I Don’t Need a Guillotine for My Revolution

Chapter 206: Abyssal Holy War - Strait Breakthrough (1)

Episode 206. Abyssal Holy War - Strait Breakthrough (1)

Lumiere, the capital of Francia, in the office of the Revolutionary Army’s Commander-in-Chief.

“You’ve worked hard as the head of the Inspection Department, Lieutenant Colonel Giselle Davi. Your zealous devotion has been a great benefit to the Revolutionary Army.”

This wasn’t just empty words; for the more than two years since the end of the war with Krafte, Giselle Davi's contribution as the Chief of the Inspector General's Office, directly under the General Headquarters, had been significant in keeping the military's discipline from fraying.

With her extreme diligence and discipline, she watched over the units with a hawk's eye, forcing the units to maintain a certain level of order and discipline in preparation for the Inspection Department's unpredictable visits.

Well, she was cursed out a lot, though.

There was an unspoken rumor that Christine, the ‘Black Witch of Aquitaine,’ was backing her. Perhaps influenced by that, Giselle Davi soon earned the title ‘Witch of the Inspection Department.’

Anyway, those damn bastards will slap the title of ‘witch’ on just about anything.

“It is an honor, His Excellency the Marquis Lafayette!”

As if completely unconcerned by such a reputation, Giselle Davi replied with a salute in a perfectly rigid posture.The real problem was how troubled I felt just looking at her.

“That being said, now that we are re-entering a state of war, there is a need to readjust the Lieutenant Colonel’s position.”

Giselle Davi was looking at me with eyes full of expectation.

I knew well that she was capable and a model of a zealous soldier, but due to the limits of her rank, the highest command she could be given was that of a battalion commander.

But Giselle Davi's ability to grasp the entire battlefield was difficult to showcase as a mere battalion commander, so the position that would best utilize her talents was already decided.

“...I intend to deploy the Lieutenant Colonel to the advance party that will be sent to Abyss Corporation's main island. You will serve as the Chief of Staff in Commander Damien De Millbeau's vanguard.”

The light that had been sparkling in Giselle Davi’s eyes just a moment ago vanished in an instant.

Ah, that made me feel quite sorry.

But there was no other suitable person for the job.

That damn Demian is a classic case of someone who's strong against the weak and weak against the strong, so you can't manage him by assigning just any subordinate, and an unmanaged Millbeau can't perform to his full potential.

However, Giselle Davi is known within the military as someone favored by Christine and me—and to some extent, it's true—plus she has the backbone to speak her mind even to her superiors, so Demian can't recklessly ignore her.

On top of that, Giselle Davi wields sharp insight while having mastered the most standard military operations, making her the perfect person to assist Demian, who, despite showing surprising moves that sometimes startle even me, lacks stability.

Still, seeing the expectation completely vanish from her dull eyes, I couldn't help but feel a pang of pity, so I cleared my throat and added.

“It’s a dangerous mission, and Commander Millbeau is not an easy person to assist. But your merits will be properly evaluated, and I intend to give you a significant position once your rank allows. I guarantee this.”

If anything, Giselle Davi’s rank insignia proved it.

A newly commissioned Second Lieutenant during the war with the Empire had already become a Lieutenant Colonel after a series of rapid promotions through the Imperial War, Iberica, and the Krafte War.

Upon hearing that, Giselle Davi answered in a rigid posture, as if she had never been crestfallen.

“I have received the order for the change of position, His Excellency the Marquis Lafayette!”

“Thank you. I’m counting on you.”

“Yes, Sir! I will thoroughly assist Commander Millbeau so that he can exert his maximum ability!”

Just as I expected from Giselle Davi.

She understands on her own why I'm assigning her to Demian without me needing to explain my reasoning.

Still, since I had a thought, and Giselle Davi would be directly involved in Demian's strategic planning, it would be best to relay some key information.

“This is still confidential from the field-grade officers, but I'll let the Lieutenant Colonel know in advance. The mages of the Magic Tower will accompany the vanguard you'll be serving with as Chief of Staff. It's for the purpose of constructing a 'Gate' after landing.”

“A ‘Gate,’ you say…”

“It’s a large-scale teleportation device that will connect the Central Continent to Abyss Corporation's island. If we succeed in building this, the Allied Forces from the Central Continent will be able to advance directly to their island without crossing the sea.”

Giselle Davi understood from that alone, her expression turning serious.

“It's no exaggeration to say that the victory or defeat of this war hinges on this operation.”

“Understood, His Excellency the Marquis Lafayette. I was concerned about how we would manage the supply for the Allied Forces' large army, but if we succeed, that problem will be resolved.”

“Right. And the unit that will receive the charging enemies at the point of their spears while that gate is being installed is Millbeau's unit. You understand how important this mission is, don't you?”

“Yes, Your Excellency the Commander! I will make every preparation to ensure we do not fail!”

“Yes, good. Ah, and…”

“Yes?”

Looking at Giselle Davi's slightly puzzled face, I wondered if I was being meddlesome, but added anyway.

“He's not affiliated with the Revolutionary Army this time, but Louis d'Aquitaine will be going along as a liaison between the Revolutionary Army and the Magic Tower's mages.”

“Ah, Louis d'Aquitaine… former Captain. He was a bit of a handful, but he is a competent magician, so I believe we will be able to coordinate well this time too.”

Giselle Davi's expression as she replied was so plain it was as if she was recalling a little brother she'd looked after, which made my own expression turn subtly awkward.

“...Your Excellency the Marquis?”

“No, it's nothing. I look forward to your performance, Lieutenant Colonel. Dismissed.”

“...? Yes! I will take my leave now!”

Even then, Giselle Davi immediately saluted and turned her back.

