Episode 114 The Strong King - The Saga of Lioncourt

"Ugh, blech..." I woke up with a queasy sensation rising from my stomach. As I sat up, my body still felt light and unsteady... the remnants of intoxication lingered. ...Ugh, this is bad... I feel like I'm going to throw up... Stumbling towards the well, the sky was still dark as the sun had yet to rise. Here and there, garbage and filth were piled up, and drunken men who had passed out were huddled to the side... It seemed there had been a chaotic revelry that, to some extent, had been cleaned up. ...Ah, no good... I approached the heap of filth and promptly emptied the contents of my stomach. With each contraction of my stomach, an unspeakably unpleasant sensation followed. ...Ah, did I upset my stomach...? After two or three more bouts, I had nothing left to throw up, and my spirits lifted slightly. I walked to the well, stripped off my clothes, and poured water over my head. The cold water shocked my senses awake. Rinsing my mouth twice and drinking some water, my stomach rejected it all, and I vomited everything out again. It was a terrible hangover. "Wow, you're in rough shape... Are you going to make it to today's ceremony? Don't fall into the well." As I was gagging and retching, a voice unexpectedly called out from behind me. Turning around, I saw Hughes standing there. "The ceremony? ...Is today the seventh day already? I must've slept for an entire day, huh?" "Hey, are you alright? The meetings with the noble lords on both days were a huge ruckus, and the day after, the whole town erupted in chaos. Today is the seventh day, the coronation, right?" I groaned, "Umm," but my memory only extended to the first day of the meetings with the noble lords. "Hughes, did you have something to discuss, coming at this hour?" "Yeah, I wanted to catch you at some point to talk... I've been taking turns waiting since the day before yesterday." Hughes chuckled and said, "There's someone else coming, too. Get changed." Looking down, I noticed the clothes I'd discarded were in a truly grimy state. "Ah, just wait a moment." In a voice roughened by the liquor, I told Hughes before heading back to my private room to change. Inside, Sumina lay asleep with our toddler, Rina, and I walked carefully, trying not to disturb them with any noise. My beloved wife snored loudly beside me. Ever since she'd gained weight, her snoring had become severe, and I worried about sleep apnea. To stop her snoring, I gently pinched her nose. She turned over and swatted my hand away, even letting out a hearty "pss" of flatulence in the process... The noise was lively from both ends. My wife was 32 now... She'd become quite the matron. Even so, I loved her. People change both in appearance and personality significantly over time. If one were to like or dislike a person over every little change, maintaining a marriage would be impossible. I whispered softly, "I love both of you." In response, my dear wife answered with a "pss" from the rear. ………… Later Hughes and I met with "one more person" he mentioned, and we gathered in a room of the mansion for a secret talk. Unexpectedly, that person was Louis de Bessy. Members from Lioncourt, Fourier, and Vaubourg gathered before dawn to converse... It felt very much like a "clandestine meeting." Their discussion brought intriguing matters to light. First, the Duke of Beneteau had struck a peace treaty with King Matthias. The Duke, who had once resisted King Matthias by allying with the Viscount of Dils, had finally been worn down by years of conflict. They acknowledged King Matthias and joined his ranks. This placed Marquis of Fourier, who had maintained alliances with both houses, in a difficult position. For now, the situation remained stable, but eventually, pressure from the royal capital would inevitably increase. "They're looking for a new ally. The potential candidates are the Kingdom of Lioncourt or the Marquis of Vaubourg." Hughes mentioned some troubling news. I could understand Lioncourt, but the Marquis of Vaubourg was a central pillar of support for King Matthias. ...Forming an alliance with the Marquis of Fourier...? If King Matthias's influence were waning, such a decision would make sense. However, after having vanquished the Duke of Beneteau, the capital should be riding a wave of momentum. I turned my gaze, full of suspicion, towards Bessy, who offered a wry smile. "It's a simple matter," he said. "The marquis isn't getting along with the crown prince... and King Matthias will be sixty next year." "I see, it's common for key supporters of the current reign to be sidelined in the next." I nodded deeply in understanding. Such dynamics are not uncommon even in corporate structures. It's like the clash between a new CEO and veteran employees during a leadership transition. Veteran employees, who have supported the previous CEO, often