Chapter 4: The Cost of Betrayal

This was the great flaw in a plan where the strategic headquarters was ever moving. The High Britannian Royal Army had employed a similar tactic, splitting their forces in two to counteract and encircle an enemy charge. Belgaria did not have the same number of guns at its disposal, but the movements were the same—aside from them having the additional variable of the Sixth Army at the front to stop Etruria’s advance.

Back then, Regis had employed a cavalry charge against High Britannia. A moving camp meant it was harder for messengers to convey orders, which was a considerable danger in itself. No matter how much attention an army paid to its surroundings, its reaction time would suffer without easy access to reports.

Regis groaned. Now, he found himself suffering exactly the same problem. How could I have permitted a cavalry attack without realizing it?!

“From where...?!”

Not only was Regis certain that he had a full grasp of the enemy deployment, but he had also spread out a more-than-sufficient surveillance network specifically to prevent this outcome.

“A-About that...” The messenger dropped to one knee. “The ones attacking us are the Eighth Army’s cavalry!”

“What?!” Altina roared. “They betrayed us?!” She spoke with such ferocious intensity that even the seasoned warriors around her shuddered.

“I-I don’t know!” the messenger stammered. His shoulders trembled with each shallow breath.

A betrayal through a surprise attack? Does this mean Rockhoward was in contact with Etruria? If so, was his careless conduct all an act? Did he feign incompetence to make us lower our guard? What now?!

There was no time.

I need to make a decision, here and now!

Regis searched through the library in his head and picked out a single book from the many he had committed to memory. He wasted no time in flipping through its pages.

“Have the Fourth Army’s western division change direction and start heading south,” he said. The order was immediately relayed via the sounding of a bugle.

“Not north?!” Eric exclaimed.

“You mean to get support from the Sixth Army, I assume?”

“Right.”

“Well, what if they intend to betray us too?”

“That... That can’t be!”

“We need to prepare for the worst-case scenario.”

We’re up against thirty thousand from Etruria and twenty thousand from the Eighth Army. If we’re especially unfortunate, we’ll need to take on the twenty thousand of the Sixth Army as well. Seventy thousand in total, against an army of eight thousand divided into two. We’ll need a miracle even for Altina to make it out alive.

Regis could feel a shiver run down his spine as he shouted out further orders. “Tell the Flying Swallows to free the Sixth Army and go after the cavalry—”

No. Something about their situation was much too peculiar. Regis had grown too heated and desperate in his attempt to counteract, but now there was a more collected voice in his head offering a new perspective.

This is...impossible, right? I mean, think about it.

This was far from an opportune moment for Rockhoward to betray the Empire. Back when the Fourth Army had been stationed inside Aloe-Marroe, he could have simply marched his soldiers into Regis’s personal room. The tactician wouldn’t have been able to do a thing to stop him.

Then again, such an act of treason would be met with the harshest sentence that Belgaria could offer. The betraying commander would end up beheaded, as would their family, friends, and officers. It was hard to imagine that Etruria could offer anything worth such a serious risk.

A betrayal is...impossible. But then why are they attacking us from behind...?

Perhaps they really had turned coat, but for a reason that Regis simply could not imagine. Perhaps it was a decision that had been made on the spur of the moment.

I should give the order to fend them off at once, but...

“Urgh... G-Gnn...”

“Regis?!” Altina cried.

He needed to do what he could to protect the princess. But at the same time, he was certain that this young woman, who had mastered using the Empire’s treasured sword, would never fall to another knight.

“Keep the Flying Swallows where they are!” Regis ordered. “We’ll meet the Eighth Army here at our main camp!”

“So we’re fighting?” Altina asked.

“Yes. I’m sorry. I’m going to have to rely on you.”

“Oh, don’t worry about that!”

The ruckus behind them grew even louder as a cavalry drew near, parting all the ranks in its path. They were knights of the Empire—there was no doubting that. The crest of the Eighth Army was proudly emblazoned on their chests.

They were fast. The disorder in the Fourth Army must have played a part in allowing them to proceed without resistance, but even then, they had fought their way through the formation’s rear and were approaching the main camp far too quickly. To make matters worse, none other than Rockhoward himself was taking the lead.

“Graaaaaah!”

“Treacherous lout!” Altina shouted as she prepared for battle. “I’ll teach you a lesson you’ll never forget!”

