Chapter 43 Those Who Discard, Those Who Are Discarded
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Father… Your Majesty…”
As Alfred involuntarily let out a voice and then hurriedly sealed his lips, Lucia trembled at the sight in the audience room.
Although the two had just reunited a few minutes ago, there was no time for emotions or anything of the sort. They were pulled along and brought to a huge pair of double doors. The white and black doors, representing heaven and hell, opened simultaneously with their own power as the two were brought in, leading to the present moment.
What Lucia’s eyes reflected was not a majestic space like the heavenly world, nor the figure of the emperor, her father, kneeling in front of her, nor extraordinary monsters emitting an unusual aura, but an existence that gazed over everything from the throne.
It was a god.
The throne where he sat was high and far away, and she couldn’t clearly see what he looked like. The source of all evil that she had always wanted to see with her own eyes was far away.
But still, an eerie aura came through. It felt like a strange mixture of light and darkness, two things that shouldn’t intersect, and instinct warned her not to get any closer.
It wasn’t just clothing he was wearing. It wasn’t just a throne he was sitting on. It was as if it was natural for him to be there, as if it was clothing for a god, a throne for a god.
”Firstly, the Ravendora Empire shall be considered a subordinate state to the Saint Tower Babellion.”
The contents that the emperor read aloud were unbelievable all of a sudden.
”The Ravendora Empire shall abolish the imperial system. Henceforth, it shall be known as the Ravendora Feudal Kingdom. Furthermore, the ruler shall bear the title of feudal prince, and hereditary succession shall be recognized, but approval and appointment shall be entrusted to the Saint Tower Babellion.”
Lucia never imagined seeing the Ravendora Empire, a vassal state, and Fredrin II kneeling in defeat before someone.
”The Ravendora Empire shall pay a certain annual tribute to the Saint Tower Babellion. However, the amount shall be determined anew after investigating tax revenues, the national treasury, and crop yields.”
The voice of the emperor reading aloud sounded distant. His figure, which Lucia had waited for, seemed very small, weak, and sad, as if he had always sought salvation.
”The Ravendora Empire has agreed to cede the territory managed by the Western Command Office to Saint Tower Babellion as a direct territory. Within one month from today, the empire’s troops and officials are to be withdrawn. However, the residents of the territory are naturally to remain under the jurisdiction of the territory.”
Lucia had a feeling deep down inside. She didn’t want to admit it, but she knew that the empire couldn’t possibly win.
Lucia hadn’t seen everything in this country. But even a child could understand that there was no chance of winning against a Monster’s country ruled by a god who created numerous worlds inside the tower.
It’s not clear to Lucia whether the empire actually engaged in warfare or simply surrendered unilaterally. The only thing certain is that the empire lost.
Lucia had hoped that her father, the emperor, coming to her and bowing his head, meant that he would save her and Alfred from this situation. She knew that their empire might lose, but she still held onto the hope that her father would rescue them.
However, her hopes were shattered by her father’s words without mercy.
”The Saint Tower Babellion shall establish a Western Command for the former Western territories, with the position of director being held by the Crown Prince of the Ravendora feudal kingdom. Therefore, Alfred Ravendora Harenamerehta shall assume the role of the first director.”
Upon hearing these words, Lucia couldn’t believe her ears. But before her brain could fully comprehend everything, her father pronounced even more cruelly,
”It is decided that Princess Lucia will serve as the ambassador of the Ravendora feudal kingdom within the Saint Tower Babellion.”
Lucia felt like she was about to let out a scream the moment she understood everything.
She thought she and Alfred would be saved by their father, whom they had finally been able to meet. Finally, she thought all the suffering and endurance would be rewarded.
But when she opened the lid, none of that happened at all.
Not only had the great empire become a vassal state, but neither she nor Alfred would be freed from Babellion. Their father, the emperor, had accepted the cruel decree, kneeling before it.
There was no way she didn’t understand what that meant. After understanding everything, she and Alfred were to be left in Babellion.
Lucia’s emotions were all over the place. She felt anger, sadness, and despair… and so many other emotions that she couldn’t even keep track of what she was feeling anymore. She managed to hold onto the pride of being a knight on the outside, but inside, she felt like she was going mad, crying and screaming uncontrollably, and losing her mind.
