Chapter 25: The Duke’s Daughter and the War

Chapter 25:
The Duke’s Daughter and the War

 

THE NORMALLY BUSTLING PORT of eastern Armelia was now filled with tension. The garrison had been attacked, and city hall was under occupation. On the heels of that assault, an armed group took the port by force. The once busy streets were nearly empty; it was no wonder that smiles had disappeared from the people’s faces. Meanwhile, Dida had acted on Iris’s orders and taken the bare minimum number of men to fight the forces both at city hall and the port.

The armed group at the port were dressed in military uniforms—the kind Acacian soldiers wore. The very situation Iris and the others feared was unfolding before Dida’s eyes. Even though he had anticipated this, a part of him still couldn’t believe that it was actually happening. A cold sweat dripped down Dida’s back in the tense atmosphere. You really never know what can happen, he thought.

The enemy had mobilized as the sun rose, trying to invade the town. Dida worked with the garrison to deal with these attacks and keep them under control. Since the eastern towns had been founded long ago, most of the roads were very narrow and winding, which gave Dida an advantage; it limited the number of enemy soldiers that could enter from any point at a given time. Dida used the layout of the city as he deployed his men, focusing on protecting the citizens. That didn’t change the fact that the situation was growing worse and worse.

“Dida! The first company’s total wounded soldiers have surpassed thirty percent!”

“Withdraw the first company and send the second company to the front line. Trade out quickly so the enemy won’t have a chance to strike.” Dida spoke in his usual light tone, but deep within, he was fraught with anxiety and apprehension. Even though few soldiers were gravely wounded, as time wore on, more and more were getting hurt. Most of all, everyone was increasingly fatigued. Only a handful had ever seen real battle before this, so their nerves exacerbated that fatigue. The main thought going through Dida’s mind was that at this rate, they wouldn’t last more than a few more days—though he didn’t dare say it aloud. If the enemy broke through their line of defense, they could easily reach the duchy’s capital. And here, they had neither the armaments nor the structural advantage needed to withstand an invasion.

Most of all, Iris would be devastated if anything happened to the citizens. Dida couldn’t let that happen.

He scratched his head as he looked around. He wanted to escape this dead-end situation and his own negative thoughts. Just then, a group of men caught his eye. They were carrying wounded soldiers to medical treatment.

“Hey! Who are they? They’re not from our company.” They weren’t wearing the garrison’s uniform but regular clothes like you’d see anywhere in town. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t right for a group like that to be rushing into battle.

“O-oh, these are local volunteers.”

“What? Hey, you! Hurry up and evacuate! Can’t you see it’s dangerous here? If anything happens to you, that’ll really put us in a bind!” Dida yelled as he approached them. The citizens jolted in surprise for a moment, then glared and yelled at him in return.

“We live here! How can we just sit around and do nothing when you’re risking your lives for us?”

“Yeah, this is our town! We can’t fight, but the very least we can do is help out!”

The men shouted so vehemently Dida was speechless for a moment.

All of a sudden, a woman ran up from behind him. She yelled at the men carrying the wounded and directed them. “Don’t just stand there, hurry up and carry the wounded to the medics! That fellow you’ve got needs attention right away! Take them over there! Lay that man down right there!”

“H-hey, this isn’t a place for women and children.” Dida had been watching her with astonishment, but once he came back to his senses, he reached out and grabbed the woman’s hand.

“How dare you spout such nonsense when you could use all the help you can get!” The woman glared at him. “I’ll have you know, I’m studying medicine at the academy in the capital! My knowledge could be very useful! You shouldn’t underestimate women and children!”

Once again, Dida was rendered speechless. When his mind started working again, he couldn’t help but laugh out loud despite the situation. Meanwhile, the woman continued to briskly give out orders.

“You’re right…gender has nothing to do with it,” he said softly. His thoughts turned to Iris, who was in the capital of Armelia, as well as Tanya and his other female childhood friends. Shame on me. I already knew this.

Each of them had found their paths and worked hard to get where they were today. When he thought about how they had persevered through tough times to achieve their ends, it seemed absolutely ridiculous to judge someone based on their gender. Hadn’t he always thought that? Even now, everyone here was using every bit of their knowledge to support Dida, despite desperately wanting Iris to quickly evacuate and go to the royal capital for her safety.

“Hey, you!” he called to the woman. “I’m sorry. Please take care of these guys. But if you ever feel like you’re in danger, hightail it out of here.”

She flashed him a confident grin. Her smile was so much like Iris’s that he couldn’t help but murmur to himself.

“You remind me of my mistress.”

“Really?! I want to be just like Lady Iris!” The woman heard him even though he said it quietly. Her eyes sparkled at the compliment. “The only reason I was able to study medicine is because of Lady Iris, after all. That’s why I can help out here. I love and respect her so much for giving me these opportunities. I admire her for trying to better the duchy. I hope that I can contribute to society just like she does.” The woman smiled softly. Her eyes, her aura, her entire body overflowed with emotion. “Ah, I’m sorry. I spoke out of turn. If you’ll excuse me.”

In the next moment, that face was replaced with a focused expression as she rushed off toward the medics.

Dida couldn’t help but smile as he watched her go. That woman really does remind me of her. “All right…” He gave himself a rough smack on the cheek. The panic was gone from his eyes. “Hurry up and change up the front line as fast as possible! And you, let’s get you organized!” he yelled toward the volunteers.

“Wh-what?”

“I need the ones who are good with their hands to make something like this.” Dida drew a simple diagram in the dirt.

They all gave him skeptical looks. “I mean, sure, we could make it, but…can you really use that?”

“Sure we can! It’ll change our lives for the better,” Dida responded with a grin.

“O-oh, okay. Hey, hurry up and gather some timber! You guys, get some tools! You over there, gather up rocks!” The men didn’t question Dida any further but hurried to carry out his orders.

Later, as night fell, the enemy’s troops retired for the night and returned to their camp.

“Dida! Time to eat.”

After Dida heard reports from each company’s captain, he ordered them to rest and sat at his desk to study a map. Pebbles were spread across the map, along with various things scrawled here and there, traces of his attempts to design various strategies before he scrapped them.

“I’ll just put your food here, Dida. Please eat it before it gets cold.”

“Do meal rations really get cold…?” Dida muttered, then lifted his gaze to see a plate of hot food. The garrison had only hardtack and preserved canned food, which had come into popular use after Iris sponsored innovations in preserving surplus food. Since it was fast and easy to prepare, the soldiers had been eating those for several days now. “Who in the world made this? That’s an awful lot of food.”

“The women’s volunteer corps.”

“Oh…what about the ingredients? Did you pay them back?”

“They said there was no need. They’re sure that if we use up their reserves, Lady Iris will take care of it later, and that as long as we have her, she’ll never let anyone go hungry. They think the most important thing is that we build up our strength to fight off the enemy.”

“Well, that is true.” Dida picked up the plate and set it in front of him, then began to eat. “Ahh, that hits the spot! If only I had some alcohol, it’d be perfect.”

“Don’t get greedy now,” the soldier who’d brought him the food said with an amused laugh.

“Maybe I’ll ask Princess…”

“Er, Dida, I don’t think that’s a good idea…” The soldier was visibly flustered now, prompting a hearty laugh from Dida.

“I’m joking. Seriously, though, I hope the relief troops come soon.”

“Yes. We’ll only be able to last a few more days, at this rate,” the soldier said offhandedly.

“The enemy is having a real ball. We just need to pray they continue to let down their guard.” That didn’t mean Dida had given up. He was trying not to let the anger within him show.

“What makes you think the enemy is having a good time?”

“Think about it: they’ve got a huge advantage when it comes to combat. Instead of sending little squads here and there, they could attack all at once and get it over with, but they’re not.”

“That’s because you’re forcing them to use the narrow roads, Captain…”

“Idiot. Even with that, they’re barely attacking. They’re watching us thinking we’re struggling in vain and enjoying every minute of it. Either that, or they want to hold on to as many troops as they can in order to attack the capital.”

In other words, the enemy was underestimating them. It infuriated Dida. His eyes were full of fire, determined to draw the enemy out, tan their hides, and make it so they never set foot in Armelia again. But it wasn’t going to be easy to overcome their combat disadvantages.

“By the way, Dida, the thing you requested from the volunteer corps is ready.”

“Whoa, really?!” Dida shoveled down the last mouthful, then ran outside. A long wooden barricade, several thick cords of rope, and a huge pile of rocks were laid out for him. “Hey! You did a great job pulling this together in such a short time! Thanks a lot.”

The villagers all wore proud expressions. “Don’t mention it. All we want is to help!”

“Hey, are you sure about this? After this point, I won’t be able to guarantee your safety. Of course we’re going to protect the city as best we can, but who knows what’ll happen. There could be stray arrows. Besides, you never know where the enemy will come from if they invade.”

“Yes, but this is our town.”

Dida looked even more confused when he saw how stoutly they stood.

