episode_0012

“Lucille.”

“Yes, brother.”

“If a civil war breaks out… ”

Lucille, who was reading a book, looked at me. And I continued.

“Allies will join Henryk.”

“Yes?”

“I’m joining Henrik.”

“Are you serious?”

Of course I am sincere. Even though I like jokes, I don’t make jokes about things like this.

“I’m serious.”

“… ”

“Will you trust me and follow me?”

“… If it is the path that you take, I am always ready to believe and follow it. But, is there a chance of winning?”

“None.”

“Well, then why on earth… !”

“I will lose this civil war.”

“Why on earth?”

“Because… ”

Lucille looked shocked after hearing my explanation.

I felt good because I felt like I had given a blow to a guy who was always expressionless.

—–

“Did Andeln send you here?”

The setting sun. In response to Henrik’s question, I shook my head.

“I came on my own.”

“Did you come to kill me?”

“I came to join you.”

“What? To me?”

“Henrik is my master and I am a subject, so it wouldn’t be strange if we joined, right?”

“That’s true, but… ”

“Or is it strange for you to join Henryk?”

“Isn’t that common sense? My troops are only 8,000. Andeln’s troops number 20,000. How can you win when the difference is 2x?”

“4,000 members of the Mayer family joined, so 12,000. The difference is slightly less than double.”

“Even so, the disadvantage does not change.”

“Yes. Our army will be defeated and Andeln will take control of Torgenberg.”

“Why does he know that… ”

“Master, do you know the saying, “Three days and a thousand?””

There are many theories about its etymology. That was a fairly common occurrence.

“You guy, no way… ”

“Yes. I am looking at the next administration, not Mr. Andeln.”

“… ”

Henrik blinked blankly and stared blankly at my face. And then…

“Hahaha! Cough! Cough! Hahahaha!!!”

It was a big laugh. As if it was genuinely fun.

“You guy. Did you think Andeln would die soon?”

“Yes. To be honest, Andeln is an ordinary person. I don’t think his regime will last long.”

“When Andeln dies, Adel will become the duke, and since Adel will be more favorable to me than Andeln, I believe that he will not forget and treat the loyal governor who joined the setting sun.”

“Yes. That is correct.”

“You guy… ”

He looked at my face and continued to laugh. It seems like it’s hard to bear. And then he said this.

“Franz Mayer. I wish you were my son… ”

“Thank you for your words, but I respect my father now.”

“Even to that point. You are such a good son. Unlike my son.”

“Thank you.”

“Good. Seeing how extraordinary you are, I will give you a gift.”

“If it’s a gift… ?”

“Hello!”

“Yes!”

“Defense commander, tell him to stop!”

“Yes!”

The guard commander arrived shortly. And Henrik said this to the garrison commander:

“Melton.”

“Yes, my lord.”

“Send the chief to Andeln. I will surrender.”

“Yes? My lord! Are you serious?”

“I am sincere. Send it right away.”

“… If so.”

Only then did I know what his gift was. That was the integrity of the troops. If the battle continues like this, the Mayer family’s troops will be greatly damaged. The lord deliberately surrendered to preserve the Mayer family’s forces.

I entrusted the future to a person who would rise again someday, and gave up the present for that future.

“Franz Mayer.”

“Yes, my lord.”

“If Adele and Andeln ever fight… ”

“I will definitely take Adele’s side.”

I haven’t seen Henry since. Henrik was locked in a dungeon, unable to come out for the rest of his life, and died without even knowing when he died. It was a miserable death for a hero who dominated an era.

—–

“Franz Mayer.”

An aristocratic, yet arrogant voice spread throughout the hall.

“Franz Mayer, Franz Mayer. oh! Franz Mayer.”

“Andeln.”

“I definitely should have reached out to you. Be on the same side. I’m keeping an eye on it.”

“That’s right.”

“Nevertheless, you shook off my hand and clung to my father. Why did you do that?”

Everyone paid attention to me. I was wondering what would come out of my mouth. and…

“Because Henrik was my lord.”

