Vol 3 Chapter 1 (1/2)
The e advanced slowly in the darkness of the wilderness with the aid of the oil lahts
The fortress in front was erected over a mountain
In the ed neatly in a row,
The gate in the middle opened slowly to the side as the torches in the surrounding were lit one by one, strong soldiers held on to their pikes warily
Two o, this was still Varden Duchy's faaria empire, Fort Volks under the Marie Quatre army
The driver picked up the oil lamp and passed the information to the soldiers as dictated by the doctrines
The guard at theto his commander
A moment later
The guard coht hand on his left chest
”Thank you for your hard work, Sir strategist”
” Ah, same to you Thank you for your hard work”
Regis as seated beside the driver lowered his head in a panic The commander was a old veteran noble of the empire, and held an important post in the army
Regis was known as 'the strategist that took down Fort Volks' and was highly evaluated in the empire
-- the one as victorious was Altina
Regis didn't say it out loud and just mumbled in his heart
The carriage stopped at a cave dug frois thanked the driver politely and prepared to return to his room
Regis carried his luggage and headed towards his room via the stairway He pondered about the proble too many stairs in this fort
”Hmm?”
”You are finally back, Regis”
Regis irl Altina, commander of the army as on her way down
”Ah~, Altina”
In the presence of others, Regis would think about their social position and address Altina as 'princess' Being too inforht affect the morale of the troops
But Altina had requested him to use her nickname whenever possible
Nor to a 14 year old girl But Altina's beauty could is lose himself sometimes
Her long flaht ruby eyes, and porcelain white skin that didn't beco
Her alluring pink lips were pouting
No no no, don't think any is composed himself and walked towards Altina
”Regis, did you go to town again?”
”Ahh, yes, don't worry I didn't splurge any money”
”I will stop worrying when you return all the money you owe me”
”Ugh, well Soon, soon”
”Really, it had been so long I alot your name”
”Eh? It hadn't been long, just 3 days right?”
”Not just 3 days! And you didn't tell ”
”Well”
Regis knew if he told Altina in advance, she would come up with all sorts of reasons to stop him
But if they went together, they would need a security party for the co up, so Altina would have to put up with this for now
”Why did you leave without saying anything”
”I went to town because of errands, doesn't Altina have duties in the fort too?”
”Alright, I get it But tellout next time”
”Erm Yeah”
Altina had been acting like this since fort Volks was taken Recently, she had been acting like a lonely child
It wouldn't be surprising for a noris had low self esteeap was really big
-- Altina's uneasiness probably ste with the 2nd prince Latreille
Towilled Altina so ht
”Altina, it will be fine Prince Latreille was the subject of bad rumours, no matter hoeak your position may be, it is still better than him”
Prince Latreille poisoned the first prince Auguste so he would be next in line to the throne-- such baseless ru in the empire
Between July and August last year, Auguste suddenly vo dinner and fainted He had always been frail and never left his residence since then
Hence, if Altina was attacked in the capital, Latreille's reputation would plummet Latreille would definitely want to avoid that
Under such circuuste's side sending assassins after Altina
Altina tilted her head and said:
”H Latreille suddenly?”
”Ah, huh?
”As a ”
”Well, I am a man who is serious about work”
Eh, only the protagonist in novels could soothe the uneasiness of a lady's heart, it's ied
Altina changed the topic
”By the way, Auguste's residence caught fire recently”
”Ahh, I heard about that Froathered from the streets, the empire's official stance says it was the work of bandits, there are no ru an assassination attempt”
”assassination?”
”The eiment announced 'this incident was caused by bandits ere after the valuable paintings in the residence' The guard coned because of that”
”Ara, forget the villa, even the palace was burning, I'uste is okay”
Altina was the 4th in line for the throne and was ai her position, the first prince being safe wasn't a good thing-- Altina probably didn't consider that and was just happy her brother was safe
What if Altina hoped for her brother's deis didn't think deeper and advanced the topic
”Major general Baudouin is a noble supporting Latreille Allowing his resignation without further investigation is baffling”
”Huard co prepared for the bandits?”
