Around the time when Imperial Crown Prince Gil of Mephius managed to enter Ende, the disturbance which had divided Solon in two showed signs of growing even more heated than before.
It had all started with a tea party sponsored by the imperial princess, Ineli.
An armed group had suddenly burst in on it and had forcibly attempted to carry her off. It was said that they had acted on Empress Melissa's orders. Now that her daughter had become the face of the crown prince's faction, she could not afford to leave her be. Having barely managed to avoid being taken, Ineli flew into a rage. She too prepared to use armed force to counter-attack Melissa, her own mother.
Guessing what her actions would be, Melissa had swiftly taken soldiers with her and had barricaded herself inside the Dragon Gods' temple along with her daughter Flora and a portion of the nobles who were recognised as belonging to the emperor's faction. The situation was further complicated by the fact that Emperor Guhl Mephius had accompanied Melissa's entourage to the temple.
The official story was that "His Majesty's health is not favourable so he is visiting the elders at the temple in order to receive prayers and divine protection," however, while it would have been usual for him to travel to the shrine with a considerable retinue, not a single person had seen the emperor's procession. It seemed likely that Melissa and those connected to her had probably used rough methods to bring the emperor out of the palace.
The news had gotten tangled, and there were some false reports that it was the crown prince's faction which had first used armed force. They had conquered the palace and forced the emperor into submission. The empress had opposed them and, in place of the emperor who had collapsed due to illness, she had gathered the loyal retainers and was bravely resisting from within the temple.
While the emperor's and the crown prince's factions faced off against one another, the emperor himself had not been seen or heard from once since entering the temple, while Crown Prince Gil was currently taking reinforcements to Ende.
As a result, the vague anxiety that everybody had been feeling soon boiled over and erupted in the form of violence. Starting with Solon, uprisings and disturbances broke out one after another throughout Mephius. In both the emperor's and the crown prince's faction, there were many who felt that - this is my chance to make a name for myself - and led their soldiers to take control of forts and villages, as well as those who moved their troops to stop them, reasoning that - suppressing them will earn me recognition.
The emperor's rule had been despotic, and there were a great many who were dissatisfied, such as those who did not have the emperor's favour or those who felt that they had been pushed into an unfair position. Moreover, there was no shortage of younger sons of aristocratic and military houses who would not inherit as heads of their family, but who had distinguished themselves during the ten-year war with Garbera, yet Mephius was not a land suited to being divided amongst scores of people. Like a torrent breaking over the river bank, one after another they rose to action.
With the government having fallen into chaos, the influence of local authorities naturally came to the forefront. Thefts and assaults proliferated in the towns, and the number of bandits attacking along the highways multiplied. After the uprising in Kilro, the slaves' excitement had started to cool down, but now flared back up again in the form of escapes and insurrections.
Of course, the capital did not just silently watch over all of this. General Odyne Lorgo, whom Gil had, so to speak, left in charge of the capital, dispatched troops to every area to suppress the disturbances.
Since the merchants of the port city of Birac had a strong sense of self-governance, that town was not caught up in the unrest, and the domain lord, Fedom, could instead take the initiative of mobilising Rogue Saian's troops to assist Odyne.
Thus, it was largely the crown prince's faction which was able to display leadership and the ability to take action.
The situation showed how much the emperor's influence had declined, but those who were close to him were not about to let go of their vested interests, and formed a secret alliance. According to the rumours that drifted into the capital, they had been assembling troops centred around the governors of fortresses ever since the crown prince had left Mephian territory. They stirred up fervour by claiming that "the schemes of the crown prince's faction are preventing His Majesty and the empress from moving. We will storm the capital and rescue them."
Odyne, Folker, and the others had, of course, taken all measures to surround the Dragon Gods' temple. Their encircling net allowed no one to pass inside nor to escape outwards; but since Emperor Guhl Mephius himself was within, they could not make use of violent means. Yet as long as 'His Gracious Majesty' remained safe, the emperor's faction was not going to reign in its actions.
Ineli Mephius irritably took stock of this situation, in which Solon continued to be locked in a strange stalemate while sparks flew all around it. The angle of her eyebrows grew sharper by the day, as did the number of times she found fault with her ladies' maids, the soldiers, and everyone around her.
Before long, she started suggesting that they should force their way into the temple.
"We should send soldiers in immediately. Even the 'enemy' couldn't possibly use His Majesty as a shield. Isn't this simply underestimating our ability to push forward?"
So saying, she repeatedly urged Odyne to use military force, but:
"If we use strong measures at this point, it might provide those inside and outside of the city with a just cause to turn their weapons against us. We would do better to await our chance," he chided her each time.
Those who were causing disturbances all around were no different in thought than Ineli. I need to seize this opportunity to make a name for myself - all of them were bound with that almost obsessive thought.
And so it was that, in the end, Ineli used a portion of those who were likewise looking to curry favour with the imperial princess and, late one night, mobilised soldiers on nothing but her own judgement.
"We don't need to destroy the temple. Once we've taught them a lesson, we'll soon see how fragile the 'enemy's' solidarity is. Defectors will start appearing one after another, and this ridiculous disturbance will come to an end."
With those words, the cannons were placed into position and the temple was bombarded. As the roar of cannonfire resounded, regardless of it being from the emperor's or the crown prince's faction, it sounded like Mephius' death throes.
