I Don’t Need a Guillotine for My Revolution

Chapter 192: Shadow Peace - Wedding

Episode 192. Shadow Peace - The Wedding

For the two months of wedding preparations, I had to be so busy I barely had time to breathe.

It was necessary to extensively organize and reorganize the military structure, which had grown bloated due to the special circumstances of wartime, and I also had to spend time creating a management system to ensure the army could maintain discipline even in peacetime.

Since we had to win the war for now, it was by no means an easy task to completely rebuild the system of the Revolutionary Army, which had been operated by rule-of-thumb with a hastily formed organization that relied on the situation.

Since an army on the scale of a national military had never been properly operated in the Kingdom of Francia, the last feudal state, everything had to be created from scratch.

In truth, even if there had been one, it would have been swept away by the revolution and become nonexistent anyway.

There were some, including that damn Millbeau, who wondered why we had to reorganize the structure so rigorously right after the war ended, but if not now, when?

Should we do it in the middle of another war when one breaks out?

Besides, as both the Commander-in-Chief and a member of the assembly, I had a need to show the National Assembly that the military was working this hard.

Of course, most of the Revolutionary Army isn't interested in politics, and it's a problem if they show too much interest, but we still have to secure the budget.Continuing the insane situation where most of the National Assembly's budget goes to war expenses, like during the consecutive wars against The Empire and Krafte, is a problem, but it's also a problem to cut it too much just because the war is over.

Even if we're downsizing, we must keep the excellent personnel and elite troops filtered and refined through the long war. Considering the sorry state the Revolutionary Army was in at the beginning, I refuse to have a situation where we go back to square one with every war.

Interestingly, while the drastically reduced army budget went towards state administration and reform, a considerable amount was transferred to the navy.

This was partly to leverage the advantage of being the only nation trading with the Eastern Empire and the Iberian Brotherhood, but more importantly, with no clear enemy on the continent at the moment, the eyes of the National Assembly naturally turned towards the demons of the Abyss Corporation.

The revolution itself erupted because King Louis was selling off the people of Francia to the demons, so the antipathy of the Francia people towards demons is substantial.

How bad must it have been for a good number of citizens to actually view me favorably, for the reason that my victims had used demonic tools to commit acts of terror in the urban area, even though I was the one massacring assemblymen in broad daylight?

For that reason, the Francia navy, which started in response to the maritime blockades of other nations, was now receiving significant expectations and investments with the firm support of the National Assembly.

Since the person in charge of that navy is none other than Christine, there will be no shortage of budget management skills, but as her potential opponent is the navy of the Abyss Corporation, she too has a long way to go.

The problem is that the Abyss Corporation is suspiciously quiet...

Well, it’s not like I can go and see their fog-covered island, so I guess it can't be helped.

*

I looked up at the clear sky.

Usually, weddings are held in a church, but because of the scale, we decided to have it outdoors. Fortunately, the weather is nice.

“Sob, finally……! Now I won't be ashamed to face Lady Yuria.”

“You still have many days left to live, yet you're already saying such things.”

I gave an awkward smile as I watched Dumont, who was squeezing out tears.

Both Christine and I were so busy that we had to leave the wedding preparations mostly to Dumont and others, but still, time flowed on, and this day finally came.

“Still, thank you. Thanks to you, everything proceeded without a hitch.”

As I expressed my gratitude for his significant role, Dumont thumped his chest, his stomach—which had shrunk a bit since I last saw him in the capital—jiggling as he replied.

“The pleasure is all mine, Marquis-nim!”

……For that belly fat, which I thought would never go down, to shrink... just how much did he suffer for two months?

As soon as Dumont, who had shared a brief chat with me, went inside, a greeting that sounded like it came from a well-oiled tongue flew in from behind me.

“The weather is so bright and clear, it seems even God is celebrating the marriage of you two! Congratulations, Marquis Lafayette!”

I know who it is without even looking.

“Chairman Talleyrand, members of the assembly.”

“Congratulations, Marquis Lafayette.”

“You're looking quite well, ho ho.”

