Chapter 133
“It’s still too early to say that it’s completely ruined.”
However, for Alicia, it wasn’t a total disaster.
It was true that the Lord Protector had gained a lot from this International Organization Reconstruction Conference, but in exchange, he had made many enemies.
To put it bluntly, this was essentially a case of selling the future to survive the present.
Not only had the Lord Protector lost the trust of his most significant partner, the United States, but even the Asian countries had come to view both the Lord Protector and the Saint of Orleans as untrustworthy figures who could bring harm to their own nations.
Moving forward, their actions would become a major diplomatic risk in regions outside of Europe, and they would inevitably face many penalties, both directly and indirectly.
Of course, they could attempt to avoid responsibility by withdrawing from diplomatic activities altogether…
‘As if that’s even possible. Even our Balhut Cult requires trade to maintain civilization.’
That was something that had only been possible in the early days of the Apocalypse or when the International Organization had ceased to exist entirely.
But now that the International Organization was at least halfway rebuilt and diplomatic channels between nations had been reactivated to some extent, refusing to engage in diplomacy was no longer a viable option.
After all, both Britain and France were highly dependent on trade to sustain their civilizations.
Naturally, proper diplomatic activities were essential for maintaining these trade relations.
There was a reason why the United States was so appalled by their actions.
Even if it wasn’t immediately obvious, this was practically a self-inflicted wound that would come back to haunt them later.
“What do you mean, it’s not ruined?! The Lord Protector got everything he wanted. That means… I’m finished now. That lolicon Lord Protector will usurp my throne and establish a new dynasty!”
From Alicia’s perspective, who knew nothing of the intricacies behind the situation, it was only natural for her to despair and believe that everything was over.
Just now, Bahamut had stated that the Lord Protector had won the power struggle.
That meant the Lord Protector, now the victor, would inevitably take her as his spoils of war.
Even though he had initially failed, would a man who coveted the throne give up after just one or two attempts?
The thought that the Lord Protector would eliminate all who opposed him, purge her as well, and ultimately ascend to the throne weighed heavily on her mind.
“No, it’s not that extreme. Other countries won’t allow it anymore.”
“Huh? But other countries are… well, other countries. Would they really interfere in our internal affairs?”
“Before the International Organization was rebuilt, it wouldn’t have been a problem. But now that it exists again, the Lord Protector has to consider the external gaze as well. Especially since he practically threw down the gauntlet to the United States, he’ll have to be extra mindful of their reaction.”
It was Mary, Alicia’s maid, who refuted her words.
She confidently asserted that even if the Lord Protector attempted to usurp the throne, other nations would no longer tolerate it.
Alicia, still a young girl, tilted her head in confusion, prompting Bahamut to explain further.
In simple terms, even a partially restored International Organization was still an international organization, meaning the Lord Protector now had to be mindful of external scrutiny.
From the moment he chose to antagonize the United States to boost his prestige, the United States would do everything in its power to prevent his ascension.
“Really? Are you sure?”
“Yes. He already attempted a coup without any legitimate justification, and he faced significant internal backlash, which led to his failure, didn’t he? Even if he isn’t punished for treason, politically, he’s already in a corner.”
“Yes. In fact, both the Liberal Party and the Conservative Party refused to cooperate with the Lord Protector’s coup attempt. Instead, they did everything they could to obstruct his executive orders.”
One of the reasons the Lord Protector had acted so aggressively in the International Organization was precisely because his failed coup had left him without political allies in London.
The two major parties had outright refused to cooperate with his executive orders and had even actively obstructed them.
As a result, the Lord Protector had failed to fully take control of London.
“He also failed to gain full control over the Royal Guard.”
“Yes. As I mentioned before, the Royal Guard each sought out different masters. In other words, instead of pledging loyalty to a single individual, they scattered. This means the Lord Protector does not have absolute control over Britain.”
Even the Royal Guard was not fully under his command. Many among them still remained loyal to the Queen.
The Lord Protector was far from the all-powerful figure Alicia had feared.
