267 – Turning your back (5)
To be honest, I am shaking as I try to sit still after handing over the weapon with an all-or-nothing mentality.
On the battlefield, I was at an age where I never trembled because I could protect myself by killing the enemy directly with the sword in my hand… But now, all my weapons have been given away.
If Dalton tries to kill me, I will literally be killed.
But if you look scared here, you won’t lose face.
He is acting like a warrior ready to accept death with detachment.
“Soldier there, please bring me some biscuits and some beer. “I’m hungry.”
The soldier who was called to me heard this and ran to get biscuits and beer.
It’s like eating or drinking in someone else’s military camp, but if you don’t eat anything, you can see your hands and body shaking. It is an inevitable choice.
“I brought it.”
I threw a silver coin to the soldier who brought me food.
“This is my robe.”
A smile widened on the soldier’s face.
“Thank you, messenger!”
Then, I was not even thirsty, but due to the sense of crisis that I was in a very dangerous situation, I soothed my fake thirst with beer.
‘Some of the famous generals who were said to be resolute in the face of death must have pretended to be resolute even though they were very nervous.’
When I had finished eating the beer and biscuits, a driver rushed up to me.
“Messenger, Baron Maurer is calling. “I think you have something you want to tell me urgently.”
The knight seemed completely unaware that I was actually the Baron of Cologne.
It may be because he is wearing a helmet, but this guy is probably a new knight under Dalton and has never heard my voice.
“I’ll go right away.”
When I went to where Dalton was and looked around, everyone had determined expressions on their faces.
At that time, Dalton first gave me back the sword.
I was moved to tears for a moment by his actions, which showed the trust that he would believe and follow my plan.
“Martin, you bastard. Yes, to put it bluntly, it’s actually thanks to you that a fool like me rose to prominence with two baronies. “But how can I abandon you?”
“Thank you. “I will definitely repay this favor.”
As the atmosphere became heavier, Dalton laughed and joked.
“Then what about me? I’m begging Her Majesty the Princess to make it for me later. I heard that First Princess Maria is in love with you? “The man you love is asking me a favor, so won’t you listen to that too?”
Hearing this makes me wonder if I lied for no reason.
But if I tell the truth now, my neck may be physically separated…
Later, after defeating Otto’s faction, I will go to him with a huge bribe, alcohol, and potions that are good for stamina, and tell him the truth.
“I will speak well.”
“Yes, the entire Baron Maurer family has decided to accept your offer. Additionally, I hold the authority to command the mercenaries under my command. It’s natural for them to follow my instructions. By the way, what are you going to do with the signal?”
Although Dalton and I are close, we are not the type of relationship where we just look at each other’s eyes.
This is the kind of relationship where you have to say what you want to say.
“When we see those around us firing magic and arrows at Her Highness the First Princess’s army. Then, let’s go and stab Otto in the back with me.”
When the time comes when both armies start firing magic at each other, they soon begin to engage in close combat between soldiers holding long spears.
In that case, Otto’s army and the princess’s army will become entangled with each other like twisted threads, so even if they notice us holding our swords upside down and try to move their troops to catch us, it will take quite some time.
The guys on the front line who entered the melee will not even know that we have retreated and will just fight to the death.
In the meantime, if you attack Otto’s royal guard and capture Otto, everything will be over.
“Well, that’s the most appropriate time.”
“Then I’ll just leave. “I will capture Otto and meet you at Her Majesty Princess Maria’s camp.”
“I wish you good luck.”
After a short conversation, I went straight back to my camp.
**
When I returned to the camp, Karin, who was waiting, was the first to greet me.
“Martin, welcome. How was it?”
He quietly raised his thumb and grinned.
“Everything went well, senior.”
“Really? “I was worried, but I’m glad it turned out well.”
“Where are Hilde and Lucia?”
“They were both checking their units, but they will be back soon. “It’s time to start gambling with our family’s fate.”
Since we have succeeded in persuading Dalton, all the necessary stones for victory have been successfully laid.
So now all I have to do is make up my mind and take on the challenge, but my heart trembles again at the thought of betraying the man Otto I have served so far.
