Tytania:Volume 3 Chapter 5
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Chapter 5 – Early Spring, a Season of Intrigue[edit]
I[edit]
From February to March SY 447, Uraniborg, the stronghold of the Tytania Clan, became the epicentre of rumours that lacked all restraint. Ariabert’s resignation sent ripples far and wide; as time passed from the initial report, mid-level officers drifted through the flood of gossip amongst themselves, and soldiers did the same amongst their own ranks.
“It felt as though the mere fact that Lord Ariabert had resigned his post as Commander-in-Chief of the Expeditionary Force caused all the accumulated rot the Tytania had gathered over centuries to erupt at once. In other words, the Pax Tytaniana had already reached a breaking point, and Lord Ariabert’s resignation was the final straw that broke the camel’s back.”
That was a retrospective judgement, but for the time being, countless mouths and ears within Uraniborg were in extremely active motion.
“If Lord Ariabert intends to refuse even attendance at the Council of the Five Families, then there is no point in him holding the title of duke in the first place. Should he not first relinquish his dukedom?”
“That may be so, but if he does, a new issue regarding the succession of a ducal house will arise. Lord Ariabert is unmarried and has no children.”
“Lord Ariabert should be summoned from Bargash so that His Clanner Highness may conduct the inquiry personally. Of course, interstellar flight will be impossible until his injuries have fully healed.”
“Even so, unless a successor commander is decided upon, millions of soldiers and officers will be left abandoned on the frontier.”
“In the first place, now that it has come to this, what purpose is there in maintaining an expeditionary force of three million stationed in Bargash? Would it not be better to withdraw?”
“But the people of Bargash would be the ones clapping their hands in joy. They might well spread propaganda claiming they forced Tytania to retreat…”
And so, in the end, the eyes of everyone, both inside and outside Uraniborg, converged upon a single point. Lowering their voices even further, and wary of the ears of third parties, people posed the question only to those they trusted most intimately.
“What, in truth, is His Clanner Highness himself thinking?”
Clanner Ajman maintained an official silence and through that wordlessness, cast a sense of oppression over all of Uraniborg. People gazed upon the Clanner’s heavy silence through the lenses of their own intuition, reason, and self-interest, enduring a chilling dread.
To an outsider, Tytania appeared to be a solid crystal centred around the Clanner, yet it was also a human collective. Even within political parties or religious organisations, which were supposedly brainwashed by a single ideology or dogma, internal conflicts and struggles arose. These were, perhaps, only as mild as the gossip amongst lower-ranking members.
“Even so, tragedies have been following one after another since around last year. Duke Zarlisch met a violent death, and now Duke Ariabert has resigned due to his injuries.”
“Who will it be this time?”
Some spoke those words instinctively, only to hurriedly cover their mouths. Of the four dukes, only Jouslain and Idris could be considered unscathed. Unlike Zarlisch and Ariabert, they had been stationed relatively within domestic affairs or rear-guard departments rather than on the front lines and thus had few opportunities to sustain injuries.
Between the two of them, Idris maintained a close relationship with Countess Theodora Tytania. Although Idris felt no affection for her, he was unable to sever their ties, driven by both a fear of her approaching the Clanner and his own physical desires.
Idris turned twenty-five that year. He possessed an intense drive to surpass the other dukes, yet he felt no sense of temporal urgency. It would be fine if he secured the Clanner’s throne in the next twenty years. Until now, that is. However, he realised that by that time, different competitors would emerge. The Clanner’s biological children, who were currently young, would have reached adulthood by then.
It was Theodora who had suggested this to him in his bedroom. Having discovered the reasons why Idris could not leave Uraniborg, she had made the following proposal:
“Then there is only one conclusion. His Clanner Highness must decide to dispatch Lord Jouslain to Bargash as the acting commander.”
Theodora’s gaze spoke of her confusion as to why he was hesitating. Naturally, Idris took offence. Theodora was critiquing his lack of decisiveness, but Idris had long since reached the same conclusion herself. He knew that Ariabert and Jouslain must not be allowed to form an alliance. Idris rebuked her, wondering how she could fail to grasp something so simple, yet her reaction remained calm.
