Civil Servant Marigold

15.

“Peaceful.”

It was a quiet evening, so much so that it was hard to believe it was a battlefield. Only the sound of insects filled the tranquil atmosphere.

Come to think of it, Lancel couldn’t remember the last time he had relaxed so comfortably. He was almost proud of himself for having lived so hard recently.

He made a decision. If the regression continued after another two or three playthroughs, he would finally take a proper vacation this time.

Marigold?

He could just hide that one somewhere safe for a while. Then, he would run away with a ton of money and enjoy ten years all to himself before returning.

Yes.

This time, he would go and have fun alone. Don’t be heartbroken, Marigold. I’ll buy you souvenirs. I’ll even spend the last day before the regression with you, sharing them. Lancel had that much affection.

‘I need to rest when I need to.’

Thinking that, Lancel lowered his gaze. Marigold was nestled in his arms.

They were alone in the dark cave.

16.

———

[Fallen Noble Lady Simulation]

Creating the schedule for the second week of October.

Monday – March.

Tuesday – March.

Wednesday – March.

Thursday – Infiltration of enemy base.

Friday – Securing enemy base.

Saturday – Construction of temporary encampment.

Sunday – Rest. (Location: Temporary encampment)

※Victories are sweet, but how wonderful it would be to wash my body clean. I hope the war ends quickly before winter comes!

———

Four months.

That was how long it took the Fifth Prince’s army to wipe out the remnants entrenched in the western part of the empire, one by one.

As if he had made up his mind, he led his troops like a rat-catcher, going beyond Lunter’s territory and into the surrounding lands. He crushed and eliminated anything that caught his eye.

“With today, all the bastards who were causing trouble in this area have been dealt with! It’s a good day, so let’s hold a banquet today. Bring out all the supplies we’ve been saving. You all need to experience what it’s like to drink on the battlefield.”

When he released the supplies he had been so stingy with, the encampment was instantly filled with a lively atmosphere.

Around every bonfire, the surviving soldiers sat and filled their bellies with greasy food and raised their glasses.

It was a festival.

About 250 of the 300 or so infantrymen who had participated were still alive to celebrate.

Moreover, none of the 30 knights led by the Fifth Prince had suffered any injuries or deaths. It was a literal landslide victory.

‘Something’s not right.’

Lancel remained expressionless amidst the festive atmosphere. He chewed on a piece of cured ham and scanned the encampment.

‘It’s going too well?’

Aside from the Fifth Prince trying to hit on Marigold every now and then, everything was going too smoothly.

No matter how skilled Marigold was in mock battles, and no matter how strong the imperial reinforcements were, it was unnatural for things to go this well.

The Lunter’s territory he remembered was a much fiercer battlefield. There was too little to end it like this.

Moreover, he hadn’t even seen the face of Count Lunter, the most important figure.

‘Is it just more relaxed this time? Or…’

“Ugh-ha!”

Lancel frowned at the sudden smell of alcohol wafting from right next to him.

“Marigold Administrator?”

“Lancel, I’m trying this for the first time, and it feels so good, euhehehehe!”

“…Are you already drunk?”

Marigold’s face was flushed red, and her eyes were glazed over as she held a bottle of alcohol in her arms.

Come to think of it, Lancel hadn’t really seen her drinking. Even when she was older, she had rarely touched alcohol.

“Puhuuu…”

“That alcohol smell.”

Lancel tried to push away Marigold’s forehead as she clung to him and sighed repeatedly.

“Get off.”

“Ughhh!”

It wasn’t easy because she was trying so hard to stick to him.

“Lancel, I’ll pour you one, so hurry up and bring your glass over here. Come on, hurry.”

“I don’t want any.”

“Don’t be like that! Here!”

Was this a drunken mess at a company dinner?

Marigold stubbornly snatched Lancel’s glass and filled it to the brim with alcohol. She didn’t stop there. She forcibly pushed the glass to his lips.

“Drink up! Chug, chug.”

“…”

“Chug, chug.”

He had no choice but to swallow the alcohol. A sweet fragrance permeated his nose.

Lancel, who had expected a cheap taste, was surprised by the unexpectedly good flavor and drank it down to the last drop.

“Good job, Lancel. Want another one?”

