Vain struggle I was only depressed on the day Claire-sama left my side.
Claire-sama leaving by herself was shocking, but I won"t give in to despair with just this much.
I started acting to regain Claire-sama.
"… I see, Claire herself decided to perish"
The one who said that was Sein-sama.
First, I went to the Royal Palace.
In order to legitimize itself, the revolutionary government first of all restored the Royal Family.
The revolutionary government approved Sein-sama as the successor of the former King Rousseau, conversely the Royal Family granted the revolutionary government the Royal Standard.
Rather than Sein-sama"s work, it"s likely that the calculations of the whole Royal Palace came into play.
From the start the Royal Family found the tyranny of n.o.bles loathsome, but by all rights it was impossible to legitimize the revolutionary forces seeking to overthrow aristocracy that"s the foundation of the government.
The Royal Family became impatient when they received information that the empire"s army began advancing in the vicinity of the border between the kingdom and empire.
If the empire takes the advantage of the current situation of the internal discord called revolution, the balance with the empire that from the start was antagonistic will likely crumble.
It seems the Royal Family granted the revolutionary government the Royal Standard with the aim of quickly resolving the internal discord to not allow the empire to take advantage of it.
Well, that"s why right now Sein-sama"s foundation, the revolutionary government, is slightly unstable, but he"s awaiting the official coronation as the king of the new era.
"Claire-sama is different from the other corrupt n.o.bles. She is not someone who should be executed here"
I applied for the audience with Sein-sama and appealed for Claire-sama"s life to be spared.
Properly speaking a single commoner shouldn"t be allowed an audience, but as the result of Sein-sama"s special arrangements we were able to talk directly like this.
"… What you are saying is right. But, I have no choice but to say it"s difficult"
Sein-sama"s face was full of bitterness as he answered like this to my appeal.
"… However Claire is as an individual, it remains a fact she is the daughter of the symbol of the aristocracy Dor François. Even if I forgive her, the revolutionary government won"t"
"No way…"
"… In times of peace the king would have the final word, but now, I have barely enough power to keep up appearances. It"s effectively the revolutionary government that now rules the country"
Perhaps, the king"s sovereignty will be lost, said Sein-sama.
"But, behind the revolutionary forces is the Naa Empire. Is Sein-sama aware of it?"
"… My understanding is a little different"
Sein-sama gently denied my words.
"… Certainly, the revolutionary forces are under the Naa Empire influence. But, that"s only Salas"s faction. Arla and Irvine who are the symbols of the revolution vehemently refuse influence of the empire"
"But!"
"… Well, listen. Are you aware the revolutionary government is distributing food to the people?"
"Yes"
"That is possible because the imperial forces within the revolutionary government are supplying goods. By trying to forcibly eliminate the imperial forces, the people will starve, it"d be putting the cart before the horse"
The lives of the people are irreplaceable, is what this means.
For Sein-sama, who takes hold of the country is less important than people not starving.
"… It"s not like Arla is letting Salas go unchecked. He"s only being used temporarily"
When the time comes the imperial faction will be eliminated from the revolutionary forces, Sein-sama said.
"… Above all, I can hardly do anything now. Me becoming the next king is just becoming a decorative puppet. I want to do something about Claire, but…"
"… Is that so"
I guess Sein-sama is also struggling against the era.
On his face was an expression of royalty who"s lamenting his own powerlessness despite the transitional era.
I am not the only one struggling.
"… I"m sorry I couldn"t be helpful"
"No, I asked for impossible. Excuse me"
Not able to keep going any more I left the Royal Palace.
One thing failed.
"But, there"s still more"
Next I visited a monastery of the Spirit Church.
"Yo, Rei. I"m glad you came"
"It"s been a long time, Rei"
I visited Yuu-sama and Misha.
Yuu-sama is still under house arrest by the Royal Family.
The official reason is to provide medical treatment for the insanity caused by the opposite s.e.x disease, but in reality, she"s been immobilized by Sein-sama faction that currently has the biggest influence over the Royal Family.
Sein-sama himself doesn"t wish for it, but it"s not so simple with how complicated politics are.
Yuu-sama whom I meet for the first in a while, has a good complexion and appears lively, not minding her own situation.
As for Misha, the habit suits her so much you"d think she was a nun from the start, she looks completely natural on Yuu-sama"s side.
"I can mostly guess the reason you came here. It"s about Claire, right?"
"Yes"
I nodded to Yuu-sama"s question.
"I also want to do something for her, but similar to Sein-niisan, there"s not much I can do"
Yuu-sama said so with an apologetic frown.
"With the influence of the Royal Family lessened it can be said that relatively the Church"s influence grew. Now that it"s wartime there are many commoners seeking a.s.sistance from the Church. Even the revolutionary forces aren"t able to ignore the Church"s voice"
"Then――!"
"But"
Yuu-sama interrupted my words.
"But now, the one who wields the real power of the Church now is Cardinal Lily - and behind her Salas and the empire"
There"s not much I can do, said Yuu-sama resignedly.
"Salas and the empire are determined. I guess they"ve always aimed to achieve this victorious situation. They reached out not only for the revolutionary forces, but also the Church"
"Sein-sama seems to be thinking optimistically, but there"s a danger that at this rate the empire will take over the revolutionary government"
Both Yuu-sama and Misha seemed to feel the sense of crisis in the present situation.
"Can"t Yuu-sama advise Sein-sama?"
"I did, many times. But, my voice doesn"t seem to reach Sein-niisan. His understanding of the current situation is a little naïve because the surrounding people don"t give him accurate information"
Otherwise, that wise Older Brother wouldn"t stay silent, said Yuu-sama.
"I will try continuing appealing for Claire"s life to be spared, but honestly, I want you to understand the effect will be small. Dor and Claire are the symbols of the aristocracy. From the point of view of the revolutionary forces they are the first to be made an example of, and for the empire they"re leading the aristocratic forces"
"I am sorry, Rei"
Their words made me feel gloomy.
Even so, the two of them are acting.
Just doing this much now must be enough.
"Is that so. I understand. Please take care of it"
I left the monastery.
Afterwards, I planned to turn to help to various places, but every attempt ended in vain.
Salas"s imperial influence spread its roots deep in this country, no matter where I turned to the answer was the words "Difficult".
How helpless am I alone.
The fighting spirit I had at first with the strong feeling of "I"ll show I can save Claire-sama", gradually wore off.
I don"t want to give up.
But, the current situation is unforgiving.
I ran around the Royal Capital in anguish.
"I wonder if Claire-sama felt like this when she negotiated between the n.o.bles and commoners"
While I was watching Claire-sama become more haggard day by day, I still felt like I was looking at somebody else"s problem.
At any rate, it will be solved in the end.
Claire-sama safety is guaranteed by Dor-sama and me, I thought like that.
"Claire-sama…"
Even though it"s only been a few days I"ve been unable to meet her, I felt like it"s been months since the time I could see her.
The person whom until now I took as natural to be on my side isn"t here.
It felt like my chest would burst open when I thought that.
"… I want to see you, Claire-sama"
And while spending my days in despair, one day I finally obtained the information regarding Claire-sama"s current whereabouts.
I decided to use the last resort.