“Wouldn’t this be fine?”
“What…?”
“It matters not what Lord Ariabert and Lord Jouslain might plot in some far-flung corner of the galaxy, far from Uraniborg. To my mind, Lord Idris, your concerns are unnecessary—or rather, they are mere groundless fears.”
Idris was left speechless. He had feared the alliance between Jouslain and Ariabert might become manifest, yet Theodora had dismissed the matter with a light laugh. As Idris cast a suspicious gaze upon her, wondering whether she was being bold or merely foolish, Theodora smiled at him with complete composure.
“Lord Idris, even if Lord Ariabert and Lord Jouslain were to engage in some unsettling conspiracy, His Clanner Highness and you are both here at Uraniborg. Whether it be a conspiracy or an act of treason, why not simply brush it aside and be done with it?”
“Treason…? What on earth are you thinking?”
Idris’ voice deepened. This time, Theodora did not reply immediately. She merely etched a crescent-shaped smile upon her lips, gazed at her lover’s face, and twirled the stem of her brandy glass between her fingers.
Idris felt a trace of cold sweat on his forehead and under his arms. He understood. He had understood all along. And he had simply hesitated to speak it aloud. This woman was suggesting precisely this to him: send Jouslain to planet Bargash to meet with Ariabert. Once they had met, that meeting would serve as proof of a conspiracy against the Clanner, providing the means to bring them both down.
In this instance, facts held no meaning. What mattered were perception and interpretation. Meaning existed first, and facts were merely the means by which that meaning was given form.
“Ariabert and Jouslain met on Bargash. Their purpose was to launch a rebellion against Your Clanner Highness.”
Idris’ thoughts were defensive in nature. If Ariabert and Jouslain were to form an alliance to bring him down, his own strength alone would be insufficient to resist them. He could only resort to invoking the authority of the Clanner, yet he doubted the Clanner would stand by him to face Ariabert and Jouslain. Would it not be Idris himself who was at risk of being abandoned? If that were the case, then to bring the Clanner to his side, he had no choice but to prevent the alliance between Ariabert and Jouslain.
Idris’ thoughts were on the verge of turning into a maze of contradictions. Observing this, Theodora spoke with a thin, sharp smile:
“To allow Lord Jouslain to depart for Bargash while ensuring Lord Idris does not turn against you. There is but a single way.”
“And that is…?”
“How about we keep that little girl as a hostage in Uraniborg? I believe she is called Lydia, that princess from that impoverished nation.”
She was a woman of many little wits. Idris felt a sense of admiration, mingled with displeasure. He poured water from the ewer on the night-stand into a glass.
“That little girl, Lydia, is Jouslain’s pride and joy. There is no way Jouslain would agree to leave her behind as a hostage.”
“Precisely. That is the true purpose.”
Theodora brought a brandy snifter to her lips. A light that could only be described as cunning flickered in her eyes.
“To refuse to leave a hostage behind. Is that not in itself evidence of treasonous intent?”
“…”
“If he has nothing to hide, he will leave a hostage. To refuse would be proof of divided loyalties. Even if this logic is somewhat forceful, it should not be incorrect.”
“What manner of woman are you?…”
Idris could not suppress his tremors. Was he truly as lacking in the qualities of a conspirator as he believed himself to be? Doctor Lee might have remarked, “At the end of the day, he is merely a pampered boy from a good family.” However, what set him apart from his cousin Balamy was that he was bound by the traditional authority of Tytania more than by his own temperament. The notion of rebellion against the Clanner had never even appeared on his intellectual horizon.
“What guarantee is there that you will not betray me?”
Idris finally found a foothold for his counterattack when Theodora repeatedly urged him to accept her proposal.
“Rather, what guarantee is there that you have not come to test the loyalty of all the dukes, including myself, as an emissary of His Clanner Highness? For the record, there has not been a single second where I have truly believed in you.”
Idris used a tone that was pointedly threatening, yet Theodora showed no sign of being shaken, merely toying with her brandy glass in her hand.
