Book 2: Chapter 31
I want to stop this war.
This was the first time I had such a clear vision of what I wanted.
The red-haired lady knocked on my head with a gun barrel, and with a small wooden stick in her mouth said: “Don’t disparage Elizabeth in my workshop… If somebody finds out, both you and I may lose our heads.”
While she did say that, I didn’t feel like she was worried. She probably just said that because Nier was present. I originally intended to explain what happened to her majesty last night, but I ended up getting frightened by her instead. That was the first time I felt afraid of power. I also came to the realisation that perhaps I can’t change Nier.
The young girls were willing to die with just a word from her majesty. They didn’t die for their own ideals or dreams, or some sort of lofty goal. The young girls were willing to pierce their heart with their sword simply because they were told to. I’ve never witnessed such an era and therefore have no way of comprehending the way they think.
I really don’t get it. Can such an empire last long? When I posed the question to the red-haired lady cleverly, she knocked on my head.
“If you ask me whether Elizabeth is a good ruler, I’d honestly say ‘yes’. You can tell by looking at the citizens. As long as they stay in line, they get to go on with their lives. Their income isn’t low either. They don’t even get taxed one-twelfth of their earnings, and neither do they have to deal with mandatory military service. Merchants aren’t restricted by what goods they decide to sell. There are no restrictions on scholars, poets or mathematicians etcetera either. Government decrees are also very reasonable, which is why the people whole-heartedly and voluntarily obey Elizabeth.”
“Then…”
“Killing people is Elizabeth’s personal hobby. Elizabeth may kill but she never kills indiscriminately. It’s just that she’s extremely sensitive about imperial power. She interprets disobedience and indecorous behaviour as mutiny and will kill those that do so.”