Chapter 208 : Chapter 208

Chapter : 208

As ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍all the meetings ended and they stepped out into the corridor—

“Truly, ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Magician Azuela!”

Sir ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Biden cried out, filled with admiration.

“How ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍did you ever come up with that? There was a reason my lord recommended you. I will ask for your help often from now on.”

With ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍words that struck directly at the heart of the matter, Magician Azuela had made the Duchess of Aquitaine and General Fernando—who had been resisting—accept it in a single blow.

Everyone ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍had no choice but to marvel at that mysterious, almost uncanny remark.

“Ohoho. You flatter me.”

Of course, our halfwit magician Azuela had been rather too startled.

‘Damn it… I only copied the Margrave of Bellua, so why is it working this well?’

It was true.

Uncanny, my foot. She had only parroted the Margrave of Bellua’s usual way of speaking because she had not known what else to say.

That nasty method—pretending to offer the opposite choice while maliciously forcing the answer!

And yet it really worked…?

“No, Magician Azuela. To be honest… I had wondered why His Grace had attached you to us, but today I finally understood. To lose a part, or to lose everything. Telling them to make a wise choice… it was splendid counsel. Please forgive me for doubting you.”

“Ahoho. It is nothing, Sir Biden.”

But inwardly, she did not feel bad.

When had people ever treated her with such deference?

Even at the Emperor’s court, she had practically been a nuisance.

Otherwise, why would a magician like her have been sent out into the field to suffer?

At least after coming to the Margrave of Bellua, she could research magic in a laboratory with peace of mind, even if she had to endure some watchful eyes.

So to be treated as a precious sage like this—

‘Heehee. It is not… entirely unpleasant…?’

Azuela’s smile rose of its own accord.

Of course—

‘But what if they ask me for advice again? Damn it… I have already used up everything I have. This is bad.’

A practical worry crept up all the same.

In any case, once the greatest obstacle—the Duchess of Aquitaine and General Fernando—had been persuaded, there were no more hindrances.

With the wholehearted support of the two, Sir Biden began to command the battlefield from the front.

“Proclaim the mobilization order. All nobles shall obey it in accordance with the sacred contract.”

First, he summoned every feudal vassal in the vicinity to the capital.

With a large-scale war imminent, scattering themselves meant nothing.

They had to gather in one place and concentrate their strength—whether to fight a decisive battle or to hold the line.

Of course, some feudal vassals tested the waters and refused to answer the mobilization order.

To them, the Duchy of Aquitaine was like a candle in the wind.

They seemed to think it was better to wait and cling to the eventual victor.

In a situation already so difficult, was it not dangerous to provoke something close to a civil war?

In their own way, they had a basis for that belief.

The problem was that it did not work on Sir Biden.

“They refused the mobilization order?”

“Yes. They said their chronic illness has flared up… and that they will defend from their own castles…”

“Oh, their chronic illness has flared up? Understood. Then should we not help them rest peacefully forever?”

Sir Biden used it actively instead.

In the southern region, concessions had been granted to nobles’ interests, and enormous money had been scattered to those who complied.

He could not afford to look weak here as well.

Besides, had he not already seen in Bellua how to handle this sort of thing?

-Those who do not answer the mobilization order will all be deemed traitors. The lands of the traitors will be granted, regardless of status, as reward to whoever punishes them.

Make them tear each other apart.

Greedy nobles had no reason to miss such an opportunity.

And he went one step further, saying status would not matter.

For mercenary captains and merchants who wanted to overturn their station by any means, it was an excellent chance.

-Your Grace, Duchess of Aquitaine! I have brought troops. I will subjugate those traitors!

-I will provide the war funds to finish them. Entrust it to our merchant guild!

As the rumor spread, mercenary companies and merchants active in the southern region of the Elang Kingdom began arriving in the Duchy of Aquitaine one after another, bringing troops and mercenaries.

Even feudal vassals who did not want to lose their fiefs to those outsiders began moving with sudden zeal.

-Your Grace, Duchess of Aquitaine! How can you use outsiders to punish traitors? Entrust it to us.

-That is right. We will execute them!

As if they had always been this eager, they gathered armies and began smashing the lords who had refused the mobilization order.

“Wah—! The nobles of the Duchy of Aquitaine are overflowing with enthusiasm to punish traitors, are they not? Hoho.”

“…I only wish that enthusiasm had erupted somewhere else. Hah.”

The Duchess of Aquitaine, Maceania, simmered with quiet fury, but it was not bad.

Because of how Sir Biden moved, the internal nobles were beginning to unite.

And as the situation sharpened, the cornered nobles hurriedly began sending envoys.

-Y-Your Grace! Please forgive me. I was ill and had foolish thoughts.

-I will lead my troops and answer the mobilization order at once. Please. Please show mercy—!

Armies led by nobles, mercenary captains, and merchants had already brought down three feudal castles.

If they stayed still, they truly would die at their allies’ hands.

“What should we do? Shall we forgive them now, Sir Biden?”

“Yes. It does not seem necessary for allies to keep fighting each other. Besides, they are vassals Your Grace must rule in the future. There is no need to do more that will earn lasting resentment.”

“Hmph. Fine. Then we shall forgive them. Summon their envoys! I will answer their pitiful pleas.”

Of course, that answer would not be good news for those nobles.

But what could they do?

If they did not want to die, they had to hand it over.

All of it.

Lose everything, or lose a part.

It truly was excellent advice.

The Duchess of Aquitaine, Maceania, recalled Magician Azuela’s counsel and curled her lips into a smile.