”Well Think about it, no et prince Auguste's villa right? Doesn't this iuard co to assassinate prince Auguste?”
Altina frowned
”Regis, you areit too complicated, I don't understand”
”Oh, is that so? Fros, we should plan for the worst”
”Are you confident with your deduction?”
”Yes, the poisoning incident half a year ago was definitely the same, a scheed the script Instead of a drama, this is closer to the story in a novel”
”Quoting your books again?”
”Ah, no No ht? The destination for our trip is the capital this time, so it can't be helped”
”Right, Be it a snake or ghost that is causing trouble, ould feel safer with a sword in hand Isn't that right?”
”That proverb is probably not h”
”Ah, eh, right”
As they were chit chatting, the sound of clanking armor drew near
Looking towards the source of the sound, they saw a largein the stairith loud footsteps
Sharp wild eyes stared right at them, His face had a hint of unhappiness on his lips The broad shoulder and tight nified
He was the hero with the notoriety of the black knight, Margrave Jerome Jean de Beilschmidt
”What are you two doing?”
”Ernation to take responsibility”
”Baudouin? Major general? I never heard that name before”
”He was appointed as the iuard commander recently Because of the bandit attack on the villa, he took responsibility and resigned”
”Oh, the capital's guard coes to death while hogging the glory to himself”
Jeroeneral who left the safety of the capital He was criticized strongly by the soldiers who grabbed the glory during the civil war That was the norm for the front line soldiers
”Regis, putting that trash aside, how did that o?”
” Everything is in place”
The relevant personnel were gathered in the commander's office
Fort Volks, commander's office--
Germania built the fort into the ance The white walls and plain black tables decorated this si this place, the only decoration was just a vase
Hung on the as the flag designed by Altina personally It had green as its base colour with a giant shi+eld in the middle
Four people were seated around the sturdy table
Altina earing gauntlets and shi+n guard over her gown, the tactician Regis, general Jeroht Evrard as at the prime of his life
After Regis finished his report gathered from town--
There was a sudden knocking on the door
”This is Eric Michael de Blanchard”
”Ah, enter”
”Yes!”
A young knight as not yet 16 walked, his blond hair flowing down his back He wore his military uniform neatly, the perfect exah pitch befitting a girl too
Eric was Evrard's grandson But Evrard's bald head, thick black beard and orilla bore no similarity with Eric
Regis looked towards Altina and explained the situation in detail
Regis stood up and took the files from Eric and said:
”You are volunteering to be Altina's escort, recommendation was made by Evrard, is that it?”
”Yes! Please allow me to take on this appointment!”
” The safety of her highness outside of the fort will be in your hands I a on you!”
”I swear on my life!”
Eric closed his lips tight and saluted
Altina smiled when she saw this scene
”I will be in your care”
At this moment, Evrard who made the recommendation had an unexpectedly heavy expression
”I wanted to protect her highness with my oord”
”That would be troubling for uard commander of the fort after all”
Beilschiade Recently, the soldiers had been calling themselves the Marie Quatre army
The coiment was as follows;
Working under Cois and Guard Commander Evrard
General Jerohts, 500 mercenary riders, 1000 artillery, 1000 infantry and 2000 mercenaries
Guard couards and escort officer Eric
As for others such as doctors, cooks, ar officers
For the Belgarian eiment was decided by the commander
In this era where coh physical letters, it’s impossible to expect detailed instructions frohest authority in their territory
Since the previous coade, the co
As the command systeht next to the strategist Regis in the organization chart
As the seniority of appoint sos
Looking at the saluting Eric, Jeroh his nose
”Huard?”
”Didn't you think the sa?”
”Fufufu Coer instead”
”Ugh”
Eric lowered his head and pursed his lips
Coer It is normal for most people to think that way, since the princess was a match for the hero Jerome
When he thought of this, Regis shook his head
” The princess' sword is too prominent, especially in the capital”
Upon hearing this, Altina looked impressed
”I got it Please do your best in places where I can’t bring my sword”
”That's right, there would be a 3 day festival on founding day, and her highness would be attending in the position of the royal princess”
It’s inconvenient toa gown
”I hate gowns! Being ar as a soldier”
”Don't say such rash words”
”But Latreille wore a sword!?”
