Chapter 2: The Banquet

After the ceremony came the banquet. The massive hall of the imperial palace had been decorated to be as resplendent as possible, and its tables were laden with food. Crimson cloth embroidered with gold adorned the walls, and a marble statue caught the eye, carrying a vase from the east containing massive, blooming flowers the likes of which nobody had ever seen before. A vast number of paintings and carvings were likewise met with longing stares from the visitors; most were masterpieces over a hundred years old, from the golden age of Belgarian fine art. All this was accompanied by the vibrant tune of an orchestra and the countless nobles who had taken the opportunity to turn themselves into walking exhibitions of valuable gemstones.

“This is incredible...” Regis breathed as he followed Altina into the hall.

“Yeah. It’s just as lavish as it was during our nation’s anniversary.”

“Are you sure you should be dressed like that?”

Altina had opted to put on a military uniform, although she wasn’t in her usual light armor. Instead, she wore a ceremonial alternative that sported some decoration, along with a small, single-edged sword at her waist. “Right now, I consider myself a lieutenant general in the imperial army rather than a princess,” she explained.

Latrielle’s coronation meant that Altina no longer had any right to the imperial throne, as per a Belgarian custom that was waived only under extreme circumstances. She had initially found this knowledge hard to bear, but it seemed that she had since turned over a new leaf. Although her path to becoming empress was no more, that did not mean she had to cast aside her ideals. Rather than viewing herself as a princess without inheritance rights, she had come to place more value in her position as a lieutenant general.

Even if she’d been born a commoner, I’m sure she would have put her all into achieving her goal, Regis thought to himself. Even so, there was no mistaking that things were now more difficult. As far as he was concerned, this situation had resulted from his own cowardice and indolence. I won’t hesitate any more.

Failing to act decisively at this juncture would cost Altina her dream. To Regis, that thought was even more painful than ceasing to breathe.

Altina’s gaze suddenly caught on one of the items on display. Barely a moment passed before she started scampering over to it, calling out, “Over here, Regis!”

“I would never have expected you to be so interested in a piece of art,” Regis mused aloud. “Ah. I see.”

She was racing toward a longsword of crimson and gold, the blade of which was unsheathed for all to see. It glimmered such a radiant hue that Regis had to wonder whether it really was forged from pure gold, but that couldn’t have been the case; while malleable, gold was much too soft for a practical weapon.

“One of the seven swords forged from the trystie bestowed upon Belgaria’s first emperor by the fae...” Regis muttered. “Since the blade is gold, this must be the Rage Volcanique Sis (The Emperor’s Volcanic Rage VI).”

“This is my first time seeing it,” Altina remarked.

“As I recall, it hasn’t left the treasury in quite some time.”

“It looks weak.”

“No, no... It definitely does look a little decorative compared to the other swords, but there are records of it being used in war.”

“So, what special traits does it have?”

“You’re supposed to use it with a shield, apparently. To realize its potential, it requires the wielder to use sword techniques that have fallen out of fashion in modern Belgaria.”

“Hmm...” Altina folded her arms and then let out a small, frustrated growl. “It’s irritating how that actually got me a little excited.”

Regis chuckled. “That’s harmless enough, isn’t it?”

“No, it’s not. Not at all. That blasted Latrielle... Did his tastes change the moment he became emperor? I thought he hated garish parties and pointless spending.”

Regis looked around the hall. “I can’t deny that it looks as extravagant as the parties from Emperor Vicente’s era.”

The fact that so many paintings remained from those bygone days certainly aided the comparison. Emperor Vicente had adored the arts and invested heavily into the industry of culture...although his wasteful spending did end up devastating the nation.

“He’s always been out fighting some war or another, but...” Altina furrowed her brow. “Latrielle always has had an artistic side. His cousin was a painter; he got along pretty well with her.”

“Huh? H-His cousin?”

“His uncle’s daughter. On his mother’s side.”

“So she’s not royalty then. But she has to be from some notable house. Do you know her name?”

