Ch.12The Burgundian War of Succession (2)

“Before that, first send an envoy to the Duchy of Lorel.”

“Are you asking them to deny passage to both the rebels and the Carolingian Kingdom’s forces?”

“You catch on quickly.”

To reach Dijon from the northern coastal region where my elder uncle is, one must take one of two routes.

Either through the Bar region of the Carolingian Kingdom or through the Duchy of Lorel in the Holy Empire. Of course, one could take a much longer route around, but rebellions require swift action, making that unlikely.

And since the former route is complicated by both rebellion and war, the easiest way for my elder uncle to reach me would be through the Duchy of Lorel.

“Since we’re engaged, I could request military support…”

“That would be difficult, Your Highness.”

“Indeed, let’s drop that idea.”

In aristocratic circles, engagements rarely fall through, making them nearly equivalent to marriage. Thus, sending military support to one’s fiancée wouldn’t be seen as an unreasonable intervention.

Nevertheless, it’s difficult in this case. If the Duchy of Lorel were to join the conflict, they would face my elder uncle’s army from the north and the Carolingian Kingdom’s forces from the west.

While no one would object to them simply denying military passage, actual participation would literally engulf the Duchy of Lorel in the flames of war.

They must be well aware of this fact, so if I request military support, they would likely refuse with reluctance.

So I’ll just ask them to close their borders. They should readily agree to that much.

‘Assuming Lorel’s borders are closed… my elder uncle—’

“Would have no choice but to pass through the Bar region of the Carolingian Kingdom.”

As I mentioned earlier, they’ve either already heard the Carolingian Kingdom’s declaration or will soon learn of it. From my uncles’ perspective, the Carolingian Kingdom is an enemy.

The Bar region has no strong local nobility, making it easy to temporarily occupy, and it’s a more attractive option than circling around the Holy Empire, as supplies would be easier to manage.

Good, I’ve roughly figured out what my elder uncle will do. Now let’s move on to the Carolingian forces. Their army will arrive faster than my elder uncle’s.

“Count Leclerc.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Which route do you think the Carolingian forces will take?”

“Nevers, wouldn’t it be?”

A quick answer.

There are three routes—north, west, and south—but Leclerc confidently stated the western route through Nevers.

“May I ask why?”

“The western plains make it easy to move large armies, they’re wealthy with plenty to plunder, and there’s someone there who needs to be eliminated anyway.”

Someone who needs to be eliminated… my younger uncle.

Indeed, the southern hilly region would be difficult for large military forces to traverse. But…

“My elder uncle will be passing through the Bar region. Will they just stand by?”

Yes, this is the problem.

The people of the Bar region will likely view my elder uncle’s army flying the Burgundy flag as Burgundian forces.

Moreover, with only minor nobles there, they won’t be able to hold out long against my elder uncle’s army, which will further delay information gathering.

“Yes, while it’s a life-or-death matter for the Bar nobles, to King Charles of Caroling, it’s someone else’s problem.”

“Someone else’s problem… I see.”

Hearing Leclerc’s response, I felt as if I’d been struck from behind.

I’d forgotten we’re in the feudal era.

Generally, a nation’s leader should prioritize the country’s welfare, but feudal rulers tend to place greater importance on their own family and direct territories.

Feudal nobles are willing to diminish the nation’s power if it means enhancing their family’s glory and expanding their direct territories.

From the Carolingian King’s perspective, using the Bar region as a meat shield before advancing through Nevers to Dijon would be the more attractive option. It’s an opportunity to seize my direct territory.

“My younger uncle in Nevers, being geographically closer, must have heard the Carolingian Kingdom’s declaration before I did?”

“Yes.”

“What should I do…”

I need to think like other feudal nobles.

If I leave my younger uncle alone, he’ll make an excellent meat shield against the Carolingian forces.

That is, assuming he puts up a desperate resistance.

Hmm…

“…Send an envoy to my younger uncle, telling him that if he repents now, I’ll forget everything that has happened.”

It’s a lie, of course. Once things settle down, I’ll frame him for other crimes and dispose of him.

I have no intention of sparing someone who spoke that way to my mother and Chloe, especially since he’s already shown his teeth against me.

Why should I spare someone who has once bared his fangs at me?

It does twist my heart a bit to offer a false pardon… but there’s no choice.

