I Don’t Need a Guillotine for My Revolution

Chapter 81: Directory Government - Rosemary

The road out of Dilrus.

Kroxx and his people hosted a grand farewell.

Hassan was tearful, watching Shandra depart; she was to travel the long road with us... or so it appeared.

His face, weary and aged beyond its years, silently conveyed a sentiment akin to, 'To think that girl represents us. The world truly has gone to hell.'

The delegates, having journeyed with us, had shed some prejudices due to the generous hospitality and the image they had presented. They appeared to have a relatively positive impression of the orcs, goblins, humans, and beastmen who gathered, waving us off.

When I initially descended from the gate to relay the Orc King's request for a meeting, I couldn't have foreseen this kind of relationship developing.

I'm pleased to return to Francia feeling fulfilled.

*

After a long journey, as summer ended and autumn began.

We arrived at the capital, Lumiere.However, as soon as I arrived at the mansion, a mountain of paperwork awaited me.

"Welcome back to the capital, Marquis Lafayette."

Louis, who arrived faster than anyone else, smiled with a face showing deep fatigue.

"You've worked hard, Commander Desaix."

"On this side are the reports and documents for approval regarding the Grandes Écoles training programs, and on this side are the reports and documents regarding the Northern Army."

"Thank...you."

I wanted to see Christine upon arriving in the capital, but I couldn't postpone the work in front of him, who had worked hard in my stead.

"As the details show, the magic training for regular soldiers is quite... Hmm. It's a bit disappointing, but it's below expectations."

"Is that so."

I opened the report and quickly skimmed through it.

I had expected this to some extent.

Warhorses are expensive, and cavalrymen are high-quality manpower.

Among them, heavy cavalrymen were the most elite among the regular soldiers, trained to be closest to knights.

Naturally, many achieved results with minimal magic training. After training, they demonstrated abilities far exceeding ordinary soldiers.

However, ordinary soldiers who had only undergone basic military training were not like that.

The report showed without reservation that soldiers showing aptitude for magic after months of training were barely under 10%. Among them, those with talent actually helpful in battle were only about 1%.

Raphael Valliant dreamed of an army of supermen where all commoners could wield magic, but unfortunately, reality is not that simple.

Even 1% is not a number to be ignored, so if we are prepared, they can become a considerable force, but the problem is time and cost.

"I heard the Germania Empire is preparing for war."

"Yes, Your Excellency. At the last Imperial Council, the Empress appealed for war to claim the throne of Francia, and the feudal lords are mobilizing their armies."

"Tsk. They're fast."

I knew full well that Germania would act like this; Christine had already discovered signs of their war preparations and informed me.

However, considering their major defeat and retreat after losing forces like the Imperial Mage Corps, the war preparation process is too fast.

The Germania Empire is not a nation that moves in perfect order under the emperor, but a coalition of several feudal states; therefore, I expected more time before the next war...

It's a well-known fact that the emperor is half a figurehead, but if it's like this, the Empress, who is the real power of the Empire, has a much greater political capacity than we thought.

Who would have imagined that a woman who was practically handed over as a hostage for peace would have such control over the Empire?

"How is the level of control over the Northern Army?"

"It's now at a level where we can roughly control it."

Desaix's words, answered with a tired face, made me smile.

"You've really worked hard, Commander Desaix. Thanks to you, I feel relieved."

The Northern Army was practically Raphael Valliant's personal guard.

Although the leadership was swept away by the coup, it's easy to imagine how hard he must have worked to achieve this result in such a short period.

"Haha, well, as a member of the Imperial Guard, I thought I might die when I surrendered to the revolutionaries, but if I got a good superior and got promoted, I should pay my dues, shouldn't I?"

"Thank you. Then, since you must have been working hard, go and get some rest. You look pale. I, who have been playing around in the south, will take care of the rest."

"Normally, I would say I'll help too, but..."

Desaix smiled slightly.

"Thank you, Your Excellency! I'll take my leave now!"

"Oh, uh, yes... Thank you."

I was planning to send him away, but now I feel like holding him back.

As I was wrestling with the pile of documents Desaix left behind, the next visitor arrived.

"Welcome back to Lumiere, Marquis Lafayette! I, Damien De Millbeau, am truly unable to contain my joy at seeing you again-"

"The report?"

"Excuse me?"

"Don't you have a report on the handling of affairs in the meantime?"

I gestured with my chin to the Northern Army report that Desaix had left behind like a mountain, and Damien laughed awkwardly.

"No, how could I present a pile of reports to Your Excellency, who must be tired from a long journey? It's good to be enthusiastic about work, but isn't this too inconsiderate?"

"..."

Is this guy really considerate of me, or did he slack off and have no reports to submit?

"Yes, thank you for your consideration. I trust that as the new commander of the Southern Army, you have been faithfully performing your duties."

"What are you saying! I am fulfilling the duties entrusted to me without fail!"

Look at this guy, who would have been terrified of Christine, immediately changing his attitude after being recommended for Southern Army commander.

Damien De Millbeau is looking at me with a very reliable and disciplined posture.

"...Yes, then I can receive a report on the status of the Southern Army tomorrow, right?"

As soon as I said that, his disciplined posture immediately faltered.

"Tomorrow, you say?"

"Yes, tomorrow. I appreciate your consideration, but still, how can I prepare for the war with the Germania Empire without knowing the situation of the Southern Army?"

"Of course. Marquis Lafayette. As the commander-in-chief of the Revolutionary Army, you are truly a model to emulate! Tomorrow... of course, I will submit everything. Your Excellency."

The way Damien answered, sweating profusely, it seems like the Southern Army headquarters will be working all night tonight.