“Duke Idris, you truly are a son of a noble house. You simply voice the very patterns of suspicion that cross your mind. And you tell them directly to the person involved.”
Theodora held the complete psychological advantage. Idris was being overwhelmed. He knew he was being overwhelmed. Furthermore, he was forced to recognise that the conspiracy presented by Theodora possessed an extremely powerful allure.
Layers of realisation besieged Idris, leaving him with an utterly bitter taste in his mouth. Given his usual tolerance, he should have been passed out by now, yet no matter how many cups he drained, no intoxication came. A single thought swirled endlessly through his mind: “At this rate, I shall never become the Clanner.” Theodora ceased her eloquent persuasion, watching with calm detachment as Idris sank deeper into the mire of ambition and calculation.
Would he accept infamy to become a conqueror? Or would he respect this so-called morality, only to emerge as a political loser, the sole object of pity and mockery from third parties? The latter was something Idris simply could not endure. As the burning fire of alcohol seared his stomach and surged into his brain, Idris continued his internal struggle amidst the flames. He was lagging behind Ariabert and Jouslain, particularly the latter. He wondered if it was possible to recover that lost ground through ordinary means.
And there was another problem. One that could not be ignored. Even if Ariabert and Jouslain were driven into the position of rebels, how would they deal with the fate thrust upon them? First, they would likely plead their innocence. If that were not accepted, would they simply stand together and hang themselves? Ridiculous; that was absolutely impossible. Neither Ariabert nor Jouslain were adherents of non-violent pacifism. Running away would only worsen their position and deplete their forces. If so, there would be only one path left for them to take: to resist with armed force. It would descend into civil war.
Should Ariabert and Jouslain resolve to rise in armed rebellion, Idris would, naturally, have to lead the campaign to suppress them. He did not fear this. Idris believed that he possessed both the courage and the military brilliance required. However, if he considered the matter dispassionately, what were his actual chances of victory?
Ariabert would command the combat forces, while Jouslain would use his political prowess to forge alliances with other factions and secure the rear. Should these two great leaders rise hand in hand, there would undoubtedly be those who rushed to their side to join their cause. Both within Tytania and beyond. But was it truly possible for Idris alone to withstand the fervent wave of rebellion that was surging throughout the entire universe?
“Fan Hyulick…”
The moment he uttered that name, the horizons of Idris’ thoughts and options expanded all at once. Fan Hyulick. The public enemy of Tytania, who had driven the brothers Zarlisch and Arses to their deaths. An exiled political prisoner. A terrorist with no place in the universe. And the man who had twice defeated the renowned commander, Duke Ariabert Tytania!
Regarding other matters, Fan Hyulick was nothing more than rubbish, but the final point was truly captivating to Idris. Once the restraints on his thoughts burst, Idris’ brain cells spun with a hint of recklessness, painting visions of the future in the air. He envisioned a plan to summon Fan Hyulick, pardon his crimes, and set him against Ariabert as a mercenary captain.
At least within his fantasies, Idris was not a miser. If that were to come to pass, he intended to grant a mere exile more than enough reward. A county, the title of fleet admiral of the Vardana Empire, an annual salary of five million dakar, and the hand of a daughter of Tytanian nobility. He could provide at least that much. If Fan Hyulick could suppress the “rebellion” of Ariabert and Jouslain, such a price would be a cheap one.
Once the rotation had begun, the increase in output was exponential. He had transgressed the greatest taboo[1] within Tytania: that the Clanner was sacred and inviolable. And as he descended the slope, his schemes had become an end in themselves.
His thoughts turned this time toward his younger brother, Baron Radmoth.
Radmoth was useful. He was shallow-minded and brutish, but that was precisely why he was useful. He possessed utility. Everyone knew of Radmoth’s brutality. In other words, should anything happen, would it not be possible to shift the blame onto him?
