Chapter 7: The One Who Operates Behind the Scenes

Chapter 7:
The One Who Operates Behind the Scenes

 

“WE’RE GOING TO RESCUE Miss Louise, which means I need your help,” I announced as I stood in the dining hall where the idiot brigade was gathered.

Julius, clad in an apron, put a hand to his forehead. “Bartfort, this isn’t like last time when we rescued Noelle. Do you even have a plan?”

“My plan is to do whatever it takes to save her.”

He stared at me, flabbergasted. “Tell me you’ve put more thought into this.”

“Earl Bartfort,” Jilk interjected, acting pompous as ever as he mocked me. “Pardon me for asking, but do you truly think the issue will be solved by a simple rescue? His Highness has misgivings because he’s concerned with what happens after we rescue Miss Louise. Things won’t end if we take her into custody. Last time, you fussed over the international scandal your actions would incite. Do you intend to ignore those repercussions now?”

He was referring to the incident during which Loic tried to force Noelle to marry him and I’d interfered to save her. I had waffled about acting at the time because of the diplomatic crises that would ensue, and it was then that I’d realized how capable the idiot brigade could be. Yes, they were absolutely useless under normal circumstances, but they did benefit from some of the finest education around, thanks to their nobility. Where a nation-wide dispute was concerned, they actually came in pretty handy.

“Dealing with the aftermath of this kinda crap is a huge pain, which is precisely why I’m relying on you guys,” I said. “Come on. You remember last time, don’t you? You’re the ones who thought up the whole plan to crush the republic’s pride.”

I realized I was asking for the impossible, even more so than usual, but unlike me, these guys had been born and raised in this world. There was a non-zero possibility they might come up with an idea I wouldn’t be able to think up on my own.

“If I’m remembering right, the part where Bartfort utterly crushed their pride was entirely of his own design,” Brad said to Chris as he cradled a pigeon and rabbit in his arms. “Wasn’t the plan we offered a bit more amicable all around?”

Chris nodded. “It was. Frankly, I felt bad for Loic for having to face Bartfort. He’s an unmatched genius when it comes to tearing someone down and making them miserable.” His earnest expression remained at odds with his choice of wardrobe—he was still buck naked save for a loincloth.

I put my hands on the table. “Come on, I’m helping provide for you guys. Give me something to work with.”

Greg frowned. Reluctantly, he said, “I mean, we’ll help you if that’s what you’re asking. It’s true; we do owe you a lot. Problem is, if we don’t know how we’re supposed to help, there’s not much we can do. Who is Louise to you anyway?”

It was like a challenge. The unspoken question: Was she worth saving? There was an obvious doubt to voice, but I was distracted by his muscles. He must have just finished training, because they were bulging more than usual. Also, there was the fact that he was wearing a tank top and short shorts. I guess it was too cold to go completely shirtless.

I’m just glad he’s wearing anything at all.

“Hm… An older sister, I guess?” I said.

All five of them sneered at me.

Julius tilted his head. “Is this what people refer to as a ‘sister complex’? Someone obsessed with their sister?”

“You’re the last people in the world I want to see judging others,” I snapped.

While the idiot brigade was busy failing to come up with any decent ideas, Angie and Livia strolled into the dining hall. They’d already overheard the conversation.

Angie took one look at me and shook her head. “You should be more careful with your words.”

Livia, on the other hand, had her lips set into a grumpy pout. “Please be serious about this, Mr. Leon! You really do want to save Miss Louise, don’t you? Then don’t joke around.”

Oh boy. Seems like everyone has the wrong impression.

“You have nothing to worry about. There’s no issue with the rescue part. The issue is with what comes after,” I told them.

Angie crossed her arms over her chest. “If you’re acting that confident, there really must be a way to save her. But as you said, the real issue will be the consequences of doing so. If you’re not careful, the diplomacy we’ve worked so hard to foster will vanish in an instant.”

The republic and the kingdom had finally reached an agreement on reparations. If I wasn’t cautious, their painstaking work would be for naught, and the kingdom would resent me for it. I didn’t mind if it meant watching Roland suffer, but since it would mean trouble for dozens of other people as well, I wasn’t going to chance it.

“Intervening now would completely win over the Raults,” I reasoned. “Isn’t there some way we can manage with them?”

Before Angie could answer, Julius stepped in. “The republic is extremely sensitive about anything involving the Sacred Tree. That’s become increasingly obvious since we came here and saw it for ourselves. Saving Miss Louise is all well and good, but the republic won’t stand idly by. The situation is overall too unfavorable; it wouldn’t ultimately matter if the Raults sided with us.”

True. The kingdom would be in dire straits if we antagonized five of the Six Great Houses.

Angie frowned. “Taking in Noelle would prove beneficial for us, but the same can’t be said of Louise. I understand why you want to help her, but if you stick your nose in this, we might end up at war.”

