05. What? There

05. What? There

 

 

“…A retreat (播遷)…”

“Your Majesty! That cannot be! A retreat without even fighting!”

“That’s right, Your Majesty! A retreat is absolutely out of the question!”

“Are you saying that without thinking? Didn’t we hear that 220,000 troops have already gathered in Loana?”

 

One noble said, as if trying to persuade.

 

 

“However, Your Majesty, a retreat must be considered very carefully. A hasty retreat could shake the public’s sentiment!”

“I am also aware of that. But isn’t the situation too serious to only think about that? 50,000 troops have been annihilated, and their leader, Duke Elles, has been captured. Now, there are less than 70,000 troops left in the Lower Peninsula, and even they are scattered in each province. In this situation, if we don’t retreat, are you saying we should just lose this war?”

“Your Majesty! How can you say such an outrageous thing? Of course, we must overcome this war well. To do that, how can you not know that capturing the public’s sentiment is also important?”

 

Yerina was lost in thought between the two women who were having a heated debate.

 

Both of their words were correct without being wrong, and she couldn’t pinpoint one as the right answer.

It was a situation where she could neither retreat nor not retreat.

 

 

“There will be opportunities to capture the public’s sentiment later. But if Your Majesty is captured, there will be no next chance! Don’t you know that?”

“Why do you only think of defeat? Even though our forces are inferior, we can defend this castle with its defensive walls!

Show the enemy our will to fight like that, and then it’s not too late to retreat!”

“220,000 troops! No, there are reports that the total number of enemy troops that have landed in the three Lower Provinces exceeds 440,000. If they all come at once, can we handle that?”

“F-forty-four hundred thousand…did you say?”

“W-what are you talking about?! Didn’t you just say 220,000!”

 

She turned her body.

 

 

“Your Majesty. That is purely the troops in the Loana region. The total number of enemy troops currently stationed in the three Lower Provinces is over 440,000, and that is also the number excluding the injured. The troops dispatched from the Vasa Kingdom are 450,000.”

“!!”

 

The Queen took a sharp breath and leaned back in her chair.

She felt like she was suffocating.

 

 

“T-that can’t be…”

“This doesn’t make sense!”

“450,000 for barbarians…!”

 

 

The nobles were also chattering among themselves.

 

 

“Do you understand now? This is a situation where every moment counts! We don’t even have time to argue like this! If 450,000 troops come and this capital is captured, and Your Majesty and the royal family, including me, are humiliated, are you going to allow a retreat then?”

“A-allow (允許)…that’s absurd! I just….”

 

 

A noble floundering at an unexpected attack.

Yekaterina turned her body without dealing with her any further.

 

 

“Your Majesty, the situation is urgent. If they besiege this capital, the entire kingdom will be paralyzed! How will we send messengers in a besieged situation, and by what means will we issue royal orders? Your Majesty must be aware that you are the commander-in-chief of the Srodia army.”

“….”

 

The Queen lost her words.

 

In her heart, she wanted to retreat.

Because life is precious.

 

 

The defense force in the capital is 30,000.

She could have burned with the will to fight even if the enemy was only under 100,000, but the enemy far exceeded that number.

 

 

In the end, the conclusion she came to was a retreat.

 

 

 

 

“Okay. I will listen to your words and retreat.”

“Your Majesty!!”

“That cannot be, Your Majesty!!”

 

 

Then the nobles desperately tried to stop her.

 

 

“What do you mean it cannot be?”

“If Your Majesty retreats, this capital will fall into the hands of the enemy! Wouldn’t that mean the lifeline of this country is cut off!”

“Also, the people’s backlash will be fierce! It has been said since ancient times that the people’s sentiment is the will of heaven, how do you plan to handle the people’s fury!”

 

The nobles opposed the retreat for various reasons.

 

Of course, there is the issue of public sentiment, but this place is the capital of the kingdom, and the center of Srodia’s economy and politics.

Naturally, many nobles had residences here, and they kept various real estate and personal property here.

 

 

If they had to make a hasty retreat, they wouldn’t have time to take it all with them, so which noble would welcome it?

 

 

“Then what the hell are we supposed to do? It’s not that I don’t know what you’re thinking, but if the enemy’s large army besieges the capital, isn’t everything over?”

“But Your Majesty! There is a very big difference between retreating after fighting and retreating without even fighting! You must show that will, even if it’s just for one day, before moving!”

“That one day could be the last!”

“Your Majesty! Your words are too much!”

 

Yekaterina threw away her usual mask and confronted the nobles in a firm tone.

 

 

“Enough!”

“Your Majesty….”

 

But in the end, the Queen raised her hand for Yekaterina.

Although they were a mother and daughter who didn’t have a good relationship, their thoughts coincided this time.

 

 

“Although the situation is not favorable and we have to retreat, when the reinforcements from the Mei Empire arrive, we will recapture the capital with that army. So don’t argue any further (曰可曰否).”

 

The nobles sighed.

 

 

If they abandoned the capital and left, it was obvious that the enemy would occupy this place and commit atrocities such as looting and arson, and it was too heartbreaking that they couldn’t stop it.

 

 

“We will retreat to Lloyd, so prepare immediately!”