That was my answer. I simply remained loyal to my lord and kept my contract. And that one word put the other retainers to shame. This is because they all broke their contract with their lord and betrayed him.

“Hahaha!”

Andeln laughed loudly. Then he put his hand on my shoulder.

“While everyone was focused on betrayal, you monopolized the loyalty.”

“… ”

“You are truly a loyal subject.”

“… ”

“But!”

okay. This is where the main point begins.

I wondered why But didn’t come out.

“My father always told me. Punishment for personal injury is the standard of military education. You were against me and my subordinates took my side even though they were traitors. So I can’t give you a reward.”

“I understand.”

“Franz Mayer.”

“Yes.”

“I will cut the Mayer family’s territory in half. Think of it as the price you pay for making the wrong choice and reflect on it.”

Instead of answering, I lowered my head. And at Andeln’s words, the heads of the four major families breathed a sigh of relief. He thought that if he had joined Henrik, he would have been in that position.

The Mayer family was a family with power comparable to the four great families. But it will be different after the territory is reduced by half. The Meyer family was out of the center of politics. With just one choice.

—–

“Lord Meyer.”

The person who spoke was the head of the Giselle family. Those were the words of the father of the guy who poured me a drink last time.

“Yes, Lord Gizelle.”

“Don’t be too upset. You made the right choice.”

I thought he was going to start a fight, but sure enough, he was comforting me.

The same was true for the heads of the other four major families. He cleared his throat, said one word of comfort, and then disappeared.

‘What the fuck are you doing?’

For a moment I wondered what was going on, but then I realized it. They regarded the Mayer family as their rivals. However, with one mistake, the Mayer family was completely removed from the center of politics, so I felt half relieved and half satisfied. And he offered at least a word out of sympathy for the knight who had maintained his loyalty.

“Phew… ”

They won’t know. The fact is that the position will soon be reversed.

“Enjoy the brief feeling of victory. Because it won’t last long.”

That’s because it was a fact that only I, who knew the future, knew.

And after half of the estate was cut down. Let’s return to the family…

“Brother.”

Lucille welcomed me. But strangely enough, Lucille’s expression wasn’t that bad. Even though you must have heard the news of the estate reduction.

“Lucille.”

“There will be less work from now on. Because the territory was reduced by half.”

“I guess so?”

“Then let’s live a little leisurely now. Enjoy hobbies, read books, and… ”

“Sometimes we have parties.”

“Good.”

Lucille and I looked at each other and laughed. Fortunately, Lucille seemed to understand my thoughts. Or maybe it’s just because people are nice.

In this way, the territory was reduced by half, and the family’s power, which could mobilize 4,000 people in proportion to the reduced territory, was reduced to half that amount, or 2,000 people.

But I didn’t think this was a loss.

I just thought it was one step back to take two steps forward.

——

Meanwhile, while the Setia family was embroiled in civil war, there was a major battle in the south.

Battle of Endora. It was a battle between Leona von Krusenstein’s 6,000 troops and Clozel von Krusenstein’s 14,000 troops.

Considering the number of troops, Clozel should have won. But what about the results? It was an overwhelming victory for Leona.

The Leona army overwhelmingly defeated the Clozel army, which was twice as large, with almost no damage, and as a result, the Leona army took hegemony in the south.

And the moment Clozel’s army collapsed. Andeln thought that now was his chance and headed south with his entire army.

It was natural. Clozel lost its main force. So, while the troops were away, they would empty out empty houses and eat up as much territory as possible.

The intention is that Leona will take Clozel’s southern territory, and we will take the northern territory.

This wasn’t actually Andeln’s idea. From the moment Henrik decided to support Leona, the plan was already made, and Andeln only served a spoonful of food on the table prepared by Henrik.

However, if he couldn’t eat the meal prepared for him, he was also an asshole. In that respect, Andeln’s choice was not wrong.

30,000 troops gathered like that. A large army of 30,000 men marched south toward the Krusenstein family.

It was the complete opposite of five years ago, when the Setia family was unilaterally invaded.

And the Myer family also participated in the battle. With 2,000 troops.