Chapter 251 - Episode 244: Resolve
At Noein's voice, the hall fell silent once again.
The nobles who had been hurling abuse fell silent, their expressions showing that they had never expected the brat before them to talk back with such ferocity.
"Noble pride? A sense of responsibility? The dignity of war? Don't make me laugh. What do you people think the duties of a kingdom noble, the duties of a head of a noble house, actually are?"
Noein spoke, his tone shifting to a quiet one, yet harboring a bone-chilling anger. A noble who attempted to retort closed his mouth as Noein glared at him.
"...I am the head of the Viscount Arqvist house, and the lord of the Arqvist territory. I am the husband of one woman, and the father of one infant. It has not even been ten years since I became a territorial noble, but I have come to understand through firsthand experience what kind of responsibility I bear."
Noein had welcomed and protected many people into his territory until now. Even if it were for his own happiness, he had decided to take responsibility for the lives of his people. He had killed many enemies to protect them. At times, due to his own lack of strength, he had let his people die. Not only as a lord, but as the head of a noble house, he had taken a wife, had a child, and grown as a human being. Through these things, he had learned, carving the lessons into his own heart.
"For what purpose do territorial nobles exist? To protect and cherish the people, and to allow the people to lead better lives. As a head of house, to protect the family and maintain the bloodline. For what purpose do nobles fight? To protect the people and their families from encroaching foreign enemies. If what I am saying is wrong, then please, try and tell me so."
What Noein spoke of was the exemplary way of a noble, even if it were merely a formal facade. In a public place where the King was watching, there was no one who could deny it.
"It is precisely because they protect the people and protect society that territorial nobles can be rulers. It is precisely because they exert every effort toward that end that the head of a noble house is qualified to stand at the peak of their territory. I believe this to be the truth without a shadow of a doubt. And... I am prepared to choose any means necessary to fulfill such responsibilities as a lord. Having made that resolve, I have come here today, to this place where the fate of the kingdom shall be decided."
Noein spoke while looking around the room, without averting his eyes from anyone.
"I want to protect the people of my territory and protect the Arqvist house. I will do anything for that purpose. If I can fulfill my duties by being cursed as a demon, I will gladly become a demon. I do not mind bringing hell upon tens of thousands of people in a foreign land. If that can protect my people and my territory, it is a small price to pay."
As he spoke, Noein clenched his fist tightly.
"What is a noble if they cannot protect their people? I absolutely cannot tell the people to suffer and die for the sake of my own pride as a noble, or to have their lives destroyed and become slaves to invaders. That is not pride. It is mere self-satisfaction. I refuse to stand in the same line of nobility as those who would throw away the possibility of victory for such a thing!"
Noein declared it clearly.
"...Listening to you just let you talk as if you know everything! A fellow like you should not speak of noble pride, of the noble pride that has been passed down for hundreds of years!"
After a moment of silence, Count Nordlingen shouted. Hearing those words, the blood rushed to Noein's head as well.
"Why do you still not understand after I've said all this! Without a country and territory, noble pride is worth nothing!"
"Shut up! Be quiet! If it comes to this, I'll cut you down right here... I'll strangle you to death!"
Count Nordlingen, unable to accept Noein's proposal due to his emotions, shouted in a manner bordering on a temper tantrum. The slightly clumsy phrasing of "strangle you to death" was because no one among the nobles was carrying a weapon, as they were in the presence of the King.
"You idiot who can only think with your emotions! Try it if you can!"
Noein also roared back in fury. They both leaned over the conference table, venting their anger as if they were about to grab each other. Deciding that they truly had to be stopped, Marquis Bechtolsheim and Arnold pulled Noein back, while the nobles around Count Nordlingen moved to restrain the Count.
"That is enough! You are in the presence of His Majesty the King! Enough of this!"
With this single shout from Count Burkhard, the room was enveloped in calmness.
How did Oscar Roadberg III perceive and think of Noein's proposal? The gazes of the nobles turned toward the front center of the hall.
While receiving those gazes, Oscar remained silent for a while, and after appearing to think deeply—
"...Viscount Noein Arqvist's proposal is likely the most effective measure for saving the current Roadberg Kingdom. I accept Viscount Arqvist's proposal."
He said.
