Chapter 299

“The Crown Prince has given his order.”

Vinchel, the Sword Saint and captain of the Imperial Knights, said in a dry tone.

Crown Prince Adolf was the supreme commander of the Imperial Army, but he had never shown any interest in personally leading his troops.

So, naturally, the Imperial Knights were the ones who commanded the army.

It was only natural, considering they were the most elite knights in the Empire.

“Where to?”

Marius, the vice-captain and Black Knight, asked.

He was dressed in black from head to toe, even though they weren’t on the battlefield.

It was clear why he was called the Black Knight.

“The Celtrine Earldom.”

“Celtrine? It won’t be as easy as last time.”

Marius said.

They had successfully launched a surprise attack on Viscount Sephir’s territory, a small-scale operation that had been swift, silent, and devastatingly effective.

It had been a perfect strategic victory.

It had been possible because they had a small but incredibly powerful force.

But,

The Celtrine family was much larger than Viscount Sephir, even though they were closer to the Imperial Capital.

Their territory was larger, their population was larger, and their army was larger.

They were an earldom, after all.

And they were a wealthy earldom in the prosperous central region.

“But their military strength is insignificant, isn’t it? That’s the case with most central region lords.”

A woman with striking white hair chimed in.

Sayanoid, the Silver Flash.

A female knight commonly known as Saya.

She was the only woman among the four remaining Imperial Knights.

“Well, that’s true, but…”

Marius nodded.

The north, constantly battling the barbarians of the snowy plains. The east, facing the relentless raids of pirates from the eastern seas. The south, clashing with the desert tribes in the scorching desert.

There was a reason why the Empire’s three great martial families were located in those regions.

Coincidentally, Duke Cavern of the east had recently eradicated the pirates, and Duke Henatus of the south had successfully divided and conquered the desert tribes.

And finally, the Ehrenbert family of the north had succeeded in exterminating the barbarians, eliminating all threats to their rear.

Anyway,

Compared to those three regions, the central region was a peaceful paradise.

It was understandable, considering it was surrounded by Imperial territory on all sides.

Even the Sapia Duchy in the west, the princess’s main supporter, which shared a border with another nation, diligently trained their soldiers. It showed how peaceful the central region was.

So the central region lords were complacent, accustomed to peace.

Soldier training? Military expansion?

They didn’t bother with such things.

An army was just a money-draining burden in peacetime.

The Celtrine family was no exception.

The world didn’t know that things had changed drastically because of Max Celtrine.

“But they’ll still have a decent number of soldiers if they gather them all, right?”

Marius continued.

“They’ll just be a disorganized mob.”

Saya scoffed.

“That’s true. But we can’t go with just a small force either, can we? How can we wipe out a territory of that size with just a few men?”

“Yes, that’s true.”

Saya nodded in agreement.

“Then I’ll go. Three thousand should be enough. What do you think, Captain?”

Saya volunteered, looking at Vinchel.

“Hmm.”

Vinchel seemed to be considering it.

“Wait a minute, senior. You’re going alone?”

Justino, the Lion of Scorching Heat, interjected, his expression slightly troubled.

“Why? Is there a problem? It’s better to have as many hands as possible in the Imperial Capital, right? That way, we can respond to any situation.”

Everyone present knew.

That the princess wouldn’t stay silent for long.

They had witnessed her true strength with their own eyes, so they were even more certain.

She would make a move soon.

That’s why they needed at least two Imperial Knights in the Imperial Capital.

“It’s not that there’s a problem, but I think you’re underestimating the Celtrine family…”

“What are you talking about? Do you know something?”

“…I don’t know anything specific. But my junior there isn’t someone to be underestimated.”

“Junior?”

“Max Celtrine, the heir to the Celtrine family. He’s two years younger than me, but he was quite a noticeable figure at the academy.”

“Hmm, tell me more.”

Saya seemed intrigued.

Justino told her what he knew.

And then,

“What? He’s just an interesting kid? You think he’s a threat? Do you think I’m an idiot?”

Saya scoffed.

Justino flinched and looked away.

His words had backfired.

“Captain, I apologize for wasting your time. Please give me my orders.”

“Hmm, alright. I’ll leave it to you. Three thousand, you said?”

Vinchel made his decision.

Of course, it wasn’t because of Saya’s insistence.

He had made his decision because he knew that she was a capable and trustworthy knight.

“Yes, I’ll wipe them out quickly with three thousand cavalry.”

The Celtrine territory was a plain.

It was the perfect terrain for cavalry.

It was also the terrain where cavalry could display their full power.

“Good. Carry out the Crown Prince’s orders without fail.”

“As you command.”

Saya grinned, her teeth glinting.

* * *

“That patricide won’t leave your family alone.”

“I know.”

Regina nodded in agreement with Lobel’s words.

“You know that we can’t help you right away, right?”

“Yes.”

The north, led by the Ehrenbert family, was mobilizing.

