The Champion's Return

by Hyougetsu

  “I imagine you would have liked to meet with Cardinal Traja, but...” Cardinal Kushmer gave us an elegant smile and continued, “He unfortunately cannot leave the Wiron Library, so I am here in his place.”

  Eleora nodded and replied, “Lady Kushmer, as you are the cardinal in charge of the imperial family, this information concerns you as well. We would be glad to have your counsel.”

  Zanawah and I watched as the two women conversed. It was best to let the people in charge hash things out. Eleora explained to Cardinal Kushmer that Lord Bolshevik had likely snuck a large number of troops into the capital disguised as pilgrims. The cardinal didn’t panic when she heard the information; she just nodded slowly.

  “He is quite a handful, that Lord Bolshevik. To think he would attempt an all-out rebellion right after we decided to try and deescalate tensions.”

  Eleora sighed despondently and replied, “He’s not satisfied with the status quo. Be careful, Lady Kushmer. As far as he’s concerned, you and the other cardinals are his sworn enemy.”

  “I will be sure to take precautions.” Cardinal Kushmer replied with a smile.

  Do all the cardinals have balls of steel or something? I guess they’d have to, considering they were able to drink that crazy bitter juice.

  The cardinal took a sip of hot water and said quietly, “Oh yes, there’s something I need to inform you of. Lord Bolshevik and Princess Dillier’s wedding has been postponed.”

  So she’s the one Eleora asked to delay the wedding.

  “We decided it would be prudent to move the date back, as all the nobles are currently busy overseeing their territories. When we told as much to Lord Bolshevik, he agreed without complaint.”

  I’d been planning to just remain an observer, but upon hearing that I leaned forward and asked, “Hang on, without complaint?”

  “Yes. We made a few other requests as well, and he consented readily to all of them... I must admit, it was a bit of a surprise.”

  It seemed Cardinal Kushmer had also thought Lord Bolshevik would want to get married as fast as possible. I’d figured he would make his move during the wedding ceremony itself, so I was pretty surprised too.

  “That’s strange... The longer he keeps his troops hidden here, the more likely it is they’ll be discovered. Not only that, but there’ll be problems with supply and morale if he waits too long. His actions keep contradicting each other,” Eleora muttered, lost in thought.

  I nodded and replied, “I agree. At the very least, this means the troops he’s brought in aren’t for the wedding ceremony itself.”

  There were a ton of possible plans he might have had for his army, but this crossed off at least a few. Eleora turned to me and said, “The essence of strategy is deceiving your opponent. Whoever does a better job of manipulating information and gets their opponent to make a mistake wins.”

  As the famous Sun Tzu once said, “All warfare is deception.”

  Eleora added, “But when your opponent knows you’re a veteran of warfare and knows every move they’re making, they can use that knowledge against you. I’m talking about you here, lord of Crimson Snow Keep.”

  “Me!?”

  “Obviously. Not only are you the strongest general in Rolmund, but you’re the one with the most expansive intelligence network.”

  “You say that, but you know everyone thinks you’re the one responsible for all those victories, right?”

  “Perhaps so, but I am simply borrowing your strength. Regardless, the point is Lord Bolshevik knows most of his plans have been leaked to us in some form or another. At least some of his plans hinge on us knowing others.”

  I pondered Eleora’s words. Does that mean he wants to distract us by making us pay too much attention to the date of the wedding?

  “I see. So he wants us to think he won’t act until the wedding, but in truth, his plans don’t depend on the ceremony at all?”

  “Exactly. After all, no matter what plots he comes up with, his soldiers’ morale will still drop the more time passes. Moreover, he can’t keep them supplied forever. If he’s already had them infiltrate the capital, that means the clock’s ticking. Logistics dictate that he act soon.”

  Cardinal Kushmer chuckled as she watched me and Eleora talk. “You claimed to only be strategic allies, but the two of you are quite close, aren’t you?”