“Her name? Um... Bee... Bea, maybe? Yeah. Well, anyways, I heard that she often spoke with Latrielle about art.”

“Is that so? I would have thought that a painter so closely related to royalty would have become famous even with a dubious level of skill, but this is my first time hearing about her.”

“That’s because she, uh... She died a while back.”

“Oh, I see...”

An increase in the birth rate both within the royal family and in society as a whole had greatly increased the size of the youngest generation, which in turn meant there were far too many names to record and remember. As rare as female painters were, if this woman had passed away before she could produce any notable works, it was understandable that she never made it into any meaningful books. Her relation to royalty might have resulted in her name being noted, if nothing else, but such a fleeting mention wouldn’t have been enough to seize Regis’s attention.

Regis turned his attention to one of the paintings. “Do you think that has anything to do with this? I mean, with this art-filled banquet?”

“I’m not so sure. Maybe he’s just especially happy about finally becoming emperor.”

“He didn’t look too elated during the ceremony. He wore the same expression as when he would encourage his men before a great battle.”

Latrielle’s first address as emperor had been akin to a declaration of war against all the surrounding nations. For this very reason, it was unsettling that his banquet seemed so...expensive. Did he have a separate objective somewhere?

“Pardon me.” As they were caught up in their conversation, a somewhat elderly gentleman came over and gave a deep bow. Regis took him to be a noble who had come to greet Altina, but this was not the case. “I work in the capital as an art dealer of sorts.”

“An art dealer?” Regis asked.

“An art dealer, indeed. If you so wish, I can tell you the story behind this painting.”

“So Latrielle even prepared an interpretation service...” Altina murmured.

“It may be rare at parties like this one,” Regis replied, “but it is quite common at art exhibitions.”

“Oh, really?” Altina asked, her head tilted quizzically.

Regis shrugged in response. “I’ve never been to an art exhibition myself, so I really can’t say.”

“Is that so?” the art dealer asked. “I suppose a young soldier might not be too interested in the world of art. Emperor Vicente commissioned this masterpiece himself, and it has been preserved in the palace treasury for a great many years. The master painter Filippo spent three years completing it, and...”

Regis refrained from weighing in, having come to the conclusion that this story was meant for Altina. It was true that he had never before stepped foot in an art exhibition, but this certainly wasn’t due to any disinterest on his part. Until not too long ago, he had been a commoner on a meager salary—a lowly tactician who lacked both the qualifications to enter such events and the money required to pay the admission fee. There were numerous paintings that had come up in his stories and plenty of works he hoped to see at least once before he died.

By the time the art dealer’s explanation was over, Altina was looking rather impressed. “I would never have guessed this painting was so important,” she said. “I thought it was about as trivial as the ones hung around the palace.”

Actually, I assume those paintings are of the same caliber as this one... Regis retorted to himself. La Branne was widely praised for its likeness to a grand art museum; Altina’s inattention presumably stemmed from her having grown so accustomed to the greatest art in the world.

“Just between us,” the art dealer added in a hushed voice, “there’s a rumor going around that Emperor Latrielle is going to put the pieces unveiled here up for sale.”

“Oh, really?” Altina replied, wholly uninterested. Regis, in contrast, considered this news far more important.

“I see... So that’s it. This banquet is being held to fill the nation’s war chest,” Regis said. That explained the gaudy displays; a reserved party would do little to loosen the wallets of the nobility. He smiled at the painting and then nodded.

“They’re all masterpieces, if not national treasures, so anyone who obtains one will become the talk of high society,” the art dealer explained. “That prestige will remain with them even if they one day have to part with the paintings, and it will no doubt raise their opinion of the emperor.”

“The thought of something raising Latrielle’s reputation doesn’t make me happy in the least,” Altina remarked.

“I-Is that so?” the art dealer stammered before forcing out an awkward chuckle. The princess’s words would have been taken as blasphemous were she not royalty herself.