“Marigold Administrator. That’s drunken behavior. It’ll become a habit if you don’t fix it early.”

“Drunken…behavior…what’s that?”

“What you’re doing right now.”

“Then, is it a good thing?”

Marigold smiled foolishly and poured another drink. Lancel only accepted and drank that one before pushing the glass far away.

“Ah! I was going to give you one more! The rule is to drink three glasses.”

“There’s no such rule. I’ve had enough, so you drink it.”

“Aww, you’re no fun.”

Marigold drank three or four more glasses in a row and finally threw off her outer garment.

“Ugh-ha, it’s hot, it’s hot! Why is it so hot when winter’s coming, Lancel!”

“…Marigold Administrator, put your clothes back on.”

“Uweh?”

He could feel the soldiers’ gazes gathering.

Marigold was the only woman on this battlefield. The soldiers, who had been cooped up with only men for months, were already at their limit.

If the war dragged on, even a princess would attract attention, so how could Marigold, just an Administrator, be any different?

Lancel put the garment she had thrown off back on her. He threatened, “If you take this off one more time, I’ll lock you in your armor.”

“…It’s hot…”

Marigold pouted and put her clothes back on. Only when he put the cloak on her as well did he feel the gathering gazes dissipate somewhat.

This was also for the soldiers.

He didn’t want them to have trouble sleeping at night.

“It seems Marigold Administrator is very weak to alcohol.”

The Fifth Prince chuckled as he approached.

“It’s expensive alcohol. Don’t spill it on the ground, Marigold Administrator, get it all in your mouth.”

At the Fifth Prince’s words, Lancel took the bottle from Marigold. It certainly had a fine taste for something carried on the battlefield.

‘This is…’

It was an alcohol with a subtle pineapple fragrance.

Lancel had seen this not too long ago.

‘It’s the same alcohol I saw in Count Lunter’s territory?’

No wonder they were making so much of it, it had flowed all the way here.

Unlike grains, alcohol, if made well, had the advantages of being expensive, easily convertible to cash, and long-lasting. It was the perfect means for Count Lunter, who harbored dreams of rebellion. Yet, it was being used at the imperial army’s banquet.

“Lancel. Uuu.”

“What are you doing, Marigold Administrator.”

Lancel blocked Marigold, who was suddenly pushing her pouting lips towards him.

“Uuu…uuup!”

Marigold’s expression suddenly turned serious as she was about to press her lips against him. Her complexion rapidly worsened.

“Ah.”

Lancel quickly turned her body the other way.

“Uweeeeeh!”

“…”

Showing us something good, Marigold.

The soldiers’ gazes towards her finally disappeared completely.

“All the precious supplies have returned to the earth, Marigold Administrator.”

Even the Fifth Prince couldn’t help but say a word.

17.

“Ugh, Lancel. I don’t feel good.”

“I knew it when you were drinking without a plan.”

“Ugh…”

Lancel shook his head as he looked at Marigold, who had collapsed on the baggage cart. She was complaining of a hangover to the point where her fingertips were cold.

It was fortunate that the war was over; if it had been in the middle, he might have had to carry her on his shoulders.

The other soldiers weren’t much different. Their faces were full of fatigue from drinking heavily and then marching.

The only ones who were fine were the Fifth Prince, who hadn’t touched alcohol, and his close aides, the knights.

“Ugh.”

Just as he heard Marigold’s retching,

‘People.’

Lancel, who had sensed signs of people from beyond the dense forest, stopped his horse.

“Halt.”

At his voice, the column stopped moving at once.

“What’s wrong, Lancel.”

“Ambush.”

The signs of people grew louder from the forest. Lancel realized that it wasn’t just one or two.

Roughly a dozen or more.

“Ambush?”

The Fifth Prince’s lips curved into a silent arc.

“No, they’re allies.”

Lancel recognized the identities of those who appeared one by one at a glance. The elderly knight leading them was too familiar.

“We have been waiting, Your Highness.”

“Count Lunter. There was no need to come out to greet us. It seems you’ve finished your side as well?”

“It was just a little cleanup after what Your Highness did. It was not a difficult task.”

“Anyway, thank you for your hard work.”

The Fifth Prince and Count Lunter exchanged words amicably.

