Chapter 67 (1/2)

Reinforcements

As for the Cordovan soldiers that surrendered, or rather became wounded prisoners as Ria’s way of dealing with them, they were divided into three groups.

One group would work on roadworks for three years, being liberated afterwords. This condition somewhat resembled the land reclamation from before, but she was expecting Cordova’s military engineers’ abilities.

Another group would be released as is, but there was a condition this time. The condition was that they absolutely had to return to their hometowns by all means. The reason for this was because she’d heard that Cordova had treated the soldiers that were liberated before as rebels.

And then there was a third way, but it was the path of working as Ria’s bodyguard.

After the soldiers chose their paths, Ria’s group went back on the road towards Manesh.

Twenty thousand reinforcements from Casalia awaited Ria’s arrival at Manesh, along with some familiar faces.

“Luluuu! Carlos!”

Right, among the reinforcements were the magic corps that Lulu belonged to, as well as the knight order that Carlos belonged to. A reunion after a span of several months.

Even if the troops were gathered as hired soldiers, for the Ogress army that had few commanders, this was very welcome.

After that, Ria heard about the situation in the royal capital from Lulu. Apparently, the confusion from the minister’s a.s.sa.s.sination seemed to have been concluded with the criminal being the a foreign country’s subordinate.

Incidentally, there were a lot of second and third sons of penniless n.o.bles among the soldiers sent in the second group.

They were unmistakably there for the war against Cordova with the aim of acquiring plots of land that had lost their feudal lords.

And again, Lulu brought up an incredibly important personal matter.

“Eh? Marriage? You did?”

“No, I haven’t answered yet, but…”

In the queen’s private room, there were her old comrades, as well as all of Ria’s wives. Carlos was left out.

It was the group of everyone concerned. Carlos was left out.

Since he was the one to propose to Lulu.

“Ah… heeh… and so?”

“Well, I’ve been thinking about what to do…”

“So you want to discuss something like that with me huh…”

Ria inclined her head to the side.

(Carlos is a good man. Yep, a good man. Though he contracted that disease known as elf lover, well, there probably won’t be any problems about Lulu being a half-elf.)

He’s devoted, and a gentleman. Ria acknowledged that in their hards.h.i.+ps during their travels, he had upheld his charge as a knight. A model n.o.ble that couldn’t be found in a whole generation.

His face wasn’t bad either, so she couldn’t think up any particular problems.

However, even Ria was embarra.s.sed being consulted about such a thing.

“What did you say to him for now?”

“To please wait a little.”

“So, what about to yourself?”

Asked that, Lulu’s eyes reddened a little.

“I think he’s a good person. He thinks about me, relies on me, and even if he’s a little unreliable, he’s adorable…”

“If that’s how it is, isn’t your answer decided?”

The battle formation of women nodded. Since even Gig nodded, it must have been obvious.

However, there was a single person that raised their hand.

“I think you should wait until after the war is over before giving your answer.”

It was the youngest, Serge, who should have understood the hearts of women the least.

“Eh? Why?”

Although Lulu asked in puzzlement, Ria understood.

“Right, a flag huh.”

“Yeah. The most supreme flag of them all: ‘I, after this war is over, will marry you!'”

Ria nodded along with Serge, who stressed his sentence.

“That certainly does satisfy the requirements. That’s bad.”

Naturally, the expressions of those in the surroundings became rigid at the two people having such a serious conversation.

“What’s so bad about it~?”

As for Irina’s question, although she was unable to read the feeling in the air, it was a GJ in this case.

“Well, I guess it’s a kind of superst.i.tion…”

“Before a war, a soldier would say, ‘I, after this war is over, will marry you!’ Then die in the following battle. That’s the pattern.”

“That’s definitely a superst.i.tion.”

Despite being called a saint, Carla, the atheist, cut the thought away cleanly.

“But I’ve certainly seen it a lot in stories.”

Recently, saying that it was for her education as a princess, s.h.i.+zuna had been reading a lot of books.

“Well, there is a lot of power put into words.”

Ria thought about it logically. [1]

“For your answer, isn’t it fine to wait for the war to end? That way, in order for Carlos to hear your answer, he’ll just have to do his best to survive it.”

“I see, that is true.”

And like this, the time for their short tea party came to an end.

“And that’s what was said.”

“Mmmmmm…”

To Ria’s explanation, Guinevere answered listlessly.

“Something fun like that happened… while I’ve been desperately sorting these doc.u.ments…”

Although Fio said that in envy, if she pulled Fio, who was the secretary, away, their work wouldn’t advance.

When could she make her her formal wife? This was Ria’s headache.

“Setting that aside, I was able to perfectly complete the golem corps project’s plan.”

“Oh nice, so there was funds for it.”

“I invested my own funds. This was originally my country after all.”

“Hoh… wait, you used the money of the Uslan marquis family? Did you speak with Carla about it?”

“Carla’s things are my things. My things are my things as well. It’s fine. Carla would agree if I spoke to her.”