Chapter 343

“W-What?”

“They agree?”

The lords murmured in surprise.

They hadn’t expected Max and Marquis Safia to agree.

Marquis Safia, who had been prepared to argue, looked bewildered.

He felt uneasy, as if something was amiss.

‘What is he planning?’

He glared at Max suspiciously.

But Max just shrugged nonchalantly.

‘Ugh, this is anticlimactic.’

Even the princess, who had been looking forward to a heated debate, seemed disappointed.

But she didn’t show it and asked, “Hehe, why do you think so?”

“I believe Marquis Safia would be able to give you a better answer.”

Max dodged the question again.

The lords naturally turned to look at Marquis Safia.

Even the princess couldn’t press the issue any further.

She smiled faintly and asked, “I see. Then what about you, Marquis Safia?”

“…Ah, yes, Your Highness. There are several advantages to regrouping and reorganizing at the Imperial City. First, we can give our exhausted soldiers a chance to rest and recover. Second, we can transport the grain from Odinel to the Imperial City and secure a more stable supply line. And third,”

He answered smoothly, thanks to his thorough preparation.

He emphasized the third point, “We can reinforce our army.”

The lords looked puzzled.

“Reinforce our army?”

“Where are we going to get more soldiers from?”

The princess’s faction had already mobilized all their available forces.

There was no one left to recruit.

And yet, Marquis Safia was speaking with such confidence.

They couldn’t understand it.

On the other hand,

‘As expected.’

Max had already anticipated this.

That’s why he had avoided a pointless argument and agreed with Marquis Safia.

“Where are we going to get more soldiers from?”

One of the central lords asked, his voice laced with suspicion.

He should have been the one asking that question.

Marquis Safia sighed inwardly.

And then, he countered, “Do you think we can’t have a share of someone else’s bread?”

“What are you talking about…?”

“A bat.”

“A bat?”

“A bat will bring us bread. The situation has created the perfect opportunity.”

At that moment,

“Urgent report!”

As if on cue, a messenger arrived with an urgent report.

The princess nodded.

“What is it?”

“Some of the lords from the central and southern regions who were loyal to the Crown Prince have expressed their desire to defect! They’re currently marching towards the Imperial City with their armies, as a token of their loyalty! They’re begging to join Your Highness’s righteous army!”

“W-What?”

“Lords from the central and southern regions?”

“They’re betraying him?!”

“Oh, what wonderful news!”

The lords were in an uproar.

It was big news.

Defections meant that the enemy’s forces would be weakened, while their own forces would be strengthened.

And that wasn’t all.

Defections would inevitably demoralize the enemy and boost their own morale.

It was good news all around.

But it was something that most of the lords hadn’t anticipated.

The central lords, who had been oppressed by the Crown Prince, were one thing, but the southern lords, who were united under Duke Henatus, were known for their unwavering loyalty.

“Incredible. How did you predict this, Marquis Safia…?”

“You foresaw the cracks in the southern lords’ unity. You have truly remarkable insight.”

The western lords, in particular, praised Marquis Safia for his accurate prediction.

Even the central and northern lords seemed to acknowledge his ability.

Marquis Safia puffed up his chest.

It was understandable.

He had correctly predicted that the Crown Prince’s forces would crumble from within.

However,

Something was missing.

Something important was missing.

‘Damn it, I should have crushed Max in that argument, but he slipped away. He’s a slippery one.’

He was disappointed.

But there was nothing he could do.

He had to be content with having his opinion accepted.

This wasn’t the end.

He had other plans.

Plans to slowly but surely drive Max into ruin.

“That’s wonderful news. Of course I’ll accept their defection. Go and tell them my decision.”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

The messenger hurried away.

The princess looked at the lords.

“Then it’s settled. Everyone, rest and reorganize your armies while we wait for the defectors to arrive. And make sure that the grain from Odinel is transported to the Imperial City without any problems.”

