Chapter 183: Another Concern
「Now then, I must go meet Eliza and the others.」
I thought as I hurried down the corridors of the palace.
There were pressing matters to attend to—having settled the marriage negotiations with Louise and the others, the next challenge awaited.
But this concern wasn’t about choosing a name for our future child; it was far weightier.
General Mainz, at the helm of the legitimate Germanian Imperial Army, had fought valiantly. Rumor had it that he now encircled the capital, Northmark, in the heart of the conflict.
The letter I received upon returning to the royal capital bore a clear directive: I invite his majesty the King General to bring his old emperor and the imperial granddaughter back.
If we could reclaim Northmark from the rebels, the Germanian conflict would finally be resolved.
Oddly enough, it seemed Mainz awaited our arrival.
Perhaps establishing the legitimate Germanian Empire as a vassal state under Silesie was the prudent path once Northmark was restored.
And then there was Archbishop Nicholas, who lingered in our home, ostensibly nursing the ailing Emperor Conrad. We couldn’t overlook the treatment of the Neo Homotestants—the followers of the new faith. The prestige of the Asama Church was essential for restoring order, and we’d have to handle matters delicately. As for that enigmatic archbishop, he still had work to do. Carrying Conrad, now frail and bedridden, wouldn’t be a burden if we took to the skies.
But the true quandary lay with Eliza.
Mainz likely harbored thoughts of elevating the granddaughter, Elizabeth Germania Germanicus, to the throne.
Of course, I couldn’t broach the subject of imperial succession—it would be disrespectful.
Yet, Mainz’s letter hinted at his desire to make Eliza the standard-bearer of this new era.
After all, Mainz, the stalwart pillar of the legitimate Germanian forces, was sixty years old, while Emperor Conrad had long surpassed seventy.
The signs of Conrad’s waning strength were evident to all.
The old generals, yearning for a peaceful transition to the next generation while he still draws breath, echo sentiments I can’t entirely dismiss.
Even Lyle-sensei suggested that this might be the opportune moment to crown Eliza.
From Silesie, too, we intend to dispatch capable ministers who owe their allegiance to Lyle-sensei. It serves not only as oversight for the legitimate Germanian Empire, now a vassal state, but also as support for young Eliza’s governance.
「Yet she’s merely eight years old.」
「What do you mean by ‘merely’?」
A voice interrupted, and I turned to find Sherry trailing behind.
「What are you trying to do Sherry…..are you on your way to play with Eliza?」
「Exactly as my oniisama suggests—I treat her like a little sister.」
Sherry replied, hugging me.
「Wait, you’re not suggesting Eliza and I are getting married ahead of everyone else, are you?」
「Oh, come on!」
Certainly not. I’d just mentioned her tender age. Ideally, she’d be playing innocently with children her own age.
Eliza, who had endured the stifling atmosphere of the imperial palace, had finally regained a hint of childlike joy.
Not that I’d ever wish for the Germanian conflict to drag on indefinitely. Still, a brief respite for Eliza would be welcome.
「Let’s maintain the proper order. Eliza should rightfully follow us.」
「But who exactly does ‘us’ include?」
「Well, that’s a bit tricky. I’m technically the second slave girl here. During the palace council, I prioritized my own presentation, but overtaking the senior slave girls is no small feat.」
「And who was the first? Someone like Roll, perhaps?」
Roll, the dwarf’s daughter, still tended the palace baths’ furnace. Colette, the head cook and Roll’s close friend, worked in the palace kitchens.
Suzanne and Claudia, who had once served as my guards under Louise, now commanded a cavalry unit in the volunteer army. And Viola, the half-nymph, cultivated medicinal herbs and tended fields atop the Devil’s Mountain.
Ah, the scattered children of the Sawatari Company—wonder how they’re all faring in their various endeavors across distant lands. It’s not just Eliza who can’t fully experience a carefree childhood due to various reasons; peace is what we truly need.
