Intermission 1 ~At the Tavern Where the Knights Gather~
“Damn it! Isn't there any way to save Lady Marylia?!”
The fist that slammed down made the table tremble with a bang. The glass placed on top rattled, and the surface of the fruit wine within rippled softly.
"We should have taken Lady Marylia with us that day...!"
The lamenting knight was Cyril Eregian. For the past month or so, he had been constantly grieving over Marylia, always lamenting like this.
And that feeling was shared by all the knights gathered here.
… This was a tavern used by the knights as a meeting place. The trustworthy owner had rented out the second floor, allowing the knights to gather like this and voice their frustrations.
"Cyril. How many times must I tell you? We couldn’t have done it. When we returned to the harbor, didn’t they thoroughly inspect every single piece of cargo and luggage? And the ship was immediately burned ‘just in case’. If we had brought Lady Marylia to the port at such a state, we would have exposed her to danger, along with ourselves."
"Indeed. His Majesty seems exceedingly wary of Lady Marylia. Furthermore, I hear that all ships passing through that sea area are inspected before unloading."
"Unbelievable... why go to such lengths?"
The other knights admonished and comforted the grieving Cyril.
… Yes, for over a month now, the Kingdom of Fractalia had issued numerous decrees. Since Marylia's exile had been announced, the king had repeatedly issued orders that seemed to show a growing wariness of her.
For example, the cargo of ships coming from the direction of Marylia's island was now meticulously inspected. In the sea, as a "pirate countermeasure," ships bearing the royal insignia constantly patrolled.
It all seemed like measures meant to confine Marylia. Not content with just exiling her, the thoroughness of the measures was staggering.
It was hard to believe. It seemed the king had finally lost his mind. Why was he so obsessively wary of Marylia, all just to curry favor with Baltoria?
"... Why does Lady Marylia have to bear all the blame? His Majesty should have given her a reward, not banished her to an island! Anyone can see that this judgment was absurd!"
Cyril lamented and downed his glass of fruit wine in one gulp.
The sweet fruit wine, made from young plums, was Marylia's favorite. Though it was a bit too sweet for Cyril and the other knights, it was the perfect drink for them as they gathered to reminisce about her.
"The people, too, mourn Lady Marylia’s treatment as a hero. How can His Majesty not hear their voices...!"
"Precisely because he hears them. Lady Marylia's shining achievements and capabilities, and most of all, her heart full of compassion for all things, could surpass even His Majesty. He fears that."
With a bitter expression, they all sipped their wine. Since such bitter topics were always brought up, the sweet fruit wine was just right for them.
"But even so... if he's that wary, there must have been other ways, like elevating her to a high-ranking official or welcoming her into the royal family, right?"
"Indeed... that's what's strange. If His Majesty feared her, he should have brought her into his fold. Since he didn’t, it’s certain that Baltoria is involved."
"As if that country would resort to threats now..."
"No, we don’t know that. If it's not threats, they may have deceived him with sweet words."
The knights were by no means well-versed in diplomacy. Though many of them were the sons of nobles, they were the type who sought to rise through military achievements rather than through scholarly pursuits.
So, their discussions amounted to mere conjecture. They weren’t in a position to access information about Baltoria, nor could they make precise predictions based on knowledge.
However... even if they were unfamiliar with politics or diplomacy, they were the ones who had fought alongside Marylia on the frontlines.
"But in any case, there’s no doubt His Majesty is foolish. Without Lady Marylia, if Baltoria attacks, Fractalia will fall!"
They had a sense of crisis, likely more than anyone else in the country.
Their distrust of the king, who boasted of diplomacy without relying on military force, stemmed from their firsthand knowledge of the frontline situation, where the king had not been present.
… Baltoria’s military might was overwhelming. As a nation that had focused heavily on its military, they possessed technology that Fractalia could not hope to match.
What had allowed them to overturn such odds was solely Marylia’s strength.
When they followed Marylia’s commands, their bodies somehow became astonishingly light and agile, enough to overpower Baltoria’s latest weapons.
… The knights knew that what they had experienced was far from ordinary. They didn’t believe that Marylia was merely smiling and giving orders.