Naturally, the art dealer understood the statuses of all those attending the banquet. The average noble would not be able to purchase a world-class masterpiece, so he needed to be selective when spreading the rumor. Thus, he had approached Altina knowing that she was a princess.

That said, it seemed the man had not been thorough enough in his research to account for Altina’s personality. The princess was by no means sympathetic enough to put on a modest act, especially so soon after losing a power struggle.

“Regis. His reputation aside, does Latrielle gain anything else from selling a few paintings?” Altina asked.

“Let me see...” Regis whispered a figure into the art dealer’s ear. “Is that about right?”

“My apologies, but this painting is valued at around double that amount. Were the decision up to me, however...I would be willing to negotiate something closer to your asking price.”

The conversation thus far should have made it clear that Regis and Altina had no intention of making any purchases, but this was a man with a commendably persistent commercial spirit. In any case, Regis’s estimate had not been completely off base.

Not wanting to give the art dealer any false hopes, Regis gave a polite bow and then returned to his conversation with Altina. “Wow, what an amazing amount!” he proclaimed. “If even half of the pieces here manage to sell, we could recuperate all of our losses from our war against High Britannia and then some.”

“Gwah?! That much?!”

“The paintings collected here are national treasures. They’re worth enough to put a dent in the national treasury.”

Of course, Regis’s estimation was based on the cost of employment and training fees; imperial soldiers couldn’t be bought or sold, nor could they be brought back from the dead. Furthermore, with how expensive the art pieces were, it was hard to imagine they would sell quickly...

Altina sighed. “My sword is great and all, but I really should have taken a few paintings with me too, way back when.”

“Aha ha... I can’t imagine any high nobles would have bought anything from you. As the art dealer said, the whole appeal is that they’re making a purchase from the new emperor.”

“Meaning they’re emptying their pockets to curry favor with him?”

“Such flattery is essential to being a noble.”

“Just make a donation then. I feel sorry for the poor paintings.”

Regis offered a wry smile; at no point had he thought to consider the paintings themselves. “If the new emperor started taking money without offering compensation, it might be perceived as a levy.”

“So? Nobles levy taxes on the commoners all the time.”

“Perhaps, but having the contribution be mandatory would cause any affected nobles to lose face. The situation might not end up bad enough to spark a civil war, but the imperial army might as well be considered a collection of noble armies. For Emperor Latrielle to walk the path of war, he needs to keep the support of the nobility.”

As emperor, Latrielle held absolute authority, but a majority of the Empire’s soldiers and civilians were under the rule of nobles. And although these nobles pandered to the emperor, the emperor could not show them any disrespect. It was an entanglement that had continued for centuries.

✧ ✧ ✧

Latrielle took the stage to fanfare, much like he had during the ceremony, while nobles formed a line to pay him their respects. It was almost identical to how things had gone with the previous emperor during the national day celebration.

“As I announced during the ceremony, I am looking to expand the Empire’s territory,” the new emperor said from his platform. “We shall take in all nations in our vicinity and form a power so great that no enemies will oppose us.”

As the nobles applauded this declaration, Altina sighed. She and Regis were watching from a corner of the hall. “Do they even understand what Latrielle’s saying?” she asked, beside herself. “He just told them we’re about to enter an era of war. Are they ready for that?”

“They don’t have much choice,” Regis replied. “Voicing their opposition to the emperor’s policies here will only result in them being isolated, even among other nobles.”

“But we came so close to losing against High Britannia alone!”

A few nobles overheard this heated remark and glanced over. It was clear from their expressions that they were wondering what house such an idiotic outburst had come from, but upon finding their answer, they frantically looked away. Everyone knew that the Fourth Army’s contributions had been responsible for the Empire’s victory in its most recent war.

Regis gestured for Altina to lower her voice. “Still, we won in the end. That’s what matters to them.”

“Because of you, right?”