Radmoth was Idris’ younger brother. Although his resentment had grown, he had never harboured active hatred or malice towards his brother. Despite clicking his tongue in frustration, he had always intended to support him. However, the younger brother had shown no sign of meeting his elder brother’s expectations. Perhaps the time had finally come to abandon him…
Idris did not notice that Theodora had left the bedside.
II[edit]
It is said that “conspiracy is the pastime of nobles”. Alternatively, it was described as “the weapon of the weak”. A person who embodied both propositions stood here. That person was His Imperial Majesty Harsha VI, Emperor of the Vardana Empire.
Even before his accession, Harsha VI had been under psychological pressure from Tytania. His late father, Harsha V, had made a very mild compromise with Tytania’s dominance, bequeathing a history of little consequence on both his own life and his nation. While he was not revered by the people, he was well-loved, and even more than ten years after his death, flowers were still laid upon his grave by the populace.
His son, Harsha VI, had not learnt from his father’s way of life. He believed that his father had flattered the treacherous Tytania Clan and had forgotten his honour as an emperor.
“The Tytania Clan was originally nothing more than subjects of the Vardana Empire. One day, I shall make those treacherous ministers learn their lesson, for they neglect their sovereign to play with hollow power.”
Harsha VI could not resign himself to being a powerless bystander. To accept his current circumstances was, to him, nothing less than defeat and humiliation. As far as he was concerned, power was “my house’s property, unjustly plundered by Tytania.”
Historically, for a sovereign disregarded by treacherous ministers, power was something to be reclaimed by one’s own hands; how that power might be utilised once obtained was hardly ever an issue. He never once imagined that, even if he were to reclaim it, such an act might instead bring about social chaos and ruin, ultimately bringing misery to the people.
Many disliked the rule of Tytania, yet none wished for the Vardana Empire to recover its former glory. Except perhaps Harsha VI. This was the fundamental flaw of those who claimed “legitimate kingship”: they failed to realise this. They deluded themselves into believing that what was merely a small measure of justice for their own cause was a universal justice for the entire universe, and they branded anyone who disagreed with them as disloyal subjects.
As for the recent resignation of Duke Ariabert Tytania, it brought no great joy to Harsha VI.
“At the very least, if Lord Idris is dispatched to Bargash as Lord Ariabert’s successor, he will be gone from the court. It is hardly a cause for celebration.”
When Empress Aisha expressed such an opinion, Harsha VI only directed a sombre gaze towards her.
“But even if we Idris leaves for distant Bargash, what happens if his successor turns out to be even worse than him?”
“Like Radmoth, for instance,” groaned Harsha VI. Idris’ younger brother, Radmoth, was eighteen years old this year, and even as a member of the main Tytania Clan line, the position of Minister of Military Affairs would undoubtedly be too heavy a burden for his shoulders. The conversation between the Emperor and Empress had been based on the rumour that Idris, currently holding the seat of Minister of Military Affairs of the Vardana Empire, would succeed Ariabert, but it was later revealed that this was not the case.
If Idris were to fail miserably on the battlefield, Harsha VI’s joy would be the greatest of his life. Furthermore, if the Tytania were to perish, his life would surely end in bliss.
However, his modest hopes were crushed within a few days. Another rumour arrived, which claimed that far from remaining at Uraniborg, Idris had become a leading candidate for the next Clanner.
Harsha VI’s optimism deflated like a cheap balloon. Should the day ever come when Idris becomes the Clanner of Tytania, peace would never again visit Harsha VI’s mind. “Someone, please help me. Save me from this purgatory,” he yearned, but in essence, he simply wished for someone to serve him. Empress Aisha, worried by her husband’s fragility, attempted to shut out the flood of irresponsible rumours flowing into the court; however, Harsha VI himself would not allow it, leaving the rumours to fly freely both inside and outside the palace.
In this manner, Ariabert’s resignation stirred great waves both inside and outside the stagnant Uraniborg, provoking countless mental activities ranging from conspiracies, calculations, speculations, and anxieties to philosophical self-questioning and historical contemplation. As a result, people had inadvertently forgotten that there was one individual who carried within her heavy demands and immense dissatisfaction.
