Ch.69King (4)

“…Tsk.”

“I think that’s supposed to be my reaction?”

“Shut up, will you.”

As soon as Claude left the room, Chloe and Ines naturally threw off the masks they had been wearing.

The two who had just been speaking in the voices of lovesick girls were now growling like cats—no, tigers—facing a rival in love.

“Ughh… Brother, I feel dizzy… Hehe.”

“You started it first—!”

“What are you talking about? I really did have a headache! It was so funny watching you twist your body and act all coy.”

Ines mockingly imitated Chloe’s manner of speaking, and hearing this, Chloe turned her head toward Ines with a low growl.

But instead of seeing Ines, Chloe’s eyes fell on the ornate curtain her brother had left behind.

…I should just pull it aside, no, I shouldn’t.

“You’re just jealous because brother gives me love! Ahh! My lord, my head is throbbing… Hehehe.”

“…You.”

“If you didn’t like him giving me attention, you shouldn’t have been so ugly, right?”

“Hmph, you’re still just second place.”

“Are you done talking…?”

“Not even close.”

Unable to resort to physical confrontation due to her condition, Ines mocked Chloe by imitating her rival’s voice in a ridiculous manner, just as Chloe had done earlier.

The words coming from their mouths were as childish as those of quarreling children, but these childish words dripped with murderous intent.

“You—urp…!”

“What? Are you going to vomit disgustingly—urp?!”

However, their verbal battle didn’t last long.

Their hormonal balance was already disrupted due to pregnancy, and the added stress from anger only made their bodies more susceptible to hormonal fluctuations.

The two who had been hurling deadly insults at each other were now desperately suppressing the rising nausea in their throats while sweating profusely.

……….

“In all my years, I’ve seen many strange things, but this kind of warfare is a first.”

“Haha, but isn’t it good that fewer people are dying?”

“The same applies to our enemies, doesn’t it?”

“Well… that’s true…”

General Aras, who had been thoroughly enjoying his vacation under the pretext of self-reflection, was in an extremely displeased state.

If he could have freely killed the Carolingian swine, it might have been different, but being unable to do so due to political considerations made Aras’s mood plummet even further.

“Most of our mercenaries and regular troops have gone to the Empire anyway, and what we have left are mostly just bodies to fill the ranks—rabble who wouldn’t understand proper tactics even if we tried. Just think of it as an act of mercy.”

“The Carolingian forces over there are all rabble too. If it were just us, that would be one thing, but their military is in terrible shape as well, so this could have been a perfectly winnable war… sigh.”

Although Aras rationally understood Claude’s judgment, he still harbored discontent about whether it was truly necessary.

I know better than anyone that Lotharing no longer has the capacity to wage war, but isn’t Caroling in a similar state after frequent conflicts and sending their capable forces to the Holy Empire for the crusade?

If the conditions are essentially equal, we could certainly win in an all-out war… tsk.

“Well, can’t be helped. Strategy is His Majesty’s domain.”

But Aras soon accepts it.

If another general had been in Aras’s position, they might have escalated the situation by claiming “a commander in the field need not follow his lord’s orders!” But Aras was deeply loyal to House Bourgogne and believed that strategy belonged solely to his lord.

If we capture those who insulted His Majesty and bring them back to Dijon to return the insult tenfold, His Majesty’s and the Kingdom of Lotharing’s dignity can be preserved. Of course, the gain isn’t enough to offset the cost of mobilizing the army, but if I think of it as giving the soldiers some intense training, it’s not such a bad deal.

“So those Carolingian lords… ah, there they come.”

While contemplating various thoughts and surveying the battlefield, Aras noticed a group emerging in front of the Carolingian army.

They were too numerous to be envoys, and they were carrying military banners, so they appeared to be a vanguard… oh.

‘Just as His Majesty informed us.’

The emblem on the flag raised by that vanguard matched exactly what was in the report.

His Majesty predicted that if the Carolingian king accepted the proposal, he would send them as the vanguard… and it’s proving exactly right.

Moreover, that vanguard is protruding too far from the enemy’s battle line. Normally, even a vanguard wouldn’t plunge into enemy territory alone—the wings should advance together—but the Carolingian commander is allowing the vanguard to charge far ahead.