” Because he is the commander in chief of the first army”
”I aiment too”
” I know, but Latreille is a man”
”Ugggghhhhh how frustrating! I won't acknowledge this!!!”
In this era, there ide distinctions between a man and a woman Even if their status were the saes than the women
For exairl, the other male in the family wouldn't treat her as a successor of the clan The line of succession would fall onto her younger brothers
A royalty, this posed all sort of problems
Altina gestured to Eric
”Well, forget it Take a seat”
”Ye, yes!”
Eric sat down after receiving the order
Regis put the next document onto the table
”Sir Jerome, these are the files for that issue I have written down in detail the things to prepare”
”Het the money?”
”Some of the prisoners of ere nobles in the Varden Duchy It's not much, but on't be able to use it anyway if we lose”
The nobles captured during wars could be repatriated for a sum of money, which was an important source of funds for the army
”It must be hard to have prepared this much”
”In ter, we have to make preparations to make up for it”
”They outnu that can be settled with just fighting spirit”
”It's great that Sir Jerome thinks this way too We can't afford to take any losses for our knights, so we need to avoid battle”
”Even if it’s me, I won't make unnecessary sacrifice on the spur of thetricks of yours”
”Thank you, I will definitely do that”
”Ereis, cowards on the battlefield are the ones closest to death
” Thank you for your advice, I will keep that in mind”
Jerome took the doculance
Altina said with a stunned expression:
”What ritten on it?”
” A back up plan in case of eencies Preparation others won't see if we don't do anything The next time the empire sumhts, I think that would be better”
”I feel the saantly within the empire's territory?”
”That e to have an escort of such scale for royalty”
”Isn't that just putting up a false front?”
Altina refuted the stateesture
” But as a royalty, wouldn't bringing too few escorts invite ridicule?”
These words had the opposite effect and Altina's eyes turned sharp
”Wouldn't we be the sa our tax ht! We should travel the same way as commoners in coaches”
”What, what did you say? Isn't it obvious that that is impossible? Ah, no, I hness”
”Didn't Regis travel this way from the capital to Tuonvell? On a coach, and the cheapest one at that”
”That's because the unit's funds were running low though”
” Ugh~~”
”It's decided! We travel by coach! I have never took one before, I a forward to it!”
”Well”
”Absolutely not!! I won't allow such a dangerous thing!”
Before Regis could object, Evrard's protested loudly and Eric nodded in agreement
Jero heartily
”Fu haha! Isn't that great? Let her go if she wants to, let the others laugh at her”
” What exactly did the people in the palace tell you”
What a failure-- Regis thought as he hugged his head, he shouldn't have et in front of Altina
Altina pondered about the words she heard fro time and made an unreasonable reply
A royaltyto the capital by coach
” Ah I read so like this from a book”
In the book he read previously, he saw a similar plot development
Altina looked uneasy
”What is it Regis? Are you angry?”
”Ah, no thinking carefully, this isn't a bad idea The nobles would pick on us anyway, like the color of the dress or the hair accessories”
Since they would be criticized for acting conservative, why not amble
Altina's drea the normal path
Year of the empire 851 April 9th--
The coach set off in the
4 chestnut colored large horses shook their heads as they advanced at a steady pace
This was a coach similar to the one that makes a daily round trip from Tuonvell town and Fort Sierck
This coach could seat 12 passengers at once, with 3 rows of 4 seats The top of the coach is the cargo compartment
Seated in the is, Altina, Clarisse and Eric
Clarisse was the personalher since her days in the capital and was a lady two years older than Regis
Her long brown hair flowed down her back, she wasn't inIn its place, she wore a blue one piece skirt with a red band around her waist and a white shawl on her shoulders
Her elegant features made her look more like a lady attendant than a maid
The seating order starting frois, Altina, Clarisse and Eric The men were seated on either side to protect the ladies
This was so even for Regis who had the weakest arth
Altina sis' waist area
”How rare to see you wear a sword”
” I felt it eird not to bring anything, so I searched for it in my room yesterday”
Regis said after tapping the sword on his waist:
”That's right, a soldier without a weapon is not a soldier When I heard you pawned your sword so what happened”
”Ugh Sorry foryou worry”
(I pawned et the money to buy books, but Altina fortunately loaned the money to me and repaid all the money on hand)
”Are you doing maintenance seriously?”
