novelraw Chapter 96: Revolutionary Defense War - Living Up to the Name
Chapter 96: Revolutionary Defense War - Living Up to the Name
Having abandoned Metz, the Moselle Plains, and Alsace, the revolutionary army led by Pierre de Lafayette retreated, finally giving up Nancy, the center of Lorenne, and pulled back further.
Anxiety permeated the National Assembly, urgently convened in the capital, Lumiere.
"To have already given up all of eastern Lorenne and Alsace, is this really alright?"
"Didn't we hear that luring them deeper into Francia was the plan all along? Surely the evacuation of residents wasn't for nothing."
An assemblyman from the pro-Lafayette Central Party responded, but the atmosphere did not easily settle.
"We never heard anything about retreating twice before even a month has passed since the first battle began."
"It's a strategic retreat, a strategic retreat. Verdun has a military fortress, so it won't fall that easily-"
"But if Verdun is breached, the next is Reims, and right after that is Lumiere. We've already been pushed back this far; is the war truly proceeding according to Marquis Lafayette's intentions?"
"Hmph, so the assemblymen expressing dissatisfaction now could do better than the Marquis if they went out to fight themselves?"
Count Anjou, head of the Central Party, who had been silently displeased, finally revealed his irritation."No, that's not it, but perhaps Marquis Lafayette isn't the only answer."
"If not Marquis Lafayette, then who? Are you talking about the one you brought in to stage a coup? Ah, but he's dead, so you couldn't bring him, could you."
"Hey, what kind of talk is that!"
"Now, let's all calm down for a moment."
As the mood grew heated, Maurice Talleyrand, head of the Revolutionary Party, who had been observing the assembly hall with a relaxed expression until then, spoke up.
"While the initial retreat was somewhat anticipated, its current pace is undeniably fast. Representing the Revolutionary Party, I must ask: Will Marquis Lafayette be able to counter them?"
Count Anjou averted his gaze slightly under Talleyrand's stare.
Receiving the gazes of both Talleyrand and Count Anjou, Christine placed the fan she had been waving lightly onto the table with a snap- and opened her mouth.
"So far, it is within expectations. Marquis Lafayette has safely withdrawn against the Archduke's army, twice our size, suffering less than half the casualties. If we gain more time, reinforcements will arrive, giving us capacity to deploy new troops."
Talleyrand gave a slight nod.
"Very well, in that case, the Revolutionary Party will continue to entrust full authority to Marquis Lafayette and spare no effort in providing all possible cooperation."
"...The Liberal Party feels the same. Ultimately, in such unfavorable circumstances, there is no one else better suited than Marquis Lafayette to lead the revolutionary army."
The dissatisfied assemblymen only conceded for the time being after Nicolas Brisseau, head of the Liberal Party, also agreed.
However, once the meeting ended, Christine had to deal with Count Anjou, who wore a deeply concerned expression.
"Countess Aquitaine. Is it really alright? To simply give up a city like Nancy despite suffering few casualties. Could it be that the damage was actually greater, and it was concealed..."
"We are supposed to be in the same boat, Count Anjou. Do you truly believe that Marquis Lafayette or I would deceive not only the National Assembly but also you, the Deputy, with false reports?"
"N-No, of course not. It's just that I'm worried. Marquis Lafayette has never been pushed back so unilaterally before..."
"It's because the enemy is that strong, and our forces are small. ...Still, as I said, there will be no more futile retreats like this. Please do not worry too much."
"R-Right. Understood. If there's anything needed, I'll cooperate, so please tell me anytime."
"Thank you for your consideration, Count."
Christine lifted the hem of her dress, curtsied elegantly, and promptly left the assembly hall.
Having escaped the stifling place, Christine let out a soft sigh. She hadn't deceived him with false reports, it was true.
The real reason for their retreat was the worsening health of Queen Eris, who had excessively pushed herself, but concealing that fact wasn't exactly a lie.
Preventing unrest among soldiers and the populace was unavoidable, but for Christine, who tirelessly worked to slightly reduce Pierre's political burden, it induced profound fatigue.
Exiting the building quickly, Christine boarded the waiting carriage and faced her handmaiden, Lina.
"Lina, we'll have to use the agents we planted in the Germania Empire now."
"What? M-May I presume to say a word?"
"Speak."
"Since they've only just settled in, wouldn't covert operations be difficult? They were planted with such effort, to simply use them as consumables..."
"It's a waste. But they were planted to be used when needed. Not using them because it's wasteful would be putting the cart before the horse."
"That... is true."
Lina replied and handed Christine some documents.
"These require your review with the highest priority, and these are lower priority."
"Yes, thank you."
"N-No, thank you for trusting me with this."
Christine gave Lina a slight smile, took the documents, and began to read.
Christine observed Lina, the handmaiden newly hired upon inheriting the countess title, for a sufficiently long time and judged her trustworthy.
Because Christine required almost no assistance, she experimentally entrusted Lina, who had little to do, with information management tasks. Lina worked with considerable enthusiasm, leading Christine to fully entrust her with the role.
Christine felt satisfied glancing at Lina's proud face, which reflected her past embarrassment about having few duties, but inwardly she felt bitterness.
She felt pleased when the handmaiden she had worked with for a while was happy, but fundamentally, it didn't change the fact that Lina was just one of the pieces she managed.
Just a slightly more trustworthy piece, one to be used for more important tasks.
Not much different from the pieces planted in the Germania Empire with great effort and painstakingly established contact routes, only to be consumed now to help Pierre.
...Like the girl who assassinated Malo and threw herself out the window, whom perhaps only she now remembered.
