Chapter 314

“Is there anything you need?”

The middle-aged man with a dignified appearance spoke.

His deep-set eyes under thick eyebrows exuded an air of gravitas and experience.

Those with keen observation could tell that he was no ordinary man.

This man was Marquis Nigel Sapia.

He was the head of the Sapia family, a powerful noble family and the dominant force in the prosperous western region of the empire.

“No, I’m fine.”

The one who answered was Princess Oscar, one of the two key figures in the civil war.

After her victory at Spazz Barony, which seemed to declare her continued existence, she had immediately moved to the Sapia family, her core support base.

“I’m glad to hear that. I’m always sorry that I can only offer you such humble accommodations.”

“Please, don’t mention it. I’m actually more comfortable here than in the Imperial Palace. In the palace, my dear brother was always watching me with his suspicious eyes.”

“I see. That must have been difficult.”

The princess and Marquis Sapia exchanged pleasantries.

But everyone knew that they hadn’t come all this way for small talk.

Marquis Sapia changed the subject.

“Your Highness’s boldness and valor at Spazz Barony have left a deep impression on everyone. Many lords have sent envoys, eager to pledge their allegiance after witnessing your unwavering strength. The tide is definitely turning.”

“That’s good to hear. But my victory was just a bonus. Wouldn’t you say that the Celtrine family’s consecutive victories have had a more significant impact?”

The princess replied with a subtle smile.

“Indeed, the Celtrine family’s victories have certainly had a great impact. It’s truly encouraging. However…”

Marquis Sapia trailed off.

“However?”

“It’s a shame that the patricide’s army has completely surrounded Celtrine Castle. It would have been ideal if they could have served as a bridgehead in the central region and continued to support Your Highness…”

His words were laced with negativity.

Marquis Sapia was clearly pessimistic about the Celtrine family’s situation.

Anyone would be.

But,

“Do you think it’s over? I see it differently.”

The princess seemed to have a different opinion.

Because of one person.

Max Celtrine.

She had seen what kind of person he was during their time at the academy.

“What do you mean…?”

“Well, you know Max Celtrine, right? He’s my senior.”

“Of course. I’ve heard that the commander who has led the Celtrine forces to victory against the patricide’s army is Max Celtrine.”

He had been known as a good-for-nothing delinquent in the past, but he didn’t mention that.

What mattered was the present.

Marquis Sapia was a man who understood that.

“Yes. But isn’t he amazing?”

The princess’s jade-green eyes sparkled.

“He is indeed amazing. Honestly, I was surprised. I never thought the Celtrine family would have such a hidden talent.”

“Exactly. Do you think they’ll fall that easily with such an amazing senior leading them?”

“Hmm.”

Marquis Sapia hesitated to answer.

Because he had a different opinion.

He acknowledged Max’s abilities.

But results weren’t determined by abilities alone.

The overwhelming difference in their forces.

It wasn’t something that could be overcome by a single person’s abilities.

The only variable was reinforcements.

The Ehrenbert family was allied with the Celtrine family.

But even they wouldn’t be able to send reinforcements quickly.

Sending reinforcements in a hurry meant that they wouldn’t be sending a sufficient number of soldiers.

There was a risk that the reinforcements would also be wiped out.

They would have to mobilize a proper army.

But that would take time.

Could Celtrine Castle hold out until then?

He was skeptical.

“You seem to have a high opinion of Max Celtrine. Or perhaps you’ve foreseen another variable…?”

“Yes, I have a high opinion of him. I believe that he can hold out until reinforcements arrive.”

The princess smiled.

“Until reinforcements arrive? Even the Ehrenbert family wouldn’t be able to send reinforcements that quickly.”

Marquis Sapia was puzzled.

Had the genius princess’s judgment been clouded?

If so, it was a serious problem.

But she wouldn’t make such a basic mistake.

“Hehe, I know. It’ll take time. It’ll be a living hell. They’ll suffer heavy losses. But Senior Max has the strength to endure.”

The princess’s calculations,

They weren’t based on the Celtrine family holding out indefinitely.

It was about them enduring until reinforcements arrived, even if it meant suffering heavy losses, and then repelling the Crown Prince’s army.

It was the most desirable outcome for her.

She didn’t want Max and the Celtrine family to be annihilated.

But she also didn’t want them to continue their winning streak.

She needed Max’s brain, not a powerful force.

‘Hehe, Senior Max just needs to be a good chess piece.’

Yes, a chess piece.

A tool.

A useful tool that she could control at will.

And the current situation was perfect for that.

Senior Max wasn’t the type to die here.

But he would definitely suffer heavy losses.

A Pyrrhic victory.

He would win, but he would be left crippled.

He would have no choice but to rely on her.

‘Hehe, I’m looking forward to it.’

The princess was painting a bright picture in her mind when,

“Y-Your Highness! F-Father!”

Emily Sapia rushed into the room, her face flustered.

Marquis Sapia frowned.

“What’s all the commotion? Don’t you know that Her Highness is present?”

“I-I’m sorry. B-But it’s such shocking news that I had to…”

“Shocking news?”

He had no idea what she was talking about.

“What is it?”

The princess also asked, curious.

“W-Well, that man… I mean, the Celtrine family…”

“Hmm, I see. So they’ve finally fallen. I was just about to discuss that with Your Highness…”

“N-No! They won! A decisive victory!”