From Noble mtl dot com
‘If you fail, it’s all over.’
I don’t feel any guilt about betraying him.
If I succeed, Maria, who is kind to me, will definitely accept me, and I will be able to find a way to live.
Yes, I chose this path because I thought it was the only way…
As I was making up my mind, Otto and other guys came rushing to the barracks.
“I’m sorry for suddenly summoning you while you were busy leading the troops under your command. However, please understand that I have called you now because it is an important operation.”
Everyone’s eyes turned to me at those words.
“I will start with the conclusion. As of the present time, our family, the Barons of Cologne, have converted to the faction of Her Majesty the First Princess Maria von Rheinfalz.”
Everyone began to murmur.
“You’re betraying His Highness Otto? Why are you doing this all of a sudden?”
“I don’t know, but the Baron is not a thoughtless person, so there must be a reason for everything.”
“…… I thought it was a golden copper rope, but was it a guillotine rope?”
When talking about this with Dalton, I had a hard time convincing him, but now these guys are my subordinates who don’t need to be persuaded one by one.
There is no need to persuade.
You can just give an order, but…
You should at least explain why you betrayed me.
“As everyone knows, over the past year, our family, the Barons of Cologne, have been openly alienated by Prince Otto. “I didn’t receive any invitations to things like the Christmas banquet or New Year’s events.”
They were careful about what they said in front of me, but since they knew they weren’t invited to such an important event, they must have been worried and dumbfounded.
“All this while, I said I was sick, but in fact, I had a mission given to me by Otto. “The mission is to deceive Maria by falsely surrendering to her.”
So I explained the whole story briefly and concisely.
“So, I learned that if we continue like this, our family will be purged by Otto in the future. So I decided to hold the sword upside down. Among these, is there anyone who opposes it? “Try to be honest.”
If you honestly oppose it, you will have no choice but to leave your name in history as Otto’s loyalist.
Of course, none of the knights under my command made any nonsense about offering loyalty to Otto.
Well, rather than dying right now, it would be a wiser choice to bet on something that has even the slightest chance.
Otto answered them and shouted in a loud voice.
“I will follow Baron Cologne.”
I don’t know if the other guys were caught up in the atmosphere or if they truly wanted to follow me, but they all spoke in loud voices.
“I will trust and follow only the Baron! Long live the Baron of Cologne!”
“Let’s kill Otto!”
“Let’s go in for a proper stab in the back!”
After hearing that, I held up my hand and silenced them.
“Okay, then we will now begin full-scale preparations. Everyone, do not reveal this to anyone until I order you to. Everyone go back to your units and prepare for war.”
**
Meanwhile, at this time, Otto was waiting, staring intently at the map.
The message is that our troops are completely pushing back against the army led by Maria and her younger sister.
“Here’s a report! Viscount Santos defeated the Black Forest mercenaries and pushed back the enemy lines a little further!”
Although it was a good report, it could not be said that the team was leaning towards victory at this level.
Otto’s brow furrowed.
We had already been fighting for over 2 hours, and the war situation between our allies and enemies was so tense that my stomach turned.
‘It’s better than losing. ‘What on earth is this doing?’
“The battle is getting longer.”
Estel looked at Otto and spoke as if admonishing him.
“Please wait a little longer, war usually requires waiting a long time. “It’s like hunting.”
“I’m not doing this because I don’t know that.”
“Then let’s wait together, Your Highness.”
While I was waiting, a new messenger quickly came running.
“Here’s a report! “Currently, Count Frost on our left wing is pushing back all the units in the enemy’s first line!”
Another messenger reported.
“Thanks to the central army’s hard work, the princess’s army is slowly being pushed back!”
When Margrave Estelle heard the news, he immediately gave an order.
“We will deploy the reserves! “We must definitely bring the flow of the battlefield to our side!”
At those words, just as the messengers under Otto were about to run out, Otto stopped them.
“Margrave, wouldn’t it be better to deploy all but the minimum defense and reserve forces to protect me and the castle here? “It’s a time when you need to focus.”
Estel also nodded his head at those words.
Then Otto added a command.
“Leave the minimum reserve and headquarters units behind and charge with all of your troops!”