Chapter 19
It was a voice she had never heard before.
When she turned her head, a woman with a rather neat face stood there. Black hair, black eyes. But in contrast, she was dressed in pure white from head to toe.
“Pleased to meet you, Your Majesty the Empress. I am Priestess Runoa.”
She bowed politely and calmly asked a question.
“There’s something I’d like to ask you, Your Majesty.”
“…?”
“In Revilia, do people perform any kind of rituals?”
Rituals?
Asilia tilted her head slightly.
In Revilia, no one could worship anyone other than the Emperor. So of course, rituals couldn’t exist.
“No. Revilia serves only the Emperor.”
“Then were there no rituals related to the Emperor himself?”
“There was… one ceremony when I became a knight, where we pledged an oath to His Majesty. But I don’t recall it being much different from a typical knight’s oath.”
Ceremonies and oaths for knights existed in every country. It shouldn’t have been anything unusual…
“A knight’s oath… Do you, by any chance, remember the words you recited back then, Your Majesty?”
“I do remember… But does that have anything to do with why I was unconscious for a week?”
Runoa nodded at Asilia’s question.
Her expression was extremely serious.
“If you remember the words, please tell me.”
She couldn’t imagine what the oath had to do with anything, but Asilia recited it anyway.
“‘All is as His Majesty wills. I dedicate this body to follow his command. For His Majesty, for the peace of great Revilia.’”
As soon as she finished reciting the oath, Runoa let out a small sigh.
After a long moment of hesitation, trying to find the right words, she finally spoke.
“His Majesty has ordered us not to hide anything from the Empress… So I will speak.”
“…”
“This is only a hypothesis, but… when you and the other knights took that oath, it’s possible that some form of brainwashing was involved.”
“Brainwashing?”
Asilia asked again, thinking she had misheard.
It was an unexpected accusation.
Not just her—were all the knights brainwashed in Revilia?
Part of her wanted to reject the idea outright.
Not just because it seemed like an insult to Revilia, but because it felt impossible in a practical sense.
“I may be ignorant about that field, but I do know that brainwashing is a technique that takes time.”
The knight’s oath ended very quickly. How could anyone perform brainwashing in such a short time?
“The time it takes depends entirely on who is performing the technique… but we can’t rule out the possibility.”
Runoa’s words stirred an inexplicable discomfort in Asilia.
She knew that other countries didn’t look favorably upon Revilia. She was also aware that outsiders mocked Revilian loyalty to the Emperor.
“Fine, let’s say you’re right, and it was brainwashing. What does that have to do with me collapsing?”
“Because your actions might have violated the oath you swore.”
“…?”
“Peace in Moria would be… unwelcome from Revilia’s perspective.”
Runoa’s claim wasn’t completely without logic.
But it felt like a stretch.
“That alone isn’t enough to conclude it was brainwashing.”
“…”
“If I were the one performing the brainwashing, I’d make sure the subject lost all reason the moment they tried to betray Revilia.”
But Asilia’s only reaction had been falling into a deep sleep.
If Revilia had truly intended to brainwash her, it wouldn’t have ended with something so mild.
Runoa nodded at Asilia’s words.
“If that’s how Your Majesty feels, I understand. I’ll continue looking for other possible causes. However—”
“…”
“If similar symptoms appear again, or if you feel any strange urges unlike yourself, please tell me immediately.”
“…”
“Symptoms of brainwashing often start with small signs.”
Runoa’s tone remained serious, clearly not ready to abandon the brainwashing theory.
When Asilia shrugged lightly, Runoa bowed politely again.
“Forgive me for taking your time when you’ve only just awoken. I shall take my leave now.”
Asilia quietly observed Runoa’s face for a moment, then turned away.
Brainwashing.
Brainwashing…
Surely not… right?
But the doubt that had started to take root in her heart wasn’t easy to suppress.
Asilia had met many foreigners on the battlefield from a young age.
And many of them had failed to understand Revilian loyalty to their nation.
“You crazy Revilia bastards. You think the higher-ups care what you do?”
“Blind fools. You follow the Emperor’s orders like they’re divine.”
“All those Revilian freaks—‘His Majesty, His Majesty, His Majesty!’ You’re all insane!”
Suddenly, their words resurfaced in her mind.
Back then, she thought they were just trying to lower Revilia’s morale.
But perhaps… to them, the actions of Revilian soldiers truly seemed bizarre?
Asilia looked down at Kretes, who was still holding her.
During their conversation, their positions had shifted—he was now sitting on the bed, arms wrapped around her waist.
“Your Majesty.”
“…Hm?”
His voice was soft, almost sleepy—he might fall asleep again if left alone. But Asilia asked her question anyway.
“Do you think the people of Revilia are extremely loyal to their country?”
“…Yes, I suppose so.”
His answer came a beat later.
“Isn’t that how everyone is?”
Kretes nodded silently.
“If not everyone is like that, then others must…”
Asilia’s muttering was answered by Whimos, who stood nearby.
“Some people curse their Emperor. Some despise their homeland.”
“…Isn’t that treason?”
“If someone important hears it, then yes. But… sometimes people need to vent, even if it’s just grumbling.”
Whimos shrugged.
According to him, most people insult their own country at some point.
If a ruler fails badly enough, they may even be overthrown and replaced.
“I’ve heard of that. I once called it barbaric…”
“Is that what Revilia teaches?”
“You mean, that rebellion is barbaric?”
When Whimos nodded, so did Asilia.
In Revilia, the Emperor was treated as a god. Rebellion was equivalent to defying the divine.
To even dream of rebellion was unthinkable.
“It seems, Your Majesty, that the Revilia you know may be quite different from the one we know.”
“…?”
“There are many foreign history books in the palace and temple libraries. Some mention Revilia extensively. You might want to read them if you’re curious.”
Whimos gave a brief smile, then continued after a pause.
“Everyone’s thoughts differ, depending on how and where they were raised. But from our perspective here in Moria, Revilian loyalty to their homeland is… quite unique.”
“…”
“No, honestly, it goes beyond unique—it’s… hard to understand. But I suppose that’s a matter of perspective.”
Asilia slowly nodded.
This wasn’t the first time she had sensed something strange.
She had felt it even in childhood.
But because every Revilian around her was the same, she thought the others were simply being disrespectful.
“Be loyal to the country where you were born. The Empire raises and feeds you—serve His Majesty with all your body and soul.”
“His Majesty’s commands are divine revelations. Do not question or doubt.”
“Dying in service to the Empire is not a sacrifice. Your body belongs to Revilia. Die gloriously for Revilia.”
Asilia’s lips parted slightly.
Were their words truly just disrespect?
Looking down, she saw her own fingertips trembling slightly.