“This town is our pride. It’s precious to us. It’s become an even better place since Lady Iris became governor. We can’t imagine leaving it.”

“When those people posing as the Boltik family started causing problems, Lady Iris came here herself to fix things! That’s how much she loves our town! If she sent you here to protect it, how could we ever face her again if we ran away?”

“We believe that as long as we have her, we’ll be fine. We just have to trust her. Right now the most important thing is to protect our home, right?”

Dida smiled. Once, long ago, he’d lived in this town as well. Several years had passed since then. Iris had become the governor of the duchy, and this town had changed a great deal since, from the way it looked to the way things were run. Maybe that wasn’t all. Maybe the people’s way of thinking had changed too.

“Yeah? You know that Princess isn’t the governor though, right? She’s the acting governor.”

“What? Really?”

“Wait, so one day she won’t be the governor anymore?”

Dida’s quip seemed to leave the volunteers anxious and upset. He had to laugh.

They really do love her, he thought. “All right… Sorry, but can I ask you guys to help again? I want you to put the big shields at the front line. Pass out the rocks to each company.”

“What about the rope?” one of the volunteers asked with curiosity.

“The rope goes with the rocks. We’re gonna hurl ’em at the enemy.”

“Hmm.”

“Go on and get to it.”

“Yes, sir!”

“Oh, and does anyone live over there and there?”

A few of the men stepped forward. “We live in those buildings, yes.”

“Okay. I’ve got a favor to ask you, then.” Dida spoke to them in a low voice.

“S-sure, but…” They looked bewildered but agreed.

Dida smiled at them. “Thanks. They might get damaged, but I’ll send word to Princess and have her pay for repairs.”

He watched the work for a while, then returned to his seat.

“How are they going to fight?” the soldier from before asked Dida as he looked at the scene.

“We’re gonna tease ’em. A lot,” Dida answered plainly. As he spoke, his unabashed will to fight was so intensely visible that the soldier backed up a little.

The next day, Dida called upon the captains of each company. “I have the wooden shields the volunteers made set up in their positions.”

“A-all right, sir. What are we going to do with those shields?” Doubt lingered on some faces.

“Just leave ’em there for now. First, don’t let the enemy come close.”

“So it’s about maintaining our line?”

“That’s right. I want one company each on the top floors of this house and this house. From there, archers will fire as many arrows as they can.”

“Ohh, I see.”

The houses Dida indicated were ones near the port. They were three-story buildings with several windows facing the water.

“We’re not knights. Having to act all proper and follow chivalrous conduct is for chumps. We protect the things that need to be protected, and that’s good enough. Right?”

No one answered Dida aloud, but their hearts were filled with resolve.

“This is that kind of plan. We need to avoid direct combat for as long as we can until the reserves get here, so we’ll focus on chipping away at the enemy’s capabilities.”

“Yes, sir!”

Once the sun rose, the enemy made their move. Just as they had during previous days, they split into several different groups and tried to invade the town. But Dida’s troops were lying in wait on the top floor of those buildings. They attacked. Arrows flew, mercilessly pursuing the enemy soldiers.

“Archers?! Where are the enemies?!”

“O-over there!”

“Up there! Use your shields!”

The enemy raised their shields and kept trying to advance, but then they were attacked from behind with hurled stones. The enemy soldiers couldn’t withstand the barrage of both arrows and rocks. Several of them were bowled over. At the same time, archers at ground level shot toward the enemies whose shields were aimed upward. It didn’t take long for their lines to fall between the arrows coming from two different directions and the rocks from a third.

“Good job. Keep it up. See to it that no one reaches the front.”

“Yes, sir.”

As Dida received reports from each captain, he ran through their situations in his head. Each time his plan required adjustment, he relayed those orders to his men.

At long last, the news he had been waiting for arrived. “Excuse me, sir! Reinforcements have arrived!”

Along with the news came his partner, Lyle. “Sorry we took so long.”

“No kidding. Although you did show up sooner than I thought you would,” Dida smiled at the sight of him.

“Sorry. So what’s going on? Things look pretty interesting out there.”

Dida sent someone to fetch the map, then showed it to Lyle. “We’ve blocked off the main roads from the port to the town here, here, and here. You saw the rest. We were focusing on protecting the city while chipping away at the enemy’s capabilities.”

“An aggressive defense. How are things by city hall?”

“I could only spare the bare minimum to hold that line. We didn’t have enough men.”

“That makes sense. Not ideal, though.”

“I know. If they make a move, we’ll be attacked on both sides. They haven’t shown any signs of mobilizing yet, but if they do…”

“Do you want me to divide the men I brought and try to regain control over there?”

“No. Honestly, that would make me too nervous. The enemy is still sending out their vanguard to survey the situation… They’re pretending to face off with us, but really they know the situation and are just acting cocky and taunting us. If they seriously mobilize, it won’t take long for them to penetrate our defenses.”

“Ah, so it hasn’t actually started yet. Looks like your harassment is working, though.”

“Yep.”

“Regardless, you’re still sandwiched.”

As Lyle frowned, a third voice interrupted their conversation. “Can you let me take care of the town hall?”

A guard tried to stop the newcomer, but the man quickly shook him off.

Dida was stunned to see Glaus stride in. “Glaus! What changed your mind?”

He didn’t have to ask how he’d come into their camp—Glaus was the boss of the Boltik family, the gang that held immense power and influence in Eastern Armelia. They knew this land better than anyone, so it would be easy for him to find a way into any camp. Even if he didn’t, his authority would’ve allowed him to talk his way in.

“I want to put an end to the guys who use the Boltik family name, once and for all. Seems what we did last time wasn’t enough, so we need to show ’em what happens when you soil our name.” Glaus shrugged matter-of-factly. Then he scratched his cheek as he spoke with an embarrassed gesture. “And anyway, I really owe your mistress for what she did for me before. Thought I’d go ahead and repay her before my debts snowball even more.”

“Are you sure? We don’t think the guys occupying town hall are your average thugs. We think they’re the vanguard of the Acacian Royal Army,” Lyle warned him.

“Yeah, well, we’ve got our own way of fighting. You guys, don’t worry about a thing. Just focus on protecting the city. Real war’s too much responsibility for us, you know.”

Both Lyle and Dida stared at Glaus. He didn’t try to avoid their piercing gazes but instead responded with a confident grin.

“Honestly, we could use the help. Can we count on you?” Lyle finally replied.

“You’ve got all the help you need, as long as our goals are the same,” Glaus said in a lighthearted tone.

They nodded.

“All right. Go ahead.”

“Got it. You take care of our town, you hear?”

“Yep.”

With that decided, Glaus promptly left. Lyle and Dida turned their focus back to the map and formulated a plan going forward.

After much discussion, they came to a conclusion and Dida confirmed the details. “Is that good?”

“Yes.” Lyle nodded firmly.

The pair left to carry out their promise to Glaus. They were going to protect the brave citizens who stood behind them. Most of all, they were going to protect their mistress’s ideals. They put one foot in front of the other, their fighting spirits quietly burning inside of them.

 

***

 

“I’ve heard reports that we’re running low on medicine in the east. Bring everything we have out of the reserves and gather more from the merchants!”

Things were extremely busy in the capital of Armelia, with my days packed to the brim. I had a responsibility to carry out: to protect the citizens to the east. At the same time, I was responsible for sending Lyle, Dida, and the rest of our forces off to war. Yet I had no means to fight directly to protect them.

However, there were things only I could do, and I had to do everything in my power to carry out those duties. If I were honest, I was so restless I wished I could rush to the battlefield. I was the one in charge and giving orders, so how was it fair that I was safe? Moreover, if I were there, I could get information faster and get things done more quickly!

At the same time, since I was in charge, no one could afford to lose me. If I went to the front line in person, I’d have to take people away from the battle to guard me, which would make even more work for those on the battlefield. I knew that. I still couldn’t help feeling anxious. The situation changed by the minute, and each development had to be dealt with. I didn’t even have time to lose myself in my sympathy as I saw the numbers of wounded come in.

I stared at the documents in my hand. A map of Armelia was spread out across my desk with tactical figures on it. “Have there been any developments since our forces were deployed?”

I had left Lyle and Dida in charge of all decisions on the battlefield. We didn’t have a means of instant communication like a telephone, so I’d decided not to intervene because any suggestions I had would be delayed and thus complicate matters even more. Of course I was getting reports on the situation at regular intervals. Despite that, while they were handling the details in the east, I knew they wanted me looking at the overall picture to properly mobilize people and supplies.

I’d left only the bare minimum of Armelia’s forces in every territory except the one to the north and sent everyone else to the east.

“Y-yes, my lady. We’ve maintained the garrison in the north remain per your orders, and the forces ordered to deploy from both the west and the south will arrive in the east within a few days.”

I believed in Lyle and Dida’s strength. At the same time, I had to consider the possibility that they might have to retreat, and where to go from there. How would the enemy try to invade? If they sent in another wave of troops, how would we deal with that? How would we evacuate the citizens? How could I best deploy our forces? I had to consider all of it and put those thoughts in order.

