Chapter 130
Perhaps I was the most shocked of all by Rodelight's death.
In the future I know, Rodelight lived on for a long time. If I remember correctly, he died about ten years before I did. And now, Rodelight was dead.
Was my scheme to sow discord at Zetta Plains the biggest factor? I wondered whether I had ultimately killed Rodelight, but after hearing Franklurt's account, it seemed the circumstances were somewhat different.
Apparently, Sakri liked to select particular generals and give them strategic advice. Rodelight and Franklurt had both been among them.
In general, he seemed to approach generals who were steady and obedient to orders, like Franklurt. By that measure, Rodelight seemed quite different.
"Rodelight alone apparently approached Sakri himself and offered his services."
In the first place, Sakri had begun coming and going in Gorbel long before the Empire invaded Rudek, having infiltrated the country as a traveling information broker.
Sakri's information was highly accurate, and the King of Gorbel gradually began to value him.
The most valuable piece of information Sakri brought them was news of the Empire's invasion of Rudek.
Sakri whispered into the king's ear.
He told him, "If things continue like this, not only Rudek but Gorbel will be destroyed."
He continued, "If we make preparations now, then attack Rudek from behind once the Empire and Rudek begin fighting, absorbing Rudek will not be difficult."
He went on, "If we occupy Rudek, the King of Gorbel could even keep the Empire in check while claiming supremacy over the southern part of the continent."
This steady stream of sweet talk gradually led the king to heed Sakri's counsel.
"The king had envied Rudek from the beginning. He envied the neighboring country that enjoyed prosperity simply because it possessed a large port, even though our territories were not all that different in size. Why should our country have to spend every day watching the moods of the surrounding nations? Sakri seized on that resentment."
Then the Empire and Rudek went to war, and the Gorbel army took advantage of the opening to invade. For a time, they even managed to capture Kitsal Fortress without much difficulty.
That proved decisive. The King of Gorbel formally appointed Sakri as his military strategist and gradually took a harder line against Rudek.
If Franklurt's account was true, then Sakri was the one who had fanned the flames of the war between Rudek and Gorbel.
"Rodelight had already become acquainted with Sakri while Sakri was coming and going as an information broker, and had learned from him how to gain an advantage in war. He was a man sensitive to such nuances. Thus, even after Sakri was appointed by our country, Rodelight remained one of Sakri's leading generals. Furthermore, Sakri had demanded, as a condition of his appointment, that he remain out of the public eye, so Rodelight often received acclaim on his behalf," Franklurt continued.
"So Rodelight, who had the closest ties to Sakri, the military strategist, was the first to be targeted in the purge?" Frein asked. "That is correct," came the reply.
I see. That must be why Rodelight's reputation became a subject of debate in later generations. There seemed to be no contradictions in Franklurt's account.
As everyone tried to digest what they had just heard, someone spoke up apologetically. "Um..."
It was Tsetsii. Lururia was there too.
With a troubled expression, Tsetsii asked, "Was it really all right for us to hear that?"
I didn't know whether it had been right or wrong, but we had already heard it, and there was nothing we could do about that now.
"It's better than letting inaccurate information spread carelessly, isn't it? In any case, these are the internal affairs of another country—Gorbel—not our own." When Lapiria-sama replied, Tsetsii looked relieved. Lururia remained quiet beside Tsetsii, but her expression showed nothing but interest.
"May I continue?" In response to Franklurt's question, Frein urged him on. "Yes, go ahead."
"Strictly speaking, the first person purged was not Rodelight but a civil official in the capital who had been closely connected to Sakri. I was stationed at a fortress on the Hakusha front, so I was not there and was spared. But when I saw the names of those who had been purged, I could not help feeling that danger was closing in on me. Once the defeated army returned, a full investigation began, and shortly afterward I heard a rumor that Rodelight had been placed under house arrest. That was when I approached your country about seeking asylum."
Franklurt's prediction proved accurate. Starting with Rodelight, the generals began to be executed one after another. When he learned that pursuers had also been sent after him, he hurried to escape by sea. He was watching for an opening in a port town when our ship arrived.
"Then, was Franklurt's family captured?"
"Actually, when I approached your country about asylum, I disguised them as members of a traveling troupe and sent them to Rudek territory along with my personal fortune."
"I see... Roa, what do you think? I don't think he's lying. I think we should take him with us and leave the decision to the leadership."
"I think Frein made the right decision. But, Franklurt-san, I can't promise that Rudek will accept you. You are the general who killed Naisol-sama, the former commander of the Sixth Knight Order. I expect people who still haven't come to terms with that—including Wickhart here—to be hostile toward you."
Franklurt shifted his gaze briefly to Wickhart, gave him a small, silent bow, and answered, "I am prepared for that."
"Could you not have sought asylum in Lubral to the west?" Tsetsii asked.
"The western neighboring country was too far from the fortress where I was stationed. It would have been difficult to get my family there. Besides, I had relatives in Rudek."
Since Rudek and Gorbel had originally been on peaceful terms, travel between the two countries was perfectly ordinary. Having relatives there was not particularly unusual.
"We can't keep debating this forever. If we're taking him with us, decide already," Northvel-sama said, and I made up my mind.
"He is also a valuable source of information about Gorbel. Let's take him with us for now. Is that all right, Wickhart?"
Wickhart had been glaring at Franklurt the entire time, but finally looked away and answered, "I have no objection."
"For now, we'll take you as far as Gadeland. After that, it will depend on the circumstances. Depending on how things develop, we may have you remain aboard ship or detain you in Gadeland for a while. Is that acceptable?"
"I have no objection."
Thus, with Franklurt—an unexpected and unusual guest—in tow, we returned to port at Gadeland.