53 [1-53] Leaves are fluttering. (1/2)

That's why. Did you hear me?　Lawrence.

”...... Bertil!

The caller that Bertil had taken out barked out loud.

It's a wonder no spit flew from the bill.

It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.

He was the king's bodyguard in the command center of the royal castle, which meant that the caller was connected to the command center.

Humphrey went straight to Bertil, as Rene had said, but Bertil informed Lawrence himself.

Half the reason for this was to insure his position. If Lawrence or Hilbert had already noticed this move, or if they would notice it in the future, Bertil would be trapped. To avoid that, he made the first move.

You don't have to shout so loudly to get through.

'What the hell was that?　Are you really going to betray me?

It was real, right?

Lawrence was not happy with Rene's attitude, but also with Barthil's attitude that seemed to agree with it.

Lawrence shouted at him. Bertil's tone was light, as if to rebuke him.

Anyway, the question is how to take advantage of this situation. Now that we've tied up some of their loose ends, we just need to figure out how to take advantage of them.

”His delusional words are not worth a second thought. It's useless to think about catching him off guard or taking advantage of him. Just know that it's all bullshit.

Lawrence's words, Bertil thought, were laced with wishful thinking.

I want my enemy to be evil to the core. He must be evil. There's no human emotion in that. She's the daughter of the devil who sold the country to the Federation. She's more evil than an evil god. ...... and that's about it.

But Bertil thinks differently.

At least I think he's telling the truth when he says he doesn't want to harm the people. There have been battles with undead pouring into the city, but ...... there's been zero damage to the citizens, not just the Second Order.

”He destroyed Wesara!

I heard that the refugees were all women and children. If you want to put it another way, he had the power to kill almost all the men, but he let a lot of women and children escape alive, right?

I don't think what you just said is the whole truth, but it is certain that the ”Rose of Hell” draws a line between life and death based on some criteria. It's not that she just hates and kills the living.

Even if the line is not one of justice or respect for human life, Bertil thought, there must be something to it.

”...... Of course, the Rose of Hell is going to kill you and her majesty, and I'm not going to sit by and watch it happen.

”Of course!　...... And don't call him Princess!

And don't call him a princess!' Lawrence shouted back at him, adding the words as an excuse.

”Whose side are you on, Bertil?

'If we can get the citizens to safety, that's all that matters, isn't it?

So let's get this straight. They won't kill us unless the Second Order defeats the undead soldiers. The Second Order should take the lead and the First Order should fight with the Second Order as a shield.

Also, if the western blockade is really lifted, we can evacuate the citizens. The second knight order can pretend to have betrayed us just until the evacuation is complete. ......

'I hope it works out that way.

Lawrence didn't seem to believe that Rene would keep his word.

The reason he didn't dismiss Bertil's opinion was that if the Second Order was going to be in the line of fire, it would be the Second Order that would be in the most danger if Rene went back on his word.

”Anyway, watch the west. If the troops really retreat, we can divert the reinforcements coming from the surrounding territories to the west. We'll be able to avoid the enemy and get into King's Landing, and we'll need them to escort the refugees.

”That's for you to decide, Your Majesty.

”...... Well, that was presumptuous. Think of it as an opinion.

--Your Majesty.

Barthil smiles out of the corner of his mouth.

Lawrence had served the previous king as an exemplary soldier. But he'd been uncharacteristically deferential to Hilbert.

Bertil was worried that he would challenge every citizen who had a negative opinion of Hilbert to a duel.

Don't even think about it. I don't care if you want to be deceived and ruined on your own, but in that case, do it alone. Keep this country out of it!

As soon as Lawrence said all he had to say, the communication was cut off.

The caller's note was already turning into a brown, weathered scrap of paper. Bertil tore it up, crushed it, and threw it in the corner of the room. The caller's note would only last a few minutes at most.

It was not an unnatural time to cut off communication, since the conversation was over and the caller ID was about to burn out, but it was a way to vent his frustration.

Barthel smiled or lost his temper and snapped his neck.

”Well, I'll let everyone know.

You can't tell me you've been talking to the Rose Princess of Hell. I'll just tell them that the undead are only targeting the First Order and tell them to be a wall of flesh and not attack.

Through the slit window, Barthil looked out at the city.

The undead army was regrouping to fill in the holes of their lost men.

If this temporary retreat was an attempt to lure Bertil into betrayal, ...... the second attack would begin in a few moments.

”Commander.

Humphrey stopped Bertil as he was leaving the room.

He had come here by chance, but in the face of the conversation between the ”Rose of Hell” and the two commanders, he just stood stiffly in the corner of the room and watched the proceedings.

When he finally spoke up, there was a hint of confusion on his face.

What is it?

I'm not sure if this is the right place to say this, but ......

I'm not sure what to make of this, but I think it's a good idea.

For a moment, Barthel did not understand the intent of the question.

...... Haha, I see. Lawrence knows he's a national figurehead, and he's very outgoing.

I don't think many people in the Second Order know about his temper tantrums.