I exchanged greetings with Chairman Maurice Talleyrand and a few members of the Revolutionary Party.

Hmm…….

It doesn't feel like long ago that I massacred the radical faction's assemblymen in the middle of the Lumiere Urban Area, but that was already several years ago.

I never imagined the day would come when I'd be receiving wedding congratulations from them.

The members of the Revolutionary Party, perhaps having similar thoughts, opened their mouths with an awkward smile.

“We never thought we would be attending the Marquis's wedding.”

“Haha, I didn't know either.”

Back when Christine and I first joined hands with the National Assembly, our relationship could hardly be called good, not even as a pleasantry.

It was more of a hostile relationship where they wanted to purge us if they had the slightest pretext. Compared to that, we now have a relationship where we sometimes cooperate, so indeed, many things have changed.

“The times always flow like water. When the times change, people change, and when people change, relationships change too, don't they? It's because we didn't cling to the past and changed at the right time that we can exchange congratulations in this era of peace!”

As Talleyrand chattered on skillfully as always, I let out a soft laugh and replied to him.

“I see. That's a relief, for all of us.”

Didn't Christine say that Talleyrand himself said that not antagonizing us was the best choice he ever made?

I don't know if Talleyrand recalled saying those words or not, but he gave a sly grin, congratulated me once more with the assemblymen, and went inside.

“Congratulations, Marquis Lafayette.”

A quiet and calm voice, in contrast to Talleyrand.

“Chairman Brisseau, thank you for attending.”

Unlike Talleyrand who herded around the members of the Revolutionary Party, Nicolas Brisseau, the Chairman of the central party who came quietly alone, smiled gently.

“The clothes suit you well.”

“Haha, thank you.”

After shaking my hand, Nicolas Brisseau watched me quietly for a moment, then smiled softly.

“Thank you.”

“Pardon?”

Shouldn't I be the one thanking him for coming to my wedding?

As I was thinking that, Brisseau watched me quietly and smiled.

“We have come a very long way, and it has been eventful. Still, thank you for showing me this sight, where the Second and Third Estates can laugh, chat, and celebrate together, and for allowing this old man to offer his congratulations with a peaceful heart.”

I smiled back at him.

“I am the one who should be grateful, Chairman. After all, you were the one who created the beginning between us and the National Assembly.”

Although he created the situation where he brought Maximilien Le Jidor along, and as he said, the road here has indeed been eventful...

He trusted me even after obtaining information that could have been used to decisively attack me, and as a result, we were able to come this far together.

“I'm glad I can show you a scene like this.”

Nicolas Brisseau smiled gently, patted my shoulder saying congratulations, and went inside.

Now then, it seems everyone who's coming has arrived.

The final guest of honor will probably arrive right on time, too.

As if on cue, the sound of trumpets rang out, and seeing the person entering with a face that openly said they were bored of waiting, I smiled softly and bowed.

“Welcome, Your Majesty.”

“Really, I've waited for so long. It was long, so long. Why isn't the Queen allowed to enter first?”

As Eris spoke in a whining tone, I smiled softly and replied.

“Indeed, Your Majesty. It has been a very long, long time.”

*

The ceremony began.

I stared with a dazed look at Christine approaching me.

I couldn't take my eyes off her, a completely different sight from when she always wore unadorned, solid black dresses that were like mourning clothes.

A dress with extravagant embroidered patterns and decorations could have easily overshadowed her beauty, but the stark contrast of Christine's snow-white skin and jet-black hair, far from being consumed by the dress, captivated one's gaze.

Is this why she didn't show me until the end?

“……I'm, I'm surprised.”

I spoke dazedly, not having expected Christine to appear so lavishly adorned, but Christine herself slightly furrowed her fine brows and replied softly.

“It's not my taste.”

“I-Is that so?”

“Her Majesty the Queen picked it out for me.”

“Huh?”

That Eris?

The Eris who loathes even slightly uncomfortable clothes?

She picked out a wedding dress this extravagant, one that looks difficult to even move in alone?

At that, Christine narrowed her eyes and replied.

“She said she doesn't want to wear it herself, but she wants to see it worn.”