“That’s fine. What about evacuating the citizens? How has that progressed since the last report? Do we have enough food in the locations they’re being evacuated to?”

I sent off orders to various officials as I heard each report. They would get in touch with the necessary people, then rush to carry out my orders.

“Yes, my lady. There has been no progress in the evacuation since the last report.”

“What? Is there some kind of problem?”

“No, er…” The official who had come to give me the report trailed off. I narrowed my eyes, wondering what in the world could be going on. Finally, he continued with a stern look. “The remaining citizens are saying things like ‘This is our town, and we want to protect it’ and ‘We can’t just sit around and do nothing. We want to help Lady Iris.’ The young men are running errands and transporting goods, while the women are cooking for the armed forces.”

I was stunned by this news. “You…must be joking,” I blurted out in a louder voice than I’d anticipated. Even though this was no time to be moved by emotion, my heart trembled with joy.

“It’s the truth!” I could see now that the official’s mouth was trembling as well.

Now I understood; he had trailed off before because he was trying to suppress his emotions, just as I was. I had a feeling he was thinking the same thing too. Citizens should be protected; they have neither the means nor the power to deal with abuse of authority or violence. The recent natural disaster was a prime example of that. When the floodwaters rose, they were powerless and had been forced to run away…to my domain. I didn’t blame them for it; it had merely been the best option at their disposal. They needed protection because they were too weak to do anything else.

Yet the people who lived in this town had decided to fight. They didn’t give up and run away. They weren’t submissive or obedient. They chose to fight, because that town and this duchy were important to them. They were validating the path that we had chosen to lead them down thus far. That decision and the feelings that went along with it shook me to my core.

“Excuse me, my lady.” Tanya appeared, breaking the silence. “May I give you a report?”

“Y-yes.” My chest felt like it was on fire, and I was still speechless.

She whispered the news in my ear so that the others wouldn’t hear. “This report is from Dida. He says that the Boltik family is cooperating to retake city hall.”

“Wh-what?”

“Glaus said he wanted to take care of the people who were giving the Boltiks a bad name and that he owed you for your prior favors. Now I wonder which one is the real reason and which one is the excuse to cover it up,” Tanya said with a grin.

I was already shocked, and now I’d received another jolt to the heart. I thought of Glaus, whom I’d met before. I almost wanted to laugh, thinking how utterly characteristic this was of him. He looked like a severe man, but when you talked to him, you soon found that he had a warm, friendly disposition, like an older brother. He was like that because he loved his town, and the people who lived there loved him. I’d thought we would never cross paths again, yet here he was, crossing the line of battle for me.

Several more reports came in after Tanya. Each one moved my heart.

“Excuse me. About the medicine, the merchant guild says they will provide the necessary aid. Here is their official response.”

“We just received word that volunteer doctors from the medical guild have mobilized and are on their way to the east. They’re requesting that we be ready to receive them and provide a place for them to work.”

“The job of a governor is one to take pride in. They protect the citizens, care for them, and enrich their lives. They must feel a deep sense of belonging with their domain in order to oversee their people.”

I was reminded of words I’d spoken in front of my officials once. Throughout this entire journey, I’d continuously asked myself if I was making the wrong choice, if I had made a mistake, or whether these changes were really necessary. I had to convince myself that I wasn’t mistaken and that these innovations were necessary, because there were no universal answers, and I had no choice but to keep going forward.

But now, the people…my people were giving me answers. Each and every one of them, even though I’d never met the majority. It moved me to tears, and I had to do everything in my power to keep them from overflowing. This was no time to be lost in my feelings.

“Make preparations to receive the doctors at once! They’re going to need more than the medical tent they have now to do their work; give me a list of locations that would be good candidates for their base of operations. I want multiple officials sent to the east with bodyguards right away! Give me a list of volunteers as well. Make a rotating schedule for the volunteers on site to follow so no one person is overexerting themselves.”

I fired off a series of orders after receiving the latest reports.

“The people have spoken. So we must do everything in our power to protect Armelia and its citizens!”

Every official in the room responded with an enthusiastic, “Yes, my lady!” in perfect unison.

 

***

 

“Hm, I see. So that’s how Lyle and Dida have organized the troops…” Merellis grinned at Shrey’s report. “That means they’ll probably attack tomorrow. We’ll be with them.”

Several men gulped.

“How are we going to attack, specifically?” one asked.

“First, we’re going to aim for the head, so to speak,” she said, still smiling.

Those who understood what she meant were thrown off by her lighthearted tone and casual attitude.

“The head?” one of them blurted out to confirm.

That only made Merellis smile more. Everyone in the room got goosebumps. Her smile was absolutely bewitching, but their chills weren’t because of her beauty. It was because they felt like they had just opened Pandora’s box.

“Yes, that’s right. The enemy’s general. They’ve come from a faraway land. If we cut off the head, they will be most disoriented. That will make it easier for Lyle and Dida to attack, don’t you think?”

“I see…” Shrey, who knew her better than anyone else there, murmured. “How, specifically, will we do it?”

“Fortunately, all the roads leading to the port are occupied by Armelian soldiers. So first, we’ll split this company into four groups and quickly pass them by. We need to strike before the enemies on either side attack. I want you to get past the Armelian forces at full speed, just like how we came here. Then I want you to assemble behind me and follow. I will clear the path for you.”

“Yes, Captain!” they answered in sharp voices, trembling with excitement.

“I want you and your company here. And you and your company here…” Merellis pointed to different locations on a map, giving out orders without hesitation. Her soldiers nodded at her straightforward commands. “Are there any questions? If not, get to work.”

At her signal, they all rushed to carry out her orders.

“What about you, Shrey?” she asked.

“I have a message for you from Master Pax.”

Merellis gave him a puzzled look.

“Captain…since you have your social standing to think about, he asked me to give you this before battle.” Shrey handed her a mask that would conceal the upper half of her face. It was made of black material but fitted perfectly to the shape of her face, so it wouldn’t fall off easily.

“I swear, he always manages to think of everything.” Merellis took it from him and put it on and took it off several times to test it out. At first, she thought it would be a hindrance, but it didn’t obstruct her vision at all. “Why didn’t he just give it to me directly, though?”

“We left almost as soon as you arrived at House Anderson. He gave it to me beforehand, predicting you would leave abruptly.”

“I see…” Merellis smiled wryly. It was true that things had been hectic before they departed. She’d needed to win the favor of the troops right away so that they could arrive in Armelia as soon as possible. Those thoughts had run through her head while she spoke with Pax, fueling her anxiety. Even if he had brought the mask up, she probably hadn’t been in the right frame of mind to listen to him. “Thank you. I’ll take good care of it.”

“You’re welcome. Now, if you’ll excuse me.” Shrey had successfully delivered his message, and he excused himself.

After Merellis watched him go, she reached for the sword at her hip and took it out. Then she brought it to her forehead, just as she had back at home. Her eyes filled with resolve and readiness. She turned her gaze toward the ocean and gazed at it for a while.

Merellis spent the night with a healthy case of nerves, then rose the next morning. She was on horseback riding with her men behind her before the sun rose, wearing the mask that Shrey had delivered to her.

“The time has come! Let us claim victory!” she shouted as she charged, her soldiers following behind her.

“Whoa!”

“Wh-what’s going on?”

On the way, Armelian soldiers were shocked by their sudden appearance. While they were confused, they made way for these new soldiers for their own safety.

As soon as they passed the Armelian troops, Merellis unsheathed her sword and charged headfirst into a group of nearby enemy soldiers, cutting through them in a frenzy. It happened so suddenly that they could barely respond. She used this to her advantage and mercilessly penetrated their defenses. The scene was total chaos, but gradually the enemy started to grasp what had happened.

“Surround her!”

“Don’t let her through!”

Enemy soldiers circled Merellis, trying to kill her, but they were swiftly taken care of by her men. Shrey met up with them, watching as if in a trance as she cut through the enemies with ease. It was like Merellis was in her own little world. They were in the same space, but she moved at an entirely different pace, defeating the enemies one by one just as swiftly as she had raced toward Armelia. It was like she didn’t even see the enemies as obstacles in her path.

Shrey had to laugh at the overwhelming difference in martial prowess between her and her enemies, as well as at her display of sheer power. It felt like he was watching a re-enactment of a heroic legend from a book of fairy tales.

Blood flew everywhere. The raw crimson scene almost looked like it existed to color her. She was so fierce and beautiful. The men riding behind her were consumed and inspired by the sight. It made their blood sing, so much that they could hardly stand it. Their primal instincts called on them to sharpen their fangs and to use them to tear through the throats of their enemies—to not lag behind their captain.

“I think as soon as they see how you fight, all their nerves will disappear.”