There were far more cracks in his control than she had imagined, making it too soon to say that she was utterly defeated.
“Your Majesty, even though it appears as if the Lord Protector has complete control over London, in reality, he and his collaborators are barely managing to maintain their hold through sheer force.
Since his coup failed, he cannot simply act openly. Of course, some still believe in his strength and prestige, dismissing the idea of a coup as mere rumors. The Lord Protector is desperately trying to bury the truth of his failed coup.
However, the British political scene is well aware of what really happened.
He needs a strong reputation to keep them from acting against him.”
“So… that’s why the International Organization Reconstruction Conference was held in London?”
Exactly. The Lord Protector needed prestige.
In other words, he needed recognition—proof of his value.
That was why he had led the International Organization Reconstruction Conference alongside the Saint of Orleans, projecting an image of powerful leadership and sharp charisma, even if it meant resorting to near-dictatorial tactics.
“Yes. In order to establish his authority, the Lord Protector was willing to resort to borderline tyranny. This will probably allow him to avoid immediate punishment for treason, but… I see. The real problem is that once he stabilizes the current situation, he could attempt anything.”
No matter how much other nations complained, it wouldn’t immediately impact public sentiment within Britain. Any repercussions would take time to manifest.
Moreover, on the surface, the Lord Protector and the Saint of Orleans had been presented as the representatives of the International Organization, the shining light of humanity.
Many people would come to view the Lord Protector with great trust and admiration.
“Oh, oh… so that’s how it is. Then the Lord Protector will target me…”
“He will.”
Hearing the maid’s explanation, Alicia felt relieved, thinking that if the Lord Protector was busy with other matters, he would not pay attention to her. However, Mary immediately dismissed that notion.
“You’re answering that so quickly!? Besides, didn’t he already fail the coup and retreat? Didn’t you say he needs to maintain his prestige? And that the United States would stop him?”
“If he were a rational person, he wouldn’t do it again. But is the Lord Protector someone who thinks rationally?”
At Mary’s words, Alicia fell into thought.
As she recalled everything she had seen of the Lord Protector’s actions up until now, her face slowly turned pale.
“That… that’s right, isn’t it? If he were normal, he would have been satisfied with acting as Regent, right?”
“Exactly.”
In the first place, he could have easily taken full control over Britain just by acting as Regent. Yet, his obsession with the throne had brought everything to this point.
Realizing that the Lord Protector was someone who would stop at nothing to claim the throne, Alicia found herself unable to refute Mary’s words.
A normal person with common sense wouldn’t go that far, but the Lord Protector would!
That thought became firmly planted in her mind.
“But, if the Lord Protector hasn’t completely taken control of London, doesn’t that mean Alicia still has an opportunity?”
“An opportunity…?”
“The opportunity for you, Alicia, to surpass the Lord Protector and become the rightful ruler of Britain.”
If the Lord Protector was not an invincible force, then Alicia still had a chance.
A chance to overcome the Lord Protector, who sought to usurp the throne, and protect her position as monarch.
If the Lord Protector had already taken everything, then resistance would be meaningless. However, many still opposed him, and his attempted usurpation had made him enemies among multiple nations.
“Me…?”
“Why not? If you can establish yourself as the Lord Protector’s greatest rival, I think it’s entirely possible.”
If she seized the right opportunity, Alicia could still claim power.
Not all of Britain was in the Lord Protector’s grasp, and there were countless people who opposed him.
If she could swiftly establish herself as his most prominent adversary, she could gather enough strength to stand against him.
“But I have nothing besides my title as Queen.”
However, Alicia dismissed the idea, thinking that she had nothing except for her royal title.
Of course, that was merely her own perspective. As Mary pointed out, there were still many who remained loyal to the Queen, and the royal family’s legacy was still substantial.
If she used her resources wisely, she still had a chance.
“That’s not true. You have something now.”
“What do you mean?”
“You have me.”
Moreover, unlike the previous day, Alicia was no longer just a Queen.