It was the moment Magician Azuela’s evaluation rose—entirely by accident.

‘?’

Magician Azuela, however, flinched when the Duchess of Aquitaine suddenly looked at her with such deep, lingering eyes.

‘Why is she staring at me like that? Could it be… does she like women? She still has not married, so maybe she does? Eek.’

She truly was a halfwit magician.

Even so, the situation was not good.

They had blocked the southern front against Catalia, but the north was different.

The army led by Crown Prince Charles I, who held the strongest force in the kingdom, was driving in with unstoppable momentum.

“The fortresses in the contact region have been breached!”

“The northern lords have sent letters saying they will surrender, as they have no choice.”

“Hmmm…”

It truly was not easy.

Even though the cavalry the Margrave of Bellua had provided was working hard to cut supply lines, it was not helping much.

The gap in ability was simply overwhelming.

The central army led by Crown Prince Charles I was ravaging the contact region.

The Duchy of Aquitaine’s defenders were falling one after another, unable to offer meaningful resistance.

“How many days away is Charles I’s army?”

“If they ignore all supply lines, it appears they can arrive in roughly seven days. Normally, it would take about twenty more days.”

“This is bad!”

Sir Biden frowned.

Seven days was practically at their doorstep.

“Recall all forces currently deployed outside. Especially, abandon the fortresses in the contact region and withdraw the troops to the capital.”

“What?”

“Ah, they are still far from arriving.”

“Indeed. Sir Biden, if we abandon the contact region, will they not simply march south even faster?”

At Sir Biden’s words, everyone cried out in alarm.

It sounded no different from abandoning defense entirely.

But Sir Biden only shook his head, his expression hard.

“No.”

Sir Biden had seen it many times.

A brilliant man who broke his enemies with stratagems that struck where they least expected.

And the Crown Prince Charles I whom Sir Biden had observed was flexible and talented enough to use such stratagems with ease.

“Defending the contact region is meaningless, Your Grace, Duchess of Aquitaine. And you as well, General Fernando.”

“Why?”

“Because Crown Prince Charles I will ignore every one of those fortresses and charge straight through.”

“But then the supply lines will be at risk, will they not? He would accept that risk and refuse to conduct a siege? If we are determined to hold, a siege is something we can endure for a full year, is it not?”

It was a reasonable objection.

But that was only true when the two sides were within a certain range of parity.

“Have you forgotten? Those fortresses in the contact region collapsed all at once.”

“Ah—?”

The elite central army, trained over decades, happened to be in Crown Prince Charles I’s hands.

The weak and fragile troops of the Duke of Aquitaine—who had never truly faced war—could not hope to stop them.

And this time, the mobilized army numbered thirty thousand.

With a force that large, fortresses defended by small garrisons were powerless.

And that was not the only problem.

“Think about it. Crown Prince Charles I will know it, too. This war has a time limit.”

“Mm?!”

That was right.

How earnestly had his lord, the Margrave of Bellua, warned him?

Hold.

Buy time until I return with an army.

This war would end the moment the Margrave of Bellua defeated the Emperor’s forces that had invaded the eastern region.

Crown Prince Charles I did not have the power to wage a two-front war for long.

“Charles I will want to end this war as quickly as possible. If it drags on even a little, reinforcements will come from Bellua.”

“Hmmm…”

“Indeed.”

“So we must hurry and concentrate our troops in the capital. Fortunately, the capital of the Duchy of Aquitaine is immense, and its defenses are strong. We can hold for a long time.”

With that insistence, Sir Biden hastily recalled all troops to the capital.

There was distrust and complaint at the sudden order, but in the end, they had no choice but to obey.

And not long after—

Sir Biden’s judgment proved extremely accurate.

Nearly nine days after the first reports—

Just as the mobilization barely finished and the defenses were in place—

-WAAAAAA!

-BOOM-BOOM-BOOM-BOOM!

The thirty-thousand-strong army led by Crown Prince Charles I arrived at the capital of the Duchy of Aquitaine.

“What? They have already finished preparing their defenses?”

“Yes, Your Highness. We questioned the nearby merchants, and they say the troops completed mobilization two days ago and entered a defensive posture.”

“Hah…”

At his vassal’s report, Crown Prince Charles I clicked his tongue.

Had his sister truly had such a capable person at her side?

How could they know he would charge straight for the capital and prepare in advance?

“I apologize, Your Highness. It seems information leaked from somewhere…”

His vassals bowed their heads, ashamed.

Their response was at a level that seemed impossible unless they had known through intelligence beforehand.

But Crown Prince Charles I did not blame them.

“No. Do not worry. Raise your heads.”

A monarch must respond flexibly to rapidly changing variables, must he not?

For Crown Prince Charles I, who dreamed of a single, mighty, unified Elang Kingdom, this was merely one hardship that he was destined to pass through.

“Do not waver. They are only the ragtag soldiers of the Duchy of Aquitaine.”

Having steadied his heart, Crown Prince Charles I mounted his horse and shouted to the soldiers around him.

“Who are we?”

“W—we are the kingdom’s guardians! The kingdom’s shield!”

“Yes. We are the elite central corps! The finest corps in the kingdom! Who would dare stop us? Remember the victories we have written together!”

“WOOOOO!”

This setback was only momentary.

In the end, everything would be proven.

“Yes! That is it! With that momentum, let us show those frail wretches of the Duchy of Aquitaine what a true warrior is—and who we are!”

“WAAAAAA—! Charge!”

“For glory—!”

And today—

Crown Prince Charles I intended to prove that he was worthy to become a monarch.