Chapter 262: Temeraire and Astarte’s Plan

Silver-rimmed glasses.

Duke Temeraire adjusted the decorative, crystal-lensed spectacles, the light glinting off them as she delivered her denial.

“Astarte, your plan is unreasonable.”

They were heading to His Majesty the Emperor’s residence.

Astarte had said there was something to discuss beforehand.

And so Duke Temeraire found herself listening to Duke Astarte’s proposal.

“I no longer have any attachment to the imperial throne. I do not care who the emperor is. But Maxine simply will not do. That one has no motivation. If you place a lazy emperor on the throne, you cannot win even a winnable war.”

That was her refutation.

Anastasia, on the eve of the Anhalt Elector succession ceremony, was of the same opinion—and Duke Astarte had, of course, anticipated this.

“Just as you say. If we let an unmotivated emperor continue, we’d be better off having Katarina do it. That is my second-best plan. But surely you understand that if we can get Maxine motivated, it would be better to have the Emperor continue?”

“I am denying your plan because that is what is unreasonable.”

Their conversation was not at a stalemate—rather, they were simply discussing the facts.

There was no disagreement between their opinions.

Based on that shared understanding, they were debating how best to achieve their objective.

“Don’t you think there is a man who can make the impossible possible?”

“Faust?”

Duke Temeraire’s glasses flashed as she showed some understanding of the proffered words, feigning a moment’s thought.

“――It feels strange for the woman who lost to say this, but he alone will not be enough.”

She shook her head.

To be honest, Duke Temeraire had fallen for the man named Faust von Polidoro.

He was the man who had met her full strength and defeated her.

As a knight, and as a woman, she had felt something.

But that was then, and this is now.

Given her position, she had forced herself to endure—to give up on—the idea of pursuing him. She couldn’t imagine Maxine suddenly finding motivation just because a carrot was dangled in front of her.

“Faust alone is likely not enough.”

“Meaning?”

“Of course, Faust is indispensable for the persuasion, but he won’t be the only factor. We will chip away at her, little by little. Using Valiere, for whom Maxine holds tremendous goodwill. Using Martina’s wisdom. Showing her the Cologne Faction’s new weapons.”

We hardly lack for persuasive material.

So Duke Astarte seemed to say, spreading his hands wide.

Surely a woman as clever as you requires no further explanation.

“We might just be able to pull this off. We might just be able to win. We will show her that possibility.”

“Hmm.”

Duke Temeraire considered it.

I see, so he intends to repeat what happened before.

Just as this Temeraire was persuaded.

Just as I was beaten down by Faust’s brute strength, then convinced by Martina’s logic.

He means to trace the lines of a proven success.

“…You told me this beforehand not to gain my consent for the persuasion, but to gauge my feelings, I take it.”

“Precisely.”

She removed the silver-rimmed glasses.

Placing them on the desk, Temeraire fell into thought.

She stroked her nose.

She stroked the bridge of her nose, once a bit too proud, the pride that Faust had shattered.

It was not an unpleasant feeling.

Though the wound itself had left no scar, if she touched her head, she could easily recall the impact of it being split open.

Not a single trace he had left on her, not even one scar, felt unpleasant.

What a curious thing.

“Three things.”

After much consideration, Duke Temeraire refused to bare her soul.

That she was in love with Faust, like some maiden.

Duke Astarte surely knew.

He surely knew, but to say it aloud was still embarrassing.

Therefore, she would list only three key points.

“First, make her depend on Faust more than she ever has on anyone. Make her fall for him completely. Show her in vivid detail how incredible that man is. Make her understand that he is the strongest knight in history, surpassing even Reckenberg. Force her to realize, Ah, I never imagined such a man could exist. Elevate him to the status of the father that Maxine lost.”

“That is my intention, of course. Do you mean in a violent sense? Or in the sense of his charm as a man?”

“Both.”

It should go without saying.

She saw his fight with Baumann.

Maxine no longer has any doubt about the former.

Therefore—it is the latter that is required.

“Especially the latter. I must have this man’s child. It would be unnatural if I could not conceive this man’s child. Make her feel that way. Make her think she could never want another man. Like a maiden who has yet to know a man. Drive her utterly mad.”

It was the same for Duke Temeraire herself.

If it were Faust’s child, she would gladly bear it.

Of course, she knew the opportunity would never arise, and it would be shameful for an old sow like her to make such advances, so she had instead hoped for Martina as her own child.

That plan wasn’t going well at the moment—but in truth, she had already begun preparing materials to persuade Martina.

“That’s almost too easy. Anyone who stays by Faust’s side will fall for him on their own.”

“Despite his ugly features?”

Duke Temeraire gestured toward his appearance to a completely unconcerned Duke Astarte.

But, well, neither of them was truly worried about that.

“Faust has a beautiful soul.”

