Chapter 32

Three days had passed since the fall of Couranbell Castle.

Perhaps because word of my victory had spread, knights had begun to gather—not just from the County of Couranbell, but from across the Duchy of Turonia as well.

At present, I command roughly a hundred knights.

In addition, about a thousand conscripted commoner soldiers who had surrendered almost without resistance at Couranbell Castle have been drafted into service.

I do question whether using prisoners as soldiers might come back to bite us through betrayal.

However, according to Knight Sunbrag, “There’s no need to expect loyalty from commoner soldiers who were merely conscripted. They obey those who are stronger.”

“Stronger” in this context refers to those with greater magical power.

They’ve all already submitted to my magic, and so, at the very least, seem unlikely to resist. When pressed to choose between myself and Count Couranbell, they’d apparently side against the Count.

Which brings us to the present—I now stand opposite Count Couranbell with these men under my command.

Morale is low, but there are no signs of desertion.

“How does Count Couranbell appear to be faring?”

In response to my question, Knight Sunbrag replied, “Still no sign of movement.”

Until recently, Count Couranbell had been attacking Shumision Castle.

But once Couranbell Castle fell, perhaps rattled by the loss, he lifted the siege and has since entrenched himself in a mountain fortress within his territory.

Thanks to that lifted siege, I can now easily communicate with the Duchy of Budoudarl.

At the moment, I’ve dispatched Delawear to Budoubel Castle.

Knights from the Duchy of Budoudarl should begin to arrive soon.

“If he’d just surrender, it would make things much easier…”

Mountain fortresses are naturally well-defended.

If we act carelessly, we risk getting burned ourselves.

For now, we’ve avoided direct confrontation and are instead bombarding them intermittently with long-range attack magic.

A full assault will have to wait until we’ve gathered enough knights.

Still, if we can avoid fighting altogether, all the better.

“I get the feeling the outcome of this war is already decided, though…”

“They’re likely still holding out hope for reinforcements from the Imperial House. Though I doubt the Empire would shed blood for Count Couranbell.”

We’re currently reviewing the documents left in Couranbell Castle, but so far there’s no definitive proof of any collusion with the Empire.

There are some suspicious correspondences, but nothing conclusive.

“However, the Imperial Army is advancing faster than we anticipated. Depending on how things go, we may have to abandon Count Couranbell and instead confront the Empire.”

At the moment, the greatest threat to me is the Imperial House.

They’re already advancing on the County of Osen with a force exceeding fifty thousand strong.

I don’t have the luxury of focusing on Count Couranbell.

“I’m also concerned about the movements of the Kingdom’s lords.”

“…You might not need to worry about them so much anymore. They haven’t made a move since sending that offensive letter.”

When the Principality of Budoudarl was on the brink of collapse, certain lords of the Kingdom tried to invade.

They sent me a disgraceful letter demanding I marry them if I wanted their help, then violated our borders and even launched an attack on Turonia Castle at one point.

But once word reached them that I’d successfully taken Couranbell Castle, they fled in a panic.

They’ll need to be held accountable eventually, but they’re no longer a threat.

“The most dangerous opponent now is the House of Duke Larknoll.”

“…Yeah.”

Knight Sunbrag’s stern expression left me momentarily speechless.

To be honest, I’d once suggested requesting reinforcements from Duke Larknoll’s House.

Technically, we’re all nobles of the Kingdom, so there’s at least a surface-level justification for asking them for aid.

It would leave us indebted to them, sure—but surely that’s still better than letting the Empire take our lands?

That’s what I thought, but the backlash was immediate.

“If we ask those people for help, they’ll just use it as an excuse to invade!”—that was the consensus among the knights.

And in truth, ever since the civil war began, the House of Duke Larknoll has been acting suspiciously.

Because of them, Count Lazabel has been unable to move freely.

…Isn’t there any chance Thor-kun is making a move to help me?