The riders of the Eighth Army breached the main camp and came straight for them. Rockhoward was holding his spear high, and as he reached the princess, he cried:

“Généralissime! Are you safe?!”

Altina froze. The most she could muster was a quiet, “Huh...?”

Regis had no idea what to say either. His mind was completely blank.

“Fweh...?” Altina absentmindedly exclaimed. She was frozen in place like a statue, her massive sword stalled just before she could lower it on Rockhoward.

“It seems you are uninjured,” the lieutenant general said with a relieved exhale. “Thank goodness.”

“Er...what?”

“I saw the Fourth Army crumble from the ramparts and rushed out to help in your time of crisis! I’m glad we made it before it was too late! Just leave the rest to the Eighth Army!”

Altina was stunned into dumbfounded silence, as was Regis. It was simply too much. By now, the eastern edge of the encirclement had fallen apart, and the Etruscan Army was getting back on its feet. Rockhoward had inadvertently afforded time to the enemy commander—time that they used to regain their unit.

The Etruscan Army was reorganizing and reforming its battle lines, and once its commander had a full grasp of the situation, it promptly began its retreat. This was an appropriate decision—a third of the Etruscan soldiers had already fallen, and Belgaria would be unable to pursue the remaining forces without risking considerable losses. The enemy had been on the very cusp of surrender, but now that moment had slipped through the Empire’s fingers.

“Don’t pursue them too far,” Regis said, feeling as though he were speaking in the voice of a stranger. “Please stay in formation.”

The messenger offered a solemn nod in response, and soon enough, a sorrowful tune escaped the bugles. It was safe to call this a victory for Belgaria. They had achieved many things, and yet the air of a defeated army loomed over them.

“Généralissime! Ma’am! The enemy is fleeing!” Rockhoward exclaimed.

“I guess they are.”

“My horsemen are still in good health! Please, allow me permission to pursue them!”

Altina said nothing.

“Please!” Rockhoward repeated. “I shall return with their commander’s head on a pike!”

The princess had been so exuberant just a short while ago, but now she looked as though she had endured three consecutive all-nighters slaving over paperwork. Even with the numerous precedents he had already set, Rockhoward proved that his stupidity exceeded all expectations.

Finally, she managed a response. “I ordered the Eighth Army to defend our base, did I not? To defend the city and never come out, under any circumstances.”

“Yes, ma’am! However, I determined that our commander was in mortal danger!”

“Did the Fourth Army send any signals asking for your assistance?”

“No, ma’am! But I must protect you to my last breath! The généralissime is vital to the Empire.”

Altina fell silent once again, prompting Regis to take over. “Why did you so suddenly barge through the Fourth Army’s rear guard?” he asked. “There should have been better ways to announce your presence as an allied force.”

Rockhoward gave Regis a look as though he were regarding a complete fool. “Well, because I need to be by the généralissime’s side as soon as physically possible, of course!”

“As a result of your actions, the Etruscan Army, which was on the verge of surrender, has instead made an orderly retreat.”

“Indeed. The moment my army joined the fray, they must have realized that they had no chance of victory! Thus, they decided to retreat. I am surprised this seems strange to you.”

“What are you talking about? Our victory was already assured. The enemy only escaped us because our encirclement was disrupted from behind.”

“Does it matter?” Rockhoward replied in a remonstrative tone. “We won.”

“That’s not what I...” Regis trailed off, stunned. “Just how many lives do you think we lost forming that encirclement?”

“Bah hah hah! You fixate on the strangest things, Tactician. Oh, I see! You must think that I’ve made off with your glory!”

“What glory is there in your dereliction of duty?!”

“I adapted to the situation!” Rockhoward declared with a self-satisfied shrug. As far as he was concerned, Regis was craving recognition and coming out with all manner of excuses and false allegations to that end.

All of a sudden, Altina thrust her treasured sword into the ground and pulled up her legs like a coiled spring. The surrounding troops wondered what was about to happen, and as so much attention gathered upon the princess, she leaped from the back of her trusty steed and flew through the air like a magnificent eagle.

“You imbecile!”

Altina landed a flying kick on Rockhoward, who was thrown from his horse with an awkward, “Gwah?!” He struck the ground with a resounding thud, and the nearby soldiers immediately took a step back. They cried out in confusion as they formed a ring around the spectacle.