Maxine will surely become obsessed.

She will want him at any cost.

She might even suggest they run away together to a distant foreign country.

Though the idea of Faust abandoning his Polidoro domain to flee is something he would sooner die than do.

So Duke Astarte declared, and Duke Temeraire nodded in agreement.

“Second. Have Martina’s theories be proven. Burn the proof into her eyes. The era has changed. No matter how strong the Mongols—how strong Tokhtoa’s cavalry may be, no matter if they have superior numbers. You must show her that a new presence has appeared on the battlefield, the artillery, which mercilessly erases both the twinkle of combat and its magical beauty.”

“The preparations are made. The preliminary explanations have been thoroughly completed. They made for truly excellent sacrifices.”

The City Council made for excellent sacrifices.

Duke Astarte said this with a laugh, his tone dripping with pleasure.

Duke Temeraire accepted his words and nodded, satisfied.

I see. He is thorough.

“Excellent. Truly excellent. Then, the third point.”

Duke Temeraire rested her chin on her fist.

As if to say this was the most important point of all, she spoke the third.

“The truth is, it is not enough for Maxine alone to be willing.”

“Meaning?”

“It will be a problem if Maxine’s clan is not convinced.”

Maxine is the head of her clan.

Their representative.

Until now, she has fulfilled her duties as Emperor adequately.

She has done so earnestly, a fine job even with that meager frame of hers.

But, however.

“Maxine’s close retainers will be fine. They’re the sort to leap into fire if she told them to. No problem there. But her clan is vast. Two Electors working together could win, but the clan holds enough power to overturn the decision of just one.”

“I see.”

In the first place, the “Ride of Reckenberg” occurred because of them.

The whole affair where Anhalt and Willendorf joined forces and besieged the Imperial Capital at the Emperor’s plea only happened because Maxine’s own relatives betrayed her.

“Maxine has managed them well, but if she were to suddenly reverse course and declare, ‘I will fight the Mongols after all,’ the entire clan would not unite and shout, ‘Alright, let’s do it!'”

“On the contrary, they might just put forward another relative to replace her as the head of the clan.”

It is not simple.

In that sense, it is difficult to say that Maxine has her clan fully under her control yet.

“What you want is to commit the full power of Maxine’s clan to the war, correct? And not only that, but to negotiate abroad and even make it possible to hire foreign soldiers?”

“Of course.”

“Then we must begin laying the groundwork now. So that when Maxine suddenly declares her intent, her relatives will not oppose it.”

It was a good thing I asked beforehand. When it comes to the capital’s affairs, it’s always best to ask someone with detailed knowledge.

Duke Astarte gave a firm nod.

And then, without a moment’s delay.

“I wish to ask for your cooperation.”

Having laid out the details, Duke Astarte formally requested her help.

“On a plan that you don’t even know will succeed?”

Duke Temeraire frowned slightly.

“…What are the odds of success?”

Well, if there was a chance it could succeed, she couldn’t very well refuse.

After all, she had made a promise to work for Faust like a dog.

“The chance of complete success is about fifty-fifty.”

“…That’s not low.”

There was a chance of failure.

Even if she believed in Faust, even if she understood Martina’s brilliance, and even if Duke Astarte performed to his utmost ability on top of all that.

Even then, to be honest, the possibility of failure still existed.

But.

“Very well, I will cooperate. I too am a lord with lands near the Imperial Capital. I have connections. Let us attempt to persuade the more rebellious relatives. I will borrow Valiere’s name a little.”

“Valiere’s name? Why?”

Duke Astarte looked puzzled.

“You underestimate how much that girl’s name has resounded throughout the Empire. You take the fact that she defeated the Elector of Mainz too lightly. Her name has a variety of uses.”

“I see. If it can be used, by all means, use it.”

And so, Valiere’s name was to be used without her knowledge.

With this, the two dukes’ scheme came to an agreement.

Neither initiating, they both extended their hands and shook.

“Shall I offer you a reward when this is all over?”

“You’ll give me something? I already possess most things, you know.”

Duke Temeraire was wealthy.

Though the scale of her domain was less than an Elector’s, she possessed a fortune vast enough to rival one.

There was almost nothing in this world that she wanted and could not obtain.

“There is something you truly want, is there not? Faust.”

“…”

Duke Temeraire fell silent, her face reddening.

She knew, but he had seen right through her.

He understood the maiden’s heart that this twenty-eight-year-old old sow kept secretly hidden.

“What of it? It’s not as if you are past the age of childbearing. After everything—after all of it is over, I might be willing to share a small piece of Faust with you.”

“Is that your decision to make?”

“At the very least, I can get Faust in the mood. It’s not as if he dislikes you.”

Duke Temeraire looked taken aback.

She tried to shake her head, but for the life of her.

She simply could not refuse the alluring reward Duke Astarte had proposed.