Chapter 422 - Episode 405: In the End
"Good grief, that was quite a commotion."
"Yes, indeed."
As Oscar sank heavily into his chair and muttered with a sigh, Noein, sitting opposite him across the table, nodded with a wry smile.
The location was the balcony of a small lodging villa provided for the guests of honor, Oscar and Ingrid. It was midnight.
Anrietta and Klaus's wedding reception had turned into a "quite a commotion," but Anrietta had somehow managed to settle the situation without any injuries and had spent time apologizing to the attendees. Meanwhile, the guests had been excitedly discussing the dramatic scene that had unfolded before their eyes. It was only just now that things had finally settled down and everyone had returned to their guest rooms.
Noein was naturally exhausted, but at the same time, he felt he hadn't talked enough about today's events. When Oscar asked him to keep him company for a bit, Noein had left the task of putting Eleos to sleep to the servants and come here.
"How is your son? He witnessed a blade being drawn right in front of him."
"Even for my own child, he is quite a handful. He wasn't particularly frightened; instead, he bombarded me with questions, such as why Count Auteuil and the others did such a thing, or why everyone applauded Her Majesty Anrietta's words."
"Hahaha, he certainly has a great capacity. Still, no matter how clever he is, explaining the situation to a six-year-old son must have been grueling."
"Yes. He is at an age where he cannot yet understand the finer points of national tradition or the pride of royalty and nobility in detail."
Hearing about Eleos, Oscar laughed amusedly, then sighed again.
"The finer points of noble pride, huh... I never imagined Queen Anrietta would settle a commotion using those methods. As the person being imitated, it's somewhat embarrassing."
"Your Majesty Oscar's words from that day are widely known as a famous quote. It is understandable that Her Majesty Anrietta used them as a reference."
If you claim I am insufficient for the throne, then kill me and take it for yourself. Those were the words Oscar had spat at the nobles of the Rhodeberg Kingdom during the Betumia War to demonstrate his own resolve.
Those words spread from the nobles present to other nobles, and then to the common folk, and are now recited and told by bards. They have spread even outside the country as a masterpiece of a speech by a king who united the nobility and saved the nation.
Anrietta had imitated that. And just like Oscar, she had brilliantly settled the situation. As the one who was imitated, Oscar could not blame her.
"But in the end, that was for the best. It would be intolerable if the reckless actions of a few Lancel Kingdom nobles ruined the connection between the two royal houses. Maintaining a strong bond between the two countries is far more important than the responsibility of those involved in that moment."
Noein could understand Oscar's feelings.
For a noble to draw a weapon at a banquet where many dignitaries were gathered was a situation that would make Anrietta—as the noble's liege and the host of the banquet—turn pale. However, the reason the culprit drew the weapon was not to harm anyone, and since in the end no one was hurt, there was no actual damage.
It would be disproportionate for the connection between two great powers, established through a royal marriage, to vanish because of an incident of this scale.
For Oscar, who wished to maintain the friendly relationship with the Lancel Kingdom without turning this incident into a major issue of responsibility, it was fortunate that he obtained a plausible reason to forgive the matter with a generous heart... by honoring the courage of the young queen of the neighboring country who had settled the commotion by referencing his own past actions.
"Indeed. It was truly a relief that all the other attendees were satisfied."
"I thought at least one person would complain... but every single one of them has either watched too many plays depicting heroic tales or listened to too much poetry. In the end, we were saved by that."
As Oscar spoke with a laugh, Noein also let out a small chuckle.
The attendees of the reception, who had been caught up in a situation involving weapons—especially the representatives visiting from foreign lands—could have held Anrietta accountable by demanding apologies or compensation, claiming they had been put in danger if they had so desired.
However, none of the representatives from over ten countries blamed Anrietta. On the contrary, they praised her for stopping the rampage of Count Auteuil and the others with words alone, and for simultaneously granting severe punishment and merciful salvation. They praised Anrietta one after another, saying that this was the ideal form of a monarch and that they had witnessed a wonderful moment of history.
The reason behind this was their temperament. Aside from the Rhodeberg Kingdom, those invited as guests this time were monarchs of small nations or their close relatives; they governed and protected their countries by relying on individual ability and quality rather than delicate political power.
From their perspective, Anrietta, who displayed a charisma akin to a hero in a story, was very attractive as a fellow ruler.
A petite woman, who could still be called a girl in her teens, did not fear the blade and subdued warriors with only her words and presence. That positive impression outweighed all other factors.
Of course, there were likely calculations—such as the fact that small nations could not compete if they protested the mismanagement of the reception to the Lancel Kingdom, or that it was more profitable to get along with the Lancel Kingdom, which would likely prosper in the future—but even including those, the fact that not a single complaint was raised was undoubtedly the result of Anrietta's actions.
