I Don’t Need a Guillotine for My Revolution

Chapter 105: Revolution Defense War - Change

Nancy, a city in Lorraine, Eastern Francia.

The morale of the Imperial Army, shattered by successive supply line disruptions and a devastating defeat, did not improve even with the arrival of the Reinforcement Army.

Rather, the Reinforcement Army’s spirit was ruined before they even fought, affected by the existing troops.

Grand Duke Leopold, reviewing reports from his quarters, heard a knock and spoke.

“Enter.”

The officer who entered immediately saluted the Grand Duke and reported.

“Your Highness, an order has arrived from the Homeland!”

The Grand Duke immediately took the order handed over by the officer.

His receiving hand trembled slightly; the Grand Duke took a deep breath, broke the seal, and unfolded the order.

The content began with formalities, praising the hard work of the Grand Duke and soldiers suffering on the front lines, but the substance within was far from light.Reading the order with trembling eyes, the Grand Duke held his breath at the part stating a change in the war objective.

[The final war objective is adjusted from the capture of Lumiere and the unconditional surrender of the Francia Puppet Government to the defense and cession of the Alsace-Lorraine region.

However, disseminate this matter only to key commanders and maintain silence.]

Having read the content, Grand Duke Leopold silently lifted the order, covering his eyes.

“Y-Your Highness?”

As the officer grew flustered, Grand Duke Leopold spoke with genuine relief.

“The Kaiser has not abandoned us.”

The Grand Duke hadn't expected the war could be stopped immediately.

Too much had already been invested to halt it in such a manner, and ending it merely as a defeat would inflict immense political damage on the Kaiser.

But attempting to overthrow the Francia government to grant the Francia throne to the Kaiserin—it was impossible to know how much blood would flow, or if it was even possible.

Breaking through the Verdun fortress to capture Lumiere was unrealistic from the start, and the attempt to cut off the Trade Route with the Kingdom of Alps had also failed with a crushing defeat.

That was why the Grand Duke offered direct counsel to the Emperor, ignoring the chain of command.

However, if the strategic objective was to bring Francia to the negotiating table over the already occupied territories, it was at least feasible.

Yes, if it was a defensive war. If the Kaiserin relinquished the Francia throne.

If, at the very least, they could defend the already occupied Alsace-Lorraine and secure its cession, the Empire could somehow frame this war as a victory.

The instruction to inform only key commanders and maintain silence was also understandable, as admitting from the outset that this was the war objective was tantamount to conceding the war's failure.

Grand Duke Leopold turned eastward and bowed deeply.

Grateful to his Kaiser for issuing a realistic order, instead of devastating the Empire to seize the Francia throne for the Kaiserin.

However, the Grand Duke couldn't even imagine that the order came not from the Kaiser, but from the Kaiserin.

Nor that the Kaiserin, intending to manage the situation, had secretly issued it even from the Kaiser, planning to absorb the pressure herself.

*

One month after the Battle of the Besançon Plains.

With reorganization finally complete and all wounded treated, I redeployed the army near Valois, Franche-Comté, and the Imperially occupied region of Alsace-Lorraine.

However, despite having ample time, Grand Duke Leopold and the Imperial Army remained stationed in Alsace-Lorraine, showing no sign of movement, and we continued a sluggish standoff.

If they intended to capture Lumiere and offer the crown to Empress Cecilia, they should have attacked immediately, even in summer.

They had received reinforcements similar in number to their losses in the last battle, and our army was continuously being raised even at this moment.

Their lack of advance must mean they had changed their objective.

Thus, with the interests of both sides aligning, the summer of war without battle passed by.

*

Valois, the mansion I was using as headquarters and temporary residence.

I lay idly in bed for the first time in a while, watching the person sleeping peacefully beside me.

How much time had passed?

“Umm……”

Following the soft groan and the shifting on the bed, long black hair cascaded over pale white skin.

