Comforting His Little Sister / The State of France / The Suffering Jeanne

[Crown Prince Charles, also known as Charles VII, was the twelfth son of Charles VI.]

[For certain reasons, he should have been the legitimate heir to the Kingdom of France.]

[However, after the French army was defeated in the Battle of Agincourt, Charles VI was captured by the Burgundians, allies of England.]

[Subsequently, he was forced to sign a series of unequal treaties in Troyes.]

[These included publicly stripping Charles VII of his right to the throne and transferring it to King Henry V of England.]

[And after the death of Charles VI, these lands that originally belonged to France would "legally" be divided into England with the succession of Henry V.]

[These were the events that occurred in the year you and Jeanne turned eight.]

[Now, Charles VII should be quite old, and this might be the moment he is struggling to reclaim his deprived inheritance.]

[You realized that the current situation was developing in a direction you had never anticipated.]

"Brother~" Jeanne's spoiled voice rang in Pierre's ear.

"What did the letter say? Can you tell me?" she asked, her blue eyes looking at him with curiosity.

Pierre realized that this was nothing worth hiding, so he directly read the contents of the letter word for word to his illiterate younger sister Jeanne.

"Eh?!" Jeanne's eyebrows furrowed slightly.

Clearly, she hadn't expected the contents of this beautifully packaged letter to be like this.

"Why would he want to see me for no reason? This feels really strange," she said, tilting her head in confusion.

Pierre's expression wasn't very good either.

However, he still patiently analyzed the situation for his younger sister.

"I think, perhaps it's because the story of you driving away the dragon reached his ears," he suggested, his gaze thoughtful.

"Knowing that there is someone like this in his country, and wanting to meet them, I think that's a normal reaction," he added, his voice gentle.

"Then—" Jeanne looked at her older brother cautiously, her tone filled with hesitation.

"If that's the case, can I not go to see him?" she asked, her blue eyes looking up at him.

"No," Pierre shook his head. "That's absolutely not allowed," he said firmly.

Although the Crown Prince had lost his former glory, he was still the highest-ranking noble in France in name.

Directly refusing his request for a meeting was not appropriate behavior.

Besides, if they didn't go to the designated meeting place as requested, it might cause all sorts of unnecessary suspicion.

Pierre would never let his younger sister bear such a risk.

"This..." Jeanne's expression still looked somewhat reluctant.

Seeing this, Pierre continued at this moment.

"Jeanne, you don't have to worry," he reassured her gently.

"I will accompany you to meet the Crown Prince," he promised, his gaze kind.

"..."

Although she still had many doubts in her heart, after hearing her older brother make such a promise.

Jeanne no longer resisted this idea.

"I understand, then let's go meet him," she agreed, her blue eyes looking at Pierre.

[You prepared to leave Domremy village, where you had lived your lives.]

[Upon learning of this, the villagers spontaneously collected some gold coins for you.]

[After all, from their perspective, your younger sister Jeanne was a great hero who had saved this village.]

[You accepted these gold coins without hesitation—first, because you knew you would definitely need them on the road, and second, it was also a compensation for the bullying you and Jeanne had suffered in the past.]

[Amidst the villagers' farewells, you left Domremy village, your birthplace.]

[You began to head towards Bourges, where Crown Prince Charles VII was located.]

[However, this was not a place that could be reached in a day or two.]

France was now divided into three major parts.

One was English France, with borders from Guienne to Calais, including Normandy, Vexin, Maine, Picardy, Champagne, and Île-de-France.

Another was Burgundian France, which, in addition to the Duchy of Burgundy, included the County of Nevers, Flanders and the northern Artois, Friesland, and Brabant.

The rest was Charles VII's France, with its territory limited to the area around Bourges.

Pierre knew that it wouldn't be an easy task for him and Jeanne to reach Bourges.

Fortunately, Charles VII seemed to understand this as well.

The requested arrival time he gave in the letter was very lenient—you could even say as long as they could get there.

However—

Pierre decided to slow down a little more on this basis.

After all, compared to the Crown Prince Charles VII, whom he had never met, he cared more about his younger sister Jeanne.