Now, she was an Awakener.
A person who had made a Contract with the Dragon God Bahamut, capable of wielding an overwhelming power akin to a Priestess of the Dragon.
Bahamut reminded Alicia of this fact.
“Huh?”
“Huh?”
But Alicia simply stared at Bahamut with a blank expression.
She had no idea what it truly meant to be a Priestess of the Dragon, and so she just continued to look at Bahamut with a completely clueless expression.
‘Ah… I suppose she wouldn’t know. This isn’t Gyeongju or Pohang, or even the Korean Peninsula. This is Britain.’
Only then did Bahamut realize that unlike in Gyeongju or Pohang, his power and reputation were not widely known here.
“There’s no helping it. Wait a moment.”
With a resigned sigh, he began searching through his belongings for something that Alicia could use immediately.
“Take this.”
“What is this?”
After a brief search, Bahamut handed Alicia a small hand mirror that fit in one hand and a set of armor engraved with size-adjustment magic.
“It’s armor. Since it has size-adjustment magic, it should fit you without issue.”
“Armor…? Wait, is this the same armor you were wearing when we first met, Bahamut?”
When Alicia asked if it was the same armor she had seen when she first met him, Bahamut simply nodded in response.
It was a national treasure-tier armor, crafted from the finest materials available in this era of the Apocalypse, and he had handed it over to Alicia without hesitation.
Of course, at this moment, Alicia had no way of understanding the true significance of that action.
“This armor is strong enough to protect you from most attacks, even from a powerful Awakener.”
“Hmm! So it’s perfect for defending against assassins sent by the Lord Protector—wait a second. If you’re giving me armor, does that mean…?”
Realizing that the armor would help defend her against assassins sent by the Lord Protector, Alicia was initially pleased.
However, she soon realized that Bahamut wouldn’t have given it to her for no reason.
Suspicious, she turned to him with a wary expression.
“Now that you’re an Awakener, shouldn’t you be out there, fighting just like the Lord Protector?”
“Wait, what?”
With a bright smile, Bahamut subtly suggested that she should take direct action as a proper Awakener.
So… was he telling her to fight in person?
As she processed Bahamut’s words, Alicia was filled with fear, wondering just how painful that would be.
“And besides, we’ll have to leave tomorrow. Meeting like this in secret to give you advice is becoming more difficult… Yuna.”
“Yes. I’ll teach her how to use the Mirror of Perspective.”
Unfortunately, Bahamut seemed oblivious to Alicia’s terrified expression—or perhaps he was intentionally ignoring it.
Instead, he called over Yuna, who then began teaching Alicia how to use the Mirror of Perspective.
Since Bahamut would be leaving tomorrow, he needed a way to keep in contact with Alicia.
“The… the Mirror… of what now?”
“The Mirror of Perspective. It’s a tool that allows you to communicate with Bahamut in real time.”
“Oh… really? But won’t it be intercepted?”
The problem was that Alicia was under constant surveillance, meaning the possibility of being wiretapped or eavesdropped on was a real concern.
“This method even avoided detection from American intelligence agencies. Unless the Lord Protector has specialized sensory abilities, it’s unlikely he’ll be able to detect it.”
“Ohh! So it’s completely secret? That’s amazing!”
Since it had worked perfectly against America’s elite forces, Bahamut was confident that it would also be effective against the Lord Protector.
Hearing that, Alicia looked at Bahamut with admiration, impressed by the ingenuity of the tool.
“Yes. To unauthorized eyes, it will simply look like an ordinary hand mirror or accessory. Use it as a contractor, and I will fulfill my duty to provide you with the guidance you need.”
“T-thank you.”
Hearing his declaration to fulfill his duty as a contractor, Alicia bowed her head in gratitude.
Even though it was a contract, Bahamut’s willingness to help was reassuring.
“Alicia, in the end, salvation must be achieved by your own hands. I am merely here to help guide you along the way.”
“By my own hands…”
With that final statement, Bahamut made it clear that she would have to carve her own path.
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