The meeting ended.

* * *

Two weeks passed.

The defectors’ armies arrived at the Imperial City one after another.

They had forty thousand soldiers in total.

Only ten thousand of them were from the south, where the lords were known for their loyalty, but thirty thousand of them were from the central region, which had been under the Crown Prince’s control.

It was a clear example of what happened when a ruler’s grip on power weakened.

The lords, who had no loyalty to the Crown Prince, had abandoned him and sought their own survival.

The Crown Prince’s forces now consisted of eighty thousand soldiers in the south, ten thousand in the Imperial City, and ten thousand in the central region.

His once mighty army of two hundred and forty thousand had been reduced to a mere one hundred thousand.

On the other hand, the princess’s faction had almost completely recovered from the losses they had suffered in Marquis Safia’s defeat, thanks to the defections.

They had seventy thousand soldiers in the west, thirty thousand in the north, thirty thousand in Celtrine territory, twenty thousand in the central region, and forty thousand from the defectors.

Despite their defeat, they still had a force of one hundred and ninety thousand.

The reason why the Celtrine forces had actually gained ten thousand soldiers, despite having fought multiple battles, was because they had been absorbing the surrendered soldiers from the territories they had conquered.

It had been possible because they had captured Odinel and gained access to its abundant grain supplies.

Anyway, the balance of power had shifted in favor of the Celtrine forces, even in terms of numbers.

Because the northern and central lords were effectively on their side.

Seventy thousand versus eighty thousand.

The difference wasn’t that big, but the Celtrine forces had something that the Safia forces didn’t: a string of impressive victories.

Those victories had given them prestige, power, and influence.

Marquis Safia, on the other hand, had lost everything in his defeat.

The difference was significant.

There was a reason why he had chosen to submit to the princess.

“It seems like our preparations are almost complete.”

Princess Oscar said.

Everyone knew why she had said “almost.”

Because they hadn’t decided how to deploy the defectors’ armies yet.

Forty thousand soldiers.

How they deployed those soldiers would inevitably affect the balance of power.

It was a sensitive issue that could lead to conflict.

The lords waited nervously for her next words.

“But there are still some troops that haven’t been assigned yet.”

As expected, she brought up the issue of the defectors’ armies.

‘I’d be fine with a 50/50 split.’

‘Even a 40/60 split wouldn’t be bad.’

The lords who supported Celtrine were willing to compromise.

They already had the advantage.

‘Half is unacceptable.’

‘We have to argue that we need more troops due to our losses, and secure at least thirty thousand.’

The western lords, on the other hand, were determined to gain as many troops as possible.

They needed at least thirty thousand to gain a numerical advantage.

However,

Marquis Safia, who should have been the most eager, was surprisingly calm.

‘I knew it.’

Max smirked inwardly.

Marquis Safia had already made a deal with the princess.

But it wasn’t a hopeless situation.

Max’s influence had grown to the point where even the princess had to take his opinion into account.

If he voiced his opinion, he could still secure some benefits, no matter what the princess and Marquis Safia had agreed on.

‘Let’s see what she says first.’

He decided to wait and see.

If the princess’s proposal was reasonable, he wouldn’t object. But if it was blatantly unfair, he would voice his opposition.

But then,

“I’ll personally lead the forty thousand soldiers who defected.”

The princess said something unexpected.

The lords were stunned.

They started calculating the gains and losses, their minds racing.

‘Ah, so that’s how you’re going to play it?’

Max covered his mouth with his hand.

He almost burst out laughing.

‘You’re not going to make this easy, are you?’

The princess’s move was flawless.

On the surface, it seemed like she wasn’t siding with either Celtrine or Safia.

It seemed like a fair and impartial decision.

But was it really?

At least to Max, it didn’t seem that way.

He already knew that the princess and Marquis Safia were in cahoots.

It meant that the princess had effectively gained forty thousand soldiers.

