Chapter 143: Dissonance (1)
When Count Amiel arrived earlier than scheduled, Anguster was already waiting, as if he had known.
“Count.”
“Sir Anguster.”
Anguster was the first to speak as he looked at him.
“May I have a word with you?”
Count Amiel gave a small nod.
The two soon moved to a quiet reception room.
“It’s been a while.”
“Indeed.”
Count Amiel responded to Anguster’s greeting.
Even before the teacups were filled, Anguster spoke carefully, yet sharply, as if throwing the words.
“My condolences, Count.”
“What do you mean?”
“I heard your sons were involved in some unfortunate incident.”
At that, Count Amiel looked at him with an indifferent gaze.
Anguster’s expression remained entirely composed.
Thinking the conversation might get complicated, Count Amiel sighed and stopped the maid who was about to pour the tea.
“I’ll do it myself. You may leave.”
The maid bowed silently and exited as if withdrawing.
She, too, must have sensed that this was not a conversation she should overhear.
Clatter.
As Count Amiel poured the tea, Anguster lowered his head slightly.
“Let me say it again—my condolences.”
“……Thank you for your concern.”
“I didn’t come just to reopen old wounds, Count.”
Taking a sip of the hot tea, he continued.
“I’m here to offer some help. After all, we were comrades on the same front, weren’t we?”
“……I appreciate the sentiment.”
Count Amiel let out a quiet sigh.
“I heard your eldest son was seriously injured.”
“‘Injured’ doesn’t quite cover it.”
Count Amiel replied in an utterly calm tone.
There was even a hint of cynicism in his voice.
His hand, as he set down the teacup with a clack, didn’t waver in the slightest.
“He’s finished as a swordsman.”
“…….”
“He may be focusing now on recovery, but if he doesn't fall into despair and take his own life someday, it’ll be a relief.”
He added quietly.
While still watching the composed Count, Anguster stole a glance at his teacup.
The tea within was trembling ever so slightly.
“To be frank, I don’t know if the boy will last a month.”
“I heard that’s why you rushed over.”
“That’s right.”
Count Amiel answered.
“If he is to die… then at the very least, it should be in front of me. No matter what his final words may be.”
“Once again, Count, I offer my deepest condolences. I’m sure your son will recover in time.”
Anguster paused for a moment, then asked.
“What do you plan to do now?”
“Plan to do? I’m not sure I understand the question.”
“I meant, will you just let things be?”
“What else can I do?”
Count Amiel replied.
“The culprit has been caught, the case resolved, and everything accounted for. I came all the way here to hear the details of the aftermath… In this situation, what more can I do?”
“They might be hiding something, you know.”
“I’ve heard from Allen as well, and I don’t think that’s the case.”
“Allen… Ah, your second son.”
Anguster nodded and stepped back a bit as he spoke.
“In any case… I’ve thought this for a while, but the Academy is the problem. Instead of relying on professionals, they cling to strange traditions and let unqualified people lead. How many incidents has it been already? During the field class, and now again. Once is a mistake—twice is no coincidence.”
He went on, as if venting long-held frustration.
“They’re still lost, wandering without direction. It’s time the Academy changed.”
“…….”
Count Amiel fell silent for a moment.
“That wasn’t your own thought just now, was it, Sir Anguster?”
“Pardon?”
“Whose words were you repeating?”
“…….”
After a moment, Anguster shook his head as if giving up.
“As expected, I can’t outmatch you, Count.”
“…….”
“I’d like to speak in more detail.”
He leaned in as he spoke.
“To fulfill His Majesty the Emperor’s will.”
“……What do you mean by that?”
Perhaps due to the unexpected words, Count Amiel showed a hint of surprise for the first time.
To him, Anguster whispered calmly.
“His Majesty wishes for the Three Dukes to be weakened. And for the Academy, which could be called the symbol of the knight orders, to also be diminished.”
“His Majesty?”
“Yes. It’s about leaving the legacies of the past behind and moving toward a more progressive future. Those legacies only hinder that progress.”
“……And the Holy Sun Church is involved in this as well?”
“Indeed.”
Anguster clicked his tongue as if appalled.
“They must have requested their long-held wish—to become the Empire’s state religion.”
“Just as I suspected.”
Anguster nodded in admiration.
Then he fixed his gaze on Count Amiel, waiting for a reply.
Count Amiel took another sip of tea and murmured.
“In that case, I’ll be finished in a few years too.”
“……What do you mean by that?”
“If you intend to push down the Three Dukes, what’s a mere Count family like mine?”
“How could the House of Count Amiel be considered ‘mere’? It may carry the title of Count, but even most Marquess houses wouldn’t dare challenge its influence.”
“Even our family doesn’t dare contend with the Three Dukes.”
“…….”
Count Amiel let out a soft chuckle and smiled.
“It must be the Second Imperial Prince. He was always hot-blooded, even back in the day.”
He murmured with a sigh.
“Let me skip the preamble and get straight to the point. Are you seeking war?”
“…….”
“I take that as a yes. In that case, you’ve come to the wrong place.”
At his response, Anguster frowned slightly and asked,
“What do you mean?”
“Soldiers, by nature, do not speak of politics.”
“The Great Emperor was once a soldier too.”