Fortunately, the aim was off and a unit under Odyne's banner realised what was happening and was able to stop the bombardment after the second shot, so the episode had no effect other than to galvanise the emperor's faction. The next day, a squad fired a volley of cannonballs at the capital's ramparts in retaliation before being broken up by Solon's guards as the townspeople huddled together and watched the thick, white smoke rising up.
It was while Solon was being shaken by chaos that a visitor arrived. A Garberan royal princess who had travelled by ship from Birac.
Needless to say, it was Vileena Owell.
The first to greet the princess was Theresia, who had formerly been her head lady's maid in Garbera.
Vileena had previously left Solon after making a declaration, unbefitting of a princess, that "I am going to take some soldiers to subjugate Salamand."
Theresia now bowed with a deliberately calm expression and asked, "Did you have a pleasant trip?"
The princess nodded with a smile.
"It was very pleasant. I unexpectedly got to see the skies of my hometown once more."
"That is indeed very fortunate. However, it is rare for you to overturn the plans you have decided on, Princess. Even I was surprised that you had gone to relax in Garbera," Theresia said with sarcastic admiration.
The old lady's maid was, of course, given the details. That Salamand's capture had gone well but thereupon, the princess had been shot at by someone and her life had suddenly been placed in danger; also that she had travelled to Phozon, the capital of their home country, but had remained inside the air carrier without setting a single foot beyond it.
But let us have no tedious repetitions. Looking at her mistress, whose hair concealed the tightly wound bandages, Theresia had the startling impression that she was looking at a wounded warrior who bore their injuries with pride rather than pain.
At the same time -
Oh? - Theresia frowned slightly. The princess' eyes were red. She must surely have been seized by homesickness after returning for a while to Garbera, thought Theresia, when…
"Fuwaaaah."
"Princess…"
Vileena gave such a huge yawn that Theresia had no choice but to sharply reprove her.
"Have you not slept?"
"No, not for about three days." Vileena rubbed her eyes.
Since Gowen had, of course, sent advance notice that the princess would be visiting Solon, Theresia was not the only one who had gone out to meet her, there had also been messengers from Ineli and the other nobles currently in the capital. Vileena merely exchanged formal greetings with them, however, and left afterwards with no one but Theresia, saying that "I'm going to my chambers."
The chambers in question were the ones that had been allocated her when the crown prince had still been in Solon. Her manner indicated that she considered that nothing had changed from before and that this was her living space.
To their side, slaves going about their work at the port were about to pass by. They were carrying heavy loads on their backs. A man who looked like the port supervisor hurled abuse at them for being "slow".
Vileena Owell cast them a vague sideward glance.
"Say, Theresia…"
"Hearing you say 'say' makes me feel uneasy."
"What do you mean, 'uneasy'," for a second, Vileena puffed her cheeks, but her expression immediately went back to being serious. "My greatest source of pride is having been born into Garbera's royal family."
"I know."
"However, if, for example, the townspeople here were to say, right in front of me, that that was nothing compared to their own pride and joy in being the sons or daughters of their own parents, I would not laugh at them."
"Indeed."
"Then what about slaves?" Vileena turned to look over her shoulder once again at the men moving every which way around the port. "Do they also feel proud of their origins and of their current selves?"
Theresia was about to answer something but instead remained silent. She understood that Vileena was not making a careless comment, and neither was she looking for Theresia to answer her.
"Lineage is a strange thing if you think about it. If you follow an unbroken line of births, you arrive at the same place for everyone. So what is it that makes me proud of being part of the royal family? Is it because I can see for myself the nobility of my grandfather, my father, and my brothers? Is it because of the examples, the honour, and also the nobility of my ancestors recorded in history books?"
Vileena turned to face forwards. The sky was faintly blue. Perhaps it was because of the disturbances that were breaking out all over, but messenger airships and air carriers were incessantly taking off and landing at the port.
"I am a royal princess of Garbera," she quietly stated that obvious fact and continued walking. "I inherited that blood and carry that history. Both past and future. Right, my words aren't mine alone, my body doesn't belong only to me. If I go too far in prioritising my own wishes and values, and betray my lineage, I will be smearing mud over both the spirits of the past and the future of the royal family. Because..."
Because I am a royal princess of Garbera.
Vileena's steps did not falter. Quite the opposite: she sped up, leaving Theresia to look at her advancing back. That was no doubt to not let her see the liveliness that was shinning brightly in her red and bloodshot eyes, but she had, literally, been a step too slow.
Because… my blood and soul have to match that same integrity.
Princess Ineli Mephius' patience had once again exceeded its limits.
The chaos was continuing in Mephius. Gil was still on the way to Dairan, Folker had gone to put down a slave revolt that had occurred in a manor domain south of Nedain, Yuriah's troops had flown off to suppress a group of mercenaries which was taking advantage of the chaos to pillage villages. In order to guard against the emperor's faction amassing their forces, Rogue had divided his units and deployed them throughout the capital's surroundings.
The crown prince had only just left Solon, yet the country's internal situation was already collapsing.
What Ineli found hardest to bear was the thought that this might be due to her own mistakes. Originally, Odyne had been left in charge of the imperial capital, and, even though she had the title of princess, Ineli had little authority. For her, who was aiming for status even beyond that, this was both a matchless opportunity to increase her fame and a dangerous situation in which an error could block off her entire future.
