I Don’t Need a Guillotine for My Revolution

Chapter 89: Directory Government - Conclusion

Lumiere, the capital of Francia.

For the winter break, Louis d'Aquitaine, now 13 years old, visited the Aquitaine mansion in the capital for the first time in a long while.

Christine, who had woken Louis up from the radicals' attack and sent him to the Magic Kingdom, was waiting for him in front of the mansion.

"It's been a while, Sister."

"Welcome, Louis. You've worked hard studying."

His sister, whom he hadn't seen for a long time, approached with a bright smile and embraced him.

The scent of his sister and the soft touch of her body made the boy, now entering puberty, flustered.

"Si-Sister."

"Yes?"

To his sister, who answered with a soft smile, Louis said with a flushed face."......You seem to have, gained a little weight."

The smile Christine had been wearing cracked.

Following a brief silence, and as his sister slowly stepped back, releasing her arms, Louis hurriedly added.

"Th-That's not what I meant!"

"Pierre... kept telling me to watch what I eat……."

Speaking in a somewhat apologetic tone, his sister glanced at Louis and asked.

"......Did I gain a lot?"

Louis opened and closed his mouth a few times.

How much weight could someone gain when they barely eat enough that their fiancé has to take care of them?

He couldn't say he had blurted out whatever came to mind because he was flustered by his half-sister's chest touching his. Not even if his mouth was ripped open.

"Yo, You look better, than before."

"Yes…… thank you."

No matter how he looked at it, Christine seemed to think her brother was being considerate and saying nice things, so a cold sweat ran down Louis's back.

"I've kept you standing at the door for too long. Let's go inside."

Christine forced a smile and turned around as Louis placed his hand on his forehead.

Freed from being a person who lived off reading people's expressions and having gained some confidence while being educated at the Magic Tower, he had been thinking hard about showing a great appearance when he met his sister again.

The reunion with his sister, whom he hadn't seen in a long time, was a complete mess.

*

The next day, after recovering from the journey.

When Louis focused his mind, a strong wind blew from his hands.

Having summoned wind strong enough to shake the closed window, Louis wiped sweat from his brow and spoke.

"How is it?"

Louis is recognized as a prodigy at the Magic Tower, having achieved this much in just over a year.

His talent for wind magic is especially recognized, so he showed it off proudly, but…….

"It's impressive, Louis."

Christine answered in a calm tone and placed a pile of documents in front of him.

Louis wanted to become a competent mage quickly and help his sister. However, his sister didn't seem interested in magic at all.

Perhaps Louis's still immature abilities weren't enough to catch her eye.

Louis slightly narrowed his brow and looked at the pile of documents Christine had placed down.

"Do I have to look at this even though I'm only here for a short while during winter break?"

"Yes, I've summarized it so you can grasp only the important content, so it should be fine, right?"

Louis wondered why he, a mage and not heir to the Aquitaine Company, had to do this. However, since Christine was paying for his tuition, he had no choice but to start looking at the documents.

For a while, only the sound of paper rustling from the documents and the sound of Christine's quill pen scratching could be heard.

"Were there any mages in the Magic Kingdom trying to make a contract with the Germania Empire?"

Christine's question broke the silence. Louis answered nonchalantly.

"No. After the Storm Witch died by Marquis de Lafayette, the position of the pragmatists weakened considerably. At the Magic Tower, the principle that pursuit of truth is more important than war has become stronger."

"Yes, that's good."

Wilhelmina, also known as the Storm Witch, ironically achieved the opposite of her intention with her death.

Louis answered, then tilted his head and asked his sister.

"Isn't this something you already know, Sister?"

It's not like the Aquitaine Company doesn't exist in the Magic Kingdom.

"It's better to cross-check information as much as possible."

Louis chuckled at Christine's very Christine-like answer.

He never thought about this feeling when he lived in his sister's office. As the son of a traitor, he disliked having to read the moods of the vassals. But now, living abroad, maybe he missed it a little.

Louis took out the next document and paused at the unusual title.

[Baron Henri Plan Result Report]

He wondered what plan this was. Opening it, he saw the contents were as follows.

The purpose of the plan is to induce the bankruptcy of Baron Henri and secure the textile factory.