Lucia had endured so much pain until now. She had made a strong determination to protect Alfred until the day he was saved by their father. It was the resolve she had made within herself on the day Alfred became the crown prince. She had vowed to protect Alfred at all costs as a knight, not just as a princess.
For that reason, Lucia did anything and everything. She knelt in front of the audience in the arena, covered in filth, and plunged her face into the feeding trough like an animal. She even abandoned a friend she had spent over ten years with. Despite all that, she still wondered why.
Many emotions surged within her, but the strongest was anger. She had worked so hard for her country, for Alfred. Yet, why must she be abandoned in such a short time?
It wasn’t that she wanted anything in return. She had chosen her own path; she took responsibility for everything. But this betrayal was too much.
She knew what lay ahead after being abandoned. What would happen to her next… So she didn’t need to be a princess knight anymore. She could be a subject in another country, or marry as just a princess. So she──
’…But I have no place to return to, and no one to welcome me back.’
A dry laugh escaped her lips. Well, it didn’t exactly escape, but Lucia’s heart was mocking herself like a madwoman.
Lucia chose Alfred over Elaine and abandoned her. She knew that Elaine was being gang-r**ed by the prison guards, experiencing a shame worse than death, but still said that the empire needed Alfred.
Elaine had her own life. If she hadn’t become friends with Lucia or decided to walk a different path, she might have been busy preparing for marriage to her fiancé by now. Or maybe she would already be married and holding her children.
However, Elaine chose to learn swordsmanship with Lucia and accompanied her to the battlefield as her deputy. She, too, was someone who gave up her original life for Lucia’s sake.
But how about now? Now, she has been abandoned for the country. She has lost her home.
If Alfred is still alive, she could think that what she did was right. But now that Alfred is trapped in Babellion, she wonders what she’s been enduring for and what she’s lost.
It’s not just the time Alfred was trapped. Since the day she vowed to protect Alfred, all her efforts seem wasted. In the end, she couldn’t protect anything, couldn’t gain anything, and tarnished the meaning of the lives of those who died for Lucia, including Elaine and General Kassandros.
…It doesn’t matter anymore.
Suddenly, a phrase popped into Lucia’s mind. At that moment, black spots began to burst like sparks in her slightly moist and distorted field of vision, and it started to go dark. Lucia didn’t resist anymore. She didn’t care if she fainted or what would become of her. She gave up on everything, as if throwing herself off a cliff, trying to get rid of her determination, pride, and future, just to feel better.
In reality, Lucia would have felt better if she had actually thrown everything away and gone mad. It would have been the most effective retaliation for Charles if she had become a wreck.
But Lucia had no way of knowing that, and ironically, what stopped the now broken Lucia’s spirit was the words of Alfred, whom Lucia had been protecting all along.
”Your Majesty, I understand your command well. This is Alfred Ravendora Harenamerehta. As the director of the Western Division of the Saint Tower Babellion, I will work for the prosperity of both the Saint Tower Babellion and the Ravendora Feudal Kingdom.”
Alfred placed his hand on his chest and kneeled. It was like a scene from a play, beautiful and without any hint of fear or doubt, the resolute figure of the boy who was supposed to become the emperor.
”…Al…fred…”
The name escaped her lips reflexively, more like a half-scream than a call. So Lucia didn’t have any words to continue with after that.
Lucia felt as if all the eyes in the audience chamber were on her. Even though the high-ranking monsters and her father were all kneeling and facing the throne, it wasn’t actually like that. But the silence that descended in the audience chamber seemed to accuse Lucia even without anyone’s gaze directly on her.
Ten seconds, maybe even several dozen seconds of silence, and inner turmoil.
During that time, various thoughts and scenes raced through Lucia’s mind.
At last, she thought about making a big scene. She even considered biting her tongue and dying right there.
But considering the environment Lucia had been in and what she had seen, even if she were on the brink of death, with the power of Babellion, she’d probably be easily healed. Or even if she did die, they might bring her back to life… What came to mind when she thought about it was the drastically changed appearance of General Kassandros.
It’s impossible to hope for an honorable death when facing someone who even defiles death itself. Even if choosing death over being covered in shame, that death isn’t relief, but rather the beginning of even more disgrace.
