Episode 5: The Dark Lord and Zofie
The title of Duke in the Central Continent is bestowed only upon noble houses that satisfy one of the following two conditions. One is having been an independent power in the past that rivaled the royal house. The other is being a close relative of the royal house.
House Gaillou, if you trace its origins, arose from the independent territory of Gaillou that was born in the latter period of the “Surge of Peoples,” and is a great house ruling the northwestern edge of the Santeneri region. While formally pledging vassalage to the King of Santeneri, its actual state was long that of a completely independent nation.
Clear conflict arose with House Leroi, which had gained power through military reforms, in the Ninth Period—the last era when knights flourished spectacularly. Weakened by several lost battles, House Gaillou was ensnared by the Leroi Dynasty’s marriage policies and ultimately lost its independence, becoming a “proper” part of the Leroi Dynasty’s Kingdom of Santeneri.
Because of this history, the Gaillou region is still known today as an area with particularly high independence. Both its language and culture differ subtly from those of the Leroi Dynasty—the mainstream of the Kingdom of Santeneri.
Though Gaillou retains the character of a nation within a nation, its ties to the royal House Leroi are surprisingly deep. Throughout their long history, both houses have repeatedly intermarried. These connections extend even to both families’ relatives, so it’s no exaggeration to say House Gaillou is now kin by marriage to the Leroi Dynasty. Thus Gaillou is the greatest noble house in Santeneri in both name and reality, having achieved both conditions for the ducal title.
Despite being such a great house, the Grand Duke of Gaillou holds no position at the Santeneri court. This might seem like poor treatment at first glance, but the reality is completely different. In the Kingdom of Santeneri, where the royal “House” and the state apparatus have not yet completely separated, a position at court means being a “retainer” of House Leroi. This is evident from the fact that the position of Chief Steward, which should be the “head servant” of House Leroi, represents the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Santeneri.
House Gaillou is kin to House Leroi, but not retainers. Therefore they hold no official posts.
This exquisite distance brought House Gaillou a freedom that the royal “retainers” could never possess. The maritime industry flourished in the coastal areas of their territory facing the western sea, and profits generated through trade accumulated. That wealth became the capital for various financial institutions including banks, and now a commercial network of merchants spreads not only throughout Santeneri but across the entire Central Continent.
The safety of their activities is naturally underwritten by House Gaillou. Therefore, even if the royal house is dazzled by the merchants’ enormous wealth, it cannot seize it. To do so would mean coming into conflict with House Gaillou. In terms of pure military power, the Leroi Dynasty that controls the national army has the advantage, but in the first place, it’s Gaillou that provides part of the operating costs for that national army, and there are many soldiers from that region. Additionally, there’s the psychological barrier that both houses are quite close relatives.
House Gaillou, which has built a firm relationship with the royal house, accumulated wealth through commerce, and possesses clear power as Santeneri’s foremost vassal. Its current head, Xavier-Ené-En-Gaillou, who even holds a claim to the throne due to his bloodline, albeit a lower one, has watched the existence of the new king Grois XIII with clear apprehension.
Youth, ambition, and religious fervor.
Most kings who ascend at a young age possess two of these three traits. The degree varies.
The first, “youth,” is natural given their young ascension. So the question is which other one combines with it.
Youth and ambition—this leads to territorial expansion. Youth and religious passion—this leads to changes in the relationship with the Orthodox Church. What’s clearly troublesome for House Gaillou is the former, the combination of youth and ambition. However, even in that case, “managing things well” is possible.
Youth brings a lack of worldly knowledge but also enables flexible thinking. If the Grand Duke of Gaillou doesn’t err in his approach, there’s room for mutual discussion. If discussion is possible, compromise is possible. Regarding the combination of youth and religious devotion, while somewhat troublesome, it won’t have that much impact on the Grand Duchy of Gaillou. At most he’ll build churches here and there and issue some rather extreme prohibitions.
But when all three of the above are present, the king’s existence becomes a nightmare for the ducal house.
Due to youth, lacking common sense and experience; due to ambition, implementing gambler-like policies; due to religious fervor, refusing to compromise. When that is directed at one’s own territory, the worst outcome—even the use of military force—becomes possible.
Xavier had been observing the new king since his crown prince days. There were clear signs of danger. A prince who admired his ancestor the hero-king and was steeped in radical religious puritanism. He needed to be bridled.
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Zofie-En-Gaillou was born as the eldest daughter of House Gaillou.
Xavier did not raise her as a “sheltered young lady.” He introduced her to various people regardless of status and gave her various experiences. When she married “somewhere,” it would be troublesome if she were merely a woman who submissively followed her husband’s every word. She needed the cleverness to skillfully manipulate her husband so as not to work against Gaillou’s interests.
This educational policy of Xavier’s instilled in her a cheerful, fearless personality. Rather than spending her days chatting with maids deep in the palace, she went on trips with her father and observed his work—these days cultivated in young Zofie’s heart interest and curiosity toward the unknown.
And one more thing. Zofie deeply admired her father from the bottom of her heart. Her father who showed her a colorful world, her father who protected her from all dangers. The intelligent girl understood from a young age that it was precisely because of her father Xavier’s immense power that she could fearlessly leap into new worlds.
Her admiration grew so intense that she once threw a tantrum saying “I want to become Father’s concubine,” troubling her mother, but as she matured, such feelings naturally disappeared from the girl’s heart through the natural growth process. On the other hand, something that didn’t disappear remained. A man with her father’s encompassing capacity—only that preference remained.
Zofie met Crown Prince Grois when she was ten. Grois was still a sixteen-year-old boy, but the age difference during adolescence carries far greater significance than it does in adulthood. For her, whose family consisted only of two younger brothers, Crown Prince Grois was a kind of “older brother.”
The Gaillou clan, which held no state office, did not have many opportunities to stay in the kingdom’s capital Shtrois. Two or three times a year. Sometimes for extended periods, but that was a rare occurrence.
At ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen—for four years, she didn’t dislike this “older brother” she could meet several times a year. Different from her father, a more familiar “adult.” Compared to her father who overflowed with dignity and composure, his young and sometimes seemingly rough behavior was refreshing. At first, anyway.
Girls’ mental development is faster than boys’. With each meeting, she felt the distance with her “older brother” gradually closing, little by little. When she talked to him properly, he had surprisingly childish aspects. Beneath his friendly smile and energetic behavior, the girl faintly sensed something.
And by fourteen, she could more or less see what lay ahead.
—I might become this person’s wife.
The future that had been hinted at by those around her since childhood took on reality. It was the position of Queen of the Kingdom of Santeneri that any woman in Santeneri would dream of. She didn’t feel bad about it. However, there was also something slightly unsatisfying.
By this time, the difference between her father and Grois had become clearly apparent. The prince lived in the world of ideas. He spouted bold lines and put on a brave front. Whether to take that as “cute” or “childish” depends on the person, but in Zofie’s case, it was about half and half.
Though it diverged from her own preferences, that couldn’t be helped.
Noble marriage is political. At fourteen, one can accept that. After accepting it, one should think about how to interact with the other party and how to conduct oneself.
This girl who was cheerfulness personified, this girl who arranged her gently waving deep brown hair in an elaborate side braid, was thoroughly positive. Life isn’t perfect. She was at the age to know that.
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