It was on the 14th of February that this person reappeared, with such force as if she might well kick down the door to Jouslain’s office, scattering shards of metallic fury throughout the room.
“What has become of my succession to the dukedom? I am Zarlisch’s mother. I do not remember ever being treated with such neglect!”
It was Jouslain who was truly the one being inconvenienced; it was not as if he were personally obstructing the demands of the Duchess Theresa Tytania. She should, instead, be lodging her protest with Clanner Ajman. Jouslain could not understand why she placed her expectations upon him, but a sudden thought occurred to him. Perhaps, while setting aside her unrestrained agitation, Theresa was actually coming to probe his true intentions?
Since he could not simply drive her away, Jouslain welcomed the Duchess into the drawing room and attended to her, sacrificing his precious time to do so.
“And so, Duchess, once you have secured your seat at the Council of the Five Families, what sort of political policy do you intend to demonstrate?”
“That is already decided. We shall capture that rogue in exile, a certain Fan I believe, and see him face the judgement of justice for the crime of shedding the noble blood of Tytania.”
“I see. And after that?”
It was a valid, yet spiteful, question. It was common knowledge to everyone, not just Jouslain, that Lady Theresa lacked imagination.
However, at the same time, her desire to exercise power had never been particularly intense; she should have been content with her luxurious private life, the reverence of others, and, in particular, her high expectations for the future of her second son, Arses. Though she had descended into madness upon the loss of her two sons and had never ceased to revile everyone around her, Jouslain had long found the idea that she had suddenly awakened to an ambition for power to be psychologically implausible.
Lady Theresa cried out.
“The rest can wait!”
Jouslain let out a sigh deep within his chest. His suspicions from recent days had been transformed into certainty. Someone had incited Lady Theresa.
Did they intend to send Lady Theresa to the Council of the Five Families to manipulate her as a puppet? Or was the purpose simply to throw the Council into chaos? In either case, there was someone attempting to use Lady Theresa for their own selfish ends. Jouslain felt it necessary to discover who that person was.
“Lady Theresa, I ask that you tell me: who is it that seeks to whisper sweet words in your ear and manipulate you?” is not what Jouslain said.
Asking such a blunt question would have achieved nothing more than effectively bolting Lady Theresa’s lips shut.
Instead, Jouslain guided Lady Theresa with great subtlety. He brought up the name of the late Arses. He mused that because Arses had been a devoted son, he must have been worried about his mother. If his mother were to become one of the Four Dukes, his soul might find peace, but he wondered if there was anyone who could assist Lady Theresa in place of Arses.
When asked, Theresa offered the name of Countess Theodora. Having exhausted every polite pleasantry and used all his skill to soothe her, Jouslain finally saw Lady Theresa on her way out. He wiped the sweat from his brow with his fingertips and muttered to himself:
“Theodora?! In a mere fifty or sixty days, she certainly stirred things up. The stagnant water is now a swirling vortex.”
Jouslain returned to his desk in his office and picked up his pen. His mind began to work feverishly.
“If Tytania is the sort of entity that could be destroyed by a single woman, then perhaps that is all she amounts to. Nevertheless, I cannot simply fold my arms and remain a bystander. Perhaps I should devise countermeasures.”
And so, he composed several personal letters.
III[edit]
On the 17th of March, Jouslain, after much self-reflection, had finished laying out the initial measures to prepare for the impending situation.
Once he had confirmed that his measures had been carried out without being known to others, he was finally able to catch his breath and enjoy tea with Princess Lydia, who too had found relief from her tutor.
“What are your thoughts on your own country, Princess?”
“It is poor and lacks grandeur, but I think it is a good country.”
“I see. Tytania is quite the opposite. It is wealthy, prosperous, and powerful, but it is not a good country.”
Princess Lydia looked up at her guardian, her fork still piercing a strawberry tart.
“Then does that mean you are not a good person either, Lord Jouslain?”
“Indeed, I am not a good person, Princess.”
