episode_0114

Two days after Mary got married.

Noble women gather at the Grand Duke’s palace.

Theodora, Octavia, Joy, and even Mary.

Women of similar age are gathered together and chatting.

Is it because I am a newlywed who just got married?

“So I climbed on top of Agrippa! Because I died while pulling it out…”

Mary tells the story of the first night, and the women blush and listen intently.

Ah… who are these women? The emperor and princess, the most powerful people on the continent. And do you think she’s the queen of the North Sea?

In fact, the woman discussed here is the younger sister of Archduke Francesco, the most powerful person in the empire and the emperor’s husband.

In other words, she is a woman of noble status.

“So? So, Sister Mary?”

Mary smiles as she looks at Joy, who listens with bright eyes to Mary’s story.

“I made him stand again with his mouth and tormented him all night long.”

-gulp.

“Agripa’s expression at that time was so dirty. Joy, you should definitely try it later when you get married.”

At those words, Joy blushes and speaks as if she is embarrassed.

“But… when you do it for the first time… they say it hurts because of the hymen. Was your sister okay?”

Mary nods and says those words.

“I have been trained as a knight since I was young, so I got torn when I was young and it didn’t really hurt.”

-I flinch.

“Rather, it’s crazy good, isn’t it?”

Theodora and Joey blush at those words.

“Did you do that too when you first did it?”

Octavia hesitates and says those words.

“I… I don’t remember very well.”

In Octavia’s case, her husband tormented her to the point where she fainted on the first night, but she couldn’t bring herself to say this in front of the emperor and princess.

Octavia Her original last name was Ryan, so where does that bloodline go?

“Really? Is it just me? Anyway, I was planning to do it yesterday too. Agrippa was having a hard time so he wrote it…”

Theodora asks Mary as she regains her appetite while thinking of Agrippa.

“That… Do men like it that much when you give them a blowjob?”

Mary smiles evilly at those words.

“Yes! When it gets soft, if you give it a little bit with your mouth, it immediately becomes hard? My step-sister, try doing the same thing to your brother. Then your eyes will roll over, right?”

Octavia, feeling that the situation is too strong, steps forward and speaks.

“You’re so… What’s your habit of talking to your brother?”

Mary shrugs and says those words.

“But your preference is for the maid to wake you up like that in the morning, right? I want to see my nephew quickly too, right?”

Theodora thinks as she looks at Mary, who does not hesitate to say things that would be shocking to Devian if he heard her, and Octavia, who scolds Mary.

Now that I think about it… there was a scene like that in the book that Debian said he had read.

‘Ugh… we haven’t even kissed yet? There… to do something like that?’

Other than the kiss at the wedding, I didn’t even kiss Devian.

Suddenly, it was almost impossible for Theodora to caress his clone with her mouth.

‘still. We decided to do it together next time…’

Thinking about Debian’s endless promise, Theodora thinks she should read more books for him later.

“Ahh~ I want to get married too!”

Joy, who was listening to Mary’s story, speaks as if complaining.

“When will I get married? I also want to get married for love.”

Theodora smiles softly at those words.

“Then you should start dating.”

“But… I can’t go outside the imperial palace?”

Theodora speaks in an embarrassed voice as Joey’s voice becomes depressed.

“You know he’s doing this because he’s worried about us, right? There was a kidnapping attempt not long ago, right?”

Joey nods his head slightly at those words, but answers in a brusque voice.

“Still, it’s so frustrating. Sigh… If this continues, I might not be able to get married and end up trapped in the imperial palace and die of old age.”

In Theodora’s opinion, that doesn’t happen.

I can’t believe my pretty sister can’t get married.

If my younger sister grows old as an old maid, my mother and I will step in and somehow find her a husband.

And even if you look at it objectively, Joy is pretty and cute.

Looking at her younger sister, who is so adorable and cute that it is expected that she will have many suitors when she becomes an adult soon, Theodora thinks that will never happen.

***

Regular report from Roman.

According to a report from a spy dispatched to Nicaea by the Ministry of Intelligence, the current situation is unusual.

“Hmm…”

It is said that Ioanes is withdrawing his troops from the border of the Babylonian Empire, and that troops are moving from important fortresses.

“War will break out soon.”

But taking out the front line troops. Bold?

Although he knows that the Babylonian Empire’s army cannot move right now, it must be difficult for Ioanes to know, right?

“Philip, Martin, Agrippa. Look at this.”

When I handed the report I gave to Agrippa and Philip, all three were impressed.

“It’s not unusual.”

“Hmm…”

Philip speaks his thoughts on behalf of the troubled Agrippa.

“No matter how much you invade a neighboring country, isn’t it dangerous to withdraw troops from the border? This is treason against the empire.”

“You can see it that way too.”

It would certainly be a huge scandal for a kingdom that was supposed to protect the empire from attacks by the Babylonian Empire to attack the surrounding lords by attacking the troops stationed on the border.

“Quite a number of troops must have been deployed in Epirus and Ezip. There are more troops deployed to the Dupol border area than expected.”

At Martin’s words, I put the report I received a few days ago on my desk.

“The troops deployed in Epirus and Ezip are similar in size to those deployed in the Dupol border area.”

Just a few months ago, the size of Nicaea’s troops was about 70,000.

Currently, 50,000 troops are deployed to the Dupol border area, and 50,000 troops are deployed to Epirus and Ezip.

In total, the number exceeds 100,000.

I feel like the number of mercenaries is probably around 30,000, but…

“His Majesty the Archduke. I think it would be reasonable to assume that the opponent’s available troops are already around 140,000 to 180,000.”

