NOVEL WEB Chapter 308
“Things have become complicated.”
As I was sipping tea in the reception room of the Adelheid Duke Mansion, those were the first words spoken by the Adelhaid Duke, who had come to greet me belatedly.
His expression showed noticeable discomfort, unable to direct its focus towards me and instead landing on the table. His face reflected in the red tea seemed as if it were rotting away.
“I may not be able to provide you with the exact reasons, but to put it simply… it seems my bill will be subjected to a re-vote due to political issues.”
“…Wasn’t the vote over in the Senate already?”
“Yes, I thought everything had been settled in the Senate. I assumed it as well, but…”
Every time the Adelhaid Duke continued to explain with a troubled expression, it felt like stones were piling up in my chest.
It should have merely been a straightforward compensation plan for war veterans and disabled veterans, but it had now become intertwined with various complicated narratives.
“Hou… It’s frustrating and suffocating.”
After finishing a rough explanation, the Adelhaid Duke drank his tea in one gulp. It must have been quite hot, yet he continued to speak as if nothing were wrong.
“Professor Antorelli. You can probably guess how many political enemies I have.”
“How many could there be? Is it ten?”
“Ten? If I only had that many left, I would want to bow down and plead.”
“……”
The Adelhaid Duke seemed to be in a position of being attacked in many ways. The faction opposing him had clearly used the ‘Veteran Compensation Revision Bill’ he proposed as a pretext.
In any case, it was bitter to admit that the rightful compensation that should return to war veterans had been degraded to a political tool. No, to be honest, it felt very dirty.
However, this wasn’t solely the fault of the Adelhaid Duke. I narrowed my brows.
“…Isn’t it too dirty?”
“Yes! It is dirty! But that’s politics!”
“……”
The political arena was dirtier than expected, and it seemed that the political forces of this country would employ any means to attack their opponents.
“Damn it, if I had been able to establish my influence in the defense force, that would have been a lingering regret. The range of maneuver as the Senate Chair is just too narrow.”
“What reason would the defense force have to oppose the revision? Ultimately, if improved compensation returns to the veterans, wouldn’t the stance of the military be strengthened? There would be various ways to show off…”
Although I had heard about the situation, it still wasn’t easy to understand straightforwardly. What would the defense force gain by opposing the Duke’s revision?
Passing the revision would elevate the defense force’s position, not diminish it.
“You only know one thing but not two.”
While I was lost in that thought, the Adelhaid Duke sighed and bit into a cookie placed on the table.
“As you said, if the compensation revision bill I proposed is fully passed, that would indeed elevate the reputation of the defense force. I initiated the bill, and the Senate passed it, but practically executing that revision would be the responsibility of the defense force…”
“…Is it possible that the defense force wants more than that?”
“You understand well. Yes, the current defense force isn’t simply seeking the public’s support and a slightly elevated reputation.”
Since the Great War ended in the Empire’s victory, it was undeniable that the Imperial Defense Force had established itself as the strongest military force in the world, regardless of land, sea, or air.
Furthermore, some generals and officers below the Adelhaid Duke, as well as a few soldiers and deputies, had been featured in the newspapers as war heroes. Their reputation was already sufficiently elevated.
“Thus, the defense force would actually prefer not to attract unnecessary attention. Passing the revision would certainly be beneficial, but how effective it will be remains uncertain.”
“Could it not work to their advantage later? Like when they try to push through a bill in the defense force…”
“Professor Antorelli. Do you think the citizens of this country will remember such things for long?”
No matter how good an act one does, even if they gain a prominent name in the newspapers because of it, how many people would actually remember that?
Let alone the people who do not read newspapers. Even if they did, they would likely be buried under the tide of accumulating information and forgotten.
“It’s always a good choice to take out insurance… but it seems the defense force has found a better option than achieving such minimal effects.”
“Is that opposing the revision?”
“Indeed. Since I proposed the revision.”
In the end, this would lead to the conclusion that it was a political maneuver against the Adelhaid Duke.
In the increasingly complex situation, I sighed and asked.
“So, what will happen to the pensions that have already been disbursed per the revision?”
“They won’t be recalled. If you think about recalling such a large amount, the treasury would panic.”
“But if the revision is rejected, then it means they won’t receive the increased compensation starting next month, right?”
“…That’s correct.”
Ultimately, what remained to be done was to wait for the Adelhaid Duke to resolve this.
I didn’t know how dreadful it was that the only lifeline remaining was the Adelhaid Duke. Overwhelmed by emotions I couldn’t even dare to express, I stared blankly at the ceiling with my mouth agape.
“…But, what about Corporal Dennis?”
“Um? Who are you referring to?”
“……”
As I lowered my gaze towards the mockingly inquiring Adelhaid Duke, I suddenly felt a sense of discomfort.