“…”

“…”

An awkward silence fell over the room.

It was a statement that was completely unexpected, not just for Marquis Sapia, but also for Princess Oscar.

They were speechless with shock.

“Y-Your Highness? F-Father?”

Emily blinked, confused by their silence.

“Wait, wait, wait.”

Even the princess couldn’t hide her shock. She raised her hand.

“Let’s calm down and sort this out. You’re saying they won? That’s impossible.”

“W-Well…”

Emily explained the shocking news she had received.

The Crown Prince’s army had surrounded Celtrine Castle with a massive force.

In the first battle, the Celtrine forces had wiped out the Crown Prince’s mage unit with their monstrous arrows fired from large ballistae.

In the second battle, the Crown Prince’s army had deployed catapults, but they had been destroyed by the Celtrine forces’ monstrous catapult.

In the third battle, the Celtrine forces had launched a surprise attack and inflicted heavy casualties on the Crown Prince’s army.

The Crown Prince’s army had then launched an all-out attack, mobilizing all their siege weapons and soldiers.

But they had lost almost all their siege weapons to the monstrous catapult and had been unable to breach the walls, facing fierce resistance.

And then, the Ehrenbert family’s five thousand reinforcements had arrived, forcing the Crown Prince’s army to retreat.

The Crown Prince’s army had suffered even more casualties during their retreat, as they were pursued by the Ehrenbert family’s forces.

In the end, it was a crushing defeat for the Crown Prince’s army.

Marquis Sapia was speechless, his jaw agape, his body frozen in shock.

And then,

“Wow, that’s cold. You’re so heartless.”

“Huh?”

“Hmm? Did I say something wrong?”

The princess smiled sweetly.

But her eyes weren’t smiling.

‘They were prepared for this? Senior Max is more ambitious than I thought.’

Everyone knew that there would be chaos if the Emperor died without naming an heir.

But only a handful of people would actually prepare for such a scenario.

Because most people didn’t think it would actually happen.

“This is wonderful news, isn’t it?”

“Huh? Ah, yes, Your Highness.”

Emily replied.

“…Indeed.”

Marquis Sapia still seemed to be in shock.

“Marquis.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“We need to hurry.”

“I understand…”

“No, let’s send a vanguard.”

Five thousand reinforcements arriving so quickly.

It was unexpected.

It had only served to elevate the status of the Ehrenbert family and the Celtrine family.

Especially the Celtrine family’s status was rising rapidly.

‘A hero is troublesome.’

A war hero who was more popular than the Emperor?

The most unnecessary existence in the world.

An existence that shouldn’t have been created in the first place.

And if it was unavoidable, it had to be eliminated.

“Huh?”

“What do you think about sending a vanguard?”

The princess changed the subject, pretending to be oblivious.

“As you wish…”

“I’ll go myself.”

“Your Highness?!”

“I can’t be absent from the most important place, can I?”

The Celtrine family was at the center of the civil war.

* * *

“This victory will change the tide of the war.”

Regina said.

“Yes, it will.”

I nodded in agreement.

She was probably thinking the same thing as me.

That they couldn’t miss this opportunity.

“The patricide’s army won’t be able to move for a while.”

A crushing defeat.

They had mobilized a massive army, but they had still been defeated. They would be busy dealing with the aftermath.

They wouldn’t have the resources to move their army.

“Yes, that’s why we have to move.”

I grinned.

I liked how Regina and I were on the same page.

“U-Um, Young Master. We did achieve a great victory, but our knights and soldiers are exhausted. If we move now…”

Hank, the knight captain, spoke up cautiously, his voice filled with concern.

He wanted them to rest and recover.

I knew that many others felt the same way.

This was their chance to finally relax.

It was a reasonable choice.

But it was also a safe choice.

A safe choice meant that they wouldn’t lose anything, but they wouldn’t gain anything either.

It was the thinking of an ordinary person.

But Regina and I were different.

We knew that we had to seize this opportunity.

“I understand your concern. You’re worried about our exhausted soldiers. But we have to move. It’s the only way to advance.”

“Move? Where to?”

Camian asked.

He was also present at the meeting, as the representative of the Croycher family of the north.

He had earned his place.

“We’re going to gather forces in the central region. As many as we can.”

I said.

Our army had originally consisted of six thousand soldiers. We had absorbed the one thousand soldiers from Fillmore Barony, increasing our numbers to seven thousand.

But we had also suffered hundreds of casualties in the recent battle, so our current strength was around six thousand five hundred.

But it wasn’t enough.

I knew.

That armies from the east and south would soon be on the move.

We needed to increase our forces to face them.

And this was our only chance.

So we had to move.

“Gasp, it’ll be a difficult fight, Young Master.”

Hank was shocked.

It was understandable.

Conquering territories wasn’t a game.

They had been fresh when they attacked Fillmore Barony, but that wasn’t the case now.

But,

“Do you really think so? We have the Ehrenbert family’s elite forces, and we have me.”

I smiled confidently.

But that was secondary.

What I was aiming for was,

“I’ll show them the power of reputation.”

We had become more than we realized.

We had become a force to be feared.

It was something that couldn’t be understood from the inside.

But I knew.

Because I had been on the receiving end of it.

Now it was my turn.

“We move today.”