I say, surprised by Agrippa’s words.

“What? Increasing the military by that much in less than a year?”

The number of 70,000 is a number that could only be achieved by hiring mercenaries from across the continent.

According to common sense, if we filled all 70,000 mercenaries, it would be no different from advertising that we are at war.

I say this because I think it is an unsuitable force for the situation of Ioanes, who has to prepare for war in secret.

“To run such a large unit, you would have to gather all the mercenaries on the continent, right? Would Ioanes really do something like that?”

Philip and Martin support Agrippa’s opinion.

“There is some truth to what His Highness the Archduke says, but in fact, I also estimate at least 140,000. Without that level of troops, it is difficult to secure the initiative in a war between great nobles.”

“I also agree. Deploying 50,000 troops in Epirus and Ezip, you will need at least 90,000 troops to deal with Dupol and his allies. And since at least 30,000 more will be needed to defend the border fortresses of the Babylonian Empire, it is reasonable to estimate that the number is around 170,000 to 180,000.”

However, if it goes up to 180,000, it is not enough even if you add the entire mercenary force on the continent.

Hmm…

I listen to their words, look at the map, and get lost in thought.

“Somehow I don’t understand a little. Using that many troops during a war with Dupol would definitely arouse suspicion among the great nobles. I have no idea how he acts like that.”

He says that as if it is no big deal.

“I am Ioane, and if I really have that many troops, I will take down Dupol…”

He refers to the Duchy of Dupol and the neighboring districts of Bohemy and Erne.

“Bohemi, we will quickly destroy Erne.”

Both places are focusing their efforts on internal affairs, and in the war culture here, going to war without declaring war is considered unreasonable for an aristocrat.

In fact, if you fight a war without declaring war and lose, you may have to pay huge compensation.

Even if you win, you won’t be treated very well, and on top of that, you will be criticized by both the nobles and the people of the empire for starting a war without justification…

Wouldn’t it be worth the hassle of taking over half the empire?

“That… His Majesty the Archduke… That is so beyond common sense.”

Philip looks at me carefully and speaks in a hesitant tone.

“Such behavior is completely unacceptable in continental politics and diplomacy.”

“As the Grand Duke said, the Kingdom of Bohemi and the Kingdom of Erne are not easy. The combined available troops of the two kingdoms are slightly less than 80,000. If you manage your troops sufficiently defensively, you can buy a lot of time.”

“Of course, that’s what will happen if you declare war and go to war.”

If you have more than 140,000 troops, attack Dupol and attack Boheme and Erne at the same time.

The moment major cities and castles are occupied, available troops will decrease.

Although the capital’s defenses may be strong, it is important that the surrounding large cities and castles are also prepared for defensive battles.

They probably didn’t prepare for an unexpected situation like this.

I feel like it’s a fight worth fighting.

“Philip. When you went to war with us. Why did you lose to us?”

Philip is a commander who fought against our Grand Duchy in the previous anti-imperialist civil war.

His best strengths seem to be his more standard command than expected and his appropriate response to various situations.

“That’s…”

I intentionally caused a few defeats to let my guard down, and ultimately I won because I moved the emperor’s army.

I moved the troops to the extent of breaking the law that the emperor’s army should never intervene in the wars of its lords.

To him, it was as if I had committed a foul in moving the emperor’s army, but in reality, such foul play often had a good effect.

“Because it is abnormal to move the emperor’s army. It was a cowardly method that almost bordered on foul play, but it couldn’t stop it.”

If anyone in my opposing faction had predicted at the time that I would use the Emperor’s army, they would have never crawled out of the fortress.

Then, the war would have become a long-term war and the losses on this side would have been much greater.

It was a time when funds were not plentiful.

In the worst case, it could be Pyrrhus’s victory and he would not have the strength to deal with Ioanenes.

Although he received a lot of criticism, he definitely won and made a lot of money using it.

“I received a lot of criticism, but in the end, I won, and not only did I restore the anti-emperor faction, but I also took control of the opposing faction’s territory.”

Feeling the room become quiet at my words, I continue.

“Do you think Ioanes would act similarly to me? Because the effect will be enormous.”

It is absurd to choose between means and methods in a war that will result in destruction if you lose.

Moreover, seeing him move all of his available troops like that, I am certain that he appears to be moving as if he doesn’t care if the news spreads that he has taken control of Epirus and Ezip in this war.

“Hmm… But didn’t His Highness station the Golden Knights and the Emperor’s army near Dupol in preparation for that?”

I nod my head at those words.

“That’s right. In fact, the reason I came to the Grand Duchy was to ease the burden on Ioannes and show him an opening to start a war.”

In fact, he asked Sir William to intervene if he attacked Dupaul at Nicaea.

You might not listen to me, so I sent you a letter from Theodora as well. I think the seeds will work.

“As expected, you are His Highness the Archduke. You prepared by reading the opponent’s cunning plan in advance.”

I nod my head at Philip’s words and trail off.

“But if it were just a variable… The Imperial Diet?”

I don’t have much control here.

We have the votes of the anti-emperor faction, but the neutral faction and imperial faction criticize us.

There will definitely be a trick here.

Well, you have the right to veto. This too can easily be blocked.

A little optimistic.

The number of troops appears to be greater than expected, but if we can buy time for the great nobles and declare Ioannes, who started the war without declaring war, an enemy of the country, it is only a matter of time before he is overthrown.

But… it won’t go that easily.

With that in mind, I think it is time to slowly return to Roman.