“I...wouldn’t go that far. You’re overestimating me. Belgaria is strong—it would have come out on top even without my involvement,” Regis said. His self-esteem was lower than ever, and as far as his involvement in the war went, he was concerned only that he hadn’t been able to reduce the casualties even more.

Altina pursed her lips. “I have to disagree about Belgaria being strong. High Britannia only had thirty thousand troops. Thirty thousand. And how many did we lose?”

“The nobles are aware, but I think they’re taking Emperor Latrielle’s words to be a show of resolve or an ultimate goal rather than an immediate course of action. It would be strange for him to act so irresolutely so soon after taking the throne.”

“But this is Latrielle we’re talking about; when he says there’s going to be war, he means it.”

“I assume his sense of values is too alien for them to understand,” Regis observed. Latrielle and Altina were unique cases in that they had their own ideals they would give their lives to realize. Most nobles were more than happy to maintain the status quo.

As the applause continued, Latrielle nodded to his audience. “I am pleased to hear that you all endorse my position,” he said. “We lost many great men in our last war, so I’m sure some of you feel uneasy hearing about the path we must take. That is why, although it may be somewhat uncouth to show this with all the ladies present...I would like to show you our secret weapon.”

Latrielle gestured with his eyes, and within moments, Germain had joined him on stage. The adjutant was carrying a cylinder covered in white cloth, which he then started to unwrap, his movements intentionally slow to build up tension. And then...the nobles were astir. Presented before the audience was the same rifle that Regis had seen just a few days prior—a prototype, granted, but an impressive weapon nonetheless.

“The indifference of my predecessor gave High Britannia the opportunity to surpass us in the arms race,” Latrielle continued, “but thanks to the Empire’s many fine technicians, we have already begun mass production of the newest firearms!”

Upon hearing this news, the gathered noblemen erupted in cheers. Noblewomen weren’t advised to speak on military or political matters, so they all remained silent...except Altina.

“Even if you have rifles—!”

“Now, now,” Regis interjected. “The emperor is speaking.”

“I mean...!”

“I know what you want to say, but we haven’t come here to argue.”

Latrielle went on to guarantee that Belgaria’s guns surpassed anything the other nations could produce, and he promised to loan them to the noble armies for cheap. Most nobles rejoiced, as though the Empire had won another war, although there were a few grim faces among them.

“Loan...”

The equipment of most noble armies—that is, their swords, spears, and armor—were either made by in-house blacksmiths or purchased from merchants. Such was how things had always been done, which was precisely why some were uncomfortable with a system where such things were produced in a national factory and only distributed on a temporary basis.

Looks like some of them have keen instincts, Regis thought.

Latrielle’s ultimate intention was to replace noble armies with a uniform national military, but he knew that abolishing them all at once would cause an uproar. Nobles relied on their personal armies to maintain their special privileges, which was why he was instead taking a roundabout approach by nationalizing the production of guns and ammunition. Regis fully understood what was going on, but he saw no reason to inform the nobles; at the end of the day, he viewed the abolition of noble armies as a necessary step in the establishment of peaceful diplomacy.

Just as Regis assumed that Latrielle was concluding his address, the new emperor spoke again. “Recently...the advancement of technology has allowed the unenlightened to spread their dishonest views throughout our society. We are consequently facing an increase in completely baseless rumors.”

Regis was taken aback; he had expected Latrielle to ignore the circulating suspicions entirely. Although he hadn’t said it outright, it was obvious that he was criticizing The Weekly Quarry. He was even dismissing its reporting as no more than unsubstantiated gossip.

“Eh?!” For an instant, Regis felt as though Latrielle had glared right at him. Was that my imagination? He’s the emperor now; he wouldn’t spare even a thought on the likes of me...

Before he could fully convince himself, however, Altina cocked her head to one side. “Why did Latrielle glare at us just now?”

“Ah, you saw that too?”

“It wasn’t exactly subtle. Is he that frustrated about you being alive?”

Regis could no longer pass it off as his imagination. He covered his mouth with one hand and whispered into the princess’s ear. “Did you hear about Marquis Beclard’s testimony making it into The Weekly Quarry yesterday?”