However, since the incident of the forceful bombardment on the temple, the watch placed on her had grown stricter. Odyne had personally selected some of his trusted subordinates and had appointed them to the princess' side.
One of their duties was to send away the officers and nobles who came to request a meeting with the princess, which led to malicious gossip - That damned Odyne. Plotting to take advantage of this situation so that he'll be the only one to reap the benefits. Odyne Lorgo, however, was absolutely not going to bend his own policy. At this late stage, he was ill-suited to throwing his lot in with those who wished to curry favour with the imperial princess.
Ineli herself finally openly voiced her dissatisfaction with Odyne, and started criticising the general who was keeping her under house arrest in all but name.
At this point, the movements in their surroundings once again showed signs of changing. Although the current chaos did have a side to it which was a confrontation between the "Emperor faction" and "Crown Prince faction", for a portion of the people involved this was no more than an empty slogan, and their actions were similar to those of looters at the scene of a fire.
While there were quite a few people who judged that this would develop into a large-scale civil war, there were many more who were focused on how they should act so as to ensure their own positions in the aftermath, when the disturbance had died down.
Would it be better to refuse to cooperate with Odyne?
No, if we do that, things might get bad once the crown prince returns. Still, the relationship between Princess Ineli and His Highness is pretty good…
So if we're following the princess' orders, we shouldn't be charged with any crimes in the future.
Amidst the constant chaos within the capital, nobles and some of the military officers held these kinds of inappropriate meetings more than once.
It had not been ten days since Prince Gil had left and the emperor vanished from sight into the temple. In Mephius, where the emperor had formerly and arbitrarly dissolved the Council, there was no clear system in place to indicate where authority should be transferred to and converge. Simon Rodloom had always grieved about how much had been lost during the ten-year war with Garbera, and this had certainly not been needless anxiety on his part.
Then -
That day, Ineli Mephius had a visitor.
She was no longer staying in the inner palace, but had chosen a room reserved for the imperial family's use in the main palace as her centre of operations, and was lodging there.
With guards following her at all times, Ineli was unable to meet as she pleased with influential nobles and officers, so she spent each day sending out letters to all quarters, or answering requests for audiences from city and neighbourhood representatives. Currently, she was the only representative of the imperial family who could actually be met with.
It was evening.
Informed by the chamberlain of the visitor's name, Odyne's soldiers were momentarily perplexed as to how to handle this. They were to thoroughly enforce the policy that - unless they have my permission, no one of standing is to be allowed to meet with Her Imperial Highness.
This person, however, was not just anybody. With no other choice, one of them hurried off to communicate directly with Odyne. For a moment, the general himself looked as though he was hesitating over the decision.
"It's fine. Permission to pass," in the end, he gave his authorisation.
Similarly, Ineli Mephius frowned when she heard her visitor's name. How vexing - was the thought which flitted through her mind.
At present, however, she was the ruling family's representative within Solon, the imperial capital. It was unavoidable that she should be the one to receive foreign guests.
"By all means, please come in," Ineli personally opened her door to the visitor.
The one who entered gracefully - or rather, whose posture had her chest thrown out a little too much - was Vileena Owell.
Vileena herself was fully aware that she was a "vexing guest". And not only for Ineli but for Mephius itself, now that it was being shaken by chaos.
Actually, when she had alighted in Solon, the welcome reception for her had met with some unexpected delays. When they had heard that the princess had been taken into Garbera, most people's reactions had been along the lines of:
Doesn't that make it unlikely that she'll come back?
No, but until Mephius settles down again, you can be sure they'll come up with some excuse or another to extend her stay over there.
They certainly had not expected her to return to Solon, her head still wrapped in bandages. Nonetheless, it went without saying that the princess was the crown prince's fiancée and, even more importantly, she had recently distinguished herself by repulsing Salamand, the scoundrel who had broken across the national border. The populace was inclined to see her as a hero, and neither Odyne nor Ineli had any choice but to welcome her.
Although she could guess what their feelings were, the princess deliberately avoided looking apologetic or making excuses. Still, as a matter of fact, she too had felt some hesitation when arriving in Solon.
She was apprehensive that, given the current state of unrest, her presence might invite more unnecessary trouble; plus there was the fact that very recently, an Imperial Guard had tried to take her life when they were by Garbera's border, and the mystery of who had been backing him had yet to be elucidated. Going further back in time, the ruffian who had set fire to the western village which had been taking care of her had also unmistakably called her "Princess Vileena" before swinging a blade at her.
Although it was not clear whether those two people were connected, somebody seemed to be after her life.
Would the sound of a gunshot echo the moment she stepped from the ship at Solon's port, or would someone lurking in the shadows of a building, an assassin's blade concealed at their breast, come swooping in to attack her? She did worry about it.
"When is His Highness due to return?"
"Well… since his purpose is to discourage Allion during its earliest manoeuvres, I do not believe that his absence will be particularly prolonged."
"Really? In that case, let's quietly await his return," she replied and, with her lady's maid, Theresia, in tow, she entered the inner palace.
Whoever it was who was out to assassinate her, she did not expect them to have laid their traps in Solon. And if they had, then -
I'll fight. Once in bed, she quietly gripped the gun beneath her pillow. Her breathing was uneven, and it was a long time before she was able to fall asleep.
