Civil War Erupts
“Um… Miss Emilia? Could you let go of me first?”
“No.”
“......”
Suddenly, something soft settled gently against my back. While that tender weight rubbed slowly up and down, I poured every ounce of attention into the sensation, trying to deduce what it was. From the height and texture… it had to be a cheek. Yes. Nothing else could produce this exact plush feeling except Emilia’s cheeks, which looked impossibly soft at first glance.
“I want to stay like this just a little longer.”
“......”
“I was the only one who didn’t know. While you were once again dancing on the edge of life and death, Mr. Heinkel… it makes me so angry. It feels so unfair.”
It hadn’t been a mere brush with death—I had actually died and come back—but I decided not to mention that. In any case, it seemed the Intelligence Bureau had changed its strategy while I was away on the practicum. Had Emilia’s full-scale beautiful-agent offensive finally begun?
She was playing the part of an innocent, pure-hearted maid, slowly closing the distance. Did she really think something like this could break me? If that was her assumption, she was probably correct. My heart was still hammering wildly even now.
“If I don’t replenish myself somehow…”
“Replenish what?”
“I don’t know either. Satisfaction, maybe?”
“Satisfaction?”
“Yes. Even those high-flying noble heirs can’t do this. I’m the only one who gets to hold you like this, Mr. Heinkel. When I think about that, I feel satisfied. Is that strange?”
“......”
What a bizarre line of thought. Was this dialogue also scripted by the Bureau? Emilia must be suffering, forced to speak words that clearly weren’t her own.
At that moment I abruptly unwound her arms and spun around. I wanted to see her flustered face.
“Eep…”
But the one who ended up flustered was me. Emilia was gazing up at me with deep, misty eyes from mere inches away. As I flinched in surprise, she slid her arms around my waist and drew even closer.
“Huu…”
I placed a hand on her head to restrain her, then slowly, gently stroked her hair. The motion felt so natural it startled even me. Still, I didn’t stop. I expected her to grow embarrassed and pull away.
“Mmm…”
“......”
Instead, Emilia simply closed her eyes and tilted her head at the perfect angle for petting. At this point it became a contest of wills. Let’s see who gives in first.
‘This isn’t right.’
After stroking her for a long while, I finally realized how strange the situation had become. Wait, what was I doing? Why was I petting Emilia’s head?
“Ahem. Hem…”
“Ah.”
I cleared my throat and withdrew my hand. My own mood was starting to feel dangerously off as well. In any case, Emilia’s acting had clearly leveled up again. The faint look of disappointment on her face when I pulled away was flawless.
“Mr. Heinkel. Could you lean down for a moment?”
“Yes?”
Wondering what she wanted, I bent slightly at the waist. Emilia pulled a handkerchief from her pocket and brought it close to my head. It was infused with mana. Had something gotten on my face?
“Hmm…?”
She began wiping my head. Or rather, it felt more like she was stroking my hair while holding the handkerchief. She kept rubbing for a long time, though I had no idea what she was actually cleaning.
“Was there something there?”
“Um… I’m not sure.”
“......”
I was rendered speechless. I wanted to press her further, but the sight of her bright, beaming smile made the impulse vanish completely.
“I’ll head inside and rest now.”
“Ah… Yes. Go ahead. Oh, right—Mr. Heinkel!”
The sound of hurried footsteps came from behind, and Emilia appeared in front of me again, this time holding an envelope.
“This letter arrived for you the day before yesterday.”
“Thank you.”
“Hehe, it’s nothing.”
Sender: Holy Knight Commander Feline Armstrong.
No wonder the stationery looked extravagant—the sender was anything but ordinary. The commander was so taciturn she only contacted me during negotiations for purchasing shares. This should be fine to show Emilia.
I glanced sideways at her curious, tilted head, then tore open the envelope.
Dear Schluss Heinkel,
I believe this letter will reach you before any official announcement, so I am writing in haste. Yesterday, Duke Lorraine raised a rebellion in the southern plains colony. The scale is far from ordinary, and there is a high probability it will escalate into full civil war.
Accordingly, we are considering joining the suppression force. I contacted you to ask for your thoughts on the matter.
— Feline Armstrong, Commander of the Holy Knights
So it’s finally here. The civil war event.
The southern colonies had originally been beastkin territory until the Empire invaded and turned the land into colonies by force. All the beastkin living there had been reduced to slavery. The slaves who had never forgotten that grudge, along with the beastkin of the Great Forest, had finally risen up in revolt. What should have ended as a mere riot had escalated because Duke Lorraine, the colonial governor, mobilized regular troops to side with the beastkin and declared independence.
This was the opening act of the largest war since the Freyja-Trude conflict.
I immediately understood why she was asking me. Come to think of it, I owned ninety percent of the Holy Knights’ shares. I was effectively their owner. Every time the order struggled and its stock plummeted, I had kept buying until I somehow crossed the ninety-percent threshold. The investment was finally about to bear fruit. The Holy Knights would showcase their true potential in this civil war, and after it ended they would be hired as the Emperor’s personal guard and enjoy their golden age.
“Could you bring me a pen?”
“Yes, right away.”
I took the pen from Emilia and began scribbling a reply. The answer had been decided from the start.
Participation approved. Contact me anytime if additional support is required.
— Schluss Heinkel
Both the beastkin and Duke Lorraine must have had their own sense of justice and ethics for rising up, but there was nothing I could do about it. Anyone who threatened the unity of the Empire would be crushed without mercy. A single Trude Kingdom was enough to keep the Empire in check. There was no reason to let the north and south nibble away at it from both sides, draining national strength and marching straight into a bad ending.