Shrey had been right to say it. It didn’t matter whether a soldier was a rookie or a veteran, they were one unit, awestruck by the sight of their captain’s prowess in battle, proud to call her their leader. As the battle wore on, more and more soldiers were injured. But no one stopped. It was almost as if they were drunk on the moment—they forgot their pain and continued following their captain.

“Keep going! Don’t lag behind the captain! Tighten your ranks and protect each other!” Shrey howled.

He was answered by a hearty cry of “Yes, sir!”

Even the enemy soldiers were overwhelmed at the sight of Merellis’s fighting and her command of the men at her heels. Some tried to move, but it was almost like they were glued to the spot. One enemy soldier murmured, “It’s almost like they’re being commanded by a demon…”

Merellis and her soldiers were a fearsome sight indeed.

She rode past the soldiers to an open section of the battleground. A luxurious carpet was spread there, looking quite out of place, and on top of it was an even more luxurious chair. It was clear that this space was meant for someone of high social standing. When Merellis appeared before it, covered in blood, those waiting upon it let out a scream. She did not react. She calmly strode to the center of the open ground, mercilessly cutting down anyone who stood in her way, until she stood before the man who sat upon the luxurious chair.

He was plump, and he didn’t move a muscle as she approached. To be more accurate, he couldn’t move a muscle. She was such a fearsome sight, he felt as if he had been visited by the Goddess of Death, ready to deliver that titular fate with a single strike of her sword.

In the next moment, a sword flew between the man and Merellis. She showed no sign of surprise. “You’re late,” she murmured.

Of course, this wasn’t directed toward the enemy who sat before her.

“I’m sorry.”

She was speaking to Lyle, whose blade was aimed at the enemy general. Behind him were the Armelian forces he’d brought, who’d been waiting in the direction opposite of the ones she’d charged past.

“You’re just too fast,” he said. “Honestly, I wasn’t sure I was going to make it in time.”

“But it was easy, wasn’t it?”

“Yes, it was. Coming at the enemy from two different directions truly confused them. I can’t believe you knew which direction I’d be coming from, though.”

“I had a hunch, once I saw where your troops were positioned. There were fewer men in that direction compared to the way I came.” Merellis had anticipated Lyle’s actions and moved to provide him with backup. She had timed her charge perfectly with his, but coming from the opposite direction in order to further confuse the enemy. “I knew you would come. I was going to take his head whether you did or not, though.”

Ultimately, the Armelian forces under the leadership of Dida and Lyle had the power of command. Merellis knew it was best if they were the ones to make the most important moves, since they were in Armelia’s territory. Even so, if Lyle had arrived late, she would have had no qualms about ending things herself. It wasn’t because she had some greater ambitions but merely that she thought it best to put an end to the situation as soon as possible. Once the enemy’s reserve troops showed up, Armelia would be at even more of a disadvantage. If that happened, neither her strength nor that of House Anderson’s guards would matter; making up for that disparity would be incredibly difficult.

“At any rate, it’s time to question him.” Lyle’s gaze grew sharp as he looked at the man who appeared to be the enemy’s general. That simple look made the man let out a shriek. “Who are you?”

The man’s eyes darted left and right. No one came to his aid, because anyone who was capable of doing so had already been cut down by Merellis or Lyle. Those remaining shifted their gazes anxiously to avoid eye contact. After all, Lyle had his sword pointed at the man and was essentially holding him hostage—what could they possibly do?

Lyle pressed his blade against the man’s neck. A line of crimson appeared and dripped down his skin.

“He’s asking you who you are and where you came from,” Merellis translated into Acacian. “Answer truthfully.”

“Y-you know Acacian?!” the man responded.

“A little. So? Who are you?”

“I-I’m the first prince of Acacia, Jalaal Bent Acacia!”

“What? You’re the first prince?”

Lyle could only hear her interpretation, but strangely he guessed what she had just said. Neither of them could hide their bewilderment. “Surely that’s not true,” he said. “Shouldn’t the first prince have far more guards? Moreover, who in their right mind would send a first prince to war?”

“I’ve never even heard of a kingdom sending their first prince to another kingdom with the vanguard!” Merellis said.

For a moment, Lyle thought, I’ve never heard of the wife of a duke leading the vanguard and charging into battle either. But he shifted his attention back to the moment at hand.

“Do you have any idea what will happen to you if you hurt me?” The man calling himself the first prince had completely changed his tune from that first terrified shriek. He smirked at them confidently.

“Why did you invade?”

“His Majesty made a deal with the kingdom of Tweil. After the war, the kingdom of Acacia will take over Armelia and its surrounding territories, and Tweil will get the rest. I was sent with the vanguard as proof of our commitment.”

Lyle frowned. He’d had a hunch that was it. His mistress had feared this very arrangement all along, and now it was reality. His head hurt just thinking about what was to come.

“I see,” Merellis responded plainly by his side. Her tone was matter-of-fact, as if she’d heard everything she needed to and that was that. “Lyle, regardless of whether it’s the truth, this man is definitely a member of the royal family. We must wait to have his head, but we’ll take him with us for now. We might be able to use him as leverage in negotiations.”

Lyle acted swiftly. He brandished his sword and sliced through the tendons in the man’s foot, prompting him to let out a blood-curdling scream. “Don’t tell me you really thought you were going to get away unscathed after everything you’ve done?” he asked as he glared. “You need to feel a little of the pain you’ve caused.”

Merellis watched with amusement and looked down at the man, who was shedding tears and moaning with pain. “You heard him. Don’t worry, we won’t kill you. You should be grateful for that royal status of yours. Now you’re going to help us out.”

Lyle stuffed a piece of cloth into the man’s mouth and tied him up, then threw him over his shoulder. “I doubt he’ll try to kill himself, but we’ll leave him tied up, just in case.”

“True. Who cares if he does, though? He’s annoying,” Merellis responded casually.

“How did you know he’s a member of the royal family, though?”

“The ring on his right middle finger. In Acacia, every member of the royal family is given a symbol, and they have their symbols carved into rings. I remember seeing this one before, although I never expected to see it on the battlefield.” Just as Merellis said, the man wore a golden ring on his middle finger. There was no gem set in the center but instead the carving of a bull.

“Hm, I see. May I take him home with me, Lady Mer?”

“Yes, of course. I’ll provide backup. To be honest, I still haven’t gotten my fill of battle.”

Lyle chuckled until a grave look came over his face. “Clear everyone from this place! Now that we have their master, the enemy will be a disorderly mob!”

They were in possession of the first prince and had dealt another severe blow to the already confused enemy. Lyle led the Armelian force as they steadily cut down the remaining enemy troops, one by one. They did so with ruthless efficiency.

Behind him, Merellis led House Anderson’s guard and took out all who remained, leaving carnage in their wake. In fact, Merellis fought so fiercely that the Armelian soldiers had to wonder if she had been holding back when she’d charged through the enemy lines earlier. Blood splattered everywhere; she seemed determined to do one thing and one thing only—destroy the enemy.

Since she had so inspired the Anderson guard, they fought with all their might. As a result, the majority of the enemy troops barely put up a fight before they were laid out on the ground. Of course, the fact that their leader had been captured was a large factor in that. Furthermore, Dida entered the fray.

Thanks to all of those factors, the war within Armelia’s borders was soon over.

 

***

 

I was sitting in front of a mountain of documents on my desk, praying. I had to raise funds, then use those funds to procure the goods needed in each territory, send the goods there, and send people to distribute the goods. It sounded simple enough seeing it all written down, but in order to accomplish all of those things, I had to look at the duchy as a whole and consider all possible problems that could arise, then formulate a plan to deal with those hypothetical problems. That meant that everyone, including the Armelian officials and myself, were up to our eyeballs in work. No one uttered a single complaint. We knew that our work made it easier for our allies to do what they needed to do. Most of all, though, the people of Armelia were also doing everything they could to help us fight. There was no way any of us were going to complain.

Truthfully, I think we were all too worried to get any rest in the first place. We worried over the safety of those fighting on the front line, the lives of the citizens who had stayed behind to help, and the state of the work itself. The more I thought about it, the more my thoughts turned toward the negative. My worries were endless, and anxiety ruled my mind.

But I couldn’t drown in it. I had vowed that to myself, yet the road ahead was dark and intensely frightening. If I let my guard down, I would be swept up in those negative thoughts and be lost to them. I was trying to think rationally about everything I could do in each of those situations to cope with these fears, but my heart just wouldn’t keep up. The weight of being responsible for so many lives during these dark times made it difficult to keep moving forward.

I couldn’t help but think how easy it would be to squeeze my eyes shut, cover my ears, and curl up into a little ball on the floor. Every time I considered that, I thought back to everything I’d gone through to get here. It hadn’t been easy. It hadn’t been all good times. I’d stumbled, worried, cried, been angry. All of that made the happy times even brighter. If I gave up here, everything I’d been through would be a waste.

So as I sat at my desk, from time to time, I looked up to the ceiling and prayed. I prayed for everyone’s safety, and for peace to return to the kingdom. Honestly, I wasn’t sure who I was praying to. All I knew was that I had to.

