Chapter 217

“Why ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍can you not sit still? Try to be calm. You are driving me distracted.”

“Ah, ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍yes. Ahem. I apologize, Magician.”

At ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Magician Azuela’s sharp remark, Sir Biden coughed in embarrassment.

Did ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Sir Biden want to fuss like this? It was only that, after setting his scheme in motion, his own nerves refused to settle.

What ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍if that sly Crown Prince Charles I noticed the trap?

Would ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍that not mean losing the one chance to overturn this bleak situation and seize victory?

Sir Biden realized keenly that he had little talent for devising and carrying out this kind of plot.

‘From now on, I should simply do what my lord tells me. That will be far easier on my heart.’

Sir Biden felt that if he tried to follow his lord’s lead twice over, he might not live out his natural lifespan.

Then Magician Azuela, who had been watching him, spoke.

“Stop worrying. It has already happened. No matter how much you fidget now, nothing changes, does it? Use that time to think about the next step. If it goes wrong, and if it works perfectly. You should prepare in advance, should you not?”

“Oh…?”

At the oddly insightful advice, Sir Biden was impressed.

At times like this, she truly did seem like a magician… but why was she usually so flighty and scatterbrained?

He could not understand her at all.

Sir Biden.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Ahem. It is nothing. Then, as Lady Azuela advises, I should prepare what comes next. I must be ready for any possibility.”

“Hmnnng. I feel as though you were speaking ill of me. Was I right?”

“Speaking ill? Not at all. In any case, I am busy, so I will take my leave first. Please watch over Her Grace, Duchess of Aquitaine. Then, if you will excuse me.”

And so Sir Biden fled as though running away.

***

Contrary to Sir Biden’s worries, Crown Prince Charles I fell perfectly into the trap.

“Is it true that Maceania collapsed from poison?”

“Yes, Your Highness. They are raising a commotion everywhere, searching for the culprit.”

“This is excellent news!”

At the messenger’s report, Crown Prince Charles I brightened with delight. He had found a way to end this wretched war quickly, and to stop the army of the Margrave of Bellua, which was pressing him from the side.

Of course, Crown Prince Charles I immediately realized his mistake and hastily corrected himself.

“Ah…! Ahem. How tragic. No matter that she is my enemy, she is still my own blood, and to be struck down by poison…”

As the saying went, even if she was an enemy, using poison to stage an assassination attempt against one’s own blood was not, by custom, a welcome act.

No noble wanted their lord, who had gone so far as to assassinate, to then rejoice so shamelessly over it.

When Crown Prince Charles I performed his little act, the retainers around him finally hurried to echo him.

“Y-yes. It is truly tragic.”

“Is it not a trial and a tragedy granted by God? I do not know why God has bestowed such a cruel fate upon Your Highness.”

“Haah… alas, alas. Truly. But what can we do? Your Highness! If we do not move now, only greater ruin will come.”

“That is right! We must not miss this opportunity and move at once. Only then can we end this tragedy of war.”

Words poured out with all their strength behind them.

But Crown Prince Charles I did not dislike such flattering words. Schemes like this had to be done with the chorus of approval around him.

Was it not a virtue of rule to take glory alone and share evil deeds together?

“Very well. If that is truly your will, then I will not stand idly by. Do not let this opportunity slip—move at once! We will seize the capital city of the Duchy of Aquitaine!”

“Woooooo—!”

Thus Crown Prince Charles I cried out,

never imagining how that decision would end.

***

“They have bitten!”

“Just as expected!”

“This is truly fortunate.”

Everyone cheered at the news that Crown Prince Charles I had taken the bait.

At last, they had been given a chance to take revenge on Crown Prince Charles I, who had dared to use such a vile trick against the lord they served.

Among them, the nobles of the Duchy of Aquitaine aligned with the pro-Catalia faction shouted the loudest, as though they meant to reclaim their honor with this opportunity.

“When you see that, it is rather unexpected, is it not?”

“What do you mean?”

“Those people. Honestly, I thought they would be the main culprits behind this.”

“…Were you not saying it could be General Fernando, Magician Azuela?”

“Oh, that is only how I speak. Hohoho.”

“…….”

With the parties themselves right in front of them, she spoke like that, and her conclusions shifted so easily that Sir Biden grew dizzy.

What would she do if those nobles heard her?

She truly had no sense of caution.

Still, it was not incomprehensible. Even Sir Biden had not expected the pro-Catalia faction nobles to flare up and participate so actively.

He even worried, in all seriousness, that there might be a second trap dug within his own.

‘But even so, there is no reason not to use them.’

It would be a burden, but if he shoved them into the frontmost line and then tore the remaining forces into pieces to break up the chain of command, he could prepare for contingencies in his own way.

And if they refused to go to the front?

Then it would prove that their angry cries for revenge were an act, and he could treat them as enemies from the beginning.

However, fortunately—

“You want us to lead?”

“Of course! I have been waiting for you to say that all this time.”

“Send us at once. We will show you the true strength of the Duchy of Aquitaine.”

The pro-Catalia faction nobles accepted at once, without any visible reluctance.

Rather, they placed their finest knights at the head, intending to restore their honor.

They were sincere.

It was a truly fortunate thing.

Now all that remained was for the messenger sent as a front man to do his part properly. As expected, when attention turned toward him, the messenger asked carefully.

“S-Sir Biden. Then what should I do…?”