The princess was undeniably "quiet".
But only for one day.
The very next, she requested a meeting with Ineli Mephius.
After hearing directly from Odyne about the situation in Solon, the princess learned what Ineli had been doing so far, and what her probable intentions were.
She's the same as me - Vileena thought, and somewhere at the back of her mind, she felt like smiling. She did not want to be a princess used only as a prize for a retainer or a tool for diplomacy, but wanted to be known as someone who was every bit as resourceful as a man, and who acted for the sake of the country.
Vileena herself felt that way. Nor did the royal princess want to consider that her wish to accumulate different experiences was merely a childish fantasy. Nevertheless, everything was subject to the trend of the times, and people themselves were suited or unsuited for different things, and so had to get along with others.
"It has been a long time, Princess."
"Indeed it has, Your Royal Highness."
The two of them exchanged greetings with unruffled composure, but, particularly in Ineli's case, the mood could not be said to be at its best. This princess, who was almost excessively straightforward, whose manner was like a blade that might strike down at any moment, might very well interfere with the present situation in Solon.
Vileena herself was more aware than anyone that - the me from before would probably have acted that way.
"For a time, Solon was humming with talk of how your military achievements are in no way inferior to those of any general, Your Highness."
"I'm quite ashamed. Putting on armour and departing for the front is hardly ladylike. I truly hope that everyone in Mephius is aware that all Garberan women certainly do not act that way."
Vileena turned her face down and Ineli laughed gaily as she sipped her tea. They discussed the matter with Salamand for a while longer.
"By the way, Princess. To what do I owe the honour of your visit today?"
"As a matter of fact, although I am a bit worried about doing so, there are some things that I would like to discuss about Empress Melissa."
Here it is - when Vileena broached the main topic, Ineli's thoughts flashed across her face. She made the first move.
"The matter concerning Empress Melissa is…" Ineli's tone of voice grew soft, but there was a sharp glint in her eyes. "I am sure that you, as a guest from a foreign country, must find it exceedingly foolish. As a member of the imperial family, I am utterly shame-faced about it, but, as I am sure you understand, this is our country's problem. You could say that at this turning of the seasons, we must wash away the pus from the old era and settle matters with our own abilities. We will absolutely not allow it to disturb you, Princess. Please await my brother's return here in Solon without worrying about anything."
She gave her warning.
Opposite her, Vileena, looking as though she were suddenly pondering something, allowed a few seconds to pass.
"Naturally, this is Mephius' problem. Nevertheless, I believe that I, who came from Garbera to marry into your country, could be of help."
"What is it that you mean?" Ineli maintained her smile. Inwardly, however, she was cursing her opponent.
Damned hot-headed show-off.
This was one time when she absolutely could not borrow the princess' help. As Ineli herself had previously stated, Vileena had become famous in Solon for repelling Salamand. Add that to Crown Prince Gil's own reputation, and there were already voices loudly proclaiming that "they both are worthy of carrying Mephius into the next era."
Ineli wanted a chance to demonstrate her own ability. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and, in a way, she felt like thanking her mother for having so hastily run away.
"It is not hard to imagine that when you look at Mephius in its current state, Princess, it must seem very unreliable. Naturally, it is our responsibility and…"
"I have heard that the empress is sending dispatches from within the temple in which she asserts even now that the crown prince is an impostor, and that the child in her belly is the legitimate successor to the throne."
Vileena unexpectedly shifted the focus of conversation. Or rather, it gave the impression that she had parried Ineli, who had made a straightforward thrust.
The imperial princess unintentionally fell silent.
"The people who were formerly said to be part of the emperor's faction are currently raising soldiers in all corners on the strength of those words in order to protect their own positions and vested interests, but their scale can actually be called very small. Since Mephius itself is falling into chaos, General Odyne Lorgo or General Rogue Saian are worrying about how to cope with the situation, but once His Highness Crown Prince Gil returns, this level of disorder should be settled in no time at all."
"However, at that point" Vileena's words were softly spoken. Her lips were formed into a faint smile, yet the contents of what she said abruptly turned stern. "Being driven into a corner and having lost her escape route, the empress will have no choice but to face ruin. Will she choose to fight until the last soldier, or will she choose suicide?"
"S-Suicide?"
"Or perhaps…" Vileena's smile vanished. "Or perhaps, she might force His Majesty the emperor to accompany her. In which case…"
"In which case?"
"It would create a breeding ground for future problems. Very much… yes, very much so." In a way, her words came across as threatening. Or rather, Royal Princess Vileena was unmistakably threatening Imperial Princess Ineli. Hidden behind her words was intimidation: if your mother is driven into a corner and the emperor, father of the country, is lost because of it, then it is your ability which will be called into question.
Naturally, Vileena's expression displayed nothing but the concern of a noble lady for the country's future.
"The retainers will again have the appearance of being coerced into obeying. Even when His Highness Gil Mephius undergoes coronation, the impression that will take root is that he is a ruler who slayed the previous emperor and empress, his own parents, and who oppresses his subjects with no regard for them. The embers of dissent will continue to smoulder, and as soon as a strong wind blows on them once, they will flare up into an inferno that will once again divide the country in two."
