidious as you will never be able to build a circle of advisors.”

Ariabert was the one who made that observation. Ariabert had his own perspective on the matter. In this world, there were many who possessed knowledge and talent yet were unable to put them to use. Was it not the duty of those in power and position to provide them with a platform on which to demonstrate their talents?

“We shouldn’t take issue of their character. It is up to us to provide them with a place to exercise their talents and provide them financial security. In turn, they use their talents for the sake of Tytania. I do not think that anything else matters more.”

“But Lord Ariabert, is it not character that ultimately governs over one’s talents?”

This was the counter-argument Jouslain had offered, though he was not seriously raising an objection. He simply fancied debating with Ariabert. In truth, until very recently, Jouslain had not held his relative Ariabert in particularly high regard. While he possessed well-organised and orderly talents in both the arts and martial arts, he had considered him nothing more than a model student lacking in individuality.

His view changed after witnessing how, following his defeat at the hands of Fan Hyulick, Ariabert had demonstrated extraordinary flexibility and resilience to regain the ground he had lost. He thought of it as Ariabert’s true worth finally coming to light.

However, they were given no time to continue their discussion. They fell silent, rose to their feet, and placed their right fists against their left shoulders, performing the Tytanian salute. Ajman, the Landless Clanner and head of the Tytania clan, had entered the room.

Ajman’s appearance was such that it could easily have been carved into a sculpture. The title of that sculpture would undoubtedly be “Dominion and Authority”. Both his gaze and the line of his mouth possessed a combination of sharpness and strength, while his demeanour embodied, so to speak, a dignified severity. It was the bearing of a supreme commander whom all of Tytania could not help but greet in solemn silence. Although he could still be described as young in terms of age, the ''gravitas'' of his bearing had the effect of adding years to his appearance, making him seem older than he actually was. He was forty years of age, yet possessed a certain air of solemnity.

The Landless Clanner Ajman was the uncrowned overlord of the universe; his power, strength and prestige stood above those of all other kings. While he led a family life as a working adult, he also maintained relationships with various mistresses.

If there were to be a prevailing cultural norm regarding romantic relationships in Tytania, it could hardly be described as progressive, and would inevitably be criticised as patriarchal. Since ascending as Clanner, Ajman had all but ceased sexual relations with his main wife, instead having beautiful women presented to him from the nobility and elite of various nations, filling his bedchamber with a profusion of blossoms. He already had sired children out of wedlock.

''“I wonder what sort of expression that stern and caustic supreme commander of Tytania wears when he embraces a woman.”''

Such rumours abounded both within and outside Tytania, but they never grew beyond mere whispers. Whatever Ajman might be like in his bedchamber, the fact that he was a stern and caustic ruler the moment he stepped out of it was beyond dispute.

Originally, the qualities required of a ruler of Tytania were leadership, foresight and decisiveness, not sexual morality. Whether one was lustful or the opposite, such matters were entirely unrelated to one’s competence as a ruler. However, if debauchery were to be taken to extremes, it would constitute grounds for disqualification from rulership. Someone who would use his position of power to take a subordinate’s wife would naturally incur hatred and resentment, and be deemed to lack the personal qualities required for leadership. Furthermore, to display nothing but a lecherous disposition while lacking any real ability would merely invite ridicule.

In any case, Ajman indulged in his amorous pursuits within the bounds acceptable to a man of power, and, as things stood, had not caused any disruption whatsoever.