see themselves as entitled to voice their opinions "for the company's sake." They were the previous CEO's 'comrades' and consider themselves 'mentors' to the new CEO, getting involved in various matters. Naturally, the new CEO finds this tiresome. The new CEO views them as "obstacles," and the veterans see the CEO as a "youngster," both looking down on the other. These kinds of frictions are common but tend to run deep. The current friction remains below the surface as long as King Matthias reigns, but once succession occurs, minor disagreements could snowball into a significant rift. ...Planning an escape route ahead of time... it's a wise move, but... The Marquis of Vaubourg is the very person who supported King Matthias in overthrowing the former king, Henry II. And now, due to conflicts, he's plotting against King Matthias’s son... It's the type of situation I would prefer to avoid. "How about it? Honestly, I'm uneasy about making the Marquis of Vaubourg an ally. We don't need allies who would bail when things get tough." I plainly told Bessy that we would decline the alliance. Having been double-crossed in past peace negotiations with the Marquis of Vaubourg, I had no fondness for him. Despite Hughes's involvement, any three-party alliance was out of the question for me. "Hey, now...," Hughes began, but Bessy calmed him down, appearing unfazed. "My master, the Marquis of Vaubourg, wants nothing more than to maintain his superiority. He despises being ordered around and cannot tolerate anyone being above him... From my perspective, he's nothing more than a fifty-year-old spoiled brat." I snorted with laughter at that depiction and quickly offered an apology. However, Bessy paid no mind and continued speaking. "He supported King Matthias simply because he wanted to feel important... Initially, things went smoothly. His Majesty was considerate towards the Marquis, satisfying his ego. But then..." "And that's where the crown prince comes in." Bessy nodded affirmatively at my interjection. "The crown prince can't stand the Marquis's arrogance, and the Marquis can't stand the crown prince's." Listening to Bessy's words made me perceive the entire situation as absurd. After stirring up so much, they're essentially squabbling over a sandbox like kids in kindergarten. It's quintessentially medieval Amorosian behavior. "That's when the news broke about the Lord of Lioncourt ascending to the throne. The marquis was taken aback... wondering, 'Could he become king?'" "I see, I get it now. The Marquis of Vaubourg might be planning to declare independence too. So, they're after my endorsement?" Bessie nodded solemnly. "Exactly." "Not a bad idea... Hughes, the Marquis of Fourier should declare independence and become a king as well. The more, the merrier; it'll divert attention from the royal capital." Hughes frowned, "Hmm," looking troubled. This probably went beyond his realm of decision-making. But setting aside his concerns, I continued speaking. "I would welcome an alliance with the Marquis of Fourier, but Vaubourg's situation is dicey. How about a military alliance strictly against Amoros? When the King’s forces attack the lands of Fourier, we'll target the capital's rear. If it's the other way around, the Marquis of Fourier targets the capital." My earnest brother seemed to be grappling with the idea, but at this point, even the Marquis of Fourier might lean towards independence. If I take the first step and the Marquis of Vaubourg follows, the psychological barrier should lower significantly. Even in moments where someone might hesitate, realizing they're not alone in potential failure can spur bold actions. "We'll send someone from Lioncourt to Vaubourg's coronation. The non-aggression pact remains... but with one condition." I grinned mischievously, looking between the two of them. I'd thought of a little prank. ………… Finally, the moment of the coronation arrived. The venue was the town square. Ideally, such an event would be held in a church, but the capacity constraints made it impossible. Lioncourt lacked a grand cathedral-like facility... Soon, we'd need to construct an impressive structure for the Orthodox Eastern Church. People are swayed by authority. A magnificent cathedral would bolster national prestige. As I idly envisioned a grand cathedral, trumpets blared loudly. "Ah, looks like it's time to enter." "I'm getting nervous myself," said Andre and Rolo, visibly tense by my side. It was decided to have attendants for the coronation, similar to a knighting ceremony, and I chose the two who learned under the same master as me. Incidentally, Jean was standing on stage as one of the noble lords. "Alright, let's go," I said, signaling to them. They nodded firmly. "Whoaahhh!!" "Ohaahhh!!" As we entered the square, a tremendous roar of cheers erupted. ...This is incredible... My retainers formed lines, diligently