233─Cielen Kingdom
The army led by the 1st Prince and Princess Elizabeth reaches the border of Cielen Kingdom.
Although it was a dependent country for a long time along with the Kingdom of Lobelium, the tightly closed castle gate was not opened to welcome them.
“That’s strange. No matter how I look at it, it doesn’t look like they have any intention of launching a water-based war.”
The soldiers lined up on top of the high castle wall seemed to be watching themselves rather than being nervous and determined ahead of the battle.
In the first place, there was nothing to ask them about in this war, but rather, the goal was to turn the army towards the Elmark Empire and block supply through cooperation……
“Don’t worry too much, just create a position with a commander who guards the border of the Cielen Kingdom. Brother.”
“Of course.”
If you can’t know the other person’s intentions, all you have to do is find out their intentions.
The First Emperor ordered his soldiers to stop their advance and build a camp, and then sent his messenger beyond the large castle gate to invite the commander.
In some ways, it was ridiculously rude to ask the commander guarding the border wall to walk outside.
From the beginning, I had no choice but to accept that if I did not respond to this, a water-based war would be launched.
If there was something else in mind, I would try to accept the invitation calmly.
‘This is absurd.’
However, while waiting in the barracks for the Margrave of the Kingdom of Cielen, who was guarding the border here, the First Prince burst into laughter out of bewilderment.
There was no reason for them to take that stance, even if there was one.
Isn’t this clearly an act of disdain for the Ernest Empire?
Jeobbuk.
As soon as the messengers sent beyond the castle wall entered the barracks, the first prince stood up with a furrowed brow.
Because the Margrave of the Cielen Kingdom, who guards the border here, did not come with them.
“One o’clock is urgent. “They seem to feel that we seem very relaxed.”
“Brother.”
“…… Elizabeth. “Do you think I’m too overly emotional?”
“That’s not it, the Margrave of the Cielen Kingdom has accepted our invitation.”
“What?”
As soon as the puzzled First Prince glanced at the returning messengers, a man walked forward, knelt down on one knee, and showed the utmost courtesy.
“…… Soin, meet His Highness the Prince and Princess of the Ernest Empire.”
“There must be a reason why you changed clothes with the messenger I sent and came here to avoid the eyes of others. “Margrave Felkriel.”
“Yes. “If you don’t mind, would you please listen to what this old margrave says?”
Ttogak.
Since the commander-in-chief here was her brother, the First Prince, Princess Elizabeth took a step back and left her choice to him.
“Do you want the people around you to step away?”
“I would really appreciate it if you could do so.”
“Your Majesty!”
“I will not accept any disagreement. “This is an order from the commander-in-chief, so you must wait outside the barracks.”
The vassals with pale complexions begged for reconsideration, but in the end, they had to leave the barracks one by one as the first prince refused to take back his orders.
When only the First Prince and Princess Elizabeth remained in the barracks, Margrave Felkriel raised his head and opened his mouth.
“I…… Felkriel has no intention of blocking the path of the Ernes Empire.”
“Then why didn’t you open the castle gate?”
“I have no intention of stopping it, but I couldn’t open the way.”
“Margrave. “I’m not free enough to play games with you.”
“Your Highness.”
The First Prince let out a faint sigh as he saw Margrave Felkriel facing him with an old and wrinkled face, not befitting the title he had been given.
“Whatever, you don’t want to lose money.”
“Yes.”
He is often emotional, but he is also of imperial lineage.
Although it was not comparable to Princess Elizabeth, who was blessed by the God of Wisdom, it was not difficult to guess what the Cielen Kingdom wanted through the words spoken by Margrave Felkriel.
“I cannot grant that request.”
What they are hoping for is a confrontation that will only continue—in short, for their neutrality to be respected.
Although the First Prince expressed Margrave Felkriel’s request as a “Plea,” It was closer to a “Threat” If strictly speaking.
It was also an ambiguous expression that if the neutral claim was not respected, they would take the side of the Elmark Empire.
“Margrave.”
“Yes.”
“Do you know that even if I cut off your head here, you would have nothing to say?”
“…… Yes. “I am fully aware of it.”
“I’m not just saying this to threaten you.”
The First Prince stands up, draws out his sword, and plunges the razor-sharp blade into Margrave Felkriel’s neck.
“If that’s all I have to say when I come here, I’ll cut off your head and climb over that wall.”
In her sharply tense mood, Princess Elizabeth, who had taken a step behind her, looked at Margrave Felkriel with a faint pity, unlike her own brother, the First Prince.
‘It seems like you didn’t notice…… ‘
When Margrave Pelkriel opened his mouth, he did not say “We” As the subject, but “I”.
What that means is that this entire situation is entirely his opinion.
And Margrave Pelkriel, looking at the blade thrust at his throat, lifted his old, wrinkled face and looked straight into the eyes of the First Prince.
There was a look of resignation on his face, as if he had prepared for his own death. The first prince unconsciously trembled with the hand holding his sword.
“Your Majesty…… Do you know what it feels like to be a vassal serving a lord who has lost everything he should have as a member of the royal family?”
“…… “
“The only thing a small person can boast about is that he lived a long life, but because of that, he was unable to contain his sorrow as he watched the complete decline of the royal family from the sidelines…… “
“…… “
“When the war broke out, our king and the princes under him did not even think deeply about it and thought that they could rely on the Ernes Empire as usual.”