Those words were both ones that Vileena had prepared in advance with premeditated intent, and, at the same time, the reflection of her true feelings, and entirely free of lies.
A simmering storm.
Garbera had Ryucown and Salamand. In Ende, there was Lord Jeremie, who lost the struggle for succession. And in Mephius…
Quarrels and strife are constantly lying, lurking, within a country.
Vileena believed that it was a policymaker's duty to prevent an opponent from fanning those sparks.
When Vileena Owell had arrived in Solon and had been informed of the situation there by Odyne, she had spent time at a loss in the room which had been allocated to her. It had not taken her a day to request a face-to-face meeting with Ineli, but that had been no snap decision, and during that day, she was plenty hesitant.
Since the crown prince is currently absent…
Those who are left behind, who are left in charge, have a duty to keep things safe.
"Theresia."
The princess, who for some reason had been standing in front of a mirror since early in the morning, called out to the lady's maid who had known her since she was born.
"Yes?"
"Am I a meddling princess?"
"I would not think it particularly strange if there were people who called you that behind your back."
"Am I unsuitable for Mephius?"
"Not only Mephius but also our own Garbera and the neighbouring country of Ende. There isn't a single land in which Princess Vileena would be called a model daughter of the royal family."
Standing behind the princess, Theresia speech was perfectly blunt. Vileena didn't even let slip a smile.
"Then I'm a heretic. If I'm not the product of Garbera's history or Mephius' culture, then neither needs to be ashamed of me, no matter what I do."
"It sounds as though you are forcing a theory onto something, Princess. What is it that you are plotting now?"
"For the last times," Vileena had closed her eyes for a moment, but then stared fixedly at Theresia's face in the mirror. "This will be the last time. So… please forgive me, Theresia. As a princess of Garbera, as the fiancée to the crown prince of Mephius… this is the last time I'll do something shameful."
"I see."
Even as she spoke - that's a lie - was written all over Theresia's face.
"Indeed, the princess is getting on in years. You have become slightly more mature. By telling me beforehand, you are ensuring that Theresia will not be scolding you later."
"Theresia…"
"Do as you will, Princess."
Theresia lowered her head, with its hair streaked with grey, just a little. Surprised, the young girl caught her breath.
"Princess Vileena is no longer simply the princess whom I serve. However words are played with, those who see you unmistakably see you as the one who bears the position of princess of Garbera, and fiancée to the crown prince of Mephius. It is because you know that better than anyone that you speak of 'shame', Princess."
"However, Princess… Although the things you do and say have sometimes left me dumbfounded, and have sometimes made me feel like fainting from shock, not once have I thought of you as 'shameful'. Princess, you are my pride. Even if some point fingers at you or talk behind your back, whether it is of you as a member of the royal family of Garbera or in the palace of Mephius that you marry into, that alone will never change in all of this lifetime. Therefore, do as you will, Princess. Follow your heart with honesty."
"Thank you, Theresia."
As Vileena expressed her gratitude, her throat was a little clogged up, and there was a glimmer at the corner of her eyes. Standing in front of the mirror, the princess stretched out a finger to wipe those tears away. For some reason, however, she allowed her shimmering tears to spill onto her cheek as her white finger pulled down the corner of her eye.
"Beeh!"
She stuck out her tongue.
Ineli was lost for words with which to retort.
"Surely the empress cannot want to lead Mephius to its complete destruction."
Vileena's manner remained perfectly calm.
"The key question is whether the empress' actions stem from a righteous cause that can guide Mephius' future. That point is essential. Now that, as I mentioned earlier, she had declared that His Highness the Crown Prince is an impostor and that the child in her belly is the legitimate heir to the throne, the empress is effectively saying that she is expecting to shoulder the burden of governing Mephius. In other words, her cause is her right to bear responsibility for the country. And, in that case…"
Vileena Owell lowered her eyes for a moment. She was fully aware of her own personality. A critical moment needed the 'critical' expression. Which was why she deliberately hid her face.
"In that case, if I, Vileena Owell, a princess from an allied country, go to the temple in the capacity of 'negotiator', it will be impossible for her to either turn a blade against me, or to take me hostage while she makes her demands."
"How about it, Your Imperial Highness, Princess Ineli? Would you agree to let me go to the temple?"
"W-What are you saying?" Ineli was trembling in agitation, but she still firmly shook her head. "We could not possibly allow a princess, who has been left in our care by an allied country, to do anything so dangerous. If anyone should take the initiative of going, it is only right that I, Ineli, should do so."
"No, Your Highness. At present, you are the imperial family's representative in Solon. If anything should happen to you, Lady Ineli, the people would be thrown into even greater confusion, and only the lawless would rejoice."
Her tone held a note of sharpness. Faster than Ineli could reply to the implied criticism, Vileena continued her train of argument.
"Naturally, I am not suggesting that I should make a great show of visiting the shrine. That would agitate the populace and the other nobles, and would probably cause an unnecessary disturbance. Even if it may be necessary to send a messenger beforehand to inform the empress of my visit, we can use disguises in front of the people… right, for example, Princess Ineli, concerned for the emperor and empress' state of health might send someone with meals for them, or dispatch a doctor to them, and when we send people in on that kind of pretext, I can pretend to be a lady's maid and slip in among them."
Her saying 'when' made it sound as though the whole thing was already settled, but her next words were even more startling.
