Chapter 128: The Crown Prince and the Knight Commander
Time rewinds slightly, back to the main camp of the Kingdom Army. The Crown Prince, Richard Aiwood, and the Knight Commander, Marquis Cattleya, were engaged in conversation.
“Still… the number of the Rebel Army is greater than I imagined,” Richard remarked.
“Indeed… As expected, the Geisel Empire is likely pulling the strings behind the scenes,” Marquis Cattleya replied, his expression as solid as a rock. On the opposing hill, the Rebel Army, led by Marquis Aiger, was lining up their troops. It was clear that the enemy was becoming increasingly agitated, preparing to launch an assault.
According to prior intelligence, the enemy’s total strength was supposed to be no more than sixty thousand. However, the soldiers arrayed on the hill exceeded expectations, likely bringing their numbers to seventy thousand when including those stationed further back.
“The conscription of militia and hiring of mercenaries still makes their numbers excessive. They are probably receiving covert support from the Empire,” Cattleya continued.
The Geisel Empire, a neighboring nation to the east of the Aiwood Kingdom, had been a long-standing ally. However, in recent years, the internal situation within the Empire had grown precarious, heightening diplomatic tensions. The nominal leader of the Rebel Army, Rodel, was of imperial descent, suggesting that troops had been secretly sent to bolster the rebellion.
While the Kingdom Army had the advantage in numbers, that was not the primary concern. Simply winning the battle was not particularly difficult. Even with the Empire’s support, Marquis Aiger was merely a local lord. Although the scheming behind the scenes was troublesome, if they openly rebelled, it would be possible to suppress them. The real challenge lay in achieving victory swiftly and with minimal casualties.
(If the Empire is indeed moving in the shadows, we must end this quickly. If the civil war drags on and becomes a quagmire, it would be no different from defeat. We cannot afford to create openings for other nations to exploit.)
At present, the Empire had not shown its fangs. They were merely providing clandestine support to Marquis Aiger. However, should the Aiwood Kingdom weaken due to this civil war, factions within the Empire advocating for external campaigns would gain momentum. In the worst-case scenario, they might even invade the Aiwood Kingdom.
Moreover, the threat was not limited to the Empire. Barbarians from the north had frequently launched raids for plunder. Although there had been no significant movements in recent years, that very silence was alarming. There were concerns that they were amassing strength to strike suddenly.
(What we seek is a decisive victory. A resounding triumph that demonstrates to both our allies and enemies that the Aiwood Kingdom has no weaklings…!)
“Your Highness! Knight Commander! The enemy forces are on the move!” a soldier called out.
“I see… As expected, they are attacking at this moment,” Richard responded.
It was anticipated that the enemy would move first. The Kingdom Army and the Rebel Army faced each other across a basin, each having established their main camps on the hills. Thus, the side that moved first would find themselves at a geographical disadvantage, descending the hill.
Nevertheless, the Rebel Army had no choice but to act. The longer they delayed, the more the Kingdom Army would recover from their expedition fatigue and be prepared for battle.
“Prepare the First Charge under Viscount Clover. Let us see the strike that defeated Sabnock,” Cattleya said, a slight smile curling at the corners of his mouth. It was he who had suggested entrusting Rest Clover with the first strike.
“Still… are you sure about this, Knight Commander? Entrusting the first strike to a student like him?” Richard questioned, his brow furrowing.
The young Crown Prince was by no means incompetent, but he prioritized Cattleya’s assertions regarding matters of the battlefield.
“I have no doubts about his ability to defeat the Magical Beast Sabnock. However, during discussions at the Royal Palace, it was concluded that Sabnock was weakened from fighting other monsters. Is his magic truly that significant?” Richard pressed.
The Royal Palace acknowledged Rest’s victory over Sabnock, but they did not take everything at face value. It was believed that Sabnock had been weakened from conflicts with other monsters in the Demon Realm. It wasn’t that Rest lacked credibility; rather, Sabnock was feared as a formidable beast.
“Even if he was weakened, defeating the Master of the Demon Realm is commendable. We must elevate Viscount Clover as a hero to divert the people’s attention from the unrest of the civil war,” Cattleya explained.
This was precisely why Rest was entrusted with the first charge. It was not necessarily about whether it would change the tide of battle. What was crucial was the established fact that the young hero, Rest Clover, had participated in the fight and made a significant contribution.
“…I feel sorry for him. He will have to stand at the forefront to cover up the Royal Family’s blunders,” Richard said, his expression darkening with regret.
The need to emphasize Rest’s achievements stemmed from the fact that Rodel, the Third Prince and a member of the Royal Family, was involved in the rebellion. Although it had not been publicly announced that Rodel was the figurehead of the rebellion, it was only a matter of time before the truth spread among the populace. To obscure the Royal Family’s disgrace, Rest was being overly glorified as a hero.
“Will the young man be able to bear such a heavy burden…?” Richard mused.
“Well, I believe he will manage… After all, he is the man chosen by Albert as a son-in-law,” Cattleya replied, his tone more optimistic than Richard’s.
Though his expression was as stony as ever, he seemed to take some pleasure in the situation.
“Considering that Albert has married off two daughters, he should be able to handle this level of pressure,” Cattleya added.
“…You have high hopes for him, then. For Viscount Clover,” Richard noted.
“Indeed, the rise of a talented young man is a delight for us old folks. It is always refreshing,” Cattleya replied.
“Oh? If that’s the case…” Richard said playfully, making a suggestion.
“If you have such high expectations for him, why not betroth your daughter to him? I believe she is of the same age as he…”
“Absolutely not!?” Cattleya exclaimed, his voice rising in shock.
“Whoa!?” Richard reacted, leaning back in surprise.
“Ahem… My apologies. A sudden bout of coughing…” Cattleya stammered, quickly regaining his composure.
“…………”
It seemed that the topic of his daughter was a taboo subject for Marquis Cattleya.
“Well then, let us go witness the valor of Viscount Clover… Regardless of the outcome of his magic, it will signal the army to move,” Cattleya declared.
“Yes. We will surely achieve victory in this battle…!” Richard affirmed.
The two men nodded in agreement and moved forward to take command. Little did they know, they were about to witness a scene beyond their wildest imaginations.