“I dislike that kind of thinking. I think it is quite unhealthy. I make it a point to believe that I am the best girl in the entire universe. A pity that my country is poor,” added the Princess, as she finished the strawberry tart and took a sip of honey tea. “If Lord Idris were to become the Clanner, I wonder if he might lend our country some money.”
Jouslain found himself smiling at the look of grave seriousness that had crossed Princess Lydia’s face.
“Shall we try asking Lord Idris, Princess?”
“This is no laughing matter. Even a small sum to Tytania is a fortune to the Kingdom of Elbing. ‘If only we had the funds,’ was my grandfather the King’s constant refrain.”
It was true that the Kingdom of Elbing was a poor and stagnant nation. The state treasury was at the mercy of the whims of Tytania, or more accurately, the whims of Jouslain himself. Jouslain could not help but think that power was indeed the ability to command the destinies of others.
To be a part of Tytania and to remain a part of Tytania. Jouslain contemplated his own state, acutely aware of the weight of that existence as a shackle from which he had yet to break free. In the first place, was departure even possible? Having resigned from his position as Commander-in-Chief, was Ariabert attempting to leave?
“I wish I could speak with Ariabert,” thought Jouslain from his very heart. Until just over a year ago, around the end of the year before last, he had not held Ariabert in particularly high regard. However, as Tytania shifted from a state of unshakeable peace towards confusion and stagnation, Jouslain’s estimation of Ariabert had been steadily rising.
Of course, by the standards of traditional Tytanian values, Ariabert was a defeated remnant who had abandoned his post after losing to the enemy. Yet, one had to wonder just how much meaning those Tytanian values truly held. By freeing oneself from them and distancing oneself from that palace built on thin ice, would the world truly unfold before Jouslain with greater brilliance?
“I wonder if Bal is doing well. Did my last letter reach him?”
Princess Lydia gazed at the empty cake plate with a certain sense of lingering regret.
Balamy must have felt a deep sense of frustration at being unable to be present at Uraniborg during this critical time. However, there was absolutely no need for him to be impatient. On the contrary, it would be better for him to keep his distance from this quagmire of chaos and corruption, and to exercise restraint as he prepared for the future. While thinking this, Jouslain also couldn’t help but feel that, if Balamy had been at Uraniborg right now, he could have entrusted Princess Lydia to his care.
One thing was certain. When this palace of vanity will finally break through the thin ice and sink, Princess Lydia must not be taken down with it. For this spirited and intelligent young girl was the one who deserved to claim a brilliant, unchained world as her own.
Even so, Tytania is gradually becoming nothing more than a den of monsters, Jouslain thought to himself.
For instance, was it conceivable that the Clanner himself might devise a plan to assassinate the dukes? As for his motive, it would be to ensure his still-young son inherits the Clanner’s throne. Ajman’s eldest son would reach the age to succeed him in twenty years, at which point Ajman himself would only be in his sixties, not yet declining from old age. It was only human nature to think that if one were to abdicate the supreme seat, it should go to one’s own flesh and blood. Yet, the question remained whether Ajman possessed such human sentiment.
Above all, Tytania existed within a massive inertia that stretched back into the past. By operating the organisation “as it always had” and “in accordance with precedent,” it had maintained its prosperity and power without significant incident. Ajman himself had not engaged in any particularly original actions since ascending to the position of Clanner. His resolute capacity for execution, his acerbic political manoeuvring, his fairness towards the subordinates, his diplomacy that balanced carrot and stick[2], and his equidistant stance toward the four dukes—all of these served to uphold the traditions of Tytania’s lineage.
Had time passed without further incident, Ajman would have eventually retired, and the supreme seat would have been abdicated to one of the four dukes. Or at least, that was how it should have been, but…
“Ah,” Princess Lydia exclaimed, leaning her face towards the transparent wall facing the corridor. Beyond that wall lay a vast atrium[3] where Jouslain could see a single noblewoman passing along the beltway, accompanied by a lady-in-waiting. With his own eyes, he confirmed it was Countess Theodora Tytania.
Princess Lydia tilted her head slightly.
“That woman, no, that Lady…”
“Is something the matter with Countess Theodora, Princess?”