I, however, had to let out a small sigh as I watched her from behind.

'Tsk, tsk, I wonder if that Louis fellow has any hope…'

*

The Lafayette residence on the outskirts of Lumiere.

After finishing work and returning home, dinner was over.

I leisurely raised my cup and savored the coffee.

Then, I gazed at the face of Christine, who was sitting across from me, also drinking coffee.

Overall sharp lines, but a beautiful face that seemed delicately sculpted, with long, shimmering black hair.

People often call her witch-like because she always wears a calm expression as if she would never lose her composure, and her eyes are dully settled, but to me, who knows the face she makes when she smiles with happiness, she is endlessly lovely.

No particular conversation passed between us.

Even so, just sitting across from each other, leisurely savoring our coffee, and sharing the same space and time, made me feel at ease.

“You see this face every day, what's so fascinating that you keep staring at it?”

Oops, was I staring for too long?

I gave Christine, who had a puzzled look on her face, an awkward smile.

“It’s always new, no matter how many times I look.”

“Hmm…”

Christine looked at me with narrowed eyes, then raised her cup with an elegant motion and drank her coffee.

It wasn't like this before we were married. I feel like I'm the one who likes her more after the wedding, so it feels like I'm getting a raw deal…

But as I was thinking that and leisurely drinking my coffee, Christine, who had taken a few more sips with an elegant form, set down her cup and stood up.

“Huh?”

She then walked straight over to me, settled her buttocks on my lap, and leaned her head against me as if sinking into my embrace.

“Uh, Christine? Coffee doesn't taste good when it gets cold.”

“I finished it all.”

When Christine replied slyly, I glanced up and saw that the coffee cup she had left on the table was indeed empty.

…From the outside, she looked so elegant and seemed to be leisurely savoring it that I had no idea she'd gulped it down like that.

As I looked down at her with a slightly baffled expression, Christine looked up at me with a slightly pouty face and asked.

“You don't like it?”

“No, that's not it.”

Ah, what am I going to do with this adorable creature.

I was about to pick her up and go straight to bed, but I held back with a dry cough.

Even for her, at that point, wouldn't she see me as a beast?

As I tried my best to act casual and raised my cup to drink my coffee, Christine raised her hand, gently caressed my Adam's apple, and chuckled softly.

“Is it that fascinating?”

“Yes, it is.”

It seemed she found the sensation of my Adam's apple, something women don't have, bobbing as I swallowed something to be amusing.

“It’s not the first or second time. Don't you get tired of it?”

“It feels new every time I touch it.”

“Haha…”

Giving it right back to me.

I had grown used to her curiosity and playfulness, which I hadn't known before our marriage, and was now half-resigned to it.

“Pierre, drink more.”

“I finished it.”

“No fun…”

After giving my Adam's apple a light poke, Christine soon removed her hand and closed her eyes, leaning against my chest.

I looked down at her for a moment before opening my mouth.

“We’re almost there now.”

“Yes, that's right. All the nations of the Central Continent have gathered, and all that's left is to wait for the Eastern Empire's fleet to arrive. The date they gave is today.”

Christine paused for a moment before adding.

“Given the route, we’ll probably have to wait for about another month. It's an unprecedented voyage with many variables. Let's not get impatient.”

“We should.”

I said, stroking Christine’s long, fine hair.

“...You haven't said anything about me taking overall command of the advance party.”

“...Do you wish for me to plead with you not to take it?”

“No, that's not it, but.”

Christine chuckled softly.

“...I was also the one who hurried the war with Abyss Corporation.”

“You were.”

Christine isn’t a person generous enough to let a grudge go unsettled, after all…

In fact, Christine’s role in forming the current Allied Forces was huge. Bringing in the Magic Tower's mages and the Northern Allied Kingdom's navy was half her doing.

But at the same time, she is also a person who is extremely reluctant to see me voluntarily jump into a fiery pit.

So honestly, I was a little puzzled.

Christine is far too wise not to have known it would come to this, yet she was just as proactive as I was in preparing for this war.

“...In any case, Abyss Corporation is hostile to Francia, and you were certain they would target us if the Eastern Empire was defeated, weren't you, Pierre?”

“That's right.”

Christine looked at me directly with her jet-black eyes—

“...Then you would risk danger to protect me, to protect your people…”

She said with a soft smile.

“The best thing I can do is not to stop you with the excuse of worrying about you, but to help you step forward under the best possible conditions when it’s at least a little less dangerous. That’s all I did. Could it be that you’re not pleased?”

She asked this, knowing full well what I would answer, not even bothering to hide the look of expectation on her face.

A smile naturally overflowed at her actions, and I lowered my head and gave her a peck as light as a bird before answering.

“How could I not be pleased? You are the best choice I have ever made in my life.”

Christine smiled, then reached out, pulled me down again, and kissed me.

After swallowing a rather long breath, I felt her slightly ragged breathing and said.

“This won’t be enough for you, will it, my wife?”

Christine chuckled and replied.

“It’ll be a long while before I get sleepy, right?”

I stood up, holding her as she naturally wrapped her arms around my neck, and headed for the bed.

And then…

Knock— knock—

Ah, what is it now.

As I openly scowled, Christine chuckled and patted my chest.

When I reluctantly set Christine down, she went to the window and opened it.

Immediately, a messenger bird flew into the room, and Christine expertly untied the paper attached to its leg.

“What does it say?”

The mood was finally good; I hoped this was information important enough to have ruined it.

Christine looked at the contents with narrowed eyes, then let out a small laugh and answered.

“It seems the Admiral of the Eastern Empire is quite punctual.”

“Pardon?”

“The Eastern Empire’s fleet has entered the port of Brest, Pierre.”

…They actually made it right on schedule?