It’s only natural for Lucia to understand that it’s already hopeless… No, she’s understood it all along. She just refused to admit it, just turned away from that fact.
She had been a prisoner within Babellion all this time. Even if asked whether she could fight and win against the guards who humiliated Lucia and Elaine, she couldn’t confidently nod. As for Azuriela, it wouldn’t even be a fight. With the ability to turn the dead into undead soldiers, teleportation magic used as if it were nothing, and the monsters present in this chamber… just sending one of them could bring the empire to ruin.
…What would happen if she rebelled? What would happen if she tried to commit suicide or resisted at the end?
The empire would be held accountable for that. They might angry and people will be massacred. Her parents, sister, and Alfred might be gruesomely eaten alive while still alive.
When Lucia thought about that, she felt like she had no choice left. Even though she wanted to forget everything, even if she became reckless, Lucia’s troubled heart couldn’t go as far as to sacrifice everything, including her country and family.
”…Lucia Ravendora Harenamerehta will also… serve as an ambassador.”
Lucia knelt down. Drops fell on the soft and immaculate crimson carpet in her vision, announcing the arrival of raindrops.
With this moment, the Ravendora Empire closed its curtains on a history of about 700 years since its founding. As if that history was meaningless, its long history ended in less than a month.
* * *
The long-awaited audience came to an end and Fredrin II and the others were on their way back to the imperial capital in a carriage. After the audience, there was nothing special, it had only been an hour since that terrifying time.
That’s why even though the atmosphere inside the carriage was heavy with silence, there was a strange air of relief lingering.
In the midst of this, it was Duke Marshall who spoke first.
”…It’s finally over, Your Majesty… may I address you as Your Majesty?”
In response to Duke Marshall’s attempt to change the heavy atmosphere with his words, Fredrin II also responded honestly.
”A king is still a king, even to a feudal prince. It doesn’t matter. My crown was not taken away.”
If you’re not an emperor, you can’t wear a crown. Fredrin II thought about the possibility of having it taken away right there to show his position, but he became a king of a vassal state, and the crown is still on his head.
”I managed to come back alive. I was so scared, thinking when I would be killed… Just being cut would have been one thing, but I was terrified of being boiled alive and eaten.”
”Oh, scary,” Duke Sandril said, pretending to shake his shoulders playfully.
”You can enjoy tastier food without having to cook you.”
”Maybe.”
Finally, the atmosphere inside the carriage changed with such a light joke. This chaos, if you could call it winning or losing, was definitely losing. It wasn’t even a competition. However, the fact that he survived the audience could be seen as a gain, as Duke Sandril suggested.
But then, the air that had finally thawed changed once again with Duke Sandril’s words.
”Anyway, His Majesty Charlierel was surprisingly ordinary.”
Duke Sandril remarked, as if it were just another topic of conversation. He probably didn’t have any deeper intention than to keep the conversation going.
”What do you mean by ‘ordinary’?”
However, Fredrin II asked, not one to simply brush off those words with a “yeah, I guess so.”
”His Majesty Charlierel. I imagined him to be more… like the embodiment of power, but he didn’t seem particularly remarkable to me.”
”Well… but isn’t he a god? If so, he shouldn’t be weak.”
Duke Sandril, slightly tilting his head at Duke Marshall’s response, said,
”That’s true… but, how should I put it, it was rather anticlimactic.”
Both Duke Marshall and Duke Sandril failed to perceive Charlierel’s power. They felt a sense of contradiction, feeling the otherness yet not grasping the essence of that power.
”I guess that’s understandable,” thought Fredrin II. He was one of those who couldn’t perceive Charlierel’s power. Except for one person in this gathering.
”Are you saying you all find him ordinary now?”
Fredrin II turned his gaze, and at almost the same moment, Knight Aurone spoke with a furrowed brow.
”Of course, I didn’t mean to disrespect. It’s just…”
”Don’t speak such words again. He is a god, the essence of the world itself. Never lay a hand on him. Never disrespect him. Never joke about it. Such folly… could lead to the destruction of this world.”
”It seems Aurone sensed something after all.”
It was a confirmation that couldn’t happen during the audience, ensuring there was no misunderstanding in perception.