Altina towered over the lieutenant general sprawled on the ground, her eyes brimming with an unmistakable rage. “Your breach of orders completely ruined our impending victory!” she snapped. “And to make matters worse, you’ve made no attempt to even recognize your failure! You’re as self-centered as you are incompetent. You have no right to lead one of our nation’s armies!”

“Urgh... My face... You kicked me in the face!” Rockhoward shouted. His voice quavered, and he was holding his nose. “Even if you are royalty, this is unforgivable! Unreasonable! I’m the head of a marquis house!”

“Not my problem!” Altina retorted, even louder. “As the généralissime, I dismiss you from your position as commander of the Eighth Army!”

“What?! Very well, then! Have it your way! Most of the Eighth Army is made up of my own personal soldiers, so I’ll take them all with me!”

“Just get lost already!”

And with that, the shouting match was over. Regis could feel the flood of emotions slowly draining from his body, perhaps because the princess had so aptly voiced what was gnawing away at him. “It seems we have settled upon the dismissal of the commander and the dismantlement of the Eighth Army,” he said as he likewise stood over Rockhoward. “However, before that, I will need you to settle a matter of responsibility.”

“Silence!” Rockhoward barked. “A mere chevalier shall not speak to a marquis without permission!”

“This is a military matter; I address you not as a chevalier, but as the strategist of the généralissime’s council. I urge you, the commander of the Eighth Army, to carry out your final duty.”

“What duty?”

“Surely a lieutenant general must be aware that a serious dereliction of duty can be met with execution.”

Rockhoward paled at those words. “S-Such nonsense...” he sputtered. “I am a marquis. A marquis of the west, even! A member of the third faction! I’m on the princess’s side!”

“Is that so?” Altina asked. “I don’t remember ever receiving any support from House Rockhoward.”

“That’s, well... That’s because I, the head of the house, was out on the battlefield. I was rooting for you emotionally! You will see support henceforth.”

“It’s too late now!” Altina said as she drew her sword from the dirt. Its blade sliced through the earth and seemingly even the wind itself.

“Wait! Généralissime! Please!” Rockhoward pleaded. “I really was thinking of nothing but your safety!”

Regis shook his head. “You were thinking of a way to gain more recognition.”

“Well, isn’t that true for everyone?!”

“Not once in my life have I wished to be recognized.”

Regis felt no sympathy for the man who had made light of so many lives for his own selfish desires—who failed to understand the error of his ways even now. Some saw ignorance as an unchangeable facet of one’s personality, but just as a soldier who neglected training would fall on the battlefield, or a farmer who neglected farmwork would welcome a meager harvest, a commander who neglected to learn needed to be punished. It was not something that could simply be forgiven due to the offender’s standing.

Altina thrust out her sword. “Rockhoward!” she roared.

“Eek!” Rockhoward shrieked as the blade grazed the tip of his nose.

“Because of your greed, we have lost a victory that so many men staked their lives on. Take responsibility for what you have cost us.”

“Hh... Ghh... Grr...”

His face turned blue, then red. Blood trickled down his nose while sweat beaded on his forehead. And then, from among the ranks of soldiers forming a ring around them...a single man emerged.

“Pardon me,” the man said, his thick lips curled into an affable smile. It was Inspector Frank Ignatius de Duran.

“Do you need something?” Altina asked, her eyes and sword unmoving.

Frank shrugged. “I understand that this may be forward, but could you leave his punishment to me? This is part of my work.”

“How does an unemployed man intend to deal with him? In case you’ve forgotten, the Ministry is no more.”

“Truth be told, that’s not entirely the case. My mission this time was to secretly investigate Sir Rockhoward. I’ve now confirmed a grievous breach of orders that can’t be overlooked.”

“Your mission... You’ve already got another job, then?”

Frank produced an epaulet from his pocket. “I’ve been accepted into the new national gendarmerie,” he said. “We’re officials who crack down on injustices committed against the people, even those by high-ranking members of the military. For a long while, the organization was but a shadow of its former self, but Emperor Latrielle has revived it.”

“The gendarmerie...?” Altina asked quizzically.

Regis knew the organization existed, but he hadn’t heard anything about it being reorganized. “I was led to believe it was an organization to keep watch over high-ranking military officials and nobles,” he said.

“That’s a misunderstanding—we don’t discriminate whatsoever,” Frank replied. “Although, given their greater influence over the nation, we do have a tendency to prioritize those with greater authority.” He knowingly closed one eye.