Ha, what tyranny, just like that mischievous Queen.

“Still, you are beautiful. ……Truly.”

As I spoke with pure sincerity, Christine's face flushed slightly as she replied.

“Pierre, you too—”

“Ahem, ahem.”

Only then did I notice the presence of Count Anjou.

Ah, right.

Count Anjou had come out to act as a father figure for Christine, who had no family left but Louis.

Christine was so striking I didn't even realize he was next to her.

“Ah, I apologize, Count.”

“Well now…… Ah, youth is a fine thing. This old man must have been quite clueless too. To say that I coveted Countess Aquitaine right in front of you two when it was so obvious.”

Is he talking about the time during the civil war when he first brought up joining hands with the National Assembly?

It feels like it wasn't long ago, but it was already ancient history, so I let out a soft laugh and replied.

“That's all a memory now, isn't it?”

To think that we came this far together through a connection that began when I went down to the Southern Region during the plague to secure Eris in advance.

Count Anjou looked at me with a slightly complicated expression, then soon let out a dry laugh and handed over Christine's hand that he was holding.

“Well, congratulations. And please take care of the central party a little. Anyone would think you two are from different parties!”

“Haha, I'll try to be as lenient as possible.”

No guarantees, just as lenient as possible.

I led Christine and stood before Archbishop Johan, who had agreed to officiate.

While the archbishop, who once cared for the people in the southwest that had been on the verge of clashing with the National Assembly's revolutionary government, recited the nuptial address with a gentle face.

Christine and I, holding hands tightly, were glancing at each other from the corner of our eyes.

Christine's eyes are wavering slightly.

-To be honest, I still think about it. If a woman like me is allowed to be this happy.

I recall her voice, whispering after we spent a night together when the wedding was just around the corner.

I sometimes have those thoughts too.

The blood on my hands is by no means a small amount.

Ten years before the regression, ten years after the regression.

Having come through nothing but blood-soaked battlefields for a long 20 years, peace itself feels awkward.

It feels as if screams and gunshots could ring in my ears at any moment, so I sometimes worry that if I suddenly open my eyes, all this happiness might be a lie.

Still.

I squeezed the hand I was holding with Christine.

When we hold hands like this, even that anxiety fades.

Not the fiancée who died betrayed by her family without even knowing the truth, but the Christine who crossed through life and death with me and helped me get here, is right here.

Instead of the aristocrat of the old regime who died achieving nothing and having everything denied, there is me, who reached this point after breaking through life and death with her.

So, it's okay.

After Johan's address ended, the moment we faced each other.

The reason there was only joy in her eyes instead of any more wavering was surely because she was thinking the same thing.

In boundless joy, I cupped her cheeks and pressed my lips to hers—and at that moment, a deafening explosion erupted, shaking the entire venue.

A dead stop, and then silence.

Where everyone's gazes were directed, a stiffly frozen Damien De Millbeau, dripping with cold sweat, opened his mouth.

“S-Sor-Sorry. I-I prepared a gun salute to congratulate Your Excellency, the Commander-in-Chief, but it was too excessive…….”

He was flustered, seemingly startled by the sound himself...

What kind of madman fires a 12-cannon salute simultaneously?

As I glared at him, dumbfounded, Demian nearly had a fit and repeatedly bowed to me.

Isn't he just pretending to be like that on the outside while deliberately protesting because he has so many complaints about me?

……We'll see about this later.

Just as I was thinking that, a soft arm wrapped around my neck.

“Losing focus with your bride right in front of you.”

“Ah, my apologies, Christine.”

As soon as I quickly turned my gaze, her lips came closer.

Lost in the ecstatic sensation, I held her and kissed her mindlessly—before barely coming to my senses amidst the cheers of the crowd, a mix of envy, jealousy, and teasing.

Still, isn't this a bit too intense in front of everyone?

Just as I had that thought, Christine pulled away and looked up at me with slightly tear-filled eyes, whispering earnestly.

“Just, stay by my side. That's all I need.”

……Everything in my head went blank, so I hugged her and replied.

“Always.”