Her blaming words against Saito were now returning back at her. Her own words became a spear that scooped the wound in Louise’s heart deeper.
“Though you said you love me… you left me all alone.”
Louise muttered staring at the black screen.
“Without you, I cannot even fall asleep.”
Hugging her knees, Louise continued to sob.
In the capital of Tristain, in the work room of Tristainia‘s Royal Palace, Henrietta sat on a chair with a discouraged look on her face.
Part of the army revolted in Albion; the deaths of General De Poitiers and Marquis Handenburg, commander of the Germanian army; a complete rout of the army… and a withdrawal request.
When the report came from the Chief of the General Staff Wimpffen, every one in the royal palace, including Henrietta and Mazarin, were confused. Was that a fake report by an enemy? They doubted.
To withdraw or continue to fight? It was Cardinal Mazarin who brought the conference together.
“This is the Royal Palace and not a battlefield,” his words silenced the ministers that did not want to withdraw.
However… The withdrawal became insignificant in the end.
The Gallian fleet that appeared suddenly and forced the Albion army to surrender. After that, not long ago, Gallia sent a special envoy to Tristain, who informed them to attend a conference held to decide Albion’s future...
Though Tristain’s Royal Palace was pleased with Gallia’s attitude, there were no peace treaties with Gallia.
Today was the day when two weeks passed since the invitation for Henrietta to attend the conference which was scheduled in Rosais.
Henrietta took in her hands the letter that had been sent by Gallia’s ambassador.
“Halkeginia’s disturbing turn towards Republicanism has been stopped; Gallia’s Royal government feels that all Halkeginia nations should build up closer relationship with each other from now on…”
And the preamble continued.
However, though words caught her eyes they lost their meaning in her head.
Henrietta’s heart felt like a cave. A deep, cold, dark hole, in which one could fall. Even if you look into it, you still could not see the end - a hollow hole.
Cromwell, whom she hated so much, died. Albion’s noble faction was annihilated.
Therefore, why was there no satisfaction?
“Why?”
She said to no one in particular.
“The noble faction that killed Wales-sama is no more. Men who had cheated me are dead… And?”
Did anything change?
Nothing changed at all.
Henrietta buried her face in her hands. She could not do anything about the overflow of feelings that drowned her like a floodwater.
Though someone knocked against the door… Henrietta was not able to answer. The door opened and when Cardinal Mazarin entered, Henrietta remained sitting under the desk with her face buried.
“Are you tired?”
Mazarin muttered.
As if seeing him for the first time, Henrietta looked up slowly and nodded.
“Yes. But it’s all right.”
“Shouldn’t you be happy? First of all, the war ended. Even though the whole army is broken, even though we only won thanks to unexpected help - a victory is still a victory. No matter how many times we thank Gallia, it would still not be enough.”
“Is that so?” Henrietta said, staring into space.
Mazarin, worried about Henrietta, continued speaking.
“However, we cannot be careless, Your Majesty. We still should be ready for war, despite Gallia’s sudden intervention. Their motives are still unclear.”
“Is that so?” Henrietta answered lifelessly.
Mazarin placed a bunch of papers next to Henrietta’s elbows.
“…Documents?”
“Yes. By all means, these are documents that Her Majesty should have a look at.”
“Can it wait? Right now…”
“No, now. You can’t afford not to look through them.”
“I leave everything to your discretion. Cardinal, you know better. I won’t have to worry…”
“Look through them.”
Henrietta shook her head.
“I am sorry. Honestly, I am tired.”
“Look through them!”
Mazarin repeated his words in a stronger tone. Not used to such determination from a thin middle-aged man, Henrietta took one in her hands.
From top to bottom names were written down.
What do these names mean?
“…this?”
Mazarin said in a stony voice.
“It is the list of names of those that died in action during the war.”
Henrietta became speechless.
“Nobles, commoners, officers, soldiers…regardless of rank, all names are listed.”
“Oh…” Henrietta said, coverning her face.
“You Majesty, do you know why they died?”
Henrietta shook her head.
“…I don’t know.”
“You don’t know? No, you do know. They died in the name of Your Majesty and the homeland.”
Henrietta deeply hung her head.
Mazarin spoke in an icy tone.
“To some of our ministers, this was just a ‘war diplomacy’, officers and soldiers just the number figures of loss and gain. It may not be a mistake altogether, but these figures had families, lives and loved ones. But they all believed in something.”
Mazarin jabbed his finger into the paper.
“The King is the one who decides to start a war. You can send officers and their men to death, but you cannot forget them. This list of names you have to honor. This list of names you have to protect.”
Henrietta began to weep.
Crying like a child, she buried her face into Mazarin’s legs.
“How many times will I burn in the flames of hell? Tell me. This sinful repenting queen is at your feet, spokesman of God, Cardinal. Oh, I am honest. During this war my heart was only driven by revenge. I was obsessed with it and did not care even if had to sell my soul to the devil to get revenge. However, even if you sell your soul... there‘s nothing after. Not even regret. Just a chasm. A deep, endless chasm.”
“…”
“I… I did not notice how foolish I was. I have lost myself in love, and brought mages to their deaths, even unleashed a frightening spell at a friend. I did not notice. Even while starting a doubtful war, I did not notice. Though I used dear friends as a means for my revenge, I did not notice. And only when revenge ended… I noticed. I noticed that nothing had changed at all.”
Henrietta muttered, begging for forgiveness.
“Please tell me. What… should I do? If you cut my throat would my crime disappear?”
Mazarin pushed Henrietta away. She looked up like a frightened child.
“I am not the one to judge, Your Majesty. You are not the one to judge as well, Your Majesty. That’s only God’s, in the name of the Founder, majestic prerogative. The burden may be hard, may be heavy, but do not try to throw it off. No matter how long the sleepless night continues, do not forget it. Because they died for Your Majesty and for the homeland. It may be just a royal ornament, but they died for this ornament. Death and crime will never disappear. The sadness will not heal. It will quietly sit behind and watch Your Majesty.”
Henrietta’s heart turned stone cold, denying any interference as she read through the list of names… and muttered.
“I never was… to be ruler.”
“There are no unexpected kings.”
Then Mazarin bowed deeply and left the room.
Bereaved, Henrietta was quiet for a while. She was motionless.
Messengers of the night, two moons started to shine and illuminated the room… with much effort, Henrietta looked up.
Through Henrietta’s window… two moon sisters watched.
Tears dried on her cheeks.
“Well… nothing left. Not even tears come.”