Chapter 59: Independence
Whipping.
As someone who had once been Japanese, the sheer terror contained in that word didn’t quite strike me at first. When I heard “whip,” the most that came to mind was something trivial—perhaps an item from some dubious corner of adult paraphernalia. …But the kind used for punishment was something far beyond imagination.
With each strike, the skin would split open. The impact wouldn’t remain confined to the surface; it would reverberate inward, blooming into a dull, heavy pain deep within the body. The first few lashes might do no more than leave the flesh swollen and reddened, but as the count increased, the skin would gradually lose its ability to endure. Before long, it would begin to tear, opening into raw wounds. Blood would seep from those ruptures, only to be spread further by the next blow, carving the injuries deeper and deeper with merciless precision.
“…To carry out whipping in this day and age… This is madness.”
The logic Her Highness Princess Emma presented—her intention behind it—was something I could understand.
But anyone with a sound sense of morality would instinctively recoil from it.
……Even I understood what she was trying to achieve.
“I am aware that it is cruel. However, what matters is the structure. Foolish men who committed an immoral act within the Kingdom of Poln will be judged by the laws of that very nation. That is a right that should naturally be permitted, and I trust you would agree it is not something that ought to be overturned.”
“But there is no need to rely on outdated laws—”
“Are you suggesting that we submit to the laws of the Rosha Empire?”
“…Ghk—”
Exactly. The Royal Army of the Kingdom of Lunoa could not be seen obeying the laws of the Rosha Empire.
It would look bad—politically, symbolically. That was precisely why it had to be the laws of the Kingdom of Poln. Only then would compliance carry meaning.
“…The Kingdom of Poln is a nation of the past. There is no need to adhere to the laws of a country that no longer exists.”
But could restarting as the Kingdom of Poln truly be called the best path forward for this region?
It was likely obvious even to King Yarkies and his faction—that the Kingdom of Lunoa merely intended to use the shell of the Kingdom of Poln as a convenient structure for maintaining order and stabilizing the rear.
That was exactly why they could not expect to be allowed to continue employing the bureaucrats who had served under the Rosha Empire’s administration. In truth, there was no intention of permitting it. For the sake of future governance, a large number of personnel would be brought in from the Kingdom of Lunoa.
It wasn’t hard to imagine what that would mean.
They would be reduced, for all intents and purposes, to something little better than a vassal state.
“We have no intention of independence. At this point, we do not possess the strength to achieve such a thing.”
To fawn over the Kingdom of Lunoa, to exist only as a vessel for its interests, and to slowly exhaust themselves in the internal conflicts against the remnants of the Rosha Empire they still harbored—choosing not to pursue independence was, in truth, a perfectly reasonable decision.
If they became a directly governed territory of Lunoa, they could at least hope for treatment equal to that of the homeland. That would be preferable to the uncertain status of a subordinate ally.
And if they were to become occupied territory, then the responsibility for maintaining order would fall upon the Lunoa Royal Army—not upon the people of the former Kingdom of Poln.
“In that case… I must apologize, but it may prove difficult for us to maintain full discipline over our own troops within the Kingdom of Poln. If the Kingdom of Poln properly enforces punishment upon criminals, then we can ensure order without issue, however.”
But to become occupied territory—
That option, heavy with its quiet despair, was one Her Highness Princess Emma presented without the slightest mercy.
“…!”
Her true strength lay in the political acumen ingrained in her as royalty.
At this very moment, she had forced two choices upon King Yarkies:
Would he pursue independence—
Or would he accept that the people of the former Kingdom of Poln would be exposed to the unchecked hands of Lunoa’s soldiers?
“…What is it you truly mean by that?”
“Would you like me to say it plainly? …There is nothing more to it. It is exactly as I said.”
The Lunoa Royal Army was no fragile force. It would not lose discipline simply because the former Kingdom of Poln failed to act. And yet, she had claimed that discipline would be difficult to maintain.
Which meant—
It was a declaration that they would not maintain it. That they would allow their soldiers to act freely.
“…Do you intend to offer us no choice at all?”
“Do you not think there are questions in this world whose answers are better left unspoken?”
In truth, this particular matter didn’t even require such refined political maneuvering.
The balance of power was already in their favor. This was simply a matter of imposing terms. King Yarkies had little room to refuse.
“You do love your country, do you not?”
When the Rosha Empire had taken control of the former Kingdom of Poln, they had not treated its former royal family particularly harshly.
That was why King Yarkies could still sit here now, as a successor of that royal lineage, facing Her Highness Princess Emma.
And because of that—
He still loved this land. Deeply.
“…Understood. I look forward to working with you from here on.”
“Yes. I look forward to it as well.”
And so, in the end, King Yarkies could do nothing but nod weakly.
…It wasn’t as though Her Highness Princess Emma had done anything wrong.
She had simply done what was necessary.
It was just that I… had yet to fully become the kind of noble this world demanded.
(…And me?)
For the sake of victory—
Just how much would I be willing to accept?