281 – Skirmish (5)
“You had a hard time, Viscount Cologne.”
Hearing those words, I bowed my head to show respect.
The greater the achievements you have made, the more you can receive if you are humble rather than showing off.
Why don’t you just go out here and make a fuss, won’t the nobles around there make a fuss and try to impeach you for being such a bastard?
“It is an honor to be of assistance to Your Majesty.”
From Noble mtl dot com
Maria looked down at me and smiled cutely as if she was satisfied.
When I saw her, my heart started pounding without my knowing, and I felt like I needed to do something more.
I guess this is why they say that one beautiful woman can ruin a country.
I didn’t have this thought at all when we first met, but since the last time I thought Maria had a crush on me, I’ve often had dark thoughts…
Ha, you better come to your senses.
“Isn’t it too humble to single-handedly turn the enemy’s border area adjacent to our own into a wasteland, and then surprise-attack and annihilate the pursuing pursuers? “You could ask for a little more.”
“I am your vassal. “I will remain equally loyal regardless of whether Your Majesty rewards me or not.”
Even though she said this, Maria must reward me.
Otherwise, the other vassals will undoubtedly be disappointed in Maria, who cherishes the prize.
“The attitude is truly admirable. Okay, then I will bestow 4,000 gold coins on the Lord and reward the soldiers under his command accordingly.”
4,000 Gold coins may seem a little small, but…
Well, what I did was, at most, burn down close to a hundred small villages and destroy Matthias’s plans.
Despite his great achievements, such as annihilating 1,500 elite troops led by Rhineland, he was unable to gain new territories.
In other words, since there is no real income other than giving a certain degree of advantage, rewards have to be given.
‘I should be more active next time.’
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
Maria helped me up and whispered.
“The vassal I trust the most is you, Martin. “Thank you for responding to my trust this time too.”
Although she said she trusted her, it almost sounded like a confession of love to me.
When she said those words, the corners of Maria’s mouth moved up and down slightly, and her face turned bright red.
I can’t believe you made such a bold statement in such a public place.
How much do you like me?
“Then what should we do with the Rhineland that you have captured? “I think the easiest way would be to execute him and take his head off…”
At those words, Marquis Frost rushed forward.
“As it is, even though the empire is currently in a civil war, I would be a bit reluctant to behead him as a high-ranking knight. Prince Matthias is an honorless, shameless scum who shamelessly sent an assassin to assassinate Her Royal Highness and our nobles. He needs to make an example of that bastard!”
It seems like the Marquis was so blinded by the resentment that he almost got assassinated out of nowhere.
Other nobles also agreed with that statement.
“Behead him and make an example of him!”
“Even though he is a high-ranking knight under that guy Mathias, he is no longer worthy of being a nobleman.”
“It is impossible to release someone for a ransom!”
I think it would be convenient in many ways to neatly separate Sir Rhineland’s neck from his shoulders.
Furthermore, like those nobles, I haven’t forgotten the grudges I almost lost, so to be honest, I feel like blowing off my head…
‘That can’t be possible.’
“Her Royal Highness, Lord Rhineland must return alive.”
Marquis Frost expressed his anger behind me.
“So you’re saying they’ll release you in exchange for a ransom?”
Because I am a good person, I have no intention of demanding ransom from Lord Rhineland.
After all, we completely robbed his lord, the Viscounty of Bohemia, and to go further and collect ransom… That’s bad news for our troops.
“I have no intention of doing so. Rather, let us treat him very luxuriously. The armor he is wearing is a bit old, so we should replace it with a new one, give him a famous sword and a famous horse, and send him back.”
“……Are you out of your mind?”
Of course, I am sane.
“Yes, I am sane. Think about it, what would happen if we cut off Rhineland’s head and sent it to Matthias? Matthias will try to use the death of the Rhineland to boost the morale of the entire army.”
It’s as if a country that doesn’t care if tens of thousands of workers die every year in its own country becomes motivated to lead thousands of armies and start a war when one of its citizens dies in Asia.
Matthias will also shed tears and unite the vassals and knights under him while crying for Rhineland’s noble death.
Then isn’t it obvious that we will have to suffer in the war?
‘So I can’t cut off his head, right?’
“So, let’s give him a good treatment and send him away so that he loses the will to fight. Then, Matthias will completely lose his reputation for uniting his soldiers. In addition, his morale will drop as he thinks that his vassals will not die even if they surrender.”
There is a saying that it hits Bae Soo-jin.
If you make it so that there is no room to retreat, all the soldiers will unite and fight to the death, so in order to slightly increase the probability of winning, you will cut off the ‘route of escape’.
But if you give yourself a way to live, you will have a way to live without having to fight to the death…
Everyone’s will to fight will weaken a little.
‘What I like most about it is that Matthias’ lid will open.’
I wish I died of a heart attack because I was so angry.
“That makes sense.”
Maria also nodded her head after hearing what I said.
“Please bring Lord Rhineland. As Viscount Cologne said, I will treat you generously and send you back.”
Not long after, the leader Rhineland came in with a sullen expression on his face.
As soon as Maria saw him, she helped him up and said,
“I heard that you fought honorably. Is that correct?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“I just heard that even though the Lord was caught in an ambush, he tried to use the strategy of rushing his horseback infantry to somehow break through it. “Viscount Cologne complained that he had a hard time because of that.”
When they suddenly lifted him up as if supporting him, Rhineland looked at Maria with an expression asking what was going on.
Anyway, Maria continued her words with a smile on her face.
“Thanks to your hard work and fighting, Viscount Cologne suffered quite a bit of damage, and we are also feeling a bit sick to our stomachs. Still, Sir, he fought as best he could in his position, and I would like to praise his courage and his honorable fight.”
When Maria gave her signal by nodding her head, expensive armor mixed with mithril, a sword, and a cloak were placed in front of Rhineland.
“When he was captured this time, his armor and weapons must have been taken away, so we would like to express our admiration for his honorable performance by giving him armor and a sword suitable for the Lord. Receive it.”
When Rhineland heard those words, his eyes filled with tears.
Well, giving armor and a sword to a person who didn’t know when he would be beheaded means not only sparing his life, but also giving him honor…
It’s even weirder to not be impressed…
He said his thanks almost in tears.
“Thank you, thank you. “Her Majesty Maria…”
Maria went one step further.
“I would like to have a knight like you under my command, but I will respect your loyalty to Matthias. So I won’t tell you to serve me. But.”
After interrupting her for a moment, Maria looked briefly into my eyes.
When I nodded my head at her signal, she continued her speech.
“However, while I adjust the armor to your body, please stay here and make yourself comfortable. “I will treat you as generously as possible.”
If Rhineland had been a bastard with his head spinning, in this situation, he would have protested and said, “Kill me.”
Because if he dies here, he will become a loyal subject, and Matthias will certainly take good care of his family.
If he returns alive, not only he but also his family will be hanged for the sin of betraying Mary.
However, Rhineland’s choice was different.
“Yes, Your Majesty. “I will tell you my saga one by one.”
“Good. Then, I will assign you a room so you can rest comfortably there.”
“Thank you so much, Your Majesty!”
Rineland walked to the room assigned to him with very light steps.
What a fool, he can’t even think that the luxury he enjoys now will be the last luxury he enjoys in his life.
But, since they say a ghost that ate well and died has good stains, there is no doubt that he will become a ghost with good stains.
After a few days, Maria, as she had promised, granted Lord Rhineland her precious armor, sword, and horse, allowing her to make her honorable return.
**
And when Matthias heard the news of his return, he grabbed the back of his neck.
“Maria, you two b*tches!!!”
HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!