"I will, without fail, communicate your words to the empress. For that, Lady Ineli, I would like you to support me in this."
She even added 'for that'… The way she was talking made it sound as though Vileena was responding to a request from the imperial princess.
Ineli Mephius looked as though she had suddenly been dumped into a rough and stormy night sea. As though she did not have time to gasp for breath before huge waves bore down on her one after another, and tossed her up and down.
Then, having come to that point, Princess Vileena added another outrageous suggestion. "How about holding a council, tomorrow morning, to which all the commanders and people of influence currently residing in Solon will be summoned? At that point, we will reproduce the conversation that you and I have just had."
In other words -
The two of them would repeat their current exchange in front of the assembled grandees, pretending to say and hear those things for the first time.
Realising the intention behind it, Ineli's ears turned red. It wasn't only to ensure that her request would be accepted - the princess was worried about Ineli.
If the details of their conversation was broadcast, Ineli would avoid the accusation of being a coward who had sent the royal princess into danger while she shut herself away. Not only that, but if any results were obtained, the merit would surely be seen as being partly hers.
T-This, this brat!
Ineli Mephius chewed on the edge of her lips.
Ineli Mephius chewed on the edge of her lips.
Once, in far-off Apta, she had certainly cornered this 'brat'. That girl had nothing but war and airships on the brain, and wasn't even familiar with the culture of her own country, nor could even recite a single line of poetry. In front of that barbarian of a girl, Ineli had skilfully demonstrated her diplomatic finesse, and had magnificently entertained their foreign visitors. Vileena herself had been nothing but nervous throughout, but in the end, she had looked at Ineli in admiration and had requested to shake her hand.
And that worthless 'brat' was worrying about her and was trying to break a deadlocked situation that Ineli herself had only been watching with her arms folded. On top of that, she was saying that - we'll do it together, the two of us.
Emotions welled up within her like a raging fire - or not. Their eyes happened to meet, and, contrary to what might have been expected, it was Vileena's that were sparkling brightly. And it was Vileena who started in surprise. Although she had been planning to conceal her emotions and to talk with perfect detachment, in the end, here she was excitedly leaning forward and gazing straightforwardly at Ineli.
For a moment, the imperial princess of Mephius stared, dumbfounded, at the princess who was averting her gaze from her in embarrassment.
This girl…
She relaxed the strength on the teeth with which she had been biting her lip. She truly wasn't a girl who was any good at wiles.
At that moment, if Ineli's mental state had to be defined, it was that she recognised the Garberan princess as - a rival.
Forced to compete directly with what should have been a worthless brat, she had been made to recognise her own lack of ability.
One day, I'll defeat you - she firmly decided.
Right, one day.
The next day, the royal princess of Garbera and the imperial princess of Mephius reproduced their exchange. Using the atmosphere there as a guide, they brushed over the inconvenient bits and padded some other parts, but the general idea remained the same.
They also emphasised the threat that if the empress was driven into a corner, she might choose to kill herself and to take the emperor with her, as well the supposition that Empress Melissa would not lightly harm a princess from a foreign country.
Before Odyne and the influential nobles assembled there could catch their breath -
"I am truly grateful for the princess of Garbera's solicitude. Everyone agrees that in this situation, we cannot simply stand idly by and watch. I have also heard that there is an alarming rumour out on the streets that Empress Melissa's claim that she has the Emperor is untrue. If that is true… indeed, I feel that as Empress Melissa claims to have righteousness on her side, we must verify whether there is any truth to that claim."
Ineli put on an air of innocence. The royal princess bowed her head, pretending to be deeply moved.
With the atmosphere becoming that of everything having been decided, General Odyne Lorgo hurriedly started to stand.
"Naturally, we cannot possibly allow the princess of Garbera to undertake such a dangerous task all alone. Odyne, I order you to accompany her."
"A-Aye," the imperial princess had perfectly chosen her timing, and Odyne found himself replying unintentionally. His face immediately flushed red, however. "Y-Your Imperial Highness. This is simply… this is simply too dangerous. If you would give me an order, please tell me to wear my sword and armour, and march alone into the temple," he said.
He was, of course, completely opposed to Vileena visiting the temple. However, with a gesture that was half a sneer, half a rebuke, Ineli replied -
"General Odyne, do you really think that if you go like that, Empress Melissa will unfasten the tightly shut gates and let you in?"
Odyne could find no words of retort. Ineli's words were the equivalent of stating that, other than the Garberan princess, no one present there would be able to get the empress' attention. And in the first place, if Odyne could have solved things by himself, the situation would not have evolved into the current deadlock.
"However, I commend your spirit. Protect the princess even at the cost of your own life."
The two girls had arranged things to perfection. When Ineli stood up, it was in exactly the same manner as the emperor, his cloak flapping.
"We will send a messenger to the temple this very day. With that in mind, please lend me two hundred of the Imperial Guards who answer directly to the emperor. In accordance with the laws of Mephius, I, who have the right to exercise authority as the highest-ranking member of the imperial family currently in Solon, hereby take command."
A certain sort of misgiving appeared on every face there, but the atmosphere was not one that encouraged anyone to speak. Ineli's claim that she had "the right to exercise authority as the highest-ranking member of the imperial family" was patently untrue. Even if the blood had somewhat thinned over the course of history, there were, in Mephius, several boys who were distantly related to the imperial family. Moreover, since Ineli was Empress Melissa's child from her previous marriage, she was not of imperial lineage.