Swallowing a sigh inwardly, Christine examined the documents. Upon arriving at the Military Academy, her destination, she disembarked from the carriage and headed to the headmaster's office.
"Welcome, Your Excellency, Countess Aquitaine."
"It's been a while, Baron Charon."
"Haha, do you perhaps find it empty without me?"
To the playful question from her long-unseen old loyal subordinate, Christine chuckled and retorted.
"You seem to be enjoying life now that you're free from the superior who used to work you relentlessly?"
"Ahem, ahem, how did you know..."
Baron Charon had previously assisted Christine as the predecessor to Lina's role, but he was now the headmaster of the Military Academy, established as part of the Grand École program.
Having risked his life to protect her during the radical faction's assassination attempt, the position was arranged through Pierre as a reward for his dedication and loyalty.
"Here are the documents for the requested supplies."
"Oh, thank you."
Baron Charon accepted the documents Christine handed him and read them carefully.
The Aquitaine Company, holding a near-monopoly on military supply transactions, also handled munitions and materials for military educational institutions, explaining why Christine, despite holding no military position, could naturally frequent military facilities.
"Oh, most of these can be received soon. Though it may seem redundant to say, you are truly remarkable, Your Excellency."
"Flattery won't get you anything more now."
"Hahaha, it's merely my honest sentiment. Ah, you should take a look at this."
Baron Charon took out a document and gave it to Christine.
"This is?"
"It's the profile of an officer candidate."
Christine quickly scanned the document and reached a simple conclusion.
"Exam scores and mock battle results are excellent. They'll make a fine officer."
Christine's assessment ended there.
Puzzled why he was showing this to her, she questioned him with her eyes as Baron Charon cleared his throat before speaking.
"Ahem, ahem. Your Excellency, perhaps you should look at the candidate's name."
Name?
Christine turned her gaze back to the name she had casually passed over.
"Gilles Davi."
...Davi?
Christine rolled the familiar sound around in her mouth a few times, then narrowed her eyes.
"A relative of Ellen Davi?"
"Yes, Your Excellency. The name seemed familiar, so I checked, and it is Davi indeed."
When the Republic still considered the Southern Nobles' Alliance of Pierre and Christine a hostile force.
Joining the Republic required preemptively eliminating Jean Malo, who blatantly obstructed them and boasted he'd employ White Terror if necessary.
Then, Christine had gathered individuals resentful of the radical faction due to their suffering in the revolution, using them as pawns.
Ellen Davi eliminated Jean Malo personally and then threw herself from a window to avoid interrogation; her young family had been living quietly and well.
Christine had kept her promise to Ellen, providing financial support to avoid hardship, but she hadn't expected the child raised that way to enter as an officer candidate.
"It feels a bit... surreal."
Baron Charon scratched his head and spoke cautiously.
"Well, there is a problem, Your Excellency."
"What kind of problem?"
Baron Charon gave a wry smile.
"Gilles Davi is a woman."
"..."
Christine narrowed her eyes.
Despite her formidable intellect, she couldn't recall the family roster of a pawn from years ago, but Baron Charon explained.
"Her real name is Giselle Davi, Ellen Davi's younger sister. It seems she used a rough alias."
"...Hiding her gender to enter the academy?"
"Correct. According to regulations, she should be expelled, but..."
Baron Charon trailed off, gauging Christine's reaction.
Normally, discovery would have meant immediate expulsion, but she was from a family Christine personally sponsored.
Were she not such a child, Baron Charon wouldn't have known that officer candidate Gilles Davi was Giselle Davi.
Christine looked at the profile once more.
Her physical abilities are slightly below average, but she achieves outstanding results in mock battles and exams.
Although her reasons for joining the military were unclear, her scores clearly resulted from painstaking effort.
"...There seems to be no issue with her abilities as an officer candidate."
"As you say, Your Excellency. Her talent is indeed remarkable. However, female officers are not permitted. Later discovery would damage my reputation as headmaster..."
Christine let out a soft sigh.
Ellen Davi.
When the girl, consumed by anger and hatred for Jean Malo, requested her benefactor's name, Christine cautioned Ellen against overestimating her will.
Ellen Davi wasn't special to Christine.
She was just one of several pawns Christine had prepared to eliminate Jean Malo; luckily, she was the one who succeeded.
An insignificant life that died without even knowing Christine's face, let alone her name.
Yet, despite knowing her death was imminent, the girl finished Malo and immediately jumped out the window, possibly fearing for her family's safety.
Christine had told Ellen Davi she overestimated her will, but perhaps it was Christine who had underestimated it.
Christine promised Ellen Davi, who sacrificed her life for her younger siblings, to look after them.
Unaware of the circumstances, Christine might have considered money enough, but she couldn't claim to have looked after them if Ellen's sacrifice was in vain.
After deliberation, Christine spoke.
"...For now, don't reveal it and leave her be."
"Excuse me? Then..."
Christine tilted her head slightly and said.
"Female officers, we just need to make them permissible."
"Will that be easily achieved?"
Allowing women, who weren't even granted the right to vote, to become officers?
Baron Charon held natural doubts, but Christine merely smiled instead of answering.
"Ahem, I misspoke. Given Marquis Lafayette is Commander-in-Chief, and Countess Aquitaine desires it, it's certainly possible. I also believe she is too talented to lose..."
"I hope she's a talent worth this effort. Well then, I shall take my leave."
"Yes! Take care, Your Excellency! I will strive to nurture her so you won't be disappointed."
Christine turned her back on Baron Charon, walked a little distance, and murmured softly.
"...Will this be enough, to live up to the name?"
"Pardon?"
"...It's nothing."
Christine replied with a bitter smile and left the military academy.