ensuring our path was clear. The townsfolk watching were densely packed around the periphery. Ahead of me stood a special two-tiered stage. On the first level were the allied noble lords of Lioncourt, and on the second level, clergymen were assembled. This setup represented the authority of God above the nobility. Before we entered, the priests performed the consecration of the crown, scepter, and orb. On the platform, Master Linnell awaited me, accompanied by high-ranking clergy. "Ohaaahhh!!" "Varian!! Varian!!" We advanced through the uproar and arrived at the stage's edge, where two figures appeared before us. Hughes and Bessie. Facing us silently, their presence was not part of the plan and caused confusion, quickly stirring murmurs among the crowd. The other retainers hesitated, unsure whether to apprehend them; after all, Hughes and Bessie were proxy representatives for the noble lords, influential figures. I shouted, "Silence!!" stepping forward before the two. After pausing briefly, I waited for the crowd to adopt a listening stance. "This coronation is a usurpation!" Hughes declared, raising his voice. His visible tension was understandable... the crowd's bloodlust was palpable, eyes gleaming fiercely at his words. "Indeed! This is treason against the kingdom!!" Bessie shouted, though sweating profusely. The crowd's rumble grew instantly. "Silence!!" I shouted again, scanning the surroundings. Even Andre and Rolo were emanating a murderous aura. "Maybe I overdid it," I reflected, but there was no turning back now. This was my setup. In return for the alliances with the Marquis of Fourier and approval of Vaubourg's kingship, I got them to participate in this "prank." Taking a deep breath, I spread my arms wide and shouted with all my might. "I've never served Amoros, not even once!! I'm Varian, without rank or title!! A king chosen by God and the people!! Clear the path!!" This wasn't a lie. I never received a title from the Kingdom of Amoros. That's a fact. And I've never served the Kingdom of Amoros... I served my father, Rudolf, who served Amoros. My lord's lord is not directly my lord. With a bellowing voice, I roared in a bell-like timbre familiar from my battlefield days, and the two stood aside, opening the path in surrender. The crowd's roar erupted again. "Whoaaa!!" "Varian!! Varian!!" "Oooooaahhh!!" The roar was so powerful that it made my cheeks tremble under its sonic force. This was not a sound that would soon subside. To the crowd, it must have seemed like I, Varian, had driven away two nobles of Amoros... becoming the King of Lioncourt. ...We did it, a huge success... When I flashed a grin at Hughes, he pouted in faux grievance. He and Bessie were now the focal points of strong hostility, standing on figurative pins and needles. ...Well, if this seals the alliance, it’s a small price to pay. We proceeded directly to the stage. Andre and Rolo stopped there, while I ascended solo. Standing on the first level were my allies, the key members of what would constitute the Kingdom of Lioncourt: Viscount Drene, Baron Benuro (represented by young Albert), Baron Arbo, Jean (from the Knighthood of Baschlar), and Knight Ged. I strolled past the noble lords with calm composure, ascending to the second level to stand before the clergymen. Kneeling, I received a blessing from Linnell. "Lord Varian, guide the people as the King of Lioncourt, and let the divine radiance be known. May light be upon your future." Placing the crown on my bowed head, Linnell urged me, "Please stand." Behind the Master, the bishops handed me the scepter and orb. The chief bishop, who had been hefting the massive iron scepter, was drenched in sweat and panting heavily. I took it from him effortlessly, which surprised him. Facing the crowd from atop the stage, I declared with kingship in my voice, and the square fell silent, awaiting my words. "Here I proclaim this as the King of Lioncourt!! From this moment, I shall be the first servant of the Kingdom of Lioncourt, pledging to build a republic where Lioncourtans, Amorosians, Elwaynes, and all others prosper together!! Long live the Kingdom of Lioncourt!! Glory to God!!" As I raised the scepter high, Viscount Drene and Jean responded by shouting, "Long live the Kingdom of Lioncourt!!" and "Glory to God!!" This ignited a wave of euphoric cheers. “Wooaahhh!!” “Long live!! Glory!!” “Glory to His Majesty the King!!” “Long live the kingdom!! Waaah!!” The crowd's cries were so intensely loud that it became impossible to discern individual words. Thus, a declaration of nationhood was made, and the Kingdom of Lioncourt officially came into being. Henceforth, Varian would reign over the eastern Amoros as Varian I, the founding king of the Kingdom of Lioncourt. A king who would come to be known across the land as the 'Unranked King' and the 'Strong King' was born here today.