“I have seen that lady with a man before.”
At that time, Countess Theodora had been standing in a corner of the corridor, appearing quite wary of the gaze of others, exchanging low-voiced conversation with a man. As for that man…
“The most unpleasant person in all of Uraniborg.”
Princess Lydia effortlessly overturned Jouslain’s momentary assumption that it might be Lord Idris.
“It’s that big, unpleasant fellow. The one who fought with Bal. Errr…”
“Radmoth!?”
“Yes, Radmoth. The two of them were standing side by side, engaged in some conversation. I wasn’t eavesdropping, mind you. I simply happened to see them.”
Jouslain’s shock bypassed the middle ground of bewilderment and transformed directly into utter confusion. Even if Theodora was elegantly running wild in her efforts to gain allies, Radmoth was an unexpected name.
Regardless of what the future might hold, Radmoth possessed no political influence at present. He was immature, boorish, and thoughtless—in short, nothing more than a typical example of a spoiled child of the privileged class. What possible benefit could Theodora gain by making such a young man her ally? Furthermore, the fact that Princess Lydia had seen them together sat ill with Jouslain. Had they not displayed themselves intentionally? Had it been a truly important conversation, they would have conducted it in a bedroom or a drawing room, somewhere absolutely hidden from the eyes of others.
Suddenly, Jouslain felt a sense of loathing for Uraniborg itself. This was a wretched place. The anti-Tytania faction was not at all wrong to liken this to the Demon King’s fortress. And Jouslain himself was a kin of that very Demon King.
“Princess, shall we leave Uraniborg and go somewhere else?”
When Jouslain spoke, Princess Lydia nodded deeply.
“That would be nice. But where exactly would we be going?”
“Well, for the time being, how about somewhere like Bargash?”
“Is it an interesting place?”
“It might become interesting.”
Jouslain thought that it might even be an opportunity to take over the role of Commander-in-Chief of the Expeditionary Force in place of Ariabert. Regardless, he simply wanted to leave Uraniborg and breathe some fresh, pure air.
However, leaving Uraniborg would not bring an end to everything. In recommending Jouslain as Ariabert’s successor, Idris’ true intentions could not have been entirely transparent. He had made such a proposal precisely because there were circumstances that would work to his advantage. He wondered what kind of monster lurked behind that surface, breathing out its poisonous breath.
“Idris did not propose summoning Ariabert back to Uraniborg. Why was that? Was it because Ariabert’s return would mess with his schemes?”
Zarlisch was already dead, and Ariabert was recovering in the frontier. Thus, if Jouslain were to leave Uraniborg now, only Idris would remain by the Clanner’s side. He wondered if that was his intention, yet surely the Clanner was not a man to be manipulated by someone like Idris. Even if Jouslain were to alert the Clanner to this point, he would likely only be met with derisive laughter.
“As long as the Clanner remains well. But what if something were to happen to him…?”
A cold chill swept through Jouslain’s inner universe like a gust of wind. He had arrived at the worst possible conclusion.
Was it not possible that Idris intended to drive all his rivals from Uraniborg, assassinate Clanner Ajman, and ascend to the supreme position himself? Radmoth would be the one to carry out the assassination. And then Radmoth would then be killed on the spot without trial or even an inquiry, and the truth would be buried in darkness. Finally, Idris and Theodora would share power over Tytania. It was a plausible scheme. But…
“But would Idris really go that far? First, even if Idris were to harm the Clanner and usurp the throne, who would follow him?”
While Idris received appropriate respect as one of the four dukes, he lacked personal popularity. Furthermore, if he were to commit an act as heinous as regicide or usurpation, who would follow him? Moreover, if Ariabert and Jouslain were alive at that time, the people’s support would gather around them instead. If that were the case, then wherein lay Idris’ true intentions…? Jouslain fell into deep thought, failing to notice Princess Lydia’s gaze and leaving his tart untouched.