"Do you remember that I was the commander of the Southern Army before I became commander-in-chief, right? I'm looking forward to it."

If you write something roughly or falsely and get caught, you're dead.

"What are you saying, Your Excellency! Then I'll take my leave!"

"Yes. Good work, Commander."

Damien De Millbeau quickly disappeared as if running away.

Compared to Desaix, who is a model of an administrative soldier in many ways, he's such an unreliable guy, but he fights strangely well in the field.

...Especially when holding a defensive position in a disadvantageous situation.

So if I just throw him into such a place, he'll do his job.

Thinking that, I felt a little better, and the speed of handling the documents increased.

It seems that the personnel reorganization and handover of the Northern Army have been carried out quite a bit as Desaix said, and in the meantime, preparations are being made for the formation of new units in preparation for the reinstatement of the previous Northern Army commanders.

Even if it's not completely satisfactory, it's enough to not be caught up in the aftermath of Valliant's coup.

Just as I was finishing up the paperwork, a new visitor arrived.

"...Christine."

"Welcome back, Pierre."

Christine, as always, wore a black dress reminiscent of mourning clothes and held a fan in her hand, smiling with her eyes narrowed.

"I'm sorry, I should have come to see you first."

"No. I thought you would be very busy, so I came after giving you time to handle your work..."

Christine glanced at the remaining documents on my desk and tilted her head slightly.

"Did I interrupt you?"

"No, not at all."

Hearing my answer, Christine smiled.

"Then, can you spare me some time to serve you tea?"

*

Christine brewed the tea herself and poured it into my cup.

"It's rosemary. It relieves fatigue a little and clears the mind, so I often drink it while working."

"Ah, thank you."

When I raised the cup and drank, a warm yet cool feeling went down my throat.

"It's good."

Honestly, I was worried about seeing her face because of that damn succubus, but her calm atmosphere and the tea are calming my mind.

"I'm glad."

Christine smiled gently.

"Did you have a good time while I was away?"

"It was the same as always. Ah-."

Answering my question, Christine tilted her head for a moment and then opened her mouth again.

"While you were away, a trade agreement was signed with the Kingdom of Alps."

"Oh, really?"

"Yes. President Talleyrand of the Revolutionary Party stepped up. I heard he was indignant at the dwarves who criticized our wine. So, he analyzed their food culture with the chef he hired and prepared a dish that moved and persuaded them?"

Christine chuckled and unfolded her fan.

"He's an interesting person, isn't he? Anyway, thanks to President Talleyrand, the haughty dwarves listened to us seriously. As a result, we were able to import their high-quality weapons using mithril as a material."

"That's also interesting."

I expected the mithril obtained from the south through trade with Kroxx would become a trading material, but I didn't expect the stubborn dwarves to so quickly accept the trade they had once refused.

We were unable to trade with the Abyss Corporation, so importing weapons was difficult, but this will considerably alleviate that problem.

Thanks to the National Assembly, which was outraged by the unilateral blockade of contact with the Eastern Empire, the development of the navy is also underway.

The Republic's army, which was run haphazardly, will finally be properly operated.

As I savored the tea Christine had prepared again, Christine looked at me quietly and opened her mouth.

"Then, is it time to put the Saintess on stage?"

"That's right. Oh, yes. Where is Eris?"

"She's doing charity work. She's probably close to the capital by now. She's traveled almost all over the country during the summer you were away."

"Then Her Royal Highness's face will soon be famous to almost all the people."

"Yes, that's right. As you, no, as we planned."

Christine looked at me for a moment, smiled, and opened her mouth.

"It's funny. We, aristocrats devoted to the Republic, have now established a firm position in the Republic, but we are going to reinstate the Queen."

After a moment's pause, she added, closing the fan she was holding in her hand.

"...If people who don't know us well see this, they'll think we're only making choices that go against our situation."

I also burst into laughter and answered.

"I guess so. But it was possible because you believed in me and helped me."

Christine smiled gently.

A space where I face black eyes looking at me with a natural smile.

In this space, a comfortable silence flowed with warm tea.

I savored the comfort for a moment and then spoke softly.

"...I missed you, Christine."

Christine blinked once, and then smiled slightly and replied.

"Me too, Pierre."

I got up from my seat and knelt on one knee in front of her.

When I held out my hand to Christine, she naturally took it.

Four years since the regression. She was the person I gained in uncertain times, my happiness, and the person I must protect.

"May I kiss you?"

She blushed slightly and nodded, and I slowly kissed the back of her hand, then looked up. Christine hesitated slightly and leaned down.

We shared a cautious yet soft kiss, different from the thirsty one shown in the succubus's illusion.

The fragrant and warm sensation of Christine's rosemary scent mixed together and spread throughout my body.

Satisfied, I gently hugged Christine, and she slowly tilted her head and leaned on my shoulder.

"Is Louis doing well?"

"Yes, we exchange letters. He seems to have quite a talent for magic."

"I see."

When Christine suddenly said she was sending Louis to study abroad in the Magic Kingdom, I was a little surprised, though it seems he's doing well.

I was worried that the decision to keep Louis alive might come back as a greater wound to Christine. But I don't think the boy who tried to protect his sister when they were attacked will try to harm her now.

Rather.

"...He'll be only 12 years old now."

"Yes."

To think we have to endure another 6 years until Louis reaches adulthood.

"I wish he would grow up a little faster."

Christine chuckled when I said softly.

"Do you regret it?"

Hearing the whisper in my ear, I smiled and let her go.

I may regret everything else, but I will never regret this choice.

"Of course not, all this hardship is for that time."

At my answer, filled with conviction, Christine smiled deeply and stretched out her arms to hug my neck.

The second kiss was a little deeper and longer, as if to fill the faded scent of rosemary.