However, no one, Odyne included, pointed this out. That was because they all recognised that at this point in time, with the entire country - starting with Solon - in chaos, somebody needed to clearly take on the role of leader. Although Imperial Princess Ineli had certainly been led to error because of her quick-temper, it was a fact that she was the only one attending to tasks as a representative of the imperial family. Ineli had been one of the causes of the disturbance, but she had also, so to speak, worked to extinguish the fire by preventing it from spreading further.
"If, by some unlikely chance, the 'enemy' was to take violent action," Ineli Mephius' expression turned grim, like that of a guardian deity to the country, "we will destroy that 'enemy'," she declared.
It's dark.
The old man gazed at his surroundings with eyes that were as black as night.
He was in the deepest part of the underground of Solon's Dragon Gods' temple. Directly beneath the section of a mural that depicted the dragon god Mephius, a long staircase led down to this high-ceilinged room. The floor stretched out in white marble, while huge columns were aligned in orderly rows in the direction that the old man - that Guhl Mephius - was looking in.
The once snow-white silk cloth that he was wearing was slightly stained, exhaustion clung to Guhl's face like dirt, giving it a slightly dark discolouration, and there was no spark of vitality in his eyes.
From the day that the audience with Crown Prince Gil Mephius had ended, Guhl had tended to stay in his own chambers. He had not shown himself in public, the reason given being that his health had deteriorated.
Then, one night, a short while after Crown Prince Gil had left Solon -
He had been resting in his room when people who claimed to be messengers from Empress Melissa had appeared. They had drawn their swords and, in no time at all, they had mowed down the sentries who were guarding his room. He learned later that Melissa had won over the officer in charge of stationing the guards.
With an attitude that was the very definition of mock courtesy, they had said -
"Please accompany us, Your Majesty. If you remain here, you will be in danger. In order to lead Mephius to its rightful future, please escape from here for now," and, carrying him on their shoulders, they had borne him off to the Dragon Gods' temple.
It had been more than ten days since then.
Guhl had been forced into the lowest level of the temple. A meal was brought to him once a day. Their manner was still ostensibly courteous, but it was clear that they had no intention of allowing him to take a single step out of here.
Melissa, the mastermind behind the plot - and the Emperor's spouse - had not shown herself. He had merely received an oral message from her.
"Your Majesty is exhausted, so I pray that you will wait a while as I take it upon myself to open the path towards the rightful future of Mephius in your stead. Before long, I will, without fail, return you, Your Majesty, to the throne of Mephius, the likes of which has no equal in this world."
Guhl did not tell her to do as she pleased.
Nor did he try to resist.
All day long, he simply remained within these shadows in which no light shone. When his meal was brought, he ate it mechanically.
During that time, what did he think about? What did he feel?
Nothing.
Guhl let out a voice that was not even a whisper.
I don't think about anything. I don't feel anything.
"That's a lie," a voice threw at him.
"What's a lie?" Guhl glared at a corner of darkness. "A lie, is it? What do you understand about me?"
"I understand. You're thinking. You never stop thinking. Where did you make a mistake? Or was this actually the correct path after all? Every moment that you are awake… no, even when you fall asleep you still keep questioning yourself over and over again in your dreams."
"The correct path. A mistake. There are no such things. If you say that what I did was wrong, then ruling through military might cannot be right."
"That might be so," the voice's owner showed no trace of mockery, and his tone was one of utmost sincerity. "If loosening the reins invites chaos, then drawing the reins too tight will cause the appearance of those people who cannot bear the suffocation. Humans cannot become gods, so perhaps they cannot govern over humans after all."
"I've no time for such philosophical views," Guhl narrowed his eyes, looking as though his gaze could penetrate through the darkness.
Barely any light shone in that underground chamber, but it was currently evening. The view from the highest floor of the palace in Solon, the imperial capital, would spread out far, and to the west, one could surely see the Domick Flats, shining a brilliant red. Lowering one's gaze and bringing it a little closer, to the manors and granaries in Solon's surroundings, one would see the specks of human beings who were wiping away the sweat from the last of the day's toil.
Within the palace's corridors, soldiers on duty would either be patrolling, or standing guard. Guhl had loved, above all else, looking down onto the valiant sight of armour gleaming in the light of the setting sun.
"You are strong. A strong human being. I know better than anyone that, at the very least, that is what you strove to be."
"No… rather than saying that you strove to be strong, maybe it would be better to say that you strove to remove any weakness from yourself. You tried to eradicate all weakness not only from the country or from other people, but especially from yourself. Because you were a strong ruler. Because you were strong, both admirable and imposing, a great ruler who could shoulder the responsibility for everything that happened within the country, and who could lead the way to peace, and who could lead the way to peace. Because you had to be."
The shadowy figure remained at a fixed distance from Guhl, neither approaching nor stepping further away. Only the voice oscillated between strong and soft as it spoke, sometimes so fierce that it seemed to hemmer against the old man's ears, sometimes so gentle that it seemed to tickle them like a breeze.
"But Guhl. It is just as I said before: you are not a god. For all that you claimed that authority, the fact will not change that you are a flesh-and-blood human born from your mother's womb. Humans cannot incorporate all of the world's phenomena into their living flesh. So what do you think a human aspiring to be great should do?"
