If Kircheis Had Lived: A Legend of Galactic Heroes What-If
In the far future of the galaxy, where massive space battleships fire arrows of light, Reinhard von Müsel was about to lose his best friend, Kircheis, in a cruel conspiracy. But on that fateful day, Kircheis miraculously survived.
'Thank goodness you're alive...!'
Their tearful reunion is short-lived, however. Strange occurrences begin happening around Reinhard. Sinister rumors swirl among the nobles, a huge war begins to shake the galaxy, and worst of all, his sister Annerose might be the tar
If Kircheis Had Lived: A Legend of Galactic Heroes What-If - A Sister's Tears, an Unreachable Hand
Two days had passed since Kircheis received his final examination in a room at the Imperial Capital Central Hospital.
Reinhard von Müsel stood in the liaison office at the frontline base, Iserlohn Fortress, holding a single official document. Clad in his jet-black military uniform, his blazing golden hair swayed in the breeze from the climate control. His azure eyes grew colder, freezing over with each line of text they traced.
[Emergency Notification No. 483]
[Issuing Authority: Imperial Rear Palace Administration Bureau]
[Subject: Emergency Measures Concerning the Personal Safety and Security of Her Highness, First-Class Imperial Consort Annerose]
"...What is this."
His voice was low and clipped.
The text was concise. Under the pretext of protecting Annerose, she was to be transferred to the frontier planet Grafenstein II—a front-line world where combat erupted frequently. The decision had been made. The signature on the order belonged to the Vice Director of the Rear Palace Administration Bureau.
"Don't screw with me."
His hand crumpled the document. The paper tore and creased under the force of his fingers. The air in the office snapped taut in an instant.
Beside him, Kircheis was operating a terminal. The young man with deep crimson hair maintained his usual calm expression. But his fingers moved across the keys swiftly, without wasted motion. He made no gesture to favor his left chest—the place where the scar from the assassination attempt remained. At least, not outwardly.
"I've cross-referenced the Vice Director's name with the family registry of the Seektwald Noble Alliance."
Seconds later, the results appeared on the screen.
"It's a match. The Vice Director hails from the Count Fischer family, a vassal house of the Seektwald Noble Alliance."
Reinhard exhaled sharply.
"I knew it."
He kicked his chair back and rose to his feet. The crumpled document fell to the floor.
The previous incident—the secret letter from his sister's lady-in-waiting that had arrived just two days ago. The report that poison had been mixed into her dinner. The lady-in-waiting's handwriting, trembling with the terror of having prevented it. It was proof that someone within the Rear Palace was targeting his sister's life.
If poison couldn't kill her, then this time they would physically throw her into a danger zone.
The Rear Palace Administration Bureau intended to make this a fait accompli before it could reach the Emperor's ears. The transfer was scheduled for early the next morning.
"Kircheis, we're going."
"Where to?"
"The Ministry of Military Affairs. We're getting this order rescinded."
Kircheis rose quietly. His deep green eyes gazed at Reinhard's back for just a moment. It was a warm look, but tinged with worry.
The two of them left the office.
The main building of the Ministry of Military Affairs was a colossal forty-story structure. It towered over the center of the Imperial Capital Ostiaade, serving as the nerve center that oversaw all operations of the Imperial Space Fleet. Reinhard had his own office on the top floor, but that was not his destination today.
The department responsible for liaison with the Rear Palace Administration Bureau—the Imperial Rear Palace Liaison Office.
Reinhard opened its door without hesitation. Kircheis followed behind.
Inside, three high-ranking officials sat at their desks. All of them were either from the noble alliance families or had connections to them. The moment Reinhard entered, the atmosphere changed. An unpleasant silence rippled through the room.
"I'm here to discuss the transfer order for Her Highness Annerose, issued under the name of the Rear Palace Administration Bureau's Vice Director."
One of the officials—a balding, middle-aged man, Rear Admiral Streit—looked up. His expression was one of annoyance.
"Ah, that. The decision has already been made. It falls outside the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Military Affairs."
"Grafenstein II is a frontline planet where sporadic combat continues even now. It is no place to send a woman under the pretext of protection."
"The Rear Palace Administration Bureau has deemed it safe. We have no say in the matter."
Reinhard's fingers turned white beneath the sleeves of his uniform. Kircheis stepped half a pace forward.
"The Rear Palace Administration Bureau's decision should be subject to the exception clause of Article 3 of the Imperial Noble Privilege Act—the invocation of the Emperor's direct jurisdiction in times of emergency. Has that procedure been followed?"
Rear Admiral Streit's face twisted slightly.
"His Majesty the Emperor is currently unable to grant an audience due to health reasons. Therefore, the invocation of direct jurisdiction is impossible."
"In that case, I will submit a direct petition to the Emperor under my authority as High Admiral."
"Feel free. However—"
Rear Admiral Streit pulled a document from his desk drawer. He slid it across the desk toward Reinhard.
"A High Admiral's right of direct petition only becomes valid after receiving approval from the Ministry of Military Affairs' main office. And the main office has just rejected your petition."
Silence.
Reinhard stared down at the document. The seal of rejection was stamped upon it. The date—was today. It had been prepared in advance.
"...Since when?"
"Since when, what?"
"I asked you how long you've been preparing this farce!"
His voice echoed through the office. Rear Admiral Streit's face paled slightly. Yet even so, a thin smirk remained on his lips.
"Please leave, High Admiral. This is the Ministry of Military Affairs. We can't have you acting on emotion."
Reinhard's fist trembled.
(You—)
At that moment, Kircheis's hand gently touched Reinhard's arm.