“So, what’s going to happen to Sir Rockhoward...?”

“He’s going to be apprehended and confined to the capital. His crimes will be investigated, and I presume he will need to pay a large sum of reparations to the state and the généralissime.”

“That sounds about right...”

In other words, the issue was going to be resolved financially. It was inevitable; Belgaria was purposefully easy on its nobles, even in criminal matters. Incarcerating a prominent noble was rather pointless in the long run, so money was demanded from them instead.

Noticing that Altina looked wholly unsatisfied with this outcome, Frank attempted to calm her. “I’ll explain the situation to the Eighth Army’s officers on my end. He’s still their commander, despite everything—they’re more likely to listen to me than to a généralissime who kicked him in the face. I’ll do my best to make sure they’re content.”

“If they’re loyal enough to Rockhoward to get annoyed at me, they should channel that loyalty into reining in his foolishness,” Altina replied. She made quite a reasonable point.

“Please do,” Regis said to the inspector, very much on board with the proposal. “We’ll accept anyone who wants to transfer to the Fourth Army, but...I wouldn’t want to force people to obey us.”

Making subordinates of those who were still siding with Rockhoward was a recipe for disaster. Altina seemed to understand this, as she tucked away her sword. “I’ll put my support behind whatever Regis thinks is best,” she said.

“Thank you for being so understanding,” Frank replied, courteously bowing his head. “The rest will be left to the gendarmerie, then.”

A number of soldiers bearing the same insignia on their shoulders stepped out from the ring of spectators and brought Rockhoward to his feet.

“Careful,” Frank warned the lieutenant general. “Resist and you’ll be tried for treason.”

“Erk... Unhand me!” Rockhoward protested. “I can w-walk on my own!” He shot Regis a fierce glare as he was led away, but he received no response. The tactician was already well accustomed to having prominent nobles despise him, so he was too busy considering his next course of action.

The other one won’t be so easy...

✧ ✧ ✧

Now that relations with the Eighth Army had broken down, Regis could no longer leave them to defend the base. The Fourth Army returned to Aloe-Marroe before word of the outside happenings spread, and the officers serving under Rockhoward were gathered in the courtyard where Frank explained the situation.

Frank worried the men would grow enraged or even lash out upon hearing that their lord was apprehended...but his fears were surprisingly unfounded. As the circumstances were explained, they sighed and placed their heads in their hands. Those from House Rockhoward seemed particularly affected.

“I always thought our house’s head would do something one of these days...” one of the men said.

“Has he always been like that?” Frank asked.

The man nodded. “How should I put this...? Once his mind is set on something, he tends to forget about everything else.”

To put it nicely, Rockhoward was an abnormally focused individual—one whom Frank considered unsuited to being a commander.

“The Eighth Army is disbanded, and House Rockhoward will need to pay a hefty fee,” Frank explained. “There’s no law restricting a noble from keeping an army, but I predict that he’s going to struggle to maintain his current forces.”

“What’s going to happen to us...?”

“I’m just a gendarme; I can’t say much on the matter.”

Frank’s division was under the direct control of the emperor, which meant he sided with the First Army. The problem was, the First Army was an elite unit, while the Eighth Army’s soldiers were not reported to be particularly strong. It was doubtful that the First Army would take them in, especially considering the problems they had caused.

Perhaps their careers would have been more secure if the Ministry were still around, but the First Army had taken over its duties. Corruption had decreased sharply as a result, but now there were far fewer people to work with and much that still needed to be ironed out. There was a high chance that the remaining soldiers would end up neglected for the time being.

The officers started exchanging distressed glances. “S-Seriously...?” one muttered.

“I can’t stand this!” another spat. “We’ve been serving since my grandpa’s time, but our strategies, equipment, and training—they’re all outdated. We never achieve anything of note! And on top of that, now we’ve got a dishonorable breach of orders to deal with!”

A third man paused for a moment in thought. “Actually... I remember hearing that the Fourth Army doesn’t have enough imperial soldiers,” he said. Those words seemed to trigger something in the gathered officers, as they suddenly began spewing all the information they knew.

“Yeah, that must be why they summoned all those mercenaries the other day!”

“They’re not even ten thousand strong, are they?”

“No, but I’ve heard they’ve got divisions in the north and east...”