"Your Majesty! What are you saying!"
"His Excellency Nordlingen was too extreme just now, but we too cannot possibly accept a plan that throws away noble pride!"
"If we take such a despicable measure, even the authority of the royal family will fall to the ground!"
In response, some of the nobles showed dramatic reactions.
It seemed that the fact that Oscar chose a strategy that was utterly despicable by the kingdom's values until now was quite a shock. While some remained silent with expressions of resignation, the martial-leaning nobles who had primarily insulted Noein earlier protested to Oscar one after another.
Just as Count Burkhard, unable to stand by, was about to caution them—Oscar himself opened his mouth, stopping him.
"Gentlemen!"
The protesting nobles also fell silent. No one dared to commit the rudeness of interrupting the King's words.
"I am an incompetent king. I was careless, looking only at past history and believing an invasion by Betumia would not happen, and after the invasion actually occurred, I have fled to the northern edge of the kingdom without being able to take a single effective measure. And now, I am about to cling to a plan that could be called despicable, throwing away even my pride as a king!"
The nobles looked at Oscar with wide eyes.
"However, there is something I can do precisely because I am the king. That is to take responsibility. The dignity of a noble that Viscount Arqvist spoke of just now would apply to me as well if the territory were replaced with the country. But there is one point of difference. As the king, I have the responsibility to protect you, the kingdom's nobles, and your pride as well."
Saying so—Oscar bowed his head to the nobles before him. The King bowed his head to his subjects.
"It is I who chooses this plan and orders you to execute it. All responsibility, all ill repute, I shall bear. As king, I will willingly accept any evaluation. Your pride shall not be wounded. Therefore, I beg of you, will you not be commanded by me? For the survival of the Roadberg Kingdom, will you not throw yourselves into a battle unbecoming of nobles?"
"Y-Your Majesty!"
"We had no such intention..."
"Please, raise your head!"
As the nobles spoke one after another in confusion, Oscar raised his head and looked around the room. And then—he slowly drew his sword.
Before the nobles could be startled by the King's unexpected action, Oscar placed the sword on the conference table, pointing the blade toward himself.
"If there is still anyone who cannot accept my royal command... please, cut me down here."
At those words, Count Burkhard who was beside Oscar, Marquis Bechtolsheim and Marquis Staufenberg who had maintained their composure until now, Arnold, and even Noein, who had suggested the plan, all widened their eyes in surprise.
"I declare! Everyone present here is a witness! Even if you cut me down here and now, I will not hold that person accountable for any crime! I recognize that such a person may present a new plan and lead the war against Betumia in my stead! I recognize that after victory, that person shall become the guardian of Crown Prince Lucas! Upon that, I ask for your decision!"
Before Oscar who had finished speaking, before that fierce resolve, everyone fell silent.
Amidst the heavy silence that drifted, one person dropped to one knee.
"...I swear to faithfully follow Your Majesty's command and fight, risking my life."
The one who spoke while kneeling was Count Edmund Marcel.
As one of the foremost warriors in the northwestern part of the kingdom, many showed surprised expressions that Count Marcel, who would normally be the first to oppose such a plan, had made such a declaration.
"I, too, as a loyal subject of His Majesty, obey the royal command and hereby swear to fight with all my heart and soul."
Next, Marquis Siegfried Bechtolsheim dropped to one knee and declared.
Following him, Marquis Staufenberg and Viscount Arnold Koenitz performed the salute of a subject and spoke their oaths. Furthermore, the heavyweights of the factions, starting with Count Anton Shuvalov, followed.
One by one they followed, until finally, even Count Nordlingen knelt.
"............As one of the proud nobles of the kingdom, I swear to faithfully keep Your Majesty's command and fight."
The Count spoke as if suppressing his emotions. With this, every noble except Noein had sworn.
Being looked at by Oscar, Noein also nodded and performed the salute of a subject.
"I, Viscount Noein Arqvist, also solemnly swear to carry out His Majesty's royal command and fight, risking my life to protect the kingdom."
Before all the nobles bowed their heads, Oscar spoke solemnly.
"...As the King of the Roadberg Kingdom, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your loyalty and devotion. From here on, it is time for the counterattack. Let us make the invaders pay and protect the kingdom to the end."