  Dammit, I let my guard down. I totally forgot to call Eleora by her title. As far as everyone in Rolmund was concerned, I was Eleora’s vassal. Cardinal Kushmer had been so unassuming that I’d totally forgotten she was here, too. I awkwardly cleared my throat and tried to come up with a plausible excuse.

  “Oh, I just got so engrossed in our discussion that I forgot my place.”

  “Is that really what’s going on here?” Cardinal Kushmer asked with a knowing smile. Uhh, I hope you don’t think we’re secretly lovers or something. However, the cardinal didn’t press the issue and instead turned to Eleora.

  “I’ve already heard about Lord Veight’s true identity from Traja. It seems you had quite the unique experience in Meraldia.”

  Eleora looked surprised for a second, but then she smiled wryly and said, “Indeed. But it was a good experience.”

  Cardinal Kushmer scrutinized her expression. After a few seconds, the cardinal nodded.

  “Have you heard the saying, ‘The hottest summers produce the sweetest grapes?’ It seems your talents ripened in the scorching heat of Meraldia. Having spoken with you, I now see that you have the qualities of a true leader. Know that I, Kushmer, will do my utmost to support you in all your endeavors, Princess Eleora.” Kushmer’s smile returned and she added, “Us members of the ceremonial rites bureau are the ones responsible for negotiating with the imperial family. As the Keeper of Rites, I am privy to all of Emperor Ashley’s movements. If anything happens to him, I shall let you know. It is my duty to keep the imperial family safe.”

  “Thank you. I’m in your debt. If Ashley’s ever in danger, I’ll rush to his aid.”

  Prince Ashley was the last remaining male member of the imperial line, so his safety was of utmost importance.

  “Good. I shall endeavor to make sure our current crisis is resolved quietly. Now if you’ll excuse me...”

  Cardinal Kushmer got to her feet, then gave me and Eleora an amused look. She chuckled and said, “The Sonnenlicht Order is primarily concerned with ensuring bountiful harvests. There’s nothing in our tenets about whom the imperial family can and cannot marry.”

  No really, we’re not like that. I didn’t know how to respond though, and it was all I could do to keep a straight face. Eleora, on the other hand, replied coolly, “He already has a fiancée back in Meraldia.”

  “My, is that so? What a shame. I was hoping your marriage would help strengthen ties between Rolmund and Meraldia...” Cardinal Kushmer gave Eleora one last look. “Do you have the resolve necessary to become an usurper?”

  Well, that was a sudden change of topic. She’s talking about stealing the throne, right? Eleora smiled calmly.

  “If I cannot keep the ring off her finger, then the only way to prevent further chaos will be to take the crown.”

  Yep, they’re talking about stealing the throne.

  “Very well. I do not believe the situation is yet that dire, but if that changes, know that I will provide you my full support.”

  The Sonnenlicht Order probably wanted to keep Ashley alive to avoid the chaos that would result from the last male heir of the Schwerin family dying. But not if it meant allowing a heretic religion to spread its influence over the entire empire. That was why if it came down to it, they’d back Eleora. At least, that was what I got out of their conversation.

  After Cardinal Kushmer and Bishop Zanawah left, I glanced out the window. The north star seemed to be shining brighter than usual in the night sky. It felt like an omen, a sign that the key players would soon make their move.

  I still had a mountain-load of things I needed to do, but summer was fast approaching, a
nd I had a promise to Airia that I needed to keep.

  * * * *

  —Princess Dillier’s Desire—

  My younger brother—the new emperor—and I were in the midst of a fruitless conversation.

  “Lord Shallier even agreed to postpone the wedding date. Surely my proposal is worth considering,” I said quietly.

  “No matter how much I consider it, my decision won’t change.”

  Ashley’s expression grew grim and he rubbed his forehead wearily. He’d inherited that tic from our father. Of course, I knew he’d never approve of my request. There was no way he’d allow Shallier to become regent. My brother was already an adult, and he’d had his coronation ceremony. He didn’t need a regent. But even knowing all that, I still had to at least make my case.

  “Right now you’ve lost your retainers’ trust. Lord Shallier is the most influential man in North Rolmund now. I’m sure he’d be able to help.”

