Reset Life – Chapter 131

Chapter 131: I Couldn’t Love You. I’m Sorry (4)

Leaving aside the problems Levidian, Lucy, and Joey talked about, Kun’s case is a bit serious.

One of the things that is wrongly known in Orknesia is the rumor about the Gray Tribe that controls monsters.

Since they were witnessed only after the monsters were defeated, it’s not entirely a false lead. In reality, it all started when the patrol encountered them while they were tracking prey that was trying to leave the forest.

In the end, looking only at the current situation, they have become a problematic group that is suspected even when cooperating.

Aah, they say that most of the people who can build a nation are treated as troublemakers in society, and indeed, that’s the case.

It was around the time I was frustrated, convinced by a conclusion that wasn’t very helpful. Someone knocked and entered the living room. It was a maid.

“Excuse me. Is Viscount Arisein here?”

“I am. What is it?”

The maid bowed deeply and spoke politely.

“His Grace, the Duke, is looking for you. He asked if you could visit him soon.”

“Father is? Alright. Wait. I’ll be back shortly. I think we can make a little more progress on the story we were discussing after I return. Is that alright?”

People nodded and laughed as if I was asking something strange.

I don’t know if they’re understanding or if they’re just satisfied with the idea of progressing the story, but I’m reminded once again that these are the best people I’ve ever met.

“Then I’ll see you later. Levidian, I’ll be back.”

“Ah, yes. See you later.”

She felt awkward that I was saying goodbye only to her, but then she smiled brightly and replied.

Hmm, I wonder what’s going on, Father suddenly calling for me?

“You called for me.”

“Yes. Sit down.”

“Haha, you’re a busy nephew. It’s hard to even see your face.”

“Haha, that’s understandable. At your age, my friends were much more important than family.”

Following the maid’s guidance, I arrived at the conference room where the Herduke family members, including Father, Uncle, Grandfather, and Uncle from my mother’s side, and members of the Lorand family were gathered.

Father lightly gestured to my seat with his hand, and I sat next to my brother, who had a displeased expression on his face.

Eri and Ed were on the opposite side, and I gave them a slight nod. They also nodded with smiles on their faces.

Since I was the last to arrive, everyone quietly looked at Father as I sat down.

Father, sitting at the head of the table, spoke naturally.

“Now that Risel has arrived, the whole family is gathered. I’m planning to hold a vassal meeting later, but before that, there’s something I need to tell everyone gathered here. It’s about the situation we’re currently facing.”

With those words, I understood the nature of this gathering. I thought it was strange that all the women were present as well, but it was a family meeting.

However, Father was no ordinary person. He brought up a topic that immediately shattered my leisurely thoughts.

“The Empire is already rotten.”

The light silence meant for listening to the story instantly increased its weight. It was so fast that anyone struggling to gain weight would want to learn the secret immediately.

“Immediately after the previous Emperor’s ascension, the previous Duke of Orknesia said, ‘From now on, the Empire will fall into stagnation, which will be considered natural until then.’ His words were correct. Even without mentioning the proverb that stagnant water rots, anyone can see the current state of the Empire and think the same. The Imperial Family no longer cares about the citizens of the Empire, and the officials are only concerned with their own well-being. Based on stable inheritance, they have secured their current wealth and prosperity for the future. History tells us the fate of those who choose isolation by joining hands, but people have become deaf only to the voice of history.”

Uncle and Grandfather’s expressions were like those trying to suppress a groan. This confirmed that my paternal grandfather was estranged from the Imperial power. I’ve never met him, but…… It seems that was truly the case.

Father relentlessly squared the weight of the silence with heavy words that didn’t suit a family meeting at all. An astonishing weight pressed down from all sides.

“The gap between Orknesia, which constantly fought against external enemies, and the central region, which was isolated and rotting away, could only widen. Ever since I inherited my father’s duties, Orknesia has been a lonely region, almost isolated from the Empire.”

Indeed, Orknesia was far from diplomatic or commercial activities, unlike Restart or Narvilt.

This land is where those who have lived for over 370 years, solely for the purpose of fighting against the Gray Forest.

Their values are bound to be different from other regions.

“The hand that should be extended to the lonely should contain goodwill without pity, and the lonely always extend their bare hands to feel warmth. Orknesia constantly showed goodwill by extending its bare hands towards the Empire. When the Empress actually existed, that hand held the hands of others.”

As if untangling a single knotted rope, Father separated this land from the Empire, piece by piece. In his words, Orknesia became a place different from the Empire, a land where the Empress had vanished.

“However, now a cold blade filled with petty malice has fallen. The severed hand that fell to the ground cannot be reattached. Those who chose isolation themselves have no room to grasp the extended hand. Isolation has assassinated the opportunity for change from them. Now only one hand remains. What to do with this hand is very important. Will this lonely hand, unable to ask for help after losing its sibling, continue to extend itself, upholding the will of the departed sibling? Or will it grasp the hilt of a sword to confront the falling blade?”

Air so thick you can’t even breathe.

At the center of that weight is Father.

People, unable to hide their tension, focused on every word Father uttered.

As words scattered over the densely filled air, it felt as if letters were being engraved.

“The hand extended for the Empress was severed, and a blade was about to fall again on the hand extended for reconciliation. If that hand is also severed, there will be nothing left to do. I have no intention of extending a hand that they have no intention of grasping. The treatment inflicted upon someone who has dedicated their entire life to the Empire is cruelly harsh. I have decided not to tolerate this injustice, this unfairness. I will grasp a sword in the remaining hand. And I will strike down the falling blade.”

Father’s declaration ended with a firm resolution.

People, including myself, seemed surprised that they could still breathe, their eyes wide open, speechless.