He was one of the rebel faction that included Sir La Rochelle, the one who had devised this plot in the first place—someone who had joined it with his life and his house’s honor as collateral.

So, ordinarily, Sir Biden should have treated him harshly and left him to claw out his survival on his own, but—

“Do not worry. I do not break my promises. If you properly lure Crown Prince Charles I’s troops in, I will grant you your reward gladly. No, you may even become the meritorious hero of this affair. You have staked your life to accomplish something tremendous.”

“Ah…!”

Only then did the messenger’s eyes widen in awe.

If that was true, was not enormous glory waiting before him?

It felt as though a radiant spring had come to a life that might otherwise have ended in disgrace.

“I-I understand. Do not worry! I will bring them all to the promised location.”

“Good. I am counting on you.”

Of course, contrary to the messenger’s hopes—

“Hm. Are you truly going to help him?”

“Pardon? Help him, Lady Azuela?”

“Did you not just paint him a rosy future?”

“Haha. Well. I only meant that it would be so if he survives, did I not? But to do that, he must survive that fierce battlefield by his own strength. If he dies on the spot, how could he enjoy such glory?”

“Wow… Sir Biden. You sounded exactly like His Excellency the Margrave of Bellua.”

It seemed that only a path of thorns lay ahead of that messenger.

Most likely.

***

The Duchy of Aquitaine had so many rivers that it had long been called a city of waterways.

Fed by the abundant waters that flowed down from the Pyrenees Mountains, at the contact region between the Catalia Kingdom and the Kingdom of Aragon, the Duchy of Aquitaine was covered in great rivers and streams.

And so, at regular intervals, dense mist would settle over the duchy like sea fog.

It was on such a day that Crown Prince Charles I’s army moved to attack the capital city of the Duchy of Aquitaine.

“This is a truly vicious fog.”

“Yes. One cannot see even a single step ahead. Heh.”

“Then even the men up there will not be able to prepare for this assault.”

On the walls in the distance, the soldiers of the Duchy of Aquitaine were laboring to keep fires lit to pierce the darkness, but the light could not cut through the thick fog.

It wavered and blurred like lamplight beyond a pane of glass, then was swallowed by the mist.

And it was not only the light.

-CLINK, CLINK.

Though knights and soldiers laden with metal moved, their sounds did not carry far either. Everything was swallowed as well.

It was a world of quiet silence.

Truly, it was the perfect day for a raid.

“You said the place we are going is a waterway no longer used?”

“Y-yes? Yes, that is correct, Your Highness.”

“And for what reason is it no longer used?”

“It used to be a harbor canal for trade, but when the castle was expanded, that area was covered and used as a sewer, as far as I know.”

“Oh, is that so?”

“Yes, Your Highness. So the passage is very large, and although it is sealed with iron bars, I am the administrator who manages it, so I have already unlocked all the padlocks on those bars.”

Crown Prince Charles I’s questions still carried suspicion.

If he misspoke even slightly, he would lose his life here. The messenger sweated profusely, struggling to dispel Crown Prince Charles I’s doubts.

And fortunately, it seemed to work.

“Hm. Is that so?”

Suspicion could no longer be heard in Crown Prince Charles I’s tone.

Rather—

“If we seize the castle, it might be worth using that passage as a commercial canal again.”

He was smiling, already thinking of governance after occupation.

In truth, how could he keep doubting in this situation?

A fog that blinded the eye.

An insider in league with him.

And even a passage large enough to march an army through with certainty.

It was as though the board had been laid out to mark his victory.

So Crown Prince Charles I, in better spirits than ever, led his soldiers in the direction the traitor guided them.

Not long after, just as the traitor had said, a massive hollow appeared in a secluded place at the rear of the outer walls.

A wide passage, broad enough for the four thousand elite troops he had brought to pass through in single file and still have room to spare.

“Good. Advance—!”

Crown Prince Charles I shouted with vigor.

He would surge up from here and rout the careless soldiers of the Duchy of Aquitaine and the Margrave of Bellua’s reinforcements, driving them all back!

That was what he thought, but—

-SCREEEECH. SCREEEEK-SKREEEK.

-THUD.

Once they had gone deep enough that the stairs—what looked like the entrance corridor far ahead—came into view, a sudden grinding sound of machinery rang out.

“?”

A strange feeling struck Crown Prince Charles I, and he immediately looked for the traitor who had served as his guide.

But the only answer was—

“H-he has vanished somewhere.”

The traitorous bastard had disappeared.

“What?”

“This terrain is complex. Perhaps he fell behind in the middle…”

You fool! Why would the man who was guiding us from the front suddenly fall behind?”

“I-I apologize.”

“Apologies do not end this. Find him at once—hm?”

But that was not all.

A foul stench suddenly surged up.

Ordinary men might not recognize it, but for Crown Prince Charles I—who had broadened his knowledge long ago—it was far too familiar.

“Magician’s fire!”

He realized it at once: one of the few secret weapons the Ancient Empire had once used.

“This is bad! Retreat, retreat at once!”

“Pardon? What do you mean, all of a sudden—?”

“Damn it! I said retreat at once!”

But the judgment came too late.

-WHOOSH!

In an instant, everything blazed bright.

-SKREEEEK-SKREEEEK!

-SCREEEECH!

The door above the stairs opened, and within it, countless archers came into view—arrows tipped with fire, aimed straight at them.

And in the middle of them—

“Where do you think you are running to, Your Highness?”

Sir Biden stood there, smiling faintly as he looked down at them.