“But when he began wearing the crown, he had already laid down his spear and sword.”
Count Amiel added,
“And now, you’re trying to persuade me by invoking the Great Emperor? Isn’t the situation reversed? He valued harmony above all else. Thanks to that, brilliant talents gathered to his cause, achieved a grand feat, and eventually founded the Empire.”
“……Then you’re saying you’ll stay still as things are?”
“I’m saying I don’t wish to support a war without just cause, Sir Anguster.”
The red-haired Sword Saint of the Empire muttered,
“I’m not suddenly turning into some sentimental pacifist, claiming I now abhor war and violence after all the blood I’ve shed. What I’m saying is that a war without justification gains nothing and achieves nothing.”
“…….”
“Even a butcher’s knife has meaning only when it’s cutting meat—not when it’s pointed at a passing stranger.”
Count Amiel closed his eyes.
“I’ll pretend I never heard your proposal just now.”
He let out a quiet sigh.
“……Perhaps I’ve grown soft with age. Just thinking of my son, who is now on the brink of death, leaves me unable to do anything.”
“I understand.”
“Thank you for understanding.”
“There’s no need to thank me.”
Anguster replied.
“I’ve experienced the same pain, Count. It’s a pain that can never become familiar, no matter how many times you feel it.”
With those words, he downed his tea in one go.
As he rose from his seat, Count Amiel called out to him.
“Sir Anguster.”
“Go ahead.”
“……The war is already over.”
“……Heh.”
Anguster let out a short, sharp laugh.
“Our comrades who marched to battle that day still lie sprawled across the cold lands of the enemy, unable to return. The families who waited for their dead fathers, husbands, and sons were stripped of everything and cast out.”
“…….”
“And those who did return were met only with disgrace as defeated soldiers, mountains of debt, and the ruins of their hometowns.”
He growled the words, almost like a beast.
“Who decided the war was over? ……Our war is far from finished.”
He looked toward Count Amiel and said,
“The tea was excellent. I’ll be taking my leave now.”
“Take care.”
“……Ah, now that I think about it, I nearly forgot.”
He murmured.
“Did you know? Another incident just occurred in the capital.”
“I’ve only just arrived, so I’m unaware.”
“I heard one of the Capital Guard Captains was attacked. He’s reportedly on the verge of death.”
“……You mean the man who was disciplined for persecuting a former Assistant of Garusol?”
“Yes. That’s the one.”
Anguster nodded.
“Anyway, I plan to visit him. Apparently, one of his relatives served in my unit. It’s only right that I go.”
“……Do you intend to tie that incident to Lord Shagas and the Holy Sun Church?”
“As if I would.”
He burst into laughter.
“What fault could there be in those two? If anyone bears blame, it would be the culprit.”
“…….”
“I’ll be going now. I must have kept you far too long, given everything you’re already dealing with.”
Just before leaving, Anguster left one last remark.
“I’ll be waiting anytime, so if you ever change your mind, please come find me.”
“……I’ll do that.”
Count Amiel quietly nodded.
Only after Anguster left did he let out a deep sigh.
“Kyren……”
Murmuring the name of his child who hovered at death’s door, he quietly closed his eyes.
“Walking around like this, I see the area around the Academy has changed quite a bit.”
To Archbishop Onnime’s words, Lian gave no reply.
He simply walked beside him in silence.
“…….”
Conflicting voices whispered different things in his mind.
Follow him.
Don’t follow him.
You must follow.
You mustn’t follow……
In the end, he stuck to his original decision and accompanied Archbishop Onnime.
Just in case, he had come fully prepared.
“Aren’t you busy?”
“Yes, I am. Especially in times like these.”
“With the Departure Festival, one of the Cardinals will be coming too. Can you afford to take on something like this as well?”
“Ha ha.”
Archbishop Onnime let out a small chuckle.
“Which is exactly why I must work even harder. It’s the duty entrusted to me, after all. Thank you for your concern, Lord Gwendil.”
Then, his gaze briefly settled on the sword at Lian’s side.
“That’s a fine sword. Even with a quick glance, I can tell. Are you considering becoming a Holy Knight?”
“……For now, I’m keeping my interests open.”
“That’s good to hear.”
He nodded.
Though he seemed to be trying to make conversation in a friendly manner, his particular presence and demeanor made it feel more like an interrogation.
And Archbishop Onnime, well aware of that impression, gave a troubled smile.
“To help ease the tension, how about we talk a little more deeply?”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Well… They say romantic tales are best at times like this, but I seem to have no ties in that area.”
Was he… joking just now?
Lian couldn’t bring himself to react.
Onnime merely clicked his tongue softly.
“Since we both follow the teachings of the Holy Sun Church, why don’t we talk about something related to that?”
“I doubt I can satisfy you, as my knowledge is shallow.”
“Just hearing your thoughts will suffice. Listening to the thoughts of young believers is a joy in itself.”
He murmured.
“For instance… yes. What do you think about the collapse of the Statue of the Saintess on the day of the Academy’s entrance ceremony?”
Suddenly, a question aimed like a blade struck at the heart.
When Lian remained silent, Onnime smiled faintly.
“Let me go first.”
The man, once a famed Inquisitor, quietly murmured,
“To me, it was nothing more than a chunk of stone that got smashed.”