  As expected, Ashley shook his head.

  “Things aren’t that simple, sister.”

  Yes, I know. I might be a novice when it came to politics, but I at least knew what everyone in the palace had to say about Shallier.

  “A coward and a traitor.” “The wily fox of North Rolmund.” “An irksome buffoon.” “A shameless opportunist.”

  When I’d told as much to Shallier, he’d said “They are technically all correct,” with a smile, but there’d been a cold look in his eyes. It had been exactly like the look uncle used to give his political opponents. It was a look that said “you’re not even worth my time.” Really, you have to wonder who the real shameless opportunists are here. It had been Eleora, someone who had absolutely no stake in that civil war, who’d put down the Doneiks rebellion. Her and that mysterious foreigner general, Lord Veight. All the nobles who claimed to support Ashley hadn’t even lifted a finger to help him. Are your swords just for show, you cowards? The men of the Doneiks family had all been wise, principled leaders. They, like Ashley and our late father, had disliked conflict and tried to lead Rolmund to prosperity. In fact, there shouldn’t ever have been a civil war in the first place, but somehow things ended up this way. And in the end, the rebellion didn’t even change anything. This stagnant, dismal empire remained the same as always... No, if anything, now it was in decline.

  “Hey, Ashley.”

  “Yes?”

  “Do you think father was happy?”

  Ashley heaved a small sigh.

  “That’s a rather abrupt change of topic. I thought we were discussing Lord Bolshevik?”

  “Were we?”

  Our father dedicated his life to protecting the Schwerin dynasty for me and Ashley. I was sure there were other things he’d wanted to achieve during his reign, but thanks to the plot he and our uncle had cooked up, he had to pretend to be a useless emperor. I had no way of knowing how skilled a ruler he really was, but there was no way he was happy with what he’d accomplished during his lifetime. Meanwhile, I’d been forced to remain single so I could be married off for some political alliance or the other. Even though I would have been more than happy to marry a few of my suitors, my father had turned them all down.

  I’d like three...no, four kids if possible. They’d probably be lonely if there were just two of them. I wish I could start a family already. However, whenever I thought about raising children, the story of Cold Micha always came to mind. That hateful fairy tale everyone in Rolmund heard growing up.

  “Father suffered throughout his whole life. Now it’s your turn to suffer, Ashley.”

  “I know, and I’m prepared.”

  “For the sake of the children you might have?”

  “...Yes, I suppose so.”

  I could never accept that reasoning.

  “This empire is nothing more than chains, chains made up of endurance and sacrifice.” I took a small silver chain out of my jewelry box. “Every one of these links represents a past emperor. All of them sacrificed their lives, believing that in doing so they were making the empire a better place for their children. But all they were doing was passing their burden down to their descendants.”

  “That’s the only way this empire can survive...”

  No, I refuse to accept that. I returned the chain to my jewelry box and looked down at my little brother.

  “So you’ve just accepted that your children are going to bear the same burdens as you?”

  “That’s the fate of those born into royalty, sister.”

  “I see. I suppose you’re right, Ashley.”

  I knew he’d never understand my point of view. It was a shame, but I’d expected this. After all, we were both adults now. I stopped speaking to the emperor as his sister, and addressed him instead as Lord Bolshevik’s pawn.

  “But Your Majesty, I believe Lord Shallier will be able to break the empire free from these chains of suffering.”

  “I doubt that very much...”

  “Your doubt is understandable. I don’t expect you to believe me right away, but I think after the wedding ceremony I’ll be able to change your mind.”

  My job was to make sure the nation’s eyes were focused on the wedding ceremony. That was the sole request Shallier had made of me. Which is why I’ll gladly play the role of the jester, if that’s what it takes. I was no good at politics or war, so I had to do at least this much. How will history judge me, I wonder? Will they remember me as a pitiful princess who was manipulated by a crafty nobleman? Or as a selfish and shortsighted fool? Or a vixen who trapped her own brother? Let historians say what they will about me. All that matters is that right now, I’m having the time of my life.

