Chapter 312: Declaration of War Against Britannia
The engagement banquet had concluded.
The scene that had once resembled a bloody bride was now cleaned up.
The eunuch faction of the Ten Attendants was branded with the charge of treason, and its remnants were thoroughly eradicated under Li Xingke's swift and decisive measures.
Alpha and the others had initially wanted to pursue Schneizel and his group, but it seemed Schneizel had already seen through Mahiro's tendency to disregard the rules of the game. After leaving the engagement banquet, he hurriedly returned to his country.
By the time they set out, those individuals had already flown back into Britannian territory.
But it didn't matter—his next step was to declare war on Britannia.
After a brief stay in the Chinese Federation, accompanying Jiang Lihua through the bustling streets and alleys of Luoyang for several days to fulfill a past promise, it was finally time to part ways.
"...Teacher, are you really leaving? Can't... can't you stay a little longer?"
On the tarmac, the petite Empress Jiang Lihua gazed tearfully at the group about to depart on the modified Avalon.
The young girl gently tugged at the hem of Mahiro's clothes, reluctant to let go.
With just a slight effort, he could have broken free from her grasp, but he didn't. Instead, he turned around, crouched down, and gently stroked Jiang Lihua's small head, saying:
"Be good. Teacher still has things to attend to. Once everything is done, I'll come back to see you."
Though he said he would come back to see her, it would likely be for the last time, after which he would prepare to leave this world.
Whether Jiang Lihua sensed his inner thoughts or vaguely realized that if she missed this chance, their next meeting would be a final farewell, her small hand still clung tightly to the hem of his clothes, her fingertips turning red from the effort.
"Really, really can't you stay a little longer? Lihua still has so much she wants to say to you, Teacher..."
Her pitiful expression resembled that of a little sister about to be abandoned and sent away.
Looking at her, for a moment, it was as if he saw the Little Emperor who had once been imprisoned deep within the palace by that wretched fat pig.
Back then, she was exactly like Jiang Lihua.
But the difference was that Jiang Lihua's white hair and red eyes, paired with her pitiful appearance, made her seem like a little rabbit, truly evoking sympathy.
"Ara, Lihua, are you reluctant to part with my husband?"
Just then, Kaguya suddenly interjected into their conversation.
Her slender, delicate hands rested on her waist, and the young girl's figure was perfectly accentuated by the traditional attire of the Chinese Federation. She straightened her posture, emphasizing her modest chest.
Whether it was an illusion or not, when this girl spoke these words, it felt like a scrutiny from the rightful wife.
Jiang Lihua felt a slight sense of intimidation, but out of friendship, she chose to remain where she was.
Then, she nodded gently and timidly said:
"Yes, I... I really like Teacher. He is the person I admire the most."
What young girl doesn't harbor romantic feelings? Even the lofty Empress was no exception.
But Kaguya's next words were astonishing.
"In that case, why not marry my husband? Marrying him as his wife could also serve as an alliance between the Chinese Federation, the EU, and the Shadow Garden."
Kaguya clapped her small hands together, speaking with great cheerfulness.
Nowadays, she was no longer the little girl from the Six Houses of Kyoto who had been manipulated like a puppet. She understood very clearly that her husband would have many, many women around him.
Although she believed she would not lose to others in terms of appearance, character, and loyalty, a single tree cannot make a forest. Jiang Lihua could be said to be the best ally.
But as soon as these words were spoken, even Mahiro, who had originally intended to remain an observer, couldn't help but look up at Kaguya standing beside him.
Not to mention Nu, who as his secretary, accidentally snapped the pen in her hand with a crisp crack.
Become Mahiro-sama's wife?
Even Alpha-sama hasn't achieved such a thing yet, so why should this immature little girl get her turn!
As someone who, though not one of the Seven Shadows, had followed Alpha and the others as well as Mahiro the longest, Nu understood very well the feelings between the Seven Shadows and Mahiro, especially Alpha's unconditional adoration.
It was said they had already consummated their relationship.
But in terms of status, the two were very tacit—neither had taken the initiative to bring it up.
So in this regard, Alpha wasn't very concerned. She simply observed Kaguya calmly, along with Jiang Lihua, who looked soft and gentle.
"Husband, isn't this proposal of mine a good one?"
Kaguya's clear voice rang out again, but she paid no mind to the gazes directed at her. She only faced Mahiro with her question, as if her eyes were sparkling with starlight, waiting for his answer.
Sweet.
But the response she received was a large hand resting on her head, gently stroking.
"I think something like this should be decided by Little Lihua herself."
Though phrased as a question, it was spoken as a statement.
Moreover, he remembered that the matter of Jiang Lihua's second political marriage should have been stirred up by that reporter Diethard. How did it become Kaguya, who held opposing views, bringing it up instead?
It was true he liked Jiang Lihua—white hair and red eyes, a classic combination that appealed to people from Zhong—but he didn't want to force her. That kind of thing was in poor taste.