I tried floating the idea—and was met with an absolutely horrified expression.

I laughed it off as a joke, but it was too late.

I ended up getting a two-hour lecture on all the reasons why the House of Duke Larknoll would never help me.

Y-you didn’t have to get that mad about it…

“There is a ceasefire agreement in place, so perhaps there’s no need to worry that much?”

“Such agreements are often broken. We mustn’t place our trust in them.”

I don’t think Thor-kun would ever break a promise…

But if I say that, they’ll just get mad again.

So even though I was frustrated, I kept my mouth shut.

Just as Knight Sunbrag and I were discussing our plans going forward, the castle suddenly grew busy.

There must be new information.

I just hope it’s not bad news…

“Princess, we have good news!”

The knight who came to me said this with a bright expression.

I couldn’t help but feel a surge of hope.

“Your husband’s survival has been confirmed! The report is credible!”

“I… I see…”

“Princess?”

“…Leave me for a moment.”

Overwhelmed with emotion, I pressed a handkerchief to my tears as I gave the knight my reply.

After taking a moment to collect myself, I asked him to give me the report once more, properly this time.

Apparently, my father was alive and unharmed.

It seemed he was currently being held as a prisoner, and a formal ransom demand had arrived from the House of Duke Cartaria.

I wanted to pay the ransom immediately, but now wasn’t the time.

All I could do was instruct the envoy to ensure he was treated with the utmost care, promising that we would pay.

“Princess, we should inform the entire domain of this at once.”

“Yes. Begin at once.”

And thus, word of my father’s survival spread throughout the land.

It was more than enough to break Count Couranbell’s spirit.

Two days later, he offered his surrender to me.

---

“P-Princess… p-please, spare my life…”

The moment he saw my face, Count Couranbell fell to his knees and burst into tears.

I had expected him to beg for his life—but not to apologize this desperately. I was at a loss.

“I-I was deceived by the Imperial House!! I-I never had the slightest intention of opposing you… or the House of Duke Budoudarl!!”

“R-right…”

“T-this is the proof of my submission! P-please… accept it…”

With that, Count Couranbell opened the box he’d been holding and offered it to me.

Inside was a human eyeball.

His own.

In this world, there exists a cultural value that a ruler must be flawless—utterly immaculate.

Any imperfection of the body is seen as a disqualification.

Thus, gouging or crushing a political opponent’s eye to strip them of their power is not uncommon.

Likewise, doing it to oneself voluntarily is seen as a declaration of submission.

It’s the most widely accepted form of apology in this world.

Of course, I have no fondness for collecting middle-aged men’s eyeballs.

If anything, it turns me off completely.

“Just one?”

Maybe that’s why it bothered me—why was there only one?

If you’re going to put on a whole apology performance, then do it properly.

This kind of half-hearted gesture is the most awkward to deal with.

“Ah, well, um…”

“And just what kind of deception leads a man to demand marriage from me? Would you care to explain that in detail?”

“Th-that is… uh…”

So that’s where he chokes up…

That’s a basic follow-up question, isn’t it? Even Japanese job hunters come better prepared than this.

And in your case, it’s not just job hunting—it might be the end of your life you’re interviewing for!

Take this more seriously!

You should’ve come up with an excuse and apology so compelling I’d want to say, “If that’s the situation, I suppose it can’t be helped!” or “If you’re that remorseful, I’ll consider a lighter punishment!”

“I-it was a misunderstanding! I-I only meant—”

“Now that you’ve surrendered, your life will be spared—for the time being.”

His personal safety had been part of the terms of his surrender, so I would uphold that.

But couldn’t he at least lie and say something like, “Spare my family and retainers, even if I must die”? Even just for show?

Begging only for your own life is a terrible look…

“I’m sure you have your side of the story. I’ll listen to it later before making a final decision. Make sure you organize your thoughts.”

“P-Princess…! P-please, just let me explain—”

“I’m giving you time to come up with your excuses. …Don’t make me say more than I have to.”