Step 1. Place a large-scale fabric order with Baron Henri, who needs money to lobby Central Party members, a task difficult to fulfill with his existing factory but achievable through loans.

The order is placed through satellite company C, seemingly unrelated to the Aquitaine Company, showcasing a plausibly decorated factory, offering a generous advance payment, and including a penalty to further alleviate suspicion.

Step 2. To fulfill the deal, Baron Henri actively takes out loans, expands the factory, and recruits many personnel. Due to the urgency, sufficient qualification verification is difficult, allowing spies to be planted among the producers and managers.

Step 3. Using the planted spies, some defective goods are produced and hidden. Once most of the order is complete, the penalty is paid, and the contract is terminated.

Even with the penalty, Baron Henri, burdened by accumulated loans, will try to quickly dispose of the excess fabric, even at a loss, to repay the loans. Therefore, satellite company D is proposed to purchase the fabric at relatively good terms.

Step 4. After D receives the goods, the spies reveal the defective goods that were produced and hidden, accuse Baron Henri of unfair trade, and suspend payment.

The plan culminates in the acquisition of the factory by relieving Baron Henri of his debts, as he is bankrupt and unable to pursue a proper trial.

Companies C and D, their connection to the Aquitaine Company now exposed, are to be merged and disposed of after the trial. A new, separate satellite company will be established for future plans.

Despite the dry description, Louis swallowed hard at the plan's progress, which was not only meticulous but also seemed filled with malice.

"......Sister?"

"Yes? Speak, Louis."

"What did this Baron Henri do to deserve this……."

"Ah, that person."

Christine tilted her head slightly and answered nonchalantly.

"He was aiming for the throne as a collateral royal and interfering with Marquis de Lafayette's plans."

"……."

"And it's good to secure a textile factory while we're at it, right?"

Is she doing this without batting an eye for the sake of Marquis de Lafayette?

Speechless, Louis watched his sister return to her paperwork after uttering those words.

Louis had hoped that his sister, who seemed to be living just to not die, would be happy with Marquis de Lafayette.

Even so, this is still a bit, in a different sense, problematic, isn't it?

"Umm, even so, isn't this still too much……."

"Is it not just to economically attack the enemy's weaknesses?"

"No, I wouldn't say that……."

"I am providing sufficient compensation for the dedication of the company's employees. The employees of Baron Henri's factory, now acquired by us, are also satisfied with much better treatment than before. That's the kind of justice a merchant needs, Louis."

"Uuuuhm, it doesn't seem like your words are wrong……."

Louis smiled bitterly after contemplating.

"I don't think I can do it like you, Sister."

"Then? If you were to run the company……."

"You're saying scary things that would make the vassals stab me just for hearing it."

Christine chuckled and asked again.

"It's just a hypothetical. If that were to happen, what would you want to do?"

Louis hesitated briefly and answered.

"If you're going to spend money anyway, it's better to spend it nicely……."

"The Aquitaine Company is the company that does the most charity work in Francia, isn't it?"

"Th, That's right."

Christine, with a grin, spoke to Louis, who smiled awkwardly.

"It might not be bad to spend like an angel after making a company like a devil. You can take your time to think about it. There's still plenty of time, anyway."

Louis ran out of things to say and changed the subject.

"……Speaking of which, Sister, are you not marrying Marquis de Lafayette?"

Louis, not an idiot, knew Christine's marriage could worsen his position.

While that was his problem, his sister and Marquis de Lafayette were engaged, and their marriage was long overdue, yet there was no news, which he found strange.

"Yes, not yet."

Christine answered calmly. Louis stared at his sister, whom he never understood, before lowering his gaze back to the documents.

Surely, she's not really thinking of handing over the company to him, is she?

At the fleeting delusion, Louis shook his head vigorously.

Crazy, crazy.

It's not like the Aquitaine Company is a small local company, and if his sister tried to do that, the vassals, let alone the husband, would come after Louis's head.

Louis glared at the documents for no reason.

All these stray thoughts are because his clueless sister needlessly shoves the secrets and reports of the Aquitaine Company at him.

"You?"

"Yes?"

