06. The Mei Empire participates in the war

* * *

 

 

 

 

“What?!”

 

I grabbed him by the collar and hauled him up.

The soldier’s terrified expression was right in front of me, but I didn’t give a damn.

 

 

“Say it again!”

“H-His Highness Prince Aran is leading 10,000 cavalry and marching north!”

“Why would he do something so reckless!”

“T-That’s by order of Her Highness Huana…”

“…Huana did?”

 

Only then did she release the soldier’s collar.

It seemed that what she had been worried about had happened.

 

 

“…So, she’s already pulling stunts like this?”

“A-At this point, they’ve probably passed Art and reached Lloyd.”

“Art….”

 

 

Returning to a cold expression, she pondered deeply.

 

 

Art was right above the capital, but Sroidia, where the capital was located, was quite large, so going there from here would take a considerable amount of time.

 

From Kora, where she currently was, it was half a day by horse, and at least four days by march.

 

 

She quickly summoned the nobles.

 

 

 

 

As well-trained as they were, the summons only took about two minutes.

 

 

“The plan has gone awry. Aran is marching north on Huana’s orders, I hear.”

“Her Highness Huana’s…? Then is it a full-scale attack?”

“No. She ordered him to capture the king with only 10,000 cavalry.”

 

A sigh flowed among the nobles.

 

Because cavalry was fast, it was naturally good for chasing, but the king had already fled to Lloyd, and had even created a proper provisional government.

 

 

“It’s clear that the enemy will be gathered there. But to march north with only cavalry…”

“No matter how strong cavalry is on the plains, it won’t be easy.”

“Besides…if the supply lines are cut off…”

 

 

The nobles expressed their disapproval.

 

 

In the case of cavalry, supply is very simple and long-term activity is possible due to shabu-shabu, but once the supply line is cut off, the biggest blow is to the morale of the soldiers.

The supply line being cut off means, in other words, there is no way back.

 

 

This has a huge impact on morale.

 

 

“Hoo…it would be nice to use mother’s Sky Knight Brigade, but…she won’t allow it.”

“Even if she allows it, it’s doubtful that they can hold out until then.”

“…..”

 

 

Iliana’s thoughts were similar.

 

 

Either way, it would take several days to contact the home country.

And in that time, it was enough time for the Aran army to be annihilated and captured or killed.

 

 

After much deliberation, she came to a conclusion.

 

“I should go myself. At my pace, I can arrive in two hours.”

“Your Highness! What are you saying! You’re going alone!”

“I can’t just leave it like this. Either way, this place is almost cleaned up, and the soldiers I sent are occupying the capital, so there won’t be any big problems!”

“Your Highness is the commander-in-chief! You can’t leave your post alone like that!”

“As you all know, Huana is the commander-in-chief now.”

“But!”

 

Despite the nobles’ dissuasion, she got up from her seat as if she would leave at any moment.

 

 

“We’d rather go with you!”

“That won’t do any good! I’ll go quickly and bring him back, so don’t worry.”

 

 

She left the room without hesitation.

 

 

“Princess, are you going to throw your life away too?”

 

There was a voice that stopped her footsteps.

 

“…What?”

“L-Lord Milkis! What are you doing now!”

 

Hair as black as ebony.

It swayed calmly, like her atmosphere.

 

 

Her eyes were fixed on Iliana.

 

 

“What did you say just now?”

“I asked if Your Highness is going to throw your life away too.”

 

The nobles were shocked, but she had a nonchalant expression.

An expression as if she was saying something obvious.

 

Iliana took a moment to catch her breath.

 

 

“You speak as if…Aran is going to die.”

“He is heading to the North Peninsula’s main camp with 10,000 cavalry. Moreover, it’s more than a few days away from our main camp. It’s suicide.”

“Milkis! What are you doing right now!! Stop it immediately!”

 

 

The two women stared at each other silently.

Rather, it was the surrounding nobles who were anxious.

 

 

No matter how much Iliana glossed over things, she couldn’t let such harsh words pass.

 

Moreover, mentioning the death of a royal family member was an unforgivable crime.

 

“You’re out of your mind. What safety do you have to spout such nonsense.”

“It’s Your Highness who can’t tell right from wrong. If you go now, you’ll die.”

“You…!”

