第１８２８堀：部下の胃の痛い話 (Part1)
Chapter 1828: A Subordinate’s Heartburn
Side: Enola
"Hic..."
The moment my eyes scanned the report handed to me by Tori, that sound escaped my throat.
"Oh? Is something the matter, Lady Enola?"
Lyushi, who had been dispatched to the southern fortress as my assistant for the medical team, tilted her head in confusion. But I had no capacity to answer her.
After all...
"Ahaha... It seems Lady Hairen has gone and done it again. You know, that volunteer soldier issue? It looks like she went ahead and accepted them all on her own authority."
That’s right—she had unilaterally approved something that she had no business deciding on the spot! And she’d even dipped into the supply stores to do it!
"...Under normal circumstances, that would be a major issue, but she’s dodged the consequences with such exquisite timing. I suppose that’s just what one would expect from Lady Hairen. What about Stasia at the northern fortress?"
"She was in the middle of her duties when she heard, and apparently, she slammed her head right onto her desk. She only found out after Yuki and the others arrived, you see."
"...That is, well. How on earth did that go unnoticed?"
"Well, you know how Fiora is. It just looked like a request for supplies for medical treatment. Besides, it’s fewer than fifty people. Compared to the number of people we’re feeding at the soup kitchens, it’s practically a rounding error."
"Ah... Lady Hairen truly is incredible."
As always, her ability to stumble into trouble while simultaneously avoiding responsibility was masterful. Lady Hairen and Lady Lilishe’s medical teams certainly had the discretionary power to deploy supplies for emergency measures. There was no doubt that lives were saved because of it, and she had at least prevented them from forming their own independent, rampaging unit!
"Um, I understand that Lord Yuki and the others hadn't approved it, but it seems she was acting within the scope of her authority, so what exactly is the problem?"
Lyushi, having grasped the contents of the report, asked again with a puzzled expression. That was when my breathing finally returned to normal.
"Puh!"
"Oh, you’re breathing again. Are you alright, Enola?"
"I'm fine. Lyushi, regarding your question—technically, there is no problem with her authority as it stands. But what do you think will happen if this is delayed?"
"Delayed? Do you mean after the treatment is finished?"
"Exactly. Once the treatment is finished, it means Weed has conscripted Ohe’s people as soldiers without any consultation with Ohe itself. Do you understand what that implies?"
"Eh? That... isn't that bad?"
"It’s terrible. Even if we are friendly for now, if you go around taking people as soldiers without permission, you can’t complain if they decide to become hostile."
Lyushi seemed to finally grasp the gravity of Lady Hairen’s actions, and her face drained of color.
"W-why would she do something like that... This puts Lord Yuki and the others in danger..."
"Indeed. If things go poorly, Yuki and his people could be directly targeted."
"W-we have to stop her, quickly!"
As Lyushi scrambled to rush out of the room, I stopped her and continued.
"Calm down. We are still in the treatment phase. If we clear this up now, it won't be a problem."
"Ah, I see."
"The best way—the common sense way—to handle this would have been for Yuki to clear it beforehand and move only after obtaining permission from the Ohe side. Even if the result is good, if the order of operations is reversed, we could be accused of treason. After all, we’d be turning a friendly nation into an enemy and putting our own sovereign, Yuki, in danger."
"Then why did Lady Hairen ignore that?"
"She didn't ignore it. She just didn't think about it."
"Huh?"
Lyushi looked at me as if to ask what on earth I was talking about. It’s quite fresh to see that expression on a face that resembles Rurua’s. Her startled movements even caused her ample bosom to sway. But, putting that aside...
"Lady Hairen simply helped the people in front of her who were in trouble. If they wanted to be soldiers while receiving treatment, she just cooperated with them."
When I explained Lady Hairen’s simple reasoning, Lyushi’s eyes went wide. I understand. I feel the same way.
"If it were a problem, we could just stop it and be done with it, but since Yuki and the others have their own designs, we decided to let it proceed as is. We’re moving quickly because we know that a delayed response is what causes the real trouble."
"...In other words, since the result is fine, there will be no reprimand?"
"She wouldn't listen even if we did reprimand her. Besides, to officially punish her would be the same as Weed admitting that the recruitment of the Ohe volunteers was a mistake."
That would be disastrous. Therefore, we cannot punish her.
"Was that her plan?"
"Don't be ridiculous. Lady Hairen simply acts honestly and produces results. That is her essence. Even Lord Sota and Lord Enol have said that they were thoroughly outmaneuvered—or rather, had a hard time—because of that."
Actually, she isn't the type to think about anything that complicated. Though, it’s not for me to say.
"Well, at any rate, I’m glad you’re back to normal, Enola."
"Yes. I thought you were having a respiratory failure earlier."
"I definitely was having a respiratory failure."
I really had forgotten how to breathe.
"Besides, putting aside Lord Sota and Lord Enol, it’s going to be painful to explain this to Mother, the Archbishop, and the current Lord Enol."
"Ahaha... Good luck with that."
"The plight of middle management, isn't it?"
"Truly. Still, I need to hear the details, so..."
I was just thinking that I needed to show my face at the scene when—
"Hey there. Lilishe came over here~. Wait, is everyone gathered? What happened?"
"Just a little trouble~. It feels like Hairen-chan tried a bit too hard~."
"Ah, that’s a troublesome story. Does that mean Tori and the others are busy over there? Or rather, did Lilishe come here because of this?"
"That’s right~."
Hearing that familiar voice, Lady Lilishe appeared from behind Agil. She had her usual laid-back air, overflowing with a sense of tolerance. It’s no wonder Lady Hairen looks up to her, but...
"I figured Enola-chan would be on the verge of collapsing over this, so I came ahead~."
"Ah, I see. Lady Lilishe, then where is Lady Hairen?"
Exactly—where was the person who caused all this fuss? I really needed to hear at least a word from her directly, or that in itself would be a problem.
"She’s currently talking with the King of Ohe alongside Yuki-san~. She intends to get him to approve of the volunteer soldiers~."
"She’s already moved? No, I suppose it would be bad if she weren't moving at this speed. Wait? Then what about this report?"
"I did my best on that~. Well, specifically, together with Stasia-chan. Her face was deathly pale, too~."
"Come to think of it, the northern town is under Stasia’s jurisdiction. ...Is she alright? She’s from the Haiden region, just like Enola, right?"
"You said her face was deathly pale, didn't you?"
If she had been watching Hairen’s rampage from the sidelines, would "deathly pale" even cover it? Perhaps sensing that thought, Lady Lilishe remained smiling.
"She’s perfectly healthy~. When she headed to the Ohe royal capital with Yuki-san, Yuki-san was being considerate, and he didn't hold her responsible for it~. Still, as the person in charge of the north, she does have to show her face and explain herself~."