I watched the scene leisurely before slowly getting up and offering the glass of water I had prepared.

Christine stared at it blankly with slightly hazy black eyes, then eventually took it and brought it to her lips.

While she drank the water, I walked to the window and drew the curtains, letting in the bright, warm sunlight.

Turning back, Christine, seemingly fully awake now, had neatened her previously disheveled chemise and returned to her usual calm expression, looking at me.

Yet, a slight blush lingered on her face, making me smile as I said,

“Good morning, Christine.”

“……Good morning, Pierre.”

Exchanging greetings like this fills me with a strange sense of fulfillment.

“Will you have breakfast in the dining room? Or-”

Christine slightly averted her gaze and replied,

“Here.”

“Understood. I’ll have it prepared.”

As I replied with a smile, Christine nodded, her face slightly flushed.

Seeing her subtly embarrassed makes me realize I’m definitely not normal, either, feeling a deeper satisfaction from it.

But then again, I like that.

Perhaps, just as Kroxx worried, I've already fallen too deep.

*

Food was brought to the bedroom, and as we ate, Christine seemed to eat noticeably more than usual, perhaps because she was tired. This brought a slight smile to my face.

Christine had just arrived in Valois yesterday.

To be precise, she accompanied the three Councilman when they visited Valois.

The Councilman, representing the government, brought various goods to commend the final victory in an overwhelmingly disadvantageous battle and the protection of the Trade Route with the Kingdom of Alps, and to console the soldiers.

To maintain the soldiers' morale and help them forget, even a little, the severe sacrifices of the last battle.

Thanks to them, the soldiers, who had grown weary from continuing the standoff through the summer after a major battle, enjoyed abundant food and had a pleasant time.

Anyway, we were discussing work.

A conversation we should have had yesterday, but we were preoccupied last night.

“So, construction of the trading port on the Iberian Peninsula will begin.”

“Yes, he seemed a bit reluctant when we first met for some reason, but after meeting with you, he accepted immediately.”

“Haha……”

So Christine properly read Kroxx’s disposition too.

“The construction of the ships of the line will be finished by winter. In preparation, the navy has also begun proper training.”

“Hmm, a proper navy at last……”

Francia, called the Kingdom of Knights, was a respectable land power, but its navy fell far short.

There was a navy, but the fact that the state navy possessed a fleet inferior to the one led by Christine says it all.

However, faced with the inability to establish proper diplomacy or trade routes due to hostile nations like the Northern Allied Kingdom in the far north, the need for a navy became desperate.

Of course, Christine and I are more wary of Abyss Corporation.

“Yes. That’s how it is. Director Talleyrand wants to contact the Kraft Kingdom, and the Eastern Empire, as soon as the fleet is established.”

“He is diligent too.”

Truly Francia’s head of diplomacy, I suppose.

The Kraft Kingdom is a powerful military nation within the Germania Empire that openly defies the Emperor.

Sending a diplomat was difficult as it's in the middle of the Empire, and the sea route required passing through the waters of the hostile Northern Allied Kingdom. So contact was impossible but…….

If the strengthened navy could pressure the Northern Allied Kingdom into allowing passage through their territorial sea, we might establish a decent relationship.

The Elves' Eastern Empire, along with the Dwarves' Kingdom of Alps, had been considered for exchange, but we couldn't even approach due to the naval blockade.

Anyway, if that materializes, the game truly starts to expand.

As I was lost in thought for a moment, Christine, who had been watching me quietly, smiled faintly.

“By the way, you’re doing too well, Pierre. A Marshal in your 20s.”

“Haha, indeed.”

I hadn't known either. Eris, having conspired with the Councilman beforehand, suddenly bestowed the rank of Marshal upon me, taking me by surprise.

I glanced subtly at the Marshal's insignia on my uniform hanging on the wall.

Recalling Demian looking at me with extreme envy and saying he hadn’t even received a medal is strangely amusing.