“Still, there aren’t enough soldiers under the généralissime’s direct control, right?”

“That feeble tactician did say something about needing more troops...”

“All right. Let’s go haggle with him!”

Rockhoward must have been a less popular commander than expected; rather than lamenting his fate, the men began herding out of the courtyard without so much as a word of concern for him. Most would presumably transfer to the Fourth Army. Once the vast majority were gone, only a handful of old men remained.

“What about you, gentlemen?” Frank asked.

“Who knows?” one replied, seeming to speak for the others as well. “I’m not at an age to be chasing promotions and glory. I’m going to make my way home, but on the off chance that His Majesty ever chooses to forgive our lord...a part of me still wants to support him.”

“I respect the depths of your devotion.”

“I...must repay my debt to his predecessor.”

“I know I’m not one to speak, but...knights these days tend to value personal gain over honor. The way I see it, men like you are the only ones who deserve the title.”

The man shook his head. “I’m too old to find a new lord to serve, is all. Gendarme, House Rockhoward is a noble lineage that supported L’Empereur Flamme himself. Although the current generation is a simpleton, he has no rebellious intent. I beg of you—please be lenient with him.”

At this, the old men all sadly bowed their heads.

Frank could only shy away from the show of melancholy. “I’ll...pass your words on to His Majesty,” he said.

✧ ✧ ✧

Meanwhile, only two men were present in the great conference room that could have seated dozens. One was Regis; the other was Lieutenant General Dorvale, commander of the Sixth Army. Altina was nowhere to be seen, and neither man had any guards with them. Regis had asked for a private conversation, and the lieutenant general no doubt wanted to air his grievances about the previous engagement.

“Go on, then! Explain what all of that was!” Dorvale exclaimed, looking like indignation personified. Regis decided to take up the challenge.

“We managed to fight back the Etruscan Army with the assistance of the Sixth Army, although our encirclement was breached due to the Eighth Army’s overeagerness.”

“I couldn’t give a rat’s ass about the Eighth Army! I was never informed that you planned to use my army as a shield!”

“We did nothing of the sort. It is quite common for one’s ranks to fall apart when faced with an enemy charge. That’s precisely why we have a rear guard.”

“It is not common for a force of eight thousand to split cleanly down the center! They had clearly rehearsed for this!”

“Rehearsed or not, it was on the decision of the généralissime. There is no reason to rebuke soldiers on the battlefield for standing and facing the enemy head-on,” Regis said. Of course, he had been the one to propose the plan, not Altina, but he saw no reason to reveal that.

Dorvale’s frustrations were far from quelled. “There is nothing I can say if our commander gave the order—that much is true. But do you think you can earn the trust of your soldiers with such heartless commands?!”

“Ah. So this is about trust, then?” Had the princess been there, perhaps she would have taken Dorvale’s side on the matter. This was a personal discussion, however, so she had no reason to be in attendance.

“You’re much too young!” Dorvale fervently went on. “The plan was splendid, I can admit that, but you cannot expect to command when you jeopardize the trust of your soldiers!”

“I shall make sure to remember that. Incidentally, on the topic of trust... What say you?”

“I don’t take your meaning.”

“Seeing the Sixth Army clash with Etruria’s forces removed all doubt—had your men taken on just as many Etruscans, they would very easily have won.”

“Hah... Ah hah hah!” Dorvale’s shoulders trembled as he laughed. “I was wondering what you were going to say. The outcome can be but a matter of chance.”

“Before this battle, there were several other engagements. During each one, the Sixth Army was thoroughly driven back without losing any troops. I can only think you conceded victory to the enemy,” Regis said with certainty.

Dorvale shook his head. “You were not there then; I cannot expect you to understand. The condition of our men, the force of the enemy... The situation differed greatly from what you observed today.”

“So you claim you did not intentionally retreat?”

“Naturally! For what reason would I do such a thing? I have nothing to gain from intentionally losing to Etruria!”

“As a result, Sembione and seven other forts have fallen into enemy hands,” Regis said.

“And the Sixth Army will participate in the battle to reclaim them. I would never lose deliberately. All the praise has gotten to your head, Tactician! On my honor, I won’t permit these baseless accusations!”

