Chapter 119: Celestine’s Resolve
After the small tea party at the Rosemary Marquis House, Celestine Crocus stepped into the carriage for her return journey.
“Phew…”
Surrounding the carriage were guards mounted on horseback. Though it seemed excessive for travel within the Royal Capital, given the current situation with Marquis Aiger’s rebellion, it was hardly surprising. Celestine, being the daughter of the Chancellor and the fiancée of the Third Prince Rodel, occupied a precarious position. There was no telling when political adversaries might reach out with their sinister hands for assassination or abduction.
(Well, my status as that man’s fiancée will soon come to an end anyway…)
It had already been decided that her engagement to Rodel would be annulled. Specifically, this would occur at the moment when the official announcement of Marquis Aiger’s rebellion was made. With that, her role in cleaning up after the foolish prince would also come to a close. It felt as though a heavy burden had been lifted from her shoulders.
(Still, I’m glad Rest accepted the proposal…)
In a pinch, it would be possible to force the issue under royal decree, but that would tarnish the royal family’s reputation. She wished to avoid any resentment towards the royal family. Although she hadn’t mentioned it to anyone, Rest was becoming an increasingly sensational figure for the royal family.
(To think he single-handedly defeated the Master of the Demon Realm, Subnock… No, Lord Lübesse did assist him, after all…)
When Rest and Lübesse returned from the depths of the Demon Realm and reported Subnock’s defeat, the palace officials initially refused to believe the information. Subnock was a magical beast that had repelled numerous past expeditionary forces. The notion that it could be defeated by just two individuals—effectively just Rest—was simply unfathomable. However, once the investigation confirmed Subnock’s corpse, they hurriedly conducted inquiries into how the Master of the Demon Realm had been vanquished. The revelations were staggering: Rest possessed an immense amount of magical power, rivaling that of an entire army.
Should they rejoice at the birth of a force capable of toppling kingdoms, or should they remain wary? The palace deliberated but ultimately decided to accept Rest as a “hero.”
Fortunately, Rest was under the banner of the Rosemary Marquis House. Marquis Rosemary was the Court Mage Director serving the royal family, a loyal subject with deep trust from the crown. Rest himself posed no issues regarding his character; he was not the type to wield power recklessly for his own desires. Through discussions among the kingdom’s upper echelons, it was secretly decided to actively utilize Rest for the kingdom’s development rather than eliminate him.
(First, we must grant him a noble title and territory. He will assist in quelling Marquis Aiger’s rebellion, and through his achievements, he shall be elevated to Count. He will cultivate the plains left desolate by the loss of their lord, establishing himself as a young noble responsible for transformation.)
The Monster Hunting Festival had resulted in significant casualties, and now a rebellion was erupting. To uplift the dark and despondent mood of the nation, the presence of a hero was essential. The palace hoped for Rest to become that hero.
(As a commoner, Rest should be well-received by the populace. Next in line would be Lord Lübesse, who hails from the lower nobility…)
For the time being, the Third Prince Rodel was being propped up, while the high-ranking noble, Marquis Aiger, instigated the rebellion. In such circumstances, it was crucial to deliberately elevate individuals from commoner or lower nobility backgrounds. The kingdom still bore the remnants of the old atmosphere from the Queen Dowager Faction, and they aimed to inject a fresh, youthful breeze into the realm.
(If we can defeat Marquis Aiger, we can eliminate the internal strife plaguing the Aiwood Kingdom. By cultivating the plains and enriching the nation, we can focus our attention on external threats…)
The Aiwood Kingdom faced several external enemies. The most prominent were the barbarians to the north and the Geisel Empire, an allied nation to the east, posing a potential threat. The empire had long been ruled by a moderate emperor, but recently, radical factions advocating for military expansion had been gaining momentum. Should these radicals seize power, they might turn their sights toward the Aiwood Kingdom.
(While I genuinely feel sorry for those who have become victims in this incident, it might actually be fortuitous that Marquis Aiger chose this moment to act.)
If Marquis Aiger initiated the rebellion, they could openly pursue him. The only issue was that Rodel had been thrust into the role of a figurehead for the rebel army. Defeating Rodel, the son of a concubine from the empire, could sour relations with their neighboring nation.
(A confrontation with the Geisel Empire seems unavoidable… but this is something we must brace ourselves for. It is an issue that must be addressed sooner or later. The time has come to set the clock in motion once more.)
There is a flow to the times. Since the death of the Queen Dowager, the Aiwood Kingdom had seen its progress stagnate. However, with the emergence of Rest, the young hero, momentum was returning, promising various transformations.
“…First, we must deal with Marquis Aiger and Prince Rodel. We cannot afford to lose here.”
With determination, Celestine clasped her hands together. She vowed, in the name of the Crocus Duke House, to protect and guide the Aiwood Kingdom toward prosperity. To achieve this, she would need to summon all her wisdom and strength. No matter the sacrifices required. No matter the pain she would endure. As one of the individuals who would bear the future of the kingdom, Celestine solidified her resolve to fight.
“Since the engagement will be annulled… perhaps I should allow myself to be embraced by Rest?”
Celestine murmured in a tone that was both playful and serious, turning her gaze gently toward the scenery outside the window.