Chapter 46 (1/2)
Wow… it’s almost a month since the last chapter… uhh… sorry?
. Hmm… I wonder if I should keep doing this…
New Movements (Part 2)
A meeting to discuss the recent campaign, and Petersia's involvement, was held in a room of the palace.
Prince Alfred presided over the meeting. In attendance were ministers in charge of domestic affairs, bureaucrats, officers of General rank and above, and also certain n.o.bles.
They were discussing whether or not to wage war against Petersia.
Open debate was permitted, so there were various discussions all over the room.
Petersia's landma.s.s was no more than two-thirds that of the empire, but unlike the Empire, Petersia did not border the land ruled by the Demon Lord.
Due to that, their military power had not decreased as much by the war against the Demon Lord's army.
In addition to that, a rumor was spreading amongst them.
”Have you also heard the rumours, Sir?”
”I heard that she single-handedly annihilated an army of a thousand.”
”Rumor has it that she cut down a hundred men with a single swing of her sword, and blew away a village with a single spell. Her strength must be outrageous.”
”But, the Brave's strength is terribly strong. With that power around, how can we ever relax? Rather, couldn't she end up ruling the whole continent?”
The warmongers gradually voiced the rumours louder and louder.
Some of them were hopeful that if the Brave partic.i.p.ated, then they would win the war against Petersia.
'What rubbish.'
Royce berated them in his mind.
Royce attended the Imperial Council as a feudal lord of a territory that bordered Petersia.
They were trying to wield the Brave's power.
He wondered if any of those warmongers realized the significance of that action.
The Brave was immensely powerful.
The rumours had been exaggerated to the point that it was an army of a thousand, but he began to believe that it was actually possible.
In truth, as he returned to the battlefield with his knights as reinforcements, Royce had seen the traces of an existence that far exceeded common sense.
The path had been burned to a crisp.
The burns were the result of a wide-area fire-attribute offensive spell.
Royce had seen the flames rise up to the sky as he retreated.
But despite receiving such an attack, Leticia returned, and not a hair on her head was touched.
Despite that, corpses of knights were strewn all over the path.
Only a few people had survived.[1]
A single girl had caused this result.
He had heard of the Brave's accomplishments during his time on the front lines, but he had never witnessed it in person.
He had believed that there was bound to be some exaggerations and distortions in the rumours.
But Royce couldn't help but shudder at the memory of having witnessed that power firsthand.
When Kelvin left with Wynn and Locke to scout out Doria Village, Royce was left alone with Leticia.
Leticia had transformed.
The face of a youthful maiden that she had worn while with Wynn disappeared, replaced by an icy expression. She gave off an aura of inviolable sanct.i.ty that made her seem unapproachable.
It was exactly like the first time he had met Leticia.
As a Count, Royce had been to many parties and banquets.
He had been acquainted with n.o.bles and royalty from not only the Empire, but also from other countries.
She had transformed into Leticia van Mavis the Brave, clad in the dignified air of a lady of n.o.bility that belied a fierce spirit.
Royce had now seen how much of an influence the Knight Cadet known as Wynn Byrd had on the Brave.
The debate continued as Royce contemplated.
”We should let Mavis the Brave lead our army against Petersia.”
”Wait! The Brave did move to support the Empire during the coup and during this battle, but it is not certain that she will lend us her strength.”
”If we declare war and the Brave doesn't lend us her strength, what then?”
”Oh? Are you implying that our esteemed Imperial Knights would lose to Petersia without the Brave's help?”
”I didn't mean it like that. Our courageous knights would never lose to the Petersian army.”
”Then there is no problem with declaring war. You have said so yourself.”
Prince Alfred raised his hands.
The bickering va.s.sals stopped speaking and turned towards Alfred.
”I heard that there are rumours flying around that the Brave was at the battlefield. However, that is not possible. She was at my villa. It's impossible for her to have been on the battlefield.”
”But there have been reports that it really was Brave Mavis. Some rumours say that she was seen acting with Count Elstead's militia.”
”Are those not mere rumours? Count Elstead. Are these rumours true?”