Hmm… even with an agreement, they should at least pretend. This is too obvious.

“Yaaawn… can you all see that?”

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

“Since their vanguard is coming, welcome them properly. Capture them alive and take good care of them so they don’t die… huh?”

What’s that now?

Several members of the enemy vanguard suddenly fell from their horses and rolled dozens of times on the ground. Thanks to their heavy armor worn like cowards, their limbs seem intact, but inside that armor… well… they must be in a terrible state.

“Your Excellency, it happened so quickly and was partially obscured by soldiers, but it appeared that some knights were pushing them.”

“Is that so? A typical underhanded Carolingian tactic.”

It’s probably not the Carolingian king’s will… likely the work of some angry Carolingian nobles who resented being dragged into this pointless war.

Tsk tsk, even if you hate them, is this necessary? Even the worst villains should at least be allowed to die or be captured on the battlefield to preserve some honor, but this is just a dog’s death.

I’m truly fortunate that we in House Bourgogne, no, in Lotharing, don’t have such despicable individuals who resort to such vile tricks.

“His Majesty asked to capture them alive if possible, but he also said corpses would be fine, so I suppose it doesn’t matter. Now, before those young lords who can’t even ride properly fall off their horses again, go and fetch them quickly!”

“Yes, Your Excellency!!”

‘…It’s stinging my eyes.’

At Aras’s command, the waiting light cavalry charged forward all at once. The previously clear view was now completely covered in dust, making everything filthy.

Through the dust cloud, the Carolingian army could be vaguely seen finally moving, but upon closer inspection, they were all infantry.

It seems they just gave the order to advance for appearance’s sake, but at that speed, they won’t even reach us by the time we’ve completely surrounded the vanguard and retrieved those who fell.

“Why are you all standing around blankly? The enemy is approaching! Battle formation!”

“Y-yes!”

But our adorable new recruits are extremely tense just from the fact that the enemy is approaching.

I was disappointed that we couldn’t kill the Carolingian swine, but giving these recruits such realistic training is quite satisfying.

……….

“Please protect the Saint from evil and help him find true love—”

“How is the prison?”

“Ah! Father Armand!”

Jeanne, who had been praying for Claude in her well-furnished cell, stopped her prayer upon hearing Armand’s voice and greeted him cheerfully.

“Hehe, it’s very nice. I’m happy that the Saint seems to appreciate my efforts.”

“…Is that so.”

Really… why does such a young child have so much responsibility… I’m truly ashamed of my past self for calling her a witch.

Seeing Jeanne’s bright smile, Armand feels not relief but profound complexity.

“But… what brings you here this time?”

“His Majesty has some questions for you.”

“Hmm…? Then he could come directly, couldn’t he?”

Sigh… this child has a good heart, but her lack of common sense is problematic.

If anyone else heard such words, it would be the end of her.

I’ve taught her a lot about proper feminine conduct and etiquette through these prison bars, but there’s still a long way to go.

“Come directly? You shouldn’t say such things about such a noble person.”

“Oh… is that so? I’m sorry… I said something strange again.”

“No, no, it’s fine as long as you don’t do it from now on. Anyway, can you read or write?”

“Yes, I learned from reading the scriptures a lot!”

“Well done. Here is His Majesty’s letter. Think about the answers to what’s written there, and when His Majesty comes later, you can tell him.”

Pleased with Jeanne’s literacy, Armand smiles and passes items through the prison bars.

According to the rules, prisoners should receive nothing but food, but the will of the nation’s ruler is more important than such rules.

“Um… should I read it now?”

“Read it after I leave. It’s not proper to read His Majesty’s letter in front of others.”

“…You’re leaving again?”

“I have many duties, so it can’t be helped. I’ll come again later.”

“Hehe, okay!”

Armand’s tone and expression are unimaginable for someone who, until meeting Jeanne, had demanded her death as a witch. He’s like an old man watching the antics of his adorable granddaughter.

Blessed by angels, Armand sincerely prays for Jeanne’s happiness as he slowly leaves the prison.