The Sacred Tree had already chosen its sacrifice, and my plan was tantamount to stealing it—or rather, Miss Louise. The republic would no doubt throw a fit. As Angie indicated, war might even ensue, and the kingdom would have more than a few bones to pick with me.

I wanted to save Miss Louise, but my hands were tied. The situation was vexing. This was exactly what I found so suffocating about being nobility.

“The other issue is that Miss Louise doesn’t seem to want to be saved,” Livia said, frowning. “Do you still mean to go through with it in spite of that? She said her little brother’s soul is trapped in the Sacred Tree, right?”

I was sure Miss Louise would resent me for rescuing her, but what of it?

“It’s not right for her to die for the sake of someone who’s already gone. Sorry, but the other Leon is going to have to sit tight. Besides, I’m skeptical of that whole nonsense to begin with.” Sadly, jaded as I was, I had a hard time believing what people told me. It’s too bad I can’t return to being as innocent and gullible as a child, much as I’d like to.

Angie’s eyes filled with sadness as she looked at me. “Even if you rescue her, she’ll hate you for it.”

“Well, she can get in line. Plenty of people hate my guts. Won’t make much difference to add one more. Besides, I’m used to it by now. Isn’t that right, you guys?” I grinned at the idiot brigade, who I was certain loathed me as well.

Julius’s lips thinned. “I suppose so.”

Jilk smiled back at me, no mirth in his eyes. “I envy your thick skin.”

“I’ll never forget the day you beat us senseless,” Brad said, his eyebrow twitching in annoyance.

Chris shook his head in exasperation. “Bartfort, that’s exactly what makes you a scumbag.”

“Yeah, you’re a real piece of work,” Greg agreed, a vein bulging on his forehead. “Anyway, we’ve agreed that saving this girl won’t fix the problem, so what are we gonna do?”

I sighed. “That’s still the question, isn’t it? I thought you guys would prove useful, but I guess I was wrong.”

That insult made them all glare at me.

Julius thrust a finger in my direction. “You have some nerve! You haven’t come up with any ideas either!”

“I’m the type of guy who sets my eyes on the prize and nabs it. You’re the ones who think up plans and help me follow through. So naturally, none of this is my fault.”

They immediately started trying to bicker with me, but Miss Cordelia suddenly interrupted. “Lord Leon, you have a guest.”

“A guest? For me?”

 

***

 

An enormous, six-hundred-meter-long luxury passenger ship, which had been outfitted with weapons for this particular occasion, was making its way to the top of the Sacred Tree. It had a platoon of bodyguards in tow as well.

Since there was no record of the Sacred Tree ever requesting a human sacrifice, this was a first for all the people of the republic. No one had any idea what was going on. In order to discern how to handle the matter, representatives from the Six Great Houses had been sent to investigate. All the passengers on the ship were young men who were next in line to inherit their respective houses. Serge had volunteered to represent the Raults.

“This is way too flashy,” he complained. “We’d have been fine taking a military ship.”

Hughes, who had offered to represent the Druilles in his brother’s place, said, “Are you stupid? We’re not going to fight.”

Emile, the Plevens’ volunteer, sighed. “Enough. This is no time to bicker.”

The oldest of the men was Narcisse of House Granze, who also happened to be a former teacher at the academy. “Precisely. In some ways, this is a historical moment. If we’re really going through with sacrificing Louise, we must record every aspect of the event for future generations.” As an academic, Narcisse was secretly opposed to the idea of sacrificing his former pupil. Even so, he couldn’t oppose the decision the house leaders had made.

Although Hughes had been engaged to Louise not so long ago, he seemed relieved by the circumstances. “I can’t believe the Feivels bowed out of this. Especially when my brother agreed to bring his own fleet to guard us.”

The Six Houses’ aim was to evaluate the performance of their heirs apparent. At the same time, the boys were relatively easy pawns to sacrifice if anything went wrong. There were supposed to be representatives from each of the great houses, but the Feivels had failed to procure a volunteer, instead sending troops and knights.

Serge turned his gaze to the boy sitting at the edge of the opulent room. “So Loic, an Unprotected like you is the Barielle representative, huh? Your house sure has fallen.”

These provocations did nothing to stir Loic. “Yeah, I guess so.”

Loic had little value as a noble; he’d lost his crest and his father had disinherited him. He was only here to act as a watchdog when they offered Louise as a sacrifice. His role meant he would get to see exactly what happened first-hand, though his life would be in danger if anything went wrong.

Hughes shot a glare at Loic, who continued keeping to himself in the corner, not bothering to interact with the rest of them. When Loic tried to marry Noelle, Hughes had sided with him, and as a result, House Druille’s position had suffered.

“You know, it’s your fault my brother’s had such a rough time. You should be grateful for the opportunity to put your life on the line and repent for your actions.”

He wasn’t the only one who regarded Loic coolly; everyone else kept a wide berth too.