“Excuse me, my lady!” Tanya burst into the room, which was quite unusual for her.

“What is it, Tanya?”

“They’re here! They crushed the Royal Acacian Army! They’ve also captured a large number of prisoners of war, including the first prince of Acacia. Also, the Boltik family successfully recaptured city hall!”

For a moment, my mind went completely blank. I was so relieved that I thought I might collapse.

“My lady!” Tanya rushed forward to support me. The feeling of her warmth and the shock to my body told me that I wasn’t dreaming. I let out all the air in my lungs, and my vision blurred.

“I’m so glad! I’m so, so glad!”

“I know… I know… You worked so hard, my lady.” Tanya’s soft smile made my vision blur even further.

“Thank you, Tanya.” I placed my hands on my desk and stood. “I am grateful beyond words for you, who stuck by my side, and for the people of Armelia.”

Tanya smiled, pleased.

“I must secure a place to keep the prisoners. I need to decide how to deal with them.” I instantly started thinking of everything I needed to do.

“My lady, please at least take the day off.” Tanya had a troubled expression.

“Don’t be ridiculous, Tanya! We must get everything ready so that when they come home—when the heroes of Armelia come home—we can share this happiness with them. And so we can mourn the lives that were sacrificed for our cause.” Those were my honest feelings, and once I explained them to her, she nodded with a smile and relented.

I made the necessary preparations over the next few days as we waited for them to come home. Once the Armelian officials heard about the victory against the Acacian army and that we had recaptured city hall, the atmosphere in the mansion became much less tense.

However, Tasmeria was still at war with Tweil. Although the mood wasn’t as somber as before, the officials remained nervous as the days ticked by. I felt the same way. I wasn’t sure what to do if Tasmeria lost the war. If they did, I was certain that Acacia would strike again.

“How is the war going, Tanya?”

“His Highness is commanding troops in the former Lord Monroe’s domain. The people’s distrust toward Tasmeria is strong, so word is that the battle is grueling.”

I froze. “I had no idea, Tanya.” I couldn’t conceal the anger in my voice.

“I’m sorry. I thought that as you needed to prioritize the fight against Acacia in the east, I should keep it to myself.”

“It’s all right. I’m sorry too. Even if you had told me then, I probably wouldn’t have had the presence of mind to truly hear you. But Tanya, I want to know about what’s going on in the north no matter how busy I get.” I felt bad for growing emotional. It seemed I still had a long way to go, if I was reacting this strongly to any mention of “His Highness.” “The battle is grueling, is it? I suppose that’s only to be expected—it’s war, after all. Such things aren’t ever simple.”

“That’s right. Not only do the people in Monroe’s domain sympathize with Tweil, but if we fight a losing battle against them, it will only exacerbate their distrust.”

I couldn’t believe the prince had headed to battle. I wondered if he was safe. I prayed that he would be safe. It was frustrating to not know his circumstances because he was so far away. My heart was filled with a restless anxiety. I wanted to be with him. I wanted to help him. These were the screams coming from deep inside my heart.

My common sense reined in those desires. I forced my thoughts to another matter in order to silence the voice completely. “Do you have any reports from your agents on the ground in Acacia?”

“Apparently, the citizens of Acacia were not informed of the attack on Armelia. There has been no other significant action on the part of the Royal Acacian Army either.”

“I see. What in the world is their king thinking?” The more I thought, the angrier I became. Even though the king hadn’t asked for my hand in marriage, his son had, so how dare they attack us? He’d offered his right hand for a friendly handshake while stabbing me in the back with his left. “Nevertheless, I’m glad their army hasn’t made a move.”

After all, there was no way the duchy could endure a sustained attack levied by an entire kingdom. We didn’t have the people, supplies, or anything else for that matter. That wasn’t just the case for Armelia but for all of Tasmeria as well.

“Indeed,” Tanya agreed with a pained expression.

“What about the investigation into affairs within the royal family?”

“The king has many wives, as well as five concubines, so there are six princes and ten princesses. The prince who proposed to you is the third prince, Khadir. The king is elderly, so a battle to assume the position of rightful heir has been ongoing behind the scenes. However, there are rumors that Khadir has no interest in government, as he’s made no move to claim the throne. The second prince is sickly and of weak constitution, so he has voluntarily ceded his right to inherit. Even so, people say that although Khadir is the third prince, he’s the least likely to become king.”

“It seems that the battle for succession rages in every kingdom,” I said sarcastically. “He’s the least likely to become king, hm? Honestly, I don’t think that’s true at all.”

“Why do you think that?”

“It’s just the impression I got from our meeting.”

“So it’s a gut feeling, then?”

“Not quite. When he came to Armelia, he came as a representative of his kingdom. So putting those two things together…”

Tanya’s face lit up with understanding as she realized what I was getting at. Being an emissary for your kingdom meant you were presenting yourself as the face of that kingdom. Someone who didn’t care about their kingdom wouldn’t do that, because doing so meant bearing the responsibility of protecting the kingdom’s honor; one misstep and you could profoundly damage its reputation. Considering Khadir was the third prince, he certainly could have traveled with a delegation group and had someone attend to the representative duties in his place, but he hadn’t.

“Not interested in the government? Hasn’t made a move to claim the throne? That’s just how it seems to everyone else. The public opinion. If he’s acting as an emissary and involved in the government in similar ways, then he must have a very powerful pawn on his side. Someone who will do everything in their power to help him and to make sure that whatever he’s plotting behind the scenes doesn’t become public knowledge.”

I let out an inward chuckle, thinking that it certainly sounded like someone else I knew. The third prince was only refraining from making a move on the surface, while steadily gaining ground behind the scenes. The person this reminded me of was my own mother.

Khadir sounded like he was doing the same thing. He didn’t want to draw too much attention, so he was keeping his sharp fangs hidden. “So, I think there’s a good chance that he is reaching for the crown.”

Suddenly, my line of thought fell off track. In that case, wouldn’t there be very little advantage in marrying me? Wouldn’t it benefit him more to marry someone from a powerful family in his own kingdom, who could help him gain more ground? If we had children, then someone with Tasmerian blood would inherit the crown. Surely the powerful people in Acacia would object. Or perhaps he just wanted me as a wife in name only, and he would have an heir by another wife. I got that far before I let out a sigh and realized it was pointless to try to figure it all out.

“Let’s keep a close eye on him going forward,” I said.

“Yes, my lady.”

Just then, there was a knock at the door, and Sebastian entered. “My lady, Lyle and Dida have returned from the east.”

“Thank goodness! I know they must be exhausted, but could you ask them to come in and brief me?”

“They were already planning to, after they finished giving final commands to the troops.”

“I see. All right, then. Thank you, Sebastian.”

Some time after that, there was another knock at the door. I told them to come inside and watched as Lyle, Dida, and my mother entered the room.

“Mother?!” I was so surprised to see her I practically yelled.

“It’s so good to see you again, Iris.”

Luckily no one else was here to witness my little outburst. “What are you doing here?”

At last I put it all together. My mother had left with House Anderson’s guard more than a week ago. I hadn’t heard one thing about what happened on that front. I had been so busy with everything else that I hadn’t had time to even think.

“Wait, Mother, don’t tell me you went along with House Anderson’s guard to the east?!” I was well aware of how crazy it sounded. Then I remembered what she’d said before. She had told me that if there was any trouble, to make sure to call on her at once.

“I didn’t ‘go along’ with them, exactly. I led them there.”

So that is what happened! I thought, bewildered. After all, who could have predicted that my mother would have gone to the battlefield herself? “A-are you hurt? I mean, how did you—why did you…”

Lyle and Tanya were laughing. I had no idea what was so funny.

“Princess, your mother is incredibly skilled with a sword,” Dida said. “She’s far stronger than any of us.”

“Huh?!” What in the world was he thinking, making jokes like that?

“Pains me to admit it, but he’s right,” Lyle went ahead and agreed. “She’s also a top-notch commander.”

My mind went completely blank for a moment.

“It’s something I learned when I was young,” my mother said with a little smile. “Don’t you remember what I told you before, Iris? I wanted to be a soldier, so I asked my father to train alongside his men. I have a little experience on the battlefield.”

That was the final nail in the coffin. What in the world did she mean by this “little experience”?

My mind was a confused mess, one question rising after another. As I stared at my mother’s smile, I realized none of it really mattered, and I gradually regained my composure. “I see. I want to thank you and the House Anderson guard from the bottom of my heart for your efforts in protecting the people of Armelia.”

“Iris, you don’t need to thank me. After all, I’m a member of House Armelia too. But I’ll go ahead and relay the message to House Anderson.”

“Thank you.” I bowed my head once again to my mother, then turned toward Lyle and Dida. “I’m so grateful to you and the rest of the troops who traveled to the east. And I’m so, so relieved that you came home safely.”