”It's no good if you don't treasure it”
”Even I will oil my sword properly too”
Altina's sas known as the ”Grand Tonnerre Quatre”, and was ru ”L’Empereur Flamme” made from Tristei
Any weapon which opposes it would be shattered into pieces, and would not be dauns It was rumored to never rust, bend or break
But the sas bigger than Altina, so it was placed in the cargo compartment on top of the coach
To add on, Tristei was hypothesised by researchers to be 'a natural alloy' An artificial alloy developed using this theory were being h Britannia because of its excellent quality
Regis felt slight resistance when he drew the sword from its sheathe But the sas then pulled out s its shi+ny body
” The condition looks great”
”Ara, that's unexpected I thought you would ignore it, I have a better impression of you now”
” I did ignore it I saw Eric polishi+ng h”
”Give s back!! Return them!!”
”Ah, even if you say that”
Altina turned to Clarisse's position and said while looking at Eric
”That's not good, don't spoil him!”
”Yes! But sir strategist seemed really busy, so I help him with sword ht?”
”I know he is busy, but--”
Altina turned to face Regis
”If that is the case, you could have just asked me, why did you let Eric do it?”
”Eh?? Errade officer to trouble a eneral for sword maintenance?”
”Why would it be, I am free anyway”
”If that is the case, go and settle that mountain of documents”
”Ah!! I see the castle! Is that castle Sierck?”
Altina used a strong voice to direct everyone's gaze over there
Altina stood while leaning on her sword She was great at analysing issues, but was lacking in reading and writing, always looking to avoid paper work
That's why docun off were handled by Regis It wasn't is' total workload
Regis sied when he saw this, while Eric simply smiled aardly
Clarisse was as still as aaround She would normally smile as well, but Clarisse always showed her poker face in the presence of people besides Altina and Regis
Aside from Eric, the rows in front and behind were full of soldiers
The strong soldiers wore light ar their clothes look like a tight fit
The coach was loaned by the eht now
This was Regis' suggestion
”We ht be mocked by the nobles, but ill earn the respect of the coood trade off”
”You read that in a book too?”
”Yes”
”What do you think? Would a co in such a coach?”
”Yes, co it this ill garner more support from the people”
”But there is a theory aant, the citizens will feel proud'”
” It ht be so for prosperous places like the imperial capital, but we are situated to the north, near the borders and are impoverished”
”That is true, when life is hard for the peasants and the rulers act extravagantly saying 'be proud of how elegant your lords are', how infuriating is that”
”A the aristocrats, there are many who can't understand this”
”Er is”
”Ah No This is your highness' proposal in the first place”
Renting a coach and riding it along with the escorts, he only heard of such stories in books
The coachdeeper into the forest
After capturing Fort Volks, the e to it Because of the barbarians in the forest, the guards were very tense
Altina leaned towards Regis and whispered into his ears:
''Will Diethart be fine?''
” It's fine, I told Bargainheim about this trip, so this forest is in some ways safer than the capital”
Regis told Altina in a volume too low for others to hear
On the 1st day, the coach stopped by the Margrave's mansion to rest
Elin intruded on the rooain, Altina drew her sword but was unable to calm them down
The rented stagecoach headed for the next destination
Altina was in a great mood
”The people in town had came to send us off~”
”That's right, there were unexpectedly ood will”
”Especially those in the uild What did we do?”
” Hahaha”
(What an eye for detail) Regis laughed aardly
”Could it be, you You hired them to send us off?”
”Even I wouldn't do such despicable things Because of this expedition, I had to preorder furniture and equipment from them, that's why”
”I see”
Regis wondered if everyone present received jobs froy, the enthusiastic croas there to bid their client goodbye
”If raising their materialistic entertainment is a compliment to those in power, that isn't too bad”
”That's right!”