[FMMIKA] Chapter 249: Changing the Singularity

With that, Artorius released Jalter and stood up.

"So, Jeanne—no, you're not her, so I will call you Jalter."

"You need to be clear about something."

"Gilles de Rais is your true enemy."

"Whether you want revenge, get angry, fight, or do anything else, you should be heading for him."

"Don't get the direction wrong."

"..."

Jalter wanted to retort what Artorius had just said in an intense and shouty way like—"You're lying, everything you said is nonsense!"

But in the end, she didn't say a word.

Her ingrained honesty prevented her from spouting falsehoods or deceiving anyone. At most, she could've been a bit more stubborn. However, the current situation left no room for her to be stubborn.

So, in the end, Jalter remained silent. She just pursed her lips and lowered her head, her mood significantly low. She might not cry, but she definitely didn't want to talk to Artorius.

"That's settled then." Artorius stood up. "If you need anything, just tell the maids. Rest well."

With those words, Artorius turned and walked towards the door.

"..."

Just before Artorius was about to step out, Jalter lifted her head and involuntarily opened her mouth, but ultimately, she said nothing.

===

"Your Majesty, you're very patient with Miss Jeanne." Sella's tone carried a hint of 'lemon'. "Need us to help push things along?"

"Don't do anything unnecessary..." Artorius replied. "Rather than having that in mind, think about how to govern this country."

"Because of that Marshal's mistake, all of France is in chaos now. Restoring order will take a lot of time, won't it?" Sella responded.

"In fact, it's quite the opposite. The current state of France is roughly the size of the Gaul Province of our Empire. Managing a country like this is relatively easy for us. More importantly, the question is, how should we govern this country?"

Sella looked at the Dragon Emperor earnestly. "Announce our true identities, rule over France as the Dragon Emperor, and gradually expand our influence across all of Europe to conquer the world?"

"That would be meaningless." Artorius shook his head. "This timeline has been isolated by the King of the Demon Gods and could be considered independent just like a bubble in the water. Even if we conquer the entire Earth of this timeline, it won't have any meaning. Besides, I don't want to cause too much trouble for Chaldea."

"..."

As the maid heard Artorius say that, she seemed to be deep in thought.

She instinctively wanted to say something, but considering the gravity of the situation, she ultimately remained silent, looking at the Dragon Emperor with an obedient and admiring gaze, signaling her compliance.

Although they were both discontent with the current proper human history, the Dragon Emperor and the King of the Demon Gods were not necessarily allies.

While theoretically, one aimed to 'restore human order' and one aimed to 'rewrite human order', Chaldea and the Empire might not be enemies either.

In times like this, alliances were necessary. Praying mantis catches cicadas, yellow sparrows wait for the mantis, the snipe and clam struggle, and the fisherman profits. These truths had been stated countless times; one didn't need high intelligence to figure it out.

"Thus, this time, it was just an experiment. We're going to conduct a few small experiments. If circumstances allow, we'll also provide some benefits to the empire. It's that simple, there is no need for unnecessary complications. We don't need to fight Chaldea, and we certainly don't need a direct confrontation with the King of the Demon Gods, Goetia."

Although the Dragon Emperor didn't spell it out, the maid understood what he meant.

As for what the experiment was precisely, she could only make an educated guess. But the benefits for the empire, she knew very well.

'Is it Miss Jeanne?'

'Well, thinking about it, that's quite normal. After all, she is indeed very beautiful.'

Afterward, the Dragon Emperor gave Sella the order:

"In the name of 'Charles VII', declare it throughout the whole of France. The traitor is Gilles de Rais.

The casualties, destruction, killing, and death are all Gilles's fault. It's the fault of the heathen Gilles, who gained power from demons from hell.

He used Jeanne d'Arc's name to declare betrayal against France. Luckily, by God's grace, the resurrected Jeanne uncovered his plot and, led by the Holy Maiden, the valiant French army defeated his evil forces, securing victory in the war.

Therefore, Gilles's conspiracy has been shattered.

The evil army has been eliminated.

The mastermind Gilles de Rais has been captured. The king proclaims that he shall be executed for the crime of treason.

Let the months of chaos and turmoil pass.

May God bless France."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

With the Dragon Emperor's command, Sella quickly wrote everything down in her elegant cursive script in French exactly as the Dragon Emperor had said. She sealed it with the signature of 'Charles VII' and swiftly made hundreds of copies, ready for distribution nationwide.

With this, the central authority could assert its rule in Charles VII's name quickly.

Although rumors of 'the witch killing the king' had already spread, manipulation of intelligence and public opinion would eventually take care of any doubts.

There would surely be someone who would be skeptical during this process.

Whether commoners or nobles, there would definitely be those who questioned something like "Is this true?" or "The king really didn't die?"

They would doubt the false information spread by the Dragon Emperor.

But it didn't matter, none of it mattered.

Artorius's rule in the name of Charles VII was unstable and lacking in legitimacy. But it didn't matter; having this kind of status was enough, and everything else could be smoothed over.

Insufficient legitimacy could be compensated with military force.

Although Europe wasn't like China with its strong feudal system and distinct hierarchy between royals and nobles, outside of Rome and Greece, there were few places without a dominant ruling class.

In the European mainland, where the Germanic peoples resided, for hundreds, even thousands of years, they had been trapped in a feudal system, with almost all nobles being relatives.

Commoners had little chance of rising, and the rooted class divisions were infuriating. But if someone possessed unparalleled and terrifying power, capable of subduing anyone who resisted, they could declare themselves as a king or emperor. Other nations, to avoid being bullied, would have to reluctantly acknowledge.

Yes, that was the story about Napoleon.

And so, the decision was made.

The Empire's journey into the French Singularity had officially begun.

With hundreds of messengers dispatched to announce the return of the king to the various regions, duchies, and cities of France, the situation in the Singularity had completely changed.