Lobel, the acting head of the family, had issued a summons.

But it would take time to gather their forces.

And they also had to prepare supplies for a large army.

It was a time-consuming process.

“You seem surprisingly calm.”

“No, I’m worried, of course. But I trust him.”

“brother-in-law?”

“Yes, Max.”

“Wow, I never thought I’d see the day when you would praise brother-in-law so highly.”

Lobel chuckled.

Regina, who had been serious until now, smiled faintly.

“I also witnessed his skills during the barbarian extermination. But our opponent this time isn’t barbarians.”

Lobel’s eyes narrowed.

“It’s the Imperial Army’s elite forces, led by the Imperial Knights.”

“Yes, they’re a formidable opponent.”

Regina agreed.

If her relationship with Max had fallen apart, she might have been in their position now.

But she had become a professor, and she was now facing them as an enemy.

It was a strange twist of fate.

“And you think he can handle them?”

“There’s no need to ask.”

Regina’s gaze was fixed on the distant south.

And then she said, “This will be one of the most important battles in this civil war. A battle that could turn the tide.”

Princess Oscar had declared her intention to fight against her brother, who had seized control of the Imperial Palace, from the Sapia Duchy in the west, one of the most powerful noble families in the Empire. But she hadn’t made a public appearance yet.

It meant that the princess faction was wavering, due to the absence of their leader.

And then the news of Viscount Sephir’s execution had spread.

Lords who had been waiting to see which side would win were now flocking to the Prince’s side.

Even some lords who had initially planned to support the princess were switching sides.

The Ehrenbert family’s declaration that they wouldn’t side with the patricide had prevented the situation from completely collapsing.

But it wasn’t enough.

They needed something more, something decisive.

Something that could sway the hearts of the lords.

And that something was…

“Victory. The significance of the first victory is immeasurable.”

A victory against the army that the Prince had sent to punish them, as an example to others.

That victory would definitely turn the tide.

It would change the atmosphere.

Regina was certain of it.

“It means that the lords will no longer be afraid of the Prince, who seems invincible right now.”

Lobel seemed to understand the significance of the first victory as well.

Regina nodded silently.

“Well, I guess we have no choice but to trust our brother-in-law for now.”

“Yes, we should leave his matters to him. Let’s focus on our own tasks.”

* * *

‘They’ll definitely underestimate us in the first battle.’

I was certain of it.

That’s why I could plan more aggressively.

“The enemy will attack with cavalry.”

I said.

Hank, the captain of the Celtrine knight order, and his lieutenant were sitting before me.

Gwen and Milia were also present, representing the resident unit.

Those two units were the core of our forces, the ones who would defend the territory.

“O-Of course they’ll have cavalry, but…”

“No, I’m not talking about that. I’m saying they’ll attack with only cavalry.”

“Huh?”

Hank’s eyes widened in surprise.

His lieutenant also looked surprised.

But Gwen and Milia, who had experienced the accuracy of my judgments in the underground, remained calm.

“What makes you so certain…?”

“The terrain. And time.”

I tapped the map spread out on the table.

“Our territory is a plain. It’s the perfect environment for cavalry. Any commander would use cavalry.”

“Of course, but even so, to have no infantry…”

“Infantry takes time to march. And we’ll definitely receive information about their movements. They don’t want that. They’re masters of speed, as they’ve shown with Viscount Sephir’s execution. They’ll attack swiftly, catching us off guard.”

“A-Again…?”

“Yes. And a swift punishment instills fear. If we fall as easily as Viscount Sephir, most of the lords who are still on the fence will side with the Prince.”

“T-That would be a disaster.”

“That’s why we’re planning a countermeasure, right?”

I chuckled, trying to ease their tension.

“S-Shouldn’t we build barricades around the territory right now?”

Hank said urgently.

“No. Do you think that would work? Do you think a few barricades would stop cavalry in this vast plain?”

I shook my head.

It might work in a small territory.

Because there would be limited entry points.

But in a vast plain like this, a few barricades wouldn’t make a difference.

It would just be a waste of time and effort.

“Huh? T-Then how do we stop them?”

“We don’t stop them here.”

“W-What?!”

Hank and his lieutenant, as well as Gwen and Milia, looked shocked.

They all stared at me with bewildered expressions.

I chuckled and tapped my head with my finger.

“Think outside the box. If it’s difficult to stop them here, we go out to meet them. Especially in this situation, they won’t even imagine it.”

We would take the initiative and leave the territory.

That was my plan.

They still saw us as insignificant prey, waiting to be executed.

They would be focused on how to crush us.

And we would exploit that.

That was war, that was strategy.

“G-Go out…?”

“Yes. We choose the battlefield this time.”

I pointed at a location on the map.

The Ataraxia Forest, a narrow forest that was the fastest route to the Celtrine territory.

*Tap, tap.*

“And we ambush them.”

I grinned.