Misfortune 128

Chapter 128

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The news of Emperor of Brunois’s passing reached even the front lines, where the air was thick with the scent of war, without fail.

Yet those facing the enemy had no time to wallow in grief. Admiral Lasser, who had stood by the Emperor's side as a lifelong friend and loyal subject, was no exception.

"I hear they've sent an envoy from Dalos to the capital as well."

Admiral Lasser, having summoned all senior officers to his cabin, broached the subject in a displeased tone.

His attitude—not forgetting even the minimum courtesy toward the opposing forces—seemed almost gentlemanly at first glance, yet left an uneasy aftertaste.

And it didn't end there.

"They even proposed a gentlemen's agreement during the mourning period."

"Dalos initiated it?"

One officer asked incredulously. Lasser nodded slowly, responding with a bitter tone.

"The very last people you'd expect to use the word 'gentleman'."

It was the emperor's death, after all. Imperial morale was bound to be low. If Dalos truly intended to invade Brunois, there couldn't be a worse time.

Yet they had instead proposed an agreement to refrain from attacking each other during the mourning period. That was precisely why their intentions were viewed with such suspicion.

"If we must find a reason, it's probably because heaven still favors us. But even that won't last much longer."

Admiral Lasser muttered, pressing his fingers to his forehead as if in pain.

As he said, the climate and currents still favored Brunois. But winter was already passing. As the days grew warmer, the terrain's advantage would vanish, and the tilted balance would even out.

"Which brings me to this."

The Admiral began in a notably more serious tone. Sensing the main topic they had all been summoned for was finally about to begin, everyone fell silent, adopting a posture of attentive listening.

"I intend to go to the capital myself to assess the situation."

"What? The Admiral personally?"

"Yes…”

The unexpected declaration sent shockwaves through the officers, their surprise turning to utter astonishment. Even Brigadier General Voltaire, the former commander of Orbon and now the second-in-command by the Admiral's appointment, looked stunned, seemingly having received no prior warning.

It wasn't that they thought the Admiral's concern was excessive. It was simply that, if Dalos truly had some ulterior motive as the Admiral feared, then Orbon couldn't be considered safe either.

"Is it really necessary for the Admiral to personally intervene?"

When one lieutenant colonel mustered the courage to speak up, the other officers cautiously began to agree.

"I share that sentiment. If those Dalos bastards have ulterior motives, Orbon is precisely the frontline we must defend at all costs."

"Besides, the capital has ground forces, doesn't it? They might take offense…"

"Go."

At that moment, Roan stepped forward, cutting off the officers murmuring their concerns.

His gaze swept past the thickly piled cigarette ashes and the noticeably emptied whiskey bottle, finally resting on the Admiral's reddened eyes.

"You needn't worry about Orbon. The Brunois Navy will never be stranded, no matter the crisis."

He quoted a line from the oath familiar to every Brunois sailor, reciting the words the Admiral most wanted to hear. His voice was as solid as an iron wall that would never crumble under any attack.

"I share the Colonel's view."

At that moment, Brigadier General Voltaire, who had remained silent throughout, also stepped forward in agreement with Roan.

"We will uphold it splendidly even in the Admiral's absence."

With that, Brigadier General Voltaire saluted. Roan followed suit immediately.

Then, the officers who had been swayed by the two men raised their hands one by one. The eyes that had been clouded with worry moments before were now filled with unwavering resolve.

"Then I leave the rest to you."

The Admiral left a brief, low-voiced request.

Even in his absence, the Brunois Navy would never falter. That was the absolute pride of the admiral who had built the navy into what it was today.

And the Admiral saluted his own pride, which he had witnessed once more. With respect as one human being to another, for the men who always stood behind him.

The empire was plunged into deep sorrow by the emperor's death.

***

During the mourning period, people refrained from loud laughter or boisterous chatter in the streets. Shops closed their doors, and even in residential areas where colorful laundry had once hung, black flags were now sparsely displayed.