Lost in his thoughts, Louis answered Christine's sudden question in a foolish voice.

"I was curious because there was no mention of anyone you're dating in your letters. Aren't you at an age where you're interested?"

"……You should take care of yourself, Sister! What are you going to do if Marquis de Lafayette looks away while you're just being complacent after getting engaged!"

Christine laughed softly at her 13-year-old brother's flushed response.

*

Kingdom of Alps, 9th peak.

The meeting room where the delegations of both countries gathered.

After nearly a month of tug-of-war, the Foreign Minister of the Germania Empire was reading the statement based on their conclusion.

"On behalf of the great Kaiser Otto of the Germania Empire, I hereby announce the results of the final negotiations with the delegation of the Kingdom of Francia.

First, the Francia Republic insists on the unreasonable and unjust demand to elect the king by popular vote of the commoners, effectively rejecting the demand to limit voting rights to qualified classes by avoiding a response.

Second, due to the loss of a significant number of legitimate nobles in Francia, the proposal to involve legitimate and authoritative foreign nobles in the election process has also been effectively rejected through consistent avoidance.

Third, the illegal puppet regime, the Francia National Assembly, which drove out the rightful owner of the kingdom, denies even the rightful owner's due rights and has shown extreme passivity in addressing this.

Therefore, this delegation has determined that the Francia National Assembly intends to continue its rule of Francia through a puppet regime by establishing the 3rd Princess as a figurehead. This demonstrates that the Francia delegation has no intention of fundamentally resolving the issue of succession to the throne.

Accordingly, we declare that the negotiations between the two sides to resolve the issue of succession to the Francia throne have been finalized.

Non-diplomatic means may inevitably be used to resolve this issue, but we make it clear that this responsibility lies with the Francia National Assembly puppet regime."

A brief silence filled the meeting room, and the sound of three claps - clap-clap-clap - echoed.

Talleyrand, who made that sound, took a leisurely sip of the black tea in front of him, slowly swallowed, and then spoke.

"First, the Francia government, established by the people, has the legitimate right to determine the method of electing the king, and it is nothing more than interference in internal affairs for a foreign country to impose unreasonable demands.

Second, the demand to allow foreign nobles to vote in the election of their own king is an unjust demand to accept foreign interference in sovereignty and establish a puppet regime.

Third, Her Royal Highness Princess Erisliste Lilianne De Francia, the rightful successor to the Francia throne and recognized as a saint by the Holy Theocracy, has acknowledged the rights and responsibilities of the king granted by the National Assembly, and the Germania Empire's unilateral denial of this is illegitimate.

As such, the refusal of the Germania Empire's unjust demands is the obvious duty of the National Assembly, which represents the will of the Francia people, and we make it clear that the responsibility for abandoning the resolution of the succession issue and escalating the conflict lies with the Germania Empire."

Seeming to have prepared his words, Talleyrand finished speaking, then looked directly at Cecilia in her seat, and spoke again.

"Thank you for your efforts in the negotiations to reach the conclusion Your Majesty desired."

As Cecilia sneered, Talleyrand glared at her and added.

"But remember one thing. The revolution in Francia has never threatened you. It is you who consider us a threat and threaten us with unjust pretexts, making absurd claims because you lack the means or justification to win the competition with Her Royal Highness the 3rd Princess, the legitimate successor to the throne."

In the end, unable to deny the legitimacy of Eris, the saint recognized by the Holy Theocracy, they chose the transparent claim that the National Assembly would establish Eris as a puppet queen.

"I wonder how you managed to restrain yourself and speak only in such noble diplomatic rhetoric all this time."

As Cecilia sneered, Talleyrand turned his gaze to me and answered.

"The bloodless war I was in charge of is over, and now it's time for bloody diplomacy, Your Majesty."

Talleyrand stood up, and we also stood up.

"Prepare for the war you so desired, but keep in mind. The false pretexts you have attached will become the real threats that will constrain and pressure you."

No one answered Talleyrand's last words, and he strode up to me and smiled bitterly.

"Now it's your turn, Marquis."

"Leave it to me."

I glanced at Grand Duke Leopold, who was sitting in his seat with a stiff face, and then turned around.

The beginning of the war to protect the revolution.