“Enough already,” Emile said. “Besides, Hughes, you’re partly to blame for that too. It’s not right for you to pin it all on Loic.”

“Hah! I never thought you, of all people, would lecture me.”

The five heirs were not on particularly good terms.

Narcisse sighed. “Haven’t you boys realized that Louise is having a harder time than any of you? At least keep it down so she can have some peace in her final hours.”

Disgruntled, Hughes plopped himself on the couch.

Serge, meanwhile, glanced out the window. “You guys better be ready. That Scumbag Knight from the kingdom’s definitely gonna make an appearance.” As he spoke, he grinned from ear to ear.

Hughes eyed him anxiously. “You really think he’s going to come? That he’s going to make an enemy of the republic just for Louise?” He trembled just thinking about it; he’d seen Leon’s power for himself. As much as he wanted to deny the possibility, he was terrified Serge might be right.

Serge scoffed. “Are you really shaking in your boots? Over that weakling?”

“Weakling?” Hughes echoed. “Do you seriously not understand what he’s bringing to the table? How about you take him down before you start running your mouth!”

“Yeah, I think I’ll do just that,” Serge said.

“Serge, do you really think you can beat him?” Loic asked.

“Stuff it, you creepy dog collar freak. Just because you couldn’t win doesn’t mean I can’t. I’m built of tougher stuff than the rest of you.”

Narcisse rubbed his gut as if he could already feel a stomachache coming on. “Leon’s going to interfere, huh? I’d prefer not to fight him, if possible. He defeated an Armor with his bare hands.”

Serge had heard that story, and it had done nothing to discourage him. “I bet he rigged that fight. Pierre only lost because he was an idiot.”

In a rare display, Emile shot a cold look at Serge. “Would you cut it out? We didn’t come here to listen to you brag.”

“Hmph.” Serge straightened himself, hefting a spear in hand as he stomped out of the room.

 

***

 

Before boarding the airship, Louise had spent some time bidding farewell to her family.

“I’ll be off now,” she said.

Her mother burst into tears, and attendants had to rush to her side to support her when she almost collapsed on the spot.

“You’re really going?” Albergue asked. “It’s not too late. I can still—”

“No, you can’t. Leon is waiting for me.”

Louise was emaciated. Every night, she’d been tormented by dreams of her brother’s suffering.

“Louise, you’re a terrible daughter,” her father said. “Children aren’t supposed to die before their parents.”

“I’m sorry, but I must see Leon again. I was unable to give him any respite when he was alive, so the least I can do is go to him now. Besides, if I’m absorbed into the tree as well, I’ll be able to watch over you.”

Albergue opened his mouth to say more, but he swallowed the words before he could speak them. They were surrounded by knights and soldiers beholden to other houses; he had to take care and let nothing slip.

Fernand was overseeing the fleet accompanying Louise as her guard. “Chairman, I’ll take personal responsibility and see that the young miss is—”

“‘Personal responsibility,’ you say?” Albergue interrupted, shooting him an icy glare. “You mean you’ll take responsibility and kill her?”

“Chairman! We discussed this and came to a decision together, did we not? The Sacred Tree decided everything for us. We should see it as an honor! Your daughter has already resolved herself to her fate. It won’t do you any good to try to stop it.”

Albergue’s gaze fell to the ground. Honor? You think it’s honorable to sacrifice my own daughter? At this point, we are but slaves to the Sacred Tree.

If the Sacred Tree wanted for anything, the republic would offer it on a silver platter. That was the way of things.

Louise threw her arms around her mother. “I’m going to have to leave you now.”

“Louise, why does it have to be you? It was bad enough losing Leon. I can’t let you go too.”

After she embraced her mother and tried to console her, Louise stepped in front of Albergue. “Father.”

“I am proud to call you my daughter,” he said.

“Thank you.” She glanced around, scanning the faces present. Albergue immediately realized who she was searching for.

“He isn’t here, but he asked me to deliver a message: ‘I’m sorry.’”

“Sorry?” Louise pulled a face. What would Leon have to be sorry for?

Albergue explained, “He couldn’t stand to face you, since he was unable to save you.”

“That’s too bad. I was hoping to see him one last time.”

“Is there a message you would like me to relay?”

“Yes, actually. Tell him that I had fun and that thanks to meeting him, I was able to recall some of my fondest memories.”

Albergue agreed that Leon Fou Bartfort had an uncanny resemblance to his own son, so much so that it was at times difficult to mentally separate the two. If his son had grown to the same age, would he not look exactly the same? It made him wonder.

“I’ll be sure to tell him,” Albergue said.

Fernand suddenly broke in, “It’s time. Shall we be off?”

Louise climbed into the airship. On the ground, Albergue wrapped an arm around his wife, drawing her close as they watched Louise leave. He muttered to himself, “I’m sorry, Louise. I hope you’ll forgive me.”

The regret he expressed wasn’t the kind one would expect from a father being forced to sacrifice his daughter; something else lurked beneath.