"Princess Helga-denka was also one of those completely admiring Her Majesty Anrietta's dignified figure... I suppose it must be said that as the protagonist of this event, Her Majesty Anrietta won a complete victory. Honestly, the story was so perfect that I suspected for a moment if there was something behind it."
"Are you suggesting it was a farce staged by me and Queen Anrietta? How could we possibly incite nobles to run wild and cause a blade-drawing incident, and then intentionally steer it toward such a convenient development?"
"Ahaha, that's true. Even without taking such a gamble, it would be more peaceful to persuade them in advance once the signs of Count Auteuil's rampage were detected."
"Naturally. Besides, for the sake of a single farce, how could we do something like dismantle several military noble houses, which are precious to the current Lancel royal family? What a waste... they lost multiple commander-class figures at once. Marquis Paradir, who oversees the military affairs of the Lancel Kingdom, will likely struggle to reorganize the command structure of the national army from now on."
Observing Oscar as he spoke, Noein concluded internally that he was not lying.
"In that case, the evaluation of Her Majesty Anrietta must be completely revised. Since she managed to handle herself that way of her own will in the face of such a commotion."
"True. She is intelligent and has ambition, but honestly, I thought she would remain a slip of a girl who only had the bloodline for the time being. But now that I've seen that, I must change my thinking."
Anrietta had not only charmed the royalty of neighboring countries but had also demonstrated her capacity as a monarch to the heavyweights of the Lancel Kingdom's noble society present there. From now on, the Lancel Kingdom would likely become an even stronger nation under her.
For Oscar, and for Noein, Anrietta was no longer a neighbor who could be looked down upon. She had become an existence they must face with tightened resolve to ensure the balance of power did not collapse, while aiming for coexistence and mutual prosperity.
"To continue being good neighbors, we cannot afford to let our guard down either."
Noein smiled as he said this, and Oscar responded with a smile.
At least until Noein's next generation, the monarch houses of the three countries are close relatives. The possibility of falling into a conflict involving bloodshed is low.
That is precisely why Oscar and Noein were personally happy about Anrietta's growth.
"...We might be fools who can't laugh at the other attendees."
Perhaps thinking of himself as too soft-hearted, Oscar muttered self-deprecatingly.
"This is likely because we've grown old."
"You aren't at an age where you can say you've grown old."
"With all due respect, Your Majesty, my experience is different from others of the same age. After all, I am someone who has experienced decades' worth of turmoil in the last ten years, from the Southwestern Great War to the Battle of Bezel, the Betumia War, and recently the fight with the Virgo Kingdom."
As Noein laughed, his appearance remained a baby face that could still pass for a teenager, but he now also wore an unnaturally mature atmosphere. Among unfriendly nobles, malicious jokes were even told, such as "Grand Duke Arqvist is actually a vampire who has lived for two hundred years."
That maturity was all due to the experience of standing on numerous battlefields, contrary to his own desire for peace.
"Hahaha, that may indeed be true."
Both were tired, but Noein and Oscar continued to enjoy chatting with drinks in their hands for a while longer.
.....
After cleaning up the commotion at the reception, placing Count Auteuil and the others under house arrest at their respective homes with a strict surveillance network, and ordering the guards to further increase security at the guests' lodgings.
It was midnight when Marquis Paradir, the person responsible for military affairs in the Lancel Kingdom, finished the various behind-the-scenes arrangements.
"Viscount Tajinette. Did you hear that the Queen intended to stop Count Auteuil and the others by speaking in such a manner?"
Marquis Paradir asked this after calling in Viscount Chloe Tajinette, who had swapped with another military officer to guard Anrietta. In response to the question, Viscount Tajinette shook her head without expression.
"No, I was not aware."
"...Then, you understood that there was a possibility that danger could reach Her Majesty depending on the situation. Although it was an action under Her Majesty's orders, it was a terrifying time for me to watch."
Even as Marquis Paradir muttered this, Viscount Tajinette did not change her expression in the slightest. Not even a single eyebrow moved. The Marquis sighed at that lack of reaction.
Viscount Tajinette was an excellent warrior as a monarch's guard or a single commander, but she had zero political flexibility. Her personality was that of a stiff person who valued the master's will to a stubborn degree. After Cadne's exile and her defection to Anrietta's faction, that temperament had become even more extreme.
"However, I will admit that you were correct this time. I also had a tendency to unconsciously believe that protecting Her Majesty and guiding her correctly was the duty of those of us who are former vassals of the previous-previous Majesty. Despite the fact that Her Majesty attempted to resolve the situation with her own power, I tried to provide unnecessary assistance. In that moment, that was not the correct attitude for a vassal."
At times, it is the duty of a vassal to offer remonstrance to their liege. However, remonstrance should be performed so that the liege does not stray from the path of a ruler, and the path of a human being.
