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Authors: Yoshiki Tanaka
Tags: Fiction, Science-Fiction
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set in writing could not easily be broken. Not only would doing so leave a blemish on Reinhard’s honor, it would invite distrust of his own system of authority.
Having taken such a measure on her own family’s behalf, Hilda was saying, “As for the other aristocrats, slay and spare, bestow and confiscate at your own good pleasure.” She wasn’t speaking from a merely self-centered position, though—saying, “If it’s well with me and mine, then to blazes with the rest”—she was in effect declaring that she would not align laterally with the old aristocratic families.
The young lady’s political and diplomatic instincts were incisive—frighteningly so.
From among the empire’s thousands of aristocratic families, a praiseworthy talent had at last appeared—at the tender age of twenty, and a woman, no less. Of course, Reinhard himself was only one year older than she.
It’s a sign of the times, Reinhard thought. The era of rule by the aged was coming to an end. And not just in the empire. In the Free Planets Alliance, Admiral Yang had only just turned thirty, while Landesherr Rubinsky of Phezzan was still in his forties.
Even so, this young woman …
Reinhard stared at Hilda again and started to say something.
Just then, however, there was a commotion outside the door that he barely had time to register before a high-ranking officer burst inside, face flushed with excitement. His hulking frame was so large that he could block the entrance all by himself.
“Excellency! The malcontent nobles have finally started to move!”
His loud voice was a match for his build.
Karl Gustav Kempf, one of the admirals attached to Reinhard’s admiralität as well as a former ace fighter pilot, was well-known these days as a daring and fearless commanding officer.
Reinhard rose to his feet. This was the news he had been waiting for. Hilda’s eyes opened wide in spite of herself—his movements had been startlingly lithe and graceful.
“Fraülein von Mariendorf, I’ve enjoyed the chance to make your acquaintance today. I’d like to have dinner with you sometime.”
As Kempf was following Reinhard out of the room, he seemed for just an instant to turn a curious glance toward Hilda.
V
The nobles opposing the Lohengramm-Lichtenlade axis had gathered on Odin at Duke von Braunschweig’s villa in Lippstadt Forest. Officially, they had come to attend an auction of paintings by ancient masters, with a garden party to follow. In an underground hall, however, signatures had been collected in a “Roll of Patriots” opposing the tyranny of Marquis von Lohengramm and Duke Lichtenlade.
This was referred to generally as the Lippstadt Agreement, and the aristocratic military organization to which it gave birth was called the Lippstadt Coalition of Lords.
In total, 3,740 nobles participated. The combined strength of their regular and private armies numbered 25,600,000.
The coalition leader was Duke Otto von Braunschweig. The vice coalition leader was Marquis Wilhelm von Littenheim.
The roll that contained nearly four thousand aristocratic names also leveled blistering criticism at Duke Lichtenlade and Marquis von Lohengramm, and in grand and exalted language declared that the sacred duty of protecting the Goldenbaum Dynasty had been given to “the chosen ones” of the traditional aristocratic class.
“The divine patronage of great Lord Odin is upon us all, and of righteousness’s triumph there can be no doubt.”
Those were the words with which the statement was concluded.
“I wonder, could great Lord Odin really be their patron?”
After listening to Kempf’s report, Reinhard uttered those words with a heaping spoonful of sarcasm and looked around at the faces of subordinates who had gathered in the meeting room.
Siegfried Kircheis was present. Von Oberstein was present. The other admirals in attendance as well were all talented commanders, the cream of the armed forces’ crop.
“If they go crying to the
Having taken such a measure on her own family’s behalf, Hilda was saying, “As for the other aristocrats, slay and spare, bestow and confiscate at your own good pleasure.” She wasn’t speaking from a merely self-centered position, though—saying, “If it’s well with me and mine, then to blazes with the rest”—she was in effect declaring that she would not align laterally with the old aristocratic families.
The young lady’s political and diplomatic instincts were incisive—frighteningly so.
From among the empire’s thousands of aristocratic families, a praiseworthy talent had at last appeared—at the tender age of twenty, and a woman, no less. Of course, Reinhard himself was only one year older than she.
It’s a sign of the times, Reinhard thought. The era of rule by the aged was coming to an end. And not just in the empire. In the Free Planets Alliance, Admiral Yang had only just turned thirty, while Landesherr Rubinsky of Phezzan was still in his forties.
Even so, this young woman …
Reinhard stared at Hilda again and started to say something.
Just then, however, there was a commotion outside the door that he barely had time to register before a high-ranking officer burst inside, face flushed with excitement. His hulking frame was so large that he could block the entrance all by himself.
“Excellency! The malcontent nobles have finally started to move!”
His loud voice was a match for his build.
Karl Gustav Kempf, one of the admirals attached to Reinhard’s admiralität as well as a former ace fighter pilot, was well-known these days as a daring and fearless commanding officer.
Reinhard rose to his feet. This was the news he had been waiting for. Hilda’s eyes opened wide in spite of herself—his movements had been startlingly lithe and graceful.
“Fraülein von Mariendorf, I’ve enjoyed the chance to make your acquaintance today. I’d like to have dinner with you sometime.”
As Kempf was following Reinhard out of the room, he seemed for just an instant to turn a curious glance toward Hilda.
V
The nobles opposing the Lohengramm-Lichtenlade axis had gathered on Odin at Duke von Braunschweig’s villa in Lippstadt Forest. Officially, they had come to attend an auction of paintings by ancient masters, with a garden party to follow. In an underground hall, however, signatures had been collected in a “Roll of Patriots” opposing the tyranny of Marquis von Lohengramm and Duke Lichtenlade.
This was referred to generally as the Lippstadt Agreement, and the aristocratic military organization to which it gave birth was called the Lippstadt Coalition of Lords.
In total, 3,740 nobles participated. The combined strength of their regular and private armies numbered 25,600,000.
The coalition leader was Duke Otto von Braunschweig. The vice coalition leader was Marquis Wilhelm von Littenheim.
The roll that contained nearly four thousand aristocratic names also leveled blistering criticism at Duke Lichtenlade and Marquis von Lohengramm, and in grand and exalted language declared that the sacred duty of protecting the Goldenbaum Dynasty had been given to “the chosen ones” of the traditional aristocratic class.
“The divine patronage of great Lord Odin is upon us all, and of righteousness’s triumph there can be no doubt.”
Those were the words with which the statement was concluded.
“I wonder, could great Lord Odin really be their patron?”
After listening to Kempf’s report, Reinhard uttered those words with a heaping spoonful of sarcasm and looked around at the faces of subordinates who had gathered in the meeting room.
Siegfried Kircheis was present. Von Oberstein was present. The other admirals in attendance as well were all talented commanders, the cream of the armed forces’ crop.
“If they go crying to the
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