If she got sick from rushing on the road, it would be a greater loss than any gain.

The wooden wheels of the carriage rolled forward continuously, leaving shallow ruts on the dirt road of the field.

Night fell inadvertently, dyeing everything black.

"Jeanne, let's rest for the night in the village ahead," Pierre suggested gently.

"...Okay," Jeanne nodded softly.

"..."

[You noticed that Jeanne's condition seemed a little different from usual.]

[However, you didn't immediately say anything—let's check in first.]

[You arrived at the largest inn in the village.]

"Jeanne d'Arc."

"Pierre d'Arc."

"Are these the two names?" the landlady asked, looking at the registered names in the book.

"Yes," Pierre confirmed.

"The room at the end of the corridor," the landlady said as she took a string of iron keys from the wooden board behind her and threw them towards Pierre.

After Pierre caught the keys, he took his younger sister's hand and walked towards the end of the corridor.

The air here was filled with a strange smell, which only improved after entering the room.

Click.

The door closed.

After Pierre put his things in the corner, he hugged his younger sister and sat down on the bed, then spoke gently in her ear.

"Jeanne, what's wrong?" he asked, his voice filled with concern.

"I feel like you've been gloomy ever since we left," he added, his gaze gentle.

"Did Brother treat you badly in some way?" he inquired, his brow furrowed.

"No, nothing like that," Jeanne shook her head, her voice still downcast.

"I'm just a little sad," she confessed softly.

"Sad?" Pierre was a little puzzled. "Why are you sad?" he asked, his gaze filled with concern.

"Because everyone outside is living such terrible lives," she explained, her blue eyes filled with sorrow.

"..."

[You suddenly realized something.]

[Because of the dragon-driving incident, Domremy village, where you and Jeanne lived, had become an exception—an exception where the Burgundians dared not plunder at will.]

[But other places didn't have such treatment.]

[The people living here and in the areas you passed along the way were still in dire straits.]

[Their lives were naturally incomparable to those in the village.]

[And Jeanne felt very sad because of this—after all, the kind-hearted girl could always empathize with these suffering people.]

[You realized you had to comfort your younger sister.]

"Hmm..." Pierre nodded, then rested his head on his younger sister's shoulder.

"Jeanne, you're right, everyone outside is indeed living a hard life," he agreed softly, his voice gentle.

"But—"

"Although they are suffering, not everyone has lost the most important thing," he added, his gaze kind.

"And that is hope," he concluded, his voice filled with conviction.

"Hope?" Jeanne repeated, her blue eyes looking up at him.

"Yes, it's hope," Pierre said, taking both of his younger sister's hands in his.

"Although the situation is very bad, whether in the north or the south, everyone is still trying to live hard," he explained gently.

"Even the Crown Prince hasn't given up on this country," he added, his voice filled with hope.

"I think it's precisely because of this that the Lord sent an angel to meet you, don't you think?" he asked, his gaze kind.

"France may be knocked down, but it will never be defeated," he declared, his voice firm.

"So—"

"Jeanne, you can't lose that hope either, understand?" he asked, his gaze earnest.

Encouragement from her older brother made Jeanne's eyes regain their light.

"I understand!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with determination.

"I will spread the hope that the angel gave me to everyone!" she promised, her blue eyes sparkling.

[Jeanne wasn't just saying words casually.]

[She was indeed spreading this hope with her actions.]

"Thank you, Sister~" The children thanked her one by one as they looked at the food Jeanne handed them.

They devoured the food in their hands, looking like they hadn't eaten enough for days.

"Don't eat so fast, there's more..." Jeanne said, looking at the children with both happiness and pity.

She couldn't help but ask Pierre in a low voice beside her.

"Brother, why does the situation get worse the closer we get to Bourges?" she asked, her blue eyes filled with concern.

"..."

[You knew the answer to this question.]

[That was that you were constantly approaching the front lines of the war.]

[The aftermath of the struggle affected every city close to the front lines.]

[These cities were constantly transporting supplies outwards.]

[But the amount of things a city could produce was always limited.]

[The more the war used, the less the ordinary people had to use.]