And he couldn’t object.

Because it was a fair decision on the surface.

‘This wasn’t Marquis Safia’s idea.’

Max was certain.

If it had been Marquis Safia’s idea, he would have simply given more troops to the western army.

This clever tactic, which left no room for criticism, could only have been the princess’s idea.

‘Hehe, what are you going to do, Senior?’

The princess looked at Max, a faint smile on her lips.

Max sensed her gaze.

‘Heh, you think I’m going to panic?’

He suddenly stood up.

Everyone’s eyes turned to him.

And then,

*Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap!*

He started clapping.

“That’s a wonderful idea. I applaud Your Highness’s wisdom.”

The atmosphere in the room suddenly became awkward.

*Clap! Clap! Clap!*

Regina, not wanting to leave her fiancé hanging, also started clapping.

*Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap!*

Lobel, the Giant of the North, joined in.

And then the northern and central lords couldn’t just sit there and do nothing.

*Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap!*

*Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap!*

Thunderous applause erupted in the room.

“A-As expected of Her Highness. She’s truly wise.”

“Y-Yes, it’s a brilliant decision.”

The Celtrine faction showered the princess with praise.

‘What is that bastard doing?’

Marquis Safia’s eyebrows twitched.

Was Max just bluffing?

It was highly likely.

But he felt uneasy.

‘That bastard…’

He couldn’t figure Max out.

“Huh? Marquis Safia and the western lords don’t think Her Highness’s decision was wise?”

Max asked innocently, his eyes wide.

The western lords’ hearts skipped a beat.

Not joining the applause in this atmosphere would make it seem like they were criticizing the princess’s decision.

“O-Of course not.”

“H-Her Highness’s decision is truly brilliant. O-Of course it is.”

*Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap!*

*Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap!*

The western lords reluctantly joined the applause.

‘That bastard…’

Even Marquis Safia couldn’t help but clap.

*Clap! Clap! Clap!*

He felt like he had been played.

It was a feeling of both winning and losing at the same time.

On the other hand,

‘Hehe, this is fun. How much longer are you going to entertain me, Senior?’

The princess couldn’t help but smile.

‘Is he really not bothered by this? Let’s wait and see.’

‘You think you’ll always have things your way?’

Their thoughts clashed.

It was the most dangerous clash of all, a clash that no one else was aware of.

* * *

The messenger,

He wasn’t just any messenger.

He was a messenger from Red Rain.

He was the Heavenly Lord’s right-hand man, the same man who had clashed with Max in the Forgotten Forest.

He bowed his head, his form still hazy and indistinct, like a figure shrouded in mist.

“The Crown Prince has sent a message.”

A dark curtain.

There was definitely someone behind it.

Because a voice could be heard from within.

“Why?”

It was a strange voice, neither young nor old.

The only thing they could tell from the voice was that it belonged to a man.

“He’s requesting assistance. It seems like the situation is dire.”

‘One side collapsed too quickly.’

The messenger thought inwardly.

The empire was supposed to be torn apart by a long and bloody civil war.

That way, they wouldn’t have the resources to interfere with the Holy City’s affairs.

But contrary to their expectations, the princess’s faction had gained a decisive advantage.

And at the center of it all was,

‘Max, that bastard! How much longer are you going to interfere with our plans?!’

The messenger’s eyes flashed with murderous intent.

He had a long list of grudges against Max.

“Hmm, send the Guardians.”

“What? But those forces are…”

The messenger’s eyes widened in surprise.

It was an unexpected order.

Those forces were supposed to be deployed to the Holy City.

“They’re just toys anyway. They won’t be able to do anything against her.”

“B-But…”

“It’s an order.”

“Y-Yes, Heavenly Lord.”

The messenger bowed his head.

His reply revealed one important fact.

The person behind the curtain was the Heavenly Lord, the leader of Red Rain.

A new storm was brewing, and it was heading towards the imperial civil war.