 

 

Iliana drew her sword.

It looked like she would cut her down at any moment.

 

 

“Your Highness! Please calm down! The Lord said that because she was worried about Your Highness’s safety!”

“You too, quickly apologize!!”

 

 

Only then did the nobles try to stop her.

 

 

If Iliana were to cut her down here, there would be no benefit at all.

 

 

“I’m just stating the facts. Unless we fight a battle on the plains, we have to siege a castle with only cavalry, and we have to endure the attacks of enemy archers without any archers of our own. The result is a disastrous defeat! Your Highness should know that much clearly, shouldn’t you?”

“This one still!”

 

Iliana glared fiercely at her, but eventually averted her gaze.

 

 

She nervously put her sword away and left the room.

 

 

.

.

.

 

 

 

 

“Why the hell are you doing this!! I clearly told you to be careful! Are you so crazy that you want to die!!!”

“What are you talking about.”

“Don’t tell me you’re asking because you don’t know!”

 

 

In the end, Iliana didn’t leave.

She only sent a messenger to tell him to return.

 

The problem was time.

By the time Iliana heard about Aran, he had already arrived in Lloyd.

Even if she sent a messenger urgently, Aran would be able to hear her words in the middle of Lloyd, and even if he heard those words and retreated, the enemy would not just let him go.

 

 

Count Millia calmed his excitement.

 

 

“No matter how right you are, there’s a problem with the way you deliver it. You almost died.”

“If I was destined to die from that, then so be it.”

“Hoo….”

 

 

It’s impossible to communicate.

As if there’s a wall.

 

 

“No matter how much Her Highness the Princess is a 5-tier knight, she can’t face tens of thousands of troops and archers with only 10,000 cavalry. If you go, you’ll die.”

“How can you say such dangerous things so easily! Be a little careful.”

“Then are you saying we should just let Her Highness go!”

 

Milkis, who had been listening quietly, got angry.

 

 

“Having only cavalry means we have no way to respond to ballistae! Don’t you know! The North Peninsula has uneven terrain and many mountain ranges, which already makes it difficult to operate cavalry. In that situation, if the enemy uses hit-and-run tactics such as shooting ballistae and running away, we’ll be helpless! It’s meaningless for Her Highness to go! Are you saying we should send Her Highness to such a place!”

 

 

Count Millia said soothingly.

 

 

“Who said to send her? I’m saying there’s a problem with the way you deliver it.”

“Then are you saying I should tell her quietly like a scholar? Do you think Her Highness, who is so angry, would listen?”

“Hoo…look here. It’s not an easy problem. The other nobles aren’t there, and His Highness the Prince is there. So, be careful what you say.”

“…I regret that point. But isn’t this war? If an ally is dying in a situation where they can’t be rescued, we have to cut them off decisively. That’s how the survivors can survive to the end.”

“How can you cut off His Highness the Prince…sigh….”

“The vassals probably can’t say it. But they have to say it.”

“You won’t live long.”

“I think so too.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

Count Millia went to see Iliana right away.

 

 

“Your Highness.”

“I know. What you came to say.”

 

She was sitting still on the bed.

 

 

“I know that Lord Milkis doesn’t have bad intentions, so don’t worry.”

“….”

“More than that, I’ve been thinking about it.”

“Yes?”

“It doesn’t seem like there’s a particular problem.”

“What do you mean…?”

 

What wind blew after she was so agitated earlier?

 

 

Iliana smiled.

 

 

“Isn’t Ayla coming soon for supplies?”

“Ah, now that you mention it, it’s almost time for her to come. But isn’t that just the rear? Not much for combat…”

“There’s no need to win by fighting with cavalry.”

 

 

Now that I see it, it was a dangerous smile.

 

 

“Ayla is a 5-tier mage. Taking out one Aran is an easy task.”

“Y-Your Highness…are you saying…!”

“It can’t be helped. If we leave it like this, the 10,000 cavalry will die anyway. Saving even Aran is the best thing to do.”

“…That’s true, but the image isn’t very good. What if people misunderstand…”

“Then are you saying we should let Aran die? Even though we can save him?”

“…….”

 

 

Millia had a very difficult expression.

It was hard to say anything easily.

 

 

“I will save Aran. No matter what.”

“Your Highness….”