”I couldn’t even look at him in the face. My body trembled, and I would have passed out if I hadn’t consciously breathed.”
”Is it that overwhelming? I felt nothing…”
Duke Marshall’s eyes widened as Aurone nodded solemnly and said,
”If told to fight against that, I would choose to end my own life. There is no honorable death in that. With just a slight movement of his god’s finger, my existence would be completely erased from this world as if I had never existed, leaving no trace behind. He truly is a being beyond human comprehension.”
”Well, I suppose so.”
Aurone’s words truly captured the essence of Charlierel. Even though he couldn’t feel his power, Fredrin II certainly recognized the immense and malevolent power that Charlierel possessed.
”Has Your Majesty also felt something?”
”No, like everyone else, I too couldn’t understand his power… but I felt a sense of dread… no, something different.”
In a space filled with a threatening aura emanating from the orders given, there is a sense of void as if there were an emptiness in the air. It’s not just that there’s nothing there, but an eerie kind of “nothingness” exists. Not being able to understand it can evoke fear.
”Whether His Majesty the Saint is strong or weak doesn’t matter. With such a large army at his disposal, he could easily control the entire world. So, it would be pointless to oppose him. There’s nowhere to run, and the only difference is whether you’ll be killed first, second, or third.”
Whether Charlierel desires it or not, the fate of this world lies in Charlierel’s hands. And Babellion has the power to make it happen.
”However, at present, I didn’t feel any intention of him to conquer the world. Even the reason for ruling our country was merely to consolidate their position in this world. If necessary, he will act decisively and swiftly but calmly… He is the most terrifying opponent, one you wouldn’t want to make enemies with.”
Having overwhelming power and yet advancing the pieces carefully one by one, there is nothing more frightening than an enemy like that.
”But not much was demanded of us. Even if everything was taken away, Your Majesty’s position and the form of the country were left.”
”There is also the bait. It’s about solidifying the rule as an achievement and governing the feudal kingdom as Babellion’s dog. From beginning to end, it’s in the hands of Babellion… but we’re already one of the vassals. If we look up to the master, we must happily dance on his hand from now on.”
As long as he’s Babellion’s dog, Ravendora can survive.
”Losing the western territory is certainly painful, but it’s all under the direct control of the emperor. It’s easy to silence the nobles. We haven’t lost anything.”
”But the empire has become a feudal kingdom and a vassal state.”
”If there is anyone who still speaks of the pride of the empire after this, they should be cut down.”
”Will such a tough approach work?”
Fredrin II shook his head at Duke Sandril’s words and said,
”We’ll make it work. And it’s not like we haven’t taken any action.”
He then glared at the direction of the imperial capital and said,
”…Is that your intention to help Riodore?”
”Yes. We’ll use Riodore’s connections.”
Fredrin II was amazed by the influence of Marquis Riodore’s connections. Although it would be troublesome if they were enemies, Fredrin II thought it would be a waste to leave that power untouched.
”Would Riodore, who was so stubbornly opposed, obediently listen now?”
”If he’s saved by Your Majesty from being petrified and still resists, then he’s a man to that extent. He can be petrified again.”
Duke Marshall snorted.
”Riodore was definitely against surrendering without a fight. But if someone miraculously survives after losing once, they might change their mind.”
After saying that, Fredrin II casting a glance at Duke Marshall, who didn’t harbor positive feelings towards Marquis Riodore.
”This isn’t wishful thinking. Babellion simply wants to maintain the feudal kingdom as vassal states. As long as I cooperate and govern smoothly, they won’t need to replace me and disrupt the country. So, we should try to reform Riodore, who could spark rebellion.”
”Your Majesty seems to have accepted everything unconditionally but fulfilled our demands.”
Duke Sandril added, continuing to explain to Fredrin II.
”Haha, indeed, as expected of Your Majesty. Quite the negotiator.”
Duke Marshall started laughing loudly, but Fredrin II quickly reprimanded him.
”Watch your mouth. This isn’t about winning or losing. Even His Majesty the Saint understands that. That’s why we were asked to bring Marquis Riodore’s statue.”