「So, for you, oniisama, Roll-san remains a formidable contender.」
「Formidable? What are you even competing for?」
「Well, it’s your favor, of course.」
「Roll is just a child, and even without that, she’s hardly scheming.」
Indeed, perhaps as Roll grows a bit older, romantic entanglements might emerge.
Wait, isn’t she thirteen—no, almost fourteen now? Her lack of physical growth had slipped my notice.
Speaking of age, wasn’t adulthood in this country recognized at fifteen?
Maybe treating her like a child was odd. Do dwarves mature more slowly?
「Her innocence makes her all the more fearsome.」
「Sure, sure. I’m going to visit Eliza. Want to come with me?」
「I’ll go with you.」
She said so as she got on my back.
She wants me to give her a piggyback? Well, I don’t mind.
-0-
As we approached the Outer Leaf Palace where Eliza and the others resided, a distant boooom, boooom reverberated through the air.
「What’s that? Is Zither up to something again?」
When it came to music, there was only one legitimate Germanian retainer and court musician here: Zither Scheidholdt.
Oddly enough, the palace gardens were now dotted with large barrel-like structures.
「Oniisama, what could these be?」
「Probably taiko drums.」
「Drums? I’ve heard that the western tribes of Germania use them, but this is my first time seeing them. Quite unusual.」
Sherry’s knowledge was impressive. As we drew closer, we discovered Roll emerging from the nearest barrel, clutching carpentry tools.
「Seems like Roll’s the one making these drums.」
「Someone requested them.」
Amidst the honey-colored cascade of long curls, a petite woman with hazel eyes wandered about, clutching drumsticks.
The comical sounds of boooom, boooom echoed around her.
While drums were a familiar instrument to me as an Easterner, they hadn’t quite flourished on the Eura continent. In the western reaches of Germania, they remained a rarity, used only by a select few. Their construction was straightforward—just affix leather to a wooden frame.
Historically, they’d lent momentum to military marches, and I’d once considered making one myself. Little did I expect Zither to beat me to it. She was relentless in her pursuit of new musical horizons, but really, Germanian retainer or not, she shouldn’t just commandeer my own staff without permission.
Of course, reasoning with this airhead girl was futile, but still…
And where was this lively drumming coming from if not Zither?
「Soiya, soiya! Soiya, soiyaaaahh!」
「Nicholas! It’s you!」
Nicholas, in his overly excited state, had discarded his opulent archbishop’s robes and was half naked, revealing sweat-slicked, well-toned biceps. A twisted headband adorned his brow as he wielded drumsticks, attacking drums of various sizes. He was the very embodiment of a drum demon.
Don-doko, don-doko, dokodokodoko!
「Nicholas-sama! Kyaa so cool!」 c
Cheered the maids who had gathered during their break. Honestly, what was so cool about this?
Buoyed by the audience’s enthusiasm, Nicholas decided to unleash a colossal drum. And with each strike, the boooom, boooom resonated in all its absurd glory.
Nicholas’s drumming, fueled by excessive enthusiasm, was nothing but noise. Yet everyone seemed thoroughly delighted.
「Sei, sei, sei, seiyaahh!」
「Kyaa, Nicholas-sama!」
Ah, the enthusiastic applause from the maids for Nicholas—the handsome bespectacled bishop with silver-framed glasses—was hard to miss. His drumsticks emitted a silvery glow, perhaps infused with Asama’s holy magic, and the audience’s fervor bordered on terrifying.
It’s almost unbelievable from my perspective, but these eccentric clerics of Asama are revered by the people of the Eura continent. Nicholas, the sole saint on this vast land, appeared the epitome of a gentleman—until he opened his mouth. And his popularity extended beyond gender lines.
「Hey, hey, hey, heeey! How are you, the hero of Silesie?」
「Enough noise! You… What about Conrad’s care?」
「For His Majesty, soiya!」
「Nicholas, addressing the emperor with ‘soiya’ is far too irreverent. And hey, is Conrad really okay sitting up like that?」
Nicholas’s drumsticks shot silvery rays as he gestured toward Emperor Conrad, who sat on the palace veranda, laughing alongside his granddaughter. Despite his frail appearance, Conrad sat upright—a remarkable feat considering he’d been bedridden not long ago.