"What should he do?"
"Isn't that what you were thinking over, Guhl? After being ousted from the throne and brought like a captive from your own room to this cellar, isn't that what you have constantly, solely, been thinking over?"
Guhl gave a low groan. It was the same, however, as the meaningless words that a child might threaten an opponent with just before getting into a fight.
"Yeah, it's just as you said. I did something wrong, and the raised blade which should have protected the people, the blade whose edge should have been bathed in a light that illuminated the world, was smashed. But who can say what that something is? That's something for future historians to debate as they sit at their round tables."
"You are, after all, but one person. Even so. If you could make even a single inference about that something, perhaps you could impart it to your son, Gil Mephius. Even if the life and value of a single human is infinitesimal, as generations pile up one on top of the other, by leaving our words for those who will come after, maybe humans will one day find a path that comes close to the truth. Guhl, don't religion and history, the tales of legend, the very lives of humans, exist for that sake?"
At that person's voice, Guhl no longer answered, no longer got angry, no longer got agitated. No, if it had to be said, he was as unmoving as a statue. Yet the owner of the voice continued, as though he could see through to the very bottom of Guhl's heart,
"How long has it been since Lady Lana passed away?" He touched upon the part that Guhl least wanted touched, and the old emperor's eyes, as dark as night itself, suddenly opened wide. "When you lost Lady Lana, you were far more distraught than you had been after the loss of your father and mother. It's easy to imagine now how you rejected that weakness with all your being. You were different from your father, who had thrown the country into disorder… you were not a weak ruler - so as to convince yourself of that, you firmly shut the lid on your own heart and strove to become strong. One could say that you succeeded splendidly in that. But, at the same time, did you not demand too much strength from others, and from yourself? I think so."
The instant that the old emperor turned his face away -
"Guhl."
The shadowy figure, who up until then had maintained a fixed distance from him, was suddenly at Guhl's side. Close enough to feel breath against his ear.
"You must have already noticed it yourself. The world over which you reigned craves its next era. It hopes and wishes for you to leave. Your eyes are blind. Your ears can barely hear a person's voice. Be a strong ruler to the end. By willingly admitting your weakness, by accepting defeat, you will become an even stronger ruler, Guhl…"
"Is someone there, Guhl Mephius?"
Another figure approached from beyond the row of columns. One as skinny as a withered tree, yet its steps were firm.
Guhl, whose eyes had grown accustomed to the dark, was immediately able to make him out. Among the elders of the Dragon Gods' faith, this old man was probably the one considered to be at the very top. Guhl took the time to slowly look around him.
"There doesn't seem to be anyone here," he answered in a voice that had gone hoarse. "Or are you saying that your eyes, which excel at discerning the supernatural, can see someone other than me here? Is their heart beating, and does their blood flow?"
"Such nonsense. Emperor Guhl, looking at you like this, you are no different from any other lonely old man. With no luxurious toga, no crystal staff, no crown upon your head, no gallant soldiers standing to protect you, spear in hand, you are just like an elderly man talking to himself because there is no one else around."
"Did you come all the way here just to say that? I'd heard that you couldn't even get up anymore, but now that you've managed to get better, you have a strange way of entertaining yourself."
"That's right, I came here to make a fool of you," the elder approached Guhl one step at a time. "You who have abandoned your former ideals, dreams and ambitions are no more than the empty husk of 'Emperor Guhl'. Just like every other human, with the passing of the years, the spirit which maintained your desires has eroded. I once watched the future for you, so seeing you like this is lonely for me too."
Drawing closer, they were now face-to-face. Yet the elder did not stop.
Emperor Guhl's eyes once again opened wide. He had felt something. Cold that seemed to pierce his body, heat like a fire that could boil the blood inside him - a strange atmosphere that seemed to have altered the very world around him.
As they faced each other, the elder's eyes seemed to be emitting a pale light. With the light from beneath his heavy, drooping eyelids came shock great enough to oppress body and mind, and it certainly licked against Guhl's pale face.
"You bastard," Guhl's voice came out hoarse. It was the voice of a man whose throat was being squeezed by someone's hands, and his expression was twisted with pain.
The elder had finally arrived within a hair's breadth of Guhl. At that point, he should finally have stopped, but -
"Stop," howled Guhl. "Don't come! Don't come any closer!"
That was how it seemed to Guhl. Even though the elder's steps had stopped, he was still drawing closer to Guhl. Something, like a hazy flame imperceptible to the naked eye - yet at the same time, he could tell that it was the elder himself, that something that was like a soul, was being released from within that body that was like a withered tree. As though to prove that it had been released from the fetters of flesh, it continued to advance without stopping even as it came into contact with Guhl's body.
"Guwaaaah!"
The emperor's knees hit the floor.
That fit itself perfectly over the emperor's face, chest, arms and now started encroaching into the inside of him.
"I can no longer choose my means," the voice seemed to ring from inside Guhl, striking directly against his brain. "I will be taking your body. At the very least, I will turn all of Mephius into my shrine. Every man, woman and child will become offerings to my sorcery. What, at most it will only be a matter of erasing a single country's name from the map of the world. I have already witnessed such things so many times that I'm bored of it. I only need to do this once more…"