Hearing any more from Count Couranbell wouldn’t do either of us any good.

Deciding that, I ordered the knights to take him away.

Why is it me who has to be the considerate one here? It’s ridiculous.

“I thought winning a war would feel more satisfying than this.”

“…I can only imagine what you must be feeling.”

The knights’ attempt at comfort only deepened the gloom.

Post-war clean-up was proving to be incredibly depressing.

…Though I suppose it’s no use dwelling on that before it’s even finished.

“Let’s move on. We’ll now march to the County of Osen to confront the Imperial House.”

“Hah!”

With that, I led the army toward the County of Osen.

---

The flag of the House of Duke Budoudarl fluttered atop Osen Castle.

Bard stared up at it with a fearless smile.

“If we look only at the results, it seems we both misjudged her.”

“I beg your forgiveness. I must have grown senile…”

At Bard’s remark, the head knight bowed deeply and offered an apology.

Bard had assumed Roselia would hole up in Turonia Castle.

The head knight, on the other hand, believed she would retreat.

In the end, Roselia attacked Couranbell Castle with a small force, swiftly crushed the rebellion, and now stood prepared to intercept them at Osen Castle.

Both predictions were off—but as the one tasked with supporting Bard, the head knight bore the greater responsibility.

“Whether it’s senility or not, let’s hear your reasoning first. Why did you believe Princess Roselia would choose to retreat?”

“Because the royal knights would advise her to do so.”

To the knights of the court, protecting Roselia’s life was tied directly to protecting their own.

If there was a clear path to victory, they would naturally recommend the strategy with the least risk.

The head knight, counting on his fingers, laid out how, from the perspective of the royal knights, retreat was the safest and most logical option.

“In the case of the House of Duke Budoudarl, policies are decided through a council of knights. Even the head knight is still but one knight—with one vote. …In such a setting, putting forth a proposal that exposes their liege to danger would be frowned upon. Let alone approved.”

Especially since Roselia is just thirteen years old.

Thirteen—an age that, in this world, marks the boundary between childhood and adulthood.

An age that is still considered something to protect.

More than seeking her orders, their instinct would be to shield her.

All the more so if she’s seen as a “frail young girl.”

“A proper knight would choose the safest course—retreat. And Knight Sunbrag, her head knight, is known to be capable and sincere.”

“…I see.”

Having heard his head knight’s reasoning, Bard gave a deep nod.

“That makes sense. Then no, I wouldn’t call you senile. I’ll continue to rely on your support.”

“Hah!”

“Now, let me ask you this—why is Princess Roselia here, then?”

The head knight’s explanation was sound.

And yet, reality didn’t align with it.

Which meant somewhere, one of their assumptions was flawed.

“I believe it’s because Princess Roselia displayed a strong will of her own.”

“Oh?”

“If I were Princess Roselia’s head knight, I would also suggest the safest course of action. But if she were to reject that, and choose instead to face the enemy with unwavering resolve… then I would have no choice but to follow.”

Policy by consensus only applies when the knights are making a recommendation to their lord.

If that lord—Princess Roselia—makes a firm decision herself, the discussion ends there.

“Even so, traversing the mountain range with a small force… Just imagining it is terrifying. To do such a thing with a thirteen-year-old girl who’s never even seen real combat—it’s nearly unthinkable.”

“But if the reports from our spies are true, Princess Roselia did exactly that.”

“Yes. Which is why I believe the reports to be accurate…”

“As expected of the daughter of a goat. I suppose those horns weren’t just for show.”

Bard smiled with evident pleasure.

For him personally, it was a good thing that Roselia had chosen to fight rather than flee.

However, as the leader of the Imperial Army, the situation was entirely different.

“Now, I’ll ask my knights. Do you think it will fall?”

Bard pointed toward the flag fluttering atop Osen Castle.

Roselia’s army numbered a total of 10,000.