[Over time, it became this situation where even food was scarce.]

[You told Jeanne the answer to this question.]

The girl's expression became somewhat sad.

"So that's how it is... it's because of the war that things have become like this," she murmured softly.

"Then—"

"When will we end all of this?" she asked, her blue eyes filled with sorrow.

"I don't know... but I believe we will definitely win," Pierre replied, his voice filled with conviction.

[After learning the root of the problem, Jeanne seemed to want to make up for everything.]

[She began to help those affected as much as possible.]

[This severely slowed down your progress.]

[But you didn't mind at all.]

[On the contrary, you even encouraged your younger sister to take the initiative to do so.]

[Because you knew that if she didn't do this, she wouldn't be able to reconcile with her inner understanding.]

[She was a kind girl from beginning to end, and this would never change no matter when or where.]

[But you soon realized that your thinking was a little too shallow.]

[Jeanne was indeed trying her best to help every refugee she saw.]

[And those who received help, after learning about her, would all call her a saint, someone who had met an angel, and a messenger sent by the Lord.]

[But the more praise she received, the more uncomfortable Jeanne felt inside.]

[Because she knew she didn't deserve this title—she couldn't help everyone.]

[They were like an endless chain, break one link, and there was still another.]

[The unchangeable reality made Jeanne extremely painful.]

[She, who should have been spreading hope, had fallen into deep despair at this moment.]

[Her emotions began to fluctuate greatly.]

[Fortunately, you discovered all of this in time.]

[After some thought, you decided to adopt the simplest and most direct, but also effective method.]

[That was to comfort your younger sister.]

[In this way, her attention could be diverted from that pain.]

[In the days that followed.]

[Whenever you felt Jeanne's mood was low, you would come to her side that night to comfort her.]

"Brother... you've been so proactive this past week," Jeanne said shyly, her cheeks slightly flushed.

"Don't you like me staying with you?" Pierre asked gently, his gaze kind.

"I love it the most~" Jeanne's eyes were filled with love for her older brother.

At this moment, her world seemed to only contain this one person she yearned for.

This was what she expected, and what she longed for.

The girl's head rubbed gently against the boy's chest, like a well-behaved and docile kitten.

"Brother's embrace is so warm~" she murmured softly.

"As comfortable as the lawn in spring," she added, her voice barely audible.

Shy and cute metaphors escaped Jeanne's lips—whispers that only a lover could hear.

The girl sensed the love from her older brother.

Only the comfort after breaking the taboo remained in her mind.

It made her temporarily forget the troubles in reality, and her bound soul was released once again.

"Brother... I'm so happy that you can stay with me like this~" Jeanne said softly, her blue eyes filled with affection.

Hearing Jeanne say such direct words of love, Pierre didn't feel any joy in his heart.

He was indeed not someone without desires, but he was definitely not a bastard who hoped to see his younger sister needing to rely on such methods to stabilize her emotions.

But—

This seemed to be the only practical way for now.

Pierre suppressed the sadness in his heart.

He raised his head and gently kissed Jeanne—this was to signal that the two of them would continue like this.

His younger sister's subsequent soft cries pierced the boy's heart.

He only hoped that in the upcoming meeting, Charles VII wouldn't just want to see the saint.

He wasn't sure if he could remain calm in that situation.

Perhaps—

He would really turn into Fafnir on the spot.

[You successfully turned Jeanne into your shape.]

[Her emotions gradually stabilized due to this physical contact.]

[After crossing a mountain and two rivers.]

[You finally arrived in Bourges, where Charles VII was located.]

[But the direction of things took you by surprise.]

He saw Charles VII rushing to the bridge where Pierre and Jeanne were, accompanied by a large group of soldiers.

"Are you Jeanne d'Arc?" he asked hastily, his voice filled with a panic that was completely unbecoming of his status.

"Yes, I am Jeanne d'Arc," she replied, her blue eyes looking at him.

As soon as she finished speaking, Charles VII knelt directly on the ground.

He began to plead:

"I have finally met you!"

"Please, save France!"

"Drive out those English Dragons!"

"What?!" Pierre exclaimed, his eyes wide with shock.