  “Lord Shallier is not the kind of man you think he is,” I said. “If you would just permit an audience, you’d be able to see that for yourself.”

  “This is a very delicate situation we’re in. I cannot be seen meeting him, at least not right now. It’s best for all parties if I keep my distance for the moment.”

  Oh my, when did you learn to be so cautious, little brother? Of course, I’d expected that response. All that was left now was to watch as Shallier destroyed everything, myself included, to achieve his ambitions.

  “Very well. If that is your decision, Your Majesty, I shall not press the issue any further... Good day.”

  Grinning, I brought the conversation to a close. It was almost a new moon. The time of the month when the north star was at its brightest. A holy night. It wouldn’t do if I forgot to offer the night sky my prayers, now would it?

  * * * *

  I was in the middle of cleaning up my room when I heard that Lord Bolshevik’s serfs had risen up in rebellion. I’d been borrowing this room in Eleora’s mansion for a while now, and it had gotten quite cluttered with official reports and letters and the like. I was the kind of person who couldn’t throw away any documents, no matter how unimportant they were, which was why I still had reports on Ryunheit’s drainage system filling my drawers. At any rate, when Borsche came to give his report, I stopped fishing through my filing cabinet and gave him my full attention.

  “You’re absolutely certain this revolt was started by the serfs, Borsche?”

  “Actually, it’s a bit more complicated than that.”

  A frown flitted across Borsche’s lined face. The lands bordering Lord Bolshevik’s belonged to Lord Peiti, one of Eleora’s new supporters. Thanks to his outstanding service during the rebellion, he’d been granted part of the land that used to belong to Lord Doneiks. Though he had received military training like all nobles, his real contributions had been in managing Eleora’s supply lines. Traditionally people doing such mundane jobs weren’t rewarded with land, but Eleora and I had both agreed that people skilled at management should become the new landed nobles from among her supporters.

  The other nobles neighboring Lord Bolshevik were also supporters of Eleora. The entire area was under her sphere of influence. While it was unclear who exactly had spearheaded this revolt and why, we knew for a fact that Peiti’s lands were under attack. />
  “According to the letter Lord Peiti sent us, he’s certain it’s not his own serfs who’ve risen up in revolt.”

  “Then it’s not a revolt, but an invasion by an unidentified force.”

  “More or less.”

  Holy crap, this is serious. Considering the timing, this was probably one of Lord Bolshevik’s schemes. I held an emergency meeting with Eleora, then sent my werewolves out to scout to the north. The report I received from them two days later came as a complete shock.

  “The serfs besieging Peiti’s lands are all from Lord Bolshevik’s territory, but they’re as well-trained as the regular army,” Hamaam said matter-of-factly.

  “Most of the serfs in this country are untrained farmers, but this lot’s different.” Vodd, who’d gone with Hamaam, rubbed his forehead wearily and gave me a bitter smile. “They know how to use their weapons and march in formation. Most importantly, they don’t run at the first sign of trouble. These guys are no pushovers.”

  Within Rolmund, the Sonnenlicht Order forbade nobles from giving their serfs military training. But since Lord Bolshevik was a heretic, he had no reason to abide by the Order’s demands. His religion and culture were different from the rest of Rolmund, so it stood to reason his outlook on war was too. I turned to Eleora, who replied immediately.

  “This is just a diversion.” She unfurled a map and pointed to where Peiti’s lands were. “I’m gathering soldiers to send to Lord Peiti’s aid, but in order to reach him, they’ll have to pass through Bolshevik territory.”

  Lord Bolshevik controlled all of the major highways going in and out of North Rolmund. If an army wanted to march into North Rolmund, they needed to pass through his checkpoints.

  Eleora added, “Furthermore, from the outside it looks like a revolt’s broken out in one of the old Doneiks territories where I assigned one of my new supporters. This is completely different from the civil war the Doneiks family started. Technically, this is something that should be dealt with by the noble in charge of those lands.”