Of these, 1,000 were knights, and 9,000 were common soldiers.

In contrast, Bard’s army numbered 50,000.

Of these, 5,000 were knights, and 45,000 were common soldiers.

The difference in numbers was five to one.

In a typical siege, it wouldn’t be impossible to take the castle—but...

“If Princess Roselia lacks the resolve, then it’s all up to us to crush them with our superior numbers.”

The number of troops, of course, was important, but the quality of those troops was also key, and in that regard, the Imperial Army held the upper hand.

In terms of raw magical power, Bard, due to his age, was slightly more powerful than Roselia, the general of her forces. Additionally, the number of nobles with magic comparable to that of a high-ranking duke was far greater on the side of the Imperial House.

Thus, logically, the victory of the Imperial Army seemed assured.

“However, if Princess Roselia is truly resolute in her decision, it will be different. She will fight on the front lines and remain in the castle until her last breath. In that case, the nobles and knights who have joined her will have no choice but to follow suit.”

To abandon their liege and flee in front of her, that would be the ultimate dishonor.

Thus, as long as Roselia continued to display her will to fight, her followers would be compelled to continue battling until their deaths.

“If that’s the case, then we must prepare ourselves for significant losses.”

“I see… So you believe that we can win as long as we are willing to bear casualties?”

“As long as it’s the command of the young master.”

The head knight replied to Bard’s words.

Bard pondered for a moment, then turned to speak to the other knights.

“What do you all think?”

After a long silence, it was the young knight commander who spoke up.

“I fear, young master, that if we were to retreat despite having a five-to-one advantage, it would severely damage your reputation.”

“We have mobilized a significant number of lords in this campaign. If we were to return with nothing to show for it, it would tarnish your name as a warrior.”

“Moreover, most of our tricks have already been exhausted in this campaign. Leading a rebellion for either house will be increasingly difficult.”

“And more importantly, with the Duke of Budoudarl captured during his expedition... such an opportunity may not come again.”

“The rebellion in the Plumera Grand Duchy is expected to continue for some time.”

The knight commanders voiced their strong support for continuing the war.

Bard nodded in agreement.

Then, he turned his palm toward Osen Castle.

“...Then, let’s test the waters.”

With those words, a massive surge of magical power erupted from Bard’s body.

This magic gathered in his palm, forming a fireball.

“Well, what will you do now?”

Bard released the magic.

The fireball shot straight toward Osen Castle...

But it was shot down in midair.

A moment later, a powerful shockwave and a killing intent-laden magic burst forth.

“Princess Roselia... seems more than ready.”

Through his enhanced vision, Bard could see Roselia glaring at him from the castle wall.

She, too, had gathered her magical energy and was now in a battle-ready stance.

The two of them locked eyes, the tension palpable.

Bard smiled faintly.

“Enough.”

Bard turned on his heel.

His cloak billowed out as he issued an order to the knight commanders.

“Retreat.”

“...Is that really alright, young master?”

“Doesn’t matter. I’m not as fixated on the imperial crown as my father was. And more importantly…”

Bard shrugged lightly.

“Compared to your lives, it holds no real value.”

“Young master…”

The knight commanders couldn’t help but murmur in admiration at Bard’s words.

In truth, none of them had really desired the battle. Bard had sensed this mood, and seeing that his knights wished to retreat, he chose to honor their desire.

“However, I never expected Princess Roselia to be such a valiant woman. I should have pursued her more seriously for marriage. This is troublesome… I truly feel like making her my wife from the bottom of my heart.”

“You still have plenty of time, I believe. Princess Roselia is still in the engagement stage. The royal family didn’t send any reinforcements for this battle… so an annulment of the engagement might be possible.”

“True. In that case, I’ll start thinking of the contents of my love letter. Ah… there’s one more thing I need to consider.”

Bard wiped away the joking smile from his face and looked at the knight commanders with a sharp, determined gaze.