「Hey, hey, how’s it going, Silesie’s hero? My divine healing arts—soiya!」
「Nicholas, you’re something else. Fine, I’ll give you credit, but seriously, put down those drumsticks and stop with the ‘soiya’!」
Nicholas, a master of All-Light Healing and a renowned authority on holy healing arts across the Eura continent, seemed to have successfully treated Conrad. With this, the elderly emperor’s journey to Germania appeared unproblematic.
「In all seriousness, we can’t be too hasty. While I’ve healed the physical wounds from his forced battle, I can’t alter the lifespan ordained by Asama.」
「Nicholas, sometimes your irreverence is preferable…」
Facing such a sobering conversation was tough.
But as always, destiny couldn’t be defied. Even Nicholas believed that Emperor Conrad’s time was not too long.
「Emperor Conrad, it looks like you can get up now.」
「Yes, young hero of Silesie. I have caused you and my granddaughter no small trouble. The time to return to Germania draws near. Though my days are numbered, I must fulfill my responsibilities.」
With a resolute voice, Conrad spoke.
It seemed everyone was already aware of the situation.
「It’s about Eliza. Could we let her stay here a little longer?」
When I asked, Conrad smiled deeply. It was a knowing expression. Eliza answered in his stead.
「Takeru-sama, I’ll be fine. Upon returning to my homeland, I shall… No, I must fulfill my duty as the heir of House Germanicus.」
「Is Eliza leaving?」
From behind me, Sherry descended and embraced Eliza. Somehow, they had become close.
「Yes, parting with Sherry-anesama is saddening. But not only that, I’ve been treated very well here. Every day has been enjoyable, and the memories will last a lifetime.」
「Eliza…」
Held by Sherry, Eliza began to cry.
Why was it so? Could an eight-year-old child not live a more carefree life?
「Young hero of Silesie…..Takeru-dono…」
Emperor Conrad gazed at his tearful granddaughter in Sherry’s arms and uttered heavy words with a sigh.
「Emperor Conrad, I apologize. It’s beyond my control.」
「I curse my fate for not granting me a little more time… I regret that I couldn’t allow my young granddaughter to experience more of a girl’s life. However, with loyal vassals like those around, perhaps the new Germania Imperial Palace will become a somewhat pleasant place to reside.」
Was he perhaps referring to the half-naked saint Nicholas pounding a drum over there, or the blissfully air headed court musician Zither?
Honestly, I find it hard to agree outright…
「Well, well… I will do my best to make the new imperial palace a good place for Eliza to live in.」
「After my soon end, please take care of Eliza.」
Emperor Conrad said, placing his wrinkled hand gently atop mine. Despite its frailty, there was strength in that touch.
「I accept that responsibility. But Conrad, do your best to live as long as you can—to witness Eliza’s journey.」
「Ah, truly appreciated. When I reflect, my twilight years have been quite harsh. All I could do was watch my children quarrel, even kill each other. Cursed with this feeble body that barely moves, I’ve often wished for a swiffer end.」
His cloudy eyes held memories beyond our present moment—perhaps the seventy-plus years of Conrad’s life. A soft breeze swept through the distant Outer Leaf Palace.
「Conrad…」
「Yet, even at death’s doorstep, I met a new hero. I entrusted the fate of the country to my last remaining granddaughter. Takeru-dono, my gratitude extends to you and Asama…」
And with those words, Conrad quietly closed his eyes, and sloppily, the hand holding mine fell.
「Con… Conrad, hey!」
「Oh, it seems like he’s too tired and have fallen asleep.」
The half-naked Nicholas interjected from the side, wearing an odd grin.
I didn’t need him to tell me that.
No, I wasn’t entertaining thoughts like, ‘Did he just kick the bucket?’ or anything!
But really, Conrad’s been raising death flags left and right.
On the flip side, maybe I’m just imagining he’ll outlive us all.