“From now on, we will change the direction of the march. We will go to Count Lunter’s territory to relieve our fatigue, so everyone should be aware of that.”

What should he do about this?

‘I’ve run into a rebel force.’

Honestly, he didn’t want to get involved. It was hard to guarantee what would happen.

He wanted to run away right now if he could. He didn’t have a good feeling about this.

The problem was.

“Ugh, let me down somewhere so I can rest. My stomach…ugh…I feel like I’m going to die.”

“…”

Lancel sighed deeply at Marigold’s dying voice.

‘I’ll have to find a good opportunity to run.’

With that in mind, a man in armor rode up to Lancel.

When he raised the helmet visor that was covering his face, a familiar face was revealed.

“It’s been a while, Sir Lancel.”

It was Adelhart, Count Lunter’s son.

The man, whose spirit was different compared to years ago, appeared before Lancel.

His armor was covered in scratches, as if he had been fighting for a long time.

“You’re unrecognizable.”

“It’s all thanks to the teachings you gave me, Sir Lancel.”

Was that a compliment?

Of course not.

“I won’t lose a second time, Sir Lancel.”

“…”

Lancel felt a little burdened by Adelhart’s gleaming eyes.

“We will lead the way, Your Highness.”

Even as the procession passed through the rugged valley terrain, the conversation between the Fifth Prince and Count Lunter continued.

“War is only fun for a short time; it’s getting tiresome to be running around for months without rest. If it’s already like this when this is just the beginning, I’m worried about the future.”

“You will get used to it soon, Your Highness.”

“I hope so. So, Count Lunter. You see that carriage in the back? The one Marigold Administrator is riding in.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“I know the Administrator has a bad relationship with you, but she is a good talent, so please protect her well without harming her.”

“If she is someone Your Highness likes, we will certainly do so.”

Lancel ran a hand over his face as he listened to their conversation.

‘They’re in cahoots?’

He thought that the Fifth Prince had chosen to become the empire’s hero this time.

He thought that all the hard work he had put into wiping out bandits, rebels, and external forces was for the sake of the empire.

But it was the opposite.

‘Now that I see it, the fact that the western part of the empire has been completely cleared out…is only good news for Count Lunter?’

Come to think of it, the past half-year of war had left nothing remaining in this region. Bandits, armies, mercenary groups, even the Militia. Most of the forces that had been causing trouble in the area had disappeared.

All that remained was Count Lunter.

And a rebel force in the near future?

Yes.

For example.

Those hundreds of cavalrymen blocking the front of the procession right now.

“Who are you!”

There were roughly twice as many as the imperial reinforcements. They were striding forward with spears and swords in hand.

The Fifth Prince showed no agitation even as he looked at them. It was practically tacit approval.

“Thank you all for your hard work. Remember last night’s banquet as my last farewell. Someday, when this empire is in my hands, I will leave a statue to remember you.”

Lancel let out a hollow laugh.

The Fifth Prince had once again chosen the role of usurping the throne, not a war hero. By joining hands with Count Lunter.

“Marigold.”

“…Lancel?”

Without a moment’s hesitation, Lancel approached Marigold, who was collapsed on the carriage.

“Let’s get out of here.”

“Huh? Hiyaak!”

He suddenly lifted her onto his shoulder.

“It’s, it’s the enemy! It’s an enemy attack!”

Just then, a desperate voice erupted. It was the moment the two camps collided.

The entire valley instantly turned into a battlefield.

“Kkuaaaak!”

“B, block them!”

“Hiiiik!”

The soldiers fell helplessly, due to the aftereffects of the previous day’s banquet, the surprise attack they faced while unprepared to fight, and the Fifth Prince’s tacit approval. It was like watching dogs being abandoned after a hunt. It was only natural. To those who were now plotting a rebellion, the imperial army was nothing more than an obstacle.

“Hold on tight, Marigold.”

“M, my, st, stomach, my stomach is too…uweeeeh!”

Lancel spurred his horse forward with Marigold, who was vomiting repeatedly, in front of him.

“Catch them!”

“Don’t let a single one escape!”

“There! Someone’s getting away!”

Battlefield.

Dying soldiers.

Cavalrymen chasing after Lancel.

“Uweeeeeh!”

And Marigold’s retching.

Anyway, everything was a mess.