“But if we retreat just like this, our reputation will be completely ruined. We’ll conduct a full-scale raid on our way out. Kill, burn, destroy. Let her see it, let her hear it.”

A “raiding” tactic was a form of destruction aimed at crippling the enemy’s production capabilities.

In this world, it was a commonly used strategy.

“If she hears the screams of sheep, the goat might show its face. At that time, we’ll reverse our course and go on the offensive.”

“Hah!”

At Bard’s command, the knight commanders began moving in a flurry of action.

Once all the orders had been given, Bard began to ponder what kind of love letter he should send to Princess Roselia… when suddenly, he was interrupted.

“Young master! Urgent news!”

A sudden message was delivered to Bard.

He and the knight commanders widened their eyes in surprise.

“…Forget it. Raiding is no longer an option! All forces, retreat immediately!!”

With Bard’s orders, the Imperial Army began its swift withdrawal from the Osen Earl’s territory.

---

The sight of the 50,000-strong army slowly organizing their ranks and leaving Osen Castle was overwhelming.

“...So they chose to retreat.”

When Prince Bard unleashed his magic, I had braced myself for battle.

It was a bit of an anticlimax.

“Let’s pursue them!”

After every war, plundering by the army was common.

It was entirely possible that the Imperial Army would take out their frustrations by destroying Osen Earl’s territory on their way back.

If we attacked their retreating backs, perhaps we could gain some military advantage.

Perhaps we could prevent the plundering.

I was about to act, but…

“I fully understand your feelings, Princess, but please calm down. Pursuit would be too dangerous.”

Knight Sunbrag stopped me.

Even now, the enemy might be beginning their plundering.

“Isn’t expanding our victory with a pursuit a standard tactic?”

“Indeed, it would be, if we had decisively defeated the enemy and crippled their organizational strength. But the situation is different now.”

We hadn’t won the battle yet.

We had only temporarily pulled back, having judged that the castle was unassailable.

The enemy still had considerable combat power, and they had left enough of a rear guard during their retreat.

If we charged out of the castle now to pursue, the enemy would certainly turn around and counterattack.

Knight Sunbrag spoke plainly, his tone firm.

“Pursuit is reckless. More importantly, we’ve already achieved significant results. There’s no need to seek more victories.”

But that didn’t mean I had to stand idly by while my territory was ravaged.

I couldn’t help but glare at Knight Sunbrag.

He returned my gaze without hesitation.

“…You are right.”

I couldn’t find any rebuttal.

Reluctantly, I accepted Knight Sunbrag’s advice.

“Let’s remain vigilant and fortify our defenses for now.”

With a heavy heart, I decided to focus on strengthening our defense at Osen Castle.

It was frustrating, standing by and watching my territory be pillaged.

Whether we won or lost, it was a bitter pill to swallow.

I hated war... sigh.

As I sank deeper into these gloomy thoughts, something unexpected happened: the Imperial Army did not plunder Osen Earl’s territory. Instead, they hurriedly fled back to their own lands.

The knights speculated that they must have feared my strength, but that didn’t seem likely.

I was utterly confused.

And then…

“Princess. Urgent news!”

Knight Sunbrag, too, wore a deeply puzzled expression.

It was a face I had never seen from him before.

It wasn’t good news, but it didn’t seem to be bad news either.

“Let’s hear it.”

“As the Imperial Army was retreating, they encountered an enemy within Imperial territory and were forced to retreat. The fate of Prince Bard remains unknown.”

...Wait, what?

How did the Imperial Army encounter an enemy within Imperial territory?

And who exactly is this enemy? As far as I know, I don’t recognize any such force.

“The information is conflicting, and the enemy’s identity is still unclear. However… the most credible information we have at this point suggests that it was the Larknoll Duke’s army, led by Thor El Larknoll.”

I see… so…

“What does this mean?”

“We’re still investigating.”

I still don’t understand.

But for some reason, my heart was racing.