Retribution: After Battle

Lysithea
I can tell you what I know.

Ferdinand
Please do.

Lysithea
You know about the Hrym rebellion, right?

Ferdinand
Of course. The rebellion started when Emperor Ionius IX tried to consolidate power.

Ferdinand
The Hrym family tried to split off from the Empire and join the Alliance.

Ferdinand
Working with House Ordelia, they raised an insurrection. The Empire suppressed it.

Ferdinand
And then a puppet leader was installed in the Hrym territory.

Ferdinand
House Aegir was tasked with handling the actual governance of the region.

Ferdinand
Seeing this, the nobles feared that the Empire would assume total control.

Ferdinand
That's when the six great noble families chose to wrest power from Ionius IX.

Lysithea
That's right. The Insurrection of the Seven. I've always wondered why it was called seven when there were only six noble families.

Ferdinand
It was the six great noble families, plus Hrym.

Lysithea
How vexing. Either way, events unfolded shortly thereafter.

Lysithea
Are you aware of how Duke Aegir was ruling the Hrym territory?

Lysithea
He imposed harsh taxes upon the people—much harsher than on his own—making their lives very challenging.

Lysithea
People fled their homes in droves to the neighboring Ordelia territory.

Lysithea
But they were sent back from where they came. The Empire was occupying Ordelia territory as well, as it turned out.

Lysithea
Issues were further complicated when Duke Aegir fell from power.

Lysithea
Aegir was dismissed from his position, only to be replaced by Lord Arundel.

Lysithea
Correct. And he imposed even heavier taxes on the people, squeezing them painfully dry.

Lysithea
The people were conscripted for duty. Any who opposed were killed on the spot.

Lysithea
Lord Arundel did this in the name of Duke Aegir.

Ferdinand
What?!

Lysithea
Your father was by no means a great ruler.

Lysithea
But it was Lord Arundel who stoked the fury of the people and directed that fury at your father.

Lysithea
Duke Aegir is not perfect, but he's not the villain in this.

Ferdinand
Lysithea, thank you for telling me all this. I am embarrassed to say, I had no idea.

Ferdinand
I see now that it was not his fault. But he did go along the wrong path, and place a burden on his people.

Ferdinand
He can no longer atone for what he did, so I will have to.

Ferdinand
I need to go think about what I will do after the war. How I will make up for my father's mistakes.

Lysithea
Nothing helps deep thought like sweets.

Ferdinand
Hm?

Lysithea
Sweets. They help you think. Perhaps you should find some for us.

Ferdinand
I see. If I find some, I will be sure to let you know.