Babellion wants to assert their dominance. If it were a fair peace negotiation, they would discuss each other’s wishes. But in this situation, they want the fact that the empire unilaterally be placed under their rule. So, even if the demands aren’t significant, they want to avoid the perception that they were forced to accept them, as Duke Sandril said.
Therefore, Fredrin II took the position of simply pleading for mercy, giving the excuse that they weren’t forced to accept the demands, but rather, mercy was granted.
And Fredrin II used Marquis Riodore to suppress the nobles who were dissatisfied with the vassal state.
They can also show the results of saving the petrified Marquis Riodore’s life after negotiations.
It’s already decided to submit, without even considering war. But admitting it isn’t easy, especially for nobles who are full of pride. When they’re forced to submit unilaterally, people like Marquis Riodore will resist.
However, if even a small achievement is shown, like saving a life, it can be used as a bargaining chip to convince them.
”I had two of my children taken hostage. They better do something for that.”
Fredrin II muttered with a sigh, gazing out the window again.
”Um… Was it okay?”
Duke Sandril asked hesitantly after about ten seconds of silence. Fredrin II shook his head heavily in response to Duke Sandril’s hesitant words.
”It’s not like I’m okay with it… that would be a lie. But there are many countries where noble families keep their wives and children in the capital as hostages.”
In the empire, there isn’t such a strict policy with strong enforcement. This is partly because during the transition from the Ravendora Kingdom to the Ravendora Empire, many powerful regional noble families were eliminated through repeated purges, which increased the Emperor’s power.
Furthermore, even with the remaining regional noble families, their military power is restricted beyond the minimum required for maintaining public order. This is achieved by prohibiting them from having armies exceeding a certain limit and consolidating the military power of the nation under the Emperor’s direct control through the empire army, significantly reducing the ability of nobles to rebel.
However, many countries on the continent rely on the military power of the nobility. From the perspective of kings in such countries, they want a deterrent to prevent nobles from rebelling. As a result, there are at least three countries known to Fredrin II that choose the method of taking wives and children hostage.
”That’s what it means to be a vassal. It’s a new position for me… I’ll have to adapt.”
Alfred’s position is strictly that of the crown prince… No, he remains as the prince. The final approval rests in Babellion’s hands, but it was agreed upon that Alfred would be appointed under the condition that the crown prince serves as the director of the Western Command. Unless there are any issues, this means that eventually Alfred will return to the imperial capital as the next king. This became a sort of relief or compromise point within Fredrin II.
However, Lucia’s position is very ambiguous. She has been designated as an ambassador, but the establishment of an embassy has not been explicitly stated.
First of all, Lucia has been incorporated under Babellion’s rule as a vassal state, stripped of the right to appoint a king, and is now under surveillance for national affairs. Despite this, what role does the title of ambassador play?
Though no one mentions it aloud, they understand. The ambassador position is nothing more than a name. Lucia’s true role is not even that of a concubine… but rather, to put it bluntly, a s*x sl*ve.
The story of capturing and taking the princess of a conquered country has been common since ancient times. In this position, even a wife cannot complain if she is unconditionally handed over and possibly killed.
When Fredrin II last saw Lucia in the audience chamber, she seemed a bit worn. There was a flaw in her knightly demeanor, and she appeared to be a daughter seeking salvation.
It’s unclear whether she will be taken captive from now on, or if she’s already been taken captive and kept because she’s been liked. But it’s clear that Lucia’s future is not going to be happy.
Despite understanding all of this, Fredrin II handed Lucia over to Babellion. It may sound good to say it’s for the country, but Fredrin II abandoned Lucia, he sacrificed her.
”…My wife… Almaria must be angry. Having taken away both beloved children for the country’s sake, and now subjecting Lucia to a living hell, she’ll probably be crying and screaming. Sofia, who adored her older sister, must be saddened too. I might never hear from them again.”
Fredrin II thinks about the faces of his family waiting for him in the imperial capital. The return of Alfred and Lucia, whom they are waiting for, did not happen. But he doesn’t regret it; he’s convinced it was the only way.
”But I must endure. Even if I lose the title of Emperor, I am still a king. I am still the leader of the country. Even if I’m called a heartless father or a traitor… my mission is to protect the country and its people. If that means becoming a demon, so be it.”
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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