It would be catastrophic if my younger uncle defects to the Carolingian Kingdom.

I need to make it seem like defecting to our side would be more beneficial.

“As for my elder uncle, let him do as he pleases. Raising an army to plunder an enemy country on his own—what a loyal subject he is, truly loyal.”

The grand strategy is complete.

Now only one task remains.

Should I lead the army at the front, or remain in Dijon at the rear?

‘It’s better if I lead the army myself.’

It’s been nine years since I was adopted into the ducal family.

Among the education I’ve received during this time was cold weapon military science.

Including what I learned in my previous life, I can confidently say my military tactics are above average. If things look bad, I can always delegate to my generals.

Above all, I need to prove my will and ability to my vassals and retainers, so leading personally is essential.

Staying in Dijon and praying for favorable developments doesn’t suit my temperament either. Ah, I also need to meet my younger uncle.

“Count Leclerc, I appoint you as chancellor. Your term will last until I return from the campaign.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Leclerc’s eyebrows twitched slightly in surprise, but he soon bowed his head to me.

Did he think I would stay in Dijon? I’ve already finished all the preparations, so there’s not much I could do by remaining here.

Someone with as much administrative experience as Leclerc should easily handle supplies and follow-up matters.

Even if he harbors ill intentions, he’s not from the House of Burgundy, so he wouldn’t gain support, and since I’ll be taking all the military forces with me, it shouldn’t be a problem—

“W-what are you saying!?”

*Grab*—

“Ugh…!?”

My thoughts were scattered by Chloe’s hands shaking my head.

Chloe’s voice was trembling finely, and her face had turned pale. Her pupils were quivering as well.

Seeing this, Leclerc frowned slightly, showing his displeasure, but since Chloe is my sister, he couldn’t speak out rashly.

“Y-Your Grace… no, brother… just give up the dukedom… please?”

“Chloe?”

“Nothing is more important than your life… We can live happily without all this… So please…”

Chloe’s urgent, trembling voice gradually transformed into a tearful plea.

Chloe fears losing me, fears that I might die.

But… this time I cannot grant Chloe’s request.

As Chloe suggests, even if I were to pass the dukedom to someone else, they would try to kill me to eliminate any potential variables. If I step down from the ducal seat, only death awaits me.

“…Chloe, I’m sorry but—”

“If you must go… then I want to go with you.”

“Huh?”

This scene feels very familiar.

……….

“—Thus, His Grace the Duke of Burgundy has sent a letter stating that he will forget the previous unfortunate incident if we fight together against the foreign enemy.”

“…”

Since my elder brother is stuck facing sea winds and finding it difficult to reach Dijon, I, with my land connection, would quickly occupy Dijon and ascend as Duke of Burgundy.

It still seems like a perfect plan… damn it.

‘The Carolingian Kingdom… those bastards ruined everything.’

If not for them… I wouldn’t have to face this humiliation or lose the crown of Dijon.

To think that a mere bastard would speak to me as if granting mercy? Ha, hahaha…

“…Very well, I accept.”

But I have no other options.

My pride is somewhat wounded, but if it helps me protect my land, it’s worth it.

“Reject the proposal that Caroling made earlier.”

“Yes, my lord.”

Having learned of my rebellion, those bastards literally intended to leave me barely alive.

They demanded that I be responsible for supplying their army, renounce my claim to the dukedom, surrender military command, and sell part of my territory—many demands, but in return, they only guaranteed that I could keep my County of Nevers.

In comparison, our bastard child’s proposal is truly generous. Forget previous incidents and fight the enemy together.

Normally, I would have suspected a trap in such generosity, but like me, he’s desperately trying to protect the crown on his head, so there’s probably no hidden agenda.

It literally means fighting together against the Carolingian Kingdom.

…Wait.

“If we repel the Carolingian invasion…”

Then I’ll have to fight my elder brother who’s in rebellion. Not just with Dijon’s army, but with my own forces from the County of Nevers as well.

The coastal region my elder brother inherited is wealthy due to maritime trade, but not enough to face a combined army simultaneously.

After eliminating my elder brother… only the bastard remains.

‘I’ll have to kill him afterward.’

For now, I must be patient.

If I kill the bastard now, succession law would favor my elder brother.

I’ll join forces to repel the Carolingian Kingdom, eliminate my elder brother, and then assassinate the bastard.

…Good.

There’s still a chance.