He also didn't know what the relationship between Jiang Lihua and Li Xingke was like.
Li Xingke had even come to beg him over Jiang Lihua's political marriage with Britannia, so their feelings must be good, right?
Thinking of this, his mood inexplicably grew irritable.
How could the clever Kaguya fail to see his thoughts or understand the meaning behind his words? Yet such a response only warmed her heart even more.
At the very least, she hadn't chosen the wrong person. Her husband's gentleness was consistent, both inside and out.
So she sweetly and softly said:
"I understand your concerns, husband. Love should be free and not bound by interests or reduced to a tool. But the person the Tianzi likes is you, husband, so there's no need for such worries at all."
Kaguya's clear voice was like a clear spring, extinguishing the restless fire in his heart and soothing the dryness within.
Still, he looked directly at the young girl before him.
The moment Jiang Lihua met his gaze, her fair and tender cheeks instantly flushed bright red. Then, with a barely audible "Mm," she nodded.
After receiving the answer, he looked puzzledly at Li Xingke, who followed closely behind like a guard but kept some distance.
Yet the next moment, Li Xingke suddenly knelt on one knee and said:
"Lord Mahiro, you have shown me great kindness, and I am merely a loyal minister accompanying Her Majesty the Emperor, protecting her by her side."
"Is that so...…"
Even he himself did not notice that upon hearing Li Xingke's words, a smile involuntarily appeared on his face, and he inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.
"So, my lord husband, have you agreed?"
This time, Mahiro shook his head again, stood up, and said to Jiang Lihua before him:
"Lihua, I hope you can think it through clearly. Following me means abandoning everything you have now. Your future belongs to you alone, so please consider it carefully. When the war is over and everything settles, I will come again."
After speaking, he gave Jiang Lihua no chance to respond and directly boarded the floating ship with the others.
Amidst the raging wind, Jiang Lihua, her skirt fluttering, kept her eyes fixed on the floating ship until it disappeared from sight...
Everything that happened in the Chinese Federation quickly spread to every corner of the world.
As the representative of the EU, Shadow Garden swiftly breached the Forbidden City during the "Emperor's" engagement ceremony, killing all eunuchs in the name of purging the court and uprooting the eunuch faction's influence.
Although the Britannian nobles escaped, they were thoroughly humiliated.
Just as they sought revenge, news broke that the Chinese Federation and the EU had formed a permanent alliance.
Moreover, the following month, the allied forces of the EU and the Chinese Federation officially declared war on Britannia!
Under the offensive led by Li Xingke and Delta, one of the Seven Shadows, commanding a thirty-member squad of Shadow Garden, and with the sudden betrayal of Kallen, the Governor of Area Eleven, Britannia's former Area Eleven was completely occupied in just one week.
Sumeragi Kaguya, the last remaining bloodline of the Six Houses of Kyoto, also announced to the world that the liberated Japan would be renamed the "Japanese Special Administrative Region" and join the EU alliance, while she herself would marry Mahiro, the Chairman of the EU's Supreme Alliance Council. In an instant, the world situation underwent a drastic change!
These sudden pieces of news threw Britannia into chaos from top to bottom. The Emperor, Charles, did not make an appearance, leaving Prime Minister Schneizel to continue managing the empire's affairs.
With his methods, he quickly quelled the internal turmoil.
However, the outside world had already descended into complete chaos.
First, the rebel forces in the numbered areas, with the support of the EU, reignited various uprisings. Unlike the small-scale disturbances of the Black Rebellion, they completely occupied the Governor's mansions and killed the Britannian governors.
But Schneizel had no time to deal with these matters, as there were more important issues at hand.
Namely, the EU and the Chinese Federation were truly advancing on Britannia!
"Then I entrust this force to you, Miss Leila."
"Yes!"
In the office, Mahiro sat at his desk, speaking in a gentle yet official tone.
The fragmented sunlight crept through the window into the room, illuminating the fine dust particles in the air.
Sitting with his back to the light, although his expression couldn't be clearly seen, his gentle voice was enough to evoke the image of a soft, kind face. He didn't resemble a stern general facing war at all, but rather someone casually discussing trivial matters while strategizing from the command tent.
Standing opposite him was a woman of remarkable grace and valor.
Her magnificent long hair cascaded freely down her back, and her combat uniform lent her a heroic air. Yet, the black thigh-high boots that accentuated her slender, fair legs added a distinct charm to her demeanor.
Perhaps this was what it meant to be both dashing and alluring.
Like Cornelia, she carried the same regal aura, yet unlike Cornelia, she lacked that bewitching quality, instead radiating a purer innocence.
However, upon hearing the details of the combat mission from Mahiro, her typically serious expression grew tense and cautious.
"Alright, there's no need to be so tense. Just treat it as a simple combat mission."
Mahiro waved his hand, signaling her to relax.
But Leila didn't see it that way. A full-scale war against Britannia—how could that be called a simple combat mission?
If that were the case, then nothing in the world would be difficult.
