Rose seems prepared to dirty her hands.
Major Toma, finished reading the report, stood up from his reclining chair and sat down again at the dining table.
Even through the skull mask, I could now discern much of the Major’s expression. It was a look of deep thought.
“Princess, it appears to be a rather ambiguous situation. Not black or white, but rather a truth residing in shades of gray.”
“Gray, doesn’t that mean my elder brother is not innocent?”
“It is true that Prince Adel framed the Carolingian family to implicate Johann, Sabina’s brother. The reason, as Sabina stated, was revenge for Sabina’s lover brutally rejecting him.”
How cruel! I can’t forgive him! Even if he’s my own brother, I can’t forgive him! Because of that, Sabina!
Sabina Hackinen, my kind tutor! She had to become a devil!
If my brother hadn’t done such a thing, Helga and Paula… the escort knights wouldn’t have had to die!
“…I can’t forgive it. How could he do such a terrible thing…”
A gray truth? It’s pitch black! A dark, murky mosaic born from the solidified baseness of humanity!
“However, Viscount Carolingian was not innocent. That’s where the ‘gray’ comes in.”
Major Toma’s level voice echoed hollowly in my ears, trembling with anger.
Viscount Carolingian is not innocent?
“…Major, what does that mean?”
“After abandoning Sabina’s mother, Viscount Carolingian shamelessly took up with several new mistresses. One of those mistresses was involved in anti-war activities. She was apparently a leader in an extremist pacifist group (a cult).”
“What kind of anti-war activities did that group engage in?”
“Not much different from environmental fundamentalists (Evergreen). They were the type who wouldn’t hesitate to commit terrorism for the sake of peace. Like those who say they don’t care about their lives if it’s for their health, they have a mindset beyond salvation.”
So, although he was executed for a wrongful conviction, he was guilty of other crimes in a different case…
“Did Viscount Carolingian know that his mistress was a leader of the extremist group?”
“Viscount Carolingian was merely a lustful old fool; he likely didn’t know his mistress’s true identity. But the problem is that the money he gave her as an allowance went to a terrorist organization. What’s worse is that a terrorist attack targeting the army was carried out based on information he shared in bed. Viscount Carolingian served as a military official in the Mechanist Army, and people died in the terrorist incident, so ignorance won’t be an excuse.”
“Did my brother know about this?”
“If he had known, there would have been no need to fabricate a wrongful conviction. However, it seems His Majesty the Emperor was aware. Though it appears he only learned of it after the execution.”
In any case, if he was a sinner who was going to be executed anyway, the rightness or wrongness of the matter is irrelevant. It’s exactly what my father would think.
“So he gets off scot-free? I wouldn’t expect such a reaction from the Princess’s father.”
Mizar placed a bowl of yogurt with blueberry jam in front of me.
It should have tasted delicious, but it felt surprisingly sour. Perhaps it’s because my heart is as blue as this jam.
“Technically, Prince Adel received a reprimand from the Emperor. The Emperor ordered his subordinates to search the Carolingian family’s estate. It was probably an attempt to cover up the Prince’s actions, but as fate would have it, they discovered that Viscount Carolingian’s mistress was part of an anti-war terrorist organization. They likely found a listening device planted by the mistress within the estate. If they had investigated further, they might have uncovered the existence of Sabina, his illegitimate child, but they probably prioritized the investigation into the anti-war terrorist organization for which they had found a lead.”
“Even so, I think my father’s methods were also strange. And the law that punishes the family for the sins of an individual.”
I exclaimed indignantly, but Major Toma’s voice remained flat.
“Princess, even bad laws are still laws. In principle, laws exist for people to live fairly, but in times like these, they are merely tools for dictators to stabilize their power. The Emperor is considered on the more benevolent side; there are far worse examples.”
“That’s no comfort! The existence of worse people doesn’t absolve them!”
“Then what will you do?”
“I will change it. I will make things that don’t add up, add up. If necessary, even by force!”
This is Kanata’s philosophy (Rule), number one!
“…Is that so. Well, it can’t hurt to try. Perhaps start by ending the war?”
I answered Major Toma’s question with my chest puffed out.
“I’ve studied a little history, focusing on the circumstances when wars end. The most common reason for wars to end is when one of the opposing factions achieves victory. But this war has completely bogged down. It won’t be resolved in just a few years. I believe there’s a high probability of continuing this protracted struggle for over ten years.”