“I didn’t know the name of the paper, but yeah, I definitely heard something about it.”

“I’m responsible for that.”

“Huh...?”

“I went as far as to forge Germain’s signature to get Beclard out of his manor.”

“What?!”

“It wasn’t a decisive enough move to prevent Latrielle’s enthronement, but I’ve laid the groundwork for our counterattack.”

Altina stared at Regis in amazement. “If you’ve done all that, what made you think he wouldn’t glare at you?!”

“Well, erm... Are you being serious...? I thought he’d see me as no more than a pebble on the wayside...”

“What do you think, Regis? About the allegations, I mean.”

“After hearing Beclard give his testimony, I’m certain there’s some truth to them.”

“In that case...!”

“Right now, the Empire needs stability and recovery under a young and competent emperor. There isn’t any material evidence to prove the allegations, and what we have is too weak to overturn Latrielle’s coronation. At the very least, I’m not going to drag Beclard out and have him testify before the nobles.”

“Why’s that?”

“The grand chamberlain previously stated that he recognizes Latrielle as the next emperor, so if we have him openly voice his suspicions here, he may be seen as inconsistent. And if the people conclude that his testimony regarding the emperor’s assassination is a lie, we have almost no means by which to disprove them.”

“Ah. I see...”

“His testimony isn’t the holy spear that will topple the dragon.”

“So it was just harassment?”

“To Latrielle, at least. That’s why he’s denying it here, and why he’s letting me live.”

“Well, no matter his intentions, I won’t let him lay another finger on you, Regis.”

She’s my superior. Am I not supposed to be the one protecting her? Regis wondered. He knew that he wasn’t strong enough to serve as her shield, however, so he made no attempt to correct her. Instead, he just awkwardly scratched the back of his head. “We’ll never achieve our ideals if you fall, though. Please don’t forget that.”

“Of course!”

✧ ✧ ✧

Again, Regis was sure that Latrielle’s address had reached its conclusion, and again, it progressed on to another topic entirely. It seemed this was where things truly began.

“Marie Quatre Argentina,” Latrielle announced. “Come forth.”

The ruckus among the nobles that followed was bigger than any since the ceremony had commenced; the emperor was nominating someone he had been in a power struggle with only moments before. To complicate matters further, the princess was now a war hero. How was Latrielle going to treat her? This sudden confrontation brought the investment and excitement of all those gathered to a climax.

Of course, Altina had no intention of cowering or running away. She took the nervously stammering Regis by the hand with a bold, “Here we go!” and confidently started toward the stage, moving the attending nobles aside as if parting a sea of gemstones. Soon enough, she was standing in front of the platform with a hand on her hip, glaring at the new emperor.

“What’s your game, calling me out personally like this?” Altina asked.

“First, why not congratulate me, Argentina? Our father cautioned you on this as well—you’re simply too impatient.”

The nobles watched Altina as eagerly as they had when she was considered a target of ridicule, amused to see the new emperor demanding congratulations from a political rival. Latrielle was demanding the princess’s obedience, and there was a chance she might even be executed if she refused.

“Hmph! Congratulate you? Are you stupid or something? Why in God’s name would I do that? Your goal was never to be emperor—no, it’s something far beyond that. I’m not ill-natured enough to flatter someone who’s only come halfway!”

Tensions were already high, and Regis could feel a grating pain in the pit of his stomach. A moment of silence passed, and then Latrielle burst into laughter.

“Gwa ha ha! Yes, precisely! As expected of my sister, the worthy foe who fought for the throne till the very end. You are correct, Argentina. My sights are set on the great beyond. I shall take your words as encouragement.”

“That so? Well, let me make one thing clear: this isn’t over yet. I’m not giving up. I’ll chase my ideal in my own way!”

“Your ideal of a country without war?”

“A world without war.”

“That’s nothing more than a pipe dream.”

“Perhaps. But if we can’t achieve it, humanity is done for.”