“You are our long-time dependent country. “That judgment cannot be said to be strange.”
“hahahaha…… It’s a strange thing. Majesty. “It cannot be said that the weak chose to live as the weak.”
If you were trying to live off the humiliating peace by licking the feet of the powerful.
The loser of the continent has not yet been decided, so why are they already trying to bow down?
“If the winner of this war is the Elmark Empire…… “If that judgment is taken, our kingdom will have to receive unspeakable compensation and retribution.”
“That’s unpleasant.”
“Are you displeased? But this is the life of the weak.”
“…… “
“And our royal family…… We cannot feel any of the history marked by sacrifices, costs, and humiliation contained in the lives of such weak people. “Like a child who has not yet escaped from his mother’s embrace, he seems immature and believes that as long as he listens well, everything will be fine.”
“Margrave. “You can’t convince me with clumsy theories of sympathy.”
“Yes. Up to this point, it was just the complaining of an insignificant old man…… As I said before, I have no intention of blocking the path of the Ernest Empire.”
“But they said they couldn’t open a road.”
“If we had to ask, the fact that the road was not opened is sufficient.”
“What does it mean?”
Looking at the First Prince raising questions, Margrave Felkriel took out a document from his arms and held it out to him.
And the First Prince, who opened and read it, looked down at Margrave Felkriel without saying a word.
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“Beyond that wall, this is the total amount of supplies I currently possess. “Even if we can’t do it, it will still be more than three or four rounds of supply.”
“…… “
“Through my vassals, I will make a deal with Goi and transport His Highness’s army within the walls to avoid the eyes of the Elmark Empire’s ganja. In the process, we will send the territory’s citizens to disguise ourselves so that the reduced army is not noticed, so don’t worry. In this case, the Elmark Empire will still know that the Ernes Empire is confronting them here, so it will be more effective to annihilate their supply troops.”
“The packaging was done well, but do you know that there are loopholes in it?”
The army of the Elmark Empire is stationed beyond that wall.
It was impossible to trust those ancient words because we could not rule out the possibility that they were trying to bring them in and annihilate them.
Therefore, after finishing his speech, the First Prince gave a concise signal with a glance to his younger sister, Elizabeth, who was behind him.
Then, Princess Elizabeth walks in front of her and opens her mouth in her beautiful voice.
“Margrave. “Your offer may seem attractive at first glance, but you realize that it would mean taking unnecessary risks on our part.”
“Yes…… But please believe me. The vassals under his command will swear an oath regarding magical power in front of his eyes. The people of the territory trust me and are quite friendly towards the Ernes Empire, so there will be no untoward incident. “You will be able to hear about what I am most concerned about, the military of the Elmark Empire stationed beyond the wall, from the messenger who remains behind the wall on my behalf.”
…… The voice that came from inside him was completely different from the words that came out of his mouth.
So Elizabeth signaled the truth to her own brother, the First Prince, with a glance of her own, and she took another step back and bowed her head.
And on her face, the displeasure along with her pity could not be easily erased.
Even if they win this war, they will have to completely take over the borders of the Cielen Kingdom——more precisely, the area under the jurisdiction of Margrave Felkriel.
Someone may question why, even though it was a joint operation, the punishment of narrowing the borders of one country was imposed.
However, strictly speaking, this was not a “Joint operation” But a “Compromise plan.”
The best move is to pressure the Elmark Empire with full cooperation.
They took a detour under the threat that they might side with the El Mark Empire, so how can they not be held responsible?
Even if he overcomes this wall by force, this is only his own arbitrary decision.
It was obvious how the King of Cielen Kingdom, who would be in the capital, would receive it.
If the Elmark Empire blows just a little wind, they will quickly turn their heads.
In addition, even when the Elmark Empire is victorious, he will not escape death.
No one but a fool would realize that they were collaborating with him when they suddenly appeared and cut off the supply route.
However, as mentioned earlier, all of this is his own opinion.
For the Elmark Empire, the only person who holds the responsibility most strongly is the Margrave Felkriel.
Yes.
That old man in front of you, no, the loyal vassal.
Risking his life and his family’s honor.
Now, he wants to tell his lord and the princes under him that he has lost all his confidence and dignity as a king.
Peace in which the weak cling to the strong and live as parasites is not a child-like life where you can get along as long as you listen to your parents.
It is the result of paying a considerable price and sacrifice.
…… And the pity and displeasure that Princess Elizabeth felt toward Margrave Felkriel.
Someday in the distant future, when their empire is on the path to decline.
It was because of the overlap that I wondered if the end that Brutein would face would be like that.
If you think about it, the current situation is truly laughable.
The Kingdom of Lobelium had the confidence and dignity that a king should have, but there were no vassals to support them.
The Cielen Kingdom had vassals to support it, but there was no king with conviction and dignity.
Luckily, their empire was able to capture both and restore the authority of the imperial family, but every time I see the two kingdoms acting as good teachers, the thought that it will not last forever is firmly entrenched in my mind.
‘So…… ‘
Even if I can’t become the sun that never sets.
Princess Elizabeth, who pledged to appear as the sun that burns the longest, raised her head.
And on her face, there was no longer any sign of displeasure, as well as her pity, and there was only a faint dignity and spirit shining brightly like beautiful white blonde hair.