Chapter 244
It was probably thanks to Oliver holding the soldiers at bay.
We were able to reach the throne room without trouble.
But a group was already there.
"I'm glad to see you're safe, Sister Therese."
Saying so, Alida bowed to Therese, her sister-in-law, who was among the group that had reached the throne room.
However, Therese was not the one leading the group.
"I'm glad you're safe too, Third Consort-sama. Thank you for saving Sister Therese."
"There's no need to thank me, Commander Alida. Helping your sister was only natural."
The speaker was a blue-haired woman wearing glasses.
Her name was Camilla, and her expression was serene.
She was the Emperor's Third Consort and Erich's mother.
Like Erich, she struck others as intelligent, but she also projected an equally strong sense of coldness.
"If it was only natural, I wish you'd brought the other consorts too."
I spoke up.
At the sight of me, Therese lowered her face sadly, while Alida narrowed her eyes slightly.
That was the sort of presence I was to these sisters.
It couldn't be helped.
"Good day, Prince Arnold. I'm glad to see that Prince Traugott and Princess Christa are safe as well."
"I am hardly in a good mood. You arrived here so quickly, so you must have suspected the rebellion, didn't you? Why did you bring only Sister Therese?"
"She is the only one whose capture would cause trouble. The Vaitling family has a history of defying His Majesty the Emperor. Unfortunately, the Commander of the Imperial Guard is also a member of that family. If his sister were taken hostage, he might betray us. Therese-san is defying His Majesty for the sake of her brother. Strong family ties can be a problem too."
Camilla said this with a thin smile.
I frowned in response.
I really hated this woman. Zuzan seemed preferable by comparison.
"If you were worried about someone being taken hostage, wouldn't the other consorts be a problem too?"
"Not to the same extent as Therese-san. You seem angry that I didn't bring your mother, but if I had brought Mitsuba-san, who has incurred Zuzan's hatred, both Therese-san and I would have been in danger. I did it for the sake of the Empire. I hope you understand."
"For the sake of the Empire? Why not just admit that you used her as a decoy so you could escape?"
"That is one way to look at it. Regrettably."
I wanted to punch her.
Even so, I merely clenched my fist and did nothing.
Punching her would cause trouble. It wasn't as if what she said was wrong.
Her way of thinking was the same as Mother's. Since Mother had no value as a hostage, she wasn't important. I understood that. Even if Mother was popular with the people and abandoning her meant losing their trust, that was a minor concern compared with the possibility of Alida betraying us.
I glanced at Alida.
They had told her that they brought her sister because she might betray them. For someone as loyal as Alida, that must have felt insulting.
Yet Alida looked completely unruffled.
"Does the Commander of the Imperial Guard have nothing to say?"
"No. It is only natural that I would be suspected. My brother committed a crime, and my sister tried to save him with the help of Her Majesty the Empress. It is only natural that I, their younger sister, would be suspected."
"I don't think you will betray us. I merely eliminated that possibility. Now then, Therese-san, shall we go in?"
"Yes... Camilla-sama."
Camilla and Therese entered the throne room.
I watched them go with resentment.
"Brother Al... What about Mother...?"
"Fiene is on her way to rescue her. But she'll probably be taking concentrated fire."
The rear palace was full of potential hostages.
That meant the enemy's forces would be spread thin as well. I was counting on Mia being able to pick them off one group at a time.
But with Camilla and Therese here, Zuzan would surely concentrate all her forces on Mother without mercy.
Even with Mia there, Mia would undoubtedly have a hard time.
And if Fiene ended up being taken hostage, it would be my fault.
I'd have made an important person like Fiene a hostage simply because I wanted to protect my own mother.
Damn... Things never go according to plan.
"Are Fiene and Mother going to be all right...?"
"They have guards with them, but... getting here won't be easy."
"That must have been true for Camilla as well, but... she's a snake of a woman, so she must have slipped through the gaps. If she had detected the rebellion in advance, she may even have had the soldiers watched."
"That's no consolation to the people being used as decoys. Brother Trau, look after the three of them. I'll go meet them through the secret passage."
"Alone?"
"There is a gloomy strategist there. If I'm with him, we should be able to avoid danger."
"That worries me. Why not take someone along as an escort?"
"There are more people in the throne room now. Let's send someone from the Imperial Guard."
Alida suggested it.
Honestly, that would be more hindrance than help.
A large escort would be one thing, but a few guards would be almost a handicap to me.
On my own, I could usually handle just about anything.
So I declined the suggestion.
"I'll pass. I'm not going there to fight, and I won't be taking the regular route either. Instead, I'd rather have you secure the area around the throne room. If it's filled with enemies, I won't be able to move."
"But isn't that far too dangerous?"
"It is dangerous, but assigning guards just for my sake would be a waste. Besides, thinning the forces in the throne room would be dangerous too. There's a troublesome woman inside."
I said this with Camilla in mind.
Even if she had anticipated the rebellion, she had arrived here far too quickly.
The people surrounding Camilla weren't seasoned fighters. They were merely armed maids and female guards.
"It is possible she reached here safely because she's in league with the enemy."
"In this situation, we should suspect everyone. Keep watch."
"In that case, understood. Leave it to me."
Alida said that and withdrew.
I nodded, and after seeing Brother Trau and the others enter the throne room, I turned away.
But then Alida called out behind me.
"Prince Arnold."
"...Is there something else, Commander Alida?"
"...My brother suffered for seven days and seven nights before he died. Father stayed by his side and nursed him, and our family was with him until the end. Considering what he did, that was only natural, but... I would be lying if I said I felt no anger."
"Of course. If Leo had committed a crime and been sentenced to death, I would be angry too."
"...Thank you for understanding. To be honest, I cannot help wishing that you were not near Fiene-sama. But... you are still beside Fiene-sama. My brother died unable to accept that. I know this may be a burden, but please carry that feeling with you. If you die and Fiene-sama grieves, I won't know what my brother died for. For my own peace of mind as well—please live."
Those were unexpected words.
Her pale-blue eyes, fixed on me, were utterly clear.
She truly meant it.
What a strange person.
"Don't you want me to die?"
"Who would that save? If Fiene-sama is smiling... Laurenz would be satisfied too. It may have been a naïve thought, a naïve feeling, but the woman he loved was smiling, after all."
That was precisely why Laurenz had picked a fight with me: he couldn't see it that way.
Still, if thinking that brought her even a little comfort, I had no reason to deny it.
"Very well. I had no intention of dying anyway."
"You have my heartfelt thanks. I pray for your good fortune in battle."
With that, Alida gave me a faint smile and saw me off.