Father, in a strict tone that showed no signs of fading, asked everyone,

“I intend to start the vassal meeting like this, what do you all think?”

The weight disappeared instantly.

Everyone became goldfish. Me included.

“……”

If Father had even a little sense of humor, or had laughed after finishing his speech, this place would have become a chaotic mess of laughter.

Uh, so you mean he just practiced his opening speech for the meeting?

Grandfather coughed loudly and, as the first to regain his breath, said,

“Ahem! Hmm! Ahem! That was quite weighty. So, in the end, is this a declaration of intent to oppose the Imperial Family?”

“You could say that, Father-in-law. First, I’m thinking of making Orknesia independent.”

“I see. An excellent speech. It was weighty enough to be delivered at the vassal meeting.”

“What are the thoughts of others?”

People nodded vaguely, starting to dry themselves off after escaping from the sea of absurdity. I, too, had been submerged deep into that dizzying moment and had nothing particular to say.

Uncle, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead, said,

“Brother, are you thinking of going to war?”

“Not immediately. Let me say this in advance, Orknesia will never be the first to march towards the Empire. However, if the Empire talks about capturing rebels and sets foot even 1 centimeter into Orknesia, the Eastern Army that protected the Empire will raise their swords against the Empire to protect the Empire.”

It’s a contradictory statement, but excising the rotten part is also a part of the process of protection. After all, treatment is an act to protect the life of the subject.

“Then what will happen to this place? Will it become a nation?”

“Theron, you’re getting ahead of yourself. A definite name gives identity, but it also easily defines its character. It’s not too late to decide after determining the priority of what needs to be done.”

“I’ll be careful.”

Indeed, it’s too early to decide on a name at this stage.

Even if a name is given to indirectly express the original purpose, there are many cases where the original purpose is forgotten later in pursuit of actions that fit the name.

Let’s delve a little deeper into Father’s psychology here.

Father’s declaration, measured horizontally, vertically, and diagonally, means independence from the Empire.

The Imperial Family will treat this kind of independence as outright rebellion, and therefore, regardless of what name is put forward, it will be interpreted as an intention to rebel. After all, humans are cunning creatures who can display genius-level talent when it comes to malicious interpretations.

So, in the current situation, creating a name would be meaningless, as it would inevitably be adorned with malicious interpretations and annotations more numerous than grapes in an orchard.

“Is there no way to improve the relationship with the Emperor?”

“Not at present. As you know, I’ve also been falsely accused of assassinating the previous Emperor.”

“Are you really thinking of fighting if the situation arises?”

“Thoroughly.”

People continued to bombard Father with questions. Can we fight? Should we fight? Is there no way to avoid fighting? What will happen if we don’t fight? And so on.

Father answered as if he had the answers to all those questions. This makes it feel more like an announcement of information rather than a family meeting.

I raised my hand. Since I was sitting close to Father, people turned their attention to me. Father silently nodded, granting me the right to speak.

I spoke in a calm tone.

“I just want to say this in advance, as the conversation seems to be divided into fighting or not fighting. The Imperial Family will never consider clearing Father’s charges, regardless of how we react. If we raise an army, they’ll say, ‘See, I told you so,’ and if we stay still, they’ll say, ‘A guilty conscience betrays itself,’ right? So, that discussion is meaningless from the start.”

We already had a tedious discussion like that earlier. It’s not something I want to do twice a day.

Grandfather nodded and asked me,

“Then what kind of discussion would be meaningful?”

“You all heard the introduction Father will deliver at the vassal meeting, right? In any case, it’s a given that we will be opposing the Emperor. Some of you might be displeased, and some might welcome it. Naturally, some might be hesitant to rebel against the Imperial Family they have served faithfully until now. Well, since I practically kidnapped you all here, I won’t force you to think a certain way, but anyway, that’s the current situation.”

Despite my words, I can easily grasp people’s thoughts.

With the emergence of a new Emperor, loyalty naturally fades. The object of loyalty has changed, and there was no time to adapt.

In such a situation, no one would remain loyal to the new Emperor who tried to frame Father as a traitor and annihilate his family.

As I’ve repeatedly mentioned, the vassals of Orknesia and the Eastern Army are not loyal to the Emperor.

They are the people of the Duke of Orknesia.

Uncle’s family nodded as if my words were obvious, and the people from my mother’s side nodded with somewhat uncomfortable expressions.

It seems everyone’s opinions are generally aligned.

I concluded.

“Therefore, I believe we should discuss how we can effectively and rationally oppose the Emperor and the Imperial Family. I believe Father’s words are a public, official statement to secure justification for the outside world, am I correct?”

“That’s right. Unless something unforeseen happens, that will be my declaration to the outside of Orknesia.”

I continued from Father’s words.

“Even a child knows that the Duke of Orknesia has been loyal to the Imperial Family for generations and has worked tirelessly day and night to protect the Empire. They are trying to frame such a person with charges of rebellion and the assassination of the Emperor. Disappointment in the Imperial Family and resentment have piled up to the heavens. In a situation that everyone is aware of, a justification that everyone can anticipate has emerged. In other words, it’s a justification that people can understand. You all know how important justification is in aristocratic society, right?”

There’s no high-ranking noble who hasn’t engaged in a battle of justifications.

Translator’s Blog

Blog

• The Great Manhua Crash: Why the Hype Died Down
• Aqua Hoshino: The Ultimate Husbando?
• Feeling like a lazy Naruto? This is How You Stop Procrastinating and Conquer Your To-Do List Like a True Hokage
• Yo, Millennials: This TikTok Dictionary Translates Gen Z So You Don’t Sound Like a Boomer
• Sword Art Online: A Grown-Up’s Journey Through A Virtual World