Of course I’d heard the news that they had claimed victory and were safe. But seeing them in front of me filled me with emotion once again, and my eyes blurred with tears.

“I’m so glad I have you. I can’t thank you enough for supporting me.” Even though there were many more things I wanted to tell them, I just couldn’t find the words. It was frustrating to be unable to express my feelings.

“We don’t deserve such praise,” Lyle said with a soft smile.

“Your words are reward enough, Princess,” Dida said in an easy voice, making me laugh.

“Thank you… There are so many things I want to ask you, but first I’d like to hear your reports.”

They told me the number of enemy prisoners they’d captured and how many of their comrades had been wounded. Although I’d known this beforehand thanks to an express message on horseback, I found myself wondering if the facilities and supplies I’d prepared would be sufficient.

“Another thing, my lady, is that we captured their leader on the ground.”

“And he’s the first prince of Acacia.”

My mother’s words sent a shock wave through my heart.

“What? They sent the first prince to the front line?” Honestly, my first reaction was sheer disbelief. Of course I had no reason not to trust my mother, but I had a hard time accepting it because it defied all operative norms. Why would a kingdom send a member of the royal family to fight in the vanguard when invading another kingdom, let alone the first prince? As I questioned this logic out loud, an idea popped into my head. “Ohh. What if…?”

My mother noticed my reaction. “Do you have some insight?”

“Yes… Yes, I do.”

“Tell me, Iris. I think it’s in our best interests to discuss our opinions on the matter and work together.”

“You’re right. Well, the one that proposed to me was Khadir, the third prince. Right now, there’s a battle for succession behind the scenes in Acacia, just as there was here. So I have to imagine the first prince is also fighting for his right to the throne.”

“You certainly seem knowledgeable about Acacia! So?”

“So, the second prince is sickly and weak, so he’s voluntarily ceded his rights to the crown. In other words, if ‘something’ happens to the first prince, the throne is Khadir’s for the taking.”

“My lady… Do you think that Khadir plotted the attack against us?” Tanya asked, but I shook my head.

“I don’t know. Who conspired with Tweil to attack us, the current king or Khadir? I’m not sure. There is one thing I’m certain of, and it’s that Khadir intended for this war to end his own battle for succession so that he could swiftly claim the throne for himself.”

“According to the first prince, the current king was the one who made arrangements with Tweil,” my mother replied.

“I see. Well then, we might have a chance to negotiate with them, if Khadir does try to steal the crown himself.”

“But my lady, if he asked for your hand in marriage, then he must want this land for himself,” said Tanya. “If so, should he become the next king, he could attack us again but with the entire Acacian Royal Army at his command.”

“Well, I’m not sure about the current king, but if I were in Prince Khadir’s position, I wouldn’t need Armelia.”

“Why is that?”

“Because regardless of whether Tasmeria or Tweil wins, it would be extraordinarily difficult for him to control Armelia. It isn’t connected to Acacia by land, and it would be surrounded by another kingdom on all sides. Perhaps he’s made some secret deal with Tweil, but that will eventually fall apart due to geographic factors. Think about it. You must cross the sea to reach Acacia. If another kingdom attacked Armelia, they would be unable to respond immediately, and the costs to ship soldiers and supplies would be astronomical. Overall, they would have very little to gain from the arrangement. I think it would be far more beneficial to let us remain a foreign kingdom and keep us as a good trade partner.”

“I see. Whether or not that’s crossed Khadir’s mind, I think you’re right, Iris. Unfortunately, they chose to join forces with Tweil this time. We don’t know Khadir’s thoughts, but if he really is using this situation in a bid to become king, then we might be able to negotiate, if he thinks our cooperation would yield an advantage.”

“You’re right, Mother.”

“Very well. At any rate, I think that the House Anderson guard and I should remain in Armelia for the time being. The wounded soldiers need to recuperate, and we can keep an eye on the situation until they do. If anything happens, I will mobilize my forces, so don’t hesitate to let me know.”

I nodded to this suggestion. To be honest, it was highly reassuring to have her with me. “Tanya, get things in order so we can question the first prince.”

“Yes, my lady.”

 

***

 

The news that Armelia had successfully defeated the Royal Acacian Army spread like wildfire and reached the capital in no time.

“Well, at least that’s one thing we don’t have to worry about anymore. Right, Berne?” Leticia stole a glance at him as he walked down the hallway behind her.

“Yes, certainly. However, there’s no guarantee that they won’t try to attack again, so we can’t let down our guard.”

“That’s true. The war with Tweil is yet undecided on the front, so it would be difficult to spare more soldiers or supplies for Armelia. If a second wave comes, it will be up to Armelia to stave them off. It’s a shame, but that’s the reality of our situation.” Leticia let out a heavy sigh.

Berne’s expression tightened. “Are things really that bad?”

“Yes. The supply situation in particular is most dire. Fortunately, we were able to avoid catastrophe thanks to the supplies my brother arranged for distribution to each territory, but we have barely any surplus. War is incredibly expensive and leads to likewise incredible consumption. Even if we could spare the soldiers, under no circumstances could we provide the supplies and money required to fight a war on two fronts.”

Now it was Berne’s turn to let out a heavy sigh. Although he was a member of House Armelia, at the same time, he was beholden to the kingdom’s government. Even if his family was in a bind, he wasn’t in a position to go to them. Moreover, his job wouldn’t allow him to prioritize Armelia over any other domain. It would set a terrible precedent for those of other houses. He had been trying to discern a means by which to assist them in the kingdom while still staying within the bounds of the law, but reality was unforgiving.

“On the other hand, Armelia is truly amazing. Not only did they keep up with my brother’s selfish demands in the midst of a natural disaster, but they continued to support people who went to Armelia to settle there. Now they’ve overcome this predicament too.”

“That’s right. This is why I so admire my sister and the people she surrounds herself with.”

“Absolutely… I’m not sure how the people of Armelia feel, but speaking from the kingdom’s point of view regarding supplies and manpower, I hope they resolve everything quickly. I’m considering searching for something she could use as common ground in her negotiations with Acacia.”

“I’m sure my sister wants things resolved as soon as possible too. She’s using an intermediary to set up just such a discussion.”

“Goodness. Well, I suppose I should expect nothing less from Iris. Rudy, what do you think?”

Rudius said, “I’m concerned about how she intends to engage Acacia, who she’ll send to do the negotiations, and whether she will be able to successfully negotiate a cease-fire.”

“The typical protocol in the past has been to assemble a team of officials from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Law and send them to negotiate,” said Berne. “As for the content of the negotiations, since we don’t know much about the state of Acacia’s internal affairs, it would be necessary to start there.”

“That will be difficult,” said Rudius. “Their kingdom is aware of the natural disaster that occurred here and also that we’re at war with Tweil. She should have a certain amount of knowledge of the kingdom’s internal affairs, so I think there’s an extremely high chance that she’ll find a foothold there.”

“Hm, I suppose you’re right,” Leticia piped up in their grave conversation. “Just so both of you know, I intended to let Armelia handle this matter entirely by themselves all along. Of course, I’ll confer with or notify my brother before I write any manner of official letters.”

Berne couldn’t hide his surprise. “But this is an international decision. How can a duke’s family handle that alone? I’m sure there will be backlash from other houses as well…”

Rudius also objected. “If she’s going to sit down and negotiate with Acacia, wouldn’t it be important for her to do so in the kingdom’s name? Moreover, don’t you think they’d need an experienced spy to acquire the information they need in order to have leverage during the negotiations?”

“You don’t think someone as capable as Iris has someone like that? First of all, she’s already met someone from the Acacian royal family, and he proposed to her. I think she can use that connection to gain the advantage. Second, Armelia makes a great deal of money trading with Acacia. Therefore, I believe Acacia will deal with them like they’d deal with any kingdom. Third, Milo told me for a fact that Iris has a personal spy, and according to him, a very capable one. I have a feeling that she has already ordered them to gather all the intelligence they can on Acacian internal affairs. She might even have ordered that before the attack, right after that prince proposed. So, she’ll be able to negotiate much sooner acting on that information rather than waiting for aid from our corner.

“Fourth, and this is the most important point, what do you imagine would happen if the kingdom acted at this late stage? Armelia has already come this far on their own, so why would we charge onto the scene with barely any preparation, with a subpar understanding of the situation? We’d complicate the matter further. Besides, I have a feeling that House Armelia—and likely the Armelian people—would object. As such, I believe that the quickest way to solve this predicament will be to leave Armelia to deal with it on their own.”

The two men listened silently as Leticia rattled off her reasoning, and they both began to lean toward acceptance.

“As for other houses pushing back… What could they even say at this point? Armelia is extremely wealthy, has talented people working for it, and has the military strength to fight off another kingdom’s army, even if it was just the vanguard.” Leticia let out a sigh. “I understand that you two are blood-related to House Armelia, but since I trust you, I can tell you this: In truth, the royal family is wary of the power Armelia has amassed.”