The migration plans of Delnia and Margaret, which had been gathering momentum but had recently stalled somewhat, were also completely halted, at least temporarily. This was because the stagecoach trading post connecting to other villages had closed.

Like everyone else, the two spent their days quietly, wearing black dresses and avoiding going out.

Then, one day, an unexpected visitor came to see Delnia.

"Her Imperial Highness the Princess has ordered you to come immediately."

"………………Her Royal Highness the Princess?"

The messenger nodded at her question. Even seeing it with her own eyes, she still couldn't believe it.

Jeanne Lejeune de Brunois, who would ascend as the new emperor once the mourning period ended, was someone Delnia had had little contact with even during her days as a noble. An old noble family that kept its distance from the capital's social circles could hardly have had any special ties to royalty.

So why would the princess seek out someone like her, who was no longer even a noble? And during the mourning period for the late emperor?

"May I know the reason?"

"I was only instructed to find you. I know nothing more."

Delnia was overcome by a sense of helplessness. The more she thought about it, the less she could guess the reason, which only made it worse.

But regardless, she could not refuse an order from the imperial family.

"Then I'll prepare. Please wait a moment."

And so, Delnia hurried toward the capital. Leaving Margaret behind in Blois, just in case, she went alone.

The darker the waves grew the closer she approached the imperial palace. Delnia did not avert her eyes from the scene as she entered the palace where the princess resided.

"You may wait here. Her Highness will be here shortly."

The maid who had guided her to the reception room announced.

But contrary to the guidance, the princess did not show herself for quite some time. Nevertheless, Delnia stood rigidly upright, not once slackening her posture, waiting for the princess.

How much time had passed? The door burst open, and finally, the princess appeared. She impatiently pulled away the black cloth covering her face, revealing deep fatigue.

"I kept you waiting."

The princess offered no apology or explanation. Given her position, Delnia didn't mind in the slightest. She only grew more curious about why the princess, who seemed to crave even a brief respite, had sought her out.

Yet Delnia did not press for answers. Instead, she bowed her head and calmly offered her respects.

"May His Majesty the late Emperor rest in peace in the embrace of the divine. And..."

Delnia straightened her back and looked directly at the princess.

"I greet the rising sun of the empire."

At that, the princess's furrowed brow, which had seemed weighed down by the world's troubles, softened slightly, and a satisfied smile touched her lips. She clearly took great pleasure in the greeting.

With a light gesture, the princess dismissed the attendants nearby and spoke leisurely.

"It's been a long time. You seem to have endured much hardship in the meantime."

It was a remark both friendly and pointed. Considering the princess was also a member of the royal family that had exterminated the Eperne clan, it could easily have sounded resentful.

Yet Delnia's expression didn't waver. Not because she felt no resentment. When dealing with someone whose intentions were unclear, one shouldn't readily reveal one's own either.

"Thanks to Your Highness's concern, I was unharmed."

Though both knew it couldn't be sincere, Delnia calmly gave credit to the princess.

The princess let out a hollow laugh at that attitude, which bordered on brazen.

Even when fallen to the lowest depths, noble blood remained ingrained. To see her utter such insincere words with such nonchalance.

"Then that is fortunate."

The princess, too, accepted the hollow gratitude without a flicker. She was sickeningly familiar with the nobles' manner of speech; it posed no difficulty.

She did miss the refreshingly straightforward speech of soldiers, who didn't require her to strain her brain guessing their inscrutable motives.

"I'd like to converse further, but I'm not exactly in a position of leisure either. Let's get straight to the point."

Beginning with equally insincere words, the princess brought up the real matter at hand.

"I summoned you here specifically to discuss the matter of restoring Eperne."

"………………Did you just say 'restore'?"

Delnia repeated the word dumbly, not even realizing she’d stuttered.

Watching Delnia reveal her true self for the first time with interest, the princess spoke again.