IV[edit]
Thus, on the 19th of March, during the meeting of the Council of the Five Families, the two Dukes of Tytania, Jouslain and Idris, arrived at their final confrontation. With Zarlisch and Ariabert’s seats vacant, and the remaining two in discord. The ranks of the four Tytanian dukes stood in a state of undeniable desolation compared to a year prior.
On this day, a decision had to be made regarding the appointment of the new Commander-in-Chief of the Bargash Expeditionary Force to replace Ariabert. It was a matter of great importance, yet the decision took no more than five minutes. This was due to Clanner Ajman seeking Jouslain’s opinion and Jouslain providing him with answers.
The matter should have been settled then, but Idris made an unexpected proposal. He suggested that, for Jouslain to serve as Commander-in-Chief, his protégée Princess Lydia of the Kingdom of Elbing should be left as a hostage to serve as proof that he had no divided loyalty toward His Clanner Highness.
What on earth was Idris thinking?
At that moment, Jouslain failed to grasp his cousin’s true intention. Princess Lydia as a hostage? Did this man seriously doubt Jouslain’s loyalty? Or was this merely an attempt at harassment? But even if it were harassment, what purpose would it serve? What meaning could there be in such an act, especially when it risked incurring Jouslain’s resentment?
Danger breathed a cold breath against the nape of Jouslain’s neck. He realised that a single careless response could prove fatal. Masking his expression, he bowed to the Clanner.
“I am a loyal subject of Tytania. Should Your Clanner Highness issue an order, I shall merely obey your will.”
While uttering words of praise, Jouslain bit into the bitter taste of regret. A man who was not omniscient could not foresee such things. However, if Princess Lydia’s name was to be brought up in a place and at such a moment, he should have simply abided by Clanner Ajman’s ruling at the end of last year. The Clanner had recommended that Princess Lydia be returned to her homeland, as she was the cause of the dispute between Viscount Balamy and Baron Radmoth. Taking advantage of the fact that it had not been a strict command, Jouslain had refused the recommendation and kept Princess Lydia by his side, waiting for the situation to blow over.
The Clanner spoke. His tone was one that no one else could possibly imitate.
“Lord Jouslain’s sincerity is known to all. To demand a hostage of him is a narrow-minded act that would only serve to damage our mutual trust.”
Watching the blood rush to Idris’ cheeks, the Clanner continued:
“Furthermore, if Lord Jouslain harboured any treasonous intentions, he would abandon even parents or children if they were hostages to raise an army. In any case, hostages and oaths are utterly futile.”
It was an incredibly biting remark. While the colour did not return to Idris’ cheeks, his eyes flashed with a fierce light. Out of the corner of his eye, Jouslain quickly expressed his gratitude for the Clanner’s trust and magnanimity.
It was at this moment that Jouslain made his decision. He would use this situation to lead Princess Lydia away from this dark nest of conspiracy. If the Princess were to remain in this space city, there was no telling what treatment she might endure at the hands of Idris.
The Clanner appeared to delight in the hostility and resentment brewing between Jouslain and Idris. Was he contemplating which one of them he would discard? Or was he perhaps wishing for them both to fall? A sensation akin to a toothache throbbed within Jouslain’s mental field.
Unlike Neville, the founder of Tytania, Ajman lacked the habit of roaring with a face full of fury. Being glared at by him made Jouslain feel as though he were undergoing a prosecutor’s interrogation rather than facing the wrath of a despot. It had been that way since his boyhood. While it was true that this had forged Jouslain into a high noble of Tytania, it was only natural that he felt weary at the thought of such a situation persisting for another ten or twenty years.
It might be time for a change. If Ariabert’s easy surrender of military authority was to bring about a fluctuation in the status quo, then Jouslain decided he would ride that wave. Jouslain reached his conclusion. While the manifestation of his resolve might have seemed sudden, he, too, had been longing for a catalyst.
On the 20th of March, Duke Jouslain Tytania formally received his official appointment from Clanner Ajman and was set to succeed Ariabert as the Commander-in-Chief of the Bargash Expeditionary Force. The departure from Uraniborg was scheduled for the 27th of the same month. No one could have predicted with certainty what would unfold within that single week.
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