Chapter 196 : Chapter 196

Chapter : 196

Mutual ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍interests.

Mutual ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍greed.

Mutual ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍goals.

Everything ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍aligned.

The ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Duke of Bourgogne had no reason to refuse my proposal, and I had no reason to attach conditions to it.

That ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was why a decision came with astonishing speed.

He would join me.

For the sake of his grand ambition, the Duke of Bourgogne had decided to cleave the Elang Kingdom in two—casting aside the duty he bore as a duke and as a cadet branch of the royal family to protect the realm.

If others learned of it, it was the sort of thing that would earn nothing but pointed fingers.

Yet I had no intention of condemning the Duke of Bourgogne.

‘I am no different.’

Like him, I had an obligation, as a margrave, to safeguard the kingdom—yet here I was, stepping forward to hear his information, watching him waver, and then persuading him.

In a way, I was the very source of all of this.

But what could I do?

‘I have to survive, too.’

If Crown Prince Charles I simply ascended the throne like this, would it not be the worst possible outcome?

In [Pangea Universalise], you could not allow a king of historic caliber—a war hero, no less—to take the throne without a hitch.

If that happened, my future would be uneasy for a long, long time. That was why I had to crush the sprout before it took root.

‘I am sorry, but it would be better if you quietly fell from grace!’

Of course, that was unlikely to happen.

In any case, with the two rising stars of the Elang Kingdom joining hands, the kingdom’s future would now be filled with nothing but chaos.

All according to plan.

---

Not long after that secret conference, both my domain and the Duchy of Bourgogne became deafeningly uproarious in their own ways.

-You slow worms! Move, now!

-Move faster. Anyone who delays gets ten lashes of the whip!

As they hurried to mobilize and set the soldiers in motion—

-Send out the scouts!

-We have to find the locations of those filthy bastards at once-!

-What? They moved? Then you move with them! Chase their trail, now!

Scouts were dispatched in every direction, and the hunt began for the peasant rebels. The rebels, too, repeatedly gathered and scattered in shifting clusters. It had even reached the point where factions emerged that brazenly called themselves lords.

And one such peasant rebel force—

-Report! We have found a peasant rebel group three days away!

-Judging by their flag, they appear to be that count impostor. What are your orders?

This was the very core of the plan.

To deal with the peasant rebels who had become a self-proclaimed “lordly” faction.

Small peasant rebel bands were, at best, no more than petty brigands—but once they became a self-styled lordly force, it was a different matter.

Because—

“How many are there?”

“We estimate roughly 2,000, my lord.”

“Oh? Is that so? Then it is worth locking horns with them. Pursue them and drive them back.”

“Yes, my lord!”

A peasant rebel force that had crowned itself a “lord” could swell from a minimum of a thousand to as many as five thousand—and in the worst cases, into the tens of thousands.

It was not for nothing that ordinary lords across the kingdom were being crushed by rebel offensives.

It was not something to dismiss simply because it was “self-proclaimed.” In truth, it meant maintaining military strength on the level of a high noble—though the catch was that most of it consisted of peasants and brigands with no discipline whatsoever.

“Still, you must not be careless. The central region is not like the south where you were. They have had successive victories, so their morale is nothing to scoff at, and their battle experience is exceptional.”

As if he truly was worried, Magician Agpiel spoke up abruptly. His meticulous nature never went anywhere.

For that, I could only be grateful.

After all, in this world, there was always the matter of “what if.” Battles had often collapsed into defeat over the smallest, most trivial crack.

As Agpiel said, there was no need to become a fool who grew careless before the fighting even began.

“I understand. I will not be careless, and I will do everything without a gap. I will increase the scouts and restrain the knights so they cannot run wild.”

“A fine attitude. Heh heh heh.”

At my words, Magician Agpiel stroked his beard with satisfaction.

Perhaps he had feared success would make me shortsighted, but I was, as ever, keeping my ears open.

As an advisor following at my side, it preserved his dignity. With that thought, Magician Agpiel continued.

“By the way, it is surprising that the Duke of Bourgogne did not send Lord Gertman.”

“Perhaps a closer relationship with me is a burden. Considering this meeting, he might think I am involving myself too deeply with the ducal house.”

A direct meeting that bypassed procedure was quite rude, even between relatives.

All the more so for the Duke of Bourgogne, who was stern and sensitive to hierarchy.

So he might have been both startled and deeply troubled by my attempt to meet him through Lord Gertman.

“I suppose so.”

Magician Agpiel nodded at my words. They seemed plausible enough.

“Given the Duke’s thorough nature, perhaps he could not bear to watch his children be swayed. Are you truly that shrewd?”

“Ahem. Shrewd, you say? If you must describe me, at least call me wise.”

“Hoh… This is the first time I have seen a man proclaim himself wise. You have become quite shameless, have you not?”

“Is it not all thanks to my excellent teacher? Ahem.”

If he called me shameless, it only made me want to become even more shameless.

Of course, Magician Agpiel clicked his tongue as if I were pathetic.

In any case, while I was bickering with Magician Agpiel—

“Whoa, whoa—!”

“Halt! We are here.”

The camp suddenly stirred.

A group of knights had appeared. At their head was a man wearing a splendid velvet cloak.

The Duke of Bourgogne’s eldest.

Lord Charles.

Surrounded by knights, Lord Charles spotted me from afar and approached.