Both men jolted slightly with surprise.

“House Armelia has always enjoyed a great deal of power among the nobility, even since the queen dowager—Grandmother—was in power. The royal family was wary of them at that time as well. Simultaneously, House Armelia has always been the picture of how a noble family ought to conduct themselves. They understood the true responsibility of the aristocracy, and they’ve served the kingdom in many ways. That was why the royal family has always turned a blind eye to their duchy.”

“Perhaps it’s difficult to answer this question since it’s coming from me, but I’d like to ask it anyway. Are you thinking of taking measures to reduce Armelia’s power?” Berne asked.

Leticia smiled at him wryly. “Of course not. The opposite, actually. Armelia has become too big. That’s why we need to decide what accommodations we can make for them so they don’t decide to secede.”

Neither Berne nor Rudius were expecting that answer, and they both looked quite surprised.

“Armelia has already suffered a great deal because of the policies my brother and Ellia put forth. Instead of being a protected arm of the kingdom, they were treated like an enemy and forced to surrender valuable supplies. Honestly, if I were Iris, I’d regard Tasmeria as nothing but a thorn in my side. With Armelia’s wealth, societal foundations, and future possibilities, they could without a doubt amass the power to defeat the kingdom. We need Armelia, but without us, why, they’d thrive. This is the balance of power as it stands. The problem is that a number of nobles don’t yet understand that.”

“Your Highness… I swear that House Armelia has no intention of revolting against the kingdom.”

“I know, Berne. I recognize your and Lord Armelia’s distinguished service. It’s clear that the two of you have worked to give all you have to this kingdom. That’s why I have no doubts about House Armelia. I’m speaking purely from the standpoint of the power structure.”

Berne and Rudius were speechless.

“If we push them with the kingdom’s demands and constraints and the relationship breaks down, the kingdom will lose a guaranteed source of income from taxes, as well as valuable territory. It would be absurd to try to take away Armelia’s power. If we did, the Armelian citizens would surely revolt. I understand that it’s a double-edged sword, but Armelia has better laws, taxes, and standards of living than the other domains, and perhaps even the capital. It would be lovely if we could implement those same things in the capital, but I think it would be difficult to bring about that reality. So, instead of making things worse for the people in Armelia, I think it would be wiser for the kingdom to give them more discretionary powers—to an extent.”

This time, neither of the men raised an objection.

“Well, we’re almost there,” said Leticia.

“Why are we going to the tower, anyway?” Rudius asked.

Leticia answered him with a grin. “To see one of the endings to this story. Either it will all work out for the victors, or someone will slip up and it’ll be necessary to course correct so things don’t get off track.”

Rudius and Berne looked confused.

“Rudy, the reason my brother asked you to stay behind was because this is such an important job. Are you ready for it?” Leticia asked with a quiet smile.

There was an unfathomable intensity in that smile. As she said, under normal circumstances, Rudius would have accompanied Alfred to battle as his closest bodyguard and advisor, yet Alfred had ordered him to stay in the capital. No matter how Rudy had pleaded to go with him, Alfred would not relent.

“You’ll understand when the time comes. I trust you more than anyone, and that’s why I’ve asked you to stay,” Alfred had told him before he left.

“I’ve been ready. I don’t carry this sword as a decoration, but with the resolve to use it when necessary.”

“I see. Berne, you must never speak a word to anyone about what you are about to see. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Leticia led the way to a certain room. It seemed to be an ordinary room, with bookshelves lining one wall. “There are many secret passageways in the royal castle. This is one of them. It’s necessary that I bring you two with me today, which is why I’m showing it to you. You must never tell another soul.”

They nodded.

Satisfied, Leticia pulled out one of the books from a shelf, then pushed a hidden button behind it. Suddenly, the bookcase swung out like a door. “Let’s go.” She entered the secret room and began walking down the dark staircase. “The royal family has a long past with many dark secrets. They used these hidden rooms and passageways to conceal their actions and go where others couldn’t. That’s where we’re headed.”

They came to the end of the stairway, and she led them down a hallway farther into the darkness. At the end of the short corridor was another set of stairs, which led up.

“There’s a large stone—the third one from the right. Push it upward.”

When they reached the top of the stairs, they came to what appeared to be a dead end. Rudius switched places with Leticia and pushed the stone upward according to her instructions. Suddenly, a light shone from above.

Rudius went through the door and found himself in a small room made of stone with a thick door and a narrow, spiral staircase.

“We’re almost there. We just need to go up a little more.” Leticia led the way again and began to climb the stairs.

“Wait… Are we inside the tower?” Berne asked in a sober tone.

“Yes, that’s right. This tower is where nobles are imprisoned when convicted of criminal behavior. I have no idea why there’s another door besides the entrance considering what it’s used for, but that is neither here nor there. Regardless, as I said before, this was created for the royal family to carry out their business away from prying eyes,” Leticia said with a wry smile. She looked a bit fatigued from climbing all the stairs.

Finally, they arrived at the top of the spiral staircase to a small room. Leticia signaled Rudius to remove a stone from the wall. He took it out, revealing a peephole of sorts to see past the wall. The three of them huddled together and peered through the opening.

On the other side of the wall was a room surrounded by iron bars. Inside the room, looking very glum indeed, was Yuri Neuer.

“Princess, Leticia, that’s—” Berne blurted out, unable to contain his shock.

Leticia silenced him with a firm “Shh!”

The trio silently observed the room for a while. Then there was a sudden noise, a rush of footsteps. Who should appear next but Prince Edward, who was supposedly locked up in another cell.

“Yuri! I came to save you!” he said with all the love in his heart as he approached the cell.

Yuri stared absently at him. “How did you get here?” she asked in a flat voice.

“This person freed me! Just you wait, I’m going to get you out of there!”

A man dressed in fine clothes waited behind Edward. Berne and Rudius’s eyes widened when they saw him, because they recognized him at once.

The man belonged to the second prince’s faction, but since he had not been directly involved in the counterfeit gold coin conspiracy, he had received the relatively light punishment of forfeiture of his title of head of house and house arrest. Behind him stood two knights who were supposed to be guarding the entrance to the tower.

“Stop.” Yuri looked down coldly at Edward, who was crouching over to open the jail cell. He opened the door and looked up at her in surprise.

“What’s wrong, Yuri? There’s nothing to fear. After we escape from this place, this fellow and other like-minded folk will give us safe harbor. We’ll lay low for a while, and when the time is right, I shall take my place as the next king.”

Edward’s cheerful tone of voice did nothing to brighten the dark look on Yuri’s face.

Instead, she snorted with laughter, exasperated. “Don’t you understand? He has no intention of helping me.”

“I know it’s hard to believe, Yuri. First, let’s get you out of there and…”

“If I leave this place, I’ll be killed. By him and his cronies.”

“Yuri, that’s not true! They’re here to help us! Come on, let’s just go. Please trust me.”

“They need you, because they can use you. Their only chance at regaining their power is to put you on a pedestal. I’m different. I’m nothing but a threat. They’re afraid that I’ll tell everyone of their connections to Tweil. Even if you were able to take the throne, a child of mine wouldn’t be able to succeed.”

“Yuri, that doesn’t make any sense. Even if, by some slim possibility, there was a chance that they saw you as a threat, why would they put themselves in danger to save you?”

“Because this is their only chance. They want to rid themselves of their fear that someone will spill their secrets to Alfred, and they want to do it before you can succeed the throne. Don’t you think their best chance to do so is when you’re relying on them to hide us?” Yuri spoke confidently and with a cold sneer. “Not to mention, there’s no need for someone from this hopeless kingdom to save me. Its days are numbered. Well, in any case there are other knights out there to save me.”

One of the men standing behind Edward laughed out loud. “Did you hear that, Prince Edward? I really wanted to help save your beloved fiancée, but as I suspected, she’s allied with Tweil. She is unworthy of Your Highness.”

“That’s not true! She’s just suffering the mental pressure of having been locked up here. Yuri, remember what I promised you? That I’d protect you from anyone, no matter what.”

Yuri didn’t answer. She only stared stonily at him.

“Your Highness! You’ve been deceived. You finally had a chance to take the throne, but this woman interfered and ruined it all. Please, let this show you the truth!”

One of the knights drew his sword and lunged toward Yuri. The other knight held Edward back so that he wouldn’t try to protect her. Yuri merely stared blankly at the scene unfolding before her.

“Stop it!” Edward yelled, wrenching free from the knight at the last moment. He threw himself between Yuri and the sword.

It happened in an instant. The sword ran Edward through with a dull, sickening squish. The room went completely silent, as if time had stopped. As soon as the knight realized what he’d done, his face twisted with horror, and he dropped the sword with trembling hands. It fell to the floor with a clatter.

Edward collapsed to the ground, covered in crimson. He looked at the blood pouring from his body in shock, then up at Yuri and smiled.

“Yuri…” He reached toward her, still trying to be by her side.

