I never believed in patriotism.
To be honest, I never really understood patriotism. Maybe it’s the fact that I was always a foreigner in every place I lived in, and even within my own country I was always seen as a foreigner. Or maybe the fact that my dad was an anarchist.
Probably both.
In any case, nations make sense only if you see them as accidents from history.
This city here is only part of country A, and the other on the other side of the river is part of country B because when both fought their independence wars, the first lost while the second won.
And it’s only because of that that my passport had the Brazilian stamp on it. Otherwise, it would’ve been a completely different country.
That’s why the idea of having an attachnt to a country feels so outlandish to . Almost alien.
So I have no attachnt to this country, and I honestly feel like an alien here. Probably because I actually am, in the strict sense, even though I’m indwelling a native body.
It would be sothing different if I had vibed with the people and the place, but that’s not what happened. The average Wesgothian is racist, pro-slavery, and misogynistic. I have no reason to fight for them.
It seems that whoever decided where I would reincarnate decided to pull a prank on . Born a slave, turned into a princess. What a joke.
But I got attached to my grandparents. That’s what’s tearing apart inside.
I don’t want to lift a single finger to help these people survive without a System, because I know that they will, in the end, turn that power to enslave beastkin and fae folk.
If anything, I want to give all that knowledge to the beastkin and help them reclaim a bit of fertile land for themselves.
Unless...
Oh.
Oooh.
I have to speak to gramps.
:::
We are in a dining room. It’s rare for to get to dine in the palace, because most of the ti I’m at the Academy and I spend the weekends with my moms.
But this ti I took the initiative. And brought everyone here.
By everyone I an Lovelace, Lillian, and Levinna, obviously. Uncle Jyllian is also here, along with King Halinard and Queen Thieda.
"So, Aurea. I heard that you had sothing important you wanted to discuss with ."
"Yes, grandpa. I have heard that there is a potential civil war brewing on the horizon. Is that true?"
"Unfortunately, yes. It is. But it’s nothing a child should be worried with."
"Of course I’m worried. It pertains to , as it’s my own future as a princess that is one of the focuses of contention. Am I wrong?"
"Well, you are not. But you are still too..."
"Maybe when I’m not too young for this, the war will already be tearing this country apart. Are you saying that I should just wait until I can’t do anything anymore?"
Halinard sighs, and then Thieda cos to my aid.
"My dear, Aurea is right in being worried about it. And, from her tone, I think that she might have her own ideas to contribute. She’s been a big help in several cases, after all."
"Okay... What are your thoughts on the matter, Aurea?"
"The civil war will be ultimately a war against the Church, correct? With the risk of excommunication for the loyalist forces, right?"
"Yes, that’s what we fear."
"Lovelace and I have knowledge and a lot of practice on casting magic without the help of the system, and neither of us would be affected by an excommunication, because we were never baptized."
"Yes, I know that. Lovelace has been trying to push the training of systemless casting in the army, but the ministry of magic has been blocking it."
"Well, one of my friends at school ca up with the idea of creating a school club to study systemless casting. From it, I had an idea that might work for Lovelace."
I look at her for support, and she nods, inviting to continue.
"If we can’t drill it into the army, we could create a special corps, under whatever guise we could co up with. Lovelace and I would train commoners and very loyal low-ranking nobles, using the school club as a prototype."
The eyes of both my grandparents and of uncle Jyllian widen as I talk. My mothers were already on board with the idea.
"And there’s one more thing. The beastkin who live in the Barren Wilds are very skilled in combat already, and with mine and Lovelace’s training, they would beco even stronger. If we drop the slavery laws and give them a safe place to live within my domains, I could talk to them to form an alliance."
I don’t have domains yet, but I know that I’m to receive one if I want. The king has left the ducat of Lord Addlington without a lord all this ti, hoping to give it to .
So that’s my caveat. I would help with the war, bring Lovelace along with , and accept the title my grandfather wants so much to bestow on , as long as I can give the beastkin a better life.
Also, the war and the whole excommunication thing would an that the Church will hold no more authority in this country. As long as we win the war, of course.
It will also an that all the Church’s assets in the country will be taken by us, which will make it easier for us to delve into whatever is below that temple.
Killing three birds with one stone only. If my grandpa gets on board with the idea, that’s it.
And he’s taking his ti before answering. It’s getting nervous already.
"How sure are you that you would be able to get the beastkin’s help?"
"The Head Elders of two of the tribes are my friends, and I think that they would be inclined to accept it as long as I’m the emissary. It might take so ti for the decision to be made, though, because of the way they organize themselves."
Yeah, I can’t say anything about the Loa and all that. They won’t take a decision on such a thing without the Loa’s approval.
And I have a hunch that the whole thing about the Loa helping and directing to free Lovelace and all that has sothing to do with this. Were they predicting this outco?
"If you get their signature on an alliance, I will dictate the laws ending slavery in this kingdom. All slavery will be outlawed. If we are going to butt heads with the Church anyway, we might as well cease to compromise on our values."
Yay!
This is amazing! I will finally be able to free every single slave in this country.
On the other hand... I will be tied to this land once and for all. Once I accept the title of Duchess, I will be holding a lot of responsibilities in my hands.
But well, that’s the price to pay. To be free in one sense, one must not be free in another. Absolute freedom has no sense.
Damn. That phrase sounds better in Portuguese.
In any case, that will be the way to reconcile both halves of my heart, all the while making this a better place to live in.
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