Anyway, with this, my military rank has not only surpassed that of the Blue Knight but also become equal to that of Grand Duke Leopold.

I grinned and said,

“Much of it is thanks to you, Christine.”

“……I couldn’t offer much help on the battlefield.”

“If not for you, I would have struggled to even get the chance to achieve merits. And if not for the damage your operations inflicted on the Imperial Army, we might have collapsed before the Reinforcement Army arrived.”

Christine stared at me intently, then smiled slightly.

“Hearing you say that makes me happy. Honestly, I was a little worried. I thought Her Majesty the Queen would dislike it. ……Perhaps you too.”

“Ah, that.”

It was certainly an idea soldiers couldn't have imagined, striking the army by contaminating supplies.

A method called cowardly or cruel by some, but…….

“Her Majesty the Queen did not blame you. She merely mentioned she hoped such methods wouldn't be used again.”

“……That’s surprising.”

The Eris I first met might have objected directly.

But the current Eris is not a naive Saintess who believes she can enforce everything based on her own justice, but a proper Queen.

“She is someone who understands her position, her influence, and our situation.”

Christine watched me quietly before asking again.

“Then what about you?”

“Me?”

- Rulers decide on war. Most who bleed on the battlefield are merely the ruled. I think they are victims too, Marquis.

Eris had said that.

Truly worthy of being called a Saintess, my admirable Queen, but.

“Well, I cannot definitively say whether what you did was right or wrong.”

Even that Eris ultimately failed with her values alone.

Eris’s goodness, Christine’s necessary evil.

Isidore's egalitarianism, Valliant’s meritocracy.

The Grand Duke's pledged loyalty to the Empire, and me, fighting not for the state but to protect my people.

Ultimately, nothing can be declared absolutely right or absolutely wrong.

“But I know the result clearly. That even those who found your actions distasteful received great help because of them, and achieved victory.”

I looked directly at Christine and opened my mouth.

“If I hadn't wanted you to do such things, or if I had deemed this country ultimately unsavable and given up, then I probably would have asked you to flee abroad with me.”

But would that have ended well?

If I had abandoned everyone who trusted and followed me, the Marquis Lafayette and Count of Toulouse, and Christine had abandoned her family and trading company to flee.

We would have had enough money, but seizing the assets of a foreigner with no political power or connections is trivial, easily done with some excuse.

Even if not, what value would we have found in a life of mere escape, with nothing left?

“But instead of fleeing, I chose the path of staying in this country, by any means necessary, and as a result, I was able to come this far.”

Ultimately, the fact that I was able to give proper rewards to those who followed me, become the Commander-in-Chief and Marshal of the Francia army, be called a hero, and stand on this battlefield now.

The fact that Christine could protect Aquitaine and secure the power to pass it on to Louis.

The fact that Eris became a Queen receiving respect and love, instead of being executed as a witch.

These are results we could achieve because we stayed on this land and did our best.

I took Christine’s hand and lightly kissed its back.

“It was possible because you did the necessary things, even while feeling guilty and worrying about being hated for such actions, and in that case, my role is to respect and thank you for that.”

Christine watched me silently, then slowly smiled.

“……Thank you.”

I smiled back at Christine and replied.

“Likewise.”

At first, I just wanted to survive the chaos of the revolution and avoid a meaningless death.

It was a life with only a vague desire to become a better person than the Blue Knight, having been granted another chance.

But now, I want to protect those who follow me and grant them the victory and rewards they deserve.

I found value worth protecting in the revolution I once considered merely the lesser evil.

I serve a queen worthy of following, not just a figurehead or a tool, and even if I don't fully sympathize with everything beyond that, I want to see her efforts rewarded, even if just a little.

I dream of a moment when I can say I lived a decent life, enjoying happiness with Christine in this land we protected.

The person who helped make all that possible.

To the first and greatest change since regressing, I spoke with sincerity.

“Thank you for coming this far with me.”