Most of the nobles snickered at this remark; they viewed pacifism as the delusional dream of a little girl, and so they were entirely unwilling to support it. There were, however, some intellectuals among the noble class, and the number of serious faces among the crowd was by no means small. The suggestion that humanity would decline should war continue was not a conclusion Regis had made alone; rather, it was an ideology that had already been presented in numerous books. Unfortunately, it seemed its adherents were the minority here.

“I shall not question your ideal, but I will ask you to work for the good of the Empire,” Latrielle said, changing the topic without offering even the slightest rebuttal. “I previously had you take over the defense of the northeast front, but I am aware you have reserves to spare. In that case, it seems only logical that I should entrust another shorthanded war front to you.”

“We don’t have any—!”

Regis placed a hand on Altina’s arm, stopping her before she could object. The Fourth Army’s presence in Fort Volks was an effective deterrent against an invasion from the Grand Duchy of Varden, but there was no avoiding that the princess had marched 4,500 soldiers to the capital without having been ordered to. She had only taken such drastic action because she had refused to accept the news of Regis’s death...but the scope of her operation was beyond what was permitted on imperial soil. She had essentially raised an army.

It was entirely reasonable for Latrielle to deem the Fourth Army’s arrival as an act of rebellion and order that its forces be quelled. Regis had thus far managed to avoid this outcome by claiming that such numbers were necessary for the princess to celebrate the coronation of the new emperor. It was a persuasive argument, considering that remnants of the High Britannia Army still lingered in Belgaria, but it also showed how many spare soldiers were currently stationed at Fort Volks.

Altina could certainly object as she had intended to, but she would only undermine her current standing. If she maintained that the soldiers accompanying her were needed at Fort Volks, then she was admitting that she had left the Empire vulnerable to another attack.

“The Fourth Army shall support the southern front,” Latrielle announced. “The Sixth and Eighth Armies are already stationed there, but the situation remains unfavorable.”

“Hmm... So we’re going to be aiding the south this time.” Altina glanced at Regis, who responded with a silent nod.

Our only option is to accept. That said, if we’re being made to march south, I’ll make sure he accepts a few of our demands too.

Altina puffed out her chest, respecting Regis’s opinion on the matter. “You sure love pushing your problems onto me, but... Very well! I’ll help you out one more time.”

I don’t hate that you’re so spirited about it, but please don’t end the conversation there, Regis thought. It wasn’t as though he had anticipated them receiving such direct orders here, however, so he hadn’t told Altina anything in advance. To be more precise, he had foreseen countless possible scenarios, but it would have been impossible to tell her about every single one.

“Um...” Regis attempted to get the princess’s attention.

“Hmm?”

“About your rank...remember?” He whispered softly enough that only she would hear him, but much to his surprise, she responded by slapping him on the back.

“Say it louder! Loud and clear, why don’t you!”

“Eeh?!”

“I can’t speak for Belgaria as a whole, but without you, Regis, I wouldn’t have secured many of my biggest victories. And without our win against High Britannia, who knows what would have happened to the Empire? Everyone here knows what you’ve accomplished, so if there’s something on your mind, don’t hesitate to say it. No one’s going to complain.”

Regis groaned as he was subjected to the gazes of countless nobles, many of whom were seeing him for the very first time. It was clear from their expressions that they were surprised by his appearance, especially after hearing about his grand achievements.

Latrielle reached out a hand from where he stood on the stage. “I hold you in high regard, Regis. Speak whatever is on your mind. Or are you dissatisfied with lending your wisdom to an empire under my reign?”

Regis took a deep breath. “N-Not in the slightest...”

Once upon a time, Regis wouldn’t have been able to breathe with so many nobles staring at him. It was for this very reason that he had completely disregarded the idea of taking the stage himself during the national day celebrations. Instead, his plan had depended on First Prince Auguste and the others. But running away was no longer an option.

