act18d0

Truth is, I have a girl about the same age as you. She only knows how to splash my hard-earned money away all the damned day... How nice it'd be if she could learn from you.

Getting to know you tonight has been a truly wonderful time. Can I ask if you're still single, dear Kal'tsit?

Cleric Kal'tsit!

Oh, Heidi, don't cut in so randomly. You should be heading upstairs to turn in about now.

Allow her to speak, Count. In this day and age, children are always much more mature than we imagine.

Hm.

Cleric Kal'tsit... have—can I ask if you've been to Ursus before?

Oh, that nation rife with rebellion and violence.

When I was studying abroad, I spent some time at Deity Grypherburg. Are you interested in Ursus?

Yes!

Papa once gave me a few books to read, by an Ursus author...

Ursus only ever produces two kinds of arts: raucous sensationalism, or true eternal greats.

If Thomson liked it, chances are it was the latter, wasn't it?

Hmph. You lot really do trust him.

Papa really put him in high esteem. He even wanted to go to Deity Grypherburg himself to visit him, but business always meant he had to put it off, and this year with his old injuries flaring up again, he wasn't able to go.

Your father was injured?

That's right. He broke his knee, and then put off surgery for too long, so it's not fully treated.

I warned him. Ah, no idea what happened last year. He came scrabbling back with wounds all over, and all he'd say was he ran into a robber and dropped off a cliff. Wasn't interested in saying much else.

Do you want to go to Ursus? Miss Heidi?

Now that won't do! The death of the last Emperor and the rebellions had a profound effect on the country. Should you want to study there, you'd do well to wait a few years first.

I'm just talking about it... What impression do you have of the country?

I'll tell you a story.

It's the story of how Ursus's Sixth Army were annihilated, without a trace, by a bottle of vodka.

Well, this rumor doesn't sound plausible at all.

When any event is boiled down to its cause, its conclusion tends to sound unexpected. We're all used to the process, aren't we?

That does make sense.

It began with a ruffian from the Army 'collecting rent' in one of their garrison regions, and without realizing, he menaced a noble.

That act fermented the whole way through. The Sixth Army then were always considered utterly corrupt, the old nobles' power rooted too deep, while the Fifth Army were unconditionally obedient to the young Emperor and the brand new State Council.

We have no way to know for sure who fired the first shot, but as for the outcome, the Fifth Army ultimately seized the chance to revolt, and in between two cities' paths, started a direct firefight with the Sixth Army.

The prologue to 'The Great Rebellion' comes in many editions. I've definitely heard a few things of the Sixth Army's varied deeds.

They fought just like that?

If it were that simple, then it wouldn't have been dubbed 'The Great Rebellion.'

Being a border guard outfit, the Fourth Army, with a domain of authority and influence decidedly not in the hinterlands, suddenly switched sides to support the State Council, and proactively declared no relationship to the 'traitors' in the Sixth Army.

After the execution of a few prepared scapegoats, the old nobility had only the Sixth and Eighth Armies left in hand.

Come winter the following year, the nobility backing the Eighth Army pulled that same trick, capitulating alike to the Emperor.

And so, the bitter fate of the Sixth Army who had staked it all on one throw, we can well imagine.

And the cause of all of this—very simple, one we all know. Simply a drunk ruffian, taking the vodka bottle he had in hand to attack a young noble.

A marvelous story, Cleric Kal'tsit, and might I even confirm, this tale is little removed from the reality at all.

Heidi, I would not tell you that 'this is how Ursus is.' Every civilization in this world deserves you seeing it for yourself. They should be appreciated, and have to be reflected upon.

In that Ursus you admire, what have you seen?

Perhaps the farms and public houses, perhaps the grand heroes, perhaps the highs and lows of life in Deity Grypherburg's opera house. But what I've seen is the Great Rebellion's aftermath, an age on the verge of collapse.

Might Victoria have such an age of its own someday?

I will not guarantee it either way, Miss Heidi.

How could it! Here, you little child. Are you afraid now, because of Cleric Kal'tsit's smidgen story of Ursus?

I've no intent to insult the Ursus people, but the Empire of Ursus is unarguably a savage, unreasonable nation.

But right now, isn't Londinium just as—

—Don't even say it. Though it pains us all that it happened, did Victoria waver for even a moment?

Alright, alright, Count, seeing as the topic's come around, I think it's high time you told us about that trip to Londinium, yes? That's what we're most interested in.

What high nobility did you meet?

I'd be honored to tell. Truth is, on the way, the Duke of Normandy personally invited me to a shindig, together at his flagship...

What! And you managed to keep from telling us all the way to today...!

My, it was the Duke of Normandy himself... He always did detest Leithanians. Did he and the envoys of the Empresses' Voice have a scuffle?

No, but by his retainer's words, the good Duke never once made eye contact with those gorgeous envoys that evening.

Ah-ha, now that's the proper manner of a 'Duke.'

Ursus's theatrical Grand Dukes might number more in hundreds than tens—alright, maybe not that many, but they are quite unchecked, and if I might add, somewhat incompetent too.

That's a form of arrogance, but I must say, everyone who's experienced the Londinium manner for themselves would echo the sentiment.

I trust the Duke of Normandy need only rely on his own power to make those Leithanian greed-blinded extremists know their place for a few dozen years. Let alone the fact we've certainly more than a single Duke...

Tuckered out, Heidi?

Hm? No... I'm still thinking about what Cleric Kal'tsit said. Could I talk with her alone for a bit?

Oh, if we're to talk Londinium without Kal'tsit, it would certainly be much duller.

You flatter me.

Now, no rush. I see the Baron of Rye is calling at me, so I'll need to chit-chat with him now. I assure you, I'll be back shortly to tell the full tale.

Does this all bore you? Miss Heidi?

Huh? Ah... no, it doesn't, I'm alright.

Fine... erm, it's just, I thought we'd talk more about poetry, or the wheat harvest, but it turns out not...

Sick of foreign politics?

Um, ha ha...

It's what tonight's dinner party was meant for.

I can see, you also consider it somewhat boring, don't you?

You understand more than anyone, and you can't stand all those people in a giggling gaggle around Uncle Vincent, correct?

You seem to have some misunderstanding about me...

Ha ha, we only met tonight, didn't we? You're right, Cleric Kal'tsit.

You can call me just Kal'tsit.

Then, Kal'tsit... could you walk with me?

In a while longer, Uncle Vincent will have me sent off into the loft. I certainly don't want to go to bed this early.

The snow seems to have gotten heavier. Would you mind that...?

—I wouldn't. Allow me to accompany you.

What a snowstorm!

The biggest one in recent years.

I like the snow, Kal'tsit, and I like my home too.

I know.

Phew... how cold.

Everyone's all huddling inside by the fireplace.

Mm.

It's just us two now, Kal'tsit... hee-hee, Kal'tsit.

—It's so difficult to be alone with you.

You're yet young... Heidi.

Your father shouldn't have let you get involved so easily.

But that's what I wanted, Kal'tsit. I wished to do something or other, instead of hiding in the warm house, gazing out, just as a child would.

When winter truly comes, would a single oak of Victoria's be spared from the blizzard? Then that being the case, we should prepare early.

You resemble your father greatly.

—Is that a compliment?

Let's say it is.

Hee-hee... ah, nobody should find us here, so...

Now I can hand these letters to you.

Your father's intelligence operatives are never late. They're the best Messengers, workers, and aspirants in all of Victoria—except this time.

Has something happened?

The young Heidi makes not an innocent step more.

She is right. Before upheaval arrives, the young must always be the soonest to prepare.

—There are two letters, Dame Kal'tsit.