Marylia had been using some kind of magic. Magic that significantly strengthened and inspired her allies, the kind that was said to be allowed only to legendary saints... Marylia had used such magic.
And now that they had lost Marylia, Fractalia... if attacked, would lose.
Yes, they would lose. The knights who had fought on the frontlines knew it. Without Marylia, they would be defeated.
"... Damn, we might not be able to protect this country, let alone Lady Marylia..."
Currently, Fractalia and Baltoria were in a truce. But there was no guarantee that Baltoria wouldn’t break their promises. In fact, it was because they had broken promises in the past that Baltoria had risen to power. Baltoria was not a trustworthy nation.
"But... Lady Marylia told us to wait. So, we have no choice but to wait."
… Even so, the knights had no other options.
Overthrowing the king with military force wasn’t impossible, but such an act would only create an opening for Baltoria to attack. For now, the country needed to stand united and withstand the pressure from Baltoria.
"... That’s right. Lady Marylia told us to 'wait'... She said it might take three years, five years... perhaps even longer..."
Eventually, Cyril murmured as he gazed down at his glass. At the bottom of the glass, the faint golden hue of the fruit wine remained, reminding him of Marylia’s hair.
"Then... if we are to wait, let’s do so in perfect condition!"
Recalling the serene smile Marylia had shown on the deserted island’s beach, Cyril stood up.
His expression was grim, but in his eyes was not despair, but hope.
"Listen! If we continue like this, we won’t even be able to follow Lady Marylia’s orders! We must uphold our promise to Lady Marylia and protect this country... our Fractalia! How could we possibly neglect what Lady Marylia sought to protect?!"
As Cyril clenched his fist and spoke passionately, the knights, too, began to recall their hope.
Those who had been consumed by thoughts of turning the whole world against them to save Marylia now remembered... her compassion.
Even when she was on the verge of being executed, Marylia had softly smiled and said, "I kind of saw this coming." She had never harbored hatred, and most of all... she had fought to protect this country, accepting her exile without resistance.
They must not forget what she had fought to protect.
They must not trample on her will, her love.
Even if the kingdom she had loved and tried to protect had exiled her to a remote island. Still... because Marylia did not wish for them to act otherwise.
"... In time, His Majesty will face his due punishment. But that is not our duty... It is for Lady Marylia to carry out."
Cyril remembered Marylia’s words once again.
She had spoken of "gathering iron golems." She had mentioned smashing rocks, extracting iron sand, and forging them into iron golems... On an uninhabited island with no proper tools, how many years such a task would take was beyond imagination.
But Marylia had said so. She had said it. Therefore, the knights who loved her had no choice but to believe and wait. After all, their beloved Marylia had simply asked them to "wait."
"Lady Marylia will surely return! When that time comes, we must be her sword, her shield... her arms, her legs, and we must remain ever-ready!"
When Cyril raised his voice, all the knights agreed in unison.
… And now that they had regained their hope, they immediately began to discuss plans.
"Should we secure a few ships?"
"How do we keep tabs on Baltoria's movements?"
"Could we somehow gain control over the seas?"
And…
"Let’s do everything we can to quell the unrest among the people."
"Everyone, reach out to your families. Prepare for famine. We must not let the people starve!"
"When Baltoria attacks next, we must somehow repel them. We’ll have to strengthen our military in secret, without His Majesty finding out..."
"Then, let's unite the nobles! Now is the time for unity! If we don't overcome this, we’ll lose the country we need to welcome Lady Marylia back!"
… Whether Marylia's love and compassion reached the kingdom was uncertain.
But one thing was clear... it had reached those who had been by her side.
And so, they began to move, carrying Marylia's love with them, determined to protect the Fractalia that she cherished.
… Marylia, of course, had never expected things to turn out this way.
Even now, she was simply smiling gently, saying, "Oh dear, the slimes are out for a walk again today," without a care in the world.
But unknown to her, those who worshipped her had begun to act.
The people of Fractalia, driven by love for Marylia, had begun to protect the country in her place.
What do you think about this chapter?