Mahiro naturally understood this, so he didn't dwell on the matter further. Instead, as he gestured for her to sit, he continued:
"The main reason I called you here isn't just to assign the combat mission. I wanted to ask about your future plans."
Leila, who had just taken her seat, looked slightly startled upon hearing this, her bright face showing a flicker of surprise.
"Again, just relax. I've heard you've been on Penglai Island for over half a year now, so you should already know that I'll be leaving after this war ends."
Leila paused for a moment before nodding.
Alpha had indeed mentioned this to her—that they would leave once they had accomplished what they needed to do.
"So, I'd like to ask you: are you willing to take over the EU as it is now?"
Leila fell silent, pressing her lips together.
She had anticipated this conversation, but she hadn't expected it to come so soon.
Moreover, the idea of her taking over the EU—frankly, she wasn't sure she could handle it.
The old EU would have been one thing, but the current EU, under the governance of Shadow Garden, was orderly and well-managed. In terms of national power, it could even be said to rival Britannia, the largest nation in terms of territory, often called the empire on which the sun never sets.
Could she really manage such a colossal entity?
Leila felt somewhat lost.
"It's alright if you can't answer right away. I have another option for you."
His words immediately caught Leila's attention.
"The other choice is: are you willing to join Shadow Garden?"
"Wha—? Me, I…"
Leila was momentarily flustered, as if she hadn't expected him to say such a thing at this moment. Her fair face flushed bright red, and her heartbeat quickened suddenly.
Shadow Garden…
Isn't that the harem garden of the lord before me?
Now, if I were to join, wouldn't that mean...
"What's wrong with you?"
Mahiro tilted his head in confusion.
Leila continued to wave her hands in a flustered manner, insisting she was fine, but it was clear she was anything but.
He had only wanted her to join because he saw her as highly skilled in training, hoping she could help with training on the island in the future, among other things.
Though, admittedly, a bit of his collector's instinct had kicked in.
Unbeknownst to him, during the days he was unconscious, Alpha and the others had been instilling in Leila just how great he was.
Beta had even brought out her meticulously written biography for Leila to read.
Gradually influenced, Leila, who had once been wholly devoted to the military, developed a growing fondness for this unconscious man.
During his coma, Leila had taken on many tasks caring for him, and upon seeing his handsome, gentle face, her heart had already been captivated.
However, Mahiro was unaware of all this, merely thinking the girl before him had suddenly fallen ill.
"Are you unwilling?"
"No, I just... Could you give me some time to think it over?"
After hesitating for a moment, Leila whispered softly. Naturally, she was overjoyed at the prospect of joining Shadow Garden, but in such turbulent times, she couldn't make a clear decision.
"Alright, I understand. Let's discuss this again after we defeat Britannia. I truly admire your talent."
His considerate nature initially moved Leila, but upon hearing the latter part of his words, her body stiffened abruptly.
The blush on her face quickly faded, and her slender eyes narrowed slightly.
She asked in a serious tone:
"May I ask, what is your purpose in inviting me to join Shadow Garden?"
"Nothing special, really. I just hope you can help train the people under me, that's all. If you're worried I might make advances, don't be. I respect everyone and would never do such a thing."
He even added this extra reassurance.
Yet, after he finished speaking, the atmosphere around Leila gradually grew heavy.
Finally, after uttering, "Alright, I understand," she slammed the door shut and left.
Mahiro: "???"
Staring at the tightly closed door, Mahiro was utterly bewildered.
"Did I say something wrong?"
"Of course you did, and it was so far off the mark it left me in awe, kid."
Another voice in the room picked up his words. C.C., who had slipped in at some point unnoticed, was sitting on an inconspicuous sofa in the corner. Seeing Leila leave, she stood up and gracefully approached Mahiro.
Her tone carried a hint of mockery.
"Wrong? What did I do wrong? And when did you come in?"
Perhaps he had been too engrossed in his conversation with Leila to notice this woman.
However, C.C. didn't answer. Instead, she came up to him, settled into his lap, deliberately took his hands and placed them on her waist, then wrapped her arms around him.
Her neck, her entire body curled up in his embrace.
It was just like a little kitten acting spoiled.
At the same time, she gently exhaled a breath by his ear.
"You really are a low-EQ little brat. Normally, your brain works so well, so why don't you understand now? Leila really likes you."
"Likes me?"
Mahiro looked suspiciously at the woman in his arms.
It wasn't that he hadn't considered this possibility.
The problem was, up until now, he had only met Leila twice, and today was even the first time they had talked face-to-face.
Although he considered himself quite charming, he wasn't some kind of succubus or walking hormone. It was completely impossible for someone to get all flustered just from exchanging a few words and him flexing his muscles.
Even cheap romance novels wouldn't dare write something like that.
Seeing his completely disbelieving expression, which clearly conveyed "You must be joking with me," C.C. couldn't help but let out a soft sigh.
"Ah, you really are a foolish little brat."