“If the Duke’s words are true, then the revision has not yet gone to a re-vote.”
The voting in the Senate was not something I could interfere with. It was beyond my reach, something beyond my control.
What was strange was that if that were the case, then why had Corporal Dennis had his pension taken away already?
The revision had not been rejected after going through a re-vote, and considering that the previous voting results in the Senate had been decided as passed, wasn’t the revision still alive?
When I brought up these points about Corporal Dennis, the Duke’s expression turned cold and hardened.
“No, surely not… But the Defense Department shouldn’t have that authority…”
“…Is there a problem?”
“Of course, there’s a problem! If what you’re saying is true, then the Defense Department implemented an illegal act without the proper legal procedures! And in collusion with the Construction and Development Department!”
“The Defense Department is linked to the Construction and Development Department?”
“The Director of the Defense Department, Francisco van Kartroi. That bastard’s brother is the Director of the Construction and Development Department.”
It’s rotten. It’s completely festered.
Even during the time of the war, I had felt it, but it seemed that the leadership of this Empire had rotted to the core.
While the nobility held important positions, I never imagined they would go as far as to scheme using their blood relations.
“Then, the Director of the Construction and Development Department is also involved in this… But they usually don’t get along well as siblings…”
“……”
“Anyway, that execution is clearly illegal. They haven’t even entered the re-vote examination yet, and to bypass a bill that is currently being treated as passed… That’s unacceptable!”
The authority of the Senate in voting on bills is a divine right granted by the Emperor to the members.
That right cannot be touched even by the Emperor, so what Kartroi has done could potentially be considered an act of rebellion.
Yet, I was still left with questions.
“Surely, the Defense Department would have thought of that, wouldn’t they?”
“Cartroi has a hot-tempered side. We can’t dismiss the possibility that he acted rashly.”
“…Could it be that he has backing?”
“Backing? No, that can’t be. The voting authority of the Senate has been established since the country’s founding and has not been amended since…”
“Not that, but I meant to suggest that he might have bypassed it using a different method.”
As I spoke, the Adelhaid Duke fell silent, contemplating. There were indeed many puzzling areas.
I didn’t know much about it, but considering his social status, Cartroi had a lot to lose.
Yet, would he act so recklessly?
“There’s no reason for him to do so.”
Is there a deep-rooted belief that he is willing to trade away his political, social, and perhaps even his physical life for?
“Law… In violation of the law… No, wait.”
It might be, but the possibility is incredibly low.
“If he intends to bypass the law by maliciously utilizing overlapping laws… concerning the Imperial Defense Forces and the law…”
As the Adelhaid Duke continued his rambling thoughts, he suddenly lifted his head.
“…No way.”
“What is it?”
“Alfred! Where are you! Alfred!”
The Adelhaid Duke hurriedly opened the reception room door and shouted. When his voice echoed loudly in the mansion three times, the butler Alfred came running with several servants, standing before him.
“Your Excellency! Did you call for me?”
“Bring me the Imperial Code right now!”
“The legal code, you mean?”
“Yes! Don’t ask questions, just bring it to me right now… No, I’ll go to the study!”
The Adelhaid Duke, who shouted in a hurry, turned back to me, still not having caught his breath.
He looked extremely surprised and, on the other hand, fatigued.
“Professor Antorelli, I genuinely appreciate your visit today, but it seems we need to wrap things up here. I apologize.”
“…Have you come up with a good idea or something?”
“I’ll explain later. It’s still unclear.”
Although he said it wasn’t clear, the expression on the Adelhaid Duke’s face was one of certainty.
As I watched him for a moment, I had no choice but to nod in agreement.
“Understood. Please contact me again in the future.”
“Yes, I understand. Alfred! Please see Professor Antorelli out! Then come straight to the study afterward!”
“Understood, Your Excellency. Professor, this way please.”
Guided by the butler Alfred, I momentarily gazed at the quickly receding back of the Adelhaid Duke.
For a long while, until he disappeared around the corner of the distant hallway.
“I hope you’ll visit again, Professor.”
“Thank you for seeing me off.”
Once I regained my senses, I found myself outside the Duke Mansion before I knew it. A firmly closed iron gate stood behind me.
After looking at the two guards standing upright beside it, I turned my steps toward the Academy.
The face of Corporal Dennis came to mind, his cracked voice sobbing as he clutched my pant leg.
‘…Powerless.’
In the end, there was nothing I could do about this situation.
In reality, it had already been foreseen. Given the political issues at play, there was nothing I, a mere cleric and academy professor, could do.
Yet still…
‘I want to take responsibility.’
He is one of my people.
One of those around me whom I want to protect.
If it’s something I can’t resolve, I still want to at least make an effort.
How much blood would spill in the process was uncertain.
However, I would willingly bear it.
Like wearing a crown of thorns.