Chapter 372 - Chapter 364: Expectations
The allied forces of the Kingdom of Revelant and the Grand Duchy of Arqvist retreated to the Fioluviki Gorge on the border.
This place, which originally had nothing more than a stone checkpoint beside the road passing through the gorge, now had the entire width of the gorge blocked by log walls, the enemy-facing surface of which had been reinforced with earth to counter fire attacks. Scaffolding had been erected behind the defensive walls, making it possible to attack from above.
Furthermore, two watchtowers had been constructed, allowing attacks to be carried out from three high points, including the checkpoint. For a makeshift fortress, it was a sufficiently robust construction.
On the night of the first day after retreating to this border fortress, Helga Revelant stood with several soldiers in the rear of the fortress, at the collection point for supplies such as fodder.
The time was nearly midnight. The reason Helga was serving as the person in charge of the watch at such an hour lay in her position.
While she was officially a knight, Helga was the only princess of the kingdom. She was often given tasks with little danger, where she would not have to interact closely with ordinary soldiers.
As Helga stood resolutely, though feeling a slight drowsiness, Marquis Sulho Hakkarainen approached her.
Helga gave a salute to him, as he was her superior in the military, but Marquis Hakkarainen did not return it, instead bowing as a subject.
"Your Highness. His Majesty the King calls for you. I will place someone else in this position, so please proceed to His Majesty's tent."
"...I understand."
To be spoken to in this manner during military duty meant that Gabriel had business with Helga as the princess. While feeling slightly suspicious, Helga hurried toward her father's tent.
After announcing herself at the entrance and receiving permission to enter, she found Gabriel waiting, sitting in a collapsible chair while still in his military uniform.
"Father. Do you have need of me?"
"Yes. First, sit."
Prompted by Gabriel, Helga sat opposite him. Although it was the King's tent, there was only one chair, so she used a wooden box as a substitute.
"Before we face the decisive battle upon which the survival of the Kingdom of Revelant depends, there is something I must tell you as the princess."
At those words, Helga straightened her posture with a tense expression.
"The fate of the Kingdom of Revelant will be decided in this battle. Of course, I intend to be victorious, but there is no such thing as absolute victory in war. There is a possibility that the current rule of the Kingdom of Revelant by the royal family will come to an end. You understand this as well, do you not?"
"...Yes,"
Helga answered, her voice choking.
"Should that happen, both I and your mother will share the fate of the nation. If this fortress falls, we will continue to fight while retreating in order to let as many citizens as possible escape, and then we will die. That is the duty of the King and Queen... However, Helga, I cannot let you die."
"...!"
Helga opened her mouth, but closed it without saying anything.
She had intended to say that she, too, would fight to the end as a princess. But she could not.
She was afraid. She found herself thinking that she did not want to die at the age of seventeen. Even if she were not killed but taken alive, she was terrified to think of what would happen to a princess of a fallen nation who became the spoils of war for the invaders.
"You are the hope of our country. If you, who inherit the blood of the royal family, survive, the possibility remains that the Kingdom of Revelant may one day achieve a restoration. Surviving is your duty... Moreover, if we believe that you are alive, we can die peacefully with the nation as our pillow."
As Gabriel smiled gently at her, Helga's tears overflowed.
The Kingdom of Revelant might disappear. She might lose her homeland and her family.
The fact, which until now she had understood intellectually but felt unreal—as if it were a fluffy, elusive story—suddenly took on a vivid outline and tangible weight. The sadness she had unconsciously tried not to think about welled up.
"Therefore, if we cannot repel the enemy, you are to flee to the Grand Duchy of Arqvist. I have already come to an agreement with Grand Duke Noein Arqvist."
"!?"
Hearing those words, Helga's eyes widened.
"I will assign Knight Beverstamm and several other nobles and their children to you. The national treasures and historical records necessary for when the country is one day restored should be prepared by now so they can be carried out of the castle at any time."
"F-Father! Why the Grand Duchy of Arqvist!?"
When Helga instinctively stood up and raised her voice, Gabriel's expression became stern.
"Lower your voice. If the princess makes a scene, the soldiers will become anxious."
Feeling awkward, Helga sat back down on the wooden box and continued her protest in a suppressed voice.
"The Grand Duchy of Arqvist is a country that keeps beastmen as slaves. Of all places, why... there are other friendly nations."