 

 

 

 

.

.

.

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Hassan.”

“Yes, Master-nim.”

“Leak the fact that Your Majesty has decided to retreat to the streets. Say she strongly insisted on preserving her body….”

“I will carry out your order.”

 

The shadow disappeared, and she erased her expression.

 

 

Although there were many variables at play, such as the Vasa’s military power far exceeding expectations, things were going according to plan.

 

 

“Mother, even if you leave, you must give all your honor and power to me before you go. Only then….”

 

 

I can forgive you.

 

 

 

Her low voice echoed in the room.

Gloomy,

Insidious,

A chilling voice.

 

 

 

 

* * *

 

 

 

 

“Your Majesty. What kind of method is it?”

 

 

Hancock clung to him.

 

 

As always, with her voluptuous breasts.

 

 

Aran was already used to it and didn’t refuse.

No,

He ‘didn’t bother’ to refuse.

 

 

“It’s a secret.”

“Aww~ Don’t be like that~ I need to know so I can assist Your Majesty well.”

“If I tell you, you’ll say it’s reckless.”

“…You’re reckless.”

“I haven’t said what the plan is yet.”

“But Your Majesty is already aware that it’s reckless!”

 

 

Kwaa!

She rushes in.

 

 

Aran laughed.

 

 

“That’s from the Countess’s point of view. I don’t think it’s reckless at all.”

“Uuu….”

 

 

What on earth is it that makes him so confident?

Aran did play an active role in the last battle, but that didn’t mean he was good enough to break through the capital with just cavalry.

In the first place, that was far from a matter of whether an individual was good or not.

 

“I guess I’ll take it off.”

“Eek?!”

 

She throws off her clothes with a frightening momentum.

Aran received her clothes without knowing why.

 

 

She, who had become naked in an instant, said as if declaring.

 

 

“It seems Your Majesty doesn’t want to see my body, so I’ll stay naked until you tell me!”

“Thank you.”

“Huh?”

“N-no, no. Put your clothes on quickly.”

“So, I’m saying I’ll stay naked until you tell me!”

 

 

Eventually, she committed the atrocity (?) of throwing away even her underwear.

Her well-raised breasts swayed and were revealed,

Underneath, her body without any extra flesh appealed to him.

 

 

“Ahem…w-well, there’s no other way…ahem…stay like that.”

“Eek!”

 

Thinking that it wasn’t working, she went one step further.

 

 

She linked arms with Aran as if hugging him.

 

“T-then I’ll stick even closer than now!”

 

 

Malkang.

 

 

Is it supposed to be a weapon?

She clung to him, saying in a threatening tone.

 

 

Of course, it’s just a blessing for Aran.

 

 

“Ahem…no matter what, I can’t tell you. Because you’ll absolutely oppose it.”

“Ah! Then it’s absolutely opposed!”

“Why?”

“You’ve already admitted yourself that it’s a plan that’s absolutely worth opposing! What am I supposed to do by admitting that!”

“Don’t push me so hard. Your character is changing.”

 

 

It would be perfect if she was a little more gentle, ditzy, and slightly lewd.

 

 

“I received an order from Princess Hwangnyeo-jeonha. My mission is to protect Prince Hwangja-jeonha and help him achieve merits by any means.”

“Even a mission….”

 

She’s firm.

It seems that even if she’s loose, she becomes firm when ‘orders’ are involved.

 

 

“Hmph. So you like women’s bodies, right? That’s why you came up with this scheme.”

“Who comes up with schemes because of that!”

“I have one next to me.”

“I don’t.”

 

Hancock asked a few more times before finally falling off.

 

 

And she picked up her clothes, leaving Aran’s disappointment behind.

 

 

“There’s no other way. In this case, I have no choice but to serve you with my life, whatever it takes.”

“Um…I’m sorry.”

“You’re probably shouting ‘Just as planned!’ inside right now, but I’ll let it slide to play my dumb character.”

“It’s neither of those.”

 

Aran recognized her as clearly dumb.

 

 

“If I was really dumb, I wouldn’t even be able to be by Hwangja-jeonha’s side like this.”

“But you’re dumb.”

“…L-look, even though I look like this, I’m someone who fought a bloody war with His Majesty the Emperor. I’m definitely not dumb!”

 

Indeed.

He understands it in his head, but somehow he can’t accept it.

Hancock isn’t dumb.

 

 

“Well, I’m proud to have some airheaded charm.”

“…?”

 

Aran still thought she was dumb.

 

 

“The dispatch will be after the diversionary tactics begin, right?”

“Yes. We have to stay here until then. If we rush out first and the enemy disperses their troops, the diversion will be meaningless.”

“Then in the meantime, let’s interrogate that Elleson or Ellison bitch…!”

“You seem happy? Weren’t you afraid of blood?”

“Of course, I am. But don’t worry! I brought this expensive artifact for that!”

 

 

What she held out with a flourish was a pair of glasses.

 

 

She put on the glasses as if to show off.

 

 

“When I wear these, bright red blood turns green, which reduces eye strain. Hehe. I’m not dumb after all. I’m so well-prepared.”

“Indeed. I understand how your mother unified Persia.”