Dorvale prattled on with an unmistakable intensity. Once upon a time, Regis would have been too afraid to respond, but now... To put it bluntly, this was nothing compared to being on the battlefield where the lives of ten thousand men were in his hands. He was as weak as a puppy, but he had endured the murderous intent of the Black Knight Jerome, Mercenary King Gilbert, and even Emperor Latrielle firsthand.

No matter how Dorvale might threaten me, he just seems...underwhelming by comparison.

Regis did not even break into a sweat as he asked, “Where did you put the rations that were supposed to be at those forts?”

Dorvale smirked. “Do you really need to ask? It is regrettable, but they’re in Etruscan hands now. Are you requesting reparations for them? My army protected the civilians. You’re not going to tell me that their lives are less important than some sacks of grain, are you?”

“You may think that an appropriate response, but you’re changing the subject. If you want to compare lives and grain, we can have that conversation later. For now, I think you should answer my question.”

“It was an appropriate response!”

“I’ll ask again—where are the rations?”

“With the Etruscans! Weren’t you listening?!”

“You say that, but an Etruscan officer we took captive claims that the storehouses of each fortress they captured were empty.”

“Hah! So, you’re interrogating me based on the nonsense of a foreign soldier?! You’re really trying my patience!”

“The princess has the backing of the Tiraso Laverdes, an astute household who rally the up-and-coming nobles of the south. After serving so long in the southern region, I assume you are aware of them, Lieutenant General Dorvale.”

“I’ve at least met them before.”

“Are you aware that they manage the Empire’s southern merchants?”

“Hmm? Well... No. I’ve heard they were wealthy merchants, but I didn’t realize they were that important. Still, what does that have to do with these rations?” Dorvale asked. He looked thoroughly done with the conversation.

Regis gazed across the plains outside the window. The earth was on the verge of turning madder red in the setting sun. “A fortress fell to the Etruscan Army, and their invasion was permitted to continue,” he said. “As the Empire’s agricultural region continues to be taken, the cost of wheat and vegetables has risen dramatically. I hear that Hispaniard pirates are also laying waste to the seas.”

“Weren’t we going to talk about rations?!”

Regis locked eyes with Dorvale. “Well, I’m sure the value of those rations shot up as well.”

“You got any evidence, kid?” the lieutenant general responded. His expression looked as twisted as the devil in a church fresco, his voice as dark and menacing as the depths of the underworld.

Of course, Regis had not stepped into this snake’s den unprepared. “This is a list of all the merchants who deal with the Sixth Army,” he said, producing a sheet of parchment. “I’ve placed a mark by the ones who purportedly deal in spirits and clothes outside of normal circulation. Do they ring any bells, Lieutenant General Dorvale?”

Dorvale responded with a low growl. His lip trembled.

“Emperor Latrielle has apparently reestablished the national gendarmerie,” Regis continued. “Were you aware? Perhaps I could have them investigate the books of a few peculiar merchants. Now, let me ask you again—what happened to the rations of those forts?”

“Gh... You... You damn brat!”

Dorvale’s hand went to the sword at his waist, but Regis merely narrowed his eyes in response. “So you admit it, then?”

The lieutenant general gave a deep sigh. “I never thought you would actually piece it all together. I suppose this was to be expected.”

“Mm. How unfortunate.”

“Yes, how truly unfortunate. Our nation will surely mourn the loss of such a great hero.”

“Wait. Lieutenant General?!”

“I’ll toss your worthless body in the lake, alongside that blasted document!”

Regis backed away with a yelp as Dorvale drew his blade. He had confronted many imposing people and grown accustomed to their intimidation and malice, but that did not make him any less useless when it came to battle. Even swinging around a practice sword was still too much for him to manage.

I’m... I’m going to die.

“Regis!”

The door to the conference room burst open with a rending cry. The hefty wood had shattered under the force of Altina’s Grand Tonnerre Quatre, and through the eruption of splinters raced a dark shadow.

“Dorvale!” Eddie shouted as he closed the distance between himself and the lieutenant general, the Défendre Sept ready in his hand.

“Fool. Have you no honor?!” Dorvale cried. He swung down his sword...and could only watch as it shattered into pieces.

Duke Eddie Fabio de Balzac had developed and mastered a technique to effectively disarm his opponents. One stroke was enough to destroy Dorvale’s blade.

The lieutenant general stood stock-still, his hand quivering from the impact. “Grr... To think you were so skilled all along...”

“I’m the head of House Balzac, in case you’ve forgotten.”