"...Let's withdraw for today."
His voice was calm. Yet it trembled faintly. His other hand had unconsciously moved to his side. He had walked here at a brisk pace, his body still not fully recovered. Reinhard could tell his breathing was uneven.
"If you act on emotion now, there will be no next move."
Reinhard looked at Kircheis. His crimson-haired best friend's face was a little pale. Even so, those deep green eyes stared straight at Reinhard.
(You're always like this, aren't you.)
Always stopping my rampages. Worrying about me more than your own wounds that haven't even healed yet.
Reinhard turned on his heel without a word. Kircheis followed.
Once in the corridor, Kircheis placed a hand against the wall and quietly steadied his breathing. So that no one would hear. But Reinhard noticed.
However, he did not mention it.
For now, all he could do was walk.
That night.
Reinhard sat alone in the Imperial Capital liaison office for the frontline base. He had spread out a star chart, confirming the position of Grafenstein II. Far from the Imperial Capital, and close to the border between the Empire and the Alliance. It was a dangerous sector of space where stray shots from battle had been known to reach planetary orbit in the past.
If his sister were sent there, he would be powerless to do anything.
(No matter what reason I have to act, nothing—)
He clenched his fist.
It was then.
The office door was knocked on quietly. A subdued sound, unlike military communications.
"Who is it?"
There was no reply. Instead, the door slowly opened.
The person who appeared was a woman wearing a deep hooded cloak. She was tall, her movements efficient. Behind her stood another—a petite woman.
The cloaked woman removed her hood.
"Reinhard."
Reinhard rose from his chair. His azure eyes widened.
Standing there was his sister.
Annerose. Long golden hair reaching down to her waist. Deep violet eyes. The face that always wore a sorrowful smile now looked at her brother with relief, and just a hint of anxiety.
"Thank goodness you're safe... You look well."
She slowly walked closer and touched Reinhard's cheek. Her fingertips were cold. Perhaps from walking through the long corridors. Or perhaps—from tension?
"Sister... Why are you here?"
"Tomorrow, I... I'm going far away. Before that, I just had to see you."
The lady-in-waiting who had been standing behind her bowed quietly. She was the only attendant Annerose truly trusted. She must have brought her here by slipping through the gaps in the late-night security.
"I'm sorry for coming so suddenly. But I just had to... see your face."
Reinhard took his sister's hand. At that moment—
Her sleeve shifted, revealing a slender wrist. On her pale skin, faint traces of bruises remained. Bluish-purple marks, faint but unmistakably there.
Reinhard's face froze in an instant.
"...Sister, what is this?"
"Ah... This, I just tripped and fell myself—"
"Who did this to you?"
His voice dropped low. A flame kindled in his azure eyes.
Annerose was silent for a moment. Then, she slowly shook her head.
"It's all right. It's nothing serious."
"It's not all right."
"Reinhard."
She wrapped both of her brother's hands in her own. Her cold fingertips gently pressed down on Reinhard's trembling hands.
"Please. As long as you and Kircheis are safe, that's all I need. Don't lose anything precious because of me. You always push yourself too far... That's what I'm most afraid of."
At those words, Reinhard's throat tightened.
(She knows her life is being targeted.)
(And yet, she's still worrying about me.)
He clenched his back teeth. He must not cry. If he cried now, his sister would worry even more.
"...I will definitely come for you."
He said it quietly, but clearly.
"Yes."
Annerose gave a small nod. Her violet eyes glistened just a little. Yet she did not show her tears. She must have felt she couldn't cry in front of her brother.
The silence between them stretched on. Reinhard did not let go of his sister's hand.
Outside the office door.
Kircheis leaned against the wall. Faint voices could be heard from within. Annerose's gentle tone, and Reinhard's low voice.
He quietly closed his eyes. Without a word, he dropped his gaze softly to the floor. What emotions surfaced in those deep green eyes, no one could tell.
After a while, the lady-in-waiting spoke.
"Your Highness, it's about time."
Annerose squeezed Reinhard's hand tightly one more time. Then, she slowly let go.
"Take care. Don't push yourself too hard."
"You too, Sister."
She smiled. That usual sorrowful, yet warm smile. Then she pulled her hood deep over her head once more and disappeared into the darkness of the corridor with her lady-in-waiting.
Reinhard stared at the closed door for a long moment.
(I will definitely come for you.)
That thought alone continued to burn within his chest.
It was not long after Annerose had left.
The office door was flung open forcefully. The person who entered was a young petty officer in charge of fleet communications. He was out of breath, his face pale, clutching a communiqué in his right hand.
The angle of his salute was clearly wrong. His hand was trembling so much that his fingertips pointed far above his ear. Overcome with tension, even his rigid standing posture was slightly tilted.
Kircheis approached him wordlessly. Then, he gently corrected the angle of the petty officer's salute with his hand.
"Calm down. It's all right. Just report."
"Y-yes, sir! An emergency directive has just arrived from the Personnel Bureau of the Imperial Capital Ministry of Military Affairs...!"
The petty officer relayed the message in a trembling voice.
"An emergency transfer order to another fleet has been issued for Rear Admiral Meier, who is in charge of fleet rear support! The order has already been delivered to him personally, and he will be ready to depart by tomorrow morning...!"
The office fell deathly silent.
Rear Admiral Meier. The specialist who had overseen the supply and logistics of Reinhard's fleet, and his most trusted adjutant for rear support. If he were removed, the fleet's internal information management would temporari
Novelia is an AI-powered platform to read original light novels and fan fiction, create your own in just a few taps, and chat with the characters. New, illustrated episodes arrive daily — free to start.