After the small tea party at the Marquis Rosemary house concluded, Celestine Crocus stepped into her waiting carriage.
"Phew..."
A long sigh escaped her lips. Mounted guards flanked the vehicle—a security detail that might have seemed excessive for travel within the capital, but with Marquis Eiger in open revolt, no precaution was too great.
As the daughter of the Prime Minister and, for the moment, the fiancé of the Third Prince, Rodel, Celestine occupied a precarious position. Sinister reaches from political rivals, whether in the form of assassination or kidnapping, were a very real possibility.
(Of course, my role as that man’s fiancé is nearing its end...)
The annulment was already a certainty. It would coincide with the official proclamation of Marquis Eiger’s rebellion. Her long duty of cleaning up after the Idiot Prince was finally finished, and she felt as though an immense weight had been lifted from her shoulders.
(Regardless, I’m glad Rest-san accepted the proposal.)
While the Crown could have forced his hand through a royal decree, doing so would have soured his opinion of the Royal Family. That was an outcome they desperately needed to avoid. Although she hadn't said it to his face, Rest was rapidly becoming the most scrutinized individual in the eyes of the Kingdom.
(The solo slaying of Subnock, Master of the Magical Wilds... well, with Sir Lyubase’s assistance, technically...)
When the pair had returned from the depths of the wilds with news of the beast’s death, the court was initially incredulous. Subnock was a creature of legend that had repelled every subjugation attempt since the Kingdom’s founding. That two people—effectively Rest alone—could have brought it down was unthinkable.
Yet once the carcass was confirmed, an interrogation followed to determine exactly how the Master of the Magical Wilds had fallen. The findings were staggering. It was revealed that Rest possessed a gargantuan mana pool, perhaps the greatest in the world, making him a strategic asset equivalent to an entire army. The Palace had wavered between fear and celebration at the birth of a man capable of toppling a nation, but ultimately, they chose to embrace him as a "Hero."
Fortunately, Rest was under the wing of Marquis Rosemary. The Marquis was the Head of the Court Mages and a stalwart loyalist who held the King’s absolute trust. Rest himself proved to be of sound character, showing no inclination to wield his power for petty desires.
Consequently, the leadership had secretly decided to integrate him into the Kingdom’s future rather than purge him.
(First, a title and lands. We’ll have him assist in crushing Marquis Eiger’s rebellion, then promote him to Count for his service. He’ll develop the plains once the Master is gone, establishing himself as a young noble leading the charge for change.)
Between the heavy casualties of the festival and the brewing civil war, the nation was shrouded in gloom. A hero—a literal champion—was essential to lift the public spirit. The Palace expected Rest to fulfill that role.
(A commoner like Rest-san will be popular with the masses. Next is Sir Lyubase, a lower noble...)
Precisely because Prince Rodel and Marquis Eiger represented the old guard and high nobility in their revolt, the Crown intended to elevate those from humble origins. They sought to breathe fresh air into a Kingdom that still smelled of the stagnant Queen Dowager Faction.
(If we can put down Marquis Eiger, we can purge the internal rot plaguing the Aiwood Kingdom. Reclaiming the plains will enrich the nation, allowing us to turn our focus toward external threats.)
Aiwood faced enemies on several fronts. The northern barbarians were the most obvious, but the Geisel Empire to the east remained a latent threat. While the Empire had long been ruled by a moderate Emperor, a radical expansionist faction was gaining ground. Should they seize power, Aiwood would surely find itself in their crosshairs.
(...I truly pity the victims of this chaos, but Marquis Eiger choosing this moment to act may actually be a blessing.)
Now that he had revolted, they could eliminate him openly. The only complication was Rodel. Striking down the child of a concubine with ties to the Empire could ignite a diplomatic firestorm.
(A confrontation with the Geisel Empire is likely unavoidable. We can only brace ourselves. This was bound to happen eventually; we are merely addressing the problems we’ve long deferred. It is time to move the hands of the clock that ground to a halt.)
History was like a river. In Aiwood, it had been dammed and stagnant since the Queen Dowager’s passing. Now, with the emergence of a young hero like Rest, the current was regaining its strength, pushing for change in every direction.
"First, Marquis Eiger and Prince Rodel. We cannot afford to lose here."
Celestine pressed her hands together in a silent vow. For the sake of the Duke Crocus House, she would protect the Aiwood Kingdom and guide it toward prosperity. She would expend every ounce of her wit and power. No matter the sacrifice. No matter the pain. As a member of the generation tasked with the Kingdom’s future, she steeled her heart for the coming struggle.
"Now that my engagement is being annulled... perhaps it wouldn't be so bad if I were to be held by Rest-san?"
Celestine whispered, her tone hovering somewhere between a joke and earnest desire, before turning her gaze toward the passing world outside the window.