Finally, the light returned to Yuri’s vacant eyes. “Why… Why did you protect me?!” she screamed. “I’m nothing but a burden to you! Why didn’t you try to get rid of me like them? Isn’t that what a noble is supposed to do? So why?!”

Edward coughed up blood as he answered, still smiling. “Because…I promised you.”

He had stayed true to his word and protected Yuri with his life. If he had never come to her cell with those knights, this never would have happened. Yet…he was the only one who had ever truly tried to protect her. Despite everything that had led to this moment, his love shook her to the core.

No one ever helped Yuri. No one ever tried to protect her. Her mother had mourned the love she lost, hated her position in life, and ignored her daughter. Her father should have loved her mother, yet he’d easily abandoned her. Then he’d tried to use his own daughter.

But Edward…he was the only one who had never abandoned her. He was the only one who had ever tried to save her.

So why? It was a foolish question. He had told her many times that he loved her. That he wanted to spend his life with her. That he would always protect her.

But every time he had told her those things, she’d laughed coldly on the inside, thinking, Please, I know he’ll abandon me the second it’s convenient for him.

She was wrong. Edward really had risked his life to save her. The moment she realized that, a sweet, warm feeling spread inside of her. “Stupid… You’re so stupid,” she said with a laugh. Simultaneously, big, fat tears streamed down her face. She crouched and took his hand.

“You’re…right,” Edward whispered with labored breathing. Yet he smiled happily. Then…all of his strength was gone.

“So, so stupid…” Yuri whispered as she squeezed his hand tightly.

That was when Leticia made her move. The two knights and the older man with the fine clothes who stood before them were startled when they saw her suddenly emerge from the stone wall, where there was no door.

“Hello, Yuri Neuer,” Leticia said, completely ignoring the men.

Yuri barely reacted. She just kept holding Edward’s hand, not even looking at Leticia.

A wry smile crossed Leticia’s lips, and she turned toward the three men who had come with Edward. “Even though he was imprisoned, Edward is still a member of the royal family. No crime is more severe than endangering the life of a royal. Don’t tell me you really think you can get away with this?” She grinned, an expression quite unbefitting of the situation.

The color drained from the men’s faces.

“I-I was just doing what I was told!”

“So was I!”

The two knights tried to run. But Rudius was standing there, blocking their paths.

“Move!” They drew their swords at him.

Rudius quietly drew his own sword. “Your Highness?”

That was all he said, yet Leticia seemed to know exactly what he meant and nodded with a smile.

“Very well.” Rudius took a step forward toward the men. He butchered them with a single stroke of his sword.

It was over in an instant, almost as if he were trying to show the overwhelming disparity in their power. Leticia watched the scene without a flinch. Berne went slightly pale, but that was all. Yuri seemed completely unconcerned.

The one who reacted most was the man who had accompanied Edward. He was visibly shaken and slumped to the ground. “Wh-why are you…?”

“Hm? I went public after you were put on house arrest… You know who I am, don’t you?” Leticia giggled like a mischievous child. “Sorry, did you want to know why I’m here? Well, that’s because I knew you were coming today.”

“What?!” The man was shocked.

“I knew what you were up to a long time ago. I just decided not to do anything about it. Yet.”

“So you knew this was going to happen?!”

“I had no idea my brother was going to shield Yuri, no. Although that would’ve saved me a lot of effort. Rudy, seize this man and take him away.”

“But…”

“Don’t worry about guarding me. We’re the only ones here. Once he’s in a cell, you can come back for me.”

“Yes, Your Highness.” Rudius pulled the man to his feet and took him out of the tower.

The only ones remaining were the betrayed Edward; Yuri, still by his side; Berne, who looked utterly bewildered; and an expressionless Leticia.

“Before…” Yuri spoke in a quiet voice. “Before, you said it would’ve saved you a lot of effort. Don’t tell me you were planning on killing Ed all along?”

“Hm? I thought you didn’t care about him. That he was nothing but a pawn to you?” Leticia retorted.

Yuri flinched and her face twisted. “Just answer me!”

“Regardless of whether I gave the order, he would’ve been sentenced to death eventually. But, hmm…yes… I was planning on blaming the knights for his death and getting rid of him right here and now.”

Both Yuri and Berne looked shocked by Leticia’s cruel confession.

“But why?!” Yuri cried. “He’s your brother!”

“I’ve never seen him nor talked to him before today, but yes. He is my brother.”

“So then why?!”

“Because it was necessary,” Leticia replied calmly as Yuri screamed at her. “If I let him live, he would keep causing trouble. More people would rear their heads, like that man, and try to give him safe harbor. This kingdom doesn’t have the capacity to endure another internal struggle. Yuri, didn’t you want this kingdom to be destroyed? How much blood would you have spilled to accomplish your goals?”

“I’m nothing like you! You sacrificed your own flesh and blood!”

“That’s true. However, I’m a member of this kingdom’s royal family. I’ll do whatever is necessary to protect this kingdom.”

Yuri stared at her.

At that moment, Rudius arrived with several knights behind him. “I have returned, Your Highness.”

“Goodness, that was quick.”

“I brought the guards with me.”

“I see. I want you to return Yuri to her cell and take my brother away.”

“Yes, Princess.”

“Berne, Rudy, I’ll be leaving now. Have a nice day, Yuri.”

Yuri screamed something. Leticia had already turned her back and walked away, Berne and Rudius following after her. The tower was filled with the sound of their footsteps descending the stairs.

For a while, none of them spoke. Finally, Berne said with a sound of resolve in his voice, “Your Highness.”

“What is it, Berne?”

“Did you set this all up with Prince Alfred because you knew this was going to happen?”

“Yes and no.”

Berne gave her a puzzled look.

“My brother wanted to bring their deeds to light. He was going to deal with them once he came home. All he wanted was for them to be arrested. I was the one who wanted them to be punished. I also wanted to eliminate as many risks to my brother as possible.”

“Why?”

Leticia smiled bitterly. “You’re asking me why too? Are you afraid of me?”

They came to the bottom of the stairs and exited the tower through the main door. It was bright and sunny outside, almost blindingly so compared to the dark, dreary atmosphere within. That did nothing to lighten the men’s moods.

“I simply want to know why you made a decision that made you clench your hand so hard you would bleed.”

All of a sudden, Leticia stopped and looked down at her hand in surprise, as if she hadn’t even noticed. Just as Berne had pointed out, blood dripped from her palm. Startled, Rudius tore a piece of cloth from his sash and wrapped her hand to stop the bleeding.

“Why would you put yourself through so much pain on purpose?”

Leticia said nothing for a while under Berne’s piercing gaze. Then she opened her mouth, her lips trembling, and spoke with self-deprecation. “I’m not allowed to be in pain.” Her words echoed around them. “I acted upon the decision I made. I take all responsibility. Being in pain is turning my eyes away from the burdens I must bear.”

“Yet you still chose that? And you’ll continue to choose it?”

“Yes. I can’t afford to stay still. I have to keep moving forward, even if the path is rocky. But…” Leticia paused for a moment. “If I could choose, I would wish for this to be the last time that I felt like the situation was inevitable and I had no other choice. I don’t regret it, though.” Then she smiled sadly. “Rudy, give my other brother a proper burial.”

“Are you sure, Your Highness?”

“Yes. There’s no reason to hide it. We can use that man’s testimony to let it be known that he died. I’m just asking for my own satisfaction.”

“It’s all right. If you had given him a harsher punishment, the people would have feared you, so I think this is for the best. It might be cowardly of me, but I’m relieved that that is your order.”

“I see. Go ahead and see to it, then.”

“Very well.”

Once Leticia reached her room, Rudius left to carry out her orders. She sat in her chair, exhausted.

“Can I bring you something?” Berne asked with concern.

“Nothing for now.” Leticia shook her head and heaved a sigh. “I’m going to ask you a question that might be hard for you to answer. If you don’t want to answer it, you can just say so. What did you think when he died?”

For a moment, Berne looked startled, as if taken completely off guard. “A number of thoughts ran through my head… We spent a long time together, although looking back on it now, it seems relatively short.” He paused, then offered his honest opinion. “Before, you said that this was inevitable, and that you wanted it to be the last time you felt that way. I could say the exact same thing. I find myself wondering if I could’ve done something different to change this, so that none of this would have happened.” He smiled self-effacingly. “Edward and I were on two different paths. But not because I chose to be. I was just lucky. My family and those around me showed me the wider world. Otherwise, I might’ve ended up just like him.”

“That’s true.”

“I pity him, and I regret his fate. However, I won’t allow myself to give up. In order to accept my good fortune, I won’t look away from the mistakes of my past. The only thing I can do is devote myself wholeheartedly to serving our kingdom.”

Leticia closed her eyes as she intently listened. “Then let me ask you again: Can’t you walk the same path as I do?”

“And I will answer once again. I will, for as long as you continue down a path that serves our kingdom.”

Leticia smiled faintly. “Yes. Well then. Let’s get back to work.”