“I was born and raised in the capital,” Regis began. “I hold the Empire in my heart, there are a great many people whom I wish happiness upon...and, above all else, I have my own ideals.”

“Indeed. I do not doubt your loyalty in the slightest,” Latrielle replied. He was urging Regis to speak his doubts.

“The Sixth and Eighth Armies have already been deployed to the south, meaning we have forty thousand troops stationed there with more than enough horsemen and cannons. Our threats on that border, Hispania and Etruria, are by no means weak, but they do not have the forces necessary to invade us. If we need reinforcements despite this, I must assume that the issue does not lie with our numbers.”

“Mm-hmm. So you think there must be some deeper reason for my order. Tell me, then, Sir Regis—what do you think the problem is? Do you require time to investigate the matter?”

Regis shook his head. “I doubt we have the leisure for an investigation; I hear the Etruscan Army has already crossed the river.”

“I see... You received my command to march south a mere moment ago, yet you’ve already looked into the situation. I expect no less from you.”

“O-Oh... Well, I am the princess’s tactician, despite everything.”

“Did you foresee my issuing of such an order to the Fourth Army?”

“My role requires me to consider and prepare for as many potential outcomes as possible; this just happened to be one of them.” Regis attempted to lower his head as he spoke, but instead he ended up slouching forward. His mannerisms, which weren’t at all befitting of a soldier, elicited some reserved laughter from the gathered noblewomen.

Far from viewing Regis as some amusing spectacle, however, many of the high-ranking noblemen with experience commanding armies exhaled in admiration. None of their staff officers had considered that the Fourth Army, whose base of operations was a northern fort and who had already dispatched reinforcements to the eastern front, might be sent south. Even if they had entertained the idea, none would have gone as far as to prepare for it; those who were loyal above all else did no more than react to the orders they received, while those who were proactive would at most attempt to foresee their commander’s intentions. It was for that reason among many others that the generals who knew the scene swallowed their breath, taken aback by this unfathomable, feeble-looking man.

“Indeed, the Etruscan Army crossed the great Crena River,” Regis continued. “According to the information available in the capital, they numbered twenty thousand, but I assume they arranged to meet up with reinforcements along the way. Even if we set off at once, there is no telling what has become of our base at Sembione. There is no time to investigate—but one look at the data is enough to surmise that the problem is not numerical inferiority.”

Latrielle and the nobles listened in silence. At one point in time, they might have assumed that Regis was making an excuse to avoid the southern front, but his mounting success had given his words far more credibility. Regis detested that the weight of a statement depended more on its speaker than its contents, but authoritarianism was deep-rooted in noble society and the military alike.

“The commander of the Sixth Army is a lieutenant general, and so is the commander of the Eighth,” Regis noted. “This is not an issue in itself, since both have similar achievements and manage comparable forces, but if their armies were unified under one commander, it would cause confusion among the officers and make things harder to coordinate.”

“Hmm...” Latrielle placed a contemplative hand on his chin. “Protecting the south was originally down to the Sixth Army alone; I only dispatched the Eighth Army there last year when our enemies were growing in strength. Since the Sixth Army has been stationed there longer, the right to command remains with them. They should already be unified.”

“There would be no issue if the Eighth Army’s commander were as capable as you, Your Majesty.”

“Hmph. Was that supposed to be flattery?”

“Not at all. I merely want you to recognize that even a lieutenant general may fall short of your own expectations.”

“Oh?” Latrielle leaned closer. Germain looked none too pleased, still gripping the rifle in his hands, but he refrained from weighing in.

“Commanders are forced to make tough decisions in the field, and the problems they navigate seldom have a ‘correct’ solution. That said, one must wonder whether the Sixth Army’s commander deserves the trust that comes with his position. Despite greatly outnumbering his foe, he chose to pull back the line. I would not blame the Eighth Army’s commander for having his doubts.”

“No matter his feelings, he must obey orders. To refuse would be to break military regulation.”

“He will obey, but reluctantly so. He will try to keep his own losses to a minimum, but that only begs the question: is he fighting against the enemy or his orders?”