“Well, well. The hateful sister-in-law has arrived.”

“Ah, do not say such things—someone might hear you, Magician Agpiel.”

“He is still far away. He would not hear. Then it is fine.”

“Ghh!”

Truly, you could not surpass the original. To say something like that when the man was openly approaching—honestly.

Seeing my face, Magician Agpiel let out a quiet chuckle.

“Still, do not treat him too coldly. Is he not an important person who will connect you to the Duke of Bourgogne?”

“…I had no intention of treating him coldly.”

“Truly?”

“Yes.”

At that, Magician Agpiel’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Were you not supporting Lord Gertman?”

“Supporting makes it sound too much like I am a shadowy puppeteer. If possible, I would prefer the nicer word—cooperating….”

“Spare me. Tsk.”

As if scolding me for failing to grasp the situation and joking around, he made me cough awkwardly.

He had a talent for making people feel embarrassed.

“Ahem. It is true I supported Lord Gertman, but is there any reason I cannot also get along with the eldest, Lord Charles?”

“Yes, if it helps you, you can get along. If you have no ‘ill will,’ that is.”

As if correcting my mistake, Magician Agpiel put force into the word as he spoke.

In other words, ill will had already piled up—so how could we possibly become close?

“Even now, he has probably come under the Duke’s command half to watch you, and half to sabotage your work. Heh heh. It will not be easy. It will only make your relationship worse. If he catches you in a few faults, you will feel rather offended.”

Magician Agpiel was deeply pessimistic. Still, judging from how the Duke had separated him from Lord Gertman and dispatched the eldest instead, that intent was certainly clear…

“Ah, just watch me, Magician Agpiel.”

Magician Agpiel still did not know me—did not know what sort of man I was.

“Oh! Lord Charles! I am truly delighted to meet you like this. Have you been well all this time?”

“???”

By the time Lord Charles reached me, I had already hopped down from my horse and flung my arms wide toward him,

as though I were greeting a dear friend after a long absence.

“…Mm. It has been a long time. I am very pleased as well, Your Excellency.”

Thanks to that fervent embrace, the eldest, Charles, could not bring himself to grumble, and he was left with no choice but to wear an awkward expression.

But I did not stop there—I pressed further.

“Indeed. His Grace never seemed to grant me the chance. I have been yearning to see you, Lord Charles. When I heard we could fight together this time, I was overjoyed.”

“Ah…? What is that supposed to…?”

“I have long heard that you are a splendid commander and a fine knight of broad and hearty spirit.”

“Have you?”

Then Lord Charles’s expression began to loosen.

No one could be displeased when they were praised and celebrated.

“Of course. As I fought war after war, I often felt a thirst—a longing—for someone like you at my side. And now, for the gods to grant us this chance to stand together. Ha ha ha.”

“Ahem. Cough. You flatter me. I am ashamed.”

“Ashamed? Not at all. A knight such as you deserves admiration and proper honor. Come this way. I would like to hear your esteemed opinions on the coming battle.”

And by the time it reached this point—

“Ah, ah. Heh heh. Very well. Good. Then I will dare to offer my thoughts before Your Excellency.”

“Oh, thank you. What are you all doing? Bring the map at once. It is time to hear Lord Charles’s precious strategy. Hurry!”

His wariness vanished into thin air, and Lord Charles began speaking with me as though we were old friends bound by long camaraderie.

As expected, people are drawn to those who recognize them.

“…….”

Of course, watching from the side, Magician Agpiel went beyond shock into sheer speechlessness.

---

The south.

And the east.

The suppression of the peasant rebels that began in those two regions started to affect the kingdom at a frightening speed.

-Run!

-They are different from other noble armies. They are unbelievably strong.

-Weak places! We have to go to weak places. This is hell!

Just as intended, the peasant rebels who lost their battles all began fleeing toward the central and western regions.

More than that, we were deliberately avoiding annihilating them—only driving them off, forcing a retreat.

-P-peasant rebels are coming!

-1,000! No—3,000. 5,000??

-The rebels are swarming in enormous numbers. Send reinforcements, now!

In an instant, the central region became a pandemonium.

As if they had never discarded their roots as brigands, the displaced rebels swept through the central lords’ lands like a swarm of locusts, plundering as they went.

Some rebel leaders quickly joined forces, gathered the defeated remnants, and expanded their numbers. Now they had grown to corps-level formations—large enough that even great lords could not easily face them.

And when this news reached—

“What is this? Is this even possible? The central region is crawling with brigands? Did not His Highness the Crown Prince already sweep it clean with the central army!”

It was like a bolt from the blue for Count Richeléon, who had been guarding the royal family in the capital.

“W-we must immediately conscript more troops to defend the capital.”

“Hire every mercenary nearby who is currently active.”

The Crown Prince had already taken every available soldier with him—so how could the central region, where the capital lay, now be threatened?

It was nothing short of absurd.

But it did not end there.

At what followed, Count Richeléon fell into an even greater shock.

-I, the Duke of Bourgogne, in accordance with the sacred duty of protection bestowed by the kingdom, shall march on the capital to suppress the peasant rebels and safeguard the royal family.

-I, the Margrave of Bellua, likewise, shall fulfill my duty to protect the kingdom by aiding the Duke of Bourgogne and providing troops for the defense of the capital.

The declarations to march on the capital—by the Duke of Bourgogne, and by me—struck the kingdom like a thunderclap.