“Bastard!” Dorvale snapped, his eyes wide open. “You never achieved anything under me!”

“Haven’t I told you already? I can’t stand the sight of blood.”

Dorvale dropped to his knees, still gripping the sorry remains of his weapon. “Wh-What did I do wrong...?” he muttered in a stupor. “I sold a few measly rations. All those nobles out on the front lines... They all do the same...”

Regis let out a deep breath. “That was...surprising.”

“Hey, that should be my line,” Eddie said with a wry smile. “Can’t have you dying over something like this, Regis.”

Altina walked over, her sword slung across her shoulder. “My thoughts exactly! You told me to wait outside, so I decided to leave things to you. Look where that got you!”

“Well, I never imagined that he would suddenly attack me...” Regis muttered.

“Naive!” Altina barked. “Way too naive!”

“You think so?”

Eddie was just as admonishing. “Doesn’t matter whether they’re bandits or nobles—you can expect criminals to act pretty much the same,” he said.

“I’ll make sure to be more careful next time,” Regis replied. He looked at Dorvale. “I wanted the lieutenant general to repent his actions. I wanted to settle the matter before it became a big deal.”

Altina sighed. “To think I’d need to say this twice in one day...”

Dorvale groaned and drooped his head; there was no way for him to avoid what was coming next.

“As généralissime, I dismiss you from your position as commander of the Sixth Army!”

The ruckus caused several of the soldiers on patrol to race over. “What? The door?!” one of them exclaimed. “What happened?!”

Altina was about to explain, but Regis raised a hand to stop her. “An intruder,” he said. “Presumably from the Etruscan Army. They might have infiltrated the city, so bolster our security. Lieutenant General Dorvale was injured.”

“Heavens!”

This was a lie, of course—there was no intruder and nobody was injured. The soldiers were none the wiser, so they hurried off to inform the others. There would no doubt be more patrols around the fortress going forward.

Next, Regis turned to Eddie. “Secure Lord Dorvale in a room at once. Please watch over him for a while, and don’t let anyone in.”

“Got it,” Eddie replied with a nod. “Get someone to come replace me as soon as you can, though. I’m not looking forward to spending time alone with this guy.”

“Understood.”

In the end, only Regis and Altina remained in the conference room. “You’re not injured, are you?” the princess asked. “Be honest with me.”

“I’m fine.”

Altina paused for a moment before she spoke again. “Hey, um... Why didn’t you turn Dorvale in to the gendarmerie?”

“Because he isn’t the one behind it all.”

“Huh?!”

“Lord Dorvale is a noble from the central region; he wouldn’t have an easy time finding a merchant willing to accept stolen military supplies.”

“Ah. True...”

“I’m wondering whether the merchant came to him with the idea. I suppose it wouldn’t matter either way, though—we can’t let someone run free after purchasing what belongs to the imperial army.”

“Yeah. They had to have known what they were doing.”

“That’s why I don’t want Dorvale’s capture to be made public. Not until we’ve investigated the merchants,” Regis said, albeit with a conflicted expression. He had arranged to meet with Dorvale alone so that the matter could be settled in secret...but never had he expected to be so suddenly attacked. Humans were surprisingly hasty. They were imprudent. Greedy. They did not move like pieces on a chessboard.

Altina placed a hand on her hip. “There’s no way around it, then! There’s loads for us to do, but let’s do our best, Regis!”

The princess’s bottomless cheer and optimism were incomprehensible to Regis. She was precious, wonderful, and all-around dazzling. She had the strength to keep pushing forward regardless of whatever adversity she faced.

“Thank you,” Regis muttered.

“Ah hah hah! Don’t you worry about it. I’ll protect you, Regis! That’s the decision I’ve come to!”

“I’m not sure that’s entirely appropriate, what with you being my commander and me your subordinate.”

“It can’t be helped. You’re pretty weak, you know!”

“I...won’t deny that. But—”

“The question is, what should we do from here?!”

They would need to investigate the merchants suspected of conducting illegal dealings with the Sixth Army—preferably all of them at once, in case word spread and they began to hide evidence. They would also need to trace the movements of a fleeing Etruscan Army, which had presumably retreated back to Sembione.

We might have another siege on our hands.

And worse still, Latrielle’s ambitions were by no means limited to national defense. “Next, we will probably be set to invade,” Regis said.

Altina tightly pursed her lips.