“It must be a dream era for the arms industry. Are there other cases where wars have ended?”
“When the citizens, exhausted by the protracted war, no longer desire its continuation. But that’s unlikely to happen either. While everyone feels war-weariness, the people in power are unwilling to stop the war. Therefore, I will take a third path.”
“Let’s hear it, what is this third path?”
I sensed a hint of enthusiasm in Major Toma’s voice. But… the heat of my resolve is not merely “a hint”!
“The third path to ending the war is when a third force, distinct from the conflicting parties, realizes a ceasefire. The important thing is that this third force possesses the power to deter conflict. They must have at least equal or greater power than the warring factions. Otherwise, they will be met with ridicule or ignored. I’m not saying there are no instances of the powerless stopping a war, but it’s not realistic.”
This is the conclusion I’ve reached. Even if I speak of love or ideals… the war won’t stop.
In that case… I have no choice but to stop it, even if it means relying on power. Even if my hands are stained with blood to achieve that.
“…Those who do nothing often have the loudest voices and the cleanest hands. Princess, you don’t seem to be of that ilk. I too am a pessimist. I don’t believe wars can be stopped by goodwill or principles. Do you know the tale of the small scale and the large scale, Princess?”
“The story where a small scale rests on the pan of a large scale?”
“Precisely. To balance the large scale, one cannot fuss over the balance of the small scale. The shedding of blood in a war to stop a war… it may seem contradictory, but that is because one is only looking at the balance of the small scale. What you are trying to do is an attempt to balance the large scale by disturbing the balance of the small scale. However, even when the small scale’s balance is disturbed, there will be those who lose their lives, and the Knights of the Crimson Rose who fight for you are at the forefront of that… you understand that, don’t you?”
“Yes. When we first met, you told me. That I cannot change the fact that I was born a princess, but I can change how I live. This is the ‘way of life’ that Stinrose Ringvolt, born a princess, has decided for herself.”
“…Peace, grasped with blood-stained hands, huh… …It seems I have said too much.”
“No, I am grateful to you, Major. Because I feel alive in this moment. I wish, as a testament to my life… to gift a peaceful world to the future.”
For that purpose, I will… become a murderer of conviction. I will gain power and force those who continue the war to… listen to my words, even if by force.
I will form a peace faction within the Mechanist Army, and if that succeeds, I will extend my reach to the Alliance as well.
“Toma, you must take responsibility for breathing ambition into Rose, okay? This happened because you spoke with such airs of knowingness. You bear a great responsibility for derailing the fate of a nation’s princess.”
Koyori, my fate isn’t exactly derailed! …Maybe being a murderer of conviction isn’t exactly normal?
“Alright, alright. Princess, I cannot accompany you to the very end of your path, but I will travel with you part of the way. I’ve taken on the role of an observer for the Crimson Rose, after all. Will that be acceptable?”
“Yes! I look forward to it, Major!”
“That was an intriguing discussion. Toma, why don’t you see it through to the end instead of getting off midway?”
An elegantly refined elderly Imashihito, with his white hair slicked back like a noble… I’ve seen him in photos! This must be Dr. Doumeki.
“Doctor, I should not do anything, nor do I possess the qualifications.”
Major Toma replied to the doctor in an exceedingly weary voice. Upon seeing Toma’s state, Koyori’s expression grew clouded like an overcast sky.
Koyori… knows about Major Toma’s circumstances.
“Toma tends to overthink things a bit. Oh, and Princess Rose, I am Hyakume Onikane, and I serve as the director of this research institute.”
He gave a polite bow, so I stood up and bowed as well. Tasche, following my lead, also bowed charmingly.
“I have heard of your reputation for a long time. It is an honor to meet you, Dr. Doumeki, renowned as the foremost authority in bioengineering.”
“Thank you for taking care of Major Toma and my daughter, Koyori.”
It is I who am being taken care of… they rescued me from the Witch’s forest.
“Well, now that the Doctor has arrived, let’s have a proper meal. Akanemon, go fetch Gun. Once everyone is gathered, we’ll start cooking the main dish!”
“Hehehe, I’m looking forward to it. I’m actually starving.” “Kikiki! (I am!)”
I have so much to think about, but as they say, you can’t fight on an empty stomach!