"If we are defeated, it is unknown what will happen to the northern part of the continent afterward. I do not know how the surrounding nations would treat you, a person who has lost her country, if they themselves were pressed by the Kingdom of Virgoa... In that regard, the Grand Duchy of Arqvist is fine. If they are across the mountains, they could easily repel the Kingdom of Virgoa, and it is unlikely that Grand Duke Arqvist would show submission to Cadne."
"B-But... I don't know how Grand Duke Arqvist might use me. He might pretend to assist in restoring the Kingdom of Revelant just to gain influence over the northern part of the continent."
"That is also possible. However, I decided this while being prepared for that. Even if the Kingdom of Revelant is revived in a form that incorporates the influence of the Grand Duchy of Arqvist, I believe that is also an acceptable option. How much national self-determination can be maintained at that time depends on you, Helga."
Helga trembled at Gabriel's words.
If she were to be the sole survivor as the last member of the royal family. She realized once again that the fate, the history, and the pride of the Kingdom of Revelant would all rest upon her shoulders.
"Helga. Because I thought I still had time to watch over you as a father, I have spoiled you, my lovely only daughter, until now. However, we may be running out of time. Therefore, I will intentionally choose harsh words... As you are now, even if you survive, I believe you cannot achieve the restoration of the Kingdom of Revelant by your own strength."
"...Eh?"
Helga was speechless. Her face turned pale.
"If there is a single possibility, it would be a restoration in name only, as a puppet state of the Grand Duchy of Arqvist. I believe that is all. While you cannot do it, Grand Duke Noein Arqvist would be capable of reconquering the territory of the Kingdom of Revelant, placing you there as Queen, and holding the reins while pretending to be equals on the surface. He possesses that much talent."
"No, I don't want that, Father..."
Helga covered her ears, tears in her eyes.
Her beloved father did not have expectations for her as his daughter. He valued Grand Duke Arqvist as a ruler more than he valued her. These were words far too cruel to take in directly and suddenly.
"Listen, Helga."
Gabriel grabbed Helga's hands and pulled them away from her ears. He did not allow Helga to escape.
"The greatest difference between you and Grand Duke Arqvist. Do you know what it is?"
"..."
To that question, Helga shook her head blankly.
"Grand Duke Arqvist takes action. Within the absurdities of the world, he attempts to improve the situation as much as possible, as far as his reach extends. He has produced results. Not just in the treatment of beastmen, but in everything else as well. On the other hand, you do nothing but speak of ideals. That is the reason I do not trust you, but trust Grand Duke Arqvist."
"B-But... I am still a princess..."
"That is true. However, there were things that could have been done even while being a princess. If you had intended to create some kind of connection to the southern part of the continent to provide even a little aid to the beastmen, you could have done so. You could have actually traveled to the south and seen and known the current state of the beastmen. If you had desired it, I intended to help you. But you did nothing but speak of dream-like ideals within the royal castle. For years now."
Having been told this, Helga had no words to reply.
Looking at Helga's despairing face, Gabriel's stern expression softened.
"However, I am not disappointed in you. I believe that as you are now, you cannot restore the Kingdom of Revelant. But I do not believe that you will remain as you are forever."
Helga's face looked startled. She understood what Gabriel was trying to say.
"You are still young. And, you are actually clever. That is what I believe. If the Kingdom of Revelant falls into the hands of the enemy, you, having survived, must learn many things from here on and grow to become a monarch who rebuilds the country from scratch. Even if the kingdom survives, the importance of growth does not change. You have become an adult now. Use this as an opportunity to learn, and become a person worthy of being the monarch of the next generation."
"...How,"
Helga opened her mouth with a trembling voice.
"How should I learn? I... I cannot even imagine what I should do, or what I should start with."
"True. First, you should look at those who have actually taken action and achieved results—for example, Grand Duke Arqvist himself. You should learn what he thinks, what he says, how he treats those around him, and how those around him view him. If you do that, you will see the difference in the caliber of a monarch."
"..."
"Do you understand? My beloved daughter."
Helga wiped her eyes, which had turned red from tears, and nodded slowly. Seeing this, Gabriel let out a short laugh, placed his hand on Helga's head, and patted it somewhat roughly.
"You must be tired after being told such things. However, accepting this is the first step of your growth. You may return. Rest well today."