As long as Anrietta is the Queen, there are scenes where she must show decision and resolve, even if it means stepping into danger. It is Anrietta herself who decides where those scenes are. Since she acted after making a decision that only a monarch could make, all a vassal can do is open the path for her.
No matter how young she is, a Queen to be protected, it would be putting the cart before the horse to surround her by restricting the Queen's own actions, treasuring her as if she were a fragile object. Even if the actions were intended for the best, their essence would become no different from the folly of Count Auteuil.
"...Hmph. I suppose I have grown old as well. Because I have pride in the experience I've accumulated, I've started wanting to meddle in the affairs of the young."
As Marquis Paradir wore an ironic smile, Viscount Tajinette spoke.
"However, before Her Majesty the Queen went to rest, she expressed her gratitude to you, Lord Paradir. She said she was happy to have a loyal vassal who worries about her safety like that."
"Hahaha, that is the greatest honor for a noble of the kingdom... It reminds me of when I first met her, back when Her Majesty was still a young princess living quietly in a remote area. Compared to those days, she has truly become strong."
If Marquis Paradir had ordered the Guard as it was and attempted to suppress Count Auteuil and the others by force, the counts would likely have committed suicide, leaving their objective in the dark, and the Lancel Kingdom would have been looked down upon as a country that not only threatened the safety of its guests but could not even uncover the cause of the commotion.
However, as a result of Anrietta's brave actions, the Lancel royal family was able to settle the commotion in a way that could be called the best possible under those circumstances. Anrietta's evaluation from the perspective of neighboring countries rose to the extreme, and considering future diplomacy, it could even be said that this commotion was a good thing for the Lancel Kingdom.
Anrietta likely didn't act by calculating everything to that extent. That is precisely why she is terrifying. She performed those actions and acquired those results, so to speak, following her instincts as a monarch.
In Marquis Paradir's opinion, today's commotion ended in a conclusion that was almost too lucky. That was an achievement that could only be accomplished by a young and pure queen like Anrietta, within the atmosphere of that place on this day. Even if one tried to stage such a farce, it would not go as well as that. Truth is stranger than fiction.
To be able to achieve such a thing naturally is already a talent. Anrietta, who had been a girl merely hoisted up by her bloodline, was evolving into a creature called a "Queen," one of the protagonists of the era.
With her as their Queen, and if they as vassals supported her by working themselves to the bone, the future of the Lancel Kingdom was bright. Marquis Paradir wore a satisfied smile.
.....
"Grand Duke Arqvist, and Princess Helga Revelant. Thank you very much for visiting us. And, I apologize once again for the previous commotion. Due to my immaturity as a Queen, I caused you all anxiety and showed you an unsightly sight."
"I cannot express enough gratitude for the hospitality shown during our stay. Please do not worry about the previous incident. I admired Your Majesty's resolve as a monarch."
Before departing for the return journey, Noein exchanged these words with Anrietta, who had come to see them off herself.
Then, Helga also greeted Anrietta. In the eyes Helga directed at Anrietta, emotions of respect and longing were contained.
"I, too, was deeply moved by those words of Her Majesty the Queen. As I aim to become a strong queen myself, Your Majesty's figure is truly a guidepost. I will continue to make efforts so that the day comes when I can become a monarch who leads the country with conviction and resolve like Your Majesty."
Being told this while being looked at with sparkling eyes, Anrietta showed a bashful smile like a girl of her age. Being told of respect so straightforwardly made her feel not half bad. That was the expression she wore.
"Thank you... From now on, let us find occasions where we can join hands and nurture our friendship. And as women who carry their countries on their shoulders, I would be happy if we could get along."
"Yes. I look forward to it."
The lands where they were born, the scale of the countries they held, and their values regarding races were all different. There were more parts that were incompatible. There would undoubtedly be occasions in the future where they could not join hands, scenes where they could not cooperate, and moments where they would clash.
Even so, as people struggling in similar positions, they could show each other respect. That respect might be what breaks through discord.
That is why Helga and Anrietta exchanged a firm handshake and smiled at each other.
Watching that scene, Noein thought that it was good he had brought Helga along.
After bidding farewell to Anrietta and wishing for a reunion, Noein and Helga entered their respective houses' carriages.
As the carriage departed while Anrietta waved to them, and after proceeding for a while and closing the window, Noein finally relaxed and muttered.
"...There were some unexpected events, but in the end, I didn't really do anything this time. I just talked, ate, and watched."
At those words, Eleos tilted his head with a puzzled expression, and Matilda wore a faint, wry smile.
This time, the one who worked the hardest was likely Anrietta, and Helga also worked hard at her own socializing.
On the other hand, Noein had only engaged in small talk for the sake of making connections, given harmless greetings, or eaten and drunk the served feasts. Even during the commotion, he had watched in silence from the position of the general masses. He was the definition of a supporting character.
However, Noein thought that such things are fine once in a while.
It is exhausting to always be standing in the dead center of a commotion.