“Is it war?”
“It looks that way.”
“You won’t be going, right, Mr. Heinkel?”
“......”
Emilia’s eyes carried a subtle gleam as she asked. She sounded worried, but her true intentions were obvious. The southern colonies, backed by the Kingdom, were trying to declare independence—she was asking me not to interfere. Sorry, but I would interfere. One way or another.
“Yes. I won’t be going.”
Not for now, at least. If the suppression force performed well, I might not need to step forward personally. But in the worst case, I would have no choice but to go myself.
“That’s a relief. War is terribly dangerous.”
“Yes. It is.”
I sincerely hoped the Holy Knights would distinguish themselves enough that I wouldn’t have to lift a finger. Things could get far too messy otherwise.
Lichtenburg Mansion.
Iris, dressed in a black nun’s habit, slowly stepped inside. The moment the front gate opened, someone burst out through the door.
“Iris! Welcome! It’s been so long since you last visited, hasn’t it?”
“Yes. Sorry for imposing after such a long time.”
Iris smiled softly at Erika. She had worried the girl might be completely depressed after that day, but Erika didn’t seem particularly down. Perhaps because she and Schluss weren’t that close.
“Thanks to the sudden break, I finally have some free time. Do you know why classes were canceled today?”
“I’m not sure. Nothing’s been confirmed, but there’s a rumor the professors are holding an emergency meeting.”
“Ah. It must be because of the rebellion…”
Erika nodded in understanding. An unprecedented crisis had erupted: four entire castles had fallen into rebel hands. Although the Imperial Academy was far from the south, an emergency meeting to discuss countermeasures made perfect sense.
“Let’s go. Yulia’s waiting.”
“Oh my. Isn’t this the first time I’ll be meeting Lady Yulia since we were children?”
“Hehe. But honestly, she hasn’t changed much since then.”
Erika took Iris’s hand with excitement and pulled her along. They climbed the stairs and reached a balcony overlooking a lush green garden. A table had already been prepared with tea and snacks, and Yulia sat waiting in her wheelchair.
“I brought Iris!”
“Wow! Iris, you became the Saintess? Congratulations—even if it is a little late!”
“Thank you, Yulia. You’ve become even more beautiful since I last saw you.”
“You’re too kind…”
Yulia smiled without a trace of embarrassment. She had heard countless compliments about her beauty across dozens of reincarnations, so she was used to it. Still, coming from the Saintess personally appointed by the Holy See, she assumed the words weren’t entirely empty.
“There’s tea and cookies. Help yourself.”
“Thank you. I’ll enjoy them.”
“Come on, no need to be so formal with us.”
“It’s so ingrained now that this feels more comfortable.”
As Iris sipped her tea, she felt her heart grow lighter. She had visited the Lichtenburg mansion many times, but this was the first time she had ever felt truly at ease. The difference depending on whether or not Lady Lichtenburg was home was enormous. She resolved to only visit when the lady was absent. That woman tried to politicize everything, making conversation deeply uncomfortable.
“Just so you know, Schluss is doing well. We heard from Trie.”
“Trie? That girl with the green hair who carries a sword?”
“Yes, that’s her.”
“Hmm. So they’re close.”
“Not yet. They’re still just exchanging words.”
Since Trie visited Schluss’s mansion often, Iris figured she should at least build a minimal relationship with her.
“He’s healthy… that’s a relief.”
“Did something happen to Schluss Heinkel?”
“Ah, no. Iris, shall we talk about something else?”
When Yulia showed interest, Erika hurriedly tried to change the subject. Schluss was probably still targeting Yulia even now. That pedophile… For Yulia’s sake, she didn’t want to talk about him.
“Is there some reason it would be uncomfortable?”
“I’m curious too. Iris, Sister Iris! Please tell me what happened to Schluss.”
“Hehe. Schluss is older than you, Yulia. You should use proper honorifics.”
But she couldn’t say that in front of Yulia. In the end, Erika could only sigh deeply and watch as the conversation about Schluss continued.
Iris spent a long time explaining everything to Yulia.
“H-he died and came back to life?”
“It was probably a spell that made it look like he had died. The exact circumstances seem to have been classified.”
“Can’t we just ask Brother Schluss directly?”
“Well… the atmosphere around him has been strange lately. I feel a bit hesitant to visit.”
“Why is that?”
“Actually, this is a secret, but…”
“Yes, yes!”
Watching Yulia grow unusually excited, Erika rested her chin on her hand. Was Iris really going to tell her about the future sight?
“Do you know who Schluss likes?”
“It’s only a rumor, but I heard he’s engaged to Her Highness the Imperial Granddaughter. They apparently wear matching rings…”
“Hehe. That’s probably just a coincidence. Schluss is in love with his attendant, Emilia. The last time I tried to visit, the two of them were being so sweetly affectionate that I couldn’t bring myself to interrupt…”
“That’s impossible! Schluss definitely likes Yulia!”
Erika, unable to stay silent any longer, shouted. Realizing too late what she had said, she clapped both hands over her mouth.
By then Yulia was staring at them, her formerly pale cheeks flushed bright red.
“Is that… true?”
“Ah.”
Tears welled up in Yulia’s eyes and rolled down her cheeks. Yet her face looked strangely joyful. She was crying and smiling at the same time. The sight left Erika completely speechless. She had never seen her sister like this before.