“Is the imperial army truly made of such feeble soldiers?”

“You lack experience, Your Majesty.”

“The nerve... I lack experience? I’ve survived more battlefields than you could possibly imagine. The palace does not simply bark orders!”

“No, of course not. What I mean to say, Your Majesty, is that you have yet to experience a battlefield completely devoid of competent commanders.”

“Hmm.”

“Your own talents mean there is always one present.”

“I...see.”

It was then that Germain finally interjected. “I understand your point, Regis, but the commanders of the Sixth and Eighth Armies are both brave, veteran warriors. Are your claims not discourteous toward them?”

“I read the reports from the battlefield; we have the terrain advantage and completely dwarf our opponent’s numbers,” Regis explained. “If either commander were as capable as His Majesty, they certainly would not have pulled back the lines and called for reinforcements.”

“How can you be so sure? Could this not also come down to the competence of the enemy commander?”

“That may be the case, at least relatively speaking... And if we assume you’re correct, that simply confirms that we cannot leave our current situation to the commanders of the two armies.”

“I understand now,” Latrielle said, interrupting their quarrel. “Regis, you are doubtful of the officers on the southern border, correct?”

“I mean no disrespect, but...yes.”

“Such insolence!” someone from the audience cried. The commander of the Sixth Army hailed from the central nobles, and those close to him were evidently in attendance. Irritated by Regis’s slander but unable to come out too strongly against him, they had settled for heckling.

The central nobles hate me already, so this is nothing to be concerned about, Regis convinced himself. Altina, however, was much less willing to accept the situation; she fixed the unruly nobles with a glare as she made her thoughts painfully clear.

“The real insolence is coming from those of you who only have the guts to complain when you’re hidden among a crowd! If you’ve got something to say, come out here and say it!”

Regis frantically stopped the princess from going any further. He appreciated the sentiment, but her hostility would only complicate things.

A bitter smile played on Latrielle’s lips. “You seem to struggle with speaking frankly before me, Regis. I will attempt to interpret your intentions. You want me to entrust the southern front in its entirety to Argentina.”

“...It is as you say, sire.”

Altina raised a hand. “I don’t mind, so long as it makes things easier for Regis.”

“P-Princess...”

“Your tactician is, as his title suggests, a tactician,” Latrielle sighed. “You are supposed to be the one making the calls. But so be it. I was just thinking it was time for me to step down from my command position to reorganize the army. It would be strange for someone with forces in the north, east, and south to remain a lieutenant...”

“Sire?!” Germain exclaimed, sounding as panicked as Regis had just a moment ago. “Aren’t you being a bit hasty?!”

“It’s fine... I’ve been considering this for a while now.” Latrielle walked to the very front of his platform, lording over Altina. “Under our current system, a general is granted a single army to command; only the Ministry of Military Affairs may manage forces greater than that. But this is not enough. The system failed us during our last conflict, and it fails us during our current one. We need change. But war will not wait for us.”

“So?” Altina asked. “I get that already. You and Regis both sure love to beat around the bush.”

“You’re too impatient, Argentina. Hear me out. In the imperial army, there are only two positions with the authority to command multiple fronts. The first is the marshal general, the emperor’s proxy. I intend to do away with it,” Latrielle announced. Since the emperor could personally visit the battlefield, there was no need to delegate command of the armed forces, making the marshal general unnecessary. “Therefore, I am left with but one option—”

The nobles were astir. Regis could feel his heart racing. Only Altina calmly awaited the emperor’s next words.

“What?”

“I hereby appoint you généralissime. Command the armies as my right hand and achieve absolute victory.”

Upon hearing this, the men with military experience cried out in shock. Even Regis couldn’t help but widen his eyes.

I didn’t think he was going to give up that much authority!

“Huh? General-is-me?” Altina asked, her head cocked to one side. The very individual who had been granted this historic title didn’t quite seem to understand what it meant.